He—y, Come on Ou—t!

Question

By Shinichi Hoshi (translated by Stanleigh Jones)
1978
Shinichi Hoshi, one of the pioneers of Japanese science fiction, is best known for writing more than 1000 "short-short" stories like this one. In "He—y, Come on Ou—t!", the residents of a Japanese village discover a mysterious hole. As you read, take notes on how the plot contributes to the story's theme.
[1] The typhoon had passed and the sky was a gorgeous blue. Even a certain village not far from the city had suffered damage. A little distance from the village and near the mountains, a small shrine' had been swept away by a landslide.
"I wonder how long that shrine's been here."
"Well, in any case, it must have been here since an awfully long time ago."
"We've got to rebuild it right away."
"Untitled" by Victor Lu is licensed under CCO.
[5] While the villagers exchanged views, several more of their number came over.
"It sure was wrecked."
"I think it used to be right here."
"No, looks like it was a little more over there."
Just then one of them raised his voice. "Hey what in the world is this hole?" Where they had all gathered there was a hole about a meter in diameter. They peered in, but it was so dark nothing could be seen. However, it gave one the feeling that it was so deep it went clear through to the center of the earth.
[10] There was even one person who said, "I wonder if it's a fox's hole.""He—y, come on ou—t!" shouted a young man into the hole. There was no echo from the bottom. Next he picked up a pebble and was about to throw it in.
"You might bring down a curse on us. Lay off," warned an old man, but the younger one energetically threw the pebble in. As before, however, there was no answering response from the bottom. The villagers cut down some trees, tied them with rope and made a fence which they put around the hole. Then they repaired to the village.
"What do you suppose we ought to do?"
"Shouldn't we build the shrine up just as it was over the hole?"
[15] A day passed with no agreement. The news traveled fast, and a car from the newspaper company rushed over. In no time a scientist came out, and with an all-knowing expression on his face he went over to the hole. Next, a bunch of gawking curiosity seekers showed up; one could also pick out here and there men of shifty glances who appeared to be concessionaires?
Concerned that someone might fall into the hole, a policeman from the local substation kept a careful watch.
One newspaper reporter tied a weight to the end of a long cord and lowered it into the hole. A long way down it went. The cord ran out, however, and he tried to pull it out, but it would not come back up. Two or three people helped out, but when they all pulled too hard, the cord parted at the edge of the hole.
Another reporter, a camera in hand, who had been watching all of this, quietly untied a stout rope that had been wound around his waist.
The scientist contacted people at his laboratory and had them bring out a high-powered bull horn, with which he was going to check out the echo from the hole's bottom. He tried switching through various sounds, but there was no echo. The scientist was puzzled, but he could not very well give up with everyone watching him so intently. He put the bull horn right up to the hole, turned it to its highest volume, and let it sound continuously for a long time. It was a noise that would have carried several dozen kilometers above ground. But the hole just calmly swallowed up the sound.
In his own mind the scientist was at a loss, but with a look of apparent composure he cut off the sound and, in a manner suggesting that the whole thing had a perfectly plausible explanation, said simply, "Fill it in."[20] Safer to get rid of something one didn't understand.
The onlookers, disappointed that this was all that was going to happen, prepared to disperse.* Just then one of the concessionaires, having broken through the throng and come forward, made a proposal.
"Let me have that hole. I'll fill it in for you."
"We'd be grateful to you for filling it in," replied the mayor of the village, "but we can't very well give you the hole. We have to build a shrine there."
"If it's a shrine you want, I'll build you a fine one later. Shall I make it with an attached meeting hall?"
[25] Before the mayor could answer, the people of the village all shouted out.
"Really? Well, in that case, we ought to have it closer to the village."
"It's just an old hole. We'll give it to you!"
So it was settled. And the mayor, of course, had no objection.
The concessionaire was true to his promise. It was small, but closer to the village he did build for them a shrine with an attached meeting hall.
[30] About the time the autumn festival was held at the new shrine, the hole-filling company established by the concessionaire hung out its small shingle at a shack near the hole.
The concessionaire had his cohorts mount a loud campaign in the city. "We've got a fabulously deep hole!"
"Scientists say it's at least five thousand meters deep! Perfect for the disposal of such things as waste from nuclear reactors."
Government authorities granted permission. Nuclear power plants fought for contracts. The people of the village were a bit worried about this, but they consented® when it was explained that there would be absolutely no above-ground contamination for several thousand years and that they would share in the profits. Into the bargain, very shortly a magnificent road was built from the city to the village.
What is the theme of this story?

Answer 1

The theme of "He—y, Come on Ou—t!" by Shinichi Hoshi explores the interplay between human curiosity, the quest for understanding, and the consequences of the unknown. Initially, the villagers encounter a mysterious hole that symbolizes the unknown—something that intrigues them but also elicits caution and fear. The villagers' reactions highlight their conflicting desires: the urge to investigate and understand this anomaly versus the desire for safety and control.

As the story progresses, the villagers' curiosity morphs into commercial opportunity, culminating in their willingness to exploit the hole rather than confront its mysteries. The presence of a scientist and the subsequent arrival of concessionaires represent society’s tendency to commercialize and settle for superficial solutions rather than grapple with deeper, more profound questions. The villagers quickly shift from wanting to protect their potentially sacred space to giving it away for profit, illustrating how easily societal values can be distorted by economic incentives.

Furthermore, the conclusion reveals a commentary on the environment and technology, as the villagers accept the nuclear waste disposal plan despite their initial reservations. This acceptance signifies a surrender to modernity and a deafness to the potential long-term risks involved, emphasizing a theme of accountability—or lack thereof—in the face of progress.

Overall, the theme revolves around the human tendency to prioritize immediate gratification and profit over genuine understanding and ethical consideration, highlighting the complexities of curiosity and the allure of the unknown.

Answer 2

Can you just give me a one sentence answer

Answer 3

The theme of "He—y, Come on Ou—t!" examines humanity's curiosity and the tendency to exploit the unknown for profit, often at the expense of ethical considerations and deeper understanding.