R11:CO4_02.txt

小屋に戻ると黄泉木は、まず衛星電話を取り出し、どこかにダイヤルした。%K%P
Returning to the cabin, Yomogi first took out the satellite phone and dialed somewhere.

偶然の可能性に、もう一度懸けてみるつもりなのだろう。%K%P
He most likely wanted to try it one more time, in hopes that by some slight chance it would work.

黄泉木「………………」%K%P
.........

こころ「………………」%K%P
.........

黄泉木「………………」%K%P
.........

こころ「……だめ、なんですか？」%K%P
...No good?

黄泉木「………………」%K%P
.........

黄泉木「ちっ……！」%K%P
Tch...!

忌々しげに呟くと、電話を持つ手を下ろした。%K%P
Muttering in annoyance, Yomogi lowered the phone.

やはり繋がらなかったのだ。%K%P
It didn't connect, as I expected.

黄泉木「こうなれば、やむを得ないな……」%K%P
Now that it's come to this, there's no other choice...

黄泉木は周囲を見渡し……%K%P
Yomogi looked over his surroundings...

黄泉木「みんな、集まってくれ」%K%P
Get everyone together for me.

黄泉木「大事な話がある」%K%P
There's something important we need to talk about.

神妙な顔でそう言った。%K%P
He said this with a serious face.

黛「……で？」%K%P
...And?

黛が、相変わらずストーブの前で毛布にくるまりながら、憮然としていた。%K%P
Mayuzumi, wrapped up in a blanket in front of the stove as usual, said this in a disappointed voice.

黛「要するになにが言いたいわけ？」%K%P
So, in conclusion, what're you trying to say?

黄泉木「説明した通りだよ」%K%P
It's just as I explained it.

黄泉木「これからは、できるだけ節約していく」%K%P
From now on, we're going to be rationing as much as possible.

物資が少なくなってきたことで、今後のことについて黄泉木が話し合いの場を設けたのだが……。%K%P
As our supplies were becoming limited, Yomogi started discussing what we should do from this point on.

ゆにはまだ寝惚けまなこだし、黛はいつも通り反抗的な態度だ。%K%P
Yuni, still half asleep, was looking at us drowsily, and Mayuzumi was being as defiant as always.

それでも黄泉木は、辛抱強く説明し続けた。%K%P
Even so, Yomogi patiently continued his explanation.

彼によれば、状況はかなり逼迫しているらしい。%K%P
According to him, the current situation required us to be quite stringent.

薪はすでに切れかかっていて、今日の夜までもつかどうかも怪しい。%K%P
All the firewood had already been split, and it was doubtful that it would last until nightfall.

照明用ランタンの燃料も、このまま１日中使い続けていると、明日にはなくなる。%K%P
And if we continued to keep the lantern turned on all day like we had before, it would run out of fuel by tomorrow.

食糧はもっと深刻で、すでにフリーズドライ食品は底をつき、残るのは文字通り非常食のみだ。%K%P
Our remaining food supply was more serious. We'd already reached the bottom of our freeze-dried food, and all that was left were literally emergency rations.

具体的にはカンパンが２缶、それに板チョコが１枚。%K%P
Specifically, there were only two cans of hard tack and one bar of chocolate remaining.

それだけだった。%K%P
That was it.

そこで黄泉木は、これからは何事も節約していこうと提案したのである。%K%P
From there, Yomogi began proposing ways we could start rationing our remaining supplies.

私は不安になった。%K%P
I became anxious.

黄泉木の提案は正しいのだろうけれど……。%K%P
What Yomogi's suggesting is probably right, but....

ストーブをつけていてもこれだけ冷えるのに、それを消したらどれほどの寒さに耐えなければならないのだろう。%K%P
It's still this cold even when we're using the stove. If we turn it off, just what kind of cold will we have to bear?

まして、体力のない子どももこの小屋にはいるのだ。%K%P
Moreover, we have a physically weak child in this cabin.

黛「つまり死ねってこと？」%K%P
In other words, you're telling us to die?

黛は皮肉っぽく言った。%K%P
Mayuzumi made a cynical remark.

黛「節約して、食べものも燃料も残したまま凍え死ねってことよね？」%K%P
So that we can ration it, you want us to leave our remaining food and fuel here unused while we freeze to death?

黄泉木「黛……わかってくれよ」%K%P
Mayuzumi... please understand.

黛「わかるわけないでしょ！」%K%P
There's no way I could!

黛「もしかしたら、明日にでも助けが来るかも知れないじゃないの」%K%P
We might be rescued tomorrow for all we know!

黄泉木「もしかしたら、あと１週間待っても助けは来ないかも知れない」%K%P
Or we might still not be rescued after a week.

黛「く…………」%K%P
Tch......

悔しそうに言葉を飲み込んだ黛に、黄泉木が穏やかな口調で話しかける。%K%P
As Mayuzumi swallowed her words in irritation, Yomogi talked to her in a calm tone.

黄泉木「僕も、本当はもっと早く救助が来ると思ってたよ」%K%P
I thought the rescue team would arrive faster, too.

黄泉木「だから、節約は最小限にしてた」%K%P
That's why we've been keeping our rationing to a minimum until now.

黄泉木「なにせ飛行機事故だ。消息を絶った時点で、大規模な捜索活動が行われるはずだろう」%K%P
It was a plane crash, after all. After communications were severed, they would have organized and carried out a large-scale search and rescue mission.

黄泉木「それなのに、救助がやってこない……」%K%P
But even so, the rescue team hasn't come yet...

黄泉木「ひょっとしたらなにか不都合があって、救助隊が僕らを見つけられないのかも……」%K%P
It's possible that some obstruction occurred and the rescue team isn't able to find us.

黛「なによ、不都合って！？」%K%P
What do you mean, obstruction?!

黄泉木「それは、わからんよ」%K%P
That I don't know.

黄泉木「だが、何事も、最悪の状況を想定して考えるべきだ」%K%P
But, in any case, we should start preparing for the worst.

