　「蘭学事始」(らんがくことはじめ)は，文化12年(1815年)，「解体新書」を著した杉田玄白が83歳の晩年，蘭学の草創期を回想し，オランダ語の翻訳に苦労した当時を高弟に書き送った手紙である。本編とは何の関係もない。

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　時間は午後９時になろうとしていた。

　「課長，もう一軒どうですか。」と根木が誘ってきた。根木の言葉はそれほど真剣ではなく，前回のとおり接待上の儀礼のようにも聞こえた。「いや，明日も早いので。」と，賀茂は条件反射のように答えようとしたが，「んー。どうしましょうかね。」と，自分の意思とは裏腹な言葉を発してしまった。

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賀茂洋一（かもよういち）は岡山県出身，現在55歳，家族は，妻と３人の娘（大学生，高校生，中学生）がいる。東京都内の私立大学を卒業後，「海千（うみせん）証券」に就職した。賀茂の就職した「海千証券」は，幾たびかの合併を繰り返し，今は，「山千証券」として生き残っている。賀茂は，その会社で使用する備品等の購買を担当する総務部第２課長だ。

　「休まず，遅れず，働かず」「下（部下）を見ず，外（取引先）も見ず，上（上司）だけを見るヒラメたれ。」が，30年のサラリーマン経験で身につけた教訓だ。この教えにひたすら従い，同期では左遷や出向を命じられることもなく，課長職まで上り詰めた。既に退職金と年金の額は計算済みだ。日々の悩みは，60歳の定年を迎えた後，65歳まで延長して働くか，年金は65歳から受給すべきかというものだ。

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　根木真二（ねぎしんじ）は，群馬県出身，60歳，離婚歴があり，前妻との間に長男・長女がいるが，既に成人となっている。根木は，都内の私立高校を卒業し，大手文具販売会社に就職したものの，上司のパワハラに耐えきれず，40歳のころ脱サラし，文具販売会社の代理店を開業した。賀茂が経営状態を聞くと，「何とかやってます。」などと中小企業のオヤジらしく謙遜するが，その従業員に聞くと，人柄のよさが取引先に好かれ，不況の時代を乗り越え，経営は順調のようだ。

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　賀茂が，根木の接待を受けるのは初めてではない。賀茂は，入社以来，上司や取引先に対しては，真面目一徹を装ってきた。上司に誘われれば，何があっても腰巾着に徹した。取引先に対して接待を要求したことは一度もなく，三顧の礼ではないが，何度もしつこく誘われたときだけ，たまに居酒屋一軒だけにつきあうことがある程度だ。今夜，根木に誘われ居酒屋に来たのも，これが２回目で，最初のときは「明日も早いので。」と早々に引き上げたことを覚えている。

　今宵の根木も，賀茂が二件目に付き合うなどとは予想していなかったのか，賀茂が悩むような気配で，「んー。どうしましょうかね。」と言うと，まるで待ってましたとばかり，「課長，お恥ずかしい話ですが，わたし，最近，年甲斐もなく，若いフィリピーナに惚れ込んでおりまして，そのコの働いているフィリピンパブにつきあってくれませんか。課長は千葉市にお住まいと伺いましたが，その店は市川の駅前にあり，総武線で一本ですから。」と目を輝かせている。

　賀茂はいつもならさっさと引き上げるところ，自分の意思とは裏腹に，ついさきほどそれを迷ったことも忘れ，「フィリピンパブなど生まれてから一度も行ったことはないし，イメージはよくないが，市川なら帰る途中だし。」と内心でつぶやきいた。いつもなら，女性の接待を受ける店などには誘われても行かないようにしているにもかかわらず，根木に対し，「それじゃあ一軒だけ。」と答えた。

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　その店の入り口には，「モンテン・ルパ」という赤いネオンがあった。このとき賀茂は知らなかった。「モンテン・ルパ」（Muntinlupa）とは，現在でもれっきとしてマニラに存在する市（city）の名称であるが，かつては，太平洋戦争敗戦の後，Ａ級戦犯を含む，日本軍の戦犯と呼ばれた軍人たちが多数収容されていた施設が存在し，現在では，ニュー・ビリビッド刑務所（New Bilibid Prison）と呼ばれている。

