Kouya Hijiri: CHAPTER 5

This was the first person I'd met here other than the merchant. The merchant was a professional traveler and might know the pass well, but I wanted to be sure. I stopped the farmer and said "I would like to ask you something. Should I take this passage?" I pointed to the flooded trail.

"Are you going to Matsumoto? Oh, yes this is the main road. A few months ago in the rainy season the road became flooded like this."

"How far does this flood extend?"

"Just until those bushes on the other side. After tha the road is normal. That place over there, where the bushes are? That used to be the large house of a doctor. There was once a village here, but 13 years ago a great flood wiped away the whole village. Many people were killed then. Please chant a prayer for them as you pass by." said the farmer kindly.