黄泉木「この場合の最悪の状況とは……救助隊の到着がもっと遅れることだな」%K%P
In this situation, the worst would be... the rescue team's arrival being delayed even further.

黄泉木「僕は、ここにいる４人が少しでも長く生きているために必要なことをしよう――そう言っているんだよ」%K%P
We should do what we have to for the four people here to survive as long as possible――that's what I'm trying to say.

黛は何も言い返せなかった。%K%P
Mayuzumi had no rebuttal for that.

小さく舌打ちして、黙り込んでしまう。%K%P
Clucking her tongue once softly, she fell silent.

ゆに「無駄だよ」%K%P
It's useless.

いきなり、ゆにが呟いた。%K%P
Yuni suddenly mumbled.

こころ「……え？」%K%P
...Eh?

ゆに「ぼく達は死んじゃうんだ……」%K%P
We're going to die...

ゆには、どこか超然とした様子で、淡々と呟いた。%K%P
He muttered disinterestedly, as if he were some transcendent being.

まただ……。%K%P
Again....

また、ゆにが妙なことを言っている……。%K%P
Again, Yuni's talking strangely....

思わず、腕に鳥肌が立ってしまった。%K%P
Goosebumps suddenly formed on my arms.

それほど、ゆにの態度には得体の知れないものを感じた。%K%P
It really felt like there was something strange in Yuni's behavior.

ゆに「３日後に……」%K%P
Three days from now...

ゆに「１月１７日にね……」%K%P
On January 17th...

こころ「ねえ、ゆに……」%K%P
Hey, Yuni...

こころ「どうして、そんなこと言うの……？」%K%P
Why do you say that...?

私は訊かずにはいられなかった。%K%P
I couldn't help but ask.

すると、ゆにはニヤリと笑った。%K%P
And then, Yuni smiled unpleasantly.

ゆに「だって……」%K%P
Because...

ゆに「新聞に書いてあったじゃん」%K%P
It was written in the newspaper.

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

黄泉木「…………」%K%P
......

黛「…………」%K%P
......

あの、７月４日付けの偽新聞のことを言っているのだ。%K%P
He was talking about the fake newspaper dated June 4th.

黄泉木「な、なんだ……ははは、そのことか……」%K%P
W, what... ahahaha, so that's what you meant...

黄泉木の苦笑につられて、私もため息混じりに笑ってしまった。%K%P
Yomogi smiled bitterly, and I let out a laugh mingled with a sigh.

一方の黛は、眉をヒクヒクさせながら。%K%P
On the other hand, Mayuzumi's eyebrow twitched.

黛「ガキのくだらないジョークに付き合ってるヒマはないのよ！」%K%P
I don't have the time to go along with some brat's stupid joke!

ゆに「冗談じゃないってば！」%K%P
I'm not joking!

ゆに「新聞にちゃんと書いてあるだろー！？」%K%P
It was written in the newspaper, right?!

黛「はいはい。お子様は黙ってて」%K%P
Yeah, yeah. Good children should stay quiet.

ゆに「ちぇっ。もういいよ」%K%P
Tch. Whatever.

ゆには唇を尖らせて、プイとそっぽを向いてしまった。%K%P
Yuni's lips formed a pout, and he turned away in sudden displeasure.

黄泉木が、雰囲気を変えるようにひとつ咳払いをする。%K%P
Yomogi cleared his throat once in order to change the atmosphere.

黄泉木「さて。話は戻るんだが」%K%P
Well, returning to the subject at hand.

黄泉木「特に食糧に関しては、いろいろと厄介なことが起こるのもマズイから」%K%P
In regards to the food supply in particular, it'd be bad if there was any trouble over it.

黄泉木「僕が管理することにしようと思う」%K%P
I've been thinking that I should manage it.

黄泉木「残りの食糧の分量や、きみ達の体調を考えながら、僕が食事を配分するよ」%K%P
I'll ration and distribute the remaining food, keeping our individual physical conditions in mind.

それを聞いた黛は、嘲るように唇を歪め、黄泉木を睨みつけた。%K%P
On hearing that, a scoff escaped Mayuzumi's lips, and she sneered at Yomogi.

黛「ははーん」%K%P
Ohoh.

黛「なるほどねえ、そういうこと」%K%P
I see, so that's it.

黄泉木「なんだ？」%K%P
What?

黛「あんた、独り占めしようって魂胆でしょ！？」%K%P
You're planning on monopolizing it yourself, aren't you?!

黄泉木「は？」%K%P
Huh?

黛「とぼけるんじゃないわよ」%K%P
Don't play dumb.

黛「管理するって言っといて、ひとりでこっそり食べる気ね？」%K%P
After you become the manager, you're planning on secretly eating it by yourself, aren't you?

黛「私達には食べものを回さずに、さ」%K%P
Without passing anything out to us.

黛「そりゃ、『自分が管理する』って言いたくなるわ」%K%P
Then of course you'd say "I want to manage it."

黛「あーあ、私も管理したーい」%K%P
Aaah, I want to manage it toooo.

ふざけた口調だった。%K%P
The message underlying her tone was clear――"don't screw with me."

黄泉木「なんでそうなるんだ」%K%P
How did you arrive at THAT conclusion?

案の定、黄泉木はギロリと黛を睨み返す。%K%P
As expected, Yomogi returned her glare.

普段のどこかひょうひょうとした黄泉木から想像もできない、鋭い目つきだった。%K%P
It was a sharp look I would have never imagined coming from the normally light-hearted Yomogi.

さすがの黛も、その迫力に押される。%K%P
Mayuzumi was pushed back by that intensity as well.

黛「な、なによ……」%K%P
W, what...

黛「全部お見通しなのよ！　偉そうに仕切らないでよ！」%K%P
I've already seen through everything! Don't be so proud of putting yourself in charge!

黄泉木「ここでは僕がリーダーだ。従ってもらう」%K%P
I'm the leader here. I'll have you follow me, too.

黛「なっ、勝手に決めないで！　誰がいつ決めたっての！？」%K%P
Wh, don't just decide that for yourself! When and by whom was that decided?!

