Chapter 3 (1/2)
This is the 3rd chapter of the fantasy novel “The Rainlands” (雨の国) by Haruka Asahi (朝陽遥) which I a from japanese with the author’s permission It is about a man’s journey to a enous people there
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You can see a synopsis and table of contents with other chapters (as they are posted) referencedYou can find the original japanese text for this chapter
“The Rainlands”by Haruka Asahi:Chapter 3
Wild cheering erupted out of nowhere When I turned around, vivid colors unlike anything I’d ever seen burst out froe
A myriad of floas piled there in a spectacular rainbow of hues Where could all these flowers have co inside the caves, in the land of unending rain I had a hard ti thisin fro This meant that in a very short span of ti them from all over the mountain
Woh-pitched voices I couldn't 's words too well, but it had a lively feel to it and was, perhaps, a song of celebration
Surrounded by flower petals and cheerful voices, a ether, arm in arm
The croas calling out to the couple, their embarrassed smiles visible even from a distance
”Oh, it looks like a wedding ceremony I'm very fortunate to be able to see this,” said a peddler with a grin
When I looked around, I spotted the airl she'd been talking with observing the spectacle on the rock ledge with flushed cheeks I stared at theirls tended to express that particular eardless of the country you were in
”In these parts, you see, wedding ceremonies are held only on clear days, like today”
The caravan ainst the light It was only natural that in a place which suffered froht upon the
According to him, tradition dictated that each tribe was cole cave When there was a room left his cave and elcoes between members of the same cave were forbidden
I could see the logic in this It is said that repeated es within the same family can lead to unforeseen, undesirable effects on newborn children, thus their tradition can be viewed as an important piece of wisdom evolved over many years
The girl with the airls nearby, then quickly spun around She sprinted away, bare feet striking lightly against the sun-warht, only to reappear e where the cereure out how she had reached there
With an exuberant suess she was close to both of them and had rushed up there to wish them well
Soher up Picked up by the wind, they gradually fluttered down to the rock ledge below
While being congratulated-or perhaps teased by the crowd, the couple walked together, bodies dangerously close, until they disappeared into the cave
After that day of wonderful weather, I continued to pay attention to s and confirmed that the number of men here was, in fact, terribly low
Even assu that men are more likely to lose their lives in an accident, the difference I observed was very extreme It may be that men are born less frequently in these lands, just as soirls or boys In those days I had thoughts like this in the back of my mind
So frequently around in the caves suddenly disappeared
One day, during a break in one offelt different I realized that since yesterday, I hadn't come across two of the children who had always listened to reat interest
”I wonder if Ian is going to come by today And what happened to Yakt?”
When I asked about the boys by naed in the expressions of those present in the forue smile or frown
”Those boys won't be back anytime soon”
This was mumbled by an old woman Her voice sounded soht coe of attitude, as she had been so friendly toinappropriate
”Did they get sick? Or hurt?”
When I asked this, the others shook their heads, responding that nothing like that had happened so there was no need to worry
Then were they being punished for so? Still confused about what had happened, I asked this because they seeet easily carried away and play a prank of two At hter, but even that had a strange aardness to it