The Golden Country

The Golden Country by Shusaku Endo

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Authors: Shusaku Endo
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    HIRATA: Do you want the same thing to happen to you as happened to your father?
    YUKI: My father?
    HIRATA (imitates her voice): My father? Yes, your father. Do you want to die in the pit, as your father did?
Yuki lets out a startled cry and collapses. Hirata roughly slaps her hands. Ferreira turns about. Gennosuke tries to restrain Hirata's hand. One of the officials seizes Gennosuke.
    OFFICIAL: Gennosuke, stop it. If you don't stop, you're in danger.
    HIRATA: What are you doing? Have you gone mad? No, you haven't. You've long been an accomplice of these Christians.
    GENNOSUKE: Even if Yuki is a Christian, she is a helpless woman. You've been too cruel.
    HIRATA: Has your pity turned into love? Do you think I'm blind, Gennosuke? You seem to have had a secret tryst with this girl in prison last night.
    GENNOSUKE (in consternation): What are you saying? Of course I went to the prison last night. But it was only to make certain they were properly guarded.
    HIRATA (laughing): Oh, that's most commendable. But didn't you tell her that you'd like to become a Christian? I heard the whole conversation. Don't get angry. I suspect everyone.
    GENNOSUKE: What proof do you have?
    HIRATA: Proof? What about that thing hanging around your neck? Couldn't you call that proof?
Hirata has the guard pull the crucifix from his neck.
    INOUE: Gennosuke, you must have picked this up somewhere. You could never have done this seriously. Why don't you explain?
    HIRATA: Even if he did pick it up somewhere, to walk about wearing objects that are under proscription is forbidden by the edict, even to a samurai. Why don't you answer?
Gennosuke remains silent.
    HIRATA: Gennosuke, since things have come to this pass, we must consider the other officials and guards. We must ask you to show that you are not a Christian.
    GENNOSUKE: I am not a Christian.
    HIRATA: If that is so, then please step on the fumi-e. No, I have a better plan. If you are not the accomplice of this Christian girl, show it by stepping on her.
    GENNOSUKE: What are you saying?
    HIRATA: Then you won't do it?
    GENNOSUKE (turns to Inoue for help): Dono.
Inoue averts his face and remains silent.
    GENNOSUKE: Dono.
    INOUE: I'd like to help you, Gennosuke. I'd like to help you, but the officials of the bureau have their own rule.
    Since you were caught wearing a proscribed crucifix around your neck, you must do as Hirata says and give proof to the other officials that you are not a Christian.
    GENNOSUKE: Dono, if you tell me to step on the fumi-e I will do it.
Gennosuke makes as if to plant his foot on the fumi-e.
    YUKI (bending over the fumi-e): No, that's the one thing you must not do! Please stop! Please stop!
    HIRATA: The situation gets more and more troublesome.
    YUKI: Gennosuke, if you step on the fumi-e, the bond that binds our two hearts together will snap forever. This may have been made by an unknown craftsman in Nagasaki, but to me it has been all my life the most precious of all things. All my life I have adored it. If you step on it, you will go completely out of my life. Instead, step on me.
    HIRATA: Oh, this is very interesting. I like nothing better than to throw mud at what is beautiful and spit on what is noble. This kind of perversion the officials of the bureau must all have to some degree. Gennosuke, this lady is asking you to step on her face instead of on the fumi-e.
    YUKI: Hirata-dono, will you be satisfied if Gennosuke steps on me? Will that clear up your suspicions?
    HIRATA: It most certainly will.
    YUKI: Then, Gennosuke, please step on me. Everything that's happened has been my fault. Step on me.
She pauses as she waits for Gennosuke to step on her. But he cannot.
    YUKI: Quickly, step on me. I don't want to see you suffer.
    GENNOSUKE: I don't know anything about the teaching of Christ. But now I see this clearly. If Yuki is to be hung in the pit, I want to be hung there too. If she is to be burned, I want to die with her. I want to be with her always.
    HIRATA: How

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