黄泉木「山での経験は僕が一番ある。体力も一番ある。それ以外にどんな理由が必要だ？」%K%P
The one who has the most mountaineering experience is me. I'm also the strongest. What other reason do I need?

黛「ふざけんな！　あんたの思い通りにはさせないわよ！」%K%P
No way in hell! I won't let you have everything your way!

黛は今にも黄泉木につかみかかろうかという勢いだ。%K%P
Mayuzumi really has the vigor to counter Yomogi at any given time.

私はハラハラと見守っていることしかできない。%K%P
I can't do anything but watch over them nervously.

と思ったら、いきなり、%K%P
That's what I thought, but all of a sudden,

黛「あんたもそう思うよね？」%K%P
You think so too, right?

黛に話を振られた。%K%P
Mayuzumi touched on the matter a different way.

こころ「え？」%K%P
Huh?

黛「『え？』じゃないでしょ！　かわい子ぶっちゃって」%K%P
Don't just say "huh?"! God, that cute-little-lady act...

黛「この男の好きなようにさせる気？」%K%P
Are you gonna just let this guy do whatever he wants?

黄泉木も私を見た。%K%P
Yomogi looked at me.

多数決で決めようという腹積もりなのか、私の言葉を待っている。%K%P
As if intending to decide who was in the right by majority rule, they waited for me to speak.

私は――%K%p
I――

黄泉木が正しいと思う
I think Yomogi is right

黛の意見にも一理ある
Mayuzumi's argument has its good points as well

こころ「私は……黄泉木さんが正しいと思います」%K%P
But I... think Yomogi is right.

こころ「助かりたいのなら、黄泉木さんに従うべきです」%K%P
If we want to be saved, we should do as Yomogi says.

黛は不服そうに鼻を鳴らした。%K%P
A snort of discontent came from Mayuzumi's nose.

黛「なによ、この男に取り入ろうって言うの？」%K%P
What the hell, are you trying to say that I should make nice with this guy?

こころ「あ、私はただ……」%K%P
Ah, I just...

黛「前から思ってたけど、あんた達ってずいぶん仲よさそうじゃない」%K%P
I've thought so since before, but you and he suuure are close, aren't you?

黛「デキてんの？」%K%P
Are you two doing it?

こころ「ま、黛さん！」%K%P
Ma, Mayuzumi-san!

こころ「いくらなんでも、失礼――」%K%P
Even if you are upset, that was rude――

黛「うるさい！」%K%P
Shut it!

黛は、私の言葉など聞こうともしなかった。%K%P
Mayuzumi didn't intend to listen to my words.

黛「ふたりでグルになって、なに企んでんのよ！」%K%P
The two of you are always scheming together. What're you planning?!

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

黄泉木「…………」%K%P
......

ダメだ。%K%P
It's no good.

極限状況に追い詰められて、黛は疑心暗鬼になっている。%K%P
Being driven into a corner in such a dire situation, Mayuzumi was beginning to see suspicious goings-on everywhere.

もう、誰も信じようとはしていない。%K%P
She won't believe anyone now.

これじゃ、何を言ったところで無駄だ……。%K%P
Like this, whatever we say will be useless....

黄泉木「黛、落ち着いてくれ」%K%P
Mayuzumi, calm down.

黄泉木「キミがそんな態度を続けるなら、こっちもそれ相応の手段に出なきゃいけなくなる」%K%P
If you continue with that attitude of yours, I'll have to use appropriate measures to stop you.

黛はギクリと肩を震わせた。%K%P
Mayuzumi gulped and began to tremble.

青くなって、後ずさる。%K%P
Turning blue, she took a step back.

黛「な、なにそれ……」%K%P
W, what do you mean...

黛「こ、殺す気！？」%K%P
You gonna kill me?!

黄泉木はただならぬ雰囲気で、黛へと一歩、踏み出した。%K%P
With a disturbingly unusual atmosphere for him, Yomogi took a single step toward Mayuzumi.

私の心臓が早鐘を打つ。%K%P
An alarm went off inside my heart.

まさかとは思うけど……黄泉木は、なにを……？%K%P
There's no way he would, I thought, but... Yomogi, what are you...?

黄泉木「前にも言ったはずだ」%K%P
I said it before, too.

黄泉木「雪山では、たったひとりの勝手な行動がチーム全体を死に追いやると」%K%P
On a snowy mountain, if even a single person acts selfishly, they'll lead the entire team to their deaths.

黄泉木「もしもキミがバカな真似を続けるなら、僕はチームを守るために……」%K%P
If you keep on acting like such an idiot, to protect the team, I'll...

黄泉木「個人を切り捨てる」%K%P
throw you away without a second thought.

黛「それ、脅し...？」%K%P
Is that... a threat...?

黄泉木「脅しじゃないさ」%K%P
It's not a threat.

黄泉木「ルールだ」%K%P
It's a rule.

静かに、だが有無を言わせぬ圧迫感を漂わせて呟く黄泉木に、私は少しだけ恐ろしいものを感じた。%K%P
Quietly, from that feeling of forcible oppression hanging in the air, I felt the vaguest sense of something terrible in Yomogi.

いま言った『ルール』を彼が本気で実行するつもりなら……%K%P
If he was seriously planning on executing the "rule" he just mentioned...

私も彼に逆らうことはできない。%K%P
I won't be able to oppose him either.

『ルール』の適用は、何も黛に限ったことではないということだから……。%K%P
Because there was nothing that would keep him from enforcing this "rule" against Mayuzumi....

黛「ふざけんな！」%K%P
Cut the crap!

私の心配になど気づきもせず、黛が爆発した。%K%P
Without noticing my anxiety at all, Mayuzumi exploded.

黛「あんたが一番アブナイじゃねーかっ！」%K%P
You're the most dangerous one here, aren't you?!

顔を真っ赤にして、無謀にもつかみかかる。%K%P
Her face flushing crimson, she clings onto the same argument recklessly.

