Vol 3 Chapter 3 (1/2)

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 3

These are English translations of the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.

On accents and dialects: I know many people hate the use of dialects in localization because it reinforces a stereotype, but it's one of the few ways I can bring character into a person's speech. I have nothing against working-cla.s.s British people, or the Deep South!

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CHAPTER 3

Land's End

Humans were born from the eye of Ra. Ra was the creator of heaven, earth, and all things. Since he was the Sun, and also the ruler of the G.o.ds, it was decided that he would become the first King on earth.

-Egyptian myth 'The Beginning of Heaven and Earth' [1]

It was blurry. Everything was veiled in a haze, and vague.

But I have to wake up...

Safu struggled to open her eyes. She bit her lip as hard as she could. There was a slight pain. She could feel her sensations returning.

Safu realized that she was bound to a stretcher. A white door opened, and she was carted inside. In her blurry vision, she could not make out what was there. She felt her body gliding sideways.

”Ah, are we awake?” It was a man's voice. ”No need to be, though. Let's give you an anaesthetic, shall we? Then you can sleep again in peace.”

”Where... am I...?”

”Care to take a guess?”

What's wrong with me? What happened―? I visited s.h.i.+on's house, and then―

There was a man in a Security Bureau uniform.

'Are you Safu-san?'

The shock in her neck. The numbness that had spread through her body.

Safu almost shrieked in terror. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her voice was stuck at the back of her throat.

”Correc...tional... Facility...”

High-pitched laughter rang out. The man was laughing.

”Do you fancy the Correctional Facility? It seems you've taken a liking to it. I know, once this surgery is over, you can live in your own special suite until you die. I'll have it all arranged.”

Surgery?

”Surg...”

”Yes. You're lying on a surgical table.” The man's voice was still filled with mirth. A white glare filled her vision. Safu took it to be the light of a surgical lamp. She was pierced with horror ― stronger than the horror that had seized her when she had been apprehended by the Security Bureau.

A tear spilled from her eye.

”There's nothing to cry about. There will be no pain, or discomfort. Good night, now.”

s.h.i.+on. s.h.i.+on. s.h.i.+on.

This name will protect me from all evil things.

He'll save me. He'll rescue me, and get me out of here ― s.h.i.+on.

”s.h.i.+on.”

His name was called. s.h.i.+on stopped his feet. His guard, a large dog, gave a low growl.

”Rikiga-san.”

Rikiga was exiting a shabby restaurant through its rickety gla.s.s door. Shabby as it was, it was one of the more decent establishments in the West Block's bazaar. Most establishments of these sort were cl.u.s.ters of barrels and crates placed outside to sit on, and the dishes were all of an unidentifiable origin. The stench of strong spirits and some mysterious stew wafted out from these stands out into the street, and s.h.i.+on often found himself pinching his nose. But even so, starving children and old beggars milled about the shops, some wandering in hopes of receiving food, others staring fixedly at the adults bringing their food to their mouths. A shop owner raised his voice angrily, splas.h.i.+ng water outside his storefront, and chased the people away as if they were stray dogs or cats.

And in front of these starving people, those who had been able to get their hands on the day's sustenance sank their teeth into their food, dripped grease over their mouths, and licked their fingers.

To have money, and to have power.

To have food meant to fulfil these conditions.

s.h.i.+on had learned this from these few days here. But he still could not get used to it. He couldn't bear to look at the scene before him. He couldn't help but avert his gaze, and look at the ground.

”If it makes you feel better, then give them a handout. But only if you can fill the belly of every single person there,” Nezumi had said. For s.h.i.+on at the present, it was an impossible task.

”What can you do with your half-hearted sympathy? You might be able to save a handful of kids from starvation, for a short time. But that just means you're creating two new types of people― those who are starving, and those who aren't. Let me tell you something interesting, s.h.i.+on. It's more excruciating for people who've filled their belly once to starve, than for people who have never been full at all. Nothing is more harsh than starvation after satiation. These kids here have never eaten until they're full. They don't know what it's like to be satisfied. That's why they can put up with it. Understand? There's nothing you can do here, absolutely nothing.”

Nezumi had spat those words, and strode out of the room. But before that, he had stopped abruptly before the door, and turned around. A brown dog was sprawled off to the side.

”So Inukas.h.i.+'s lent this dog to you as your bodyguard, huh? And I hear your wages were a little more flush than usual. Looks like you've become his favourite.”

