harpener

    Or,theSerendipityofNoboruWatanabe,partI

    byMURAKAMIHaruki

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    IftherewasntaguynamedNoboruWatanabe,Iwould,nodoubt,stillbeusingarattyoldpencilsharpehankstoNoboruWatanabe,ashinynewpencilsharpenerhaseintomypossession.Thiskindofgoodfortuhappeneveryday.

    WhenNoboruWatanabecameintomykit,heimmediatelyspiedmyoldpencilsharpetingoable.Thatday,Ihadbeenwatthekittableforageofpace.Thus,thepencilsharpenerhadbeebetweenabottleofsoysaudthesaltshaker.

    NoboruWatanabe,whilehewasfixingthesinksdrain--hebeingtheplumber--nowandthenwouldstealaglahetabletopoutoftheerofhiseye.Butatthattime,siherewasnowayofknowingthathewasamaniacalcollectorofpencilsharpeners,Icouldntfigureoutwhatintheworldhewassoiedinoabletop,atwhichhekeptstealingsuchpointedglahereweremanyandvariedthingsscatteredoable.

    "Youknow,sir,thatsareallynicilsharpeneryouvegotthere,"NoboruWatanabesaid,afterhehadfihthepiperepair.

    "This?"Surprised,Ipickeditupoffthetable.Itwasthesameordinaryhand-operatedgadgetIdbeenusingformorethan20years,sincemymiddleschooldays,anditwasnodifferentfromanyother.Themetalpartwasbadlyrusted,andontopanAtomSealstickerhadbeenstushort,itwasoldanddirty.

    "Whatyouhavethereisa1963modelMarxPSD.Veryrare,"NoboruWatanabesaid."Thewaythebladecutsisalittledifferentfromanyothertype.Theshapeoftheshavingsissubtlydifferent."

    "Wow,"Isaid.

    ItwasthusthatIattainedabrandnewpencilsharpehel