Vol 5 Chapter 3.2 (2/2)

”No. 6?”

”Yeah. The oh-so-beautiful Almighty Holy City.”

”Not much time left? Give me the details.”

Rikiga's grin widened. Got you biting the bait, his smile said. There were times when you had to swallow the bait, even if you could see the hook. It was bait that was too attractive to ignore.

”Is there something strange happening in No. 6?”

”Yeah. I've been seeing strange movements around the city that are really standing out.”

It looked like Rikiga was serious about his talk: the smile vanished from his face, and the sarcasm disappeared from his voice. ”First: there have been several cases of a strange disease reported inside the city. Now, what it is, or whether it's contagious, we don't know yet. But you remember Fura saying this, don't you? The Correctional Facility, that other facility that's just been built, and the Health and Hygiene Bureau are connected. Health and Hygiene Bureau, you hear? Now what does it do?”

”It monitors the health and manages treatment of all citizens...”

”Exactly. Which means now, that strange disease is also connected to the Correctional Facility too. You understand what I mean so far, right?”

”More or less. I got a good earful during that farce we did.”

”Apparently, s.h.i.+on's friend was pretty much kidnapped and taken to the Correctional Facility. And this is still unconfirmed information, but... someone who was involved in the construction of the facility inside the Correctional Facility supposedly died a sudden death. He was a resident of the city, of course.”

”Was he killed?”

”Not quite sure about that. But it reeks of death, and it's coming from the city. And then we have the acoustic shockwaves. Went all-out, didn't they? One blast, and the whole market's gone. They used a brand-new weapon to blow up barracks. That's like eating leftovers on a silver platter.”

”Good simile. It just screams education.”

”Why, thank you,” Rikiga said unconcernedly. ”So that means the city was developing weapons in secret, which is prohibited by the Babylon Treaty. And now they've started using it openly in public. The Hunt that happened this time was probably to test-drive their new weapon.”

Inukas.h.i.+ swung his neck around in a wide circle.

Rikiga had run all the way here, out of breath, worried about s.h.i.+on―or feigning it―but had managed to collect information about the Hunt, and investigated the remains of the destruction on the way. Maybe he had rifled through the debris and picked out things that might make him money while he was at it.

You can't trust this guy around anything, the tough cookie, Inukas.h.i.+ snickered silently in his mind.

”Don't you think it's been hectic in there lately?” Rikiga continued. ”And too many people are dying. Not in the West Block, either―in No. 6, the ideal city, the Holy City, as it's been paraded as. I've had a long relations.h.i.+p with that city. It always used to perch prim and composed, never ruffling its demeanour as a utopia. But it reeks these days. I've never smelled death come from it so freely, without restraint. Of course, there have been people killed, people committing suicide, but...”

”Not this blatantly.”

”Yeah. Every death they put under wraps, and disposed of it as a calm and peaceful death. Do you know about the Twilight Cottage?”

”Whas' that?”

”Outwardly it's a facility for palliative care. A hospice, you might call it. Ill patients who don't have long to live―mostly the elderly―have all suffering removed, and can die a peaceful death, not much different from a deep sleep. That's what they say the Twilight Cottage is for.”

Inukas.h.i.+ purred in his throat. He felt like he would salivate. A death not much different from sleep: it was something he'd wished for, harder than anything. He would be embraced in softness, warmth, and he would softly close his eyes. He would never wake up. His heart would slowly stop beating, and his breathing would grow few and far between. But his brain would keep dreaming. Sleep would gently coast over to death. He would live his last without being shut into darkness. He would be smiling.

Rikiga peered into Inukas.h.i.+'s eyes.

”Geez, don't make those begging eyes. You're sure easy to understand. What I was talking about was the Twilight Cottage as it's publicized by the authorities.”

”―which means?”

”Things are different, apparently.”

”Different?”

”The Twilight Cottage isn't a hospice; it's an execution grounds.”

”Execution grounds? Does that even exist inside the Holy City?”

”Of course, it's nothing like the Correctional Facility. It's not as obvious... all the patients brought to the Twilight Cottage don't live out their lives and die a natural death... as soon as they've been transported, they're drugged, put to sleep, and―”

Perhaps even Rikiga felt resistance towards saying it out loud; he only twitched his mouth, and then gave a long sigh.

