After returning to London at the end of this voyage, the Wuchang will be scrapped. Although the thirty-year-old ship is not as fashionable and beautiful as the new ship, it is still quite strong.In the eyes of laymen, there is no way to see that it is about to face the fate of being eliminated. A relief of Greek mythology hangs on the wall of the Wuchang bar, and the tables and chairs are also full of antiquity.The overall atmosphere is not only solemn, but even arrogant. Nakagaki Teruichi leaned on the table deliberately as if he wanted to fight against this solemn atmosphere, when suddenly came from behind:

"What about these tables? Send them to an antique shop?" I saw Mrs. Rimbaud standing there.Although she was fifty, she looked to be in her early forties.Mrs. Rimbaud was originally Japanese and married an American entrepreneur as his wife. In order to study Buddhism, Nakagaki stayed in India for a whole year, and he missed the delicate skin of Japanese women.When he first saw that Mrs. Rimbaud was also on board this ship, he was overjoyed that he had been saved. In Mrs. Rimbaud, you can see the beauty beyond age, which may need to go through the baptism of years.In short, this kind of beauty is by no means comparable to young girls.What's more, it's not just that her attitude is calm, there is also a clear but floating light shining in her eyes behind the silver-rimmed glasses.

(She is a strong-willed woman.) This was Nakagaki's first impression when he saw her. "It shouldn't be scrapped together with the hull." Nakagaki put his elbows on the table and answered with squinted eyes.Every time he sees this woman, he can't help but feel unable to open his eyes. "We're almost at the Seto Inland Sea. Just now when we got on the deck, I could already smell the breath of Japan!" Mrs. Rimbaud said and sat down opposite Nakagaki.Although she was just sitting quietly, Nakagaki could faintly feel that her words and actions contained another deep meaning.

"How long have you been away from Japan?" Nakagaki asked.He heard from others that Mrs. Rimbaud had lived in the United States for at least twenty years. "I came back two years ago." "Go back to Japan often." "Mr. Nakagaki!" Madame Rimbaud interrupted him decisively.I probably want to stop talking like this—— "What do you think of Miss Rose?" "Rose?" Nakagaki hesitated for a moment.This question was a bit abrupt, making him at a loss for a while.As a matter of fact he happened to be thinking of Rose too. Rose?Gilmore is a guest from Hong Kong.I heard that she was born in Japan of English-Japanese mixed race, and stayed in Japan until she was fourteen years old. This time she returned to her hometown where she had been away for thirteen years.

"Yeah! It's that lovely young lady." Madame Rimbaud replied with a smile. "She is very focused in doing things. Rather than saying that she is a young lady, it is more appropriate to say that she is a scholar." Nakagaki replied. During Nakagaki's stay in India, apart from visiting various Buddhist sites, he stayed in the holy capital of Benes by the Ganges River, and had no contact with the Japanese at all.He was the only Japanese passenger when he boarded the Wuchang from Calcutta.It wasn't until arriving in Hong Kong that Nakagaki realized that he was originally Japanese when the two Japanese and English-Japanese female compatriots came up.

While chatting with Mrs. Rimbaud, he secretly compared the differences between the two women. (Rose, who is of mixed race, has a stronger sense of Japan than Mrs. Rimbaud, who is of pure Japanese descent!) he thinks. Madame Rimbaud narrowed her eyes and asked: "Oh, did Rose discuss scholarship with you?" "She wants to learn more about Buddhism. Since I don't know much, I dare not answer her question after asking." "That person seems to be fascinated by Japan." "That's right. She said she lived in Japan until she was fourteen." "I'm just a child at the age of fourteen. Maybe now that I've grown up, I want to go back to my mother's hometown."

