大麻農家の花嫁
The Cannabis Farmer's Bride
リリー・フランキー
by Lily Franky
結婚くらい、誰でもできる。
Anyone can get married.
そう思っているうちに多恵子はある程度の年齢まで来てしまった。
Which is what Taeko always thought, until the day she reached a certain age.
結婚なんて、難しいことじゃない。自分のコンプレックスを刺激しない友人が次々と結婚していくのを眺めながら、ずっとそう感じていた。
It's really not that hard - getting married - is how Taeko felt as she watched her friends, at least the ones who counted as friends, get married one after the other.
結婚だけに、こだわるわけじゃない。
Why am I fixating on this?
そんなことを口にするようになった頃には恋愛すら自分には遠いものになっていた。
These were the words that formed on Taeko's tongue during a period in her life when she was far from any kind of love.
北へ延びる新幹線から、急行列車に乗り継ぎ、また２時間。４０分近く、寂れた駅の待合室で次の列車を待った後、この一両編成のディーゼル車に乗った。
Changing from a Northerly shinkansen; connecting to a local express; another 2 hours passed. Stepping onto a single-car diesel after waiting for close to 40 minutes in the waiting room of a dilapidated platform.
東京生まれの多恵子はこんなに短い列車に乗ることが初めてだった。車窓が開閉自在なことも新鮮で、錆びついた錠を指で押さえて上へ引き上げ、そこから顔を覗かせてみる。
It was the shortest train Taeko, born in Tokyo, had ever ridden. That passengers were free to open and close the carriage windows was also a new experience. Taeko depressed the rusted latch and lifted up the pane; she pushed her face out of the open window.
土と縁の濃い匂い。気が滅入るような田舎の風景が顔に染み込んできて、その感触がささやかな冒険をしている自分を酔わせた。
She felt the thickening odours of vegetation and soil. A gloomy rural vista slowing came into view, leaving her feeling slightly intoxicated. She was on an adventure.
東京ではあまり着ないような派手な服を着て、ウケが悪いとわかっていても、わざと派手な化粧をした。東京の人である私を演出する為に多恵子は精一杯のことをした。
Taeko had chosen to wear clothes that were pretty but showy; something she rarely did in Tokyo; along with purposefully heavy makeup - though she knew it was not in fashion.
数週間前、結婚情報誌をめくっていた多恵子にこんな記事が目に止まった。
An article had caught Taeko's eye as she leafed through a bridal magazine several weeks previous.
”旅行気分でお見合いしませんか？ 農家の花嫁実地体験。旅費当方負担。お土産有りマス”
"Why take a Marriage Meeting holiday away? Live life as the wife of a farming homestead. All travel costs paid - plus souvenirs to take back."
もう自分が恋愛物語に参加できる気がしない。結婚と恋愛はとっくに切り離して考えていた。とにかく、結婚は、する。短大を卒業する前、就職活動に奔走したように、どこかに決まってくれれば、もうそれでいい。
Taeko had no intention of participating in the plot of some soppy romance novel. To her mind marriage and romance were separate ideas. Why get married? Just because. It would have suited her personally if she could settle the matter as when she did looking for job after graduation from a vocational college.
これも就職だ。いや、これこそ就職なんだ。出版社を介して先方の農家と連絡を取った。お見合いの相手は38歳。農家の長男。数日後写真と履歴書が郵送されて来た。
Marriage is a job hunt. Indeed, marriage is no more than another job. She contacted the farmer who placed the ad via the publisher. The circumstances of her potential partner were: aged 38 years, the eldest son of a farmer. A few days later, his photo and profile arrived in the post.
予想していた外見とはまるで違う。年よりもずっと若く見えるし、すらっとした美形だった。長田紀一郎。北海道の国立大学卒業後に実家の農家を継ぐ為に帰って来たらしい。バツイチ。仕事が農業じゃなかったら、雑誌に募集まで出して私なんかとお見合いするような人じゃないのかもしれない。
Visually he was totally different from what she had expected. He looked very young for his age, with a slender but handsome frame. He was once-divorced. He was someone who, had he not been a farmer, would most likely not have used a bridal magazine to make advances to someone like Taeko.
でも、少なくともこの人は私を欲している。いや、それは私でなくてもいいのだけど、それでもいい。私は求められたい。必要とされたい。それのない屈辱をさんざん感じて生きてきた。東京に生まれても、私の地元の東京で私は必要とされなかった。東京の男たちは私を選ぶことがなかった。
Nevermind that, at the very least he had shown interest in me. Then again, it need not necessarily have been me he responded to. But here I am. I want to be wanted. I want to be needed. I have never had any feelings like this before. I may have been born in Tokyo but I was a bastard child, unwanted. The male population had chose not to choose me.
私は私が必要とされる為に寒村の農家に行くのだ。
I am on my way to a farmer's homestead in a village in the countryside because I want to be needed, that's why.
田舎の夕暮れをかき分けながら列車は無人の駅に着いた。多恵子はホームに降りるとファンデーションを塗り直し、髪に手をやった。もう一度、鏡を見直し、気持ちを入れた。
The diesel tunneled through the drawing rural dusk. Taeko's carriage arrived at an empty platform, an empty station. Alighting onto the platform Taeko went to reapply her foundation and tidy her hair. Checking her appearance in a mirror for one last time, she steeled herself.
改札に置いてある箱にキップを入れ、辺りを見回した。お見合い写真のその人が迎えに来ているはずだった。
Dropping her train ticket into a box left helpfully by the platform gates Taeko looked around her. Her potential partner, the man in the photograph should have been here to meet her.
小さな駅の椅子には農作業帰りの老人がひとりキセルを吸いながら私を見ている。イグサのような臭いが鼻を衝いた。他には誰もいない。どういう風にその人との初対面をするか、最初の一言はなんと言おうか、何日も前からその瞬間をシミュレーションしていた多恵子はその彼のいない待合室を見渡しながら、拍子抜けと共にやって来た不安と淋しさに気持ちが逃げ腰になっていた。
There was an old man, looking like a farm laborer returning from the fields, sat alone in a small chair - smoking a pipe - and looking directly at her. A rank smell of river rushes swam up her nose. No one else was around. For the last few days Taeko had been practicing the occasion of her first meeting with the potential suitor - the first words she would speak - how she would act. Now, scanning the waiting room where he should have been she was feeling disappointed, she was feeling unsure, she was feeling ready to turn tail and leave.
その時、老人がゆっくりと立ち上がり、多恵子に近づきながら声を掛けた。
The old man slowly arose and called out to her.
「あんだ、松井さんか？」
"Miss. Are you Ms. Matsui?"
「あっ、はい。松井です。あの……」
"Yes, oh, yes. I am. I..."
