Boris Akunin: All the World's a Stage

He strikes his drum.

The Inaudible One jumps up and mimes a pantomime of despair: he dashes randomly around the room, trying to find a way to take his life. He tries to take something out of a sack, but his hands will not obey him. He picks up the rope on the table, but he cannot form a noose. Finally he falls face down on the floor and rolls about in silence, beating his head against the mats.

STORYTELLER ( continuing )

The Inaudible One lifts himself up and crawls on his knees to the tub. An idea has occurred to him: he can drown himself! He lowers his head into the water and remains in that pose.

STORYTELLER (continuing)

He strikes his drum.

IZUMI’S VOICE ( coming from behind a partition ) Will you permit me to enter your room? Can you hear me? I have come to visit you! May I come in?

The Inaudible One’s body starts shuddering convulsively, but he does not change his pose. The shoji slide apart. Izumi is there, seated on her knees.

STORYTELLER

Izumi gets up, hurries across to the Inaudible One and touches him on the shoulder. In his surprise he straightens up abruptly. His mask is soaked right through and clinging to his face.

IZUMI Permit me to remove your mask and wash your face. I swear I will not look if that is painful for you.

He shakes his head furiously and backs away.

Very well then, I won’t. That is not what I came here for… I am so grateful to you for saving Sen-chan! ( She bows deeply to him. ) In the garden I was completely numb with fear, I could not say a single word.

He looks at her without moving. A furious fire glitters in his eyes.

I expect you feel distressed because your hands will not allow you to take part in the performance. But there is a certain cure for all burns. My father was a healer, I inherited a chest of potions and ointments from him, and one of them is a miraculous soothing balm. In a single hour it can make burns close over and help heal up the skin. In just a day or two your hands will be as dexterous as they ever were. I only ask you, please, to follow me.

She walks to the way out, looking round at the Inaudible One. He watches her but does not move from the spot.

STORYTELLER

Izumi freezes on the threshold, holding out her hand to the Inaudible One. He starts getting up and also freezes.

Scene four

Izumi’s room. The shoji are opened wide. The Inaudible One is sitting on a mat, with his hands bound up in snow-white bandages. Sen-chan is there beside him. There are refreshments on the table.

Sen-chan tries to thrust chopsticks holding a rice ball in through the opening in the mask for the Inaudible One’s mouth.

SEN-CHAN How disobedient you are. My lady told me to take care of you and serve you everything. While the soothing balm is healing your burns, I must be your hands. Come on, open your mouth!

The Inaudible One turns away.

SEN-CHAN Don’t you want to eat? Then I’ll eat it myself.

She eats the ball of rice and carries on talking with her mouth full.

Why don’t I loosen up your shoulders and your neck? Sometimes I give lady Izumi a massage like that.

She jumps up, sits behind him and starts giving him a massage. He tries to move away, but she won’t leave him alone.

For you I will do anything you want! Just let me know! Since you saved my life, I am yours for ever. And if the balm doesn’t help to heal your hands, then I’ll be your hands and I’ll never leave you. You’ll stay with us and live here as our guest. I’ll do as I am told by my lady and by you. Where could you go, with no hands and no tongue? But here I’ll put your clothes on, and take them off, and feed you.

The Inaudible One shudders at this prospect.

No one in all the world is kinder than my Izumi-san, and no one is nobler than you. What more could I want? What happiness it will be to serve you both!… But have I worn you out? Do you want to lie down?

Izumi comes out onto the engawa . She is wearing an elegant kimono and holding a fan in her hand.

IZUMI I won’t be in your way here, will I? Let the soothing balm take effect and I’ll carry on practising my dance.

Sen-chan sits down with the shamisen . Slowly and painstakingly, sometimes making mistakes, she accompanies Izumi in her dance. The Inaudible One watches Izumi without taking his eyes off her.

STORYTELLER

Izumi stops dancing and goes over to the Inaudible One.

IZUMI I think an hour must have gone by now. So let us take a look and see if my secret balm has helped you as it should. Please, let me have your hand… That’s right, thank you. And if it hurts, let me know straight away.

She cautiously unbandages one hand and examines it, nodding in satisfaction. She unbandages the other one.

There now, that’s a quite different matter. But there is still some redness and the swelling has not yet gone down completely. Now I’ll give you a sleeping draught to drink. A healthy sleep will complete the course of healing.

She prepares the potion. The Inaudible One looks at his hands in amazement and wriggles his fingers.

STORYTELLER

IZUMI ( handing him a cup with a bow ) Here, drink this please, and soon you will fall asleep. And I shall stay with you awhile and watch over your sleep.