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ひとり寿司第33章パート1

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ひとり寿司

寿司シリーズの第一作

キャミー・タング

西島美幸 訳

スポーツ狂のレックス・坂井 —— いとこのマリコが数ヶ月後に結婚することにより、「いとこの中で一番年上の独身女性」という内輪の肩書を「勝ち取る」ことについては、あまり気にしていない。コントロールフリークの祖母を無視するのは容易だ —— しかし、祖母は最終通告を出した —— マリコの結婚式までにデート相手を見つけなければ、無慈悲な祖母は、レックスがコーチをしている女子バレーボールチームへの資金供給を切ると言う。

ダグアウトにいる選手全員とデートに出かけるほど絶望的なわけではない。レックスは、バイブルスタディで読んだ「エペソの手紙」をもとに「最高の男性」の条件の厳しいリストを作った。バレーボールではいつも勝つ —— ゲームを有利に進めれば、必ず成功するはずだ。

そのとき兄は、クリスチャンではなく、アスリートでもなく、一見何の魅力もないエイデンを彼女に引き合わせる。

エイデンは、クリスチャンではないという理由で離れていったトリッシュという女の子から受けた痛手から立ち直ろうとしている。そして、レックスが(1)彼に全く興味がないこと、(2)クリスチャンであること、(3)トリッシュのいとこであることを知る。あの狂った家族とまた付き合うのはごめんだ。まして、偽善的なクリスチャンの女の子など、お断り。彼はマゾヒストじゃない。

レックスは時間がなくなってきた。いくら頑張っても、いい人は現れない。それに、どこへ行ってもエイデンに遭遇する。あのリストはどんどん長くなっていくばかり ——

過去に掲載済みのストーリーのリンクはこちらです。

***

33

スペンサーと一緒に前の列に座ると、牧師の説教の標的になるのではないかと思ったが、牧師はエイデンのことをチラリとも見なかった。

説教は、知性ではなく心に焦点を当てていた。二週間前に話した時、牧師はエイデンの質問に対し、論理で答えたのだが、あの時とは対照的だ。

「神様は私たちを解放してくださいます」メモを見て、水を一口飲んでから続けた。「ですが、これは誰にとっても同じではありません。身体的な監禁からの解放もあれば、精神的な監禁からの解放もあります。欠点からの解放や、隠れ続けることからの解放も」

これは自分に対するメッセージではないのかと、エイデンは思った。無表情の仮面の裏に隠れ、いつも穏やかで主導権をにぎっているように見える彼の性格について話したからだ。

講壇から、牧師は会衆に指を振った。「神様はあなたを解放したいと願っています。あなた方一人一人を愛しておられます」

エイデンにとって、それは信じ難いことだった。ギデオンが一頭分の羊の毛を打ち場に置いて神様を試したように、神様に証拠を求めてみてはどうかと牧師は言っていたのだが、エイデンはどうやってそうするのかが分からなかった。

牧師が言った一つのことが、まだ彼の心の中で響いていた。(エイデン、信仰に踏み出す前に、全ての答えを見つける必要はないんだよ)

今、彼の話を聞いていると、エイデンは、判断基準が十分ではないという事実と格闘していた。そして、それが信仰というものだった。

(分かった)深く座り直した。神様への道筋をどうやって開くのかは分からないが、神様は彼のことを聞いていると仮定した。(じゃあ、僕に証明してください。信じることは約束しません。だけど聞いています。変化を見せてください)

それだ。

雷鳴が響き渡る啓示(神が真理を人間にあらわし示すこと)も、花火も、感情のほとばしりもない。

それで? 変わったことは何も感じない。どうすればいいのだろう?

牧師は突然、エイデンの方を見て、説教の途中で話すのをやめた。そして、また話し出した。

何か変だった。

隣のスペンサーは横を向き、じっと彼を見た。そして、元に戻った。

ふーむ。

そして、スペンサーが横に傾いてきた。「礼拝の後、釣りに行こうよ」

「オッケー」

**********

「君の牧師と会ってるんだ」エイデンは、カレロ貯水池に釣り糸を垂らした。暑い日だから、何かが釣れるチャンスはほとんどないだろう。

「いい人だよ」スペンサーは自分の釣り糸を垂らし、一歩離れた。

「あの壁に飾ってある絵が好きなんだ」

「俺も」

エイデンのルアー(エサに似せて作った針)に何か引っ掛かった。「あっ、クッソー」引っ張ってみたが、動かない。

「とれない?」

「ああ」

エイデンは釣り糸を切った。どうせ安いルアーだ。もう一つ選び、糸を通し始めた。「このキリスト教ってのが、分かり始めてきたみたいだ」彼はスペンサーの方を見上げなかった。

「いいね」スペンサーは何も言わず、ただルアーを動かしている。エイデンは、彼の方を見た。

スペンサーは笑った。きらめくようでも、びっくりしたようでも、いつもと違ったようでもなかった。しかし、何かが——エイデンはどういうわけか、スペンサーのことを、今まで以上によく分かったような気がした。

ルアーを投げた。そうだ、もしかしたら、これは正しいことなのかもしれない。

***

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