And Then. Soseki Natsume

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СКАЧАТЬ these days. Consequently, the old woman and the houseboy got along exceedingly well. They talked a great deal in the absence of their master.

      “I wonder what on earth Sensei plans to do, eh, Auntie?”

      “When you get as far as he has, you can do anything. No need to worry.”

      “I’m not worrying. It just seems like he ought to do something.” “Well, he’s probably planning to find a bride first and then to take his time looking for a position.”

      “That’s not a bad idea. I sure wish I could spend my days reading books and going to concerts like that.”

      “You?”

      “Well, I don’t care if I read or not. I just wish I could play around like that.”

      “You know all those things were decided in your previous life. Nothing you can do about it.”

      “Is that the way it is.”

      This was how their conversations ran. Two weeks before Kadono joined Daisuke’s household, the following exchange took place between the young bachelor master and the idle youth:

      “Are you going anywhere to school right now?” “I was for a while. But I’m not any more.” “Where did you used to go?”

      “Well, I went to all kinds of places. But I seemed to get tired of them right away.”

      “You mean you get fed up easily?” “Well, yes, I guess that’s it.”

      “So you don’t have plans to do much in the way of studying?” “No, not really. Besides, things aren’t too good at home these days.” “The old woman at my place says she knows your mother?”

      “Yes, she used to live right near here.” “Then, your mother doesn’t . . . ?”

      “That’s right, she doesn’t have much of a job either. She just takes in odd jobs to do at home. But business is bad everywhere these days, and things don’t seem to be going too well.”

      “Don’t seem to be going well? But don’t you live in the same house?”

      “Well, yes, we live together, but I’ve never really bothered to ask how she’s doing. It’s too much trouble. It seems like she’s always complaining.”

      “How about your older brother?” “He works at the post office.”

      “Is that all in your family?”

      “I have a younger brother, too. He’s at the bank—you might say he’s a step above messenger boy.”

      “Then you’re the only one who’s sitting around, right?” “Yes, I guess that’s right.”

      “And what do you do when you’re home?”

      “Well, most of the time, I guess I sleep. Other times, I go out for walks.”

      “Isn’t it a little embarrassing to sit around when everyone else is out earning money?”

      “No, not really.”

      “Your family must get along extremely well.” “Strangely enough we never seem to fight much.”

      “I should think your mother and older brother would want you to get out on your own as soon as possible.”

      “You might have a point there.”

      “You seem to have an extraordinarily easygoing temperament. Is that how you really are?”

      “Well, I don’t see why I should lie about things.” “So you’re a completely carefree sort?”

      “Yes, I guess that’s what you’d call me.” “How old is your older brother?”

      “Hm . . . he must be going on twenty-six.”

      “Then he’ll probably be looking for a wife, isn’t that right? Do you plan to stay on like this even after he gets married?”

      “I’ll have to wait and see. When the time comes, I’m sure something will happen.”

      “You don’t have any other relations?”

      “There’s an aunt. This one runs a freight business in Yokohama.” “Your aunt does?”

      “Oh, it’s not really my aunt who runs it; I guess it’s my uncle.” “Couldn’t you get them to give you a job? The freight business must need a lot of people.”

      “Well, I’m basically lazy, so I think they’d probably say no.”

      “It doesn’t help if you look at yourself like that. You see, the point is, your mother has asked the old woman at my place if we could find something for you to do there.”

      “Yes, I’ve heard something like that.” “And how do you feel about it?”

      “Well, yes, I’m planning on not being too lazy. ...” “You mean you’d rather come to my place?” “Well, yes, that’s right.”

      “But it won’t do if you’re just going to sleep and take walks.”

      “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m strong at least. I’ll fill the bathtub and things like that.”

      “We have running water so you won’t need to carry water to the tub.”

      “Then maybe I can do the cleaning.”

      Such were the conditions under which Kadono became houseboy to Daisuke.

      Daisuke finally finished his meal and began to smoke. Kadono, who had been sitting with his back propped up against the cupboard, his arms around his knees, decided enough time had passed for him to try another question. “Sensei, how’s your heart this morning?” He had learned of Daisuke’s habit a few days earlier, and his tone was slightly bantering.

      “So far it’s all right.”

      “You make it sound as if it might be in danger tomorrow. The way you worry over your body, Sensei, you’re going to end up really sick someday.”

      “I am sick already.”

      Kadono only said “Oh,” and stared at Daisuke’s healthy complexion and the ample flesh about his shoulders, visible even through his clothes. After such conversations Daisuke invariably felt sorry for this youth. He could only think that Kadono’s skull was crammed with the brains of a cow, for he could follow but half a block down the avenue of conversation that ordinary people walked. On the rare occasions when Daisuke so much as turned a corner, he was immediately lost. And of course, he could never set foot on even the bottom rung of a ladder upon which the foundations of logic were vertically laid. As for his sensitivity, it was a sorrier case still. He gave the impression that his nervous system was a network of coarse straw. Observing the state of Kadono’s existence, Daisuke wondered to what end the youth ventured to breathe and subsist. But Kadono idled away unconcerned. Not only was he unconcerned, СКАЧАТЬ