”But why do they do that to the citizens? What for?”

”Because they're useless,” Rikiga said promptly, as if he had been expecting Inukas.h.i.+'s question. ”No. 6 is that kind of city. It's ruthless against people who are useless to it. If that person's only got his death to wait for, then why not let him go quickly and easily with drugs? Less waste that way. That's how they think.”

Inukas.h.i.+ shuddered. He was getting gooseb.u.mps.

He had seen his share of grisly deaths. He had seen so many, the fingers on both his hands weren't enough, even if he counted over them twice. He had committed to his heart, and resigned himself to the fact that in the West Block, you had to accept many different kinds of deaths. That life and death were different within the walls and outside. But did grisly deaths pervade inside the walls just like they did outside?

”Old man, who'd you hear that from?”

”My customers. Fura isn't the only one who sneaks out here from No. 6 in search of our ladies. The tight restrictions they're making these days is enough to put me out of business now, but I've still got a couple returning customers. Among them, some work at a direct affiliate of the city, though not in a position as high as Fura's. Those guys babble to the girls. Spill the beans. Why do you think?”

”Why―well―because they feel talkative after finis.h.i.+ng, or something...” Inukas.h.i.+ said awkwardly.

”No, no. It's because they don't think of the West Block's prost.i.tutes as humans. They don't even think that the girls might have brains and hearts like they do. They don't think the girls can think, or can feel sadness in their hearts. So they spill the beans. To them, it's probably like talking to a rock lying on the road. That's why they can go on divulging workplace secrets. Humans are talkative animals; they can't shut up. 'I can't talk inside the city, so why not talk to the prost.i.tutes in the West Block? They probably can't even understand language anyway.' That's what they think. But those girls listen. Sometimes they even flatter the guys, in order to draw out more.”

”And you take that information and sell it, or use it to threaten people to make money, huh, old man.”

”Well, you have a mix of good and bad information. Most of it is useless. But my customers from No. 6 these days are more talkative than ever. Before, it was mostly bragging or exaggerated lies... but now we have complaints, discontent... uncertainty. All we're getting are stories about uncertainty. See, Inukas.h.i.+, No. 6 is no utopia. It's only trying to keep a skilful hold over its citizens to dominate them. And that's starting to get obvious. It's starting to fray at the seams. Those citizens are starting to get suffocated in that interior. They're living in the ideal city, and yet, they can't even breathe. And they've started to wonder why. I've heard of a customer who lay in bed all night, mumbling 'why? Why do you think this is?'.”

”I see.” Inukas.h.i.+ could finally see where this was going. So that's how it is. ”Strange illnesses, the new equipment at the Correctional Facility, all that information leakage, and the mounting complaints, dissatisfaction, uncertainty. You're saying gas is building up within the walls of No. 6?”

”Yeah, gas. It might still be thin now, but what happens when the density increases?” Rikiga spread the fingers of both his hands, making a bursting gesture.

”Explode? You're saying No. 6 is gonna collapse from the inside?”

”If everything goes as planned. Before the city-state of No. 6 wields overwhelming military force―before it can dominate over the world and its citizens with its power, we have to set the gas alight. And the Correctional Facility is where we'll start. Most of the mysteries are focused on that place. We try prodding it for information. Aren't you excited to find out what we'll find?”

”―and that's what Nezumi said.”

”Idiot. How could a kid like him come up with an advanced theory like this?”

”Advanced, indeed. No alcoholic brain would be able to come up with that. What happened to the talk about making money, huh? Is the treasure gonna get blown up along with it, and come raining down on our heads?”

”It won't come raining down. We have to dig it up.”

”Dig?”

”There's supposedly a secret safe in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Correctional Facility.”

”Secret safe? In that blank s.p.a.ce?”

”I don't have bearings on the exact location. But rumour says the head honchos of No. 6 have hidden a total of several tens of thousands of tonnes of solid gold bullion.”

”Gold... gold bullion, didja say?”

”Tens of thousands of tonnes of gold bullion. They might be bars, I don't know. So? Don't you feel blinded just imagining that brilliance?”

”But... I mean, where did you get that information?”

