Kenzaburo Oe - Somersault

The high sky was still white, tinged with gray, but the quick-moving low clouds had disappeared. In the unimpeded view that stretched out before them, beyond the mountain range that surrounded this land, lustrous light- purple trees continued off to the horizon.

Kizu considered the people long ago who'd followed one forest glen after another to arrive, and then live in, this dead-end valley. And their de- scendants. And those who trooped off in the opposite direction to find work in the Kansai area, in Tokyo, or in Yokohama, and how they might still be in the grip of vague ideas about their connection with the founding fathers of this forest village. The Fireflies made a pact that even if they went off to the cities they would still view this valley as their base and would someday re- turn to it-a childish pledge, perhaps, but weren't they supplementing, albeit many years later, the notions that brought settlers pushing their way into this land in the first place?

"When I see the faces of the Technicians, I think the same thing you think about Ikuo, Professor," Dr. Koga said finally. "When they were given the chance in Izu to do their own research they basically followed a proper path, but once they started to get soaked in Patron's aura, they all began to view their research in a different perspective. Eventually things turned com- pletely around, and they threw themselves into situating the church as a force to be reckoned with, one that could actually change society.

"Just at this point they were abandoned by Patron and Guide. Ten years pass and here they are, once again gathered around Patron. Which makes me wonder: Does Patron really have a new plan that will fit all they've accumulated over this painful decade? I don't have any desire to ask him whether he has any plans for action, plans that will surface in the near future to fit what the Tech- nicians are doing. Some people might call me-to use an old union term-a corrupt trade boss for thinking this, but I think we should just let him be himself.

"The Quiet Women seem fully content just to be living in the same place as Patron and to spend their days near him in prayer. One time Morio had swollen tonsils and came to the clinic, and Ms. Tachibana told me about the way the Quiet Women pray in their rooms. It's extremely intense, apparently.

The Technicians also have a quiet time of reflection after each day's work that's so intense it's guaranteed to make you feel uncomfortable."

"Both groups have moved here and settled in, and we need them both to support the activities of the church. Dancer thinks this, too-of course, all under the leadership of Patron."

"This contradicts what I said before," Kizu said, "but the Technicians and the Quiet Women are clearly different types of groups, and it'll surely be a test of Patron's leadership skills to get them to cooperate."

"I can imagine a scenario," Dr. Koga said, "where things turn hostile, with both groups surrounding Patron insisting that they be allowed to show what they're capable of."

"I don't think it's just the Quiet Women and the Technicians who'd do that," Kizu said. "You'd have to include Ikuo and those under Patron's direct supervision-Ogi and Dancer-as well. And let's not forget the Kansai headquarters, which is lying low at the moment. I wonder if Patron isn't waiting for the energy of all these people to get compressed and then he's going to leap into action all at once. If Guide were here I'm sure that's what he'd do."

Kizu and Dr. Koga looked intently at each other. Kizu felt all over again the closeness he'd begun to feel toward this other man. Dr. Koga was visibly exhausted but, with his characteristic magnanimity, was trying to follow his colleagues in their new activities. Wasn't this exactly what Kizu was trying to do with Ikuo? As was his habit after many years in America, Kizu spoke aloud what he'd already convinced himself of, to make sure of his thoughts.

"Dr. Koga, you consider the Technicians kindred spirits, but at the same time you feel apart from them enough to keep an eye on them. You want to participate with them yet keep your distance."

"That's correct," Dr. Koga replied, his eyes at once both slightly wor- ried and fdled with a sharp intelligence. "When you said you were moving to Shikoku despite your cancer, I can tell you I was envious. This is a person, I thought, who is truly free.

"I've trained with the Technicians, and as long as I can I want to help them out. The thought occurred to me that it wouldn't be so bad to end my days as a small-town doctor here in this valley, but if Patron and the Techni- cians get in a confrontation, I imagine I'd leave here with them.

"When I think about the future, I have the distinct feeling that some- day soon I'm going to be in a difficult fix because of the Technicians: lament- ing that we should justget on with it and ending up in some desperate struggle.

Still-like you and Ikuo-the fact is, I accompanied them here. Maybe I in- vited you out today because of this simple yet subtle feeling of empathy? I don't know."

"I'm not saying this to you as patient-to-doctor," Kizu said, "but my intuition tells me I have a lot of time left to be with you before cancer makes me withdraw from the front lines."

Dr. Koga gave him a happy, sympathetic smile, but, veteran physician that he was, he wasn't about to give any hasty words of encouragement. He urged Kizu to stand up, and when they both did he briskly folded up the plastic sheets they'd been sitting on, stuffed them in his pocket, and made a new suggestion.

"Why don't we drive upstream a little? You came into this region by going up the Kame River from the Old Town area, right? If you go up- stream a bit more you'll feel you're in the middle of the main mountain range in Shikoku. It's quite interesting from a geopolitical standpoint because it's the crossroads leading to Kochi on the one hand and Matsuyama on the other.

"In medieval days the Tosa armies advanced up to that point. Asa-san told me when she was little and didn't obey her parents they'd scare her by saying, 'General Chosokabe's coming to get you!"

Dr. Koga wasn't just knowledgeable about local history, he was well acquainted with the local topography too, and he took them down a differ- ent road through the woods, one that brought them down to the prefectural road that ran along the river. Kizu was sure the road was a dead end shut off by the mountains, but after passing several hamlets that dotted the roadside they came out onto the road along the valley that ascended to the northeast.

The tree branches overhanging the road, with their green leaves freshened by a recent rain, had an animalistic power, and it struck Kizu that he really was living in deep mountain recesses.

The crossroads leading to the two local cities Dr. Koga had spoken of was a broad basin, the field there much more extensive than in anything in Maki Town, let alone Kame Village before it was incorporated. Dr. Koga avoided the road leading to the hollow where there were rows of old tradesmen's houses, and did a U-turn at one corner of the road the bus ran along. Dr. Koga hadn't said a word nearly the whole hour they'd been driving, but as they arrived at the road that went back home he finally spoke.

"What with their shrine with a huge gingko tree and their old noodle shops, you can really see the region's cultural differences here. It suddenly popped into my mind that this might lead to a bit of rivalry. Ikuo and the Technicians are coming here with a light truck today. Did you know that?"

"No," Kizu said.

"The wife of the town barber had a religious awakening and decided to move in with the church. Her little daughter has a terrible disease they've been able to control with a cortisone-like medicine, but the side effects are terrible. A doctor at the Red Cross Hospital recommended me to her, and she's been coming to my clinic every week.