The evening meal was a riotous affair as the sake made its rounds, accompanied by Mrs Sato’s excellent cooking. Mr Sato, Yoshi and Paul were red-faced and more than merry, and Sam wasn’t sure how good his balance would be when he finally stood up. Eventually Mrs Sato insisted that it was time for bed and Yumi escorted Helen upstairs to Yoshi’s room.
“We will sleep in barn, Sam-san, Paul-san,” he explained happily. “Is like camping.”
While they had been eating, the snow had frozen into crisp frosting and the air was needle sharp. They crunched across the farmyard, the noise loud in the still night, and Yoshi pulled back the large door to the nearest barn.
It was chilly inside but he lit a small brazier and they sat on bales of straw, their sleeping bags pulled around them, mesmerised by the orange flames.
“Tomorrow we ski Furano,” said Yoshi. “Is no off piste here but maybe next day we go further, if you like?”
“Sure, Yoshi, sounds good, buddy,” said Paul. “Man, I haven’t been boarding for two years. Hope the ole mojo is still working. What about you, Sam?”
Sam shook his head. “Nope, I haven’t skied for a while either. Thanks for inviting us, Yoshi. It’s really good of your parents to put us all up.”
“Is my pleasure,” said Yoshi, happily. “We go wild like gorillas tomorrow, yes?”
Paul laughed. “This is gonna be interesting!”
In the morning, they had some trouble sliding back the barn door because of all the snow that had drifted against it in the night. At least a foot of snow was freshly fallen, softening the curves and lines of the farmhouse.
“How we gonna get anywhere in this?” muttered Paul.
“Is no problem, Paul-san,” said Yoshi. “We take big cat.”
“Huh?”
“I think he means snow-cat,” said Sam. “I saw it in the end barn last time I was here.”
“Cool!” said Paul, an expression of childish glee on his face.
Unfortunately it took over half an hour to dig out the snow-cat, by which time the three of them were sweating freely, despite the chill of the morning.
Helen came out to supervise and laughed out loud as Paul pointed her towards a shovel.
“I’d rather see you sweat, Paul, love,” she chuckled, ignoring his incoherent reply.
Mrs Sato sent them out to the ski slopes full of spicy noodles and steamed fish. Yoshi drove the snow-cat and, to his relief, Yumi pointedly ignored Sam, tucking herself in next to a beaming Paul.
“Your chariot, my lady,” Sam said to Helen, helping her climb in next to Yoshi.
The snow-cat growled as Yoshi started the engine, crawling up the bank of snow next to the barn and slithering across the icy farmyard. But soon they were barrelling down the road into Furano, Yoshi cheering every time the little vehicle bucked. Sam was glad the snow-cat had off-road harnesses otherwise Helen was in danger of being bounced out completely. She hung onto his arm like grim death, her teeth gritted.
She was visibly relieved when Yoshi cut the engine outside the ski-hire shop. Miho was waiting for them and smiled shyly when she saw Yoshi.
Helen elbowed Sam in the ribs. “Oh, young love!”
“Given half a chance,” whispered Sam. But his smile quickly faded.
Then Yoshi saw Isamu and Masao and gave a shout of delight. He introduced his friends to Paul and Helen, and Sam shook hands.
Only the three gaijin needed to hire equipment and Helen was the only one who was skiing instead of snowboarding.
They trudged up to the ski-lift, Helen struggling with her inflexible boots.
“I’m never going to make it to the slopes, let alone ski down the damn things,” she puffed, her face red. “These are more like foot coffins than boots!”
“Try undoing the top two buckles,” advised Sam. “It’ll make it easier to walk: just don’t forget to do them up again when you clip your skis on.”
He tucked her skis and poles under his arm with his own snowboard and took her hand, towing her up the snowy road.
A line was already forming for the first lift that went past the nursery slopes, leading to a gondola that took the serious skiers higher up the mountain.
“You want me to come with you, Helen?” said Sam, noticing she looked a little apprehensive.
“No, I’ll be fine,” said Helen, firmly. “You go and enjoy yourself with the others. See you at lunchtime.”
He watched her stumble across the snow, nearly tripping over her ski poles and swinging her skis dangerously over her shoulder. Sam winced as she nearly took out a family party, who graciously apologised for being in her way. Sam could hear Helen’s voice rising with embarrassment. Quietly he left her to it and followed the others.
