“Cleanliness is filthiness. Filthiness is cleanliness.[i]”

As Mori Reiko raised a big glass of wine in entrance of her and handed the alluring ruby-colored wine round, she muttered. It has been 30 years since she marked her spectacular debut as a thriller author for ladies throughout her enrollment at a prestigious ladies’s school, but even now in her fifties, her magnificence exhibited no signal of diminishing. She was really a middle-aged girl who possessed the qualities of a magnificence, mused Aoto Junko as she gazed on the girl’s profile.

“That’s a quote from the witch in ‘Macbeth,’ proper?”

Motojima Koichi, whose face was tanned from browsing with creases whereas seated subsequent to her, provided a smile to Mori Reiko. Since he was the chief editor of the Tobishima retailer, a serious publishing firm, and was the primary editor in command of Mori Reiko, being invited to the feast celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of her profession as a author was unsurprising. Nonetheless, the sight that Motojima solid in the direction of her conveyed a a lot deeper feeling than that.

“Sure. That line is extraordinarily vital to me. Past being the essence of thriller, can or not it’s handed on to an actual particular person?”

Even Mori Reiko will reply together with her signature smile, the sort that she solely reveals to these whom she really cares about. Come to consider it, about 20 years in the past, a double affair between Motojima and Mori Reiko made headlines in a weekly journal.

Ought to they’ve certainly been assembly secretly with different events, it will have garnered a considerable quantity of consideration, owing to their placing aesthetics. Regardless of their agency denial of the allegations, the pair later divorced. It might be doable that the false information drove a rift between the married couple, however it might even be true that each events have been engaged in infidelity. As they exchanged glances, it appeared as if which may have been the case.

“If I recall appropriately, it was a very long time in the past that I used to be on stage on the Imperial Theater. And I performed the position of Macbeth. Though I discovered the particular make-up of the three witches fairly macabre and compelling, I couldn’t fairly grasp the which means of the traces.”

It was actor Kawai Masahito who mentioned this. He was the one son of Mori Reiko’s deceased sister and was now her sole blood relative. His tall stature and delightful options had drawn consideration in his youthful days, however in recent times he has been showing much less and fewer in motion pictures and TV exhibits. When considered up shut, it was troublesome to differentiate his darkish circles and poor complexion below the eyes, however maybe it was Mori Reiko’s thoughtfulness that they have been nonetheless preserving in contact.

“The which means of that quote is, it’s important to assess the essence of issues, proper? Even when the looks seems to be good, it doesn’t indicate that what’s inside is gorgeous as nicely.”

Kumakura Shogo glanced at Motojima whereas saying in a persistent tone. Junko puzzled why he was invited right here. Whereas he had no youngsters, he was the previous husband of Mori Reiko, and he should have harbored disagreeable emotions in the direction of Motojima. She vacillated if this was the results of a battle between his sense of pleasure as an internist who owned a big hospital and his sense of inferiority because of his look, harking back to a sleazy mole, or maybe he was subtly shifting backwards and forwards between conceitedness and condescension.

“…I had assumed it was Shakespeare’s astonishment about baseball,” Enomoto Kei uttered a weird comment.

Junko furrowed her forehead. Even by simply sitting right here, she felt misplaced, but she had no concept what he was speaking about. It was Junko who had introduced Enomoto to the mountain villa on the request of Mori Reiko, who hoped to be launched to an professional in crime prevention because of the priceless artwork assortment within the villa.

“What do you imply by baseball? Roughly talking, in Shakespeare’s period, baseball hasn’t existed but,” Kawai requested with a vacant look on his face.

“Truthful is foul, and foul is truthful.”

The one who answered in a low, clear baritone was Tokizane Genki. He was Mori Reiko’s present husband, a thriller author who had gained recognition in some circles. Along with his brown corduroy jacket with elbow pads, he possessed the presence of a correct author, however his eyes behind Wellington glasses scarcely blinked, creating him a peculiar, unsettling vibe when he glanced again.

“I didn’t anticipate you to know the unique textual content, Enomoto. Certainly, in the event you translate ‘truthful’ and ‘foul’ in katakana as they’re, it appears like baseball. By nature, Shakespeare’s a cynical particular person.”

When Junko interrupted, Mori Reiko set free fun.

“Isn’t everybody that gathered right here tonight the identical? It’s a night get together for twisted individuals. However there’s no baseball right here, irrespective of how a lot you need to play. Cleanliness is filthiness. It’s a clever saying that applies to every part on this planet.”

“That’s proper. Clear is gorgeous,” Junko responded.

Hikijii Saburo, who was seated in a wheelchair, erupted as if he may now not stand it.

“Wahaha! If that’s the case, does that imply all the ladies listed here are lovely!”

No person may type a second phrase, and solely Hikijii’s ludicrous laughter resounded by the spacious eating room.

Junko was bowled over. That wasn’t even a joke; it was simply downright disrespectful. To place it bluntly, there have been solely three ladies right here: Mori Rinko, her secretary Sasaki Natsumi, and herself. To not point out Mori Reiko, a sexy middle-aged girl, and herself, who can proudly declare to be one of the crucial placing ladies within the authorized career, there was Natsumi, who had a determine that may have been ok to be a mannequin. After which there was Yamanaka Ayaka, the servant… no less than, the outdated soiled geezer had no proper to name her soiled.

