Death in Midsummer & Other Stories (18 page)

Then she rose and took from the closet a new white blanket and a waist cord. To prevent any derangement of her skirts, she wrapped the blanket about her waist and bound it there firmly with the cord.

Reiko sat herself on a spot about one foot distant from the lieutenant's body. Drawing the dagger from her sash, she examined its dully gleaming blade intently, and held it to her tongue.

The taste of the polished steel was slightly sweet.

Reiko did not linger. When she thought how the pain which had previously opened such a gulf between herself and her dying husband was now to become a part of her own experience, she saw before her only the joy of herself entering a realm her husband had already made his own. In her husband's agon-126

ized face there had been something inexplicable which she was seeing for the first time. Now she would solve that riddle. Reiko sensed that at last she too would be able to taste the true bitterness and sweetness of that great moral principle in which her husband believed. What had until now been tasted only faintly through her husband's example she was about to savour directly with her own tongue.

Reiko rested the point of the blade against the base of her throat. She thrust hard. The wound was only shallow. Her head blazed, and her hands shook uncontrollably. She gave the blade a strong pull sideways. A warm substance flooded into her mouth, and everything before her eyes reddened, in a vision of spouting blood. She gathered her strength and plunged the point of the blade deep into her throat.

Translated by Geoffrey W. Sargent

Kiyoko,
a dancer

Dealer in Antiques

Superintendent of Apartment House

Men A, C, E

Women B, D

A room in what is in fact a secondhand furniture shop, though it is so
filled with antiques - both Oriental and Occidental - that it might
more properly be called a museum. In the centre, a little to stage left,
an immense wardrobe hulks like a ghostly apparition - big enough,
one might suppose, to swallow up the whole world. The outline of a
bell is carved into the huge doors, and the wardrobe itself is covered
with a profusion of baroque ornamentation. Not surprisingly, the
other objects in the shop are quite eclipsed by such a prodigy; they
may therefore be represented merely on a backdrop.

Five chairs are placed here and there on the stage. On each sits a
prosperous-looking man or woman who is listening to the
DEALER

describing the wardrobe before which he stands. These five distinguished clients have come to today's auction by invitation.

DEALER: Would you kindly look this way ? We have here an item absolutely unique in East or West, in ancient or modern times, a wardrobe which transcends all normal practical use. The objects which we offer here are without exception the creations of artists who despised base considerations of utility, and their significance comes from the fact that you, ladies and gentlemen, are able to turn them to practical use. The average person is satisfied with standardized merchandise. When he buys a piece of furniture, it is just the same as when he buys a pet - he invariably
128

chooses one which suits his social position and which is perfectly familiar. This accounts for his taste in mass-produced tables and chairs, in television sets, and in electric washing machines.

You ladies and gentlemen, on the other hand, with your refined sensibilities and your aloofness from popular tastes, would not, I am sure, deign even to glance at a household pet -1 daresay you would infinitely prefer to buy a wild beast. You have before you an article utterly beyond the average man's comprehension, an article which, were it not for the elegance and boldness of your tastes, could never be appreciated.
[He points
at the wardrobe
.] Here, indeed, is the wild beast to which I referred.

MAN A : What's it made of?

DEALER: Pardon me!

MAN A: What kind of wood is it?

DEALER
[knocking on the wardrobe
]: The genuine and indisputable

- you can tell by the sound - the genuine and indisputable ma-hogany - Please excuse the abruptness of the question, but just for my information, could you kindly tell me approximately how many suits of clothes you own ?

MAN A: One hundred and fifty.

WOMAN B: Three hundred .. . oh, perhaps three hundred and seventy.

MAN C: I've never counted.

WOMAN D: Three hundred and seventy-one.

MAN E: Seven hundred.

DEALER: It doesn't surprise me. I am not surprised to hear even such figures. But whether you have seven hundred suits or a thousand, they'll all fit into this wardrobe without the least difficulty. If you will kindly look inside
[he himself glances in
briefly
], you will observe the amazing capacity. It's not quite a tennis court, but it's certainly large enough for knocking-up exercises. It is lined on all four sides with mirrors, and there is also an electric light inside. You may go in, select the costume you desire, and attire yourself, all without leaving the wardrobe.

