藤沢周平と庄内藩の歴史『義民が駆ける』、霧の小説群、そして『三年目』と三瀬：英語対訳　７

７　『三年目』と三瀬　１

　鶴岡市三瀬（さんぜ）を舞台にした『三年目』という作品は、地形はもちろん家並みの一軒一軒を史実に基づいて描いた毛色の変わった小説です。昭和五十年、藤沢は善宝寺、加茂、油戸などを舞台にした『龍を見た男』の取材で海岸沿いを訪れましたが、三瀬まで足を延ばしたらしい。いわば、『龍を…』の姉妹編とでもいえる。小説の完成度からいえば、むしろ『三年目』を挙げたい。
　茶屋の「常磐屋」で働く「おはる」は、鶴岡から江戸に向かう途中に腹病みで常磐屋に三晩泊まった「清助」を待っている。清助は「三年待ってくれ」といって江戸に向かった。おはるはその言葉を信じている。作品は、その三年目に当たる日の暮れ六ツ（午後六時）ごろの描写で始まる。情景描写、心理描写は絶妙である。戻ってきた清助は「もう三年待ってくれ」という。信じる一途な女のあやうさ、もろさ。心情の見えない男の不気味さ。
　作品には「三」へのこだわりがあります。舞台は三瀬、迎えにくるという約束の三年目、清助が腹病みで泊まった運命の出会いの三晩、そして非情ともとれる「もう三年待ってくれ」という清助の言葉。心情の見える血の通った登場人物も三人です。藤沢の作中での“遊び”が見える作品です。

7 　"The Third Year" and Sanze　 1

　　　Set in Sanze, Tsuruoka City, the work "The Third Year" is an unusual novel that draws not only the topography but also the houses one by one based on historical facts. In 1975, Fujisawa traveled along the coast to collect data for The Man Who Sees the Dragon, which was set in Zenpoji, Kamo, and Aburato, but he seems to have extended his trip to Sanze. So to speak, it can be said that it is a sister edition of "Dragon ...". In terms of the degree of perfection of the novel, I would rather pick "The Third Year".
　　　"Oharu", who works at the teahouse "Tokiwaya", is waiting for "Seisuke" who stayed at Tokiwaya for three nights on the way from Tsuruoka to Edo due to a stomach ailment. Seisuke said, "Wait three years," and left for Edo. Oharu believes those words. The work begins with a depiction of sunset around 6 o'clock (6 pm), which is the third year. The description of the scene and the psychology are exquisite. When Seisuke comes back, he says, "Wait another three years." The fragility and fragility of a woman who believes earnestly. The eerie feeling of a man who can't see his feelings.
　　　There is a commitment to "three" in the work. The stage is Sanze. The third year of the promise to come to pick me up, the three nights of the fateful meeting where Seisuke stayed with stomach sickness, and Seisuke's words, "Please wait for another three years," which can be said to be ruthless. There are also three bloody characters whose emotions can be seen. It is a work where you can see the "play" in Fujisawa's work.　（To be continued）