Some hideous Gaki! Like the Gaki of Kokoru--the evil ghost that can feed only on the unrest of humans. Their unhappiness is his food. He has to find misery in order to live, and win his way back once more to humanity. To different men he changes his shape at will, and sometimes is invisible. O-SODE-SAN Quick, Katsu, let us go to the shrine--and pray--and pray. O-KATSU-SAN Ay. There! [_They go out. The Gaki appears._ THE GAKI Why did you sigh? THE VOICE OF THE TREE O Gaki of Kokoru! My heart hangs within me like the weight of years on Obaa-San. THE GAKI Why did you moan? THE TREE The tree is growing--and it tears my heart. THE GAKI I live upon your unrest. Feed me! Feed me! [_The tree sighs and moans and The Gaki seems transported with joy._ THE TREE Please! Please! Give me my freedom. THE GAKI Where then should I feed? Unless I feed on your unhappiness I should cease to live--and I must live. THE TREE Someone else, perchance, may suffer in my stead. THE GAKI I care not where or how I feed. I am in the sixth hell, and if I die in this shape I must remain in this hell through all the eternities. One like me must feed his misery by making others miserable. I can not rise through the other five hells to human life unless I have human misery for my food. THE TREE Oh, can't you feed on joy--on happiness, on faith? THE GAKI Faith? Yes, perhaps--but only on perfect faith. If I found perfect faith--ah, then--I dare not dream.--There is no faith. THE TREE Do not make me suffer more. Let me enjoy the loveliness of things. THE GAKI Would you have someone else suffer in your stead? THE TREE Someone else--someone else-- THE GAKI Ay--old Obaa-San--she whom they call the grandmother. [_The Tree moans._ THE GAKI She will suffer in your stead. THE TREE No! No! She loves me! She of all the world loves me! No--not she! THE GAKI It shall be she! THE TREE I shall not leave! THE GAKI You give me better food than I have ever known. You wait! You wait! THE TREE Here comes Obaa-San! Do not let her suffer for me! THE GAKI You shall be free--as free as anyone can be--when I have made the misery of Obaa-San complete. THE TREE She has never fully known her misery. Her heart is like an iron-bound chest long-locked, with the key lost. THE GAKI We shall find the key! We shall find the key! THE TREE I shall warn her. THE GAKI Try! THE TREE Alas! I can not make her hear! I can not tell her anything. THE GAKI She can not understand you! She can not see me unless I wish! Earth people never see or hear! THE TREE Hai! Hai! Hai! [_Obaa-San enters. She is old, very, very old, and withered and misshapen. There is only laughter in your heart when you look at Obaa-San unless you see her eyes. Then_-- OBAA-SAN My tree! My little tree! Why do you sigh? THE TREE Hai! Hai! Hai! OBAA-SAN Sometimes I think I pity you. Yes, dear tree! THE TREE Hai! Hai! Hai! THE GAKI