Dogra Magra (24/47)

by Hisashi Yumeno

"Ahahahahaha, that's exhilarating, truly exhilarating. It wouldn't be interesting otherwise. It seems like the perfect case to test your skills, doesn't it?"

"No, well... it's not really about testing my skills... Actually, I also thought this case was excellent material for the psychoscientific crimes I've been researching under previous guidance, so I investigated one thing from three or four different angles and compiled everything into documents... Those are in this furoshiki bundle."

"...Whoa... that's an incredible amount, isn't it? It's only been a week since the incident started, and yet you have so many documents..."

"No, this includes investigative documents related to an incident from two years ago... Also, regarding the current incident, I've been taking notes tirelessly as I investigated, so that even if I were to fall into a critical condition at any time, it wouldn't be an issue. Thanks to that, my chronic asthma has suddenly worsened, and I feel like my remaining lifespan has become even more precarious."

"Hmm. Now that you mention it, you do seem to have faded recently. You need to be careful. If the mummy-taker becomes a mummy himself, or if you yourself become a ghost of psychoscientific research, there's nothing that can be done. Ahahahahaha, no, thank you for your hard work... By the way, what's that square box sticking out on top of the bundle?"

"Yes. This is the scroll that was used for suggestion in this psychological genetic incident, and the box was custom-made by a joiner at my request. ...It's believed that the young man, Wu Yilong, developed a mental disorder as a result of being shown this scroll by someone, but as I just mentioned, the authorities' view and mine are completely different. Wu Yilong's mental disorder is recognized as either naturally occurring or feigned. Therefore, even if I show this scroll to the authorities as reference material, it's dismissed with a laugh from the start. However, on the other hand, thanks to that, such valuable reference material conveniently fell into our hands."

“Ahahahahaha. Well, that’s good to hear. With your appearance, if you had brought out such a scroll in front of the police and court officials and declared, ‘This is the unprecedented new academic theory, the suggestive material for psychological heredity, related to the esteemed Dr. Masaki’s unique research,’ they would have been quite taken aback. It’s a wonder they didn’t mistake you for a charlatan, ahahahahahaha.”

“Hahahahaha. No, actually, I only showed them the format so it wouldn’t be considered concealment, but I really wanted to keep it for myself…”

“Indeed… because you’re not a man to overlook such things…”

“No… not at all…”

“...By the way, is your business today to dump those documents and that case on me?”

“Yes, that’s part of it, but there’s one more thing… I would like to request a psychiatric evaluation for the boy, Go Ichiro, who is currently suspected of murdering the bride and is being held in the detention center in Dote-machi, Fukuoka.”

“Hmm. That boy, you say. I already have a general idea of his mental state just from the newspaper articles. It’s what’s known as post-seizure amnesia. In other words, someone who committed the bride murder during a somnambulistic state, brought on by the suggestion from that picture scroll or something similar, and then violently resisted when forcibly restrained, interrupting their somnambulism. And due to the extreme fatigue of nerve cells resulting from such excitement, all memories prior to the seizure were erased. That is, he fell into ‘retrograde amnesia’... I can pretty much figure that out just by reading the newspaper articles. It’s a common occurrence, and I think your explanation would be sufficient without having to call me in specifically.”

“Yes, that’s the thing… In this current case, my credibility has been overturned, and my evaluation alone is no longer considered reliable, so the court seems to be in a predicament… It appears they are saying that Go Ichiro might be a homicidal maniac…”

"Hmm. That's outrageous. Even if he's an amateur, for a judicial officer, his ignorance is beyond measure. First of all, he's making a fool of people by thinking that a mental illness like 'murder maniac' exists in this world. To immediately call someone a murder maniac just because they killed someone is a worse mistake than conflating manslaughter and premeditated murder."

"That's true, but..."

"Exactly... As you've probably already realized, the problem is that not a single scholar today understands how powerful a person's words and actions before and after the onset of a mental illness are as reference material for psychiatric evaluation, just as a suspect's words and actions before and after a crime are for criminal apprehension. A person with a mental illness, no matter how insane they may be, never acts in a completely random and violent manner. They deviate in various ways, following a clear progression based on the stimulus that triggered the illness, the content of their psychological inheritance, and the depth of their mental abnormal state. There's not even a slight deception during this process, so it's much more rational and orderly than the traces of a normal person's crime. Especially when it comes to murder, the circumstances before and after the heinous act must be viewed as even more powerful reference material than in ordinary crimes."

"That's very true... I've never heard that before."