”He says he'll let me continue working for him. He asked me to clean the guest rooms and take care of the dogs.”

”And you took the job?”

”Of course,” s.h.i.+on replied enthusiastically. ”I was so happy, I thanked him over and over again.”

Nezumi sneered.

”Will you look at that. Mr. No. 6 Elite is rejoicing over a housecleaning and dogkeeping job. It should be interesting to see how much lower you're going to stoop.”

”I don't think I'm stooping,” s.h.i.+on said promptly. ”You'd agree, wouldn't you? You don't think this is stooping at all.”

Nezumi's shapely face contorted slightly. He hunched his shoulders.

”Oh yeah, s.h.i.+on. You got paid by Inukas.h.i.+ today, didn't you? Go out and buy some dried meat and bread.”

”At the market?”

”You don't know any other place to buy food, do you?” Nezumi said sarcastically.

”Well―yeah, but...”

”Dried meat and bread. Inspect it carefully when they give it to you. s.p.a.ce out like you usually do, and you'll be stuck with a mouldy brick of a loaf. And haggle. Haggle like no tomorrow. I'm off.”

The door closed, and his footsteps faded into the distance.

He would have to buy dried meat and bread in front of those children.

Nezumi had told him to.

Dried meat, and bread.

s.h.i.+on's stomach growled insistently. His mouth watered. He had had only the slice of bread and fruits that Inukas.h.i.+ had given him at noon. He was terribly hungry. He had not eaten any meat, nor soft bread, for days.

His stomach growled, his mouth watered.

He wanted to eat. He wanted to sate his empty stomach.

s.h.i.+on sighed, and pulled his hat further down over his head.

What can you do with your half-hearted sympathy?

He recalled Nezumi's words again and again.

You're right. I can't do anything. I'm just pretending to pity those kids to boost my self-respect. The truth is that I'm about to buy meat and bread, right in front of those children, to satisfy my own hunger. That's my true form ― that's the kind of person I am. Nezumi, is that what you meant?

There were a few coins in his pocket. It was his day's payment that he had received from Inukas.h.i.+.

”Part of that is a thank-you for treating my brother. I can't always pay you this much.” Inukas.h.i.+ had said this rather curtly, but s.h.i.+on was grateful for his kindness. It may have been quite a large amount for a day's worth of work. But even so, it was enough to cover only a few strips of dried meat and two or three loaves of mouldy bread. There was almost no food left in their room, otherwise buried in books. He wouldn't be able to live off Nezumi's goodwill forever. He had to secure a means of providing for himself, however little it was.

s.h.i.+on pushed the door open, and stepped outside. The dog slowly got to its feet, and trailed after him. When s.h.i.+on set foot into the market street, it drew up to s.h.i.+on's side and kept pace with him closely. He was trained well. It was apparent that Inukas.h.i.+ had quite a hand with his dogs. s.h.i.+on smiled sheepishly as he caught himself, yet again, being surprised or impressed like with so many other things since coming to the West Block.

It was already dusk. Darkness was setting in, and the cooing and bellowing of voices echoed even more loudly in the air. Under ripped tents, and in front of barracks, people sold and bought things, ate, and drank. As soon as the warmth of the afternoon slipped beneath the horizon, the ground beneath them grew colder by the minute. Business was probably booming at Inukas.h.i.+'s hotel. For those who had nowhere warm to sleep, it was going to be an unpleasant night. Bare-breasted women called out from the darkness of the alleyways, and old women clad in rags huddled on the ground in the same darkness. Children trotted about, nimbly threading through the crowd, and being yelled at occasionally. And still people bought and sold, ate, and drank.

Don't know what waits for me tomorrow. But at least I've lived through today.

So I'll eat. So I'll drink. Here, it's everything we've got.

All the things I've said, can't enjoy 'em once I'm dead

So I'm alive an' enjoyin' 'em today.

That's everything. Here, it's everything. My everything.

Someone was singing off-key. s.h.i.+on paused, and tilted an ear to the voice. He hugged the parcel of dried meat and bread that he had just bought close to his chest. This clamour that seemed to rush at him and overwhelm him ― this clamour, this jumble of noises that seemed to burst out of the ground itself ―

It was all connected to those who had a strong attachment to life, and the energy that they radiated. Here, everyone clung fast to life. They greedily latched onto survival. Because nothing insured a tomorrow for them, these people lived with even more desperation. This energy, this clamour. It was something that didn't exist, wasn't allowed to exist, in No. 6.