　薄暗い店内に入ると，天井からだらしなくぶら下がっている時代遅れのミラーボールが目に入った。相当年季が入った店のようだ。

　「ご指名のコいらっしゃいますか。」とボーイが聞いてくる。根木は，すかさず，「ジェシカちゃん，お願い。」と答える。すかさず，ボーイが「お客様は？」と，賀茂を向いて聞いてくる。根木は，ボーイに，「この方は初めてだからローテーション。」と答えると，ボーイは，「承知しました。」と言って，奥に向かって去って行った。

　「サッチョー，イラッシャイマセー」（訳注／社長，いらっしゃいませ。）と，両手で握手を求めながら，根木の横に座ったのは，年の頃，25歳前後のフィリピーナだった。そのコは，賀茂に対しても，両手で握手を求めながら，「ハジメマシテー，ジェシカデース」（訳注／初めましてジェシカです。）と挨拶をしてきた。賀茂はジェシカに対し，無意識のうちに両手で握手をしてしまった。

　賀茂がかつて接待で経験した銀座の高級クラブでは，席に着くホステスが握手を求めることなどありえず，一瞬対応にとまどっているうち，ジェシカの両手が目の前に差し出されたことから，ピンパブのスケベオヤジのごとき行動をとらざるをえなかったというだけである。その姿は，まるでパブロフの犬のようだ。

　ジェシカは，身長150センチほどの小柄で，愛くるしいルックスだった。なるほど，これが根木の入れあげているフィリピーナか，と賀茂は心の中でつぶやいた。

　ジェシカのつくったウイスキーの水割りで乾杯をした後，二人に目を向けると，何やら真剣なまなざしでひそひそ話をしている。

　と，その瞬間，賀茂の瞳孔は満開の桜のごとく開いた。根木の横に座っているジェシカの漆黒のマイクロミニのスカートの股間にあるデルタ地帯から，鮮血のごとき赤パンティが加茂の視覚中枢を射貫いたからである。賀茂は，ミリタリーマニアというほどではないが，ほんの先日，YouTubeの動画で，アメリカ軍が最新のレーザー兵器を開発中であり，そのパワーは，ロシアの最新鋭戦闘機を一瞬で撃墜することができるものであったことを思い出した。賀茂は，その閃光のまぶしさに耐えきれず，またもや条件反射のごとく，二人から急に目を背けた。

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　「シッツレーシマース」（訳注／失礼します。）という声が聞こえ，もう一人のフィリピーナがまたもや両手で握手を求めてきた。「ハジィメマシテー，アナデース」（訳注／初めましてアナです。）と野太い声を発しながら，巨大物体が賀茂の横に座ろうとした。と，その瞬間，賀茂はのけぞった。そこにいたのは，年の頃45歳前後で，巨大毒蛇を彷彿させる蛇腹100センチはあろうかというデブのオバさんだった。

　薄暗い店内に目も慣れて，オバさんの全貌が徐々に暴かれてゆくと，オバさんは，前歯が２本も欠けており，頬はだらしなく垂れ下がり，ほうれい線だか皺だか区別できないウェーブが顔全体を覆っていた。古びたミラーボールがスポットライトのようにその顔を照らすと，スポットライトに浮かぶセルライトが目立った。その腕は賀茂の太ももほどはあろうかというほどの太さで，その太ももは賀茂のウェストとほぼ同じだった。賀茂の脳裏には，その故郷の国指定重要無形文化財である備中神楽のトリを務める八岐大蛇（やまたのおろち），ドラム缶，ワイン樽，ガマガエルなどが走馬灯のごとくめまぐるしく駆け巡った。オバさんに比べれば，テレビでよく登場する「大坂のおばちゃん」でさえ愛くるしく思えるほどだった。

　賀茂は，目の前で薄笑い（本人はスマイルのつもりだろう。）を浮かべながら、「カラオケ／ウタイマスカー」(訳注/カラオケ歌いますか)と喋る前歯が2本も抜けているオバさんの口を見て，ハリウッド映画に登場するアナコンダ2の来襲かと身構えた。だらしなく口を開けたまま体型に似合わない細く長い舌にはその薄気味悪さを通り越し恐怖を感じた。以前、会社の総務部に来た顔面凶器の総会屋を何度も見かけたことがあるが、このオバサンに比べればかわいく思えた。

　「アナと雪の女王」の主人公とはおよそかけ離れたオバさんに睨まれ（たような気がした。），全身がフリーズしていたその時，賀茂は再びのけぞった。賀茂の右に座ったオバさんは，賀茂の横に座るやいなや，その左脚を加茂の右脚に密着させるとともに，その左手を賀茂の右太ももに置いてきたのだ。賀茂は，オバさんの体温の生暖かさに，まるで蛇ににらまれた蛙にでもなったかのような恐怖を感じてしまった。向かいからは，あいかわらずアメリカ軍の最新レーザー兵器にロックオンされており，右からは，アナと名乗る得体の知れない巨大物体にからみとられている。

