The Giant of Fukujima (Part 3)

Where were we, ah yes. After fleeing to the Sea of Grass, in his anger and grief, his spirit became mad. But though he was at his wits end, his life was by no means nearing its end. At this time he was a mere sixty years of age, nowhere close to senility for one of the Dragon line. But in his madness he had forgotten his true identity.

So it was that on a fresh and sunny day in late summer, the local villagers caught their first sight of the creature that was to become known as the Terrible Giant of Fukujima. On that day was to begin four years of great terror for the inhabitants of the island. In no time at all the rumour spread far and wide, and as is the usual way of people, some began to think that in fact they remembered a prophecy, foreseeing the return of an ancient curse, that would one day unleash a great and destructive creature upon the island. It was not long before certain scholars took up the thread and legitimised these false legends, whether for their own glory or profit. Indeed one or two of the younger ones, in order to prove their wisdom and insight, went so far as to write lengthy thesis on the subject. The giant was given the name of Surifuraco. And so it was that people whether high or low, trembled with fear whenever noises were heard at night, and reports poured in from far and wide, of the atrocities that the giant had wrought. Noble and peasant alike petitioned Yuji to take action and save them from the creature. Many even prepared to leave the island. Almost every disaster great and small that befell the island was unjustly blamed on the poor Giant.

Teru meanwhile was blissfully oblivious of the disturbance his wanderings were causing in his kingdom, as he roamed restlessly from place to place, lost as he was in his unfathomable despair. If on a rarity he stumbled upon a settlement the people cowered or scattered, terrified before him. He himself though was impervious to the chaos his presence was causing.

Yuji and his co-conspirators, being shrewd men, fuelled the fires of speculation and rumour, to their advantage. with every report their own position became better consolidated. This state of affairs put Yuji on a firm footing towards his ultimate ambition to openly usurp the throne for himself. Having declared a state of emergency, he set about doing just that.

Now as fortune would have it, at about this time, prince Jiro the Second son of Terumasa, was out hunting with a small party of his companions in the Sea of Grass plain, one blustery day. Suddenly they were disturbed to hear a great wailing and tearing drawing toward their camp. As they watched, out of the tall grass there emerged a large and fearfully ragged creature. The young men were making ready to bolt in great disarray, when Jiro, shouting to be heard over the noise of his friends, ordered them to stand firm. Behind the splattered and filthy appearance of the giant, Jiro, as is natural, had recognised the beloved face of his father.

The hunting party, on Jiro's order, gradually gained an uneasy composure, so that they too began to see the undeniable resemblance of the poor spectre to their lord. All this time the giant stood and stared at the young man who was obviously the leader. Slowly his eyes softened and soon melted into tears of recognition, as he identified his beloved son. For the first time in four long years he cried tears that were not the tears of anguish, but a joy that rekindled sanity in his heart and soul. Now the mood of the encounter shifted over to an explosive burst of joy as father and son ran to one another. Jiro, his heart filled with happiness stood close before his honourable father and bowed to him.

Terumasa, his madness of a sudden melted away, and a great weight lifted from his brow, was quickly washed and given more suitable robes. He then briefly related the now only too clearly remembered tale of Yuji's treachery. Soon the party were riding hard, back to the palace to put matters right.

The rest my friends is legend. Everyone knows how Yuji the traitor was captured at the so called Second Great Battle of Fukujima, the first as you surely remember, being that against the Manchu lord Che. Yuji, along with the rest of the traitorous warlords, were suitably punished, and the island was given once more the gift of peace.

As for Surifuraco, the Terrible Giant of Fukujima, that foolish legend was put to rest for good, except in some now ancient songs that remain with us to this day, and which our children sing to entertain themselves.