彼女の細い手が、黄泉木の厚い胸板を突いた。%K%P
Her thin hand struck Yomogi's broad chest.

黄泉木がよろけた拍子に、テーブルの上のカップが落ち、甲高い音をたてる。%K%P
The moment Yomogi staggers, a cup on the table falls with a loud noise.

冷めたコーヒーが、床にぶちまけられた。%K%P
The chilled coffee in it was thrown to the floor.

ゆに「やめ……てよぅ」%K%P
Stop... it.

ゆに「ケンカは……ダメだよぅ」%K%P
No... fighting...

まずい。%K%P
This is bad.

これじゃ、ますますギクシャクした関係になってしまう。%K%P
Like this, things between us will only get more and more awkward.

チームの和こそが、生き残るためには重要なのに。%K%P
Even though the team's harmony is essential for our survival.

私は――%K%p
I――

こころ「黛さんの意見にも、一理あると思います」%K%P
I think Mayuzumi-san has a point, too.

こころ「確かに、黄泉木さんが一番山に詳しいですが……」%K%P
Certainly, Yomogi-san is the most knowledgeable about the mountains, but...

こころ「私達、話し合ってリーダーを決めたわけじゃないですから」%K%P
But we haven't talked about deciding a leader at all yet.

私の言葉を聞き、黛は勝ち誇ったように笑った。%K%P
Hearing my words, Mayuzumi laughed in triumph.

黛「そうでしょう？　あんたボンヤリしてると思ったけど……結構わかってるじゃない！」%K%P
Right? I thought you were always just spaced out from that blank look on your face, but you understand pretty well, don't you?!

黛「やっぱり、女同士通じるとこがあるのね」%K%P
Women understand each other better after all!

彼女はとても嬉しそうに微笑みながら、黄泉木を指さす。%K%P
With an extremely happy smile, she pointed at Yomogi.

黛「こんな男に、リーダー面されたって迷惑なだけなのよ！」%K%P
If we make this guy the leader, it'll only bring trouble!

彼女の言葉は増長していく。%K%P
Her words begin to show arrogance.

黛「だいたいね、こんな時にリーダーになりたいなんてヤツは怪しいのよ！」%K%P
In the first place, anyone who'd try to appoint themselves the leader at a time like this would be suspicious!

黛「なにか企んでるに違いないわ！」%K%P
It's certain that such a person would be plotting something!

黄泉木「だったら、どうすればいいんだ？」%K%P
Well then, what do you think we should do?

黛「信じられるのは私だけ……」%K%P
The only one I can trust is myself...

黛「そうだわ！　私が食糧を管理してあげる」%K%P
That's it! I'll manage the food.

黄泉木「……な？」%K%P
...Wha?

黛の提案に、黄泉木は目を丸くした。ゆにも口をパクパクさせている。%K%P
Yomogi's eyes went wide at her proposal. Yuni's mouth opened and closed speechlessly.

ゆに「なんで、鈴がそんなことするんだよぉ？」%K%P
Why is Lin doing it?

ゆに「何か知識でもあるの？」%K%P
Do you know anything about this?

黛「心外ね」%K%P
Unexpected, huh?

黛「黄泉木さんが山に詳しいというように、私は法律に詳しいの」%K%P
The same way Yomogi is knowledgeable about the mountains, I'm knowledgeable about the law.

黛「弁護士……の見習いだから」%K%P
Because... I was a lawyer's apprentice.

こころ「弁護士？」%K%P
Lawyer?

ゆに「てっきり、ただのＯＬかと思ってたのに……」%K%P
In all honesty, I thought you were just some OL (office lady)...

黛「ＯＬはＯＬでも、Ｏｆｆｉｃｉａｌ　Ｌａｗｙｅｒ――%TS040国選弁護人%TE」%K%P
OLs are OLs, but I'm an Official Lawyer――a %TS040court-appointed attorney%TE.

黛「ここでは私が法律よ！」%K%P
Here, I am the law!

黛は胸を張った。%K%P
Mayuzumi puffed out her chest.

自信たっぷりの表情だ。%K%P
An expression full of self-confidence.

こころ「それ……本当ですか？」%K%P
Is that... true?

黛「何よ、疑うの？」%K%P
What, are you doubting me?

黛「でもね、本当のことよ。法律について語ってあげましょうか？」%K%P
But it's true, you know. Should I start lecturing you about the law?

黛「伊達に六法全書、丸暗記してないわよ」%K%P
I didn't just indiscriminately memorize the statute books for show, you know.

黄泉木「……わかった」%K%P
...I understand.

黄泉木「それじゃ、僕と黛、どちらに食糧を任せるか……投票しようじゃないか」%K%P
In that case, why don't we put it to a vote... as to who should manage the food, me or Mayuzumi.

黄泉木「その決定には従ってくれるんだな？　黛」%K%P
You'll abide by the results of that decision, won't you? Mayuzumi.

黛「いいわ」%K%P
All right.

黄泉木「それじゃ、まず……ゆに」%K%P
Then, first is... Yuni.

黄泉木は、ゆにの顔を覗き込む。%K%P
Yomogi took a peek at Yuni's face.

黄泉木「どちらに、食糧を任せる？」%K%P
Who do you want to manage the food?

ゆに「決まってるじゃん！　聖司だよ！」%K%P
That's obvious! Seiji!

ゆに「鳶に油揚げ預けるバカはいないって！」%K%P
There isn't a person alive stupid enough to leave fried tofu in the care of a tonbi!
//tonbi = black kite bird, for those who have forgotten

黛「チッ……」%K%P
Che...

黛は忌々しげにゆにを睨んだ。%K%P
Annoyed, Mayuzumi glared at Yuni.

ゆには、黄泉木の陰に隠れながらも、舌を出している。%K%P
Yuni ran behind Yomogi and hid in his shadow, sticking out his tongue.

黛「それじゃ、あんたはどうなのよ？」%K%P
How about you, then?

黛は私を指さした。%K%P
Mayuzumi pointed toward me.

