No. 6 Vol 3 Chapter 1.2
[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 wouldnt be foolish enough to come to me looking for groceries. So? Information about what?"
"The Correctional Facility."
Inukashi almost fell over.
"Correctional Facility!" he exclaimed. "You mean the one the Security Bureau presides over?"
"Is there some other Correctional Facility that no one knows about?" Nezumi said sarcastically.
Inukashi ignored him.
"So you want information... what kind of information?"
"Any kind, no matter how unimportant." Nezumi fished a white mouse out of his pocket. It was about the size of an adult thumb. Inukashis eyes narrowed.
"Is that a robot? Its smaller than the one you gave me last time."
Pulling off his gloves, Nezumi gently pressed the mouses head. Its back split open, and a yellow shimmer of light flickered momentarily before an image floated up into it.
"Whats this?"
"A hologram. The mechanism embedded in this mouse uses light to reproduce objects."
"I know what a hologram is," Inukashi said irritably. "Its my first time actually seeing one, though," he said as an afterthought. "But Im asking about whats displayed there. What is this? A blueprint?"
"Its a floor plan of the Correctional Facilitys inner structure, but its pretty outdated. The structure itself might not have changed, but their administrative system has probably been improved."
Inukashi scowled at him in a way that said, you must be kidding me.
"No can do. I dont care what kind of information you want, I wont be able to get it for you."
"Why?"
"Why? Dont ask me stupid questions. Do you know what kind of place that is? Of course you wouldnt," he said flatly, "I dont know either. No one knows, because there hasnt been a single person who came out of that place alive. ―Not even dead bodies can make it out of there. Once they pa.s.s through the Special Gates, they disappear. They vanish off the face of the earth. Thats the kind of place it is, right? Thats what the rumours say."
Inukashi gulped, and shuddered. Nezumi echoed his words back to him expressionlessly.
"Rumours?"
"Rumours say―" Inukashi began hesitantly, "theres a huge incinerator in the bas.e.m.e.nt, and all the prisoners get thrown in there. They get burned like garbage. And the ashes that come out of there are scattered on the farm fields of the South Block, instead of going to waste disposal. They say its good for the soil. ―Here, in this place."
Inukashi pointed at the bottom-most floor, presumably the bas.e.m.e.nt, on the diagram that floated above the table, and shuddered again. It was a blank white s.p.a.ce, and there was nothing written in it. This curiously empty s.p.a.ce gave him an eerie feeling.
"Theres no incinerator there," Nezumi muttered.
"What makes you so sure?" Inukashi said accusingly. "Have you seen it? How can you say that without even―"
Inukashi clipped his words halfway through and found himself staring at Nezumi.
"You know―?"
There was no answer.
"You know what its like inside the Correctional Facility? When―" Inukashis hand thrust into the light, and clenched into a fist. The image jittered and warped.
"When did you record this?" he demanded. "This is internal data."
"Inukashi, Im not paying you gold to answer your questions. I want whatever you can manage ― find any latest information about the interior of the Correctional Facility, and add it to this data. Specifically, if I were to be picky, Id want accurate information about the operations and security systems."
"You stupid or something? Operations system? Only people in the highest cla.s.ses have access to that, its top secret. Tough luck if I can even get my hands on it."
"Thats why Im not being picky. Gather whatever you can manage. Any information that has to do with the Correctional Facility, and I want it ASAP. Ill leave you with this."
Nezumi turned off the switch, and tossed the small projector mouse to Inukashi. Inukashi wrinkled his nose at it as if it were a rotting corpse.
"Should I use the mini-mouse I got from you last time?" he asked.
"No, that wont work. The Correctional Facility is full of security sensors. Any robot, no matter how small, is gonna get blown up if its caught scurrying around without proper recognition."
"Then use real mice," Inukashi continued. "Theyll be able to get in much easier than dogs. A small living organism isnt a problem for the sensor, is it?"
"Not so fast. Forget mice, even flies or c.o.c.kroaches would be exterminated automatically. Lasers burn them up so that theres nothing of them left. They dont let a single fly intrude into that place. And thats how it is."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Inukashi said in frustration. "How am I supposed to sneak in and gather information from some place thats all computer-managed?"
