The Onryō was said to haunt the burnt ground for years, and it was told that if any person entered the defiled ground with a weapon, the Onryō would use the visitor’ s weapon to kill its owner. When the site was rebuilt, this tradition was carried over— though none can say that the ghost has ever truly been sighted on the mountain.
After this, I learned that if one chose to attend the bath waters, one must bathe completely nude, which is right out, for wearing clothing into the waters is considered disrespectful. There were also to be women who scrub the visitors’ backs, which is an unpardonable impertinence. I can bathe myself most successfully, and have been doing so for many years! On top of all these shocking mandates is that the bath is not segregated by gender, meaning men and women bathe together!
I excused myself from this immodest entertainment to take some exercise alongside Percy. We wandered around the scenery and observed the fascinating buildings.
At this point it is necessary to take a break in order to explain that numerous things happened and to fully understand what followed, I must explain what was going on in various parts of the hotel, which is only something I learned later.
BRUNHILDE BAMFIELD BRINGS A GHOST
Brunhilde Bamfield had secretly smuggled a sleeve-gun into the hotel, just in case, which she was oiling in her room. She noticed that her spring-loaded gun would not stay fastened, no matter how hard she tightened the screws, and would invariably swing on its hinge and face her own body! She set the gun aside to consult the manual whereupon it fired at her! She continues to this day to swear that she never even loaded the thing.
SIR HAMMERHORN GIVES IT LIFE
Sir Hammerhorn had gone to his room about the time I was headed out on my walk with Percy. A Yuna, or hot water woman, had brought him some water for his tea, and he decided to show her his ghost machine.
They heard the firing of Bamfield ' s gun through the paper walls, and while I initially objected to the thinness of the walls upon arrival, I can safely say that in this instance it may have saved some lives.
The Yuna took a small break to go and check on the noise. Hammerhorn watched her go and then returned to his ghost machine. He heard the Yuna from the hall saying,“ I see nothing. I am returning.”
The Yuna entered the room while Hammerhorn was turned. She claimed that she intended to disrobe. He was quite flabbergasted at this, but refused to turn around for fear of appearing improper. He remained facing away and she said things such as,‘ I am approaching from behind,’‘ Do not look at me,’‘ I am standing behind you,’‘ Do not turn,’‘ I can reach out and touch you,’ and‘ Do not look!’
This caused him to grow concerned because her movement was accompanied by a strange scraping or dragging, as if she had lost the use of one or more of her limbs. He turned to discover the corpse of the Yuna, eyes bleeding, as it was cast at his feet! The indistinct specter of a woman stepped into his machine, which fitted around her waist like a corset, making her corporeal!
MY OWN ADVENTURE WITH THE GHOST
Percy and I were enjoying our time with the Mayor who told us of the most alarming Japanese custom. It seems there is an annual festival where the people of this nation gather magic beans and scatter them about in order