　一刻も早くこの魔宮から逃げ出さなければならないと願ったが，なぜかその視界は，レーザー光線に射貫かれ，その体は，巨大物体にからみつかれ，立ち上がることも声を発することもできないまま，聞いたこともない騒々しい音楽に聴力を失い，オバさんから目を背けた先に輝くミラーボールで視力さえも失った。

　硬直した体全体が溶けていくような感覚の中で，賀茂は「この先にはブラックホールでもあるのか。」とつぶやきながら，これまで経験したことのない世界に落ちていく自分を感じた。

つづく・・・To be continued

（英訳）

　In 1815 “Genpaku Sugita” who wrote “ Kaitai Shinsho” recalled the early days of Dutch studies ，and had a hard time translating it into Japanese. It is a letter that he wrote to his high-ranking younger pupil at that time.

This has nothing to do with this main story.

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The time was about to reach 9 pm.

Negi invited Kamo, "Boss, how about another bar?" Negi's words weren't so serious and sounded like an entertaining ritual as before. "No, it's early tomorrow," Kamo tried to answer like a conditioned reflex, but he said, "Hmm. What should I do?"

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“Yoichi Kamo” is from Okayama prefecture and is now 55 years old. His family is his wife and three daughters (university student, high school student, and junior high school student). After graduating from a private university in Tokyo, he got a job at "Umisen Securities". It has undergone several mergers and is now surviving as "Yamasen Securities". Kamo is the second section manager of the General Affairs Department, who is in charge of purchasing equipment used by the company.

"Don't rest, don't be late, don't work" "Don't look below( subordinates), don't look outside (business partners), only look at superiors (bosses)." It's his lesson. Following this teaching, he went up to the position of section chief without being ordered to relocate or be seconded in his synchronization. His retirement and pension amounts have already been calculated. His daily worries are whether to work for an extended period of 65 after reaching the retirement age of 60, or whether to receive a pension from the age of 65.

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“Shinji Negi” is from Gunma prefecture, 60 years old, has a divorce history, and has an eldest son and daughter with his ex-wife, but they are already adults. After graduating from a private high school in Tokyo, Negi got a job at a major stationery sales company, but couldn't stand the power harassment of his boss. When Kamo asks about the business condition, he humbles himself like a small and medium-sized enterprise's father, saying "I'm getting along somehow,thank you."He seems to be doing well.

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This is not the first time Kamo has been entertained by Negi. Ever since Kamo joined the company, he has always pretended to be a serious and devoted person to his superiors and business partners. Whenever he was invited by his superiors, he would always be a lackey, no matter what. He has never demanded entertainment from his business partners.Although it is not a matter of "sankono-rei," he has only occasionally agreed to accompany them to a single tavern when they have repeatedly and persistently asked him to join them. Tonight was the second time Negi invited Kamo to a tavern.Negi remember at the first time that Kamo left early saying, "I have an early day tomorrow.

　Tonight Negi may not have expected that Kamo would go out with him for the second time.Kamo seemed to be troubled, saying, "Hmmm.... What should I do? As if he had been waiting for my proposal.Negi said "Chief, I'm embarrassed to say this.But I've been falling in love with a young Filipina recently. I was wondering if you could accompany me to the Filipina pub where she works. I heard that the Chief lives in Chiba City,.The pub is located in front of Ichikawa Station and is only one train ride away by Sobu Line“. Negi said with a twinkle in his eye.

　Kamo would normally pull out quickly, but against his will, he forgot about his earlier hesitation and said "I have never been to a Filipino pub since I was born.The image is not good but Ichikawa is on my way home“. Kamo was murmuring to himself "I've never been to a Filipino pub in my life. I don't like the image. Although I usually avoid going to places where women entertain me. I'll only go to one place“. Kamo replied, "Well then,just one restaurant then.

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　At the entrance of the restaurant was a red neon sign that read "Muntinlupa″. Kamo did not know this at the time. Muntinlupa" is the name of a city that still exists in Manila today, but it used to be a facility where many Japanese war criminals, including Class A war criminals, were interned after the defeat in the Pacific War, and is now called "Muntinlupa". It is called New Bilibid Prison.