Step up please, don't be bashful. Yes, look right in. Everyone will have a turn, no pushing, please. One line, if you please. 129

[The five clients form a line and one after another look inside the
wardrobe.]

MAN A
[nothing surprises him; turns to proprietor after looking]:
Whose is it?

DEALER: Pardon me!

MAN A: I mean, where did you get it?

DEALER: I am not at liberty to disclose more than that it comes from a certain private collection. A very important family, before the war a family of the kind you could count on the fingers of one hand. Of late it has rather - we all know many such examples, don't we ? - yes, there are quite a few such cases, and it's certainly a great shame - but this family has gone down a bit in the world, and they've been obliged...

MAN A: I see. You needn't say any more.
[He returns to his seat.]

WOMAN B
[looks inside and shrieks
]: Good heavens! You could put a double bed inside!

DEALER: Yes, you're quite right. A double bed - very aptly put.

MAN c
[looks inside]:
It looks like my family crypt. I could easily put a hundred, maybe two hundred, urns in here.

DEALER
[with an expression of distaste]:
Very amusing.

WOMAN D
[looking in]:
What's the key for?

DEALER: The key? You can lock the wardrobe from the outside or the inside, whichever you please.

WOMAN D: From the inside?

DEALER
[flustered
]: I don't know why it was made that way, but there you have it.

WOMAN D: Why should anyone want to lock it from the inside?

DEALER: Well - er .. .
[He smiles meaningfully.]
I'm sure there must be some way of making use of it. After all, it's big enough to put a bed inside.

MAN E
[looking in]:
Hmm. Surprisingly small, isn't it?

DEALER: Small?

MAN E: Surprisingly.

DEALER: DO you think so, sir? Everyone has his own way of looking at things, I'm sure.
[They settle themselves in their chairs
again with a great rustling and shuffling.]
Well, then, ladies and gentlemen, now you've seen it. I hate to hurry you, but I propose to offer it now at auction. What am I bid for it ? Speak up please.

130

Anyone, please.
[They are all silent.]
Come, come, does no one wish to bid for it?

MAN A: Fifty thousand yen.

DEALER: I have fifty thousand yen.

WOMAN B: Fifty-one thousand yen.

DEALER: The lady bids fifty-one thousand yen.

MAN C: One hundred thousand yen.

DEALER: One hundred thousand yen here.

WOMAN D: One hundred and fifty thousand yen.

DEALER: I'm bid one hundred and fifty thousand yen.

MAN E: One hundred and eighty thousand yen.

DEALER: Yes, one hundred and eighty thousand yen.

VOICE [a
woman's voice from stage right
]: Three thousand yen.

[They all turn round.]

M AN A : Three thousand five hundred yen.

DEALER: The bid is three thousand five hundred yen. Eh? What was that ? I'm afraid you must have heard wrong, sir. The bid stood at one hundred and eighty thousand yen. The last bid was one hundred and eighty thousand yen.

MAN A: All right. One hundred and ninety thousand yen.

DEALER: I have one hundred and ninety thousand yen.

MAN C: Two hundred and fifty thousand yen.

DEALER: Two hundred and fifty thousand yen is the bid.

MAN E: Three hundred thousand yen.

DEALER: Three hundred thousand yen it is.

WOMAN B: Three hundred and fifty thousand yen.

WOMAN D: Three hundred and sixty thousand yen.

WOMAN B
[annoyed]:
Really! Five hundred thousand yen.

WOMAN D: Five hundred and ten thousand yen.

WOMAN B: Again! One million yen.

WOMAN D: One million ten thousand yen.

WOMAN B: This is going too far. Two million yen.

WOMAN D: Two million ten thousand yen.

WOMAN B; If that isn't impudence! Three million yen.

WOMAN D: Three million ten thousand yen.

WOMAN B: Ohhh -

VOICE
[the same woman's voice, from stage right]:
Three thousand yen. Three thousand yen.