「ようおいでなさったね。長田です。紀一郎のおやじです。ちょっと、紀一郎の奴がどうすてもこの時間に迎えに来れねえこどになっちまっでね。オレがかわりに迎えに来だんだけども、悪いね。せっがぐ……」
"I'm pleased you're made it. I'm Nakata. Kiichiro's father. Kiichiro's caught up in business and couldn't come to meet you, so I'm here in his place, with his apologies, okay? Seems unfair after the distance you've come..."
「あっ、いえ、そうですか……。そんな……。こちらこそ、すみません」
"Oh no, really. Is that so? It's... no bother, really."
「じゃ、家まで。車があっちに停めであるがら、行きまっしょ」
"Well, the car's parked round the corner. Let's get you home. I'll show the way."
後ろをついて歩きながら駅を出て、その姿を観察する。紀一郎の父はみすぼらしい作業衣を着ていた。顔の皺に畑の土が染み込んだように見える。ゴム長靴は埃で白く汚れている。腰からさげたタオルの縁は切れてほどけていた。
Taeko left the station and followed after the old man, looking down on his appearance. His clothes looked shabby. The soil from countless fields seemed to have worked into the lines in his face. On his feet were rubber boots, caked white with drying mud. A cloth hung from his waist, frayed at the edges.
そんな農家のディテールを目のあたりにして、多恵子はさらに気持ちが引き始めていた。自分が想像している以上に農家の暮らしは厳しいのだろうか。私はこの環境でやっていけるのだろうかと。
Noticing her companion's appearance Taeko's heart felt even less enthusiastic. Life as a farmer could be something much harder than she first imagined. Could she survive life in the country?
「ちっと狭いけど、そっちから乗っで」
"It's a squeeze, but get in, please."
見たこともない型の赤いスポーツカーだった。その赤い色に埃が満遍なく付着していた。車高は驚くほど低く、ドアは鳥の羽のような角度で開いた。寝そべるような格好でやっと乗り込むと地響きするようなエンジン音が車内に轟き、心臓を圧迫するような勢いで急発進した。
There was a red sports car of a model Taeko had never seen before. The bodywork was covered completely with dust. It lay surprisingly close to the asphalt - and Taeko was further surprised at it's doors opening upwards like gulls' wings. After climbing in she found herself lying almost horizontal. The engine roared into life with a subterranean tremor, and the car suddenly moved off with such power that her heart skipped a beat.
「す、すごい、車ですね……」
"This is quite some car..."
多恵子はシートの端を握りしめながら紀一郎の父の横顔を見た。バケットシートに身体ごと入り込んだまま紀一郎の父は懐から巻き煙草を取り出し、火を点ける。また、さっきの駅と同じイグサのような臭いが狭い車内に充満した。
Gripping the edges of her seat, Taeko looked over to Kiichiro's father. Totally enveloped by the car's bucket seat, Kiichiro's father took a rolled-up cigarette from his breast pocket and set it alight. The same rank odor of river rushes Taeko had noticed at the station soon filled the car's cramped interior.
「ああ、コレね。このへんの百姓はみんな、なんだが畑行ぐ時に使っでる。田舎はだだっ広いから、家からはじっごの畑まで行ぐのに時間かがるでしょ。これぐれえ速えぇ車使わねぇど日が暮れぢまうんでね」
"Oh, this? All farmers round here use them. The countryside's a big place; it takes some time traveling from your house to the far corner of some field. Without cars as this we'd have no time left at all."
ジャリを巻き込んだタイヤから小石をはじく音が大きく車の底に響く。横目でスピードメーターを覗くと針は２１０km／ｈを指していた。
Stones flung up by the tires smacked loudly on the bottom of the car. Glancing sideways, Taeko noticed the speedometer needle reaching 210 km/hr.
「お、お父さん……。これは何ていう車なんですか……？ すごい速いですね……」
"Na...Nagata-san. What kind of car is this...? It's so fast..."
「ああ、コレね。ランポルギーニっで。知らねぇでしょ東京のひどは。田舎もんの車だからね。流行らねぇでしょ、今どき」
"Oh, this? Lumporgini. Probably don't see many in Tokyo. It's a car us rural types drive. Not so fashionable, right?"
猛スピードで農道を走るランボルギーニの両脇には見渡す限りのビニールハウスが並んでいる。紀一郎の父はこの辺りの畑はすべて自分の家の畑だと言った。
The Lamborghini sped past farm roads at a terrifying speed - Taeko watched as agricultural polytunnels flew past them, stretching as far as the eye could discern. Kiichiro's father mentioned they were all his family's fields.
かなりの距離は走ったはずなのに、あっという間に長田家に到着した。木造の古い建物だった。横に広い平屋。納屋の前にはさっきの車の色違いが２台停めてあった。
The car arrived at the family homestead. It felt like a very short time since they had left the station, while in fact they must have travelled quite some distance. The house was of the traditional style - built from wood - arranged as a wide, one-story building. Two more Lamborghinis, of different colors but identical models, were parked in front of a small barn.
体験したことのないスピード感に息を途切れさせながら、多恵子は這い出るように羽のように開くドアを開け、車外に転がり出た。
Still trying to catch her breath after the car's tremendous speed, Taeko opened her door and tumbled to her feet.
畑の方から、作業衣を着て背中に籠を背負った白人の男が３人。紀一郎の父を見つけると頭をペコリと下げる。彼らが近づくと、紀一郎の父はそれぞれの籠に入った葉っぱのようなものを少しずつ手に取り、鼻に近づけながら、何か指示を与えているようだった。白人の視線が多恵子に向く。多恵子は慌てて会釈をすると白人は笑いながら拝むように両手を前で揃えて腰を折った。
In the fields in front of her stood there men, European in features, all wearing work clothes with baskets hanging from their backs. Noticing Kiichiro's father they each bowed smartly towards him. Kiichiro's father went out to meet them. He took a small amount of some leaf-like material from each of their baskets, held it to his nose, and seemed to give the men instructions of some kind. They turned to face Taeko. Taeko hurriedly nodded towards them as of greeting and the men, smiling widely, bowed towards her with hands held together as if in prayer.
「こちらで、働いていらっしゃる方々ですか？」
"Do you all work here?"
「ハイ。ドウイタシマシタ」
"Yes. Pleased to meet you"
紀一郎の父から”鈴木”と呼ばれている白人のひとりがそう答えた。他の白人ふたりは”佐藤””田中”と呼ばれているようだ。
One of the men, called "Suzuki" by Kiichiro's father, replied to Taeko in heavily accented Japanese. The names of the other men were, apparently, "Sato" and "Tanaka".
