The Goblin of Adachigahara
Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki
Characters:
Cannibal Goblin- took the form of an old woman in Mutsu.
Priest- traveler needing a place to stay for the night
Many travelers would disappear and never be heard of again. It was rumored that the place was haunted by a cannibal goblin. They whispered of the dreadful stories and did not dare to go near the dreadful spot at night. One day a buddhist pilgrim walked, and no one could warn him about the haunted spot. He was tired and needed a place to rest. He saw a cottage and stumbled over to it. He saw an old woman and called to her for a place to stay. She said she had no room to offer to him, but he insisted he would be fine sleeping on the floor. She was reluctant but said yes and offered him a poor welcome, but had rice.
The woman went out to fetch more firewood, and told the man to not make any noise and not to move at all. She told him to not go into the inner room and left. He was surprised and concerned, what would she be hiding in there? Minutes went by and the lady did not return. He thought to himself, if he looked she would not know anyway. He looked in the back room, and saw that the room was filled with men's bones.
He wondered to himself if the woman there was the cannibal goblin, her room was full of blood. He ran out into the night, trying to get as far as he could from the goblin. He ran faster, pretending to not hear and her voice grew as she ran faster. She carried a blood stained knife and yelled after him. He broke the darkness of night and escaped the goblin, thanking his prayers to buddha for his escape.
Comments
Post a Comment