ブックタイトルeigo13

概要

eigo13

A miracle that we met again just before her death（くしくも親子の最期の対面） (253)Shizuyo Honji（本地静代）I had been looking for my daughter since the early morning on August7th, the day after the atomic bomb was dropped. At 2 p.m. I arrived at theSecond Prefectural Girls’ High School. I saw a student there. Before I hadfinished saying “I am Fumie Honji’s mother” she said “Miss Honji has comehere.” I couldn’t believe what I heard, because I hadn’t expected that. In myheart, I urged her to guide me to my daughter immediately. I said to myself“Please let me see my daughter soon!” I was guided to the mannersclassroom. All of the people there had burns all over their bodies. They werewrithing in agony, calling their parents’ names. The scene looked like thehell.“This is Miss Honji.” she pointed to a girl. I looked at the girl. I noticedthat her skin had peeled off and her flesh was dark red. Her eyes, nose, andmouth had swollen up, some parts having festered. Her arms and legs werestiff like sticks. Her body had blisters. My daughter had changed completely,so much so that even I couldn’t recognize her. In open-mouthed surprise, myhead felt dizzy and I almost fainted.Soldiers and students around me lifted my spirits. I calmed down andsaid “This is not Fumie. Fumie has a smaller face, like me.” But this girl hadsaid, “I am Fumie Honji from Sinjyo town” when she came here when shewas asked who she was. “Make sure that she is Fumie.” I called her name“Fumie-chan!” Then she answered “Mom!” My daughter, who had changedcompletely and was suffering from terrible pain, was trying to get all of myaffection and she was calling my name. However, I couldn’t do anything forher. I just cried uncontrollably and said “You have changed so much.”Even though her eyes were damaged, my daughter looked toward meand said calmly “You didn’t cry when either of my brothers died and theirbones were returned to us. I am just a different kind of soldier. I will die as ayoung soldier, so don’t cry for me. Last night my classmate Miss Hiura died.Please place flowers at her grave.” I was surprised that she talked in such anormal tone even though she was seriously wounded. I said “Fumi-chan, whyare you so great? Your spirit is like the spirit of gods.” After hearing mydaughter’s words, I couldn’t think that she was just an ordinary human.