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would ordinarily strike you as odd； so it would never cross your mind
she was lying。 First of all； no one would ever suspect that such a pretty
little girl would lie about the most ordinary things。 I certainly didn't。
She told me tons of lies for six months before I had the slightest
inkling anything was wrong。 She lied abouteverything； and I never
suspected。 I know it sounds crazy。〃
〃What did she lie about？〃
〃When I say everything； I meaneverything。〃 Reiko gave a sarcastic
laugh。 〃When people tell a lie about something； they have to make up
a bunch of lies to go with the first one。 'Mythomania' is the word for it。
When the usual mythomaniac tells lies； they're usually the innocent
kind； and most people notice。 But not with that girl。 To protect herself；
she'd tell hurtful lies without batting an eyelid。 She'd use everything
she could get her hands on。 And she would lie either more or less
depending on who she was talking to。 To her mother or close friends
who would know straight away； she hardly ever lied； or if she had to
tell one； she'd be really； really careful to tell lies that wouldn't e
out。 Or if they did e out； she'd find an excuse or apologize in that
clingy voice of hers with tears pouring out of her beautiful eyes。 No
one could stay mad at her then。
〃I still don't know why she chose me。 Was I another victim to her； or a
source of salvation？ I just don't know。 Of course； it hardly matters
now。 Now that everything is over。 Now that I'm like this。〃
A short silence followed。
〃She repeated what her mother had told me； that she had been moved
when she heard me playing as she passed the house。 She had seen me
on the street a few times； too； and had begun to worship me。 She
actually used that word： 〃worship'。 It made me turn bright red。 I mean；
to be 〃worshipped' by such a beautiful little doll of a girl！ I don't think
it was an absolute lie； though。 I was in my thirties already； of course；
and I could never be as beautiful and bright as she was； and I had no
special talent； but I must have had something that drew her to me；
something that was missing in her； I suppose。 That must have been
what got her interested in me to begin with。 I believe that now；
looking back。 And I'm not boasting。〃
〃No； I think I know what you mean。〃
〃She had brought some music with her and asked if she could play for
me。 So I let her。 It was a Bach invention。 Her performance was 。。。
interesting。 Or should I say strange？ It just wasn't ordinary。 Of course
it wasn't polished。 She hadn't been going to a professional school； and
what lessons she had taken had been an on…and…off kind of thing； she
was very much self…taught。 Her sound was untrained。 She'd have been
rejected immediately at a music…school audition。 But she made it
work。 Although 90 per cent was just terrible； the other 10 per cent was
there： she made it sing： it was music。 And this was a Bach invention！
So I got interested in her。 I wanted to know what she was all about。
〃Needless to say； the world is full of kids who can play Bach far better
than she could。 Twenty times better。 But most of their performances
would have nothing to them。 They'd be hollow； empty。 This girl's
technique was bad； but she had that little bit of something that could
draw people … or draw me； at least … into her performance。 So I decided
it might be worthwhile to teach her。 Of course； retraining her at that
point to where she could bee a pro was out of the question。 But I
felt it might be possible to make her into the kind of happy pianist I
was then … and still am … someone who could enjoy making music for
herself。 This turned out to be an empty hope； though。 She was not the
kind of person who quietly goes about doing things for herself。 This
was a child who would make detailed calculations to use every means
at her disposal to impress other people。 She knew exactly what she
had to do to make people admire and praise her。 And she knew exactly
what kind of performance it would take to draw me in。 She had
calculated everything； I'm sure； and put everything she had into
practising the most important passages over and over again for my
benefit。 I can see her doing it。
〃Still； even now； after all of this came clear to me； I believe it was a
wonderful performance and I would feel the same chills down my
spine if I could hear it again。 Knowing all I know about her flaws； her
cunning and lies； I would still feel it。 I'm telling you； there are such
things in this world。〃
Reiko cleared her throat with a dry rasp and broke off。
〃So； did you take her as a pupil？〃 I asked。
〃Yeah。 One lesson a week。 Saturday mornings。 Saturday was a day off
at her school。 She never missed a lesson； she was never late； she was
an ideal pupil。 She always practised for her lessons。 After every
lesson； we'd have some cake and chat。〃
At that point； Reiko looked at her watch as if suddenly remembering
something。
〃Don't you think we should be getting back to the room？ I'm a little
worried about Naoko。 I'm sure you haven't forgotten about her now；
have you？〃
〃Of course not；〃 I laughed。 〃It's just that I was drawn into your story。〃
〃If you'd like to hear the rest； I'll tell it to you tomorrow。 It's a long
story … too long for one sitting。〃 〃You're a regular Scheherazade。〃
〃I know；〃 she said； joining her laughter with mine。 〃You'll never get
back to Tokyo。〃
We retraced our steps through the path in the woods and returned to
the flat。 The candles had been extinguished and the living room lights
were out。 The bedroom door was open and the lamp on the night table
was on； its pale light spilling into the living room。 Naoko sat alone on
the sofa in the gloom。 She had changed into a loose…fitting blue gown；
its collar pulled tight about her neck； her legs folded under her on the
sofa。 Reiko approached her and rested a hand on her crown。
〃Are you all right now？〃
〃I'm fine。 Sorry；〃 answered Naoko in a tiny voice。 Then she turned
towards me and repeated her apology。 〃I must have scared you。〃
〃A little；〃 I said with a smile。
〃e here；〃 she said。 When I sat down next to her； Naoko； her legs
still folded； leaned towards me until her face was nearly touching my
ear； as though she were about to share a secret with me。 Then she
planted a soft kiss by my ear。
〃Sorry；〃 she said once more； this time directly into my ear； her voice
subdued。 Then she moved away from me。
〃Sometimes；〃 she said； 〃I get so confused； I don't know what's
happening。〃
〃That happens to me all the time；〃 I said。
Naoko smiled and looked at me。
〃If you don't mind；〃 I said； 〃I'd like to hear more about you。 About
your life here。 What you do every day。 The people you meet。〃
Naoko talked about her daily routine in this place； speaking in short
but crystal clear phrases。 Wake up at six in the morning。 Breakfast in
the flat。 Clean out the aviary。 Then usually farm work。 She took care
of the vegetables。 Before or after lunch； she would have either an
hour…long session with her doctor or a group discussion。 In the
afternoon she could choose from among courses that might interest
her； outs