Chapter 8.2

"Say, Tatsu-san, have you heard?" Ohtsuka Yaeko came running to the storefront of Takemura. "The Maeda's Iwao-san died, they're saying!"

Heh? The one to raise his voice was Satou Oitarou. 

"That old pops did? I didn't think there was anyone as healthy as him, too!

When Tatsu asked when, Yaeko answered that it was that morning. 

"In the morning when Tomiko-san woke up, he had gone cold next to her. What a shock it must have been, yes?"

"I wonder what it could have been," Ohkawa Namie said making a sullen face. "Why are this many people dying, I wonder, this year. Our Matsumura-san's place's daughter died too, just lately. Tomio oversaw the funeral."

"Well, my," Yaeko nodded. "Ours, too. The Ohtsuka Sawmill's son died too."

It was Hirosawa Takeko who had said isn't it strange. "Somehow or another, isn't something strange? So many dying like this. It's been since this summer, hasn't it? I mean, back in Yamairi, it was five people."

"Five people," Oitarou blinked in surprise. "Were there that many?"

"There were!" Takeko said indignantly. "There were the three from Yamairi weren't there, then there was the Ohtsuka's son, and wasn't there the Muramatsu's daughter? That's five people, isn't it!"

Yaeko waved her hand. "I'm telling you, Iwao-san died like I said. It's six people, I'm telling you," said Yaeko, tilting her head. "Eh? No, we just talked about this recently, didn't we?"

Ah, Oitarou clapped his hands. "Nakano's son! Come to think of it he died."

"Oh me," Ohkawa Namie counted on her fingers. "Then, seven people?"

"Now hold on, there's still more. Look,the Shimizus' daughter is dead, isn't she? And then, Ohkawa. Namie-san, weren't they relatives of yours? Ohkawa's Shigeru-kun who died."

"That's right," replied Namie with a bewildered face. "Then what? Nine people?"

"That can't be right," Takeko said naming them off while counting on her fingers. "Seven, eight, nine... Well my, it really is nine people!"

Tatsu swallowed a breath. Something chilled in the pit of her stomach. 

"We're forgetting the resident officer."

Ah, the old people's voices rose out. Each of them took on a dumbfounded expression. Tatsu watched over that, reciting it in her mind all the more. That wasn't all, she'd seen how many cars coming and going for funerals. The Yasumori contractors had a funeral too, and the Maruyasu saw mill had a death too. She didn't know who the others were but she'd seen at least two or three more cars at least. ---That number was abnormal. 

"That's, I'm not Ikumi-san but, it's strange. Something's definitely happening." Oitarou wiped at his face like a cat.

"Strange, isn't it..." Takeko tried taking a peek at the other's faces. "I mean, it wasn't like there were any accidents. Everyone died from a disease, right?"

"It can't be that it's an epidemic, can it?" Oitarou said, Namie waving her hand.

"That can't be. If it were an epidemic we'd be told this and that by the Health Department. You know, we'd be isolated and all. If I recall, you can't bury them if it's an epidemic. I'd heard that a long time ago from my father."

"But if that's not it, how are this many people dying? And in three months---no, really, it's August and September, that's within two months."

"But it's not an epidemic."

The one to timidly, hesitantly raise her voice was Yaeko. "You don't think it could really be a curse or...?"

"A curse, what's this?"

"I don't quite get it but... Ah, look, there have been Koushin-samas broken here and there haven't there? It I recall, the Koubou-sama at the Shrine was broken too. A curse from that or..."

"How foolish," Takeko laughed from her nose. "Aren't you being influenced by Ikumi-san too much? If not her, then it's the Ohtsuka Sawmill's influence."

"No I'm not! That's, even I think it's foolish but, still, it's strange, isn't it?"

"Keep it down now," Tatsu interposed. She could see Ikumi coming down the village road before the shop. Following Tatsu's gaze, the elderly all at once closed their mouths.

"Well my, Ikumi-san, it's been a while," Yaeko called out with an unnaturally cheerful voice. Ikumi laughed, then moved to pass by the shop. "Oh my, Ikumi-san, not stopping in?"

Ikumi's feet came to a stop. "Maybe in a bit. I'm busy you know, personally."

"What's the mattert," Oitarou asked in a surprised seeming voice. "Didn't you hear? Maeda's Iwao-san died, they say."

Yes, Ikumi laughed. She gave an ostentatious sigh. "I knew this was coming but it's still piteous. Then, I wonder if I shouldn't stop in on them a bit, perhaps? What a hassle it is, I really am just so busy."

Tatsu's brows furrowed. "You, you'd go to a house having a funeral and talk about curses?"

"Dear me. But I really must tell them. After all. If it keeps continuing it will be a problem, won't it? When one dies, they say they pull the family with them after all."

"What a diligent worker you are," Tatsu said, tone laced with sarcasm, but Ikumi gave a good humored laugh. 

"They're so thankful to me. Well, of course there are people who just don't understand, but this world isn't all those who don't see the truth. Lately, people have been coming to me for exorcisms."

Well, my, Takeko said eyes wide. 

"How is the direction of their house, things like that, they're consulting me. This too is a way of helping others, so of course I feel good giving them a consultation, but."

Tatsu gave a curt nod. That's it, she thought. That was why Ikumi was in such high spirits. 

"We're not strangers, now, if something happens, all of you do say something to me! Especially Yaeko-san and Namie-san, yes? You have dead relatives don't you? Do be careful now!"