[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 7 Ch 3 (a)

CHAPTER 3
The Arms of Reason

. . . but he who, provoked and nettled to the quick by an offence, should fortify himself with the arms of reason against the furious appetite of revenge, and after a great conflict, master his own passion, would certainly do a great deal more.^[1]
-Montaigne, Essays Book 2 Chapter XI

The shutters closed.

Shion sprang up, and took in his surroundings. Teal walls and a teal hallway stretched out before him. The floor was made of a smooth, glossy material polished to a spotless sheen, and reminded him of the cleanliness of a hospital.

However, unlike a hospital, there were no windows or doors.

He felt like he had been shut into a durable box. No, it wasn't like a box―this was a box, a sealed box. There were three barriers between where he stood now and the prisoners' wing up ahead. Once all of them came down, the box would further seal itself into multiple compartments.

These were spaces designed to capture escaped prisoners, if not execute them on the spot.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 7 Ch 2 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

Rikiga peered into the bundle in Inukashi's arms, and exhaled a breath that reeked of alcohol.

"Mama," he echoed.

"What? You miss your Mama, old man?"

"My mother went six feet under a long time ago. She crawled into that grave when I was ten, and hasn't tried to crawl back out since."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 7 Ch 2 (a)

CHAPTER 2
If one's human soul

If one's human soul should completely disappear, one would probably be more likely to find happiness. But even so, the human inside oneself feels horror towards it like nothing else. O how so completely terrifying, grievous, and painful he thinks it! For one to lose his memories as a human.
-Nakajima Atsushi, Sangetsuki ^[1]

She had awakened.

Safu had awakened, and understood everything.

She knew now what had happened to her.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 7 Ch 1 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

There was a cotton handkerchief in Shion's coat pocket. He used it to cover his nose and mouth. It wasn't to shield against the smell; it was to hide his face. This way, the risk of being spotted would lessen. Nezumi also pressed a white handkerchief to his mouth.

They climbed the stairs. The odour gradually grew stronger. Still, the security alarms didn't go off.

A chime sounded, and his feet froze on the spot. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

"Commencing odour removal. Commencing air filtering. Operational level 8.5. The air quality of the building will return to normal in approximately two minutes, sixteen seconds."

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 7 Ch 1 (a)

Finally, you are here.
I have been waiting for you.


CHAPTER 1
Your Last Embrace

O here
Will I set up my everlasting rest
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last.
Arms, take your last embrace!
-Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act V Scene III ^[1]

A white light stabbed at his eyes.

It was blinding.

The light was overpowering.

The place overflowed with light, and glittered.

It was unmistakable―it was the world of No. 6.

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

This is a continuation of PART A.

"We never had a sovereign, at least I don't remember there being one. I've never even heard of the name before," Nezumi said.

"Naturally. I was the one who named her. Your people did not give her a name, but you did revere her. You revered her as you did the other trees, the sun, and the moon, and you feared her. Yes―you feared her. She had power. She had a power that neither we nor you had―probably a power no human could possess. That is why No. 6 desired her. They desired her power. Nezumi―your people knew everything about her power, and you feared and revered her. You never thought of using her as a device for your own prosperity. That is the difference between your people and us. However, I was not directly involved in that massacre. Nevertheless, I know that is no excuse."

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

CHAPTER 5
In my lusts

Who am I? A man seeking happiness. I sought it in my lusts and did not find it. And all who live as I did fail to find it.
-Tolstoy, "Walk in the Light While There Is Light" ^[1]

It was summer, and I had just turned twenty when I was chosen as a core member of the rebirth project.

When I was born, this planet was already in the midst of danger. Due to numerous wars, pollution, and environmental destruction, over half of the territory on earth had been devastated to the point of becoming inhabitable for human life.

Global warming had sparked a spread of whole new contagious diseases; weather patterns were abnormal and unpredictable; wars between nations and tribes were neverending; nuclear weapons were being used.

By the time we realized it, humankind had driven itself to the verge of extinction. We survivors only realized after being this close to the edge that we had to reflect on the foolishness of our actions.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 6 Ch 4

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CHAPTER 4
Leave Every Hope

Through me is the way into the woeful city;
through me is the way into eternal woe;
through me is the way among the lost people.

Justice moved my lofty maker:
the divine Power, the supreme Wisdom
and the primal Love made me.

Before me were no things created, unless eternal, and I eternal last.
Leave every hope, ye who enter!

- Dante, The Divine Comedy Vol 1: The Inferno, Canto III ^[1]

It began suddenly. No one would have been able to predict it.

It began suddenly, and amidst the crowd that had gathered in the square. It began as when gas erupts after being compressed for a long time underground.

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

This is a continuation of PART A.

"Nezumi!" Nezumi collapsed into his outstretched arms. Shion felt the heat and weight of his body. A low groan trickled through Nezumi's fingers. It's the same. It's the same as last time.

They had been talking about parasite wasps in their basement dwelling. It was just when their conversation had moved from emergent viruses to the mystery behind the parasite wasps. Nezumi had suddenly collapsed.

They had been drinking hot water. Shion remembered how Nezumi's cup had slid out of his hand and bounced on a stack of books before rolling across the floor.

