前のエピソード――Part Ⅰ (5) Hisako met manager Fujita ; (6) Kazuo phoned to Brazil

　7 From the vigil to funeral and cremation

　 On the morning of November 6th Kazuo died. Next 7th was the vigil day, and the next the funeral. Through all these events the 'scary man' s action and attitude against dead Kazuo was unusually tender with full of devotion.

　The body was transferred to nearby Enshou-ji Temple. Gingko leaves were reflecting the beautiful silver light, but Hisako felt sad. Since she had heard of Kazuo's death the previous day, she had taken neither food nor drink and had not slept at all. Her face was lagged and her eyes were glittering.

　"Tomi-san look at the man seated second from right."

　"The one in a black jumper?"

　"Yes."

　"Why?"

　"Kazuo used to say that he is a 'scary man'."

　That man was present in every scene from the vigil to funeral and cremation. He seemed very earnest.

　He was always busily on the move saying "I will be responsible for watching the candle. Takagi, aren't you cold? I'll give you my jumper", "Now, everyone please sit on a zabuton (Japanese cushion) as it is cold" or "Should I turn on the heater?"

　Men from Shirakaba Crushed Stone came and went but the 'scary man' remained there always at Kazuo's side. Kazuo had said the man previously been (and still is) his senior at work but substantial positions had been reversed.

　Although she had only been in Japan for a little less than two years, a good many mourners attended her son Kazuo's vigil ― Hisako's colleagues and other workers from the golf club, Hisako's relatives she had found in October 1993, a friend of hers from Gumma, people from Shirakaba Crushed Stone.

　At the vigil a man who was said to be the chairman of Shirakaba Crushed Stone company lowered his head many times and said that it was not a matter of which party was right or wrong since compensation would be paid for the accident to a worker. "Isn't it enough, Mr. Suzuki's mother?" I heard the conversation nearby and wondered why he talked of laborer's compensation when he should have first expressed his regret at Kazuo's death.

　The fairy meal, which was the last meal with the dead, was served in somewhat bustling atmosphere like enjoying feast, except for Hisako, Kouichi, and colleague of Hisako who had attended to mourn Kazuo's death. Hisako braved herself to respond to mourners who said, "You mast cheer up, Hisako-san."

　Then at one table there occurred a fierce quarrel close to a fight. It was between the Katu-chan and the 'scary man' about something related to Kazuo. Soon they had been separated by the men from Shirakaba Crushed Stone. Is the world full of rowdy people like this?

　At the vigil Hisako said to herself, "I do not want to mourn three long years like my father and mother.* I must cheer myself up for Jiro and Mayumi's sakes. But what shall I do with them hereafter. (*Refer to Part II 3)

　She wondered how she should inform Kazuo's bereaved wife in Brazil of his death. How would she receive the news of her husband?　As she was pondering, the Buddhist priest who was to conduct Kazuo's funeral called to her. "Mrs. Suzuki, I have something to ask you. Will you come over here for a moment?

　"What does Kazuo's Brazilian name Altemar mean?"

　"Well ....... It means 'far-away land beyond the sea."

　She had never thought about its meaning previously. Was it his fate to die like this?

　The priest gave a posthumous name [Kanshin Choumon Sinshi-i].

　Two long days have passed. Today is the funeral day. Hisako had been weakened because she had not had any food and drink since his death. Helped by her colleague she managed to take her seat. She cried endlessly as if the tears would never run dry.

　Hisako thought Kazuo must have felt lonely in the prefabricated dormitory. He had left his second child at only 6 month-old. She felt full of tears when she thought of the poor baby who was destined to live not knowing a father's face.

　To Hisako, that 'scary man' is weird. But he seemed so earnest to me. Today he is caring for the mourners taking their hands and feet as if he were acting as a master of the ceremonies.

　Kazuo told Takagi that his attitude had anyway became more friendly after the newspaper had reported that they were going back to Brazil. But Kazuo had also told that this man and another had been saying three days before the accident "We are going to get the foreigner and Katu-chan dismissed." This made his change of attitude puzzling. On the next day, on the phone, he said that the remark was a joke. You should forget it. Perhaps he said so not to worry her too much. Then he also said, "I cannot foresee what will happen after tomorrow." The words had stuck in her mind, and now she wanted to know what he really meant by those words. Had he felt a certain dander drawing upon him?

Kazuo's cremated body was brought out of the incinerator. The 'scary man' looked at the ash up and down as if to fondle it. Seeing this sight, Hisako thought that the world was a hell. And at the moment she fainted.

　While she was semi-conscious an attendant at the funeral site asked her to write the name of her son on the inner cover of the ash container, she said with a flounce, "No, I won't", and started quarreling. I had once said "Hisako-san, you have to be careful not to sign every document without thought." May be these words influenced her too much. ( End of section 7)