Summary

Part VI, “Shiogama” (139), begins with a letter from Gilbert to Mathilda. He informed her that he had been separated from Yosa, and explained that he planned to stop in the city of Shiogama, known for its scenic cliffs, before continuing on to Matsushima. Gilbert visited a cemetery known to him through Bashō's travelogue, and then proceeded to the cliffs, all the while looking for signs of Yosa. The cliffs overlook Oki no Ishi, a tiny island in the ocean called “the stone in the sea” (143). Gilbert wrote two haikus, one for himself and one for Yosa, then began feeling very anxious about Yosa possibly jumping from one of the cliffs. He ran around searching more thoroughly, but did not find the young man, or his gym bag. He stopped at a restaurant and ordered tea. When he looked into the cup of...