強い口調で続ける。%K%P
She continued, her tone forceful.

黛「あんたは、私に食べ物あずけたいでしょ？」%K%P
You want to leave me in charge of the food, right?

黛「私は、こんな男よりも冷静な判断で、食糧を分配するのよ」%K%P
I can use calmer judgment to divide the rations than this man could.

黛「生き残るためには、私に管理させるべきだわ」%K%P
I should be the one to manage it if we want to survive.

こころ「私は……」%K%p
I...

黄泉木に任せたい
want to leave it to Yomogi

黛に任せたい
want to leave it to Mayuzumi

こころ「私は、黄泉木さんに任せたいです」%K%P
I want to leave it to Yomogi-san.

こころ「彼がリーダーだと思ってますから」%K%P
Because I think of him as the leader.

黛「……あんた、私にも一理あるって言ってたじゃない！」%K%P
...You said I had a point, didn't you?!

黛「裏切る気！？」%K%P
Are you betraying me?!

こころ「いえ、ここで黄泉木さんがリーダーだって、きちんと決めておきたかったんです」%K%P
No, I just wanted to properly vote in Yomogi-san as leader once and for all.

こころ「みんなで一丸となって、耐え抜きましょう！」%K%P
Let's all unite and endure!

ゆに「異議なーし！」%K%P
No objections!

ぱちぱちと、ゆにが拍手をする。%K%P
Yuni applauded.

黄泉木はテーブルに身体を乗り出した。%K%P
Yomogi leaned his body against the table.

黄泉木「これで決まったな？」%K%P
Now it's decided, right?

黄泉木「僕の決定には、従ってくれるんだったよな？」%K%P
You'll follow my decisions, won't you?

黛「くそ……っ！」%K%P
Shit...!

悪態をついた黛は、私の襟首を掴んだ。%K%P
Cursing, Mayuzumi grabbed hold of the nape of my neck.

黛「なんなのよ、あんた！」%K%P
What's with you?!

黛「私の味方じゃなかったの！？」%K%P
Weren't you my ally?!

その迫力に私はたじろぎながら、口を開く。%K%P
Faltering under her forcefulness, I opened my mouth.

こころ「あ、私は……みんなが生き残るために……」%K%P
Ah, I... so everyone can live...

黛「私だって、生き残るために知恵を出してやろうって言ったじゃない！」%K%P
I said I'd use my intelligence so everyone could survive too, did I?!

黛「それを無にしようってわけ！？」%K%P
Are you saying that means nothing?!

こころ「そういうつもりじゃ……」%K%P
That's not what I meant...

黛は不服そうに鼻を鳴らした。%K%P
A snort of discontent came from Mayuzumi's nose.

黛「前から思ってたけど、あんた達ってずいぶん仲よさそうじゃない」%K%P
I've thought so since before, but you and he suuure are close, aren't you?

黛「デキてんの？」%K%P
Are you two doing it?

こころ「ま、黛さん！」%K%P
Ma, Mayuzumi-san!

こころ「いくらなんでも、失礼――」%K%P
Even if you are upset, that was rude――

黛「うるさい！」%K%P
Shut it!

黛は、私の言葉など聞こうともしなかった。%K%P
Mayuzumi didn't intend to listen to my words.

黛「ふたりでグルになって、なに企んでんのよ！」%K%P
The two of you are always scheming together. What're you planning?!

こころ「…………」%K%P
......

黄泉木「…………」%K%P
......

ダメだ。%K%P
Useless.

怒りに我を忘れて、彼女は疑心暗鬼になっている。%K%P
Forgetting herself in her anger, Mayuzumi was beginning to see suspicious goings-on everywhere.

これじゃ、何を言ったところで無駄だ……。%K%P
Like this, whatever we say will be useless....

黄泉木「黛、落ち着いてくれ」%K%P
Mayuzumi, calm down.

黄泉木「キミがそんな態度を続けるなら、こっちもそれ相応の手段に出なきゃいけなくなる」%K%P
If you continue with that attitude of yours, I'll have to use appropriate measures to stop you.

黛はギクリと肩を震わせた。%K%P
Mayuzumi gulped and began to tremble.

青くなって、後ずさる。%K%P
Turning blue, she took a step back.

黛「な、なにそれ……」%K%P
W, what do you mean...

黛「こ、殺す気！？」%K%P
You gonna kill me?!

黄泉木はただならぬ雰囲気で、黛へと一歩、踏み出した。%K%P
With a disturbingly unusual atmosphere for him, Yomogi took a single step toward Mayuzumi.

私の心臓が早鐘を打つ。%K%P
An alarm went off inside my heart.

まさかとは思うけど……黄泉木は、なにを……？%K%P
There's no way he would, I thought, but... Yomogi, what are you...?

黄泉木「前にも言ったはずだ」%K%P
I said it before, too.

黄泉木「雪山では、たったひとりの勝手な行動がチーム全体を死に追いやると」%K%P
On a snowy mountain, if even a single person acts selfishly, they'll lead the entire team to their deaths.

黄泉木「もしもキミがバカな真似を続けるなら、僕はチームを守るために……」%K%P
If you keep on acting like such an idiot, to protect the team, I'll...

黄泉木「個人を切り捨てる」%K%P
throw you away without a second thought.

黛「それ、脅し...？」%K%P
Is that... a threat...?

黄泉木「脅しじゃないさ」%K%P
It's not a threat.

黄泉木「ルールだ」%K%P
It's a rule.

静かに、だが有無を言わせぬ圧迫感を漂わせて呟く黄泉木に、私は少しだけ恐ろしいものを感じた。%K%P
Quietly, from that feeling of forcible oppression hanging in the air, I felt the vaguest sense of something terrible in Yomogi.

いま言った『ルール』を彼が本気で実行するつもりなら……%K%P
If he was seriously planning on executing the "rule" he just mentioned...

私も彼に逆らうことはできない。%K%P
I won't be able to oppose him either.

