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〃Isn't it precious？〃 she gushed。 She let me hold it。 The warm； little ball
of fur cringed in my arms； twitching its nose。
〃Don't worry； he won't hurt you；〃 she said to the rabbit； stroking its
head with her finger and smiling at me。 It was such a radiant smile；
without a trace of shadow； that I couldn't help smiling myself。 And
what about Naoko last night？ I wondered。 I knew for certain that it
had been the real Naoko and not a dream： she had definitely taken her
clothes off and shown her naked body to me。
Reiko whistled a lovely rendition of 〃Proud Mary〃 as she stuffed a
plastic bag with the debris they had gathered and tied the opening。 I
helped them carry the tools and feed bag to the shed。
〃Morning is my favourite time of day；〃 said Naoko。 〃It's l ike
everything's starting out fresh and new。 I begin to get sad around noon
time； and I hate it when the sun goes down。 I live with those same
feelings clay aster day。
〃And while you're living with those feelings； you youngsters get old
just like me；〃 said Reiko with a smile。 〃You're thinking about how it's
morning now or night and the next thing you know； you're old。〃
〃But you like getting old；〃 said Naoko。
〃Not really；〃 said Reiko。 〃But I sure don't wish I was young again。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked。
〃Because it's such a pain in the neck！〃 she said。 Then she tossed her
broom in and closed the door of the shed； whistling 〃Proud Mary〃 all
the while。
Back at the flat； the women changed their boots for tennis shoes and
said they were going to the farm。 Reiko suggested I stayed behind
with a book or something because the work would be no fun to watch
and they would be doing it as part of a group。 〃And while you're
waiting you can wash the pile of dirty underwear we left by the sink；〃
she added。
〃You're kidding；〃 I said； taken aback。
〃Of course I am；〃 she laughed。 〃You're so sweet。 Isn't he； Naoko？〃
〃He really is；〃 said Naoko； laughing with her。
〃I'll work on my German；〃 I said with a sigh。
〃Yeah； do your homework like a good boy；〃 said Reiko。
〃We'll be back before lunch。〃
The two of them went out tittering。 I heard the footsteps and voices of
a number of people walking by downstairs。
I went into the bathroom and washed my face again； then borrowed a
nail clipper and trimmed my nails。 For a bathroom that was being
shared by two women； its contents were incredibly simple。 Aside from
some neatly arranged bottles
of cleansing cream and lip moisturizer and sun block； there was
almost nothing that could be called cosmetics。 When I finished
trimming my nails； I made myself some coffee and drank it at the
kitchen table； German book open。 Stripping down to a T…shirt in the
sun…filled kitchen； I had set about memorizing all the forms in a
grammar chart when I was struck by an odd feeling。 It seemed to me
that the longest imaginable distance separated irregular German verb
forms from this kitchen table。
The two women came back from the farm at 11。30； took turns in the
shower； and changed into fresh clothes。 The three of us went to the
dining hall for lunch； then walked to the front gate。 This time the
guardhouse had a man on duty。 He was sitting at his desk； enjoying a
lunch that must have been brought to him from the dining hall。 The
transistor radio on the shelf was playing a sentimental old pop tune。
He waved to us with a friendl y 〃Hi〃 as we approached； and we
hello'ed him back。
Reiko explained to him that we were going to walk outside the
grounds and return in three hours。
〃Great；〃 he said。 〃You're lucky with the weather。 Just stay away from
the valley road； though。 It got washed out in that big rain。 No problem
anywhere else。〃
Reiko wrote her name and Naoko's in a register along with the date
and time。
〃Enjoy yourselves；〃 said the guard。 〃And take care。〃
〃Nice guy；〃 I said。
〃He's a little strange up here；〃 said Reiko； touching her head。
He had been right about the weather； though。 The sky was a fresh…
swept blue； with only a trace of white cloud clinging to the dome of
heaven like a thin streak of test paint。 We walked beside the low stone
wall of Ami Hostel for a time； then moved away to climb a steep；
narrow trail in single file。 Reiko led the way； with Naoko in the
middle and me bringing up the rear。 Reiko climbed with the confident
stride of one who knew every stretch of every mountain in the area。
We concentrated on walking； with hardly a word among us。 Naoko
wore blue jeans and a white blouse and carried her jacket in one hand。
I watched her long； straight hair swaying right and left where it met
her shoulders。 She would glance back at me now and then； smiling
when our eyes met。 The trail continued upwards so far that it was
almost dizzying； but Reiko's pace never slackened。 Naoko hurried to
keep up with her； wiping the sweat from her face。 Not having indulged
in such outdoor activities for some time； I found myself running short
of breath。
〃Do you do this a lot？〃 I asked Naoko。
〃Maybe once a week；〃 she answered。 〃Having a tough time？〃
〃Kind of；〃 I said。
〃We're almost there；〃 said Reiko。 〃This is about two…thirds of the way。
e on； you're a boy； aren't you？〃 〃Yeah； but I'm out of shape。〃
〃Playing with girls all the time；〃 muttered Naoko； as if to herself。
I wanted to answer her； but I was too winded to speak。 Every now and
then； red birds with tufts on their heads would flit across our path；
brilliant against the blue sky。 The ields around us were filled with f
white and blue and yellow flowers； and bees buzzed everywhere。
Moving ahead one step at a time； I thought of nothing but the scene
passing before my eyes。
The slope gave out after another ten minutes； and we gained a level
plateau。 We rested there； wiping the sweat off； catching
our breath and drinking from our water bottles。 Reiko found a leaf and
used it to make a whistle。
The trail entered a gentle downward slope amid tall； waving thickets
of plume grass。 We walked on for some 15 minutes before passing
through a village。 There were no signs of humanity here； and the
dozen or so houses were all in varying states of decay。 Waist…high
grass grew among the houses； and dry； white gobs of pigeon
droppings clung to holes in the walls。 Only the pillars survived in the
case of one collapsed building； while others looked ready to be lived
in as soon as you opened the storm shutters。 These dead； silent houses
pressed against either side of the road as we slipped through。
〃People lived in this village until seven or eight years ago；〃 Reiko
informed me。 〃This was farmland around here。 But they all cleared
out。 Life was just too hard。 They'd be trapped when the snow piled up
in the winter。 And the soil isn't particularly fertile。 They could make a
better living in the city。〃
〃What a waste；〃 I said。 〃Some of the houses look perfectly usable。〃
〃Some hippies tried living here at one point； but they gave up。
Couldn't take the winters。〃
A little beyond the village we came to a big fenced area that seemed to
be a pasture。 Far away on the other side； I caught sight of a few horses
grazing。 We followed the fence line； and