Maing-Cats

    byHarukiMurakami

    TtranslatedbyPhilipGabriel

    Iboughtaneerattheharborandcameacrossanarticleaboutanoldwomanwhohadbeeenbycats.ShewasseventyyearsoldandlivedaloneinasmallsuburbofAthens--aquietsortoflife,justherahreecatsinasmallone-roomapartment.Oneday,shesuddenlykeeledoverfacedownonthesofa--aheartattack,mostlikely.Nobodyknewhowlongithadtakenforhertodieaftershecollapsed.Theoldwomandidnthaveaivesorfriendswhovisitedherregularly,anditwasaweekbeforeherbodywasdiscovered.Thewindowsanddoorwereclosed,asweretrapped.Therewasntanyfoodintheapartment.Grahererobablysomethinginthefridge,butcatshaventevolvedtothepoiheyopenrefrigerators.Onthevergeofstarvation,theywereforcedtodevourtheirownersflesh.

    Ireadthisartii,whowassittingacrossfromme.Onsunnydays,wedwalktotheharbor,buyacopyoftheAthensEnglish-languageneer,andordercoffeeattheextdoortothetaxoffidIdsummarizeinJapahingiingImighteacross.Thatwastheextentofourdailyscheduleontheisland.Ifsomethinginaparticularcaughtouri,wedbataroundopinionsforawhile,IzumisEnglishrettyfluent,andshecouldeasilyhavereadthearticlesherself.ButIneveroncesawherpickupapaper.

    "Iliketohavesomeooreadtome,"sheexplained."Itsbeenmydreameversince.

    Iwasachild--tositinasunnyplace,gaveattheskyorthesea,andhavesomeonereadaloudtome.Idontcarewhattheyread--aneer,atextbook,adoesntmatter.Butnooneseverreadtomebefore.SoIsupposethatmeansyouremakingupforallthoselostopportunities.Besides,Iloveyourvoice."

    Wehadtheskyaher