Among the many invited company this night, Hikijii was the one who was essentially the most sophisticated to know. From the requirements of Mori Reiko and Tokizane, he may be considered a senior thriller author, however it had been a very long time since he stopped writing, and within the first place, his profession achievements weren’t that exceptional.

“I simply observed that this grandfather clock has a functioning pendulum. The final time I got here right here, it was damaged and didn’t transfer, proper?”

Maybe in an effort to fix the unusual ambiance, Kawai pointed to a classic corridor clock on the wall within the eating room. It confirmed 7:29 p.m.

“I had it repaired. There have been no extra alternative elements, so I needed to have it mounted, and the associated fee was outrageously excessive.”

Mori Reiko placed on a reluctant face.

“However I feel it was nicely value it. It was made by Gustav Becker and was custom-made 120 years in the past. Though the time sign is turned off as it’s too loud,” Tokizane added boastfully. Apparently, a corridor clock over two meters excessive could be known as a grandfather clock, however in an house, such a clock would most likely be caught to the ceiling.

Contemplating the beautiful carvings, ivory inlays, and different luxurious decorations, the unique consumer should have been both an aristocrat or a rich man.

“However why do you want one other clock subsequent to it?” Enomoto inquired, having observed the clock.

On the shelf subsequent to the grandfather clock was an old style yellow plastic flap clock. Its energy plug was inserted into the socket on the wall, and just like the grandfather clock, the clock was working at 7:29.

Junko was reminded of how she used to have an alarm clock like this when she was in elementary college.

Two flapping plates moved and it turned 7:30. Junko casually checked her watch, however there was solely a distinction of 4 or 5 seconds.

“They use one other clock to test if the grandfather clock is working in the proper method.”

Mori Reiko gave Tokizane a disgusted look.

“There isn’t a sense in being so specific about accuracy, and since this particular person has a big assortment of clocks, shouldn’t they select one that’s extra presentable?”

“Showa-era retro clocks are fairly interesting too. Nicely, all of the clocks I’ve collected are low cost ones like this. Since Reiko’s assortment is of museum high quality, please check out it afterward.”

Junko glanced at Enomoto in disbelief. It couldn’t be that that was what he was after, may it?

“But when we’re going to make use of the right time as a reference, shouldn’t we use the newest clock? One thing just like the radio clock that hangs within the corridor.”

When Motojima mentioned this, Mori Reiko raised a frown.

“I don’t prefer it. Do it’s important to say that too? I hate that kind of factor.”

Even Junko concurred. The design was inorganic and plain, inflicting her to marvel why it was hanging right here in the mean time she laid eyes on it. Regardless of how she considered it, it was incompatible with Mori Reiko’s model.

“The corridor is dealing with the backyard terrace on the south facet, and I can obtain the usual radio wave completely, but it doesn’t attain right here. I’ve the identical radio clock in my research as within the corridor, however the sensitivity of this clock just isn’t as sturdy because the one within the corridor, maybe because of the window on the north facet… I’m contemplating hanging a extra aesthetic clock within the corridor sooner or later.”

Tokizane scratched his head as he tried to justify himself.

“I’m not solely speaking in regards to the design. Why do you even want a radio clock in a mountainous space like this? Even quartz clocks are superfluous. You’re not a prisoner of an obsessive-compulsive urge to consistently need to right the time to an correct time.”

“Oh pricey. Though I knew that digital clocks didn’t fit your nature, I didn’t assume you disliked them that a lot… I perceive.” 

“There’s an Anton Schneider clock within the place, I’ll cling it up tomorrow.”

“That is lame. Mori is correct.”

As soon as extra, Hikijii intervened.

“Since you’re residing in such a secluded Shangri-La, why do you need to be certain by time? Do you need to really feel as if each second is a countdown to demise?”

Mori Reiko’s mountain residence was situated on high of a mountain within the suburbs of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, the place there have been no energy, water, gasoline, or phone traces. It was a uncommon event for Hikijii to offer a constructive response.

“…However I prefer to see the clock ticking.”

With fast discretion, Sasaki Natsumi interrupted.

“The second hand of a clock shifting is type of like a residing creature’s coronary heart beating, isn’t it? I used to be completely satisfied when the grandfather clock sprang again into motion too.”

“Hmph, don’t you already know the well-known phrase, ‘This thumping within the chest is the sound of footsteps of the demise god’?”

Hikijii began to say one thing odd.

“No, that is the primary time I’ve ever heard of it.”

“You’re uninformed, isn’t {that a} line from my masterpiece, ‘Seikilos Epitaph’?”

How would we presumably know, Junko murmured in her thoughts.

“I had written that line in my novel in 1965. However after I learn ‘The Time of the Elephant, the Time of the Rat’ in recent times, I discovered that almost all residing creatures, whether or not elephants or rats, pulsate about the identical variety of occasions throughout their lives.”