What feelings did Nezumi have as he walked through these streets?

”Brother.”

A feeble voice called out to him. He turned to see a thin child robed in faded cloth. He had long, matted hair, and a dirty face. s.h.i.+on couldn't tell whether it was a boy or a girl.

”Spare some bread for me,” the child pleaded weakly, in a voice that was barely a whisper. ”I haven't eaten for three days. Please, just a morsel.”

The child's countenance reminded him of a little girl he got along with back in Lost Town. Her name was Lili.

”A morsel...”

A pair of tiny hands stretched toward him. Almost without a thought, s.h.i.+on was putting his hand into his parcel. As soon as he pulled out a round roll, an impact slammed into his back. He had been shoved. He staggered. As s.h.i.+on lost his balance, a pair of small hands s.n.a.t.c.hed the parcel from s.h.i.+on's arms. At the same time, he was shoved violently in the back once more, and he fell to his knees.

”Run!”

The child shouted energetically, almost unrecognizable from the whisper moments before. Several children yelled after him as they stormed past s.h.i.+on. The dog leapt forward swiftly and silently. He attacked the child who had stolen the parcel. Screams rose from the group.

Still hugging the package of dried meat and bread in both hands, the child crumpled to the ground. A few strips of meat and a piece of bread fell out and scattered on the ground. The dog pinned the child down with its legs, and bared its teeth.

”Stop it! Heel!” s.h.i.+on had shouted without thinking. The dog obeyed, closed its mouth, and looked up at s.h.i.+on reproachfully. The child didn't miss his chance. He sprang up, and broke into a sprint with the package in his arms. He moved with the swiftness and agility of a wild animal. In moments, his small back had disappeared into the throng. The other children had also melted into the crowd, out of sight.

”Amazing...”

s.h.i.+on couldn't help but murmur at their cunning ways. Admittedly, he was impressed. He soon realized that this was no time to be impressed, and stooped to gather what was left of his meat and bread. What would Nezumi say, after seeing it reduced to almost one-third of its original amount? Would he say nothing, and shrug his shoulders? Would he sneer?

s.h.i.+on shrugged off his coat and wrapped the bread and meat with it. He would share this with Nezumi for dinner tonight. Those children would probably do the same. They would share it amongst themselves, and each have a tiny morsel of food for dinner. Naive, and meaningless sympathy. He knew Nezumi would criticize him scathingly, but s.h.i.+on was still a little relieved.

At least tonight, those children would have food. Right now, he had no power to free them from starvation. He couldn't do anything. But if his meat and bread would stave off their empty stomachs even for a short time― wasn't that at least a little meaningful? It was acceptable enough to give up because he was powerless to do anything. It was acceptable, but it was arrogant. Wouldn't you think so, Nezumi?

”Oy, you there, fella.”

From a stall selling roasted kebabs, the female shopkeeper called over to him in her raspy voice. ”Will ya stop standin' in front o' my store all dazed-like? Being a nuisance, you is. Disruptin' business!”

”Oh, I'm sorry,” s.h.i.+on bowed his head hastily in apology, but the shop mistress was already busy dealing with other customers to notice him. Here, no one looked out for other strangers. They simply weren't interested. Whether there be robbery on the street, or a beggar dying, or a fight breaking out, no one cared. It all blended into the scenery of daily occurrences.

”Well, let's go home, then,” s.h.i.+on called over to the dog, and noticed its jaws snapping as it was chewing something.

”Hey, wait a minute, don't tell me you're―”

The dog gulped the meat in its mouth, and looked up at him with a flash of a grin.

”When did you manage to pick that meat up? A lot quicker than me, huh.”

The dog lolled its pink tongue, licked its chops, and began trotting briskly ahead of him. s.h.i.+on was amused, though he wasn't sure why.

He had been following the dog for some time when he was stopped by Rikiga. Outwardly, Rikiga's job was publis.h.i.+ng lewd adult magazines. But behind the scenes, he acted as a middleman for prost.i.tutes, and that was his livelihood. Among his patrons there were said to be higher officials of No. 6 as well. In the words of Nezumi, it was from these kinds of people that Rikiga cunningly weaselled great amounts money.