「ああ、コレね。コイツらはオランダの方がら出稼ぎに来でる外人。ウヂの畑はいろいろ専門的な知識もいるで、オランダがら呼んでるの。普段はアムスで百姓やっでたって。ホラ、おめえたち、このすと紀一郎のお見合いに来てぐれだ松井さんだあ。松井……？」
"Oh, those guys. They're guest laborers over from Holland. They come over to help since we need specialist knowledge for our crops. They work as farmers in Holland, in Amsterdam. Everyone, this is Matsui-san. She's here as Kiichiro's suitor, for the Marriage Meeting. Matsui…?"
「多恵子、です……」
"Taeko. Matsui Taeko..."
「そう。松井多恵子さんだぁ」
"Matsui Taeko-san"
「タエ、コサン。ハイ。ドウイタシマシタ」。オランダ人はまた手を合わせる。
"Tai co-san. Hello. Pleased to meet you" called the men in unison.
多恵子は混乱していた。自分の想像通りの農家の姿と想像もつかなかった姿とが交互に現れる。家に案内され囲炉裏の前に座らされた。この家には女はいない。紀一郎の母親はもう他界していた。離れには祖父の部屋があり、西側の小屋には鈴木と佐藤と田中が住んでいる。長田家は親子三代の男と３人の外国人労働者とが生活しているのだ。
Taeko was feeling somewhat confused. The situation facing her was completely different to how she had imagined things. Kiichiro's father showed Taeko into the house - Taeko sat down in front of a traditional inset earthen hearth in the center of the room.
囲炉裏に炭を足す紀一郎の父。多恵子は正座をしたまま部屋中を見回していた。
Kiichiro's father added some charcoal to the hearth fire. Taeko looked around her at the room - she knelt with her legs underneath her in the formal style.
「旅行に来だづもりで、ゆっぐりしで下さいね。今日はのんびりすてもらっで、明日畑の方とか見でくれたらええし。紀一郎も、もうすばらくしだら帰ってくるし」
"Please, you're on holiday here, relax. We'll take it easy for today and you can visit the fields tomorrow. Kiichiro will be back soon."
「はい……。ありがとうございます……」
"Alright then, thank you..."
炭の焼ける温度が古い木造家屋の匂いを拡げてゆく。顔がどんどん熱くなってきて正座した足がちりちり痺れてきた。口下手だけど怖い人ではなさそうだ。腰にさげたタオルでキセルを拭き聞か持たなそうにしている紀一郎の父の横顔を見ながら、多恵子はもしかしたらの未来をぼんやりと想像していた。
As the charcoal smoldered, the clean odor of the old, wooden-built house spread through the room. Taeko's face gradually became warmed - her feet slowly numbed. Kiichiro's farther spoke in a way that was rough but not necessarily aggressive. She watched his face as he used the cloth slung from his waist to work on his pipe. Taeko daydreamed of her potential future life.
サラリーマンの父親と専業主婦の母親。三流大学に二浪して入学し、１年でそれを中退した弟。東京郊外にある団地。豊かでもないし、貧しくもない。幸福な家庭でもないが不幸というわけでもない。両親は仲が悪いという感じではないが、愛し合っているとは思えない。弟も私も出来のいい子供ではなかったけど、かといって悪くなれるほどでもない。そんな家が私の生まれた家。つまりなんの特徴もない、ありきたりで平凡な家。これが平和というのなら、呆れるくらい平和な家。もし、私がここの家に嫁いでこられたら少なくとも、あの平和の缶詰から脱出できる。穏やかな家庭だけど私は何度も両親に嘘をついているし、それは弟も、父親も、母親もそう。なんでもことなかれに、波風さえ立たなければそれがいい。正しいことはしなくても、悪いことさえしなければそれでいい。完全に筋力を失った家。私はそこから自力で出て行けるのかもしれない。
XXXXXXXXX
Taeko wondered. A salaryman father; a stay-at-home mother. A younger brother who achieved a place at a third-rate University after two failed years of searching, that he quit after one. An apartment block of a Tokyo suburb. Not a wealthy family but not a poor one. Not a very happy family but not an unhappy one either. Parents not at odds with one another, but certainly not in love. Neither my brother nor myself were especially good as children, but neither were we especially bad. That was the family I was born into. A nothing special family that lived almost anywhere. If you rated families by their ordinariness, the circumstances you found in Taeko's upbringing would shock you. The nondescript life - if I become the wife of this family I could at least escape that. It was a peaceful home but I lied to my parents, my younger brother lied to my parents, my father and mother lied to each other, and to us. Any issues that arose were ignored, in deference to familial equanimity. It need not matter if you did no good, as long as you did no wrong. Lacking any vitality or strength - could Taeko avoid the same future for herself?
朝になったらこの囲炉裏に火を焼べて、あの土間にある炊事場で食事を作る。水は冷たいかもしれないが、清々しいに違いない。もし、母親がこの家に来たら炊事場の広さに驚くだろう。子供が生まれたら、自然に囲まれたこんな土地の方が、東京よりはきっといいはだ。それに、きっと……。
Rising of a morning to light the fire, and prepare breakfast in the earthen hearth. The water this far out may be cold, but also refreshing. Were my mother to visit she would be shocked by the size of the place. If I had children, surrounded by nature in a place like this would certainly be better for them than growing up in a city like Tokyo. Certainly...
表で車の音がした。紀一郎かなと父親が言って三和土の方へ身を乗り出した。多恵子は背筋を伸ばして座り直し、髪に手をやる。入り口から男がふたり入って来た。派手なスーツを着たヤクザ風の男と若い男。紀一郎ではない。
The sound of a car arriving could be heard from the front of the house. Kiichiro's father leaned towards the entrance and wondered out loud whether Kiichiro had arrived. Taeko straightened her back, returned herself to sitting in the formal style and tidied her hair. Two men arrived from the front of the house. One looked like a Yakuza, wearing a garish suit, and another, younger man followed. Neither were Kiichiro.
「社長。どうも、お世話になってます」
"Good evening, Nakata-san."
男はそう言いながら土間に腰掛け煙草をくわえた。若い男がすかさずそれに火を点ける。煙草の煙を吐きながら男は多恵子に目をやったが、またすぐに話し始めた。
Acknowledging Kiichiro's father, the man sat down in the entrance area, took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth. It was lit in the blink of an eye by the younger man. As the man exhaled he looked at Taeko, but immediately resumed his conversation with Kiichiro's father.
「先日お願いした件。どうにかなりませんかね。無理を承知で今日は来させてもらったんですが、50。いや30でもいい。ウチの方へ回してもらえると助かるんですが。オヤジの方からも是非とのことで」
"Can you do nothing at all with what we talked about? We know it's an inconvenience. We'll make do with 50 - no, 30. Even that much would be a great help. The boss wants this personally as a favor."
