To old edition.
         
The dream like reality.        

The former English revised edition was revised like this in November 2, 2013.
Hiromasa Noguti.


4. The suspicious forest.


I were in the middle of deep woods covered with the darkness of night, when noticing suddenly. Although apparently the moon seems to be casting the pale light on this forest, it is hard to see the moon because of the thickly growing trees' countless leaves and twigs. Narrowly several weak beams getting in through the woods suggested there is the moon. However, why am I in the strange place like this? Immediately before, I was sitting on the rocking chair in my home certainly. It is that I there was thinking about the words the dying-looking fairy who appeared in the dream in question uttered. I'm remembering the thing clearly. In spite of that, I can't recollect the process of my coming here. I fell into the strange sense it got into the different world before noticing.
"Did I get sleepwalking or other? So, did I walk to here?". I for a moment got caught to the guess not normal like that. Probably it is because I was bewildered because of the strange situation. I breathed deeply, trying to keep calm. Just then, I suddenly thought "This strange situation may be the dying-looking fairy's handiwork". It is that somehow the dream I saw before doesn't seem to be mere dream. I felt that strange dream is a warning that the fairy in question hasn't a good feel for me. However, is this feel of mine right really? Even if he hates me, would he who is good fairy do the thing like that? Before all, it seems to be hard to do the thing like that for the dying spirit even if he thinks to do so. Needless to say, it is because he seems to have lost his characteristic force anymore. But if so, why am I obliged to be in this strange situation? By any chance, is it that this place I'm in isn't the forest the good fairy guards? And, if so, is it that this strange situation is the evil spirit's handiwork? I felt a fear because of this non understandable situation, looked around from behind the big tree.

The car and the carriage or other transportation don't exist in the world I'm now in. To come here, it has to walk with one's legs. If so, would it be that I walked to here unconsciously? As it thought before, would I have gotten sleepwalking? In fact, I'm bewildered like this, not knowing why I'm here. Or else, would it be that the evil spirit led me to come here, deceiving me and making me sleepwalking? But to all appearances this seems to be terribly dubious conjecture. My legs had become weak considerably because of the recent easy peaceful life. I can't go to the so far place with my legs. If so, this place seems to be somewhere of the forest the good fairy guards. And, if so, as it thought before, it is hard to think that the evil spirit deceived me. Rather it may be better to think that the dying fairy in question put me into this situation. But I can't believe one's conjecture somehow. Furthermore I also had noticed there is the other strange problem.

The forest the good fairy guards had changed to the farms and the pastures. So, the thick woods almost had disappeared. And it never be the dream. That was to be the sure fact because it is that I cut the trees of the forest. In spite of that, I'm now looking at the sight of the forest so thick that it feels a fear. And when iy is walking among the gloomy mist, it feels there is an evil spirit here though it doesn't know why. Somehow it doesn't seem this is the forest the good fairy guards. I watched at the state of the woods carefully, trying to understand this situation. And when observing like that for a little while, I'm caught to the sense that it remembers many trees growing here were in the forest the good fairy guards. If so, as it thought before, this place I'm in would be the forest the good fairy guards. But it may be that the hope I thought unconsciously brought me the illusion like that. I, after all unable to believe this is the forest the good fairy guards, sank into the thought. And, before noticing, I had walked on the mountain path it can narrowly see with slight moon light, with me understanding nothing but while feeling a vague fear. It may be that it tried to find out something to lead the right answer.
However, it feels the coldness in the forest soaks into my mind and body terribly. And, the dark oppressing me quietly as if it is depressive seems to be forcing me to walk more quickly. I kept on only walking, while feeling the evil intention of someone, relying on a little moonlight that comes into the woods. And, I, when walking for a little while, found out the familiar tree across the dark woods by chance. It certainly was the oak I didn't cut to use as the mark in measurement. If so, as it thought before, this forest must be the forest the good fairy in question guards. I, when thinking so, could narrowly feel easy. And with light step I started to walk toward the direction of the area my residence would be standing on.

