2019年6月12日
A Dosage of Medicine(6) by Akihisa Ogino, translated by J.Kageyama
Genzo finished telling his rather one-sided version of the incident, then, “The young ones these days are crazy. I was so mad I wanted to hit him, bang! on the head with some stick. But he’s my only son, and I don’t want him to die yet. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-!” he laughed, showing rows of white teeth upon his large face.
“Actually, despite everything I say, he’s got character---not that I’m saying this ‘cuz he’s my own son, Doctor.” He opened his eyes wider, giving them a momentary roundness. Then his laughter shook his large frame. He checked his bottle, bringing it up to the light, again. “There’s still some left! Plenty left. Doctor, why don’t you try some? Eh, a little bit?” He emptied the contents of a tea cup into the corner of a hibachi, sending the hot coals sizzling. Holding the cup, he said," I told him---that the girl is not only his bride. “He took a few gulps.
“Not only his bride?” I gave him a disturbed look.
“Well, I've been thinking. Get a bride that’s real pretty and make her the wife for both of us---my son's and mine. Is there anything wrong with that? I guess I shouldn’t be talking like this to a young doctor. But its okay; huh? It’s only talk, after all.”
He peered into my face that was turned toward the hibachi embers.