『ルール』の適用は、何も黛に限ったことではないということだから……。%K%P
Because there was nothing that would keep him from enforcing this "rule" against only Mayuzumi....

黛「ふざけんな！」%K%P
Cut the crap!

私の心配になど気づきもせず、黛が爆発した。%K%P
Without noticing my anxiety at all, Mayuzumi exploded.

黛「あんたが一番アブナイじゃねーかっ！」%K%P
You're the most dangerous one here, aren't you?!

顔を真っ赤にして、無謀にもつかみかかる。%K%P
Her face flushing crimson, she clings onto the same argument recklessly.

彼女の細い手が、黄泉木の厚い胸板を突いた。%K%P
Her thin hand struck Yomogi's broad chest.

黄泉木がよろけた拍子に、テーブルの上のカップが落ち、甲高い音をたてる。%K%P
The moment Yomogi staggers, a cup in the table falls with a loud noise.

冷めたコーヒーが、床にぶちまけられた。%K%P
The chilled coffee in it was thrown to the floor.

ゆに「やめ……てよぅ」%K%P
Stop... it.

ゆに「ケンカは……ダメだよぅ」%K%P
No... fighting....

まずい。%K%P
This is bad.

これじゃ、ますますギクシャクした関係になってしまう。%K%P
Like this, things between us will only get more and more awkward.

チームの和こそが、生き残るためには重要なのに。%K%P
Even though the team's harmony is essential for our survival.

私は――%K%p
I――

こころ「私は……黛さんに任せたいと思います」%K%P
I... think I want to let Mayuzumi-san do it.

ゆに「こ、こころん！　どうしちゃったの！？」%K%P
K, Kokoron! What happened?!

ゆに「それ本気で言ってる！？」%K%P
Do you seriously mean that?!

ゆにが甲高い声を上げた。%K%P
Yuni raised his voice to a shrill pitch.

黄泉木も、意外だとでも言いたげな顔で私を見ている。%K%P
Yomogi too looked at me, an expression on his face that seemed to say, "How unexpected."

黛は私の肩を抱いて喜びの声をあげた。%K%P
Mayuzumi cried out in delight and embraced my shoulders.

黛「そうこなくっちゃ！」%K%P
That's how it's got to be!

黛「やっぱ、女同士わかりあえるわね！」%K%P
Girls really do understand each other after all, huh?

舌なめずりせんばかりの表情で、黛はテーブルの上の食糧を自分の手元に引き寄せようとする。%K%P
With an expression as though she would start licking her lips at any moment, Mayuzumi picked the rations up off the tabletop as if they were her possessions.

が、その手を黄泉木が掴んだ。%K%P
As she did, Yomogi seized her hand.

黄泉木「まだ、１票ずつ入っただけだ」%K%P
That was only one vote.

黄泉木「きみが管理すると決まったわけじゃない」%K%P
It's not decided that you'll be the one to manage it yet.

黛「…………」%K%P
......

黛は渋々、食糧をテーブルに放り投げた。%K%P
Mayuzumi reluctantly tossed the food back onto the table.

カンパンの缶がテーブルを転がる。%K%P
A can of biscuits rolled across the table.

黄泉木「なあ、冬川さん」%K%P
Hey, Fuyukawa-san.

黄泉木「どうして、彼女に食糧を任せたいと思ったんだ？」%K%P
Why do you want to leave the food supply to her?

こころ「それは……黄泉木さんの負担を軽くしたかったから」%K%P
It's because... I wanted to lighten the burden on Yomogi-san.

黄泉木「僕の？」%K%P
On me?

こころ「はい。黄泉木さんは、ろくに眠りもせずに火の番もしてくれています」%K%P
Yes. Yomogi-san, you don't sleep very well because you tend the fire at night.

こころ「さらに加えて、みんなの食糧にまで気を配るなんて……オーバーワークじゃないですか？」%K%P
To add to that, if you have to constantly pay attention to dividing the food between everyone as well... won't you be overworked?

黄泉木「それほど苦ではないが……」%K%P
It's not as rough as you make it sound...

こころ「それに、黛さんも、一緒に遭難した仲間なんです」%K%P
And besides, Mayuzumi-san's in the same boat as us after that disaster, after all.

こころ「彼女にも責任ある仕事をしてもらった方が……なんというか連帯感が出るような気がして」%K%P
If we give her a job that carries some responsibility... it somehow feels like that will heighten our feelings of solidarity.

ゆに「こころんは、鈴を信じられるっていうの！？」%K%P
Are you saying we should believe in Lin, Kokoron?!

私は自分の膝を見つめて、しばらく考えていたが小さな声で答えた。%K%P
Looking at my lap, I thought to myself for a little, and then answered in a soft voice.

こころ「……信じるよ」%K%P
...I believe in her.

本当は信じられない部分もある。%K%P
Really, there's also a part of me that doesn't.

彼女のワガママな言動を、幾度も目にしてきたから。%K%P
Because I've seen her selfish behavior myself several times.

しかし、信じなくてはいけないという気持ちも、ずっと持っていたのだ。%K%P
But I always held the feeling that I have to believe.

腕組みをしながら私の説明を聞いていた黄泉木は、食糧を黛の前に置いた。%K%P
Yomogi, who was listening to my explanation with his arms folded, placed our rations in front of Mayuzumi.

黄泉木「わかった。食糧は黛にお願いしよう」%K%P
I understand. We'll leave the food supply to Mayuzumi.

黛「……わかったわ」%K%P
...Got it.

神妙な顔で黛は、食糧を受け取った。%K%P
Mayuzumi meekly accepted the rations.

自分の鞄の中に、大事にしまい込む。%K%P
She carefully places them in her bag.

黛「あなた達の健康状態を考えて分配するわ」%K%P
I'll keep your current health in mind when I divide them.

黛「心配しないで」%K%P
Don't worry.

その様子は、決して独り占めをしようとしているようには見えなかった。%K%P
From that appearance, it really didn't seem like she was trying to monopolize it for herself at all.

――そう信じたかった。%K%P
――That's what I wanted to believe.

