Vol 6 Chapter 2 (1/2)

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Who did see him die?

I, said the sparrow,

And I did kill c.o.c.k Robbin.

I, said the fly,

And I did see him die.

The man was gazing at the gold coin Inukas.h.i.+ had given him with fascination.

”It's real,” Inukas.h.i.+ whispered to the man's profile, with its thin and jutting chin. He dropped his voice into a hush to make himself sound as intimidating as possible.

”It's real gold... is it?” The man's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

”Look at it for as long as ya need to. It's the real thing, no matter which way ya look at it.”

”Y-Yeah... you're right, it's real...”

”It's yours.” This time, Inukas.h.i.+ spoke a little quicker, like he was thrusting the words onto him. The man's chin trembled.

”Mine?”

”Yeah. Yours. I'll give it to ya.”

”What? But―ah―a whole gold coin, it's so much money―”

”Of course, I'm not saying it's for free. I'm not a do-gooder with money to spare. I'll give this to you as payment for a job. How about it?”

”Job?”

The man's eyes s.h.i.+fted from the gold coin to Inukas.h.i.+. His eyes were round, like some frightened pet animal. A shade of suspicion flitted across them.

Here it comes.

Inukas.h.i.+ clenched his fist.

This is the crucial moment. I won't give this guy any room to think. I won't let any suspicion sneak into his thoughts. I'll wave the gold in front of him, and tantalize him. It's gold, man, gold. Not something he'd be able to lay his eyes on often. Not to mention, this guy wants money, needs money... but then, I don't know who wouldn't want money, unless they were dying.

You just had to dangle the other's most desired object in front of his nose. You had to ensnare him with crafty words. You would chase him into a corner so he wouldn't be able to escape. You would do it thoroughly, and with skill. All he had to do was trace Nezumi's way of doing it. He's done it to me enough times for me to get sick of it.

Heh.

He felt like he could hear Nezumi chuckle. He could even see Nezumi's unique ironic smile.

See, you can do it just as I taught you. Good boy. I'll give you a treat later.

Shut up, Nezumi. Just to let you know, I'm not undertaking this to help you. It's for the gold bullion. I'm crossing the perilous bridge so I can lay my hands on that gold bullion.

He shook his head to dispel the illusion.

Stop popping into my head like that, a.s.shole.

”Job... what do you mean?”

”A job is a job. I'm asking you to do a job. For a gold coin.”

Inukas.h.i.+ snapped his fingers smartly. The man blinked. The shade of suspicion in his eyes grew more p.r.o.nounced.

The man was called Getsuyaku. His job was managing the cleaning duties at the Correctional Facility. He was Inukas.h.i.+'s acquaintance. A while had pa.s.sed since Inukas.h.i.+ had first started receiving his stock of Facility waste and leftover food from Getsuyaku. Of course, it was an under-the-table transaction; it was smuggling. About once every three days, Inukas.h.i.+ received a portion of leftover food and waste, and handed Getsuyaku an amount that was appropriate for the load. It was usually a few copper coins. If there was a considerable find, a silver coin.

But this was probably the first time they had exchanged so many words with each other. It was always only a couple words, things like: ”This is it”; ”Thanks. Your payment, then”; ”Right”; they didn't even count as conversations, and they didn't make eye contact either. It had always been this way.

Getsuyaku was in charge of managing and incinerating the waste produced by the Correctional Facility, as well as operating the cleaning robots inside. In a small room adjacent to the waste collection area and the incinerator, he spent the whole day alone, operating machines.

”When I'm here, I don't say a word all day. I don't see anyone, I don't talk to anyone. It's really lonely. Sometimes I can't tell if I'm still a human, or becoming a machine myself.” One day, on a rare occurrence, Getsuyaku had loosed a string of complaints. Inukas.h.i.+ had given him offhanded answers. That must be hard, he had nodded, but had responded scathingly in his mind.

Stop acting like a baby.

The monitoring room for the disposal of leftover food and other trash was located in the most remote part of the Correctional Facility. All of the trash produced in the facility was collected here. The machines sorted through it and carried it to the incinerator; machines adjusted the temperature of the incineration, and disposed of the ashes. Almost the entire procedure was completed automatically. Getsuyaku's only job was monitoring and tuning the machines. One person was enough for the job. Sure, a workplace without anyone to talk to was probably lonely. So what? You wouldn't die from not speaking for a day.

Try living a life where you're so, so hungry that all you can think about all day is food. Try spending your days licking pebbles on the road to stave off your hunger. Loneliness? That's just a luxurious toy for you people who don't have to worry about filling your bellies.

But Inukas.h.i.+ only remarked in his mind. Out loud, he feigned pity, saying things like, ”that must be hard”. Getsuyaku was an important partner in trade. Nothing good would come out of getting on his bad side.