However, why has this forest gotten filled like this with the thickly growing trees as if it has returned to old times? By any chance, because the good fairy became weak, would it be that the evil spirit invaded into this forest and cast the spell on these trees? So, the trees in this forest would have grown rapidly and to weird appearance, like this? However he became weak, it seems to be strange that he leaves an evil spirit invading into his forest this easily. If the fairy is allowing the evil spirit's doing really, I can't but feel an anger. "I was living in here peacefully until now. But my effort continued until now all got spoilt because you do nothing!". I, murmuring like that, glared at the dark heavens in spite of oneself.
But, however it hurls oaths at the heavens, the problem wouldn't be solved. I necessarily have to find out the good fairy and ask him to cure the bad circumstances of this forest. If not, this forest would be trampled by the evils completely. And the wealth I got with cultivating this forest all would be lost. I paid attention to the surrounding sight walking the dark mountain path slowly trying to find out the good fairy. However, it can feel nothing as for the sign that the good fairy is in near. Rather it feels even a weird air because of the quiet situation a wind doesn't blow at all. Besides, I can't feel at all the scent this forest the good fairy once guarded always was giving off. Would this be the good fairy already died? But it can't think so somehow. "The good fairy is in somewhere of this forest surely". I told me so. Just then, I suddenly recalled that the good fairy appeared to the dream I saw in my home. "If so, if I return to my home, the good fairy may appear". Although it wasn't the sure reason, I walked hurrying, trying to go back to my home fast. However, the thickly growing twigs and also ivies, hanging down over me, obstruct my walking, at the path of the night increasingly becoming dark. Furthermore, I had come to not know where I'm walking. It must be because the evil spirit is obstructing me. Thereupon, I tried to find out the other route to my home.
However, since the sense of direction had been lost, it doesn't know which to go to. And, when I looks back at the path I had walked, the sight I was to have seen had changed to unknown world. Apparently, it seems that the past is same as the future in that the past also is unknown here. If not, it may be that the past world disappeared in the reason of something. Or else, would this be the result coming from mere forgetfulness? So, would it be that it thinks that the past world is unknown world? Although it doesn't know which is true, can I find out the good fairy, being in the condition like this really? However, it is awkward to do nothing with sinking oneself into the thinking in this case. I, deciding to entrust my fate to the heavens, advanced forward like mad while pushing the branches, twigs, and so on aside.

When it suddenly turns my eyes to the down dark ground hazy under my legs, weeds not known even of name are covering the path supposed to be here, growing thickly. "As it thought before, this is an evil spirit's handiwork. It must be obstructing my going back to my home, trying to lead me to the nothingness". Now thing has come to this pass, I couldn't but believe so. Just then, strange dream in question I saw last night crosses my mind. By any chance, would the miserable appearance of dying-looking spirit I saw in the dream have been the warning showed for me? Or else, would it be that the good fairy is dying because of an evil spirit's attack really? I feel a fear somehow. I again looked for the good fairy who would be in this forest, opening my eyes as wide as I can. If the good fairy had died, it would be difficult to be promised my being safe. It may be that I fall into the nothingness, caught to an evil spirit. By any chance, would this be the punishment of my having made light of the good fairy? I suddenly got caught to the imagination like that.

However, the thing like that is different from my hope. It may be that modest me disappears somewhere when selfish me appears. So, I denied that at once, thinking "Since I never had done evil behavior, the reason I got caught to the imagination like that would be the thing that I committed a misjudgement because of an evil spirit's intrigue". However, it can't sweep away the haze of my mind. And, again dream of the good fairy it saw last night crossed my mind as if it frashes back. However, why is that dream on my mind? When I sink into the thinking because of that question, it recalls the dying-looking fairy showed me his anger in the dream clearly. Although it still isn't so clear why he was angry, it can't forget the words like a curse he spat out to me, saying "I don't allow you!". By any chance, would it be that the horrible change of this forest is the dying-looking spirit's handiwork? It may be that he changed the appearance of this forest, trying to give me the punishment. Needless to say, this is the conjecture which has to be denied for me. But if this conjecture is right and if he is angry, it was obvious it is difficult to find out the good fairy. It was because the good fairy almost doesn't appear even in the time he is calm.