131

[They all look to right with various exclamations of surprise.

A beautiful young woman quietly enters. She is
KIYOKO,
a
dancer.]

DEALER: Who are you? I've had quite enough of your peculiar sense of humour. Of all times! Really, you're carrying foolish?-

ness a bit too far. Who are you anyway?

KIYOKO: You'd like to know my name? I'm Kiyoko. I'm a dancer.

[MEN A, c,
and
E
look at her with considerable interest.']

DEALER : A dancer! I don't remember having asked you here. This sale is restricted to invited customers. Didn't you see the sign at the door 'By Invitation Only' ?

KIYOKO: The sign was twisted over by the wind. Anyway, I have qualifications to be here, even if I'm not invited.

DEALER : Just listen to her talk! - Come, leave at once. I'll let you off this time without taking you to the police.

M AN A : Why not let her stay ? She must have some good reason for being here. Don't shout at her that way.

DEALER: I know, sir, but...

MAN A: What's your business here, young lady?

KIYOKO: I'm not a young lady. I'm only a dancer.

MAN c: That's fine. A dancer, she says.

MAN E: A dancer - an admirable profession. Bringing comfort to to us all, a blessing money can't buy.

WOMAN B : What do you mean by offering three thousand yen?

WOMAN D: Three thousand and one yen.

WOMAN B: Of all the infuriating people!
[To
KIYOKO,
in honeyed
tones]
You said your name was Kiyoko, didn't you? What did you mean by offering three thousand yen? Do come here and talk to us.

KIYOKO: Three thousand yen .. .
[She goes to the centre.]
Three thousand yen is all that wardrobe is worth.

DEALER
[in consternation]:
See here. Any more foolish talk like that, and it's off to the police with you.

MAN A
[to
DEALER] : Listen quietly to what she has to say.

[DEALER
is silent.]

KIYOKO: Once you've heard the history of this enormous, strange wardrobe, I don't think any of you will want to buy it.

132

MAN c: It has a history?

DEALER
[quickly wrapping some money inapiece ofpaper]:
Here, take this and leave. We've had quite enough. Come. At once.

M AN A : Let her talk. If you don't let her talk we'll know that you're also familiar with its history. Are you trying to pass off a defective article?

KIYOKO
[spurning the money]:
I'll tell you then. This wardrobe belonged to the Sakurayama family.
[General stir.]
Mrs Sakurayama used to hide her young lover inside the wardrobe.

The lover's name was Yasushi. One day her jealous husband -

he was a terrifying man - heard a noise inside the wardrobe. He took out his pistol and without a word fired from the outside. He fired and fired until the horrible screams finally died away and the blood came gushing through the crack under the wardrobe door. Look.
[She points at the door.]
You can't see very well because of the carving, but this is where the bullet holes were.

Here and here, look. They've repaired the holes very cleverly and filled them in with wood of the same colour, but you can still see them.... They've washed away every trace of the blood from inside the door, they've planed the door down and then re-painted it. ... You've all read about what happened in the newspapers, haven't you?
[They are absolutely quiet.]
Do you still want to buy it for all that money ? No, I'm sure you wouldn't want the wardrobe, even if it were offered to you as a gift. Three thousand yen is a good price. Even at three thousand yen there can't be many people besides myself who'd buy it.

WOMAN B: Ugh! How gruesome! I really appreciate your having told us. If you hadn't, I'd have spent a fortune acquiring a horrible jinx - Did you say your name was Hisako ?

KIYOKO: It's Ki-yo-ko.

WOMAN B: That's right. Hisako's my daughter's name. Kiyoko, thank you very much indeed. Under the circumstances the best thing to do is to leave as quickly as possible. I wonder if my chauffeur is still waiting. I told him to.
[She suddenly notices that
WOMAN D
has already disappeared.]
Oh, can you imagine anyone being so ill-mannered? Leaving that way without a word.

She's always trying to outdo me, even when it comes to leaving a place. Unspeakable creature! [So
saying, she exits to right.]
133

[MEN A, C
and
E
variously approach
KIYOKO
and offer their
cards.]