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intervals； was a row of two…storey wooden houses that had something
odd about them。 What made them look strange it's hard to say； but that
was the first thing I felt when I saw them。 My reaction was a lot like
what we feel when we see unreality painted in a pleasant way。 It
occurred to me that this was what you might get if Walt Disney did an
animated version of a Munch painting。 All the houses were exactly the
same shape and colour； nearly cubical； in perfect left …to…right
symmetry； with big front doors and lots of windows。 The road twisted
its way among them like the artificial practice course of a driving
school。 There was a well…manicured flowering shrubbery in front of
every house。 The place was deserted； and curtains covered all the
windows。
〃This is called Area C。 The women live here。 Us！ There are ten
houses； each containing four units； two people per unit。 That's 80
people all together； but at the moment there are only 32 of us。〃
〃Quiet； isn't it？〃
〃Well； there's nobody here now；〃 Reiko said。 〃I've been given special
permission to move around freely like this； but everyone else is off
pursuing their individual schedules。 Some are exercising； some are
gardening； some are in group therapy； some are out gathering wild
plants。 Each person makes up his or her own schedule。 Let's see；
what's Naoko doing now？ I think she was supposed to be working on
new paint and wallpaper。 I forget。 There are a few jobs like that that
don't finish till five。〃
Reiko walked into the building marked 〃C…7〃； climbed the stairs at the
far end of the hallway； and opened the door on the right； which was
unlocked。 She showed me around the flat； a pleasant； if plain； four…
room unit： living room； bedroom； kitchen； and bath。 It had no extra
furniture or unnecessary decoration； but neither was the place severe。
There was nothing special about it； but being there was kind of like
being with Reiko： you could relax and let the tension leave your body。
The living room had a sofa； a table； and a rocking chair。 Another table
stood in the kitchen。 Both tables had large ashtrays on them。 The
bedroom had two beds； two desks and a closet。 A small night table
stood between the beds with a reading lamp on top and a paperback
turned face down。 The kitchen had a small electric cooker that
matched the fridge and was equipped for simple cooking。
〃No bath； just a shower； but it's pretty impressive； wouldn't you say？
Bath and laundry facilities are munal。〃
〃It's almost too impressive。 My dorm room has a ceiling and a
window。〃
〃Ah； but you haven't seen the winters here；〃 said Reiko； touching my
back to guide me to the sofa and sitting down next to me。 〃They're
long and harsh。 Nothing but snow and snow and more snow
everywhere you look。 It gets damp and chills you to the bone。 We
spend the winter shovelling snow。 Mostly you stay inside where it's
warm and listen to music or talk or knit。 If you didn't have this much
space； you'd suffocate。 You'll see if you e here in the winter。〃
Reiko gave a deep sigh as if picturing wintertime； then folded her
hands on her knees。
〃This will be your bed；〃 she said； patting the sofa。 〃We'll
sleep in the bedroom； and you'll sleep here。 You should be all right；
don't you think？〃
〃I'm sure I'll be fine。〃
〃So； that settles it；〃 said Reiko。 〃We'll be back around five。 Naoko and
I both have things to do until then。 Do you mind staying here alone？〃
〃Not at all。 I'll study my German。〃
When Reiko left； I stretched out on the sofa and closed my eyes。 I lay
there steeping myself in the silence when； out of nowhere； I thought of
the time Kizuki and I went on a motorbike ride。 That had been
autumn； too； I realized。 Autumn how many years ago？ Yes； four。 I
recalled the smell of Kizuki's leather jacket and the racket made by
that red Yamaha 125cc bike。 We went to a spot far down the coast；
and came back the same evening； exhausted。 Nothing special
happened on the way； but I remembered it well。 The sharp autumn
wind moaned in my ears； and looking up at the sky； my hands
clutching Kizuki's jacket； I felt as if I might be swept into outer space。
I lay there for a long time； letting my mind wander from one memory
to another。 For some strange reason； lying in this room seemed to
bring back old memories that I had rarely if ever recalled before。
Some of them were pleasant； but others carried a trace of sadness。
How long did this go on？ I was so immersed in that torrent of memory
（and it was a torrent； like a spring gushing out of the rocks） that I
failed to notice Naoko quietly open the door and e in。 I opened my
eyes； and there she was。 I raised my head and looked into her eyes for
a time。 She was sitting on the arm of the sofa； looking at me。 At first I
thought she might be an image spun into existence by my own
memories。 But it was the real Naoko。
〃Sleeping？〃 she whispered。
〃No；〃 I said； 〃just thinking。〃 I sat up and asked； 〃How are you？〃
〃I'm good；〃 she said with a little smile like a pale； distant scene。 〃I
don't have much time； though。 I'm not supposed to be here now。 I just
got away for a minute； and I have to go back right away。 Don't you
hate my hair？〃
〃Not at all；〃 I said。 〃It's cute。〃 Her hair was in a simple schoolgirl
style； with one side held in place with a hairslide the way she used to
have it in the old days。 It suited her very well； as if she had always
worn it that way。 She looked like one of the beautiful little girls you
see in woodblock prints from the Middle Ages。
〃It's such a pain； I have Reiko cut it for me。 Do you really think it's
cute？〃
〃Really。〃
〃My mother hates it。〃 She opened the hairslide； let the hair hang
down； smoothed it with her fingers； and closed the hairslide again。 It
was shaped like a butterfly。
〃I wanted to see you alone before the three of us get together。 Not that
I had anything special to say。 I just wanted to see your face and get
used to having you here。 Otherwise； I'd have trouble getting to know
you again。 I'm so bad with people。〃
〃Well？〃 I asked。 〃Is it working？〃
〃A little；〃 she said； touching her hairslide again。 〃But time's up。 I've
got to go。〃
I nodded。
〃Toru；〃 she began； 〃I really want to thank you for ing to see me。 It
makes me very happy。 But if being here is any kind of burden to you；
you shouldn't hesitate to tell me so。 This is a special place； and it has a
special system； and some people can't get into it。 So if you feel like
that； please be honest and let me know。 I won't be crushed。 We're
honest with each other here。 We tell each other all kinds of things with
plete honesty。〃
〃I'll tell you；〃 I said。 〃I'll be honest。〃
Naoko sat down and leaned against me on the sofa。 When I put my
arm around her； she rested her head on my shoulder and pressed her
face to my neck。 She stayed like that for a time； almost as if she were
taking my temperature。 Holding her； I felt warm in the chest。 After a
short while； she stood up without saying a word and went out through
the door as quietly as she had e in。
With Naoko gone； I went to sleep on the sofa。 I hadn't intended to do
so； but I f