Preroški duh pod stropom

Besedilo

Preroški duh pod stropom

When Liu Bozu of Boling was governor of Hedong, a spirit lived above the dust canopy in his residence. It could speak and would often call out to Bozu and converse with him. Whenever imperial edicts or other news were about to arrive from the capital, it would tell him in advance. Bozu asked what it ate, and it said it wanted sheep’s liver. He bought some and had it cut into morsels before him; each piece vanished as the knife sliced it off. After two whole livers had been consumed, an old wildcat suddenly appeared before the table, peering about with narrowed eyes. The man holding the knife was about to raise it and strike, but Bozu shouted for him to stop. The creature climbed back above the dust canopy. A moment later, it laughed loudly and said, “Just now I grew drunk on sheep’s liver and carelessly let my true form show itself before Your Excellency. How deeply embarrassing!” Later, when Bozu was to become Metropolitan Inspector, the spirit again told him beforehand, “The imperial edict will arrive on such-and-such a day of such-and-such a month.” It arrived on the appointed day, just as the spirit had said. When Bozu took up residence in the Metropolitan Inspector’s office, the spirit followed him and settled above the dust canopy there, frequently speaking of affairs within the palace. Bozu became greatly alarmed and said to it, “My duty now is to investigate and expose wrongdoing. If the powerful men attending the emperor hear that a spirit is here, they may use it as a pretext to do me harm.” The spirit replied, “It is indeed as Your Excellency fears. I must leave you.” From then on, it was heard no more.