Hello, gentle listener, and welcome to Nocturnal Transmissions, the fortnightly podcast that brings you dark tales both old and new, performed by voice artist Kristen Holland.

We interrupt this episode for a brief announcement.

This is a Patreon subscriber exclusive episode.

Nevertheless, we will still be sharing this little taster, as it were, with you, our unsubscribed friends of the podcast.

If you wish to hear this and our other Patreon exclusive episodes in their entirety, just visit patreon.com forward slash nocturnal transmissions.

All right, on with the show.

Now, before we get to our current tale of terror, let's introduce our new acolytes.

Chon, Don, Darren Dore, J.D. Cook, Matt Ruprecht, and The Doctor.

Welcome, one and all.

This episode, we're featuring a tale that was, as a matter of fact, suggested by one of our acolytes.

Carly S. She chose very wisely. A traditional Japanese story of uncanny unpleasantness, preserved for posterity

by Lafcario Hearn. Yes, you may recall we featured his translation of Yuki Ona last Halloween.

I think it's high time we again delved into his treasure trove of ghost stories.

Nocturnal transmissions is proud to present of a promise broken by Lafcario Hearn.

I am not afraid to die, said the dying wife.

There is only one thing that troubles me now.

I wish that I could know who will take my place in this house.

My dear one, answered the sorrowing husband.

Nobody shall ever take your place in my home.

I will never, never marry again.

At the time that he said this, he was speaking out of his heart,

for he loved the woman whom he was about to lose.

...