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“Shouldn’t you be at school?” I asked.

She remained silent for a moment. Then she said: “I don’t go to school”

“But all children must go to school. Don’t you like to go?”

“I don’t go to school."

“But hasn’t your mother sent you to a school here?”

Mariko did not reply. Instead, she took a step away from me.

“Careful,” I said. “You’ll fall into the water. It’s very slippery.”

She continued to stare up at me from the bottom of the slope. I could see her small shoes lying in the mud beside her. Her bare feet, like her shoes, were covered in mud.

“I was just speaking with your mother.” I said, smiling at her reassuringly. “She said it would be perfectly all right if you came and waited for her at my house. It’s just over there, that building there. You could come and try some cakes I made yesterday. Would you like that, Mariko-San? And you could tell me all about yourself."

Mariko continued to watch me carefully. Then, without taking her eyes off me, she crouched down and picked up her shoes. At first, I took this as a sign that she was about to follow me. But then as she continued to stare up at me, I realized she was holding her shoes in readiness to run away.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said, with a nervous laugh. “I’m a friend of your mother’s."

As far as I remember, that was all that took place between us that morning. I had no wish to alarm the child further, and before long I turned and made my way back across the wasteground. The child’s response had, it is true, upset me somewhat; for in those days, such small things were capable of arousing in me every kind of misgiving about motherhood. I told myself the episode was insignificant, and that in any case, further opportunities to make friends with the little girl were bound to present themselves over the coming days. As it was, I did not speak to Mariko again until one afternoon a fortnight or so later.

I had never been inside the cottage prior to that afternoon, and I had been rather surprised when Sachiko had asked me in. In fact, I had sensed immediately that she had done so with something in mind, and as it turned out, I was not mistaken.

The cottage was tidy, but I remember a kind of stark shabbiness about the place; the wooden beams that crossed the ceiling looked old and insecure, and a faint odour of dampness lingered everywhere. At the front of the cottage, the main partitions had been left wide open to allow the sunlight in across the veranda. For all that, much—of the place remained in shadow.

Mariko was lying in the corner furthest from the sunlight. I could see something moving beside her in the shade, and when I came closer, saw a large cat curled up on the tatami.

“Hello, Mariko-San,” I said. “Don’t you remember me?”

She stopped stroking the cat and looked up.

“We met the other day,” I went on. “Don’t you remember? You were by the river."

The little girl showed no signs of recognition. She looked at me fora while, then began to stroke her cat again. Behind me. I could hear Sachiko preparing the tea on the open stove at the centre of the mom. I was about to go over to her, when Mariko said suddenly: “She’s going to have kittens."

“Oh really? How nice.”

“Do you want a kitten?"

“That’s very kind of you, Mariko-San. We’ll see. But I’m sure they’ll all find nice homes.”

“Why don’t you take a kitten?” the child said. “The other woman said she’d take one."

“We’ll see, Mariko-San. Which other lady was this?”

“The other woman. The woman from across the river. She said she’d take one.”

“But I don’t think anyone lives over there, Mariko-San. It’s just trees and forest over there.”

“She said she’d take me to her house. She lives across the river. I didn’t go with her.”

I looked at the child for a second. Then a thought struck me and I laughed.

“But that was me, Mariko-San. Don’t you remember? I asked you to come to my house while your mother was away in the town.”

Mariko looked up at me again. “Not you,” she said. “The other woman. The woman from across the river. She was here last night. While Mother was away.”

“Last night? While your mother was away?"

“She said she’d take me to her house, but i didn’t go with her. Because it was dark. She said we could take the lantern with us”—she gestured towards a lantern hung on the wall—“but I didn’t go with her. Because it was dark."

Behind me, Sachiko had got to her feet and was looking at her daughter. Mariko became silent, then turned away and began once more to stroke her cat.

“Let’s go out on the veranda," Sachiko said to me. She was holding the tea things on a tray. “It’s cooler out there.”

We did as she suggested, leaving Mariko in her corner. From the veranda, the river itself was hidden from view, but I could see where the ground sloped down and the mud became wetter as it approached the water. Sachiko seated herself on a cushion and began to pour the tea.

‘The place is alive with stray cats,” she said. “I’m not so optimistic about these kittens."

“Yes, there are so many strays,” I said. “It’s such a shame. Did Mariko find her cat around here somewhere?”