In spite of that, I again sink into the thought, thinking "it is hard to think that the dying-looking fairy can give the forest this drastic change". Although this is the problem supposed to have been solved before, it, again appearing strangely, crosses my mind. So, I again returned to the place I started to walk before. Needless to say, in the situation like this, it is impossible to find out even my home to say nothing of the good fairy. Although just before, it narrowly could distinguish the trees left as the mark, it is hard to do so now. The uncannily shaped trees look like to be one weird creature, clinging. I had felt that that creature is obstructing me. The beams of moonlight having slightly gotten in the forest just before don't reach on the ground now anymore. The moonlight having been cast on the woods was only making a few treetops and twigs float in the dark a little, narrowly becoming the weak several beams of light because of the thickly growing trees. It looks like to be the place full of demons that a black veil Satan spreads covers all. And, I kept on walking aimlessly in that dark world the demons may live in.

However, how many punishments would he be satisfied giving me? What on earth should I apologize about? Would it be about the having made light of him? Or, would I have made the good fairy angry with my behavior of something, before noticing ? I didn't ask the good fairy why he got angry in the dream in question. If it could know even the thing, it may be that it could find out the good fairy. But, even if I could know the thing, it doesn't know whether thing went well actually. Anyhow, I couldn't find out the result able to get satisfied after all. So, I stopped walking in spite of oneself. And I looked for light in the dark though it doesn't know why. Just then, it can see through ferns and shrub several faint light floating upon the ground across the dark haze. "But, what is giving off that light?". I, when murmuring like that in spite of oneself, advanced toward the strange light. It may be because there was the expectancy of something in my heart.
I walked toward the strange light furthermore. Just then, it sees the surfaces of several rotting and fallen trees are fluorescing in places. Apparently, the cause of the fluorescence is the unfamiliar moss growing on decayed tree. And else, it could see that the unfamiliar weeds and ferns are growing in places, on the decayed trees. The tall ferns growing by the side of the rotting and fallen trees, becoming like silhouette because of that fluorescence, are floating into the dark sight as if it, like is a shadow the projector reflects. However, what a mysterious sight it is! I watched at that sight, stopping walking in spite of oneself. But, that sight is queer a little. It can't feel an energy of life from that sight though it doesn't know why. Rather it is the terribly cold sight making a person feel inorganic matter. "Isn't this expressing the silence of death? Isn't it that the good fairy died?". I had murmured like that before noticing. Just then, that murmur of mine causes a inexpressible uneasiness, making my heart waver. And, phantom of evil spirit crosses my mind. I again started to walk forward as if it escapes from that phantom.

This forest is in the state so terrible that it can't imagine the good fairy once guarded this forest. Somehow it can't understand why it is so. By any chance, is it related to the thing I cultivated this land? However, in reality I don't want the thing it is true. Certainly I cut down many trees. But I never have made the act which may spoil this forest's beautiful sight. The trees in this forest were cut down under the careful plan to keep the beautiful sight. So, this forest could keep the beauty as the background to make my beautiful fields and pastures prominent at least until this forest changes to the uncanny like this. In that reason, as it thought before, it was natural that I thought an evil spirit invaded into this forest because the good fairy weakened.
However, would it be so really? Even if an evil spirit invaded into this forest really, it is hard to think the forest changed so rapidly. However, since a strange thing often occurs here, it also can't assert at once that it is so certainly. Rather, it seems to be more proper to think that the rapid change of this forest is related to my deed of something if I obey the intuition, though the thought like that once had crossed my mind slightly. Although my noticing it may have been late, I would have to recognize this conjecture fits with the fact. I until now had thought all living things are only the object of my desires. Furthermore, I, making light of the good fairy, had thought only the getting the benefit. Rather it may be better to say that I had forgotten the good fairy completely.

