The Old Capital

by Yasunari Kawabata

"You've bloomed there again for me this year," Chieko wanted to whisper.

"They say it's Christ," her father said simply. "It's not holding a baby."

"Ah. Of course," Chieko ha...

Chieko had heard the ancient Chinese legend of a "universe in a jar" in which there was a palace in a vessel filled with fine wine and delicacies from both land and sea. Isolated from the vulgar world, it was a separate realm, an enchanted land. The story was one of many such legends of wizards and magic.

Shin'ichi glanced back at her. "I wish I could carry you across." "I'd be impressed ... if you could."

"I'm happy?" Chieko asked.

Shin'ichi puzzled over whether the words "abandoned child" had some emotional meaning.

"What about yourself? Don't you have your own feelings?" Shin'ichi asked. "Having too many seems to cause trouble."

"People, including women, should not change what they say, to the bitter end."

"And you too, Miss." Chieko was silent.

I'm something of a woman.