The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka Page #2

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... the mid day sun suddenly grew dark.

There was heavy rain, lightning and thunder which shook the ground.

I held Otsugi and kept saying "you can do it", "you can do it".

In the midst of the storm It was I who delivered Unpei.

I remember it clearly even now.

I remember him wriggling in my arms and the healthy first cry he gave.

Then I noticed the sky had cleared.

A crow was flying high in the sky.

I couldn't help but cry out that here was a genius, a wonder child.

I gave him his name using characters 'tremble' and 'cloud' because of the thunder.

In Unpei are combined my father - a great doctor - and I with my tenacity.

This is no empty boast.

This prodigy will bring glory to the house of Hanaoka and be the genius of Japanese medicine!

Let us conclude here with this anecdote,

The girls around here make cotton to supplement their dowry money.

But our girls are different. They do it so we can send money to Unpei.

I can weave. Please show me what to do.

Don't hurry or the threads will tangle.

The young doctor's wife made this? The stripes are well woven,

She wasn't brought up to do it but does it very well.

We have a good wife for Unpei. I am satisfied with her.

I will pay the money to Unpei when I return to Kyoto.

Yes please.

Okatsu, these are the bran bags that Otsugi uses in the bath.

They're full of molasses and bird droppings. She throws them away after using them just once.

I collect them and use them another couple of times.

Please let me use them too.

I'd like to be as beautiful as her.

Okaasan, what illness are these Datura flowers used to treat?

I wonder if I should tell you ...

They also call them Korean morning glory and Dr Hanaoka calls them Manzara.

They're very poisonous and if you eat them you become insane and die laughing.

But the leaves smoked with tobacco are good for asthma and an infusion of leaves is a pain killer on wounds.

The first time I came to this house they were blooming and so beautiful.

When was that?

I was 8

So long ago. Why did you come?

I heard rumours about your beauty and wanted to see you.

Your not my child by birth but call me mother and I love you perhaps more than a daughter.

This bond is too deep to be measured.

Three years passed. And then, in the spring ...

Such rain. It's late spring and yet this is like winter.

The whole house smells of mould and even my breath is mould-colour.

Elder brother is home.

Welcome home.

Welcome home.

We didn't expect you so soon.

You need to wash your feet. Put hot water in the bucket.

Unpei. This is your wife, Kae.

She's been waiting for you too.

Unpei. I'm so pleased you're back. We've been waiting.

Welcome home.

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