紀一郎の父はキセルを吸いながら話を聞いていたが、厳しい表情を崩さずに男に言った。
Kiichiro's father listened patiently and he smoked his pipe. With a stern expression unwavering he said.
「アンタんところの渡辺さんにはよぐしでもらっでる。しかしね、前も言ったように、今年は天気もずっとこんなだし、納得いぐ草が育っでねえ。この時期にそんだけの数を出すわけにはいがねぇの」
"True, we've always done well by your Boss, Watanabe-san. But like I said before, with the year-long weather we've had not even river rushes grow right. At a time like this in no way can spare that amount."
「ですから。今日のところはトップリーヴだけとは申しません。とにかく30キロ。モノが落ちてもとりあえず量があれば……」
"If that's the case we're not asking for top-quality leaves. Just 30 kilos in weight. If it makes the weight we can accept lower quality..."
男がそう言うと、キセルを囲炉裏の隅に叩きつけるドンという音が響いた。多恵子は驚いて背筋が伸びる。
Just as he said this, Taeko heard the sound of Kiichiro's farther's pipe hitting loudly on the edge of the hearth. Surprised, Taeko straightened her posture.
「なんでもええがらというわげにはいがんべや！！ ウヂは昔がら、長田の畑の草でねえどと言って下さるお客さんと売させでもらっでる。少し値は張っでも輸入モンにはねえキキがあると言うて下さる！ なんでもええがら量を出せど言われて出せるような草は作っでねえづもりだが！！」
"I will not let you ride rough-shod over this farm!! Our clients have always been discerning customers, they know their grass comes from the fields of Nagata-san. The price may be high, you can't get the effect from import-quality grass. We have no intension of lowering ourselves to deliver a poor quality product."
「いや！！ 社長！！ そういう意味じゃないんですよ。私は紀一郎さんの方から、そのへん融通して下さると聞いたものですから……」
"But!! Nagata-san!! That's not what I'm saying. I was told by Kiichiro-san that you could accommodate us this time..."
「紀一郎が何ど言うだか知らねぇけんども、今、回せる草はＩグラムもねえ！！」
"I don't know what Kiichiro's been saying, but right now there's not one gram of grass ready for you!!"
「社長！！ いや、そこをなんとか……」
"Nagata-san!! Please. Couldn't you just consider it..."
紀一郎の父は腕組みをしたまま男たちに背を向けた。男たちはしばらくその背中を見つめた後、また来ますと言い残して帰って行った。多恵子は恐る恐る声を出す。
Kiichiro's father folded his arms and turned with his back facing the men. After watching his sullen appearance remain unmoved the men decided to leave, saying they would return again soon. After a moment Taeko spoke.
「あの……。今の方たちは……？」
"Wh-who were those men?"
「ああ、アレね。なんで言うが……アレだ。農協の人だ」
"What, them? They're... part of the cooperative, the agricultural cooperative."
「ああ……。農協の……」
"O-Oh, The cooperative…"
外に出た男たちは黒のベントレーに乗り込みながら長田の家の玄関の方を一瞥した。
Outside, the men glanced back at the Nagata household as they climbed into a black, Bentley Continental.
「変わらんなあ。あの社長も」
"Nagata-san never changes."
「やっぱり紀一郎さんと直接話した方が良かったですかね」
"Looks like we'll have better luck talking to Kiichiro-san directly."
「そうだな。三代目はインテリだ。商売を知ってる。社長の作る草は天下一品だが、もうあの人は時代遅れだ。今時はガキでもシャブ喰ってる御時世よ。草の味のわかる客なんざいやしねぇのよ。俺たちも通の人相手に商売してたら干からびちまう。素人やＯＬやガキに流してシノがなきゃ仕方ねぇ。こっちだって危ない橋渡ってんのよ。奴らにとっちゃ質なんか関係ねぇ。そのへんの枯葉だっていいのよ。紙に巻いてそれだって言っときゃ本当に効いちゃうんだから。怖ぇよ、素人は」
"I guess so. It's always the third generation that gets the brains, understands how to do business. His fathers' may be the best grass but he's behind the times. These days, there are kids out there, drinking Chablis, they just don't care for the quality of their grass. Office girls and young men don't care for quality. It could be leaf litter for all they care. They'll still roll it up if it hits the spot. Amateurs are frightening."
煙草をくわえた男に若い男が火を差し出す。
The younger man offered to light his boss's cigarette.
「またアレですかね。さっきいた女」。若い男が含み笑いで言った。
"Do you think that women was another of those?" Said the young man with a chuckle.
「お見合いか？ 三代目の。だろうな、たぶん」
"A marriage candidate for the son? Maybe, probably."
「やってんですねぇ。また」
"They're at it again, aren't they."
「でも、今度のはかなりいいんじやないか？ なあ、アレ」
"This one seemed okay though. Didn't she?"
「ですね。そうとうでしたもんね」
"I agree. She looked good."
「アレは、キテるよなあ。でも、オマエ知ってるか？ 三代目の前のカミさんってミス・ユニバース日本代表なんだぞ」
"They've been around, lately. You know, his previous wife was a candidate for Miss Universe."
「えーっ！！ マジッスか！？ それで、なんでまた！？」
"What!! No way!? What's he doing with girls like that!?"
「三代目な、あの人、変態なんだ……」
"His son is - not quite normal..."
「私も、何かお手伝いしましょうか？」
"Can I do something to help?"
食事の仕度をしている鈴木と佐藤と田中に多恵子が声を掛ける。
Taeko called out to where Suzuki, Sato and Tanaka were preparing dinner.
「ハイ。ドウイタシマシタ」。鈴木が座っていろという手振りをした。紀一郎の父が吸うキセルの臭いがする。この臭いにも慣れてきて、少し心地良さを感じるようになった。
"No, you are welcome." Suzuki gestured for Taeko to stay sitting down. Taeko again noticed the smell coming from Kiichiro's father's pipe. As she became used to the smell a pleasant feeling overcame her.
「多恵子さん。あんた、畑仕事はできなさるんが？」
"Taeko-san. Have you ever worked outdoors?"
「はい。子供の頃から土をいじるのも好きですし、色々教えて頂ければ大丈夫だと……」
"Well. I enjoyed playing with the soil when I was a child. I think I will be fine if I could be shown what to do..."
「そうか。ところで、その化粧……」
"Well, you see. The thing is - about that make-up..."
「あ、はい……？」
"Yes...?"
「似合っどらんの。服も。紀一郎は地味な女が好みだからね」
"It doesn't suit you - and the clothes too. Kiichiro likes plain women."