　When I entered the dimly lit restaurant, I noticed an outdated mirror ball hanging sloppily from the ceiling. It seemed to be an old establishment.

　Is there a girl you want? the boy asked. Negi quickly replied, "Jessica, please. Negi quickly replied, "Jessica, please. The boy immediately asks, "Who is your guest? Kamo turns to him and asks, "What's going on? Negi told the boy, "This is my first time here, so I'm going to rotate. The boy replies, "Yes, sir. and left toward the back.

　The boy said, "Shacho, irasshaimasae!" and left toward the back. The woman who sat down next to Negi was a Filipina of about 25 years old. She shook hands with Kamo as well and said, "Hajimemashite, Jessica desu. She greeted him with "Hajimemashite, Jessica desu. Unconsciously, Kamo shook Jessica's hand with both of his own.

　In the high-class clubs in Ginza where Kamo had once been entertained, it would have been impossible for the hostess to ask for a handshake, and while he was puzzled for a moment, Jessica's hands were held out in front of him, forcing him to act like a dirty old man in a pin pub. He looks like Pavlov's dog.

　Jessica was about 5'5" tall, petite, and charming looking. I see," Kamo murmured in his mind, "this is the Filipina that Negi is so crazy about.

　After toasting with a glass of whiskey made by Jessica, I looked at them and saw that they were whispering to each other with a serious look in their eyes.

　At that moment, Kamo's pupils dilated like cherry blossoms in full bloom. Jessica was sitting next to Negi, and from the delta zone between the legs of her jet-black micro-mini skirt, Kamo's visual center was pierced by a pair of red panties that looked like fresh blood. Kamo was not much of a military maniac, but just the other day he remembered from a YouTube video that the U.S. military was developing a state-of-the-art laser weapon, the power of which could shoot down a state-of-the-art Russian fighter jet in an instant. Kamo could not bear the glare of the flash, and again, as if by conditioned reflex, he suddenly turned away from them.

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Sitzleisimers." The other Filipina again shook my hand. I heard a voice saying, "Hajime mashite, Ana desu″. The giant object tried to sit down beside Kamo, emitting a loud voice. At that moment, Kamo was thrown back. There was a fat old woman of about 45 years of age with a belly of about 100 centimeters that reminded him of a giant poisonous snake.

　As my eyes became accustomed to the dimly lit restaurant and her entire appearance was gradually revealed, I noticed that she was missing two front teeth, her cheeks were sloppily hanging down, and her entire face was covered with waves that could not be distinguished as lines or wrinkles. An old mirror ball shone on her face like a spotlight, and the cellulite in the spotlight stood out. His arms were as thick as Kamo's thighs, and his thighs were almost the same as Kamo's waist. In his mind's eye, the image of an eight-forked serpent (Yamata-no-orochi) performing the °Bicchu Kagura″, a nationally designated intangible cultural asset in his hometown, drum cans, wine barrels, toads, and more flashed through his mind like a running light. Compared to Obasan, even the "Osaka ladies" who often appear on TV seemed lovable.

　Kamo was smiling lightly in front of me (I think he meant it as a smile). Kamo looked at the mouth of the woman with two missing front teeth, who was smiling wanly in front of him and saying, "Karaoke/Utaimasu karaoke? The sloppily opened mouth and the long, thin tongue that did not match her body shape gave me a sense of dread that went beyond the weirdness of it. I had seen many times before a general assemblyman with a murder weapon on his face who came to the general affairs department of a company, but she seemed cute compared to this old hag.

　I felt like I was being stared at by an old lady who was a far cry from the main character in "Anna and the Snow Queen." Just when my whole body was frozen, Kamo fell down again. As soon as she sat down next to Kamo, Obasan, who was sitting on Kamo's right side, put her left leg close to Kamo's right leg and her left hand on his right thigh. The warmth of Oba-san's body made Kamo feel as if he were a frog being chased by a snake. From the opposite side, he was still locked on to the latest laser weapon of the U.S. military, and from his right, he was being teased by an unidentifiable giant object that called itself "Anna.

　I hoped to escape from this magical palace as soon as possible, but somehow my vision was pierced by the laser beam, my body was teased by the giant object, I could neither stand up nor speak, I lost my hearing to the noisy music I had never heard before, and the mirror shining beyond my eyes turned away from Obasan... I even lost my eyesight at the ball.

　As his entire rigid body felt as if it were melting away, Kamo asked himself, "Is there a black hole ahead?" He felt himself falling into a world he had never experienced before.

To be continued