"You dont have to sneak in. Youre right ― pretty much all of the Facilitys interior is managed to the tee. But there are still lots of areas that involve people, too. And information usually leaks through the mouths of people. If theres anything computers cant control, its a mans tongue."
Inukashi hunched his shoulders exaggeratedly. He was beginning to make out, though vaguely, what Nezumi was trying to get at. He didnt want to see any more clearly if he could help it.
"Of course," he agreed promptly. "You need people operating the computers and humanoid robots. The guards would have to be human, and officials from the Bureau would be coming in and out of there. And we cant forget the prisoners, theyre human too, right? But apart from them, the only people that can come and go from the Correctional Facility are people inside No. 6. You need an IC card to get through the Special Gates. Its impossible to create a fake No. 6 IC card. Which means no one from the West Block can get near that building unless theyre prisoners. Not that anyone would wanna get near it, anyway. So ―" He was talking rather fast. "Well ― if we jump to the conclusion, pretty much its impossible for us to interact with people inside the Correctional Facility because theyre residents of No. 6, and that makes it an impossible case, right? You should know better than anyone. Those guys live in a completely different world from us. Its just different."
"Inukashi."
"What?"
"Youre talkative today."
Inukashi dropped his gaze. He knew that lowering his eyes signalled defeat, but he had no energy to glare back at the pair of grey ones that stared at him. He knew already who would win and who would lose.
Nezumi stood up and drew close to Inukashi, who was staring at the floor. He whispered in a voice raspy and low, but sensual ― a womans voice.
"Thats how you always are. When youve got something to hide, you suddenly become more eloquent. And then I realize the truth that lies in your heart ― that underneath that tongue of yours, flapping like a leaf in the wind, a furtive secret is curled up."
His fingertips stroked Inukashis chin, slid up his jawline, and lightly pinched his earlobe. Inukashi shivered. The brief moment of ecstasy was followed quickly by a small, sharp pain. His earlobe had been yanked.
"Ow!" he said indignantly. "The h.e.l.l was that for?"
"Dont underestimate me, Inukashi."
"Whatre you talking about? I wasnt―"
"Stop playing dumb. I know what youre using your dogs for. Thats why I came here."
Inukashi tsked loudly, and roughly shoved Nezumis hand away. Nezumi chuckled amusedly.
"You use your dogs to smuggle, dont you? Youve been transporting leftover food and garbage from the Correctional Facility into the West Block. For years now."
"I am," Inukashi answered defiantly. "So what? Transporting goods is also part of my trade. A rat like you has no business telling me what to do."
"The Correctional Facility has full waste disposal functions," Nezumi continued. "They can dispose of everything inside that building. You just said that not even corpses can make it out of there. Youre right. They even dispose of dead bodies inside that place. Which means there shouldnt even be a speck of dust escaping from there, much less leftover food. From that same Correctional Facility, you somehow manage to get periodical loads of leftover food, and sell it to the food stalls in the West Block. Makes good money, doesnt it? Maybe even more than your hotel-running business?"
"Is it not to your liking that Im operating in the black market?" Inukashi said scathingly. "You must be kidding me. Since when did you become a Bureau lackey, huh, Nezumi?"
"Machines dont trade with black-market merchants. Once programmed with a set of rules, theyll never break them. If anyones going to break the rules, its the humans. Theres someone in the interior of the Correctional Facility thats selling you leftover food, isnt there? No, not just food. Hes probably pa.s.sing prisoner rations and other belongings your way too. Anyway, the fact is, you have a contact inside the Correctional Facility. Sniff out a lead from him. Lure the information out of him."
Inukashi shook his head. The young man in front of him was trying to get him involved in more danger than he had expected. Inukashi broke out into a cold sweat.
"Its impossible―" he muttered. "The guys I deal with are the lowest of the low. They pretty much do the cleaning and waste disposal right alongside the robots. Theres no way they would have any sort of useful information."