「……。ちょっと御手洗いお借りします……」
".... perhaps, I'll just borrow you bathroom for a moment..."
便所の脇にあったヒビの入っている鏡を見ながら多恵子は化粧を落としていた。ここまで来たら結果はどうあれ気に入られなければ意味がない。鏡に映った自分の顔を見ながら気合いを入れ直していた。
Taeko took off her make-up in a cracked mirror she found in the corner of the washroom. There was no point in coming this far and making the wrong impression, whatever the reason. Taeko reexamined herself in the mirror and steeled her resolve once again.
友人にも親にも内緒でこのお見合いに来た。今までにも都内で行なわれている結婚紹介所が催すパーティや個人情報誌で見つけたサークルなどにも参加してきたが、やっぱり集まる人たちや、そこで知り合う男たちは結婚と恋愛を並行して考えている。いくら結婚を目的に私が参加したところで、その前にある恋愛関係を相手が欲していれば私はその対象から外されてしまう。
The marriage meeting was a secret from Taeko's friends and family. She had been to the parties organized by marriage agencies in Tokyo, and even joined the groups that advertised through the personals section in magazines, but the men she met and the people who gathered there always saw marriage and love as one and the same. I was there looking for a partner to marry, while everyone else seemed was there looking for a physical relationship.
おそらく、問題は私の容姿にあるのだろう。もちろん、男たちは口にこそ出しはしないけれど、その眼でわかる。態度で感じる。容姿で男を魅きつけることのできる女の人が感じたこともないような侘しさ。男たちは思っているほど女の中身なんか見てはくれない。かといって、私はその中身すらきれいな女の人にも劣るお粗末なものだから恋愛感情なんて持ち出されてはどう太刀打ちすることもできないのだ。
My problem was my appearance, no doubt. Men would never say so, but I understood the disappointment that was in their eyes, and felt it in their attitude towards me. It left me feeling wretched, in a way that a woman who could attract men by her appearance could never feel. Men do not tend see inside a women's personality as much as you would think. And even so, I'm as much of a mess on the inside, even compared to the pretty women. I wouldn't know what to do if those kind of physical emotions were brought out in me.
だから私にはこの農村のお見合いが合っているような気がしていた。女が溢れている東京と違って、嫁不足で女自体に希少価値があるこんな村が。親が嫁を農耕器具のひとつと考えていても構わない。相手の男が誰でもいいと思っていてもそれでいい。
Which is why I felt this marriage meeting in a farming village is right for me. Unlike Tokyo that is overflowing with women, in the villages there are few women and being a woman is, in and of itself, of value, and daughters can be thought of as another agricultural tool without concern. In the villages, where it is not of concern who the groom may be.
結婚ということが、これくらい感情と切り離れている方が丁度良いのだ。どんな恋愛結婚をした夫婦でも、いずれは恋愛感情なんか冷めてしまうのだから。結局は私の結婚と同じことなのだ。
This kind of division of marriage and emotion is perfectly fine. Emotions will fade with time between any couple that married for love, so eventually any marriage will become a marriage like mine.
マスカラもアイシャドーも拭き取り、眉毛も描き直した多恵子が囲炉裏の部屋に戻ってみると、囲炉裏を紀一郎の父、鈴木、佐藤、田中が囲むように座っていて、食事の仕度が整っていた。
When Taeko returned to the central hearth room after removing her mascara and eyeshadow and redoing her eyebrows, there was Kiichiro's father, Suzuki, Sato and Tanaka sitting around the hearth with the food ready and prepared.
「多恵子さん。こご座っで下さい。さっぎ紀一郎がら連絡もありましで、もうすぐ戻るおそぐなって申し訳ねえど伝えてくれど言うとりますたがら」
"Taeko-san, sit here. I just heard from Kiichiro - he told me to give his excuses and say he will be back soon."
「あっ、はい……。大丈夫ですから」
"Oh.... It's really alright"
紀一郎の父は多恵子の顔を覗き込みながら微笑んだ。
Kiichiro's father looked at Taeko's face and smiled.
「そっちの方がええですね。そうしでた方が目が小さぐ見えて、ええですね」
"That's much better. Your eyes look smaller."
多恵子がハンカチで口を押さえながらうなずくと、鈴木と佐藤と田中も揃ってうなずいた。囲炉裏には山菜などがたくさん入った濃い色昧の鍋が煮えていた。小鉢には蕗やわらびの煮付けが盛り付けてある。
Taeko covered a smile with her handkerchief and nodded; Suzuki, Sato and Tanaka nodded together in reply. A dark, earthenware pot filled with wild-growing vegetables was simmering over the earthen hearth.
「せっがぐ東京がら来でもらったんで、田舎料理らすいもんを食っでもらおうと思っでたんですが、このへんは山菜やらなんやらがほとんど穫れねぇもんですがら、今朝、東京の紀ノ国屋から空輸すてもらいましで、なんとか格好つけてみますた。田舎モンの食いものですけんど、どうぞ箸つげて下さい」
"We thought you would enjoy some country cuisine seeing you've come all the way from Tokyo. There aren't any wild plants for picking around here though - we got some airfreighted in from Kinokuniya in Tokyo this morning. It's only provincial food but, please, try some."
鈴木が鍋を取り分けてくれて前に置いた。佐藤がビールを注いでくれた。みんなで乾杯をして料理をつまむ。美昧しかった。味付けが上品だった。わらびを初めて食べたというオランダ人たちが国でも栽培できるか？ と紀一郎の父に聞いた。田中がオランダの民謡だという歌を歌い出す。どこかで聞いたことのある歌だった。鈴木と佐藤はそれに合わせて踊っている。紀一郎の父は多恵子にビールをすすめながら、何度もよく来てくれましたねと繰り返した。
Suzuki dealt out the contents of the earthenware pot, and Sato poured some beer for Taeko. They said kampai together and started to eat. The food was beautiful. The seasoning was excellent. The Dutch men who had never eaten warabi (bracken) before asked Kiichiro's father if it could be grown in Holland. Tanaka started singing a song he called a Dutch folk song. It was a song Taeko recognized but could not recall. Suzuki and Sato danced in time to the song, and while Kiichiro's father poured beer for Taeko he repeated how good it was that Taeko had come.
みんな優しくしてくれる。いい人たちだ。多恵子は来てよかったと思った。鈴木が胸ポケットから家族の写真を出して、指差しながら多恵子に子供たちの話をしてくれたが、ほとんどがオランダ語なので、ただそのニュアンスだけにうなずきながら多恵子は微笑み返した。写真には鈴木の奥さんらしき人とふたりの男の子が写っている。
"Everyone here is so nice to me." "The people are so good." "It's good that I came here" thought Taeko. Suzuki took some photos of his family from his pocket and, pointing at each, described his children to Taeko. He mostly spoke in Dutch and so Taeko smiled and nodded in reply to the accent and tempo of what he said. The photos were of two boys and what seemed Taeko made out to be Suzuki's wife.
