No. 6 Vol 2 Chapter 5.1
[Novel] NO. 6 - Vol 2 Ch 5 (a)
These are English translations for the novel NO. 6 by Asano Atsuko.
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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."
Rico blew out of his flared nostrils sullenly. He fiddled with the newly-changed bandages on his neck and complained.
"Well, I didnt think it was good. Stories about rabbits are boring."
"Then what kind of story do you want to hear, Rico?" Shion asked.
"Ummmm―" Rico paused for a moment of thought. "Oh, a story about bread. And― and one about soup and fried sweet potatoes."
"You must be hungry, Rico."
Kalan turned to Shion and nodded.
"Hes hungry all the time. Rico gets more hungry than anyone else."
"Just a minute, then. I think Ive got some soup..." Was there any soup left for him? A bowlful of soup that could sate Ricos empty stomach for a short while―
Kalan stood up.
"No, thank you. Its okay. We have to go home now." She took her little brother by the hand and made for the door. She stopped, turned, and spoke in a small voice. "Thank you for reading to us."
"Youre very welcome."
"Can we come again tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"Okay." A smile spread across Kalans face, and she half-dragged Rico out the door. Nezumi stretched in the shadow of a pile of a books.
"Stupid as always, arent you."
"Stupid? Me?"
"They say the biggest idiots are the ones who dont realize theyre idiots. I think there was a proverb like that." Nezumi stood up, and draped the superfibre cloth around his neck. "You tried to give a handout to the kids. You tried to give them leftover soup."
"Is that a stupid thing to do?"
"Those kids came here to be read to. They didnt come to beg. If you can ensure that Rico will never starve again, that would be fine and dandy. But if you give him leftover soup on a whim one day, whatre you gonna do the next time he starves? You wouldnt be able to take care of him all the time. If youre going to be irresponsible and abandon him halfway, it would be better not to give him anything at all in the first place. Kalan has a better idea of how things work. That girl is bright and dignified. She knew to refuse your half-hearted and reckless charity."
Shion sank into a chair. Nezumis words always inflicted him with pain. It felt like his skin was being torn from his very body. He could almost hear the sound of his flesh being ripped from him. His foolishness, his arrogance, his heedlessness. His outward vanity stripped from him, he was left naked: superficial and pretentious― his real self. Nezumi strode in front of him and continued to speak while he pulled on a pair of gloves.
"Theres a second example of your stupidity. Wanna hear it?"
"Sure. Tell me."
"You made a promise for tomorrow."
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"Theres no guarantee that theres gonna be a tomorrow."
Shion took a deep breath.
"So youre saying that I cant be sure that Ill be alive tomorrow to read a book to those children?"
"Yeah. See, youre starting to pick up on things more quickly. Youre on the Bureaus Wanted list, and you went wandering around outside yesterday. I wouldnt be surprised if the tracking satellites have got you already. Maybe the guys who have nothing better to do over at the Security Bureaus Law Enforcement division are heading over here right now. If they are, then you can forget having a read-aloud tomorrow. At best youd be in a solitary cell in the Correctional Facility; at worst, you wont even be able to speak, because youll be dead."
Shion was gazing at Nezumis leather-gloved hands. Even when he was speaking crudely, his movements were still graceful. Shion wanted to imitate him if he could.
"What?" Nezumi said. "Youre s.p.a.ced out again."
"Oh.... uh, sorry."
"You really have no sense of danger, do you? I think even a newborn fawn would be more cautious than you."
"Nezumi."
"I dont want to hear it," he said abruptly. "Im going to work."
"Do the city authorities really intend to capture me?"
Nezumi stopped.
"This place is adjacent to No. 6," Shion continued. "If they really set out to catch me, it wouldnt be hard for them at all... no, not even just me. Youre a VC on the run too, arent you? And unlike me, you go walking around outside all the time. No. 6s tracking satellites are able to keep detailed surveillance on one location from their stationary orbit."
"Uh-huh, so?"
