[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 3 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.
Please see annotations on mouse-over.
Hover over the image to see the text.

* * *

"We're here."

Nezumi's feet stopped. They were standing in front of a three-storey building. At least, it resembled more of a building than the ruins that constituted the hotel, but in the sense that it was also falling apart, they were none too different.

The arched entranceway and the red brick walls had probably once carried an air of pomp, but were now strangled by vines, crumbled in places, and radiating an aura of dilapidation. Nezumi jerked his chin upwards.

"Someone's home."

Rhythm and Sound

I remember having an argument with my dad about whether English or Japanese was the more expressive language. In defense of Japanese, my dad brought up (of course) the famous poem by Bashō:

古池や蛙飛び込む水の音 Furuike ya / kawazu tobikomu / mizu no oto

which literally in English translates as:
An old pond / a frog jumps in / the sound of water

Yeah. Not too interesting. What makes it a classic in Japanese is probably the yoin 余韻 or "afterglow" of the words ― what the words makes you think of, the imagery and emotions attached to the words as you read them. Then my dad went on to say how Japanese has 20 different words for the colour blue, whatever.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 3 (a)

These are English translations of the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please see annotations on mouse-over.


CHAPTER 3
Sin and Sanctity

Humans are shapeshifters; there's naught that's not in this world. ^[1]
         - Ihara Saikaku, 'Saikaku's Tales from Various Provinces'

The slope that Shion had skidded down turned out to be an enormous pillar tipped over on its side. Upon closer inspection, he could see that the base was carved out with the figures of several women robed in thin, translucent cloth. Rusty metal foundations were all that remained of what probably used to be an arched ceiling, and several withered vines feebly clung to them. The wall had collapsed entirely, and chunks of stone in all sizes were scattered hither and thither.

If he had accidentally struck his head on one of those― Shion shuddered.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 2 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

Please excuse my, er, butchered attempt at British dialect... as long as you get the feel for what kind of people these are...

* * *

The rain let up before noon but the clouds still lingered, and the ground remained cold as dusk approached. Nezumi was walking briskly through the throng. Shion was doing his best to keep up behind him. He was out of breath. He was jostled, bumped, and yelled at; he felt the gaze of countless curious eyes raining down on his head; the smell of a dozen things reached his nose, so mingled and melded into each other that he couldn't tell what they originally were; the muddy ground tripped up his feet; a sprawl of barracks and tents lined the road, and from them, thick smoke billowed rudely into the passerby; in the air, angry bellows, seductive coos, and merchants' cries clashed clamorously. He felt dizzy.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 2 (a)

These are English translations of the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please see annotations for underlined words on mouse-over.

* * *
CHAPTER 2
The Place of the Gods

Then the goddess Hannahanna decided to use her last resort. She gathered not several, but hundreds, thousands of bees, and said, "You are small and nimble, and fly as swift as the light, so you shall surely be able to find the god Telepinu. Now, go." ^[1]
         - The Disappearance of Telipinu, Hittite Myth

There was a person collapsed at the foot of a spindly tree whose bark was whiter than the rest. He was a little boy, even smaller than the girl in size. He was writhing in pain. Shion took him in his arms and sat him up. Even in the settling dusk, he could tell that the boy was deathly pale. He was clawing at his throat, and his mouth was open, but his lips were bloodless.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 1 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.
Hover over the image to see the text.

* * *

By the time a week rolled around, Shion had managed to organize almost all of the books that had been dominating most of the floor. Of course, it was impossible to find shelf space for all of them, and many piles of books still remained on the floor ― but it had cleared up a considerable amount of living space.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 1 (a)

These are English translations of the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.


CHAPTER 1
Of Life and Death

Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.
         - Hamlet, Act V Scene II ^[1]

Shion closed the book. He could hear the sound of rain.

This underground room was cut off from most outside sounds. But for some reason, the sounds of the wind and the rain always seemed to seep through the walls.

A mouse scurried up Shion's leg and perched on his knee. It twitched its whiskers and rubbed its front paws together as if in request.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 1 Ch 5 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.
Hover over the image to see the text.

* * *

"Nezumi."

"Hm?"

"Could it be the park?"

"The what?"

"The Forest Park in the centre of the city. My workplace― could that be where the parasite wasp originated?"

"Why?" said Nezumi. "That park is right in the middle of the city. It might be a forest, but it's still artificial. All the wildlife is managed and controlled by the city. If a parasite wasp sprung out of nowhere, they'd notice."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 1 Ch 5 (a)

These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Annotations on certain words will appear on mouse-over.

* * *

CHAPTER 5
The City of Light

After their meal, Nezumi placed a petri dish and a pair of tweezers in front of Shion.

"I extracted this out of your incision. Try opening it up. This is probably right in your field."

"My field?"

In the petri dish was something black and stringy, about two centimetres long. Shion plucked it up with the tweezers. The slimy black object dangled from them, and looked half-melted. Upon closer scrutiny, Shion could make out evidence of something filmy at the end of it.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 1 Ch 4 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.
* * *

With a hand still laid on his hair, Nezumi was checking Shion's breathing as he slept. It was a little weak, but relaxed. It was not erratic.

―You made it through.

It was quite something. He wasn't exaggerating out of politeness or encouragement. Shion housed a lot more vitality than his looks gave away. It was a vitality that was tenacious and strong. Nezumi gazed at Shion's sleeping face― exhausted and weakened, but still breathing regularly nonetheless― and realized how tired he himself was as well. He was mentally, not physically, exhausted. He could neither understand nor come to terms with what he had just experienced. A sense of unease consumed his mind and made his very blood tingle.

―What's happening in there?