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 ４
４ 『風の果て』と霧
『風の果て』という作品では、霧が重要な役割を担っています。主人公・桑山又左衛門の心理を、霧に託して見事に描いています。こんな例があります。
「女中のちよが膳を下げに来た。『おや、霧が入って参りました』とちよは言った。その声で顔を上げると、廊下に白い霧がうずくまっていた。霧は消えるどころか、外の闇を満たしただけで足りずに、家の中まで入り込んできたらしい」（『『風の果て』）。
物語は、藩の首席家老まで上り詰めた主人公が、部屋住みでだめ叔父といわれ、それでいて腕の立つかつての道場仲間の一人から、いわれのない果たし状を受けるところから始まる。決闘まで五日。その間、道場での剣の修行、仲間との友情、家老まで上り詰めたいきさつなどを回想する形で話は進む。そして、物語が現在進行形になり、家老の邸宅で思いをめぐらす時に、霧が漂う。時には、庭にわだかまる夜の霧が家の中にまで侵入してくるのです。
引用した部分は、藩内の争いの中で、桑山又左衛門追い落としの策謀が急を告げる場面です。これもかつての道場仲間・杉山忠兵衛（鹿之助）が反対派の中枢として動き、そしてまたおのれは別の道場仲間の一人から果たし状を受けている身です。不安とやりきれない心のわだかまりが募ってきます。霧は心に宿る不安、恐怖を象徴し、物語はこの後、一波乱も二波乱もあるだろうことを暗示しています。
4 "End of the Wind" and Fog
Fog plays an important role in the work "End of the Wind". The psychology of the main character, Matazaemon Kuwayama, is depicted in the fog. Here is an example.
"A maid, Chiyo, came to set the table. 'Oh, the mist has entered,' said Chiyo. When she said that, she looked up and saw a white mist in the corridor. The mist was Far from disappearing, it seems that filling the darkness outside wasn't enough and that it has entered the house" ("End of the Wind").
The story begins when the protagonist, who has risen to the position of the chief retainer of the clan, receives a gratuitous letter of apology from one of his former dojo friends, who is said to be a useless uncle living in a room. Five days until the duel. In the meantime, the story progresses in the form of reminiscing about his sword training at the dojo, his friendship with his friends, and how he reached the rank of chief retainer. As the story progresses into the present, a fog drifts in the air as you contemplate the chief retainer's residence. Sometimes the night fog that lingers in the garden makes its way into the house.
The quoted part is a scene in which the plot to overthrow Matazaemon Kuwayama is urgently announced in the midst of the conflict within the clan. This is also a former dojo mate, Sugiyama Chubei (Shikanosuke), who acts as the center of the opposition, and he is also receiving a letter of challenge from another dojo mate. Anxiety and an unbearable feeling of resentment are growing. The fog symbolizes the anxiety and fear that dwells in the heart, and the story implies that there will be ups and downs after this.
（To be continued）