囲炉裏の炎とビールで体が温まってくる。ここに嫁ぎたいなと多恵子はぼんやりと思っていた。まだ紀一郎に会う前から、もうそんなことを考えていた。
Taeko's body warmed with the beer and the earthen hearth fire. Taeko thought absentmindedly that she would like to marry into this. She was already thinking this, even as she had yet to meet Kiichiro.
このお見合いが決まって、紀一郎と初めて電話で話した時の印象は悪くなかった。おっとりとした口調で丁寧に話す。誠実な感じの物言いだった。そして何より、互いの写真を送り合った後、紀一郎は私の写真を見てタイプですと言ってくれた。この言葉が私にこのお見合いを決断させたのだ。私は外見をほめられることが一番うれしい。
After the marriage meeting had been decided after talking on the phone, Taeko's impression of Kiichiro was a good one. His spoken manner was composed and polite with a sincere way of talking. And, better still, after exchanging photographs, Kiichiro said Taeko was his type. Those words had decided it for Taeko. More than anything, Taeko had been happiest that she complemented on her appearance.
何やら佐藤が涙ぐんでいる。国の家族でも思い出したのだろうか。鈴木と田中が肩を組み、佐藤のことをはげましている。
Sato seemed to be crying. He was probably thinking of his family back in Holland. Suzuki and Tanaka went to comfort Sato together.
「佐藤さん、元気出して下さい……」
"Sato-san, please cheer up..."
そう多恵子が声を掛けた時たった。入り口から小走りに紀一郎が帰って来た。
Said Taeko, when at that moment Kiichiro hurried in from the entrance.
「多恵子さん！！ 木当にすみません！！」
"Taeko-san!! I am so sorry!!"
スマートにスーツを着こなした長身の紀一郎。写真で見るよりもずっと素敵な人だ。ヴィトンのブリーフケースを三和土に置くと慌てて靴を脱ぎ、多恵子にバラの花束を差し出しながら、遅くなったことを何度も詫びる。突然のことで、考えていた挨拶も口に出ないまま、多恵子は恐縮しながら中腰になり、花束を受け取った。人から花束をもらうのは最初の会社を退職する時以来である。
Kiichiro was tall and wearing a stylish suit. He looked much more attractive than in the photograph. He lay a Vuitton suitcase down at the entrance, busily took off his shoes and presented a bouquet of roses to Taeko while apologizing repeatedly for being late. It was all so sudden that Taeko could only accept the bouquet timidly while half-bowing, not even making an introduction. Taeko had not been given a bouquet of flowers since leaving her first place of work.
「今日、さっぎ、横浜の渡辺さんどごの若い衆が来だが、紀一郎。おんしがなんや草の都合がどうだっで言うどっだど」
"Kiichiro, some of Watanabe's young guys from Yokohama were here just earlier. They said they didn't care what kind of crops they took from us."
父に咎められるような口調でそう言われるのを、その話は後でと遮りながら多恵子の隣にあぐらをかくと、鈴木がビールを注いだ。
Kiichiro cut across his father, who was talking with an admonishing tone, and said to leave it until later as he sat down cross-legged next to Taeko, and Suzuki poured him a glass of beer.
「それじゃ、多恵子さん。今日は本当に遠路はるばるありがとうございました。お呼びしておいてお待たせしまして本当に申し訳ない。まぁ、こんなとこですが、遊びに来たつもりでゆっくりしていって下さい。じゃ改めまして、乾杯！」
Well then, Taeko-san. Thank you for coming so far today. And, I am sincerely sorry for keeping you waiting. So, well, I hope you can enjoy your time here, just think of it as if you're on holiday. Once more everyone, kampai!"
みんなでグラスを合わせてそれを飲み干した。オランダ勢が口笛を吹きながら拍手をする。多恵子は気恥ずかしそうに笑って頭を下げた。
Everyone touched glasses together and drank. One of the Dutch group blew a whistle as they all clapped to celebrate. Taeko laughed quietly with her head bowed.
なにか、どこかに迷い込んだような温かい夜だった。
The warmth of the evening felt like she was lost in a dream.
後片付けを手伝うと言ったが鈴木にまたも座っていろという仕草をされた。紀一郎に少し外を歩きませんかと言われて表に出る。見上げると、星が光って手に届きそうなくらい近く感じた。
After dinner, Taeko offered to help clear away but Suzuki again insisted that she sit down. Kiichiro asked if she would like to take a short walk outside. Outside, Taeko looked up at the sky - the stars shined as if they were within arms reach.
澄んだ空気と湿った草の臭い。風に触れ合う本々の葉が星明かりに照らされてキラキラ見える。田舎は昼よりも夜の方がきれいだ。視覚ではなく、皮膚や本能で感じる美しさがある。
The clear sky and the warm smell of grass. The leaves swaying with the wind sparkling in the starlight. The countryside is more beautiful at night than in the day. It's a beauty you feel under your skin, not with your eyes.
畦道を紀一郎に続いて歩いた。広大な畑にまっすぐ続くその小道の先は、暗がりと星空の地平線に繋がってるようで、とても幻想的だった。
Taeko walked behind Kiichiro along a country path. The small byway, surrounded by wide fields, continued out into the distance where darkness met starry sky on a magical horizon.
「すごい広い畑ですよね、お父様がお昼にこのへんはみんな家の畑だとおっしやってまし
た」
"The fields are tremendously large. At lunch your father said all these belong to your family?"
「そうですね。ここと、隣の村、合わせると東京のディズニーランドくらいはあると思います」
"Yes, they do. Here, and over to the next village. Taken together about the size of Tokyo Disneyland I think."
「えー！ すごい。でもそれだけ手広くやってらっしゃると、お仕事も大変でしょう？」
"Really. That is amazing. But isn't the work tremendously hard when done on such a large scale?"
「まあ、収穫の時期になるとオランダから何十人も職人が来ますが、僕はまだまだ仕事の手を拡げたい。今は手作業ですが、いずれはここで穫れるものを樹脂に固める為の工場も必要です。また、ケミカルの方面にも積極的に参入するべきだと考えているんです。農業も時代のニーズに応えるものにもチャレンジしていかなければいけない。ただの老舗ではなく若い世代が変えていかなきやいけないこともあると思うんです。しかし、まぁ、御覧のとおり、親父は頑固者だから」
"Yes, at harvest time we have some tens of laborers over from Holland, though I'm still planning to expand. At the moment the work is done by hand, but we will need a factory here as well to fix the resin. I think we should actively use chemicals with the crops. Even agriculture has to adjust to the demands of the times. I don't think we should live in the past; the youth of each generation must bring about the necessary change. But, well, as you can see, father is set in his ways.