“No, we brought that creature with us. I’d have preferred to leave it behind myself, but Mariko wouldn’t hear of it."

“You brought it all the way here?”

“Oh no. We’ve been living in Nagasaki for almost a year now. On the other side of the city."

“Oh really? I didn’t realize that. You lived there with…with friends?”

Sachiko stopped pouring and looked at me, the teapot held in both hands. I saw in her gaze something of that amused expression with which she had observed me on that earlier occasion.

“I’m afraid you’re quite wrong, Etsuko,” she said, eventually. Then she began to pour the tea again. “We were staying at my uncle’s house.”

“I assure you, I was merely…”

“Yes, of course. So there’s no need to get embarrassed, is there?” She laughed and passed me my teacup. “I’m sorry, Etsuko, I don’t mean to tease you. As a matter of fact, I did have something to ask you. A little favour.” Sachiko began to pour tea into her own cup, and as she did so, a more serious air seemed to enter her manner. Then she put down the teapot and looked at me. “You see, Etsuko, certain arrangements I made have not gone as planned. As a result, I find myself in need of money. Not a great deal, you understand Just a small amount."

“I quite understand," I said, lowering my voice. “It must be very difficult for you, with Mariko-San to think of.”

“Etsuko, may task a favour of you?”

I bowed. “I have some savings of my own” I said, almost in a whisper. “I’d be pleased to be of some assistance.”

To my surprise, Sachiko laughed loudly. “You’re very kind,” she said. “But I didn’t in fact want you to lend me money. I had something else in mind. You mentioned something the other day. A friend of yours who ran a noodle shop.”

“Mrs. Fujiwara, you mean?”

“You were saying she may want an assistant. A small job like that would be very useful tome.”

“Well,”I said,certainly “I could enquire if you wish.”

“That would be very kind." Sachiko looked at me for a moment. “But you look rather unsure about it, Etsuko,”

“Not at all. I’ll enquire when I next see her. But I was just wondering”—I lowered my voice again—‘who would look after your daughter during the day?”

“Mariko? She could help at the noodle shop. She’s quite capable of being useful.”

“I’m sure she is. But you see, I’m not certain how Mrs. Fujiwara would feel. After all, Mariko should in reality beat school during the day.”

“I assure you, Etsuko, Mariko won’t be the slightest problem. Besides, the schools are closing next week. And I’ll make sure she wont get in the way. You can rest assured on that.”

I bowed again. “I’ll enquire when I next see her.”

“I’m very grateful to you.” Sachiko took a sip from her teacup. “In fact, perhaps I could ask you to see your Mend within the next few days.”

‘I'll try."

“You’re so kind.”

We fell silent for a moment. My attention had been caught earlier by Sachiko’s teapot; it appeared a fine piece

of craftsmanship made from a pale china. The teacup! now held in my hand was of the same delicate material. As we sat drinking our tea, I was struck, not for the first time, by the odd contrast of the tea-set alongside the shabbiness of the cottage and the muddy ground beneath the veranda. When I looked up, I realized Sachiko had been watching me. “I’m used to good crockery, Etsuko,” she said. “You see, I don’t always live like”—she waved a hand towards the cottag—“like this, Of course, I don’t mind a little discomfort. But about some things, I’m still rather discerning.”

I bowed, saying nothing. Sachiko, also, began to study her teacup. She continued to examine it, turning it carefully in her hands. Then suddenly she said: “I suppose it’s true to say! stole this tea-set. Still, I don’t suppose my uncle will miss it much.”

I looked at her, somewhat surprised. Sachiko put the teacup down in front of her and waved away some flies.

“You were living at your uncle’s house, you say?’ I asked. She nodded slowly. “A most beautiful house. With a pond in the garden. Very different from these present surroundings.”

For a moment, we both glanced towards the inside of the cottage. Mariko was lying in her corner, just as we had left her, her back turned towards us. She appeased to be talking quietly to her cat.

“I didn’t realize”, I said, when neither of us had spoken for some time, “that anyone lived across the river”

Sachiko turned and glanced towards the trees on the far bank. “No, I haven’t seen anyone there”

“But your babysitter. Mariko was saying she came from over there."

“I have no babysitter, Etsuko. I know nobody here.”

“Mariko was telling me about some lady."

“Please don’t pay any attention”

“You mean she was just making it up?”

For a brief moment, Sachiko seemed to be considering something. Then she said: ‘Yes. She was lust making it up.”