"Japan is the hometown of her late mother, so it's no wonder she yearns for it." "That's why I'm worried. I'm afraid Japan will disappoint her." "Now Japan does have this possibility." "Mr. Nakagaki," Mrs. Rimbaud said suddenly and firmly, "you are a good person. I hope you will try your best not to disappoint her." "I?" "Yeah... I am very disappointed in Japan every time I go back to Japan. Fortunately, I met some good people, which changed my perception of Japan... I went back this time to meet someone. I hope you can also work hard not to let Luo Miss Si's dream is shattered."

"But I don't seem to be that perfect." Nakagaki wanted to smile wryly as he said that, but the muscles on his face couldn't relax. A year ago, when he set off from Japan to India, he also took a boat.At that time, he was full of youthful enthusiasm and ambition.But this year in India had shaken his faith and dampened his enthusiasm for learning. Of course, there are many reasons for this.However, after graduating from college, he saved money while teaching in high school, and wholeheartedly wanted to fulfill his dream of studying in India.If expectations are too high, dreams will be disillusioned, and the degree of injury will be relatively proportional.

He knew the same would happen to Rose, for her heart throbbed for her mother's country! "Whether it's perfect or not, I'm afraid even I don't know. At least give it a try... By the way, after you return to Japan, are you going to devote yourself to a temple, or continue to study?" "have not decided yet." The elderly father hoped that Nakagaki would return to the monastery in Xinzhou as the abbot.If he really chooses to take this path, then what will accompany him in the future will be a life of dealing with funerals, graves, and benefactors.As for returning to school to do research work, he was a little worried about his enthusiasm for learning.

"Whether you are a monk or a scholar, you might as well give it a try!" Mrs. Rimbaud stood up.Her high heels left traces on the red carpet.Nakagaki felt that every step left her strong will. Nakagaki still put his hands on the table, trying to relieve the tension.Mrs. Rimbaud is not rigid, and she can even be said to be quite smooth. Why should she be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility? (Rose, too. It was the passion in both of them that attracted me deeply.) Nakagaki explained it this way. Rose's father was different from the average expatriate in that instead of sending his daughter to an American school, he sent her to a regular Japanese school.When Rose was in the second year of middle school in Tokyo, she returned to England with her father.