"So Im wondering why. The authorities arent serious about trying to catch us. They certainly havent gotten desperate about it, to say the least."
Nezumi shrugged his shoulders.
"Shion, in both good and bad ways, the city you were born in isnt interested in things outside of it. For them, everythings complete within those walls of special alloy. The West Block is their garbage can. Here, they throw away their waste, their pus. If youre pus to them, they probably think the West Block is an appropriate place for you. Theyve squeezed the pus out of their tiny wound, and thrown it away in the garbage. Theyre not going to come back looking for it."
"So Id be safe as long as I stayed here."
"Who knows? It probably wont go that well, but theres a chance you will be. ―You said you wanted to go on living here, didnt you? Maybe your dream will come true."
"Until spring, at least."
He had a moratorium until spring. Once spring came, and the wasps entered their activity period, what would happen in the interior of the Holy City? Would the parasite wasps sweep the city with their dread? He had to do something before it got warmer, before spring arrived. He had to come up with a plan before they pa.s.sed the winter through.
"The man-eating wasps have finally shown themselves," said Nezumi airily. "You should just sit back and watch. Itll be an interesting stage, to see what happens to No. 6. Our wasp will be the star of the stage. A tragedy like no other― or a comedy like no other. I wonder which one itll be?"
"Mother is still inside that city. I cant stand by and be a spectator."
"What, youre planning on going home?"
"Once, before spring comes. Im going to see if I can make a blood serum by then."
"Using your own blood?"
"Yeah. It would be impossible to make a perfect one, of course, but its worth giving it a try."
"Hey, you might be a genius, but what can you do without any beakers or syringes? You sure cant get them here."
"Im going to try asking Rikiga-san. He might be able to get his hands on at least the bare minimum of equipment Ill need."
"The man wont do anything unless its going to put money in his pocket," Nezumi said flatly. "You might be the son of a girl he used to love, but try to get him to do free labour, and hell turn away as fast as anything."
"You think so?" Shion said dubiously. "―But well still need a serum. Yeah, Ill tell him if it goes well, he could make some money off of it. Ill convince him someh―"
Nezumis foot moved. Shion, chair and all, went flying across the floor. A pile of books collapsed. The mice darted away.
"What was that for?" He tried to get up. Before Shion could move, Nezumis knee was on his chest, and his hand was holding his shoulder down.
"Shion." Looking down into Shions face from above as he lay on his back, Nezumi moved his fingers from Shions shoulder to his throat. Through the leather of his gloves, Shion could feel the sensation of five fingers at his neck. They tightened their grip slowly.
"Arent you gonna resist?"
"No. It wouldnt be any use. Youd agree," Shion said calmly.
"Giving up pretty easily, huh? Dont you care about your life?"
"Of course I do."
"Or are you thinking that Id never kill you?"
"Yeah."
Nezumi smiled. His grey eyes, his thin lips, and well-shaped nose formed a beautiful but cruel and pitiless smile.
"Dont think too highly of yourself," he said softly. A knife appeared in Nezumis hand as if by magic. "I remember doing something like this four years ago too. I was holding you down like this on your bed."
"I remember too," Shion said. "That time, I was the one that went lunging at you. You dodged it like it was nothing, and then the next moment, you were pinning me down and I couldnt even move."
That stormy night. He remembered the wind howling outside his window. He remembered the sensation of Nezumis skinny body, feverish and hot. It had been four years since then.
Its been four years, and I still have neither skill nor the heart to push this body aside.
"That time, I was holding a spoon. And I said― do you remember? ― that if this was a knife, youd be dead."
"Yeah."
"Wanna give it a try?" His fingers moved away from Shions throat. In their place, the blade of a knife was pushed under his chin. It was cold. Shion felt a p.r.i.c.k of pain.
"I wont let you make a blood serum," Nezumi whispered. "I didnt save you so you could go around doing something like that. Keep your nose out of things you have no business in. Stay holed up here until the time comes."
"Til the time comes? Whens that gonna be?"
"When I strike No. 6 with its fatal blow, thats when."