“Well, I suppose children often do things like that.”

Sachiko nodded. “When you become a mother, Etsuko,” she said, smiling, “you’ll need to get used to such things.”

We drifted on to other subjects then. Those were early days in our friendship and we talked mainly of little things. It was not until one morning some weeks later that I heard Mariko mention again a woman who had approached her.

Chapter Two

In those days, returning to the Nakagawa district still provoked in me mixed emotions of sadness and pleasure. It is a hilly area, and climbing again those steep narrow streets between the clusters of houses never failed to fill me with a deep sense of loss. Though not a place I visited on casual impulse, l was unable to stay away for long.

Calling on Mrs. Fujiwara amused in me much the same mixture of feelings; for she had been amongst my mother’s closest friends, a kindly woman with hair that was by then turning grey. Her noodle shop was situated in a busy side street; it had a concrete forecourt under the cover of an extended tool and it was there her customers ate, at the wooden tables and benches. She did a lot of trade with office workers during their lunch breaks and again on their way home, but at other times of the day the clientele became sparse.

I was a little anxious that afternoon, for it was the first time I had called at the shop since Sathiko had started to work there. I felt concerned on both their behalves—especially since I was not sure how genuinely Mrs. Fujiwara had wanted an assistant. It was a hot day, and the little side street was alive with people. I was glad to come into the shade.

Mrs. Fujiwara was pleased to see me. She sat me down at a table, then went to fetch some tea. Customers were few that afternoon—perhaps there were none, I do not remember—and Sachiko was not to be seen. When Mrs. Fujiwara came back, I asked her: “How is my friend getting along? Is she managing all right?”

“Your friend?” Mrs. Fujiwara looked over her shoulder towards the doorway of the kitchen. “She was peeling prawns. I expect shell be out soon." Then, as if on second thoughts, she got to her feet and walked a little way towards the doorway. “Sachiko-san,” she called. “Etsuko is here “I heard a voice reply from within.

As she sat down again, Mrs. Fujiwara reached over and touched my stomach. “It’s beginning to show now,” she said. “You must take good care from now on.”

“I don’t do a great deal anyway,” I said. “I lead a very easy life.”

“That’s good. I remember my first time, there was an earthquake, quite a large one. I was carrying Kazuo then. He came perfectly healthy though. Try not to worry too much, Etsuko.”

“I by not to.” I glanced towards the kitchen door. ‘Is my friend getting on well here?”

Mrs. Fujiwara followed my gaze towards the kitchen. Then she turned to me again and said: “I expect so. You’re good friends, are you?”

“Yes. I haven’t found many friends where we live. I’m very glad to have met Sachiko."

“Yes that was fortunate.” She sat there looking at me for several seconds. “Etsuko, you’re looking rather tired today.”

“I suppose I am." I laughed a little. “It’s only to be expected. I suppose.”

Yes, of course.” Mrs. Fujiwara kept looking into my face. “But I meant you looked a little—miserable."

“Miserable? I certainly don’t feel it. I’m just a little tired, but otherwise I’ve never been happier.”

‘That’s good. You must keep your mind on happy things now. Your child. And the future.”

“Yes, I will. Thinking about the child cheers me up.”

“Good.” She nodded, still keeping her gaze on me. “Your attitude makes all the difference. A mother can take all the physical care she likes, she needs a positive attitude to bring up a child.”

“Well, I’m certainly looking forward to it,” I said, with a laugh. A noise made me look towards the kitchen again but Sachiko was still not in sight.

“There’s a young Woman I see every week,” Mrs. Fujiwara went on. “She must be six or seven months pregnant now. I see her every time I go to visit the cemetery. I’ve never spoken to her, but she looks so sad, standing there with her husband. It’s a shame, a pregnant girl and her husband spending their Sundays thinking about the dead. I know they’re being respectful, but all the same, I think it’s a shame. They should be thinking about the future.”

“I suppose she finds it hard to forget."

“I suppose so. I feel sorry for her. But they should be thinking ahead now. That’s no way to bring a child into the world, visiting the cemetery every week."

“Perhaps not.”

“Cemeteries are no places for young people. Kazuo comes with me sometimes, but I never insist. It’s time he started looking ahead too.”

How is Kazuo?” I asked. “Is his work coming on well?”

“His work’s fine. He’s expecting to be promoted next month. But he needs to give other things a little thought. He won’t be young for ever.”