But he was also the man that s.h.i.+on's mother Karan told him to go to for help. According to Rikiga, a long time ago before No. 6 and the West Block was been divided with a wall of special alloy, he had met and fallen in love with Karan. But it was only he who had fallen in love, and Karan had merely shown agreement toward the articles that Rikiga had written as a journalist at that time.

”He's the prime example of a corrupted man.” These were also Nezumi's words, but s.h.i.+on found he liked the somewhat aloof and fearless aura of the man who had once loved his mother. This man wasn't completely corrupted. He still had journalism in his bones. That was what s.h.i.+on felt.

Rikiga's face was beet-red from drunkenness, and even his eyes were bloodshot. It looked like he had been drinking quite a bit.

”Rikiga-san, it's bad for your health if you don't lay off the alcohol a little.”

”You're so kind, s.h.i.+on. I feel like Karan's the one reprimanding me. She was just saying to me the other day, 'Please, Rikiga, mind your health.'”

”The other day? My mother?”

”In my dream. Ever since seeing you, Karan's started appearing in my dreams. And every single time I see her, she scolds me. Don't drink, don't be reckless, don't lose sight of what your job should really be―”

A flush that was not from alcohol rose in Rikiga's cheeks. He turned his face away as if to avoid s.h.i.+on's gaze.

”Well, a dream's just a dream. Karan's moved on, gotten herself an admirable son like you. I'm sure she's changed from when she was younger ― in appearance, and heart too.”

”She's aged,” s.h.i.+on conceded. ”And she's gotten a little plump. ―But if she were to see you again, Rikiga-san, I'm sure she'd say the same thing she said to you in your dream. That's the kind of person she is.”

Rikiga opened his mouth to say something, and then pursed his lips.

”All that about Karan― it's― it's alright. To tell you the truth, it's a bit painful remembering...” he trailed off before abruptly changing the subject. ”So are you alone today?”

”I'm with the dog.”

”The one that's glaring at me suspiciously right now? You wouldn't wanna bite me, mutt. Just so you know, my meat is soaked in booze, and it's running in my veins. Sink your teeth into this, and you'll go belly-up from alcohol poisoning.”

The dog glanced up at the drunken man, twitched its nose disdainfully, and scowled. s.h.i.+on looked down and chuckled to himself.

”What's his problem?” Rikiga grumbled at the dog. ”So, no one else with you today apart from the dog?”

”Are you talking about Nezumi?”

”Yeah. That sarcastic smart-aleck of an actor. Geez, I don't think I've met anyone as foul-mouthed as he is.”

”But you were his fan, right?”

”I just didn't know his true ident.i.ty, that's all. I mean, Eve is quite enthralling onstage. I never would have guessed that he'd be such an impolite a.s.shole. The kid goes around saying whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Hard to imagine how a beautiful face like that can be so brash and brutal. Unbelievable, I tell ya.”

”Nezumi only speaks the truth.”

No matter how harsh or ruthless his words were, they never carried any lies. That was why they became blades and spears that pierced s.h.i.+on's chest, and left a pain that he could not forget. It was a pain that he would never have known if he had not met Nezumi. Every time the countless pangs stirred restlessly deep in his chest, s.h.i.+on felt something in himself changing little by little. A part crumbled away, while another part rebuilt itself; and yet another part would be born anew. Each word from Nezumi, and the pain that accompanied it led s.h.i.+on to change, and kept urging him forward. s.h.i.+on could vividly feel himself being changed and shaped by the force of another.

”You know, s.h.i.+on. If it gets too unbearable, you can stay over with me,” Rikiga said as they walked side-by-side. His breath hit s.h.i.+on's cheek, and reeked of alcohol.

”Unbearable? What do you mean?”

”No, I understand,” Rikiga said abruptly. ”You don't have to hide it. I can't imagine how it wouldn't be unbearable living with Eve. I'm guessing your living conditions are less-than-standard. Are you getting enough to eat? Now, I think this highly unlikely, but if in some nasty turn of events, you get influenced by Eve and your personality gets as twisted as his― hm,” he grunted to himself. ”Indeed. There's no way I can let that happen to Karan's son. Come live at my place. I'll give you enough to eat, and give you a warm bed to sleep in.”

”No, that's alright. I'm fine.”

”But Karan sent word to come to me for help, right?”