"When you strike No. 6..."
"Yeah. Im going to choke its last breath out of it."
The weight lifted off Shions chest. Nezumi put away his knife, and wiped the cruel smile off his face. He pulled a glove off, and stroked Shion under the chin with his bare finger. A small red smudge came off on his fingertip.
"This is your blood. Dont even think of doing something foolish like making a serum. Put it to better use."
"Nezumi." Shion grabbed his wrist. "Why do you loathe No. 6 so much?"
There was no answer.
"What happened between you and No. 6? Why do you have so much hatred for it?"
Nezumi exhaled shortly. The muscles of his wrist flexed.
"Shion, do you still not understand what kind of place No. 6 is? It sucks the nutrients from the places around it, and while they grow lean, it only become more engorged. Its a hideous―"
"Parasite City."
"Yeah. So you do know what Im talking about. Humankind is becoming more and more intent on expelling parasitic organisms. What Im doing is the same thing. Im going to exterminate and wipe No. 6 off the face of the earth. Once that place is gone, the people here wont have to live in a garbage can anymore."
"But what I want to hear is your personal reason," Shion persisted.
"I dont have one."
"Youre lying. Youre the one who told me only to fight for myself."
Nezumi fell silent, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Is it revenge?"
Silence. Nezumi didnt even bother to shake Shions wrist off, and gazed at him as they stood face-to-face.
"Do you want revenge on No. 6? If you do― then what happened?"
"I dont need to tell you."
"I want to hear it." Shion clenched his fingers around Nezumis wrist. "I want to know, Nezumi."
Suddenly, Nezumi started laughing. It sounded like a laugh that was genuinely full of mirth.
"Geez, youre like a brat throwing a tantrum. Alright, Shion."
"Mm-hmm?"
"If I tell you, would you co-operate with me?"
"Huh?"
"Would you aid me as I stab a knife into the heart of the city you were born and raised in? Would you help me bring destruction― not salvation― unto that city? I dont need any blood serum. If parasite wasps do exist, then Ill use them. I want to wreak havoc on No. 6 from the inside. I want to watch as the people that have always lived in safety fall into a panic, flee in confusion, and lead themselves to destruction. Thats the kind of thing I have in mind. Will you aid me, Shion?"
Shion shook his head from side to side. He dropped his gaze from the pair of grey eyes.
"I cant do that."
Shions fingers were shaken off.
"Youre always like that," Nezumi spat. "You babble on about how you want to know, but youre never prepared to handle it. To know means to be prepared to know. Once you find out the truth, theres no going back. You cant ever go back to being the way you were, blissful and unconcerned. Why cant you understand that? ―Shion, let me ask another question."
Nezumi squatted, and hooked a finger under Shions chin.
"Me, or No.6 ― which one do you choose?"
Shions breath caught in his throat. He knew he would be faced with this decision one day. He had felt it coming.
Which would he choose? If he chose one, he would lose the other. He didnt want to go back to No. 6. In that sense, he had no attachments whatsoever left for that city. But with people, it was different. His mother, and Safu, who was off in another city now, and the residents of Lost Town were all within those walls. Within those walls were familiar scenery and fond memories.
If Nezumi harboured hatred toward the entirety of No. 6, its people, scenery, memories and all, then he couldnt sympathize with that hatred.
Nezumis fingers withdrew from his chin.
"You love No. 6, and I hate it. Thats why― one day, were going to be enemies."
It was a murmur. A murmur that stabbed at his heart.
"I have a feeling that we will," Nezumi said quietly.
He had said something similar before. That time, too, Shion had said that he wanted to know. He had wanted to know how Nezumi grew up. I want to know about you, he had said. And now he was receiving the same answer as he did that time. Were going to be enemies. But that time, there had still been laughter in Nezumis eyes, and his voice had been light with jest. But now, it was heavy. A darkness hung over the statement, and its weighty reality sank deeper into Shion. It was Nezumis honest answer.
Some day, well be enemies.