“It’s precisely because they don’t understand this logic that when someone kills, they immediately label them a ‘homicidal maniac.’ If they kill two people, it becomes even more certain. …Indeed, considering the outcome of killing someone, they might be called a homicidal maniac. However, what if that homicidal maniac smashed a human head instead of a thermometer? Hahahahahahaha. If there’s a scholar who would still call them a homicidal maniac, I’d certainly like to meet them. …From the perspective of a mentally ill person, everything other than themselves—whether human, animal, or landscape, all phenomena in heaven and earth—can appear as mere shadows or moving pictures. For example, if the desire for red paint arises, that mentally ill person understands that smashing someone else’s head is the same as breaking a thermometer containing red alcohol. If their true purpose is to obtain red liquid to paint a red flower, they would never be labeled a ‘homicidal maniac.’ Therefore, from my perspective, I believe this boy’s heinous act also has another purpose. In other words, it depends on the content of the psychogenetic inheritance that controls this boy.”

“You are absolutely right… In fact, I also thought it might be something like that, so I believed this was entirely outside my expertise and within your domain, Professor, which is why I brought all the relevant documents for your reference. However, there is one more… the final point of doubt regarding this case, which naturally falls under my responsibility, and I specifically wanted to ask for your assistance on that point, which is why I came to see you today.”

“Hmm. The conversation has become terribly tense. What is that final point?”

“Yes… it is the person who used this picture scroll to give a suggestion to Oh Il-rang…”

“I see. If such a person exists, they are a truly remarkable new type of criminal. That certainly falls under your responsibility, doesn’t it? To track them down…”

"That's right... However, because this one point is completely unknown at the moment, the entire incident is deeply shrouded in a mysterious cloud..."

"That's true. Incidents governed by psychological heredity are usually shrouded in a mysterious cloud and remain unresolved; that's been the case since ancient times. There's no telling how many such incidents have appeared in the newspapers alone."

"However... I believe that in the case of this particular incident, there's a possibility of breaking through that mysterious cloud. That final point of doubt must lie deep within the boy's memory..."

"Ah... I understand, I understand. In other words, if we restore the boy's mental state, he'll remember the face and appearance of the person who showed him that picture scroll... So, you want a psychiatric evaluation done for the purpose of uncovering that memory, correct?"

"Exactly... I am truly sorry, but this is something entirely beyond my capabilities..."

"No, I understand, I understand. As expected of a renowned forensic pathologist of your generation. You've noticed something excellent... Hahahaha. I'll take it on. I've certainly taken it on."

"Thank you... truly..."

"Mm-hmm. I understand, I understand. I understand everything. Now, completely clear this case from your mind and take your vitamins at your leisure... No, speaking of vitamins, how about we go to Yoshizuka for eel right now? It's been a while since I've had a drink... though I'll be the only one drinking... Well, never mind. Consider it a reward for your efforts on this case..."

"Yes, thank you... However, when can you make a trip for the boy's psychiatric evaluation? I'll notify the court..."

“Yes. That can be done anytime. It’s no trouble at all. Just one look at that boy’s face is enough to tell that he’s neither a homicidal maniac nor feigning madness. However, since he needs to be hospitalized for a more detailed assessment, arrangements have already been made to bring him to this psychiatric hospital, so it’s trivial. While Dr. Wakabayashi’s reputation is plummeting, Masaki’s fame is soaring… Hahahaha.”

“I’m much obliged… What shall we do with these documents then?”

“…Ah, I was supposed to keep those, wasn’t I? Now, what should I do… Hmm, I have an idea. Hand them over here… I’ll throw them into this stove and close the lid like this. We won’t be lighting a fire until winter this year, so not even Buddha would notice… and here it comes…”

“Huh… What kind of voice imitation is that?”

“It’s not a voice imitation. It’s a line from the Noh play ‘Kanjincho.’ You don’t know anything, despite being a forensic scientist. Aha…”

Oh dear, oh dear… What on earth is this… The full-color silent film with live narration has finally become nothing but dialogue. This is just like a bad radio or phonograph. Doing live narration is quite difficult, isn’t it? Even just adding “gozaimasu” to each sentence is a lot of work. When I get lazy and try to omit “gozaimasu,” this is what happens… I’m a bit tired now, so this time I’ll show you a film that’s “explanation-free” and without “gozaimasu.” No, it’s not just “explanation-free.” It’s “screen-free,” “projector-free,” “film-free”… in short, it’s perfectly fine to call it a “film that needs nothing at all.” It’s not something an outdated thing like a German silent film could ever catch up to…

Now, what is this all about? Actually, it's nothing. It's just that I'll show you, one by one, as a film, the investigative report that Wakabayashi-kun just handed to me, which I had thrown into an empty stove, and then later read, extracted the key points, and added my own opinions... Saying that makes it sound like a lot of trouble again, but in reality, it's just the trouble of inserting the original excerpt right here in this will... *ahem*... and you all will understand just by reading it... It's a trick film based on my latest invention. I think this form of film will become very popular soon, so if you like, I can transfer the patent to you. If anyone agrees... Yes, just a moment... Please wait a moment.

