?A new dawn? What nonsense is this??
?Now, I must be on my way. I?m sorry we couldn?t discuss this any longer.?
?What is this, Shigeo? How can you say these things? You obviously have no idea of the effort and devotion men like Dr Endo gave to their work. You were just a small boy then, how could you know how things were? How can you know what we gave and what we achieved??
?As a matter of fact, I do happen to be familiar with certain aspects of your career. For instance, the sacking and imprisoning of the five teachers at Nishizaka. April of 19, if I?m not mistaken. But those men are free now, and they?ll help us reach a new dawn. Now please excuse me.? He picked up his briefcase and bowed to us in turn. ?My regards to Jim,? he added, then turned and walked away.
Ogata-San watched the young man disappear down the hill. He continued to stand there for several more moments, not speaking. Then when he turned to me, there was a smile around his eyes.
?How confident young men are,? he said. ?I suppose I was much the same once. Very sure of my opinions.?
?Father,? I said. ?Perhaps we should go and see Mrs. Fujiwara now. It?s time we ate lunch.?
?Why, of course, Etsuko. This is very inconsiderate of me, making you stand about in this heat. Yes, let?s go and see the good lady. I?ll be very pleased to see her again.?
We made our way down the hill, then crossed a wooden bridge over a narrow river. Below us, children were playing along the riverbank, some with fishing poles. Once, I said to Ogata-San:
?What nonsense he was speaking,?
?Who? You mean Shigeo?? -
?What vile nonsense. I don?t think you should pay the slightest attention, Father.?
Ogata-San laughed, but made no reply.
As always at that hour, the shopping area of the district was busy with people. On entering the shaded forecourt of the noodle shop, I was pleased to see several of the tables occupied with customers. Mrs. Fujiwara saw us and came across the forecourt.
?Why, Ogata-San,? she exclaimed, recognizing him immediately, ?how splendid to see you again. It?s been a longtime, hasn?t it???
?A long time indeed.? Ogata-San returned the bow Mrs. Fujiwara gave him. ?Yes, a long time.?
I was struck by the warmth with which they greeted each other, for as far as I knew Ogata-San and Mrs. Fujiwara had never known one another well. They exchanged what seemed an endless succession of bows, before Mrs. Fujiwara went to fetch us something to eat.
She returned presently with two steaming bowls, apologizing that she had nothing better for us. Ogata-San bowed appreciatively and began to eat.
?I thought you?d have forgotten me Long ago, Mrs. Fujiwara,? he remarked with a smile. Indeed, it?s been a long time.?
?It?s such a pleasure to meet again like this,? Mrs. Fujiwara said, seating herself on the edge of my bench. ?Etsuko tells me you reside in Fukuoka these days. I visited Fukuoka several times. A fine city, isn?t it??
?Yes, indeed. Fukuoka is my hometown.?
?Fukuoka your hometown? But you lived and worked [here for years, Ogata-San. Don?t we have any claim on you in Nagasaki??
Ogata-San laughed and leaned his head to one side. ?A man might work and make his contribution in one place, but at the end of it all? he shrugged and smiled wistfully ? ?at the end of it all, he still wants to go back to the place where he grew up.?
Mrs. Fujiwara nodded understandingly. Then she said: ?1 was just remembering, Ogata-San, the days when you were the headmaster at Suichi?s school. He used to be so frightened of you.?
Ogata-San laughed. ?Yes, I remember your Suichi very well. A bright little boy. Very bright.?
?Do you really remember him still, Ogata-San??
?Yes, of course, I remember Suichi. He used to work very hard. A good little boy.?
?Yes, he was a good little boy.?
Ogata-San pointed at his bowl with his chopsticks. ?This is really marvellous,? he said.
?Nonsense. I?m sorry I have nothing better to give you?
??No, really, it?s delicious.?
?Now let me see,? said Mrs. Fujiwara. ?There was a teacher in those days, she was very kind to Suichi. Now what was her name? Suzuki, I think it was, Miss Suzuki. Have you any idea what became of her, Ogata-San??
?Miss Suzuki? Ah, yes, I recall her quite well. But I?m afraid I?ve no idea where she could be now.?
?She was very kind to Suichi. And there was that other teacher, Kuroda was his name. An excellent young man.?
?Kuroda Ogata-San nodded slowly. ?Ah yes, Kuroda. I remember him. A splendid teacher.?
?Yes, a most impressive young man. My husband was very struck by him. Do you know what became of him??
?Kuroda Ogata-San was still nodding to himself. A streak of sunlight had fallen across his face, lighting up the many wrinkles around his eyes. ?Kuroda, now let me see. I ran into him once, quite by accident. That was at the start of the war. I suppose he went off to fight. I?ve never heard of him since. Yes, an excellent teacher. There are so many from those days I never hear of now:?