Nezumi rose to his feet, and looked up at the clock on the wall.
"c.r.a.p, Im late," he said to himself. "The managers probably p.i.s.sed off." He turned his back to Shion. His voice and his eyes were wiped clean of any shadow of murderous intent. His grey eyes were bright, and his tone of voice was casual.
"Nezumi."
"Yes, yes," Nezumi said unconcernedly. "Mama is going to work now. Little lamb, you are in charge of the house while Im gone. A scary wolf is going to come by, but whatever you do, you arent allowed to open the door. Okay?"
"Dont underestimate me," Shion said quietly.
Nezumis expression hardened. He drew his chin back a little, and knitted his brow.
"What did you just say?"
"I said, dont underestimate me too much."
"Are you offended because I called you a little lamb? Then why dont I give you the role of the Little Red Riding Hood? Cute and innocent Red Riding Hood. Oblivious to doubts and caution, she ends up being eaten by the wolf. A perfect role for you."
Im not going be provoked. You can condescend me all you like. But I have something I need to tell you.
"Sometimes there are things I can see that you cant."
"I dont understand what youre saying," Nezumi said bluntly. "Oh wait, thats supposed to be your usual line, right?"
"You put everything into dichotomies," Shion continued, ignoring Nezumis comment. "You either love or you hate. Youre either friends or enemies. Outside the wall, or inside the wall. And you always say you can only ever choose one of them."
"Of course. If I stood there at the fork in the road wasting time trying to decide what to do, Id wither away. Thats what cowards and traitors do. You cant run away forever. Some day youll have to choose one over the other."
"Dont you think that there could be a third way?"
"Third way?"
"Yeah."
"Shion, what youre saying is incomprehensible," Nezumi said irritably. "What third way?"
"Instead of destroying No. 6, what if you made it disappear? Dont you ever think about that?"
Nezumi put a hand to his cheek, and took a deep breath. He was restraining himself from letting it show on his face, but Shion could tell he was agitated. Shion took a step forward.
"Tear the walls down. Get rid of them."
"You mean No. 6s barriers?"
"Yeah. Without its walls, No. 6 as a place will no longer exist. Everyone will be able to come and go freely. Take away the walls and gates. Then there will be nothing dividing No. 6 and the Blocks from each other, and―"
Nezumi burst out laughing. He bent over, holding his stomach. His hollow laughter echoed in the bas.e.m.e.nt room. The mice huddled together fearfully and curled up into b.a.l.l.s, making them smaller yet.
"Is it that funny to you?" Shion said tensely.
"Its hilarious. Its so funny, its bringing me to tears. Youre not just a little airheaded, are you? Do you also have delusionary tendencies? What third way, huh? Those are just pretty words, an unrealistic fairy tale."
"Nezumi, I was serious when I said―"
"Ill have none of it." There was not a remnant of a smile left in his face as Nezumi said those words. "We cant have that place disappear so easily just yet. We have to let it keep being the way it is, let it dress itself up and eat a bellyful of good food, let it grow fat. I can just imagine how great it must feel to slice that belly open with one blow. Im going to pull out all of its gorged innards and expose it to the light. I cant wait. Yeah, spring is going to be great. Im quite excited."
Shion lifted his chin, and clenched both hands into fists at his sides.
"I dont care if you laugh at me, I still think it can be done," he said defiantly. "I want to believe that its possible."
"Youre just looking for an escape route," Nezumi shot back. "Youre looking for a way to avoid getting hurt. Say if you do get rid of the walls: you wont get any kind of heaven. Itll be h.e.l.l. Tumult, disorder, fighting, looting― you dont know how much these people have been oppressed until now. You dont know how many people have been sacrificed so that city can be where it is. You dont know, and thats why you can spin fairy tales like that. Shion, it cant be done. Its not like mixing paint, you cant mingle them together and make them one. Either one will have to destroy the other, thats the only solution. Thats what fate has set out. Love and hatred, friends and enemies, those within and those outside the wall― and you and I. They can never be as one, and neither can we."