Although the sorting, incineration, and cleaning of the incinerating chamber were all automated, the step before the sorting required human hands. It was the task of transferring the trash from the collection area to the conveyor belt. For some reason, this step was the only one that was not automated. Getsuyaku had to operate a small power shovel himself to lift the trash onto the conveyor belt. Sometimes he even had to use an archaic tool like the shovel to sc.r.a.pe it out by hand. At this step, he would swiftly set aside raw garbage, or clothes that still looked wearable, and hide them. Inukas.h.i.+ bought the lot off of him: that was how it worked. Inukas.h.i.+ distributed his wares to the food vendors and secondhand clothes merchants in the West Block, and made a decent amount of money.

For Inukas.h.i.+, it was a heaven-sent fortune that there was a manual task before the automated process. It was thanks to this that he was even in business.

Getsuyaku's workplace was equipped with neither surveillance cameras nor security systems. If anything happened, Getsuyaku himself had to flick the emergency switch on the corner of his control panel.

”I don't imagine they would actually come to help, even if I did flick it.” Inukas.h.i.+ remembered Getsuyaku muttering as if to himself, gazing at the red switch.

Although facility employees were normally taken from the general gates to their respective sections by shuttle bus, Inukas.h.i.+ had heard that Getsuyaku was the only one being crammed into an outdated compact automobile.

”Being treated like that makes me feel ashamed of myself. I don't have pride in myself anymore.”

This was probably another one of his complaints. These days, Getsuyaku's complaints had increased noticeably.

Pride? Hah, first loneliness, and now pride? So you're pulling out another luxurious toy to show off, huh? Geez, the least you could do is talk about something that would fill my stomach.

These were, of course, remarks confined to his mind.

He didn't care about Getsuyaku's loneliness or pride. What mattered was that this was the one and only place that was off the dense map of surveillance criss-crossing far and wide throughout the Correctional Facility. It was also the one and only place which was connected directly to both the West Block and No. 6 without any barriers. He could naturally see why Nezumi had set his sights here. However, it was impossible to go beyond and get inside the Correctional Facility from here. The hallway leading into the main parts were blocked by double doors, and they were made so that they could not be opened from Getsuyaku's end.

Whoever designed this stout building had made it into a kind of dungeon where infiltration and escape were both exceedingly difficult; maybe this guy had poured so much life's blood into the effort that he didn't have attention to spare for the waste disposal system. Or, maybe he never had any consideration for the people managing the waste. Even in the Security Bureau, which presided over the Correctional Facility, there would probably be no officials at all who were concerned about Getsuyaku's working conditions. If an accident happened during the operation, and Getsuyaku suffered a life-threatening wound, not in a thousand chances would the Facility doors open from the inside to admit paramedics. The doors would remain closed, and Getsuyaku would be left to die.

It felt strange, to think of it this way.

As a resident of Lost Town, Getsuyaku was a semi-citizen. But it didn't change the fact that he lived inside the city. He may be poor, but he could live without fearing starvation and the pain of freezing in the cold. He was fortunate enough to be able to complain of loneliness. To people of the West Block like Inukas.h.i.+, his lifestyle was equivalent to heaven.

Inukas.h.i.+ could tell even from their spa.r.s.e exchange of words that Getsuyaku was an honest and amiable man. But even Getsuyaku's gaze sometimes carried a hint of scorn or superiority when he looked at Inukas.h.i.+, the West Block resident.

I'm still higher than him.

I don't have to freeze in the dead of winter.

That's why I'm higher than him.

It was a funny story.

People put other people into cla.s.ses. Those who were looked down upon and slighted turned around and looked down upon others and slighted them. This was not a mechanism of society that forced them; people established such order in their own hearts, of their own will.

Getsuyaku, who was treated like less than a machine by the upper cla.s.s of No. 6, who lamented this treatment, and even complained about it, showed a superior att.i.tude to Inukas.h.i.+, because he lived in a corner of the West Block. He condescended upon him.

It was a funny story. And it was strange.

Sometimes he thought humans were even more foolish animals than dogs. Dogs also had a social order, but it was based on their strength. Dogs didn't rank themselves based on pedigree, the state of their coat, or where they were born.

Humans weren't bothered at all at doing something even dogs didn't do. Humans― what ridiculous―

We're all the same.

He suddenly recalled a voice. It rang faintly deep inside his ears. It wasn't Nezumi's. Nezumi's voice was vivid too, but it wasn't as soft as this.

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

He's weird, pampered boy with white hair. Not to mention he's a most-wanted criminal on the run. Top-cla.s.s criminal. That's something you can't just wake up and decide to be one day. Leaves me in awe, really. But on the other hand, he did turn out to be an airhead with a capital A.... just baffles me. He's such a weirdo.

