esishunterafirmlyhisstrongdrivefromthepicture.ItwasthehappytimeliketheAgeofDiscoveryforAntithesishunters.

    ToenterrealshinyAntithesisinFreaurantsbecameashardastocatchafallieoritebyatennisracket.Ofcoursesometimesit’sonthemeoday.Butit’stakenfraheyarefromIndia,dryandalmosttasteless,smallAntithesis,furthermoretheyarefrozen.Ifmyunclefindssuchamenu,hewilltearittopiecesimmediately.Becausehekeptsaying,“BigAntithesis,ornothing”.

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    Eels

    HarukiMurakami

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    Itwas3:30inthemwhenIgotaphonecallfromMayKasahara,thatabruptlyroustedmefromadeepsleep.InthemidstofthesoftwarmmudofthevelveteensleepinwhichIwassubmerged,eelsandrubberbootscrowdedarouheoveralleffectbeingthatIwasgreedilydevthefruitofthisluxurianthappiness.Itwasthusthatthephonecallcame.

    Ringring.

    First,thefruitvahentheeelsandtherubberboots;andfinallythemudaswell,sothatatlastonlyIwasleft.Justme:37yearsold,drunk,andnotparticularlylikeable.Whatrightdoesaheworldhavetodeprivemeofmyeelsandrubberboots?

    Ringring.

    "Hello,"MayKasaharasaid."Areyouthere?"

    "Uh,yeah...hello,"Iresponded.

    "Hey,itsMayKasahara.Sorryforcallingsolate.Butthereareantsinginagain.Theybuiltaihesidepillarsi.WechasedImoutofthebathroom,buttheyjustmovedtheir.Idnotkidding:theymovedthewholething.Rightdowntothespeckledwhitebabies.Itstandit!So,like,brihatsprayagain,OK?