Actually, this excerpt record was something I intended to insert into my "Theory of Psychological Heredity," but I completely burned all the manuscripts for that kind of paper. However, I specifically kept only this part. As I have explained to you all, you are currently great detectives and mental scientists, so I believe that by reading this record with your abilities, you will thoroughly discern the truth of this incident without any difficulty, no matter how surprising it may be.

...How did this incident arise from a psychological hereditary explosion? Was there someone who intentionally caused that psychological heredity to explode, or not? And if there was, where are they? And what kind of implications do Wakabayashi's and my attitudes towards this incident cast on its resolution?... That's how it is. But you really need to brace yourselves, or it won't work... While I threaten you like that, I'll leisurely sip my Scotch and smoke a Havana... Heh heh...

◆Appendix to the Theory of Psychological Heredity◆…………Various Case Studies

Case One: The Details of Go Ichiro's Seizures

――Based on Mr. W's Notes――

First Seizure

◆First Reference: Go Ichiro's Statement

▼Date and Time of Interrogation: Around 12:30 PM on April 2, Taisho 13. After the memorial service for the seventh day following the death of the victim, Chiyoko (36), who was his mother and the proprietor of the aforementioned girls' school—

▼Location of Interrogation: On the second floor, in the eight-tatami-mat room, Wu Ichiro's study and bedroom, at 20-2 Hiyoshi-cho, Nogata-machi, Kurate-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, at the Tsukushi Girls' School—

▼Attendees: Wu Ichiro (18), the biological son of the victim Chiyoko; his aunt Yachiyo (37), residing at 1586 Meinohama-machi, Sawara-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, a farmer; and myself (Mr. W)—a total of three people—

—Thank you very much. Until you, Sensei, asked me, "What dream were you having at that time?", I simply couldn't recall that dream. Thanks to you, Sensei (Mr. W), I was spared from becoming a parricide.

—If everyone understands that I am not the one who killed my mother, that is enough. I have nothing more to say. However, if it helps in your search for the culprit, please ask me anything. My mother passed away without telling me about things from long ago, so I only know about things from when I grew up, but I don't think there's anything wrong with me telling you what I know.

—I was apparently born in Komazawa Village, near Tokyo, at the end of Meiji 40. I know nothing about my father. (Note states... There is a suspicion that the birthplace of Wu Ichiro differs from the facts. However, for research purposes, this is not an issue, so no correction is made here.)

—My mother apparently lived in Meinohama with this aunt from birth, but at seventeen, she left this aunt's house, saying she would study painting and embroidery. After that, she went to Tokyo searching for my father, and I was born while she was searching here and there. My mother often used to say, "The greater a man is, the more he lies," and she probably said that out of resentment towards my father (blushes). But when I asked about my father, my mother would immediately look like she was about to cry, so I didn't ask much after I grew up.

――However, I clearly understood that my mother was diligently searching for my father. I think I was four or five years old when I remember taking a long train ride with my mother from a large station somewhere in Tokyo, and then a carriage ride, going on and on along wide roads through rice paddies and between mountains. I remember waking up after falling asleep and still being in the carriage. Then, in the evening, after it became completely dark, we arrived at an inn in a certain town. After that, my mother seemed to visit various houses every day with me on her back, but since there were only mountains in every direction, I would cry every day, saying, "Let's go home, let's go home," and get scolded. Then we took the carriage and train back to Tokyo, and I remember my mother buying me a trumpet that made the same sound as the one the carriage driver played in the mountains.

Some time after that, I realized that my mother had visited my father's hometown. When I asked, "Where was the station where we took the train that time?" my mother said with tears in her eyes, "Asking about that won't do any good. Your mother went there three times by then, but now she has completely given up, so you should give up too. If your mother is still alive and well when you graduate from university, I will tell you everything about your father." Since then, I never asked about it again. The shapes of the mountains and the appearance of the town I saw then have become vague, and only the sound of the rattling carriage's trumpet remains in my ears.

Afterward, I bought various maps and tried to investigate by measuring the time the train and carriage traveled that time, and I can't help but think it must have been in the mountains of Chiba Prefecture or Tochigi Prefecture. Yes, I don't recall seeing the sea near the railway tracks, but perhaps I was only looking out the opposite side of the train window. I don't know the truth.

In Tokyo, it seems we lived in various places. As far as I remember, we moved from Komazawa to Kanasugi, then Koume, Sanbongi, and finally came here from Kōgai-chō in Azabu. We always rented a room, either on the second floor, inside a storehouse, or in an annex, and my mother made various embroideries and crafts. When she finished a few, she would carry me on her back and take them to a shop called Omiya in Nihonbashi Denma-chō. Then, the beautifully made-up proprietress of that shop would surely give me sweets. I still remember that shop and the proprietress's face.