"Thats exactly why you wanna ask them. The guys on the top tier are strictly overseen by the authorities. They cant risk the danger of letting any secrets slip. But management is lax with people in lower positions. And if their job is to clean the place, theyve probably been everywhere inside the Facility. Who knows, they might have more information than you think. Your job is to sniff it out. Your nose is as good as a dogs, isnt it?"
Inukashi heaved a sigh, and vainly attempted at a last act of retaliation.
"I need money. To get any information from them, Id need money. Two gold coins isnt gonna cut it."
Nezumi nodded, and pa.s.sed a small leather pouch to Inukashi. In it, there were a considerable number of gold coins.
"I only have this much right now." Nezumi suddenly squatted down and peered into Inukashis eyes.
"Inukashi, work with me. Im begging you."
Begging? Nezumi, are you begging me?
"If you take the job, I promise Ill always rush to your side if youre overcome with unbearable pain one day. No matter where you are, Ill deliver a song to your soul. I promise."
"Whos gonna count on a promise between a dog and a rat?"
No one could guarantee it. But yet ― Nezumi would keep his promise. Almost instinctively, the feeling apprehended Inukashis soul.
No matter where or how I died, if it was accompanied with suffering, he would always appear and put my soul to rest. He could be hard to understand as h.e.l.l, but he would never break a promise.
Inukashi believed strongly in his own instincts. He extended his hand, and closed it around the leather pouch.
"Ill take the job."
"I owe you one." Nezumi breathed out shortly, and wound the superfibre cape around his shoulders. Then, he put a finger to his lips.
"I shouldnt need to tell you, but none of this―"
"I know. I wont let anyone get wind of the job. Its the cardinal rule for my work. Ill gather the information as quickly as I can, and contact you before anyone else can find out."
"Im counting on you."
"Nezumi, I wanna ask you something."
"What?"
"What are you doing this for?"
Silence. It was impossible to read a single expression from Nezumis face. Inukashi licked his bottom lip, and continued.
"With this much money, you could live the easy life for a pretty good while. I knew you were a star actor and making quite a bit of money, but even for that, this is a lot. Putting this much money forward, and threatening me―"
"Im not threatening you. I only came to you with a job."
"Hmph―whatever. Then, going as far as to request a job from me ― what makes you want to poke your nose into the Correctional Facility so badly? Whats your reason?"
Nezumi didnt answer. He only made a slight half-smile. It was an artificial one, made for the stage.
"You dont need to know to do the job, do you, Inukashi?"
"Well, obviously," Inukashi said testily. "But diving into this kind of risky job without even knowing why is kinda harsh, man."
"Finding out why isnt gonna change how risky it is."
Tsk. This guy and his fondness of twisting arguments around ― Im no match for him when it comes to verbal arguments.
"Fine," he said finally. "Thats enough from you. Get outta here already." Inukashi flapped his hand to shoo Nezumi away. He caught a whiff of soap. The image of a face crossed his mind. It was the face of someone who was washing the dogs, covered in suds. The nonchalant question tumbled out of his mouth.
"Nezumi, this has nothing to do with Shion, does it?"
For a brief moment, the grey eyes wavered. Inukashis eyes didnt miss their slight hesitation. The tip of his nose twitched. He could smell something.
"Shion?" Nezumi raised his shoulders slightly. "Where does Shion come into this? This has nothing to do with him."
"Just now, you told me not to divulge information about this job to anyone else. Do you mean that I cant tell Shion either?"
"Of course. Theres no need to involve people that have nothing to do with this."
"Dear, dear, arent you the gentle one?" Inukashi mocked. "Who knows how many dangerous jobs youve shoved into my hands, but when it comes to Shion, oh no, I cant get him involved. Hah, I see. I guess even you warm up to people if youve lived with them long enough. Is that white-headed weirdo of a little boy that precious to you?"
Nezumi vanished from before his eyes. Before he could even utter a cry, Inukashis body was being pushed up against the wall, and a set of fingers were digging into his throat.
"Thats enough smart-mouthing from you," Nezumi hissed. "Any more, and Ill make sure you can never speak again."
