intomyhead.Likeintuitionorsomething."

    Followingmyinstincts,IputJulioIglesias"BegintheBegine"ontheHi-Fisystemsturntableandwaitedforsu.Whenitgotdark,theseaturtlewouldcertainlylaunchhisattack.Then,allwouldbedecided:whetherwewouldbeeaten,orwhethertheseaturtlewouldweep.

    Justbeforemidnight,Iheardthesoundofsquishyfootstepsheentranceway,anddroppedtheneedleontotherecordstraightaway.WhenJulioIglesiasssugar-watervoicebegantosing"BegintheBegine,"thefootstepsimmediatelystopped,andintheirplacecouldbeheardaseaturtleanguishedmoaning.

    Wehadbeateurtle.

    Thatnight,JulioIglesiassang"BegintheBegine"126times.WhileIhateJulioIglesiastoo,itwasntnearlyasbadastheseaturtle.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TimeMae

    Or,theSerendipityofNoboruWatanabe,partII

    byMURAKAMIHaruki

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    Therewasaknockatthedoor.

    IleftthepeelofthetangerineIwaseatingontopofthekotatsuaothegenkan,onlytofindNoboruWatanabe(plumberandcollectorofpencilsharpeners)standingthere.Itwasabout6:30,soNoboruWatanabesaid"Goodevening."

    "Goodevening,"Ireplied,notreallyknowingwhy."Uhh,Idontremembercallingforanywork..."

    "Yes,Iknow.TodayIwouldliketoaskafavorofyou.Youhaveanoldfashioimemaeinyourhouse,andIthoughtthat...well,thatyoumightsidersingitforabrandnewone."

    "Timemae?"Irepeatedtomyself,alittlesurpris