“I learn that too. I instantly considered ‘Seikilos Epitaph,’ and I used to be reminded as soon as once more of Hikijii’s foresight,” Tokizane mentioned.

She thought he was mendacity. She will’t assist however marvel why individuals revere Hikijii a lot.

“Mmm. In different phrases, the center is nothing however a clock that ticks away the remainder of a person’s life. The guts serves the really ironic position of concurrently sustaining individuals’s life and counting their remaining life expectancy.”

The truth that he may be so cynical was, in spite of everything, the rationale he was a author, and quite the opposite, she was impressed.

“My coronary heart is now outfitted with an actual clock, because of the newest expertise.”

“If my reminiscence serves me proper, they put a pacemaker in you, didn’t they?” Mori Reiko remarked sympathetically.

“That’s proper. When the pendulum of Grandpa’s coronary heart was about to cease, the electrical clock would come to life with a twitch. Nonetheless, I’d quickly be confronted by a grave risk… Hey there, miss.”

Hikijii immediately turned to Junko.

“Eh? What’s it?”

It had been a very long time since she had been known as “miss,” however it didn’t make her really feel unhealthy.

“Don’t seem like a pigeon hit by a peashooter. I name everybody indiscriminately, from younger ladies to younger ladies, middle-aged ladies, and even outdated ladies.”

“…I see.”

As for the place she was categorized, the lady in query was not going to ask.

“I caught a glimpse of it earlier, you have been carrying a cellphone or a sensible cellphone of some type. Would you thoughts if I check out it?”

“Positive.”

Junko drew her iPhone out of her purse.

“After all, I assume you may have it turned off?”

“Eh? No, it’s nonetheless on.”

“What? So that you have been completely oblivious to the hazard of radio waves emitted by such gadgets inflicting pacemakers to malfunction?”

“No, I’m conscious of that however.”

Within the first place, she had by no means heard of such incidents, and since cell phone radio waves had been attenuated in recent times, there needs to be no hazard so long as the machine was stored no nearer than three centimeters from the affected person’s physique.

“…Nicely, after I checked out it earlier, it was out of vary, so I believed it was okay.”

Inadvertently, she made a poor excuse.

“As a result of it’s out of vary? Huh. So that you assume it’s okay? What the hell!” Hikijii solid a penetrating look. “The cellphone is all the time making an attempt to determine contact with the bottom station, due to this fact the sign is at its strongest when it’s out of vary. Didn’t you already know that?”

Junko braced herself.

“Excuse me. I’ll disconnect now.”

Junko turned off her cellphone in a rush. Whereas Hikijii’s gaze swept over everybody, all of the invited company pulled out their cell telephones or smartphones and pressed the ability button whereas trying down.

“To start with, cell telephones are the irreconcilable enemy of us thriller writers. With the arrival of cell telephones, thriller tips have grow to be constrained. I needed to discard three concepts that may have been nice masterpieces definitely! On high of that, readers are so disadvantaged by costly cellphone and knowledge fees that they seldom buy books anymore!”

Hikijii’s voice rose in quantity.

“Even when they’ve an pressing have to make a name, these fidgeting with their cell telephones in public areas are not any higher than monkeys reducing Chinese language onion. The worst of all is the sensible telephones. What’s so sensible about it? Apart from the machine, the idiocy of the people who find themselves managed by it’s unbelievable. Smartphones ought to instantly be renamed ‘naked stupidity’!”

Junko was shocked. Why was this eccentric outdated man invited to the get together?

“Folks obsessive about sensible telephones, or relatively silly telephones, are squandering useful time on apps designed solely to kill time! What’s most insupportable are the insolent people who find themselves immersed in silly telephones, whereas trying down within the presence of others! What may very well be a extra main insult? It’s tantamount to declaring to my face that you’re a bore and unworthy of even a cursory look!”

Hikijii’s lion’s roar lasted for a full ten minutes, and all of them may do nothing however pay attention with their heads hanging down. Even Yamanaka Ayaka, who had introduced within the desserts from the kitchen on a wagon, stood nonetheless as if overwhelmed by Hikijii’s fiery angle. Nonetheless, it was lucky that the apple pie made with Ezashi apples appeared to have struck a chord with Hikijii, and he immediately turned docile.

“Nicely then, everybody, let’s transfer to the corridor.”

When the supper was over and Mori Reiko mentioned so, Junko was relieved. When she fastidiously assessed Hikijii’s place as she entered the corridor from the eating room with the intention of sitting as far-off from him as doable, she was known as out by the Tokizane, the final particular person to return out.

“Aoto. I’m really sorry about that. Relating to Hikijii’s allergy to cell telephones, I ought to have talked about it earlier. It was an oversight on my half.”

“That’s superb, however… have the 2 of you all the time been near Hikijii?”

“Shut? With Hikijii?”

Tokizane as standard didn’t blink.

“That might be a redundancy.”

Upon coming into the corridor, she turned and noticed the radio clock that had been the topic of dialog. The time had simply turned 8:00 p.m.

T/N:

[i]  “Cleanliness is filthiness. Filthiness is cleanliness” is the Japanese saying of “Truthful is foul, and foul is truthful” from Shakespeare’s work, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”