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.

With his ears ripped from his head by the samurai ghost, Ho-ichi sat with blood dripping from his wounds.

“Osamu, the priest, returned just before sunrise. As he rounded the corner of the temple and followed the stone pathway back to the porch he slipped in something wet. ‘What is this?’ he exclaimed. Osamu bent over and ran his finger through the wet spot on the stone. ‘Blood! Ho-ichi!’ cried Osamu as he ran forward. ‘Ho-ich! What has happened?’

“There I was, lying on the porch of the temple, soaked with blood, my hands pressed to the sides of my head. ‘Ho-ichi! Ho-ichi! Speak to me!’

“Hearing the sound of my friend’s voice, I sobbed out the whole story.

”It was my fault! All my fault,’ moaned Osamu. ‘I never should have left. My servants were careless. They did not paint the sacred text on your ears! This is why the ghost samurai could see them. You have come through the darkness with courage. The ghosts are gone never to return. You are free. Come; let me tend your wounds.

“Osamu took me inside and bandaged my wounds. In time my wounds healed. In time I took up my biwa and once again began to sing and tell the ancient stories of my land and the stories of the Heike family. But now I told of my own strange encounter with the ghosts of the Heike family.

Many great noblemen and warriors came to hear me. In time I became rich and famous for my storytelling. But from that time on I was no longer known as just Ho-ichi. I was known as ‘Ho-ichi the Ear-less.’”

Next time: “Dreaming to Waking?”

Painted with the words of a sacred text by Osamu the priest’s servants, Ho-ichi waited for the samurai to return.

“‘HO-ICHI!’ the gruff voice called. I held my breath and did not move. ‘HO-ICHI!’ sternly called the voice a second time. Then, like the roar of a might lion the voice called a third time, ‘HO-ICHI!’

I sat like a rock, and the voice grumbled: ‘Where is this fellow, Ho-ichi?’ The heavy steps circled around and around me. My heart beat like a base drum in the dead silence of the night.

‘Here is the biwa,’ muttered the deep voice; ‘But where is the storyteller? All I see are two ears. That explains why he did not answer: he had no mouth to answer with. There is nothing left of him but his hears. Then that is what I will take to my lord to prove I have obeyed his command.’

Suddenly, I felt two hand like iron vises grip my ears. The pain was excruciating as the samurai ripped my ears from my head. But I did not utter a sound. I did not move. I sat motionless as the warm blood trickled down the sides of my face, onto my neck and into the collar of my robe.”

As I listened to Ho-ichi I felt sick to my stomach and instinctively I reached up to feel for my own ears.

Next time: “Ho-ichi the Ear-less”

Ho-ichi’s friend, Osamu the priest, enlightened  Ho-ichi about his ghostly storytelling audience and their sinister  intent. Now Osamu’s servants administer the solution to Ho-ichi’s problem.

“As Ho-ichi began this part of his story, I watched the color drain from his face. ‘Before sundown the servants of the priest stripped me. Then, with their writing brushes they wrote the words of a sacred test all over my body, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. When they were done they led me back to the porch at the rear of the temple and left me there.

‘I laid my biwa beside me and assumed a posture of meditation. I was careful not to cough, clear my throat, or breathe so as to be heard. I stayed like this for hours.

‘Then, late into the night, I heard the heavy steps of the samurai coming through the gate, across the yard, toward the porch, then up the steps and to a halt directly in front of me. I was terrified.’”

Next time: “Two Ears”

Rescued in a cemetery from among the fires of the dead, Ho-ichi explains his behavior to his friend Osamu, the priest.

Ho-ichi looked at me with his unseeing eyes. “Jim, I was very upset about having my performance disrupted. But I told my friend everything. ‘Just one more night and I would have received a great reward. But your servants interfered. Now all is lost.’

“Osamu’s voice was filled with fright and concern. ‘My friend, you are in grave danger. You have not been telling the tale of the Heike to the living, but to the dead, to the ghosts of the Heike. Now that they know that you know who they are, when they come for you tonight they will destroy you. But they would have done that sooner or later.