"Lets see you try," Inukashi said boldly. "These guys wont let you off for it."
Several dogs which were sprawled on the floor got to their feet, snarling menacingly as they surrounded Nezumi. Just as one of them bared its teeth, a small grey shadow darted out of a corner of the room.
A strangled yelp.
The large dog that had bared its teeth raised its voice in pain. A small mouse was latched onto its neck. The dog writhed, violently shaking its head from side to side, but soon collapsed forepaws-first. Its four limbs convulsed. The other dogs retreated fearfully. Inukashi shoved Nezumi aside, and cried out in the same strangled way his dog did.
"My dog, my dog!" He lifted the dogs body in his arms. A cold voice showered over his head.
"If you dont want to end up like him, settle your other dogs down."
"Nezumi, you f.u.c.king―"
Cheep-cheep.
The soft cry of a mouse. Inukashi lifted his face, and his breath caught in his throat. He looked about the room, and he was rooted to the spot. From the top of the cabinets, from underneath the table, from the shadow of the door, from various places in the room, countless small grey mice were staring silently at him. All their eyes were red, and glowed from deep within.
"Down," Inukashi commanded hoa.r.s.ely. The dogs did as they were told. They returned to their spots, and lay low on their stomachs.
"Hes not dead," Nezumi said. "Hes just paralysed a little bit. Give him twenty, thirty minutes and hell be fine. Hes breathing properly, right?"
It was just as Nezumi had said. The dogs breathing was laboured, but consistent. It was struggling to get to its feet, but it looked like it had no strength to. It gave a pitiful whimper.
"Youll pay for doing this to my dog." Just as Inukashi clenched his fist, the door flew open with a bang. Shion came bursting in.
"Inukashi!" Shion stood frozen, still holding the doork.n.o.b. His gaze slid from Inukashi, who was hugging his dog, to Nezumi.
"Nezumi, what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here? You shouldnt be abandoning your workplace like that."
"Well, I heard a dog howling, and I thought I heard Inukashis voice too ― I thought something had happened ― Inukashi, whats wrong with that dog?"
"Hes just paralysed," Nezumi answered for him. A brown mouse poked its head out from Nezumis shoulder. It jumped down on the floor, and scurried up Shions body.
"Hamlet, did you come along too?" Shion said to it.
"Hamlet? Whatre you talking about?"
"Its his name. Because he likes to be read Hamlet out loud."
Nezumis face contorted.
"Dont go naming my mice without permission."
"Well, you wouldnt name them yourself," said Shion, unfazed. "―He seems to like it a lot. Right, Hamlet?"
The mouse nodded its head up and down.
"Ridiculous," Nezumi spat. "So if this guys Hamlet, whats the other one? Oth.e.l.lo? Macbeth?"
"Cravat."
"Cravat? Was there a name like that in Shakespeare?"
"Its the name of a fried pastry. The colour of his fur looks just like one. It means tie, because of the shape. The dough has powdered almonds in it, and you twist it into a tie-shape to fry―"
"I get it, thats enough," Nezumi interrupted. "You go dream of filling your belly with those cravats, or whatever, when you go to sleep tonight. Im going home. Talking with you gives me a headache."
"Are you sure it doesnt have something to do with your nerves? Youre always irritated. Maybe youre tired."
"Whose fault is it that Im irritated all the time? Besides, you―"
Feeling Inukashis bewildered gaze on him, Nezumi shut his mouth. He re-wrapped his superfibre cloth, and strode out of the room without another word. Hamlet nudged Shion on the cheek and chirruped once before bounding after its master.
The grey mice that had been all over the room had mysteriously disappeared. Inukashi let a long breath escape his lips, and sank to the floor. The dog gave a low growl in his arms. Shion bent down on one knee and began inspecting the dog thoroughly.
"He looks like hes been paralysed with some sort of drug... but his hearts beating normally, and hes not vomiting. He should be fine."
"Really? He wont die?"
"Hell be fine. Hes only mildly paralysed. We should give him clean water to drink. Ill go get some." Shion filled the pail that he had been using to carry water from the river, and brought it to the dog. The dog gulped the water down eagerly.
