As he traveled the coast of Dan-no-ura telling stories from village to village, Ho-ichi heard stories of strange happenings supposedly caused by the ghosts of the Heike clan destroyed in the battle of Dan-no-ura. Soon he will become part of those strange happenings.

As Ho-ichi and I sat under the tree in the woods of the Watchung Reservation, the sun was beginning to dip behind the trees casting ever lengthening shadows on the forest. Ho-ich continued his tale.

“Word of my storytelling reached the priest in charge of the temple of Dan-no-ura. He loved stories and invited me to the temple. I played my biwa for him and told some stories. He was delighted.

‘Ho-ichi,’ he said, ‘Stay here in the temple with me. Tell me stories and play for me and in return I will feed and clothe you and give you a little money to spend. Your hard life will be easier. What do you say?’

“Well, I was tried of traveling and the offer sounded very good to me. I accepted Osamu the priest’s offer and we became friends. Things went along very well for a time until the bizarre happenings of a hot summer night.”

Next time: “An Invitation Not to Be Refused”