Ever since I started to live here, this forest gave me many benefits for long. However, I didn't try to guard this forest without thankfulness, forgetting the good fairy. Rather I had been interested to only the usefulness of this forest. So, it may be that this forest became terribly rough like this. The spirit ignored becomes weak. So, it may be that an evil spirit invaded into this holy land, and changed this forest to the uncanny forest. If so, as it thought before, I can't but think the good fairy went away. Anyhow, it was certain this forest filled with weird air once was the forest the good fairy guards. And, probably this forest is about to become the place full of demons now. If so, the wealth I kept on accumulating for long would be lost, soon, as if it is a bubble which is blown by wind. Needless to say, It also would be impossible to taste the peaceful life. "How silly I am! Was the game over anymore?". I got possessed to the despair.
However, it is impossible a person keeps on living together with a despair. It needs a hope to live, even if it is as a phantom vision or a delusion. Probably in that reason, I had pushed one's rational mind into the bottom of the heart unconsciously when I was caught to the despair. "I got lost though not knowing when. So, I must have stepped into woods full of demons, before noticing. Yes, this isn't the forest the good fairy guards. The good fairy is supposed to be in his forest safely, surely.". I told oneself like that, thinking the convenient interpretation for myself. In other words, I was foolish enough to escape into the idea like the Ptolemaic geocentric system theory the people in Middle Ages believed. However, my rational mind was strong against the deception like that though it doesn't know whether it was fortunate. I had known the bigoted belief and the belief convenient for oneself are similar to a narcotic. Even if it can be used as a camphor injection for the moment, it was obvious it can't cure a disease.

"The fact is nothing else but to be the fact. Therefore I have to recognize the fact is fact". I narrowly could keep my recognition right with obeying the belief like that. Ever since I started to live in the forest the good fairy guards, there wasn't the thing I saw the forest full of demons even once. If so, it is certain that this forest is the good fairy's forest. And when I considers the situation of this forest, the good fairy seems to have died as it thought before. "My desire not controled and insolent mind made the good fairy die!". I blamed myself like that. But, if it loses the force of will with becoming negative, it would fall into the nothingness surely, caught to an evil spirit. I, summoning up my vigor by force with recollecting it once could continue the hard travel for long, tried to keep my force of will. Anyhow, the good fairy to rely on isn't here anymore. If so, I have to fight with an evil spirit in only my force here. I in spite of oneself got about to be caught to the reckless thought, feeling it got cornered. But, there isn't the self-confidence it necessarily can defeat an evil spirit. His mind had wavered of whether it should fight with an evil spirit. But the mind wavering like that leads a person to the entrance of hell frequently. I, when narrowly noticing the thing, kept the calm and thought what to do, desperately.

However, now that it can't rely on the good fairy, if I met an evil spirit here actually, what on earth can I do in that situation? Certainly I once fought with many evil spirits. Although it couldn't defeat them, it was possible to guard oneself from them. But since I was living here peacefully for long, it had forgotten the way of the fight against them anymore before noticing. Or, it may be that it forgot the fighting spirit. Anyhow, I hadn't the self-confidence of the fighting with an evil spirit, anymore. If so, the possible thing for me is only the escaping or the lurking somewhere. Although it thought it is the bad-looking behavior, it doesn't seem there is the other way. Thereupon, I, when stooping carefully, started to return walking on the dark path it walked just before, as if it is the rat or other. Just then, old memory about the hollow having rescued me crossed my mind suddenly. "Yes, I should look for that hollow!". I, when murmuring like that before noticing, started to look for the hollow, opening my eyes wide.
However, this forest to look like the place full of demons is making the dark deep increasingly. And I feel the terribly strong weird atmosphere. If I start to move carelessly, an evil spirit would necessarily find out me. At the moment, to say nothing of the advancing, the retreating also seems to be hard. But, it also is dangerous to stay here so long. I, lowering my breath sound, advanced forward carefully and slowly as if it creeps. However, the situation is becoming bad for me increasingly. I feel that it can hear even the breath sound of an evil spirit behind me. I looked back in spite of oneself. And when I stares at the dark, it seems that pale light the moss on the rotten tree gives off sneers at me somehow or other. "Many evil spirits are around me". I, caught to the thought like that suddenly as if it has intuited it, took a stance of guard in spite of oneself. However I can't move well because of the fear as if it has frozen. I, not knowing what to do, have sat down on the ground slowly with helpless mood. And when I looks around, it notices there is one big tree which seems to be reliable. When I crawl to the base of that tree, it sat down between two thick roots of this tree, to hide oneself there.