”From a girl, of course. A red-headed one named Sulu, who has a returning customer who works at the Finance Bureau. Quite pretty.”

Inukas.h.i.+ didn't care about the red-headed woman. His interest was piqued many times more by the gold bullion than human flesh.

”So you got it from her.”

”Yeah. It was a bed-time story, though, so I'm not one-hundred percent sure about its credibility. But it's plausible, isn't it? A mountain of gold in a place where infiltration and escape is impossible. Safer for hiding than anywhere else. Pretty believable, I would say.”

”Are we gonna be able to get it?”

”We will get it. Once No. 6 begins to crumble, the whole place will be chaos. If we take advantage of it... what do you think?”

Inukas.h.i.+ growled softly. It sounded like a dream. Should he simply laugh and call it a stupid story, or play along with this fairy tale, just for the sake of it?

”Does Nezumi plan to destroy the Correctional Facility?”

”Eve? He might do it. He can't create much, but he can sure destroy. No, why don't we have him do it? Let's have him make a spectacle out of it.”

The Correctional Facility―the very embodiment of fear itself―would crumble. Inukas.h.i.+'s heart danced just imagining its destruction unfold.

The collapsing Correctional Facility and the glittering mounds of gold. He would receive two of the best compensation he could ever get, in these two hands. Perhaps it was worth the challenge. However―

Inukas.h.i.+ licked his lips. He inhaled, filling his nostrils with the odour of dogs that permeated the room.

However, if he had to invest his own life in this capital, he would decline. He would rather remain in the ruins starving, but living, with his dogs, rather than die buried in gold.

”What do I needa do? If it's anything risky, I'm not in.”

”I know, I know. I wouldn't put you in danger. I just need your connections.”

”Connections?”

”There's a man who pa.s.ses on leftover food to you from the Correctional Facility, am I right?”

Inukas.h.i.+ narrowed his eyes, and clenched his jaw lightly. Behind the drink-drowned middle-aged man, Nezumi was wearing his signature ironic smile. He could see it.

Good job, Nezumi. You softened this tough cookie up. Nice cooking skills.

Many different feelings and desires were mingling, melting, and writhing within Rikiga: genuine compa.s.sion for s.h.i.+on, destructive impulses, a strong desire to see No. 6 crumble before his eyes; and more than anything, an attachment for gold bullion. Nezumi had used this to his advantage. He had very artfully used this in his favour, had given orders to him, and was controlling him this way. It was quite something. But it was also possible that Rikiga was fully aware that he was being controlled, and had agreed to play the marionette for s.h.i.+on and for gold bullion; for greed and love.

Inukas.h.i.+ found himself sighing. They were like a racc.o.o.n dog and fox[1] trying to out-trick each other. Suddenly he began to miss s.h.i.+on. He was a mystery, sure, but he was a hundred times better than an old racc.o.o.n dog and demon fox. Inukas.h.i.+ missed those awkward, naive actions of his; his earnest and foolishly straightforward way of saying things; his carefree smile. He wanted to see s.h.i.+on.

”You're receiving a substantial amount of leftovers, aren't you? That route hasn't been cut off, has it?”

”No.” It wasn't cut off yet. The man who was in charge of waste disposal not only resold leftovers, but also the clothes and belongings of prisoners through secret routes. He had even once complained that he was a.s.signed to dispose of dead bodies. It was the department where all of the facility's garbage and corpses were gathered. It was located inside the Correctional Facility, and it was regarded with the least importance, and for that reason the management was also lax. But it would probably be impossible to use him as a foothold to sneak into the Facility, much less get back out of it. The man had said he was not allowed even a single step inside the Facility from the waste disposal site. The door that led inside simply didn't open.

”Would he be useful at all...?” Inukas.h.i.+ said dubiously.

”He will be. Every knife, no matter how dull, has its uses.”

”Did Nezumi say that too?”

”Who cares? You clearly have something against Nezumi, and it's over the top. Look, Inukas.h.i.+, keep the line open with that man. It'll come in handy. If you can, get him wrapped around your finger.”