But he'd said this once.

They're the same humans as us, Inukas.h.i.+.

And then I asked him.

Are you and I the same humans?

Yeah.

Are the people of No. 6 the same humans as us? The answer had come back, clearly, with not a hint of hesitation.

Yeah.

s.h.i.+on. He was a weirdo, through and through.

Hey, s.h.i.+on. Don't you have any sense of hierarchy in your heart? Don't you draw lines between groups of people at all? Don't you ever feel contempt towards other people, and then feel you're better because of it?

s.h.i.+on, as humans, are we really all equal?

”What do you mean by... job?” A hoa.r.s.e voice questioned him. Inukas.h.i.+'s mind, which had been deeply immersed in thought, took a while to respond.

”Eh?”

”The gold-coin job... what do I have to do?”

”Oh! Right, that.” He sure swallowed the bait easier than I imagined. This old man must really need the money.

”Just to let you know, I'm not taking any dangerous jobs,” Getsuyaku said hastily. ”My baby is due in the spring. I've still got to work and keep earning a solid wage into the future. Under no circ.u.mstances whatsoever will I take a job that endangers my life.”

I see. Fine, fine. You don't want to get yourself in danger. But you still need money desperately, enough to do almost anything. I see.

Inukas.h.i.+ narrowed his eyes and let a slow smile spread across his lips. This was also an expression he had picked up from Nezumi. When you wanted to entice someone, you smiled at them gently, like this. If possible, so beautifully that the other's breath would catch in his throat...

Fat chance I'd be able to pull it off. I'm no actor. I can't put people under a spell as easily as Nezumi does.

He tried smiling anyway. And then... then what next, Nezumi?

He felt his heart racing. His heart pounded against his chest. He heard the thudding in his ears. His palms were sweating as he clenched his hands into fists. Sweat streamed down his back. His throat was dry, and his tongue felt like sandpaper.

Inukas.h.i.+ realized he was almost nervous out of his wits.

He realized he had to lure this man into his trap using any method he could get his hands on. He had to get the man to do what he wanted, no matter what it took. He had to make him do it. If he failed, Nezumi and s.h.i.+on's escape route would be completely closed off. He would never be able to see them again.

They had made a reckless bet from the beginning, anyway. There was less than a one-percent chance of them escaping the Correctional Facility. Those two had embarked anyway. He thought they were stupid to do so. Fools of fools. It was logical for fools to perish. They were reaping the rewards for what they had sown.

I know that's how it is, I know. But―

But I'm still wis.h.i.+ng they'd return. I find myself still wanting to see them again. Yeah, sure, I've got my sights set on the gold bullion, too. My eyes are dazzled by the mountain of gold. But I want to see them too. I want to hear with these ears again, Nezumi's sarcasm and laugh, s.h.i.+on's awkward way of speaking.

'Oh, you're back.'

'So I am. I told you I'd come back. I don't make empty promises.'

'Egh, stop trying to act cool. Does that mean I get to hear you prattle on forever again? Gee, I can hardly wait.'

'Inukas.h.i.+, I'm sorry for worrying you.'

'Worry? Hah, s.h.i.+on, are you still dreaming? I haven't been worried even a teeny―'

'You were worried about us, right?'

'Idiot.'

He wanted to have that sort of conversation with them. He wanted to exchange words with them. I... I'm actually, seriously, praying that you guys will survive, and that you guys will come back still living. I won't pray to G.o.d. I won't cling to Him. I'll pray to myself, and cling to myself. I'll do whatever I can push myself to manage. Without ever giving up... I'll keep on believing in myself and in you guys.

Isn't that what praying is, Nezumi?

Getsuyaku saw Inukas.h.i.+'s smile, and drew his chin back. So it didn't go as well as with Nezumi. Go figure. There was probably something awkward about it. And that had made Getsuyaku feel apprehensive.

Inukas.h.i.+ cleared his throat, and pursed his lips.

”Isn't that nice. Congratulations. Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask you something as idiotic as your life in exchange for pay. It's an easy job. Very easy. But it's also something only you can do. That's why it's worth one gold coin.”

”It's easy, but worth one gold coin,” Getsuyaku repeated suspiciously.

”I told you, it's something only you could do. I have no choice but to cling to you, Getsuyaku-san. Really. Only you can do it. And I know you'd be able to do it.”

Getsuyaku's face relaxed very slightly.

Only you can do it.

And you would be able to do it.

You had to tickle his pride. Caress him gently with words. It would no doubt soothe his battered and stinging self-respect.

”I'm begging you. Work with me, Getsuyaku-san.”

”It's not that easy... what are you saying I have to do?”

”I want you to send the cleaning robots haywire.”

”Huh?”

”You monitor the cleaning robots as well as doing waste disposal, don't you?”

