The Master of Go by Yusanari Kawabata

Author:Yusanari Kawabata [Kawabata, Yusanari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

23

"I have prayed and prayed that this would not happen," the Master's wife said to me on the morning of August 5. "I have been of too little faith, I suppose."

And again: "I was afraid this might happen, and maybe it happened because I worried too much. There is nothing to do now but pray."

The curious and attentive combat reporter, I had had the whole of my attention on the Master as hero in battle; and now the words of the wife who had been with him through the long years came to me as if striking a blind spot. I could think of no answer.

The long, strenuous match had aggravated the heart condition from which he had long suffered, and apparently the pain in his chest had for some days been intense. He had let slip not a word about it.

From early in August his face began to swell and the chest pains were worse.

A session was scheduled for August 5. It was decided that play be limited to two hours in the morning. The Master was to be examined before it began.

"The doctor ?" he asked.

The doctor had gone to Sengokuhara on an emergency case.

"Well, suppose we begin, then."

Seated at the board, the Master quietly took up a tea bowl in both hands and sipped at the strong brew. Then he folded his hands lightly on his knees and brought himself upright. The expression on his face was like that of a child about to weep. The tightly closed lips were thrust forward, there was a dropsical swelling in the cheeks, and the eyelids too were swollen.

The session began almost on schedule, at seven minutes past ten. Today again a mist turned to heavy rain. Then, presently, the sky was brighter from downstream.

White 88, the sealed play, was opened. Otaké played Black 89 at forty-eight minutes past the hour. Noon came, an hour and a half passed, and still the Master had not decided on White 90. In great physical discomfort, he took an extraordinary two hours and seven minutes for the play. The whole time he sat bolt upright. The swelling seemed to leave his face. Finally it was decided to recess for lunch.

The usual one-hour recess was extended to two hours, in the course of which the Master was examined.

Otaké reported that he too was indisposed. His digestion was troubling him. He was taking three stomach medicines and a medicine to prevent fainting as well. He had been known to faint during a match.

"It usually happens when I'm playing badly, when I'm running out of time, and when I'm not feeling well," he said. "He insists on playing. I would as soon not, myself."

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