Just then, air which was stagnant around me until now started to move suddenly slowly. However, There doesn't seem to be wind. If so, why did the air move suddenly? I in spite of oneself turned my eyes to the opposite direction against the air stream. And although not knowing why, there it sees the old thick tree which makes it feel dear mood. I carefully observed that tree with opening the eyes more wide. And it notices there is the shadow like a hollow in the base of the tree. I started to walk toward the thick tree in question, as if it is drawn to that shadow like a hollow. And when approaching the tree a little, it notices the weeds growing before the old thick tree are waving toward me slightly. However, strangely, the weeds in its right and left don't almost wave. "That is the hollow! Wind must be flowing out from the hollow!". I believed like that firmly at once. It is because I expected the hollow may be the entrance of the tunnel leading to somewhere. By any chance, it may be that the good fairy led me to this hollow, to rescue me. I approached the old thick tree furthermore, narrowly controling my mind apt to hurry. And it made me stand in front of the shadow like a hollow.

However, What a lucky man I am! The shadow having looked like a hollow is certainly the hollow having once rescued me. "Alas, the good fairy must have lived. He is trying to rescue me now surely!". I had prayed joining my right palm and left palm upon the breast with tears in my eyes before noticing when murmuring like that. However, would he intend to rescue me really? I had made light of the good fairy for so long. The thing make me doubt the good fairy somehow. I had wavered of whether it gets into the hollow or not.

However, now that it is about to be caught to an evil spirit, there isn't time it sinks oneself into the thought. It is certain this hollow is swallowed by the devilish atmosphere, soon. Thereupon, I tentatively paid attention for the smell the hollow gives off. Fortunately, the hollow still is giving off the smell characteristic of the holy woods though it is slightly. And, it was the scent it first smelled, coming here. It can't feel evil intent from at least this hollow. However, although I ignored him that coldly, what a tolerant fairy he is! I, when bowing and praying in gratitude, went into the hollow, hurrying. But, it is strange. The tunnel I expected is nowhere. To all appearances, the hollow is only mere hollow. Why is this? I tried to get out of the hollow when looking back in the bewilderment. But mouth of the hollow moves weirdly. And in the moment I thought "I get shut", mouth of the hollow has shut suddenly. I can see nothing anymore, shut in the dark. "Why did you deceive me!". I, saying like that, blamed the fairy I wouldn't see anymore.

When it notices suddenly, the atmosphere in the shut hollow is vibrating slightly. And, when the hollow gets resonant with the vibration, the resonant sound changed to horrible voice, soon. "You are silly, I said I don't allow you. Did you forget it?". Apparently the resonant sound seems to be the fairy's voice. But, it is the voice so horrible that it doesn't seem it is the good fairy's voice. "Did an evil spirit pretend the fairy?". I fell into the illusion like that for a moment. However, it is obvious anymore that it isn't a fact. The fairy had planned a revenge on me surely. And it must be he carried out his plan now. I got caught to the feelings of despair suddenly. Certainly it may be natural that he tries the revenge on me. However, isn't it too terrible act for me repenting my sin? "Allow me! Please help me!". I, when shouting like that with the hoarse voice, banged on the wall of the shut hollow, desperately.

However, this imminent situation doesn't untie me from dream, being quite different from the dream it saw some day. Although I kept on banging on the wall of the hollow desperately, the wall doesn't open at all. Instead, sudden weird horrific laughter froze me. However, what a horrible voice it is! The fairy isn't a fairy anymore. He probably degenerated into the vengeful demon. I asked it to allow me with my head between my hands. Just then, the hollow suddenly gets silent. By any chance, this may be the sign that it help me. I got caught to the faint hope for a moment. But, that is only the silly expectancy. Suddenly, bottom of the hollow collapsed. I feel I'm falling in the dark space straight. Do I keep falling in until reaching where? Do I die, torn to pieces with colliding with the bottom of hell? My heart got filled with the fear and also the sense of coldness. My shout asking for a rescue is resonant with the pitch-dark space. However, the speed I fall was increasing acceleratedly. I don't know what to do anymore. I kept on only falling. And, I hear the weird voice far over my head. "You are silly. Why did you forget me? Your reckless behavior changed me to the demon. You must fall into the hell. Realize one's sin there!". And, feelings of anger he gives off attacked my brain, passing through the dark space. It like, is a thunder. I felt terrible pain in the brain, and lost consciousness.



The origin of Japanese culture

The origin of Japanese culture .


The dream like reality./Introduction.
The dream like reality./Introduction."


To Next story.
To Next story."


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