[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 4 Ch 2 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

* * *

"Samples of what?"

"I don't know. I just know it said something about their collection status―you needed a special password to access it. The only thing I know is that this and the mayor's project..."

"Are connected."

"I imagine they are."

Sample. What a cold, desolate word. Shion felt a chill.

Safu. He cast his thoughts to her, and his chill got worse.

"Shion," Nezumi called. The darkness shifted. "That's about it. We can't get anything else out of this guy." His words also had a cold, desolate ring. The man perceived their coldness and stiffened.

"Are you going to―k-kill me?"

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 4 Ch 2 (a)

These are English translations for the novel No. 6 by Asano Atsuko.

* * *

CHAPTER 2
Act One Scene Two

No, you've got it all wrong.
We flee
because we want to live.
- Tezuka Osamu, Grand Dolls

The sighs of the wind grew louder. High-pitched and somewhat plaintive, it whistled through the ruins. The man awoke to hear the sound of the wind around him. He hadn't lost much of his composure. Bound and sitting on the floor, he let his gaze roam around the room.

"What's going on?" He questioned hoarsely. No one answered. "What's going on, Rikiga? You understand what you're doing, don't you?"

"Unfortunately, I do." Rikiga gave a sigh, one of several he had already heaved that day. "I understand it so well, it makes me sick to the stomach. I never asked for this, anyway."

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

This is a continuation of PART A.
* * *

"Nezumi!" Inukashi yelled, stomping on the blanket. "This isn't what you promised. What the hell were you doing?"

"Hush, stop barking." Nezumi rummaged through the coat of the man he had just tied up, and extracted a leather pouch out of one of its pockets. "Take a cue from your dogs, Inukashi. Lie down and shut up."

"Stop shitting me," Inukashi snarled. "Why didn't you come out sooner?"

"I forgot my line, so I was re-reading my script," Nezumi replied mildly. "Sorry about that."

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

These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please hover over text to see annotations.

* * *
We're coming back alive. Don't forget that...

* * *

CHAPTER 1
Curtain Up

Howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones!
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so
That heaven's vault should crack! She's gone fore ever.
- King Lear Act V Scene III ^[1]

Beyond the gate was a world of darkness.

It was freezing. The man shivered, and flipped the collar of his jacket up. His coat was woven of the finest cashmere, and it was lightweight and warm. It was also equipped with an automatic sensor that registered the temperature of the body and outside air to adjust the temperature inside the coat accordingly. The sensor itself was smaller, lighter, and slimmer than a postage stamp.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 5 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.
Please hover over the text to see annotations.

* * *

"You want me to co-operate with you?" Rikiga made a clearly distasteful expression.

"Yeah," Nezumi answered. "I want you to glean information from your customers." Nezumi seated himself snugly into the chair, and put his feet up on the table.

"Information? You mean about the Holy City?"

"Yeah."

"What's in it for me?"

"Enormous riches."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 5 (a)

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

* * *

CHAPTER 5
In Falsity's Company

In days of old, the Buddha
was but a mortal;
in the end, we ourselves
will be buddhas too.
How grievous that distinctions
must separate those
who are alike in sharing
the Buddha-nature!
- Tales of Heike: Giou ^[1]

Shion slowly raised himself off the floor.

Only a few dying embers remained in the heater, and the room was freezing cold. Cravat, who had been curled up against Shion's body, raised his head and chirruped softly.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 4

These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please hover over the image to see the text.

* * *

CHAPTER 4
A Lie of Truth, A Truth of Fiction

The King's ears are donkey's ears.
Great furry donkey's ears.
Moving, twitching donkey's ears.
- Greek myth "King Midas' Donkey Ears" ^[1]

Nezumi walked slowly along the night path. Here, night and darkness were synonymous with each other. After all natural light had faded, what was left was a world of darkness. Everything became painted black.

Sometimes, a barrack would let a thin strip of light seep out of one of its cracks, while barely keeping the wind and rain out. But the lights were often extinguished not long after, and a frigid chill would reign over the night, piercing through the darkness, the silence, and people's clothes to reach their warm bodies underneath.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 3

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

On accents and dialects: I know many people hate the use of dialects in localization because it reinforces a stereotype, but it's one of the few ways I can bring character into a person's speech. I have nothing against working-class British people, or the Deep South!

