Yasunari Kawabata
Translated by Edward G.Seidensticker
[1] The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country.The earth lay white under the night sky.The train pulled up at a signal stop.
[2] A girl who had been sitting on the other side of the car came over and opened the window in front of Shimamura.The snowy cold poured in.Leaning far out the window, the girl called to the station master as though he were a great distance away.
[3] The station master walked slowly over the snow, a lantern in his hand.His face was buried to the nose in a muffler, and the flaps of his cap were turned down over his ears.
[4] It’s that cold, is it, thought Shimamura.Low, barrack like buildings that might have been railway dormitories were scattered here and there up the frozen slope of the mountain.The white of the snow fell away into the darkness some distance before it reached them.
[5] “How are you?” the girl called out.“It’s Yoko.”
[6] “Yoko, is it, on your way back? It’s gotten cold again.”
[7] “I understand my brother has come to work here.Thank you for all you’ve done.”
[8] “It will be lonely, though.This is no place for a young boy.”
[9] “He’s really no more than a child.You’ll teach him what he needs to know, won’t you.”
[10] “Oh, but he’s doing very well.We’ll be busier from now on, with the snow and all.Last year we had so much that the trains were always being stopped by avalanches, and the whole town was kept busy cooking for them.”
[11] “But look at the warm clothes, would you.My brother said in his letter that he wasn’t even wearing a sweater yet.”
[12] “I’m not warm unless I have on four layers, myself.The young ones start drinking when it gets cold, and the first thing you know they’re over there in bed with colds.” He waved his lantern toward the dormitories.
[13] “Does my brother drink?”
[14] “Not that I know of.”