“‘I cannot stay with you tonight. I must leave the temple on business that cannot be delayed. I will have my servants paint sacred words over your body that will make you invisible to the ghosts. then you must sit on your porch as you have in nights past and wait for the Heike to come for you. when they do, do not respond when they call you. Do not make any noise. Say nothing and sit in meditation. Be brave and do not call out because no one can save you. If you do precisely as I tell you the danger will pass and the ghosts will trouble you no longer.’”

Next time: “Painted with the Sacred Words”

Ho-ichi continues to tell me the tale of his strange storytelling gig.

“The next night when I left the temple the servants were watching. They saw me leave after midnight as before. But is was raining and very dark and the servants lost sight of me, surprised by how quickly I, a blind man, was walking. The servants knocked on doors of homes where I was known to visit from time to time, but no one had seen me.

“Too ashamed to admit to Osamu that a blind man had given them the slip in the rain, the servants continued to search for me. About 2:30 AM the servants heard the sound of my biwa coming from the direction of the cemetery. Peering over the wall they saw me sitting in the mud, playing my biwa, and loudly chanting the story of the battle of Dan-no-ura. All around me the fires of the dead were burning like a thousand candles.

“The two men climbed over the wall and slowly crept up to me. they grabbed me by the sholders and shouted into my ears, ‘Ho-ichi San! Come back to the temple with us at once!’

“‘What are you doing?’ I cried. ‘Let me go! Do not humiliate me in front of this grand assembly.’

“But Osamu’s servants did not let go. They dragged me through the mud of the cemetery, out to the path, through the village, and to the temple where they changed my wet clothes and gave me some bread and hot tea.

“Osamu then asked me, ‘Ho-ichi, what have you been doing?’”

Next time: “A Grave Danger”

I listened with rapt attention as Ho-ichi told of his return to his room at the temple after his midnight performance for the august company of listeners.

“Ho-ichi continued his tale. ‘I could tell by the birdsong that dawn was approaching. I returned to my room and fell into bed, exhausted from my night’s adventure. I slept through the day but was ready again at midnight when the samurai returned to fetch me for my next performance. Again I was amazed at the admiration my audience expressed for my storytelling. Again I was instructed to return the following night.

‘The next morning Osamu called for me. ‘Ho-ichi, we have been worried about you. A blind man out alone at night is not safe. Why did you go out without telling us? One of my servants could have gone with you. Where have you been?’

‘I remembered the stern warning of my host of the past two evenings. I dared not say anything lest I lose the great reward promised to me.

”I am sorry I worried you,’ I said. ‘I had a personal matter to attend to. I could not take care of it any earlier. Don’t worry, I am fine. Just tired.’

‘I stumbled by Osamu and went to my room where I collapsed onto my bed and fell into a deep sleep. But as I learned later, Osamu was concerned for he knew of the mischief the ghosts of the Heike caused with the unsuspecting an careless. I did not know that Osamu told two of his servants to keep watch over me that night and to follow me if I should leave the temple again. after dark.’

Next time: “Among the Fires of the Dead”

Brought to a gathering of nobility, Ho-ichi began to tell the story of the battle of the battle of Dan-no-ura.

“I saw a change come over Ho-ichi’s face when he came to this part of his story, a look of intensity I’d not noticed before. Ho-ichi continued.

‘So I took up my biwa and began to tell the story. My teacher had taught me well. My biwa became the sound of the oars against the waves and arrows flying through the air as I recounted the shouts and struggle of warrior against warrior, and the fall of the slain into the sea.

‘I told of the terror and tumult of that great battle off the coast of Dan-no-ura as the Heike and Genji ships rammed each other and the  Heike’s ship burst into flames and sank. I told of the desperation of the baby emperor’s nursemaid, who, seeing death on every side, leaped into the sea clutching the child in the folds of her robe.

‘Jim, when I told of the death plunge of the nursemaid a cry of anguish arose as one voice from my audience followed by weeping and wailing so loud I was terrified. At last the sound of wailing faded away and I heard the voice of the woman who greeted me.’

‘Ho-ichi, we had heard of the power of your storytelling. Now we have experienced it ourselves. You are a storyteller unequaled. Our lord is very pleased and wishes to reward you greatly. But first you must return for as many nights as it takes you to tell the whole story. But you must not tell anyone you have been here. Do you understand?’

‘Hai! Yes!’ I said, my heart pounding as I imagined the great reward. ‘I understand,’ I said.

