My work 13~The sound of dust 2~

A Happy New Year! 

 (This story is the battle between Heike and Genji.

Yoshitsune is one of the samurai of Genji family. He is a military commander

 This story begins from the storytelling by Genjo)

The sound of dust ~2~

Samurai who offended against Heike(A Samurai family) waited for the troops of Genji. About 20 soldiers betrayed Heike. So, Yoshitsune’s troop horses became 300. The Yoshitsune’s troops were around the sea shore.

“It grew dark today. We can’t determine the battle. ” Yoshitsune said.

When they were going to retreat, they found a small ship decorated gloriously rowed up to the shore. And the ship stopped at the area which is about 77 meters from the shore.

“What’s that?”

They found that a beautiful and graceful woman with red skirt attached a fan of at the cat the tip pole. A drawing of rising sun was at the center of the fan. She put the pole up at the board and beckoned to the Yoshitsune’s troops on the shore.

 Yoshitsune called the Goto Hyoue Sanemoto(a samurai) and asked, “What’s the meaning of her beckoning?” Sanemoto answered, “Shoot the fan with bow and arrow. Someone would shoot you if you saw that beautiful woman from even closer. I guess it is their trap. But someone in our troop should shoot that fan.”

 “Anyone who can shoot that fan in our troops!?” Yoshitsune said to the troop.

 “Actually, there are many master hands of the bow. I think Nasuno Yoichi(samurai) is the best of all. He is a small stature though.” Sanemoto said.

“What’s the evidence?” Yoshitsune asked.

 “He always shoots 2 or 3 birds at the shooting competition.” Sanemoto said politely.

 “Bring him here.” Yoshitsune said.

Yoichi was just 20 years old then. His armor was yellow. It was decorated colorfully. He was holding a bow under his arm. He took off his helmet and humbled himself in front of Yoshitsune.   

 “Shoot the center of that fan. Show your skill to Heike family.” Yoshitsune said.

 “I am not sure. If I missed it, that would be our shameful accident for a long time. I would like you to order to someone else.” Sanemoto said.

 Yoshitsune said angrily, “Everybody who left Kamakura(the name of a region of eastern Japan) must not reject my order. If you have any discontent, you must leave here.”

 Yoichi said, “My trial may be failed, but I’ll try.”

 He backed off. He put the crupper and the saddle on his black horse. And then he picked up the bow. He walked his horse to the sea. His friendly army saw off him and said.

“He must do it.”

Yoshitune also saw off him.

 The distance was too far to shoot the fan. So Yoichi walked the horse into the sea just 10 meters. However, it still seemed to be around 70 meters to the fan. It was about eight o’clock in the afternoon. The date was 18^th February. The wind from the north was very strong, and the wave was so strong. The ship far from Yoichi was rocking so much. The fan was swaying. A lot of Heike soldiers were watching Yoichi. Their ships were lined up in the open sea. It was a grand stage.  

 Yoich closed his eyes…

 “Na mu ha chi man dai bo satsu… Please, the God…in the Nikko(the name of the place), Utsunomiya, Nasu… please let me shoot that fan. If I missed to shoot the fan, I would break my bow and kill myself. I would not be able to meet anyone. If you think I should be back to my hometown, please let me shoot that fan. ”. He prayed in his  

mind. He opened his eyes. He found the wind was weakened just a bit. It seemed to be good condition to shoot it. Yogic took a whistling arrow. He drew the bow to the full and released the arrow. He was just a small stature but his arrow was 50cm. His bow was very strong.  The whistling arrow sounded in the air and hit the fan right 3cm from the pivot. The whistling arrow fell into the sea. The fan flew into the air. It flicked in the spring air for a while and fell in the sea. The red fan was floating on the sea surface. The drawing of sun rising on the fan was seen there. The Heike’s soldiers at the open sea got surprised so much. The Genii’s soldiers praised Yogic, beat their quivers. 

To be continued