”Got it.” What was his name again? The man had a thin, long face with drooping eyebrows, and sighed a lot. He cared about his family―and he had complained that he wasn't even allowed to tell them that he was working at the Correctional Facility, and that he would be instantly fired if he did. 'It gets you down, really, not even being able to tell your own daughter what you do for a job,' he had said. Daughter? Oh yes, he had one daughter. He had also said that a baby was coming soon... and he was in need of money. He wanted a good amount to sustain his family―yeah, it might not be that hard to soften him up.

”I need money. You gonna set me up with some, right, old man?”

”I know, I know. I won't force you to dig into the savings that are loading your pocket down right now.” Rikiga scratched his chin, and grinned. ”Going after the meat shop man's savings, huh? You've got a sharp eye. I have renewed admiration for you, Inukas.h.i.+.”

”Same for you. Who woulda known you'd find about it so fast? Pretty amazing. I'm in awe.”

Geez, the racc.o.o.n dog. Nothing goes unnoticed when it comes to him.

Inukas.h.i.+ had just shrugged when the baby began to cry. Rikiga stood up from his chair.

”What's that?”

”What's what?”

”That voice. It's a baby crying.”

”Huh? I don't hear anything,” Inukas.h.i.+ said nonchalantly. ”You having auditory hallucinations now, old man? My heart goes out to you.”

After throwing a glance at Inukas.h.i.+, Rikiga took big strides toward the dogs laying in a corner of the room. They instantly rose and began to growl menacingly at him.

”Inukas.h.i.+, what's this?”

”My dogs.”

”This crying one too, the one that's lodged in between the dogs? New breed? Because it has no tail.”

The wailing renewed itself with even greater volume. Inukas.h.i.+ reluctantly picked the baby up in his arms. Rikiga shook his head.

”What did you pick it up for? Planning to sell it?”

”I didn't pick it up, it was thrust onto me,” Inukas.h.i.+ said obstinately. ”By your little angel.”

”s.h.i.+on?”

Inukas.h.i.+ gave a brief explanation. Rikiga nodded in a.s.sent with a solemn expression on his face.

”Sounds like something s.h.i.+on would do. It probably came to him instantly to hide the baby. When his own life was in danger, too... he's a living angel.”

”Angels don't thrust babies on other people. Geez, nice burden he's given me.”

”Don't complain. Think of how s.h.i.+on must have felt. The little guy's got a cute face. It's a boy, huh. What's his name?”

”s.h.i.+onn.”

”Huh?”

”He dumped the thing in my care, so he can have the same name too. Hey, old man, don't you think this kid's eyes look just like s.h.i.+on's?”

”Hmm, now that you mention it, they're the same colour,” Rikiga said thoughtfully. ”And they're clear, like his. Beautiful eyes.”

”Right? He's an angelic child. So take him home, will ya?” He proffered the baby in his arms. Rikiga backed away, shaking his head.

”No, sorry, I'm a bachelor.”

”Well, so am I. But you've got tons of women with big b.o.o.bs, old man.”

”Yeah, but none of them can give breast milk. Here, on the other hand, you don't even need diapers because the dogs will lick the baby clean. They'll even warm him. You grew up like this too, didn't you? Brilliant childrearing environment... oh, I know, I'll get my hands on some powdered milk and deliver it to you.”

”s.h.i.+on left the baby, you know,” Inukas.h.i.+ said pointedly.

”I'll get some soft and clean blankets for you, too. And not just one―two or three. Well, see you then, Inukas.h.i.+. I'll come by again soon.”

With a scramble of hurried footsteps, Rikiga all but sprinted out of the room. Apparently his knack for making speedy getaways hadn't deteriorated yet.

The baby smiled in Inukas.h.i.+'s arms. It grabbed at his long hair, and grinned happily.

”Hey s.h.i.+onn, that hurts. Don't get carried away.” Inukas.h.i.+ prodded the baby's nose. A wide grin spread over the tiny face. ”You happy that you have a name now? You gotta stay alive until Papa comes back, then, alright?”

A wind blew into the room. The sky was completely covered in grey clouds.

Stay alive, s.h.i.+on. Live to come pick this little guy up.

As Inukas.h.i.+ turned his face up to the snow clouds drifting by, he found himself murmuring those words as if in prayer.

-- END OF CHAPTER --

Read Chapter 4.

Notes

In folklore, racc.o.o.n dogs and foxes are known to be tricksters. (back)

<script>