The gondola was nearly full, crowded with young Japanese snowboarders. It never occurred to them that Paul and Sam might speak their language, because they joked dismissively about the gaijin. Yoshi looked upset but Sam shook his head slightly; there was no point causing trouble for the sake of scoring points.
When they reached the top of the mountain Sam felt a thrill of anticipation run through him. There was something energising about being so high up, breathing in the clean, crisp air, and seeing the sun glinting across the icy planes.
“Wow!” said Paul. “What a view!”
Furano was just a scattering of buildings in the valley far below, like a child’s idea of a winter village.
“Now we ski!” crowed Yoshi happily.
Sam tightened the laces on his boots and locked himself onto the wide snowboard. Immediately he felt it begin to slide and a grin lit up his face. He pulled his goggles down and followed the others, Yoshi in the lead, snaking slowly down the mountain.
The slope was thick with fresh powder, and Sam concentrated on keeping his toes up before he began to feel comfortable being back on a board. He started going faster, cutting fewer curves, swinging out wide across the slope and then faster again until he was racing behind Yoshi.
Yoshi flashed him a happy smile and picked up the pace, leading them through a tangle of trees and taking in a couple of small jumps.
“Yeeha!” yelled Paul, grabbing the rail as he caught some air.
Isamu shouted something, too, looking more animated than Sam had ever seen him. Not to be outdone, Yumi and Miho sped up, going everywhere that Yoshi led.
The purity of the air was intoxicating and the morning sped past. By lunchtime they were all ravenously hungry. They’d arranged to meet Helen at an izakaya further down the mountain. They swept in, sliding to a halt by the picnic tables, Paul sending a shower of icy snow over everyone. Yumi and Miho shrieked and Sam laughed as he shook the diamond dust from his hair.
“Well, hey! I wondered if I’d ever see you again.”
A tall, dark-haired woman was grinning at Sam.
His memory creaked into action. “Oh, hi!” Where had he seen her? “Er, the airport… Heathrow, right?” A sudden flash. “Gerda, isn’t it?”
“You remembered!” she said, still smiling. “I’m flattered.”
Sam realised that his friends were staring at him. He flushed.
“Er, this is Gerda. We met at the airport on the way out, back in April.”
He gave their names, then introduced Gerda to Isamu, Masao, Miho and Yumi in fluent Japanese.
“Wow!” said Gerda, clearly impressed. “You speak Japanese really well. But I don’t think you knew any when you came out here?”
“No, I’ve been taking lessons,” he said, feeling slightly awkward. “Er… are you here with your sister?”
“Yes, she’s around here somewhere. Oh, there you are.”
Gretchen was wearing a figure-hugging ski suit with a black helmet clutched under one arm. Masao’s eyes nearly fell out as he took in the second of the stunning twins.
“You remember Sam?”
Gretchen’s eyes widened with pleasure. “Why, sure! How are you?”
“Yeah, good, thanks.” He made the second introduction.
“How are you enjoying the mountains?” said Gerda.
Sam flashed a smile. “I love it here. But Yoshi and Yumi are locals – they live just a few miles up the road.”
Gerda nodded. “Lucky them! It’s some of the best powder I’ve ever seen: way better than Aspen or Tahoe. It’s just a shame there’s no off piste skiing.”
Paul interrupted. “We’re going off piste tomorrow: Yoshi’s gonna show us, isn’t that right, man?”
Yoshi nodded happily. “Yes, much fine skiing on next mountain.”
Gerda caught Gretchen’s eye. “Would you mind if we tagged along?”
“Sure!” said Paul, clearly delighted. “The more, the merrier.”
Yumi and Miho didn’t look like they agreed, but they’d been out-voted, or possibly out-manoeuvred.
“Are you guys going for lunch now?” said Gerda to Sam.
“Yeah, you want to join us?” answered Paul.
“We’re meeting a friend,” Sam reminded him, softly.
At that moment Helen walked up, dragging her skis. She was limping slightly and looked really fed up.
“Helen! Are you okay?” said Sam, solicitously.
“I bloody hate skiing,” she said, grumpily. “I’ve spent more time on my backside than standing up. I’m bruised from here to next week.”
Sam laughed. “As long as you’re just walking wounded. You can spend the afternoon soaking in an onsen – that’ll help.”
Then Helen noticed the twins, who were eyeing her curiously.
“Friends of yours?” she said.
“Er, right,” said Sam, and swiftly made the introductions.