I don't clearly remember the types of crafts my mother made at that time, but I think there were various things like temple curtains, half-collars, fukusa (cloth wrappers), kimono hem patterns, and haori crests. I was too young then to understand how she sewed them or how much they sold for, but one thing I still clearly remember is the pattern of a small fukusa that my mother sent to the proprietress of Omiya when we came to Nogata from Tokyo. It was made of very thin, almost transparent silk, with chrysanthemums of various colors and shapes embroidered all over it, and it was incredibly beautiful. Though she only progressed about a fingertip's worth each day, when she took the finished piece, the proprietress was surprised and called everyone in the house loudly. Everyone watched with wide eyes, impressed. I heard later that it was a genuine "nui-tsubushi," an old embroidery technique that no one today knows how to make. Afterwards, the proprietress's husband tried to give my mother money, but my mother bowed and returned it, only accepting sweets before leaving. I was troubled because my mother and the proprietress stood at the gate, crying for a long time.

The reason we came to Nogata from Tokyo was because my mother had consulted a fortune-teller. She used to say, "The teacher at Azabu-Juban is very accurate," so it was probably that teacher who said, "You and your child will always be unlucky if you stay in Tokyo. You must be cursed by something, so to get rid of this misfortune, it's better to return to your hometown. This year, it's better to travel west, as shown in this I Ching chart. You are a Sanpeki Mokusei (Three Green Wood Star), the same star alignment as Sugawara no Michizane and Ichikawa Sadanji, so the period between thirty-four and forty is the most critical time with the most disasters. The person you are looking for is a Shichiseki Kinsei (Seven Red Metal Star), which is in a destructive relationship with Sanpeki Mokusei, so if you don't give up quickly, something terrible will happen. Even if you place your respective belongings close to each other, they will harm each other; it's the most terrifying destructive relationship, so even if you forget, you must not keep their mementos close by. If you pass forty, your luck will stabilize, and if you pass forty-five, extraordinarily good luck will open up for you." That's what she said. So, when I was eight years old, we came here, and my mother would often tell her students, laughing, "It's really true. I have the same star alignment as Tenjin-sama and others, so I must like literature and art." So, I remembered those words perfectly. However, she only told me about the Shichiseki Kinsei, and I was forbidden to tell anyone else.

Soon after my mother arrived in Nogata, she rented this house and opened a cram school. There were always about twenty students, divided into two groups, day and night, and she taught them in the eight-tatami-mat room shown in the diagram below. My mother was delighted when she saw many good young ladies, but because she had a short temper, she often scolded her students. Also, there were times when ruffians or delinquent boys would come to tease the students or threaten my mother to extort money, but even then, my mother would scold them and drive them away by herself. Therefore, the only men who entered this house were the landlord, my junior high school homeroom teacher, Mr. Kamouchi, and perhaps an electrician. Other than that, my mother never received any letters, nor did she send any. It seems she didn't even write to Mrs. Omiya, with whom she had been so close; she seemed to be afraid of anyone knowing her whereabouts for any reason. What the reason was, my mother never told me, but I suspect she took the words of the diviner from Tanuki-ana too seriously and thought someone was targeting her. My mother was not a superstitious person, but she seemed to genuinely believe only in the teacher from Tanuki-ana.

To be honest, I didn't like Nogata. On the way here from Tokyo, perhaps because I wasn't feeling well, I got terribly carsick on the train, and I grew to hate the smell of coal smoke. When I arrived here, the surroundings were full of coal mines, and that smell lingered from morning till night, which made me dislike it even more. Still, my mother was happy, saying, "This is a good place," so I had no choice but to put up with it. As time went on, I gradually got used to it and no longer got carsick, but I truly hated the bad air and the smell of coal.

When I started school, I was troubled by the students' diverse and often rough language, which I couldn't understand. This was only natural, as there were children gathered from all over Japan.

Moreover, because I had moved to various places since I was little, I had few friends. Even after coming here, I didn't make many friends at school, but in my fourth year of junior high, I was able to enter a high school in Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka. The air there was very clean, and the view was wonderful, which made me incredibly happy.

Actually, the reason I took the exam so early was because I disliked Nogata, but to tell the truth, I wanted to graduate from university quickly. And I couldn't suppress the desire to hear my father's story, which my mother had promised, as soon as possible... though I didn't tell my mother that... I felt similarly when I entered junior high. There was no particular reason, but... And it was just when I had finally become a second-year student in the humanities (blushing, secret tears).