Sjukiti Kubosava, in the past the corporal of the case of coastal defence, and nowadays the radio operator of a fishing
schooner "Give-dzju Fukurju-maru" that in transfer Happy Dragon No 10 "means", considered itself as the person to front
lines and did not give any value to the decorative party of a New Year's holiday. But, first, this party something means for
solemn mood without which this sort of holidays are inconceivable; secondly, as well as any true Japanese, Kubosava was a
little superstitious and on the quiet trusted in wonderful properties "kado-matsu", "sime-nava" and other attributes of a
meeting of New year.
Therefore it never disturbed to the mother-in-law, this great Koidzu known to all to the expert on old customs, to operate in
own way. And KiE tried in a full measure of knowledge and abilities.
Noisy, fussy, she had time to work itself, to instruct small Atsu and the senior grand daughter and to answer infinite questions
of seven-year Jasuko.
Kubosava, having settled down on a pure mat with the newspaper in hands, with curiosity listened to explanations of the old
woman apropos "kagami-moti".
It appears, these round dry kovrigi become just like a happy mirror with which help during immemorial times gods have
enticed the offended goddess of light of Amaterasu from a cave.
And why? - Has asked Jasuko. - As? Unless Jasu-tjan (Tjan - the suffix giving to the Japanese names a diminutive-
hypocoristic shade) does not know, what the sun brings to us light and heat? The sun also is great Amaterasu, our
progenitress. It gives us light and happiness. Here the grandmother also has baked kagami-moti that in new year the
happiness has come to our house...
And susu-haraivy too do for this purpose? Certainly! It is impossible dust and dirt to transfer from old year to the new. There
will be no good luck.
Means, last year mother has cleaned the house not how it is necessary... - Kubosava was not kept.
That you that you, the Sjukiti-dignity! (A dignity - a suffix used in the Japanese names at the respectful reference.) It is
impossible so to speak - good luck can take offence! Kubosava has sighed. Good luck... Certainly, from outside could seem
that it is successful enough. The hundred-ton schooner on which it served, belonged to Narikava - to the person rather
respected in Koidzu. The owner had a kind feeling for it for respect and diligence, that it was in due time in army and was an
expert in discipline. Earned Kubosava not so much, but nevertheless much more, than the simple fisherman. Besides, the
post put it in exclusive in relation to we designate position: it entered into fishing aristocracy, in that circle of people to which
captains, chiefs lova - "sendo" belonged, radio operators. As if it is clear that the bases complain of destiny at it could not to
be. And meanwhile the happiness persistently bypassed its small house In which he lived with the wife, two daughters and
the old woman the mother-in-law. The matter is that to "a happy Dragon" did not carry. It did not justify the name, probably
because was the tenth "the Happy Dragon", registered in lists of the state inspection of a sea craft.
Anyway, ulov and, hence, a share in nagradnyh with each flight became ever less. And during last swimming the unfortunate
schooner has got to the Indonesian waters and has been detained for poaching.
Really unhappy year! It is good still that was possible to pay off from frontier guards ulovom. Usually such affairs terminated in
confiscation of tools lova and even the schooner, and a command led by the captain put for six months in prison.
Failures of "the Happy Dragon" deduced thick Narikava from themselves.