‘Good. Be ready again tomorrow at midnight and the samurai will come for you. Now, give me your hand and I will guide you out.’

‘I held out my hand and a soft but cold and clammy woman’s hand slipped into mine. She led me back through the halls and screens to the samurai waiting outside. The vise-like grip closed over my wrist once again and led me through the streets, to the temple, and around to my porch in the back.’

“Ho-ichi fell silent and in the silence I realized that I had been caught up in his story as if in a dream. I too had been captivated by Ho-ichi, the Master storyteller.”

Next time: “A Worried Friend”

Ho-ichi’s visitor at the temple led him through the village and through two gates. But who awaited the arrival of the storyteller?

Ho-ichi continued, “I could hear the sounds of people moving, screens sliding, and well-spoken women talking. By the rustling of the silk garments and the conversation around me I knew I was in the presence of nobility. I was guided to the center of a large assembly hall where I was shown to the kneeling cushion that awaited me.

“When I was settled upon the pillow a dignified but gentle woman’s voice said to me, ‘Ho-ichi San, you have been invited here by our lord, a lord of high degree, to tell the story of the Heike. You may now begin.’

‘O most noble host,’ I stammered. ‘The tale of the Heike takes many nights to tell. What part of the tale do you wish to hear?’

‘Tell of the battle of Dan-no-ura,’ said the woman, her voice quivering. ‘For the memory of that day is bittersweet.’

Next time: “Ho-ichi, the Master Storyteller”

While staying with Osamu the priest, Ho-ichi received an invitation to tell stories to “a lord of high degree,” an invitation he could not refuse.

“In those days the order of a samurai was disobeyed at the risk of one’s head. So I put on my sandals, picked up my biwa, and stood up.

‘How will I follow you since I am blind?’ I asked, still frightened.

“Suddenly, a vise-like hand clenched my fist.

‘Come!’ said the warrior.

“The samurai guided me skillfully off my porch, around the gate of the temple, and onto the path to the village. But he walked quickly and I struggled to keep up.

“When I regained my composure I began to imagine my good fortune at being summoned to perform for such a noble assembly. ‘I will be rewarded handsomely. ‘Maybe I will not have to work anymore,’ I mused.

“The samurai led me from the temple down into the village and then up a hill. After a while we stopped. I listened as the warrior banged loudly on what I realized was a large gate. I was puzzled for I could not recall such a large gate in that part of town.

‘Open! I have brought the storyteller!’ cried the samurai as he pounded again on the gate.

“I hear someone unbar and open the gate. The warrior tugged on my wrist and we proceeded. Then we came to another entrance.

“Again the warrior shouted, ‘Open! I have brought Ho-ichi!’

Next time: “In the Presence of Nobility”

Given room, board, and a small stipend by the priest of Dan-no-ura, Hoichi took up residence as the priest’s personal storyteller. One night, he receives a strange visitor.

“One night, Osamu went to the village to perform some priestly duties. Since the night was so hot and sticky, I went out onto the porch just off my room in the back of the temple to await my friend’s return and try to catch a cool breeze. The air was thick and still and the forest surrounding the temple strangely silent. No crickets. No owl hoots. No leaves rustling. Just erie silence.

“I sat in sweat and silence for what seemed like hours. The bell from the village below tolled midnight. ‘Where is Osamu?’ I wondered. I heard the gate to the temple grounds swing open. ‘O good,’ I thought, ‘My friend has returned.’ But as I listened to the approaching footsteps I realized they were too heavy to be Osamu’s and I could hear the click and clack of armor. It wasn’t Osamu. It was a samurai. “Why would a Samurai come to the temple at this hour?’ I wondered. ‘Is there trouble in the village?’

“The heavy footsteps came closer and closer then stopped in front of me suddenly.

‘HO-ICHI!’ Thundered a voice.

‘Hai! Yes!’ I answered, frightened by the powerful voice of the samurai my blind eyes could not see. ‘I am blind. I cannot see who calls.’

‘Do not fear,’ the stranger said gruffly, but with a hint of gentleness. ‘My master, a lord of high rank, has heard of your skill in telling the story of the Heike clan. He wishes you to come and tell your tale to him. So take your biwa and come with me to the house where a noble assembly awaits your arrival.’”

Next time: “On the Way”

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”