The Acorns & Wildcat Kenji MIYAZAWA Translated by SoRaJune Part III 宮沢賢治 どんぐりと山猫 英語版 パート3

Just then, Ichiro heard the sound
like crunching salt at his feet.
When bending over to have a close
look in surprise, he saw many golden
round objects scattered in the grass.

They were more than 300 of acorns of
wearing red trousers. All of them were
saying something.

“Oh, here they come. They’re like
swarms of aunts. Ring the bell. Today,
cut down the grasses at that spot where
it gets the sunlight.” said Wildcat
hurriedly to the driver and tossed his
cigar.
The driver took out his sickle from his
belt and cut down grasses in front of
the cat. The acorns came into the spot
in all directions, shining in the sun.
Then the driver belled loudly. The
sound of the bell echoed into the nutmeg
forest. The golden acorns became quiet
a little. Wildcat has changed into long
black velvet robes and sat gravely facing
to the acorns. The scene reminded Ichiro
that worshipers and the Buddha statue
in Nara. The driver whipped a couple of
times. Those acorns were beautifully
shining under the clear blue sky.

“Today is already the third day of
hearing. Why don’t you make
reconciliation?” The cat said in
dignified and sympathetic manner.
The acorns started talking at once.
“No, no, the greatest acorn should
have the most prominent pointy head.
I have the one.”
“That’s wrong, one with the prominent
round head. I’m the one.”
“No, it should be the biggest one. I’m
the biggest.”
“No, I’m the biggest. My majesty said
I’m the biggest.”
That’s not true, it should be the
tallest one. The greatest one should be
the tallest one.”
“No, it should be the strongest one.
Let’s push each other to decide who is
the strongest.”
Wildcat shouted out, “Order, order.
Here is the court. Be quiet.”
The driver whipped and finally all
the acorns became silent.

Wildcat pintched his whiskers and said,
“This is the third day of the hearing.
Why don’t you make reconciliation?”
Then all acorns started talking each
other.
"No, no, the greatest should have pointy
head.”
“No, round head.” “The biggest one.”
They were so loud and in the unpleasant
manner.

Wildcat said sharply, “Order, order.
Here is the court.” The driver whipped
again. The cat pinched his whiskers and
repeated, “This is the third day of
hearing. Why don’t you make
reconciliation?”
“No, no, the pointy one should be…”
They made noise. The cat interfered.
“Order, order. Here is the court.”
The driver whipped widely until being
silent.

Wildcat asked Ichiro, “Have you seen
how they behave? What shall I do then?”
Ichiro said with smile, “Just say like
this. The greatest one of all should be
the most stupid, most idiotic and most
crazy one. My teacher said so once.”
(To bo continued)