edfromsomeplaeplathisgroundokyo”withthatawfulspeed,wemightcallitanunreasonablespeed.Shewaswalkinggrippingastrapofherhandbagwithherrighthand,flappingskirtsofhertrenchcoatinthewindandstraighteningherspine.

    WhenItookseveralstepstoherandwantedsomething,shewasfarforwardandIwasleftaloneinfrontoftheYotsuyastationinanawkwardmannerlikeRossanoBrazziiseof“Summertime”.ButIleasedtoknowTAKAYAMANoriko-sandidnotmisuandmysexualdesire.

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    Octopus

    byHarukiMurakami

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    NoboruWatameapostcardictureofanoctopusonit.Beheoctopus,ashortnotehadbeenwritteninacrampedhand.

    "Ithasetomyattentionthatyourenderedmydaughterinvaluableservicewhileridingthesubwaytheotherday,forwhichIwaendmyheartiestthanks.Letsgoouttoeatoctopussometimesoon."

    Iwasverysurprisedwhehis.Ihadonlyjustgottenbaatrip,andforonereasonoranother,hadnothadcausetoridethesubwayfornearlytwomonths,nordidIrememberrenderinghisdaughteranyaid.Forthatmatter,Ididntevenknowhehadadaughter.Iguesshehadmefusedwithsomeoneelse.

    Buteatingoctopustogetherdidntsoundsobad.

    IwroteNoboruWatater.Ocard,thereictureofathrush,behwhichIwrote:

    "Thankyouforyourpostcardoftheotherday.Ilikeoctopusalot.Letsgoouttoeattogether.Pleasetactmeattheendofthemonth."

    AfullmonthpassedwithoutanyresponsefromNoboruWatanabe.Heprobablyletitpassasamatterofcourtesy,Ithought.AndalthoughIhadthestr