紀一郎は母屋の方を親指で指さすと笑いながら言った。多恵子もクスクスと笑って紀一郎に言う。
Kiichiro said, laughing as he pointed his thumb over his shoulder towards the main building. Taeko giggled a little as well, and said to Kiichiro.
「でも、なんか、ホントに立派な跡継ぎって感じですね」
"But, really, it is a tremendous inheritance, is it not?"
「そうかなあ？ ははは。でもね、若かった頃は自分が実家を継ぐなんて考えてもみなかった。というより、絶対、継ぐもんかって思ってましたよ」
"Is it really? Ha-ha-ha. You know, when I was young I never once thought the family home would succeed to me. Or rather, I thought, I will never succeed my father."
しばらく歩くと、畑の中にある少し土の出た場所に木製の丸いテーブルと椅子がふたつ。ふたりでそこに腰かけて空を見上げる。
After walking for a while they came to an earthen mound in the middle of the field, where stood a wooden table and two chairs. Taeko and Kiichiro sat down and looked up to the stars.
「どうですか？ こんな田舎ですけど。正直言って驚かれたんじゃないですか？」
"What do you say? It is very provincial. And, be honest, you are surprised, aren't you?"
「いえ。まぁ、でも、本当にいい所ですね。こんなにきれいな星を見たのも初めてですし、お父さまもオランダの皆さんも本当にいい方たちで。それに毎日こんな空気の中にいらっしゃるなんて、うらやましいです。でも、私が想像していた農家のイメージと違うことも多くて。それには少し驚いてますけど」
"No. Well, yes. But, it is a wonderful location. I've never been in a place where the stars are this beautiful, and your father and his Dutch friends are tremendously good people. I'm jealous you can live under this sky every single day. Then again, there are a lot of things that are not as I had imagined a farmer's family would be. Things that surprise me somewhat."
紀一郎はネクタイを緩めながら笑った。
Kiichiro loosened his tie and laughed.
「そうでしょうね。都会の方は農家のことを誤解してらっしゃる。これはちゃんとお話ししておかなければならないことですが、ここには何でもあります。おっしゃるように美しい自然もある。そして、うちには金もあります。買えない物は何ひとつとしてない。生意気ですが、東京のブルジョワと呼ばれる人たちの比ではないほど金はある。しかし、唯一ないモノが嫁なんです。いや、厳密に言えば嫁だって金で買うことはできる。こちらの経済力を披露して、のんびりと田舎暮らしをしませんかと言えばいくらでも相手は見つかるでしょう。しかし、そんな話に乗って来るような女たちはだめです。そういう女は今まで男たちにチヤホヤされて自在に恋愛を楽しんできた女たちです。コンプレックスで性格を歪めることもなく、伸び伸びと微笑んできた女。結婚を期にワンランク上の生活を目指し優雅で温かい家庭を作りたいと思っているようなありきたりでつまらない女たちですよ」
"I thought as much. People living in the city misunderstand farmers. You should know that we have something of everything out here. Like you say, there is beauty in nature. And, our family has money. We lack for nothing in terms of what can be bought. And, speaking candidly, we have money far exceeding that of what the bourgeois of Tokyo could ever know. The one thing this family lacks for though is a bride. And yet, to be strictly honest, I could easily purchase a bride if I wanted. If I were to advertise my economic resources and look for someone to live a gentle life in the countryside, I would surely find women who were willing. But women attracted by those circumstances are not good women. Those kinds of women have been spoiled by men, and lived at the beck and call of their emotions. They live carefree, laughing at life. Such women are boring and common; they only see marriage as another potential step up the ladder to creating their own refined family lifestyle."
呆れたような顔で紀一郎は言った。
Kiichiro said, with his face contorted into a look of disapproval.
「どうして、だめなんですか……？ 私は、私白身はそんな女性に憧れますけど……」
"W-why is that no good....? I myself aspire to those women...."
「農家の嫁らしくないからです。農家の嫁としての奥行きがない。悲哀がない。農家という仕事は様式が大切なのですよ。いくら生活が潤っていようと農家らしさという様式美を失ってはいけない。亡くなった私の母のように、どこから見ても一片の曇りもないほどに農家の女というあの美しさ。私はそういう女性が好きなのです。そういう女性を美しいと感じる。見ているだけで涙が出そうになるほどくたびれた背中。屈折と自虐が花を咲かせたような硬い笑顔。幸せを人の半分も味わったことのないような風情。私はそんな魅力を持った女性と暮らしたい」
"Because it's not becoming of a farmer's bride. The depth of being a farmer's wife is not there. They lack grief. Formality is important in the work of the farmer. A farmer's wife must not lose her formal beauty, no matter how fortunate her lifestyle becomes. The kind of beauty as my diseased mother had, that is the beauty a farmer's wife should have, and that is the kind of women I like. Those are the kind of women I find beautiful. When they face away from you, they have a back so weary you could cry just to behold it; a hard smile like a flower blossoming in the face of adversity; a feeling that most people will never come to experience. I want to live with a woman with that kind of appeal."
小さく虫の音がした。多恵子は目を伏せてテーブルの木目を見つめたままだった。
A small insect sang out. Taeko's eyes were cast down, staring at the grain in the wooden table.
「……。多恵子さん、私との結婚を考えてみてはくれませんか」
".... Taeko-san, would you consider being my wife?"
「えっ…！？ 結婚！？」
"What...!? Your wife!?"
囲炉裏の部屋には紀一郎の父と３人のオランダ人がまだ酒盛りを続けていた。自在かぎに掛けられた純銀のプレートの上ではてんこ盛りの草に直接火を点けて燃やしている。極上のワインを飲みながらキセルに樹脂を詰め込み、深々と肺に煙を送り込む。
Kiichiro's father and the three Dutch men were still drinking in the earthen hearth room. A pile of grass gathered in a sliver plate hanging from the pot hanger was burning above the earthen hearth. Kiichiro's father and the three Dutch men were drinking expensive wine while filing their pipes with resin and breathing the smoke deep into their lungs.
紀一郎の父が鈴木たちに農家の在り方というものを語っていた。佐藤はメモを取っている。
Kiichiro's father was espousing to the Suzuki about how a farmer's holding should be run. Suzuki was taking notes.
