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[_They leave. Obaa-San turns to the tree. The Gaki enters, strangely agitated._
THE GAKI
Obaa-San, for so they called you, tell me--did you say you'd go to the lowest h.e.l.ls if you might know the touch of your own child?
OBAA-SAN
Forever--could I but fill this emptiness in my mother-heart.
THE GAKI
Would you really pay?
OBAA-SAN
Yes, yes. But why do you ask?--Who are you?
THE GAKI
I am a stranger bound for Kyushu.
OBAA-SAN
Why do you, too, make sport of me?
THE GAKI
Go you into your house and come not till I call.
[_Obaa-San obeys under a strange compulsion._
THE TREE
Hai! Hai! Hai
THE GAKI
You can not feed me now. That cry was the wind amongst your branches. Come.
I bid you come to life, to human form.
THE TREE
I do not wish to come.
THE GAKI
I bid you come!
[_When he touches the trunk of the tree, Aoyagi steps forth. She is small.
Her little body is swathed in brown and from her arms hang long sleeves like the branches of the weeping willow. At first she shrinks. Then freedom takes hold on her and she opens her arms wide._
THE GAKI
You are free.
AOYAGI
Free!
THE GAKI
As free as one in life. You are bound to the tree as one might be bound to his body in a dream--but you may wander as one wanders in a dream--free until the waking--then when the tree suffers, you shall suffer. Though you be leagues away, you shall suffer.--But first you shall dream.--Now you are to be the daughter of Obaa-San.
AOYAGI
Oi!
THE GAKI
Do not call yet.--You are to wed the first young man who pa.s.ses here and you are to follow him.
AOYAGI
But--Obaa-San?
THE GAKI
She shall feed me with her new-made misery.
AOYAGI
No--no--she loved me so!
THE GAKI
She shall feed me. You will be happy.
[_He disappears._
AOYAGI
Free! And happy!
[_The Gaki's voice is heard calling Obaa-San. She comes in and looks about.
At last her old tired eyes see Aoyagi. For a moment they face each other._
AOYAGI
Hai.