* * *

CHAPTER 3
Land's End

Humans were born from the eye of Ra. Ra was the creator of heaven, earth, and all things. Since he was the Sun, and also the ruler of the gods, it was decided that he would become the first King on earth.
-Egyptian myth 'The Beginning of Heaven and Earth' ^[1]

It was blurry. Everything was veiled in a haze, and vague.

But I have to wake up...

Safu struggled to open her eyes. She bit her lip as hard as she could. There was a slight pain. She could feel her sensations returning.

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

This is a continuation of PART A.

* * *

The elderly woman gave a small cry.

"Heavens, a crow!"

A crow with glossy black wings had alighted on the ground at Karan's feet.

"How disturbing," the woman said uneasily. "Were there ever any crows in the Forest Park?" She furrowed her brow.

"This is a natural environment after all. There are crows, though probably not many of them," Karan replied. The crow took flight again. She thought it would fly away, but instead, it flapped its wings busily and alighted again, onto a man's shoulder.

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

These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please see annotations and image-text on mouse-over.

* * *

CHAPTER 2
Tranquil Scenes

I am the one without hope, the word without echoes,
he who lost everything and he who had everything.

Last hawser, in you creaks my last longing.
In my barren land you are the final rose.

- Neruda, Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair ^[1]

In No. 6, those under forty years of age consisted the majority of the age demographic. It was a young city. Because of this, the odd elderly person she passed on the street stood out all the more sorely.

I'd do anything to avoid growing old.

She was sick of seeing obese, white-haired women; knobbly, wrinkly old men and the like.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 1 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

* * *

"I want information."

"I figured as much," Inukashi said simply. "Even you wouldn't be foolish enough to come to me looking for groceries. So? Information about what?"

"The Correctional Facility."

Inukashi almost fell over.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 3 Ch 1 (a)

This is a translation of the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.

* * *
What lies beyond the wall....
* * *

CHAPTER 1
The Beautiful Ones...

Away, and mock the time with fairest show:
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
-Macbeth Act I Scene VII^[1]

The sky was blue and bright. The sun's rays, approaching noon, were gentle and warm. It was a temperate afternoon that made the frigidness of a few days ago seem like a dream.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 5 (b)

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

* * *

"You don't know until you try. For one thing..."

"For one thing?"

"―I know I wouldn't become your enemy. Ever. No matter what happens, even if I'm killed, I would be on your side."

"Just pretty words."

"It's my resolve."

It was his will, and it was unwavering. In order to know, you had to try it first. He believed that human souls, when faced with a dilemma, would ultimately choose peace over war, songs and scriptures over weapons, and love over hatred. It wasn't a fantasy. It was hope. I still haven't abandoned hope. I want to find a road that you can't see, and point it out for you.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 5 (a)

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

* * *

CHAPTER 5
Hidden Danger

The first day or so we all pointed to our countries. The third or fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day, we were aware of only one Earth.
- Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, astronaut

After Shion had finished reading the picture book, Kalan gave a sigh of satisfaction.

"That was a good story."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 4 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

* * *

Karan was at a loss for words. She couldn't let go of the arm she was grasping. The slender sixteen-year-old girl stood silently before her.

"Safu... what on earth are you saying? Do you know what kind of place the West Block is?"

"I don't. I've only heard that it's a terrifying place. But I'm still going."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 4 (a)

These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
Please hover over the image to see the text. See annotations on mouse-over.

* * *

CHAPTER 4
The Angel of the Netherworld

I love him, love him. He's a millstone round my neck - he'll take me to the bottom with him. But I love this millstone of mine - I can't live without it.
-Chekhov "The Cherry Orchard" Act III^[1]

The girl came just as Karan was about to close the blinds of the store.

"Ma'am, are there any muffins left?" She was an adorable child with a round face, probably not yet ten.

"We're all out of cheese, but if you like raisin muffins, we've got one of those left."

"I'll have it, please."

[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."

[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.