「ええが。たどえば紀一郎の嫁取りひどつにしでも、農業のひどつだぁ。百姓にプライベードはねえ。生きるごとすべてが農業だぁ。すべてだぁ。しがし、あの多恵子さんはええ。あれは農家の嫁に向いどる。なんで、百姓はマブい嫁をもらわねえが知っでるが？ もし、百姓が好かんたらしい嫁っ子もらっでカウンタッグ乗り回すてたら、素人がみんな百姓やりだがるべや。見てぐれのいい女なんがは欲しい時に金で買えばええ。オレたち百姓はええ草作るこどど、百姓になりでえど思う奴を作らねえごどだげ考えてればええんだ」
"You see. For example, even Kiichiro's wife will become part of our agriculture. On a farm there are no secrets. All living things are agricultural, and agriculture is every thing. And yet, Taeko is a good one. She's suited to becoming a farmer's wife, because a farmer cannot take on a beautiful wife. If farmers took on any girl as a wife and drove them round in a Lamborghini Countach, every pretty girl would want to become a farmer's wife. If you want a woman that's easy on the eye, go out and buy one. Farmers should take on what's best for his crops, and what people are best for his crops."
独身の佐藤は念入りにメモを取っている。
Sato, a bachelor, noted everything down carefully.
多恵子は複雑なうれしさを味わいながら紀一郎の顔を上目遣いで見た。
Feeling a complex euphoria of emotions, Taeko looked up towards Kiichiro's face.
「多恵子さん。私は前の妻を一度も愛したことはない。かわいいとさえ感じたこともない。私は自分の家が豪農だったばっかりに、女性にだけは恵まれなかった。学生の頃も私の周りには派手な女ばかりが集まった。実家に戻ってからも独身の私を気遣ってか、クライアントの方々が東京から良家の女や女優やモデルばかり連れて来ては私に見合いをさせた。顔とスタイルと性格がいいだけの魅力のない女です。前の妻とは、いわゆる偽装結婚のようなものでした。これは余談だが彼女たちはみんなパンツの股がみが浅い。私は股がみの深いものが好みです。浅いものには悲壮感がなくていけない。しかし、多恵子さん。私はさっき囲炉裏の前に座っていたあなたを見た途端、なにか運命的なものを感じました。幼稚に聞こえるかもしれないが、この人しかいないと。はっきり言って、一目惚れしました」
"Taeko-san. I never once loved my last wife. Never once thought of her as beautiful. I have been fortunate to have a bountiful farm, but unfortunate with women. Even as a student I was surrounded by flamboyant and showy women. And after returning to my farming homestead as a bachelor, our clients brought women with them from Tokyo, girls from good families, actresses, models - all potential brides. They were beautiful, stylish and charming, but I was attracted to none of them. My last marriage was a sham. It may be rude of me to say this but they were all women with thin hips. I prefer women with wide hips. With thin-hipped women there is too much entertaining to be done. But, Taeko-san, the moment I saw you sat in front of the hearth, it was like fate had tapped me on the shoulder. It sounds childish I known but I thought this is the one for me. Honestly, it was love at first sight.
多恵子にとって生まれて初めて聞く言葉、生まれて初めて上げられたステージだった。
This was the first time in her life Taeko had been told those words - the first time she had been put on such a platform.
「そんな……。あまり買いかぶられても……。だって、まだ、今日お会いしたばかりですし、後で失望させてしまうかもしれません。私は紀一郎さんにそう言って頂けるような女ではないし、自信もありません……」
"You... You can't just say that. You only met me today, and I'll probably disappoint you in time. I am not a woman deserving of such words. I could not trust it."
紀一郎は多恵子の手を両手で握りしめた。
Kiichiro took tight hold of Taeko's hand in his.
「何を言うんです。あなたはすごい人です。私は会った瞬間にときめきました。世の中の男性がプロポーズの言葉によく言うセリフですが、私ほどこの言葉を嘘もなく言う男はいないでしょう。多恵子さん。ありのままのあなたが好きだ。あなたと結婚したい」
"What are you saying. You are a wonderful person. My heart has beaten faster from the moment I met you. What I said may be words spoken by every man on the point of a proposal of marriage, but there is not one man who can say such words as truthfully as I. Taeko-san. I like you for yourself, and I want to marry you."
「ありのままの私……」
"Me for myself..."
「そうです。あなたのその外見も、あなたから漂う、その負のエネルギーも。すべてが私の理想の人だ。失礼かもしれないが、あなたは東京ではモテないのかもしれない。しかしそれは決してあなたが劣っているからではない。あなたを求めている男が東京にいなかっただけの話だ。しかし、多恵子さん。あなたを必要としている男がいる。あなたを世界一魅力的だと感じてる男が、あなたをこの世で一番美しいと見つめている男が、ここに、いるんです」
"That's right. You for yourself - your appearance that grows from it - and that lack of emotion. They all fit my ideal partner. I may be being too forward when I say that I can tell you were probably not popular in Tokyo. But it was in no way by any fault of your own. It was because there are no men in Tokyo who wanted you. But, Taeko-san, there is one man here who wants and needs you. There is one man who sees you as the most beautiful woman in the world, the most attractive in the world; and he is here."
握られた両手に強く力が伝わった。多恵子は胸が苦しくて、喉元や指先、顔中が熱くなった。木の葉の擦れ合う音と一緒に多恵子の頬をかすめて行った風は、多恵子の髪を少しだけ唇に掛けて止めた。そして、多恵子は今、ちょっと自分がきれいになってる気がしていた。
The force of his words passed through the tightness of his grip and into her hands. Taeko felt a tightness in her chest, and heat gathering through her throat, fingers and face. Taeko's hair blew up to her lips, on a wind that both caressed her cheeks and bristled the leaves in the trees. For that moment Taeko felt that she had become more beautiful.
紀一郎は懐から銀のシガレットケースを取り出して、一本の巻きタバコに火を点け、深く吸い込むと、指でつまんで多恵子に渡した。煙がするすると空にかかる梯子のように昇って見えた。
Kiichiro took a silver cigarette case from his pocket, lit a single rolled cigarette, breathed in deeply, and motioned to pass the cigarette to Taeko. Smoke rose like a ladder up into the air.
「うちの畑で穫れた草です。吸ってみて下さい。この草をあなたと一緒に育ててゆきたいんです」
"This is the grass taken from our fields. Please, try some. I want to grow this grass together with you.
多恵子はそれを受け取り、肺の奥まで深く送り込んだ。ゆっくりと煙を吐きながら星空を見上げる。頭の中の血管がきゆっと細くなったようで、さっきよりも、もっと星に手が届きそうな気がした。
Taeko accepted the cigarette and sucked the smoke deep into her lungs. As she exhaled, she looked up to the starry sky. Suddenly, with a feeling as if all the vessels in her head were clenched, the stars in the sky felt even more within reach.
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