7. The Jewel in the Dragon's Head

Councillor Otomo ho Miyuki called together all the men of his household and addressed them.

"Apparently there is a five-colored jewel in a dragon's head. If one of you will get one and give it to me, I will grant him anything he requests."

One replied that they would respect his wishes whatever they were, but that it certainly would not be easy to obtain such a jewel. He asked how they should go about getting the jewel from the dragon's head.

"It's said a true retainer would sacrifice his own life to accomplish whatever was asked. This jewel is not to be found anywhere in Japan, nor in India or China. But there are dragons down in the seas and up in the mountains of Japan.(3) Are you trying to say this task is too difficult?"

We can only obey you. However difficult it may be, we will search out the thing you ask for."

The councillor smiled.

"You men are reknowned throughout the country as servants of your lord. How could you ever disobey his orders?"

And so the retainers left to get the jewel from the dragon's head. They were given all the silk, cotton or money that would be needed to pay for their food along the way.

The councillor was confident. "These men will do all in their power before returning. And when they come back they will bring the jewel."

The retainers, who had been ordered not to return without the jewel from the dragonn's head, separated and went in all different directions to carry out their master's orders. Each took his share of the provisions that had been given them. Sopme of them hid awayh in their own homes, and others went to places they ahd wanted to visit. Although they had called him their master and lord, they now criticized the councillor for having ordered them to do the impossible.

Councillor Otomo told himself it wouldn't do to go on living as he had, once Kaguyahime became his wife. And so he had a beautiful new home built. It was painted with lacquer and trimmed with gold. The walls were painted and the roof was thatched with fibers dyed different lovely colors. The decorations inside included paintings on wonderful silks hung in every room. the wives he already had were all sent away, and he worked alone day and night to prepare for Kaguyahime's arrival.

Although the councillor waited and waited for the men he had sent after the jewel, the year passed with no word from them. Tired of waiting, he disguised himself and set out for Naniwa accompanied only by two footmen. At the harbor he asked if anyone had heard about Councillor Otomo's retainers, who had sailed out to kill a dragon and get the jewel from his head. The sailors just laughed and said no boat even would try such a thing. The councillor thought they only said such cowardly things because they didn't know who he really was. He then said he had the strength to kill the dragon with his own bow and take the jewel, so he wouldn't wait any longer for his men. He got on a boat and had it head out to sea.

When he was out in the sea somewhere past Tsukushi, a strong wind began to blow and the sky became very dark. The boat was tossed back and forth on the waves to nobody knew where, and it seemed about to sink at any minute. Then the thunder began to rumble and lightning flashed all about. the coucillor was quite upset, and called out to the captain of the boat.

I've never been in such a terrible spot. What on earth will we do?"

"I.ve been sailing the seas for mayn years, and I've never been in such a terrible spot either. If the boat doesn't sink first, we;ll probably be hit by lightning. And if the gods take pity and save us from the storm, We'll still be blown down to the south seas. I didn't realize I would die for taking on such a heartless passenger."

When I got on this boat, captain, I put my full confidence in you. Why didn't you tell me what would happen!"

"Even if I were a god, I couldn't do anything about a storm like this. Not only are the wijnd and waves rough, but there is thunder and lightning besides. This is all because you're trying to kill the dragon; it's the dragon that's blowing up the storm. Start praying! Now!"

"All right, I will... Hear my prayer, oh god who protects those who travel the sea. I have blindly desired to murder a dragon. I will no longer attempt to harm a single hair on his head."

The councillor repeated this pledge over and over, standing and kneeling, crying out as loud as he could. Eventually the thunder stopped and the sky grew a little lighter, but the wind remained strong. The captain sighed his relief.

" This too is thanks to the dragon. It's a good wind, blowing us the direction we want to go."

Councillor Otomo didn't hear anything the captain said.

After three or four days the boat was blown back to shore. The captain recognized the spot as a beach in Harima, but the councillor thought they had been blown to an island in the south seas; he sighed and moaned. The men in the boat with him reported to the local officials. When the governor of Harima called on him, though, councillor Otomo didn't even look up. He just lay in the bottom of the boat. His men laid out a mat in a pine grove and stretched the councillor out on it. When he saw the pines, councillor Otomo realized he was not in the south seas, and he finally got up. But he was still very seasick. His stomach felt terrible, and his bloodshot eyes looked like a pair of plums. the governor of Harima couldn't help laughing to himself.

The councillor ordered the governor of Harima to have a palanquin built, and he was carried back to his home. Somehow the men he had sent out to get the jewel heard of this, and came to ask what had happened.

"We were unable to get the jewel, and so we were unable to come back here. We thought now that you know how difficult getting the jewel is, we could come back without angering you."

The councillor sat up to reply.

"It's a good thing you didn't bring it to me. The dragon is a friend of the god of thunder. I've endangered many men by trying to get his jewel. If I had captured the dragon, I would certainly have been killed myself. It's a good thing I didn't catch him. That Kaguyahime is a great villain who plots to kill men. I'm never going near her place again. You men shouldn't go there either."

Then he used the few valuables left in the house to reward the retainers who had not gotten the dragon's jewel. The wives who had been sent away all had a good laugh when they heard the story. The bright fibers used to thatch the roof of the new mansion had all been carried away by kites and crows to use in their nests.

People would say that perhaps councilor Otomo had gotten the dragon's jewel, but others would say, "No, the only jewels he got were two red plums."