”Ah―well, yeah. Monitoring goes as far as me pressing the control switch on the robots that are on standby, though. The robots start moving on their own, and commence cleaning. I'm only in charge of monthly tune-ups.”

”When's the next tune-up?”

”In a week.”

”Couldn't you make it tomorrow?”

”Tomorrow? Tomorrow is the Holy Celebration.”

”It is, isn't it? It's a holiday in No. 6.”

”It―it's a holiday, which means most workers are off... including me.”

”You don't get the day off,” Inukas.h.i.+ replied. ”You told me before yourself. You only have three days off a month, and even the Holy Celebration isn't part of that. You were mumbling complaints about it.”

”Well―B-but...”

”It should be easy. You come up with some excuse like you're noticing something weird in their movements, and push the maintenance a week earlier. That's all there is to it.”

”No, there's no way―”

”You could do it. You must've had a lot of similar cases in the past.” s.h.i.+on had told him once.

”Cleaning robots are actually required to perform more complicated motions than you'd expect. If they were like Ippo and the rest―(here Inukas.h.i.+ had unwittingly blurted out a question as to what Ippo was. He was exasperated to hear it was the robot's name. Supposedly s.h.i.+on's dead colleague had named him. Said he named them Ippo, Niho, and Sampo. One-step, Two-step, and Three-step. Hah, I can't believe how placid this guy was. He had found it funny that the airheaded boy even called the robots' names lovingly, like he did to the mice)―and only had to clean the park, they would only have to make relatively simple movements, because there's no strict sorting of trash. But they're operating inside a building, and not the average household either: you've got trash from various sections all coming together. One simple type of movement isn't gonna be enough. The type of trash and how soiled it is is going to vary according to what section it comes from, so I'm pretty sure the mechanisms are much more complicated too.”

”Which means it needs meticulous maintenance. And you can't rule out them breaking down.”

That was Nezumi's line, if I remember. And s.h.i.+on had nodded.

”Judging from my experience, I'm pretty sure they experience a lot of petty trouble. Their distinguis.h.i.+ng functions decline, or their movements turn sluggish, or something like that.”

”I see.”

Then Nezumi put on that wan smile of his, and glanced at me. It wasn't a gaze I liked. It was a meaningful glance, and somewhat suggestive. Nothing good ever comes out of him making eyes like that. I broke eye contact in a hurry. It was already too late, though.

Back then, I didn't understand fully what his gaze meant. Now I know. 'Inukas.h.i.+, this is your chance to s.h.i.+ne. It's a key role. Play it well.'

I know. You just watch, Nezumi. I'll pull it off so well, it'll blow your hammy acting away.

”I heard the cleaning robots break down a lot. Am I wrong?”

Getsuyaku knitted his brow. He answered grudgingly. ”Well, it doesn't happen that often.”

”So what about speeding up the maintenance day, hm? It's not unnatural at all.”

”Well, I mean... it's not something I can't do, but...”

Inukas.h.i.+ had to keep himself from bursting out laughing. This guy is way too truthful.

He found it hilarious that Getsuyaku couldn't help giving him straight answers, even though he was supposed to be apprehensive towards Inukas.h.i.+. But this wasn't the time to be laughing, and he didn't have the concentration to spare. Inukas.h.i.+ set his jaw. He had to pull this man onto their side, even if he had to take advantage of the man's straight-laced and honest nature.

”If you can't not do it, it means you can, right, Getsuyaku-san?”

”Scheduling the maintenance earlier isn't... well, it isn't impossible. But what do you mean by making the robots go haywire?”

”Just that. I want you to do a little rigging so that it does the opposite of cleaning.”

”Opposite?”

”Make it spit out trash, all the trash that it's acc.u.mulated in itself. And I want you to mix this in with it.”

Inukas.h.i.+ took out a jar with a small capsule inside, and showed it to him.

”What's this?”

”It's nothing dangerous, you can relax. It just releases a bit of an odour. It's not even that strong. This capsule starts melting when it touches the air. Very gradually, though.”

”Why do I have to mix this in? Not to mention making the robot spit it back out.”

”It's a prank.” Inukas.h.i.+ shrugged, and gave a show of chuckling. But he didn't find it funny at all. His whole body was damp with sweat. He was in no state to be laughing.

But he still did. He showed Getsuyaku a smile like one of a child devising a little prank. Getsuyaku wasn't laughing. His face made it clear that he wasn't believing a word of what Inukas.h.i.+ said.

Geez, talk about ingrained suspicions. He must be made up of a lot of Coward.

”If a robot starts spewing trash and odours everywhere, it's gonna cause a commotion. No mistake about that, right?” Inukas.h.i.+ continued nevertheless.

Getsuyaku nodded. His fingers were still clenched around the gold coin.