When Ho-ichi’s story ended I opened my eyes. I was sitting alone under the tree against which I had leaned on that warm, sunny day in the woods of the Watchung Reservation. The sun was setting and the shadows of the forest were lengthening. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the trees.Ho-ichi’s voice echoed in my mind but Ho-ichi was gone. Had I been dreaming? The story seemed so real!

I stood up to stretch to begin my journey home.But as I rose to my feet something fell from my lap. A biwa! I stared at the ancient instrument lying at me feet for a long time then bent over to pick it up. As I did, I noticed I was now wearing a silk robe and my feet were bare.

Again I heard Ho-ichi’s voice sounding in my head, telling the story of the Heike. But strangely, the voice sounded more like mine than Ho-ichi’s. I plucked a string of the biwa and started down the trail through the woods, chanting the story of the Heike as I went.