The Spider's Thread

Japanese blues. A story inspired by the Japanese fable The Spider's Thread. Kandata tries to escape hell by climbing a thread from heaven, but when he yells "Get down!" at other sinners, the thread snaps and he falls. Back in hell he earns small change singing a "Rain Prayer Blues", yet no rain comes and the damned condemn him. A demon shouts, "If you want water, dig a well!". He digs desperately; when he finally rests he realizes he is not in hell but in Shaba, the living world.