"See, it looks like the numbness is almost all gone. But this dog ― how did he get paralysed?"
"Nezumi did it."
"Nezumi? To the dog? No way."
"Yes way," Inukashi said angrily. "He did it. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d paralysed my dog. He wouldnt hesitate to do something like that. Hes ruthless, cunning, and cruel. Id watch out if I were you. If you let his pretty face fool you into thinking hes going to be gentle and kind like your Mum, youre in for a nasty surprise."
"I dont think hes my mother, but I do think hes kind."
Inukashi made circles with his index finger in front of Shions face.
"Idiot. Thats what Im talking about when I say hes fooled you. Youre too naive to notice how heartless he is."
"Nezumi isnt heartless. Hes saved my life more than once. If it werent for him, I wouldnt have been able to survive."
"Nezumi, help a stranger? Without anything in return?"
"For nothing in return. On the contrary," Shion said reflectively, "I think hes brought a nuisance upon himself. It might sound weird coming from me, but I think Im being quite a bit of a burden on him. After all, I dont know anything about how to live here."
Inukashi pursed his lips. He let his gaze hover over Shions profile as he washed the dogs wound with water.
A nuisance? He was quite right. In these parts, someone who was as naive and gullible as he was, and was kind to everyone, was none other than a nuisance. And a nuisance often became the shackles that binded the hands and feet.
But Nezumi was living with this weirdo of a nuisance, looking for nothing in return. He wasnt chasing Shion out of his nest ― on the contrary, he was sheltering him there.
Why?
"Hey, Shion."
"Hm?"
"Do you two always talk like that to each other?"
"Huh? Well ― yeah, I guess. Why?"
"Because Nezumis usually not like that. He doesnt let his emotions show."
Shion c.o.c.ked his head to the side quizzically, as if to say, really?. The dog licked the back of his hand. It was its way of expressing grat.i.tude for treating the wound.
Inukashi wiggled his nose and grinned. He was onto a scent.
Shion and that job concerning the Correctional Facility were somehow connected. For this kid, Nezumi was willingly stepping into dangerous territory.
Inukashi had no proof. He wasnt sure of any clear reason for why Nezumi was doing this. But he had grasped Nezumis weakness now, and that was certain.My nose doesnt lie.
Nezumi, so this oblivious weirdo is your weakness, your Achilles heel, huh? Heh, then things should be interesting. You said so. Let anyone find out your weakness, and it could cost you your life. Youre d.a.m.n right. And Ive got your lifeline in my hands right now. Ill make sure you get rewarded handsomely for what you did to me. You can count on that.
"I might be wrong, but..." Shions voice reached his ears. He was petting the dog, which had gotten to its feet and was wagging its tail energetically, apparently fully recovered from paralysis.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"This dog ― is he related to you, by any chance?"
"Oh ―" Inukashi paused. "Yeah, he is. Hes the last one that my Mum gave birth to. She had him, and got beaten to death shortly afterwards." There was a lapse before he said, "Howd you know?"
"I just had a feeling," Shion said. "He has really intelligent and compa.s.sionate eyes. It kind of reminded me of what you said about your mother, so I wondered if I was right."
Shions hand stroked the dogs neck. The dogs eyes drooped half-closed, and a quiet sigh escaped from its mouth. From its peaceful expression it was hard to imagine that the same dog had bared its teeth at Nezumi earlier.
"Shion, you didnt laugh."
"Huh? About what?"
"About my Mum. Usually when I talk to people about my Mum being a dog, they laugh, or make fun of me, or treat me like a freak... but you ― you said my Mum was kind and loving. Youre the only one whos listened to me without laughing or making fun of my Mum, apart from―"
Inukashi clipped his words, and swallowed hard. He had just noticed this fact. Simultaneously, he was overcome with a wave of agitation that threatened to suffocate him.
Shion, still on one knee, looked up at him with a concerned expression. Inukashi licked his dry lips, and slowly formed the rest of his words as if tracing the thread of his memory.
"Youre the only one ― apart from Nezumi."
-- END OF CHAPTER 1 --