こころ「これでいいのよ……」%K%P
It's fine like this...

自分に言い聞かせるように、小さな声で呟いた。%K%P
I muttered softly, as if trying to persuade myself.

これでギクシャクしていた雰囲気が少しでも良くなればいいのだが……%K%P
It would be good if this could improve the strained atmosphere even a little bit...

黛は、自分のベッドに飛び乗るとバッグを毛布の下に隠した。%K%P
Mayuzumi jumped into her bed and hid her bag underneath the blanket.

その時の彼女の表情は……%K%P
At that time, her expression...

ニマニマとした下卑た笑み。%K%P
was a vulgar grin.

ゆに「こころん……」%K%P
Kokoron...

こころ「大丈夫よ。信じよう」%K%P
It's going to be okay. Let's believe in her.

不安げな顔をしているゆにに微笑みかけながら、私は心の中で祈らずにはいられなかった。%K%P
While smiling in response to Yuni's face clouded with worry, I couldn't help but pray inside my heart.

――お願いします。%K%P
――Please.

目を閉じ、私は祈る。%K%P
Closing my eyes, I pray.

――お願いします。早く、誰か助けに来て。%K%P
――Please. Somebody, hurry and save us.

身体を張って止める
Stop her physically

「やめて！」と叫ぶ
Shout "Stop it!"

なおも黄泉木につかみかかろうとする黛を見て、私はとっさに動いた。%K%P
Seeing Mayuzumi try to grab hold of Yomogi, I made a move.

こころ「やめてください！」%K%P
Please stop it!

黛「うるさい、どいて！」%K%P
Shut up, move it!

私が伸ばした手は、黛に乱暴に振り払われた。%K%P
Mayuzumi tried to violently shake off my extended hand.

それでもめげずに、私は黄泉木と黛の間に割って入る。%K%P
Even so, I stepped between Yomogi and Mayuzumi, undiscouraged.

興奮さめやらぬ黛は、突進をやめようとしない。%K%P
Her agitation unabated, Mayuzumi didn't try to stop me from rushing in.

ついには、私の髪の毛まで引っ張ってくる。%K%P
Finally, she begins pulling my hair.

痛くて、涙がにじんだ。%K%P
Tears started to form from the pain.

黛「どきなさいって！」%K%P
I said move!

こころ「だ、ダメです！」%K%P
N, no!

私は黛にしがみつく。必死だった。%K%P
I cling to Mayuzumi. It was frantic.

黛「なんなのよ、あんた！」%K%P
What's up with you?!

黛「放せ！」%K%P
Let go!

黛を押さえつけるのは、かなり大変だった。%K%P
Trying to calm Mayuzumi took terrible effort.

こんなとき悟の身体ならよかったのに、と思う。%K%P
In times like this, I wish I was in Satoru's body, I thought.

黄泉木「黛……」%K%P
Mayuzumi...

黛「なによっ！」%K%P
What?!

こころ「やめてください！」%K%P
Please stop it!

私は叫んだ。%K%P
I shouted.

だが、頭に血が上っていた黛は止まらなかった。%K%P
However, the blood had rushed to her head, and Mayuzumi refused to stop.

なおも黄泉木に掴みかかろうとする。%K%P
She made a grab for Yomogi.

ゆに「ダメだってば！」%K%P
Stop it already!

ゆに「ここで怪我したら、全部が台無しになるんだよぉ！」%K%P
If you get injured here, it's all over, right?!

ゆにが黛の腰にしがみつく。%K%P
Yuni clung to Mayuzumi's waist.

黛「邪魔なんだよ、ガキが！」%K%P
You're in the way, you brat!

軽々とふり払われてしまった。よろけたゆには、テーブルにぶつかる。%K%P
She easily shook him off. Stumbling, Yuni slammed into the table.

その振動で、カンパンの缶が転がり床に落ちた。%K%P
Shaken by the impact, the can of biscuits was knocked over and rolled onto the floor.

缶がひしゃげ、フタが開く。%K%P
The can compressed, and the lid popped open.

全員が息を呑んだ。%K%P
Everyone had swallowed their breath.

食べ物がこぼれてしまったかと思ったのだ。%K%P
We thought that the food had spilled.

だが、フタに隙間ができただけで、中身は無事だった。%K%P
However, there was only a crack in the lid. The contents were still safe.

黛はゆにを睨めつけ、とげとげしい言葉を吐く。%K%P
Mayuzumi glared at Yuni and spat out stinging words.

黛「……ゆにのせいで、食糧がダメになるとこじゃない！」%K%P
...Isn't it because of Yuni that our food supply's in this terrible state?!

ゆにの胸ぐらを掴みあげた黛に、黄泉木が無言で近づいていった。%K%P
Grabbing Yuni by the collar, Mayuzumi silently approached Yomogi.

黄泉木の手がひらめき、黛の頬を打っていた。%K%P
In a flash, Yomogi's hand moved and slapped Mayuzumi across the cheek.

ぴたりと黛の動きが止まる。%K%P
Mayuzumi's movements came to a stop.

私は、そっと黛の顔色を窺ってみた。%K%P
Quietly, I took a peek at Mayuzumi's facial expression.

黛は赤くなった頬に手を添え、呆然としている。%K%P
Pressing a hand to her reddened cheek, Mayuzumi stands there dumbfounded.

黄泉木「すまない」%K%P
I'm sorry.

頬を張った手を見つめながら、黄泉木は謝った。%K%P
While staring at the hand that he slapped her with, Yomogi apologized.

だが、強い口調で続ける。%K%P
However, he continues in a strong tone.

黄泉木「だがな、こんなときにワガママはやめてくれよ」%K%P
But please, stop being so selfish in times like this.

黄泉木「命がかかってるんだ」%K%P
Our lives are at risk.

黛「…………」%K%P
......

悔しそうに唇を噛み、顔を伏せた。%K%P
Frustrated, she bit her lip and turned her face away.