Helen smiled politely and said the usual things, all the time casting inquisitive glances at Sam.
“Is your… friend, alright,” said Gerda, as they walked into the izakaya. She paused ever so slightly on the word ‘friend’.
Sam grinned. “She’s okay. Helen’s pretty tough. I don’t think she enjoyed the skiing much though.”
Gerda laughed. “I remember the first time I went skiing – I couldn’t sit down for a week.” She looked at Helen, who was moving gingerly. “Gretchen found a great masseuse yesterday: it might help your friend. I can give her the details.”
“Thanks,” said Sam. “Yeah, she’d like that.”
Gerda smiled and went to speak to Helen.
“Woah!” said Paul when her back was turned. “Where did you say you met those two? They are
smoking
hot! You been holding out on me, buddy? I mean,
twins
!”
Sam rolled his eyes.
They carried their food outside to sit at the picnic tables in the winter sunshine. Paul wangled a seat between the twins and Sam sat opposite them with Helen. Yoshi was deep in conversation with Miho and Isamu had gone back to acting cool and uninterested. Yumi and Masao were contrastingly talkative. Sam was pleased that Yumi seemed to have got over her crush on him. He hated being rude and ignoring her, but it was really the safest thing to do.
Gerda chatted easily with Sam and Helen, asking questions about their life in Tokyo, whilst Paul commandeered Gretchen’s attention, telling her about some cool bars he’d visited in the city.
“You’re a teacher as well, Helen?” said Gerda.
“Yes, although I’m having a gap year soon,” said Helen, throwing a look at Sam. “My husband is flying out in a fortnight and then we’re going to do some travelling.”
“Oh, your husband? That sounds really exciting. Where are you going to go?”
It turned out that Gerda had travelled to a number of the same places that Helen was planning on seeing. Sam started to relax as the two women talked animatedly, Gerda making a number of useful suggestions for Helen’s itinerary.
After lunch, Helen lurched painfully to her feet, and Sam had to help her clamber free of the picnic table.
“Oh god,” she said, rubbing her backside unhappily. “I’m a mess. I think I will try that massage therapist Gerda suggested.”
She staggered slightly.
“Do you want me to come with you?” said Sam, hovering around her, as if she were about to crumple on the spot, which was not altogether unlikely.
Helen winced, then shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I’ll see you all later. Much later.”
She limped off down the hill.
Gerda smiled gently. “I see what you mean: she is tough.”
Sam nodded.
“I think you’re very fond of her,” said Gerda, looking at him quizzically.
Sam shrugged and nodded. “She’s a good friend.”
Gerda and Gretchen followed them back up the mountain to try out one of the mogul runs. Gretchen was something of a kamikaze boarder, cutting a swathe through the other skiers on the slope, Paul hot on her heels. Gerda was more graceful, but less gung-ho, staying closer to Yoshi as he led them across the ice-field, threading his way around the grooves and snowy hillocks.
Sam took it easy, just enjoying the feeling of freedom and of being in the mountains. Gerda was good company, not feeling the need to fill every silence with chatter, but there was no doubt she was interested in him. The doubt was whether he wanted to do anything about it.
He was still undecided when they reached the bottom of the mountain late that afternoon.
“So what are you guys doing this evening?” said Gerda. “We’re staying in town.”
“We don’t have any plans,” said Paul quickly. “Maybe we can meet tonight?”
Sam frowned: he knew Yoshi had planned a family meal at home.
“Yes, we meet in town,” said Yoshi, looking at Miho, who was pretending to take no notice of the course of the conversation.
“Great!” said Paul, and arranged a time and place. Miho smiled shyly at Yoshi, who looked very pleased with himself.
“See you later?” said Gerda. Her voice sounded uncertain.
Sam smiled. “Sure, later.”
Helen was looking happier when they collected her from the onsen, and she was moving much more easily.
“That massage therapist was a miracle-worker!” she said. “I thought I wasn’t going to be able to walk this evening.”
“Walk?” said Paul, his spirits formidably high. “We’re gonna be dancing!”
“I see,” said Helen, raising her eyebrows and looking at Sam, her voice loaded with meaning.
He looked away. She wasn’t his mother.
They met up in town at the same bar where Yoshi had taken Sam on his first night in Furano during the summer. Helen had cried off on the grounds that she preferred to rest her poor, aching bones, no matter how much of a miracle worker the masseuse was.