"Nezumi―relax. Can you hear me?" Shion knelt down, supporting the boy's body with his arms. If it was the same as last time, then there was no need to panic. Nezumi had recovered just fine last time. If this time was the same...

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

CHAPTER 3
The Reason Why

When people built the public office
wasn't the reason why
so it could take away their perils
and create a bright and peaceful world?
But the citizens suffer hardship, and the officials bloat with riches
On the vast earth, not a single one
of the citizens can voice their woe
So they take to their brushes, and entrust it to song.

-Chinese folksong ^[1]

Safu let out a scream.

This is me?
Why, why, why...

"Safu, are you awake? Good morning. How do you feel? Ah, I see all your cognitive senses have returned to normal. Splendid."

This is me?
No, this isn't me.
This isn't me.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 6 Ch 2

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CHAPTER 2
Who did see him die?

Who did kill cock Robbin?
  I, said the sparrow,
  With my bow and arrow,
And I did kill cock Robbin.
Who did see him die?
  I, said the fly,
  With my little eye,
And I did see him die.
-Mother Goose ^[1]

The man was gazing at the gold coin Inukashi had given him with fascination.

"It's real," Inukashi whispered to the man's profile, with its thin and jutting chin. He dropped his voice into a hush to make himself sound as intimidating as possible.

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

This is a continuation of PART A.

Shion felt a gaze on him. His eyes met with Nezumi's. He felt like he was being wrapped in an elegant grey cloth. The core of his body pulsated. All the thoughts that had been swirling around in his head came to a full stop.

A moment of pleasure.

Exoticism is not an excuse

This has irked me for a while now. Seeing how I haven't gotten over the actual incident, which took place over two years ago, I figure it's a running issue with me. Feel free to say "no one actually acts like this", but this is just something I need to get out of my system.

Rant -->

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

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Where did you come from? Where were you born?

* * *
CHAPTER 1
'Twere best not know myself

To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.
Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!
-Macbeth Act II Scene II ^[1]

He heard the sound of the wind. It was a dry, sorrowful sound.

It can't be...

Shion stopped his feet, and blinked slowly. It was dark. Even when his eyes were accustomed to darkness, the gloom only reflected into his eyes as gloom, and was entirely painted black. And of course, there was no wind blowing.

Here, they were at the bottom of the earth.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 5 Ch 4 (b)

This is a continuation of PART A.

His fingers touched something hard. The moment he noticed it, he felt himself being pulled up. When he fell face-forward, out of breath, he felt the same sensation of something hard on his cheek. It was also cold to the touch.

Is it... rock?

Cheep-cheep-cheep!

The lighthearted chirruping of little mice. He felt the small animals scurrying over his back. Cravat and the rest would often scurry across his back like this, in their bold demands for food or play.

[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 5 Ch 4 (a)

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CHAPTER 4
A Name For White Darkness

My elder brother is a cannibal!
I'm brother to a cannibal.
Even though I'm to be the victim of cannibalism, I'm brother to a cannibal all the same!
-Lu Xun, Diary of a Madman^[1]

Shi-o-n. She tried calling his name. Since being brought here, how many times had she called it? No matter how many times she did, her voice never reached him.

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

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

* * *

Someone was coming. The dogs lying down outside were now raising their voices in apprehension. But there was nothing to be agitated about. The barking of the dogs, both large and small, was not overly wrung in alarm or threat.

It was not an enemy. No stranger had wandered in; no thief had snuck in either. It was someone unwelcome, but of low risk.

Inukashi raised his face and quivered his nose. He caught the smell of alcohol. At the same time, a puppy with a torn right ear burst into the room. It yapped insistently, reporting who the visitor was. Inukashi gave a light wave of his hand to shut it up. See, dogs were great. You told them to shut up, and they did.

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

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



CHAPTER 3
Those Whose Buds Bloom

Then shall I speak of the two primal Spirits of existence, of whom the Very Holy thus spoke to the Evil One: neither our choices nor words nor acts, not our inner selves nor our souls agree. ^[1]

The baby started crying. Lying atop a grimy blanket filled with holes, it flailed wildly, raising a voice loud enough to echo off the ceiling.

Geez, enough of you already.

Inukashi clicked his tongue, and put the coins he was counting back into the bag. It was his profit for the day, and it was a hefty sum.

A night had passed since the Hunt, and the West Block was still in the throes of confusion and anguish. Nobody knew how many had been killed, kidnapped, or had escaped, and no one had the energy or the means of finding out.

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

This is a continuation of PART A.

* * *

The singing stopped. Silence wrapped around them. Shion had closed his eyes without realizing. The silence seemed to gently urge him to lift his eyelids. He opened his eyes to see Nezumi still on one knee, about to take his hand off the man's face.

The man still had his eyes closed. His mouth was still stained with blood, but it was no longer twisted in agony.

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

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


CHAPTER 2
Those in the Abyss

I was in it up to my neck by the time I realized the way things were going. What could I do? . . . if I refused to obey I would be killed. Or I could commit suicide. On three different occasions I thought of resigning, but it was impossible.

-Wilhelm Keitel, The Nuremburg Interviews ^[1]

The darkness was stabbing at him. Into his retina, his eardrums, his skin, the darkness turned into needles that pricked at him viciously.