そのまま、黙ってベッドの方へ歩いていくと、私達に背を向けて丸くなってしまった。%K%P
Just like that, she quietly walked toward the bed and wrapped herself up, her back to us.

黛「くそっくそっくそっ……」%K%P
Shit, shit, shit...

黛の肩は、震えていた。%K%P
Mayuzumi's shoulders trembled.

黄泉木「わかってくれよ、黛……」%K%P
Please understand, Mayuzumi...

黄泉木「僕は、みんなのことを考えて言ってるんだ」%K%P
I'm saying this with all of you in mind...

結局、食糧の管理は黄泉木に一任することになった。%K%P
In the end, the management of the food supply was entrusted to Yomogi.

私としては、特に反論するつもりはなかった。%K%P
As for me, I didn't really intend to object.

黄泉木は雪山のエキスパートだし、彼に任せておくのがベストの選択のはずなのだ。%K%P
Yomogi's an expert at handling snowy mountains, so entrusting this to him should be the best choice.

彼に従っていれば、生き残れる可能性は高くなる。%K%P
If we follow him, the chances of us surviving will be higher.

そう自分に言い聞かせた。%K%P
I told myself that.

でも……。%K%P
But....

なにか、漠然とした不安を感じる。%K%P
Something is giving me a vague sense of unease.

どうしてだろう？%K%P
Why is it?

私は、周囲を見回した。%K%P
I looked over my surroundings.

険しい顔をした黄泉木が、身動きひとつせずじっとストーブの火を見つめている。%K%P
His face grim, Yomogi's stare was fixed on the blaze as he stirred the flames inside the stove.

ゆには声を殺して泣いている。%K%P
Yuni was crying, trying to stifle his sobs.

抱きしめたテディベアも、一緒にきゅーきゅーと鳴いていた。%K%P
His teddy bear, clutched in his arms, creaked as though crying together with him.

そして黛は、私達に背を向けて、頭から毛布をかぶってしまっている。%K%P
And Mayuzumi, with her back to us, had covered herself with a blanket from her head down.

その毛布が、かすかに震えている。%K%P
The blanket faintly trembled.

殺伐とした、やり切れない空気。%K%P
It was a savage, unbearable atmosphere.

これまでは曲がりなりにもうまくいっていたものが、狂い始めた。%K%P
Although it had never been perfect, the situation that had more or less been all right until now had suddenly gone to hell.

こんな状態で、私達は本当に……%K%P
In such a state, are we really...

生きて、帰れるのだろうか……。%K%P
going to survive, and return alive...?

――お願いします。%K%P
――Please.

目を閉じ、私は祈る。%K%P
I closed my eyes and prayed.

――お願いします。早く、誰か助けに来て。%K%P
――Please. Somebody, hurry and save us.

その後――%K%P
Afterward――

黄泉木「ふん……」%K%P
Hup...

黄泉木が斧を使い、テーブルを壊した。%K%P
Yomogi broke the table with an ax.

ついに倉庫に備蓄されていた薪がなくなったのだ。%K%P
The stockpile of firewood in the storeroom had finally run out.

私達が幾度か食事を重ねたテーブルが、薪へと姿を変える。%K%P
The table, which we'd placed food on and eaten at several times before, was being transformed into firewood.

ゆに「なんだか寂しいね」%K%P
It's kind of sad.

ゆにの言葉に、私もうなずく。%K%P
I nod at Yuni's words.

こころ「でも、生きていくためには、仕方がないよ」%K%P
But there's no other choice if we want to live.

黄泉木は壊したテーブルを、ストーブの前に積みあげる。%K%P
Yomogi piled the broken table up in front of the stove.

黄泉木「テーブルと棚を全部、薪にしても……明日の朝まで持つかどうかだな……」%K%P
Even if we use the table and all the shelves as firewood... I wonder if it'll last until tomorrow morning...?

ベッドの上に座っているだけで、指図だけしていた黛が、金切り声を上げる。%K%P
Mayuzumi, who had only ever sat around in bed and given out orders, let out a shrill scream.

黛「なによそれ！」%K%P
What do you mean?!

黛「外に木が生えてたじゃない！　あれ、切ってきなさい！」%K%P
There are trees growing outside, aren't there?! Go and chop them down!

黄泉木「生木が燃えるかよ」%K%P
As if we could burn green wood like that.

黄泉木「もしムリに燃やせば、僕達は、燻されて死んでしまう」%K%P
If we tried to burn them, we'd die anyway from all the smoke.

黛「それじゃ……どうする気！？」%K%P
Then... what are we going to do?!

黄泉木「きみの嫌いな節約をして、過ごすしかない」%K%P
There's nothing we can do except that rationing that you hate so much.

食糧の次は、燃料……。%K%P
After food, it's fuel....

もうモメごとはごめんだった私は、黛が激高するのではないかと恐れた。%K%P
Having had enough of quarreling, I was afraid Mayuzumi was about to get angry.

だが、黛はそれ以上、文句を言うこともなく毛布にくるまった。%K%P
However, Mayuzumi didn't complain any further, instead choosing to wrap herself up in her blanket.

窓の外は、明るい。%K%P
It was bright outside the window.

日が照っているから、夜に比べれば多少は暖かかった。%K%P
It was more or less warmer than night, because the sun was still shining.

だが、夜になれば、この山は地獄に変わる。%K%P
However, when night falls, this mountain will become hell.

黄泉木は言っていた。%K%P
Yomogi had said so.

黄泉木「あのな、脅すわけじゃないが、冬山の寒さってのは正真正銘、掛け値なしの死神だ」%K%P
You know, I'm not trying to threaten you, but without exaggerating, a snowy mountain is truly a Grim Reaper.

死神が、小屋の外で鎌を手に待っている。%K%P
The Grim Reaper is waiting outside the cabin with his scythe in hand.

夜が来るのを……。%K%P
With night coming on....

炎が途切れるのを……。%K%P
With the fire on the verge of burning out....

私達の体力が無くなるのを……。%K%P
With our physical strength running short....

それから数時間が経過した……。%K%P
After that, several hours passed....