TheSeaLioival

    byMURAKAMIHaruki

    TranslatedbyKiki

    Iamsmokingacigaretteafterasimplelunchwhenasealioomyapartment.Ihearaknock,soIahedoor.Atmyfrontdoorthereisasealion.Thereisn’treallyanythingspecialabouthim.Itisjustanordinarysealion.Imeanheisn’twearingsunglassesorathree-pieceBrooksBrotherssuit.Actuallyhelooksold-fashionedandalmostese.

    ”Goodafternoon.omeetyou,”saystheSeaLion.“ItrustthatI’mnotdisturbingyou.Isthisagoodtime?”

    “It’sok,I’mnotreallythatbusy,”Isay,abitflustered.

    Sealionsarerelativelyharmlessanimals.Thereisnothingfierceorthreateningaboutthem.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatkindofsealionyouhaveatyourfrontdoor,thereisreallynoreasonfor.Andthisonedidn’tlookanydifferent.

    Thatrealizationisalmostmoredisturbing.

    “Ifyoucouldjustgivemetenminutes,I’dbereallygrateful.”OutofhabitIglamywatch.Butthatisunnecessary.Ihavetime.

    “Butitmightakethatlong,”theSeaLionadds,practicallyreadingmythoughts.WithouteventhinkingaboutitIleadhimintomyapartment.Ievenofferhimaglassofbarleytea.

    “Youshouldn’thave.Youreallydidogotosuchtrouble.”Hedownshalfoftheteainonegulp.Theakesacigarettefromhisjacketpocketandlightsitwithhislighter.“It’sstillreallyhot,isn’tit?”

    “That’sforsure.”

    “Butatleastthemsandeveningsarenotsobad.

    “Yeah,butitisSeptemberafterall.”

    “Hmm.Thehighschoolbaseballtourisalreadyfinished.AndtheGiantshaveallbutchedthepennant.Nothingmuchtogetworkedupabout,isthere?Summer’spracticallyfinished.”

    “Iguessyht.”