Later, although Rose was educated in England, she majored in modern Asian history at university, and spoke Japanese very fluently, almost without the accent of a foreigner.In addition to the slower speed and the occasional expressions that are not colloquial, if you don't listen carefully, you won't be able to tell the difference from the Japanese.The reason for the lack of colloquialism is the lack of talking objects, so I have to use reading to make up for it. —Would you like to go to the deck at night?We should be almost at the Seto Inland Sea. Nakagaki thought of Rose's crisp voice after breakfast. After dinner, Nakagaki and Rose came to the deck. The Wuchang has entered the Seto Inland Sea. early March.Although there is no wind, the sea in early spring is still bitingly cold. As if trying to hide in a coat with a fur collar, Rose shrank her neck and muttered: "Ah! That's a Japanese lamp! . . . " A few lights flickered lonely on the land in the distance, and some ship lights echoed on the sea. "Finally we're almost in Japan." Nakagaki also turned up the collar of his coat. "Miss Rose, how do you feel? When the ship left Hong Kong, you once said that this trip is not so much going to Japan as it is more appropriate to say returning to Japan." Rose leaned against the railing. "It's strange to say. I was in Japan before I was fourteen years old, and I was in England for the next thirteen years. I spent exactly half the time in the two places. But, probably because I was born in Japan: I always feel like returning to Japan psychologically. .” "Although it's half the time, there are a few years of it that I'm still ignorant!" "Actually, I stayed in the UK for a long time! However, I can't forget Japan. For me, thinking about Japan is like thinking about my dead mother." "Japan... is the country of mother to you!" "Well! It's my mother's country, and it's also my childhood hometown. So, I think this time is a 'return' country. However, the closer I get to Japan, the more panic I feel. The feeling of going home should not be so complicated..." Rose has accepted an English teaching chair at Hanshin Fuso Women's University.Since she wanted to return to Japan to serve, when the Japanese side put forward a recruitment notice, she immediately recommended herself and started a trip to Japan. First, she took a flight from London to Pakistan, and then from India to Hong Kong via Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand. This trip just gave her the opportunity to really set foot on the land related to her research topic.After arriving in Hong Kong, she felt more and more shy about being close to home, so she chose to take the sea route in order to slowly adjust. "It's not surprising at all," Nakagaki said. Most of the longing for mother's country comes from girlish sentimentality, which is somewhat distant from reality. Now the sound of the engine and the lapping waves brought reality to Rose. Nakagaki could understand her uneasy mood very well. "Mr. Nakagaki." Hearing Rose's cry, he froze for a moment.It was the same as Mrs. Rimbaud's, a voice that wanted something.Is there something uneasy about her?Even if she has, she has the willpower to defeat restlessness. Rose adjusted her posture leaning against the railing, straightened her waist and said: "I want to ask you something." "What's up?" Nakagaki also left the guardrail. "I want to know everything about my mother. My father died two years earlier, and he never mentioned my mother before. All I know is that my mother died in Kobe, when I was five years old, and of course I don't remember anything. Oh, I really do. I hope someone can help me investigate more about my mother... Mr. Nakagaki, would you like to?" "I?" Nakagaki was surprised.Since I want to know everything about my mother urgently, why don't I check it myself?Rose's personality should be very positive! She is an intelligent and sensitive woman with dark chestnut hair.Although the other party's expression could not be seen clearly on the deck at night, she seemed to have sensed the confusion in Nakagaki's heart. "I want to know the real face of my mother. I guess there should be someone in Kobe who knows my mother. But if I... Rose? Gilmore asked, would they tell me the truth?" "What you said also makes sense." Rose was right.Most people would not criticize their mother in front of their daughters, they would only praise the good points of the old man, but they would hide their shortcoming more. "So I can't find out by myself...Mr. Nakagaki, didn't you say last time that you would stay in Kobe for a while before returning to the country?" "Ok……" Nakagaki planned to go to his relative Shimada Yoshinori instead of returning directly to Shinshu after landing in Kobe.He wanted to meet with Shimada to understand some situations so as to serve as a reference for future actions. The news of Komahashi Kazuko's marriage was told by Shimada in a letter, but he didn't know the details.Shimada was afraid that Nakagaki would be frustrated, so he just told the result of the development of the matter. If you don't find out her true heart, you won't be able to decide where you will go—Nakagaki has such a state of mind. "How long will you be in Kobe?" Rose asked. "Well, it hasn't been decided yet. A day or two at least, a week at most..." "Will it be busy?" "probably not." "Then, please take the time to help me find out about my late mother...I used to think that my mother died of illness, but I didn't know that was the case until recently. So, I really want to know the real situation." "You said she didn't die of illness?" "It was an accident." Rose said and lowered her head. The sky is full of stars, but there is no bright moon.The waters of the Seto Inland Sea spread like ink before my eyes. "Did you have a car accident?" Nakagaki asked. "No, it's a fire." Rose stared at the pitch-black sea and answered. Nakagaki counted back the time.Rose was twenty-seven years old. She said her mother died when she was five, so that meant it was twenty-two years ago. To be correct, it should be the second year after the end of the war.However, there are many ways to calculate the year, and I am afraid that there will be an error of about one year.Had it been a year earlier, the year the war had ended, her mother would have died in an air raid. Nakagaki was three years older than Rose, and he was exactly seven years old when the war ended.Since he lived in the countryside of Shinshu, he had no experience of being subjected to air raids, but he once went to Tokyo with his father, and there were ruins and ruins as far as he could see, and the scene of people running and weeping is unforgettable to this day. "It was the second year after the war," said Rose. He once again showed his foresight, as if he had seen Nakagaki calculating with his fingers. "Then, he didn't die from an air raid!?" Nakagaki said. Rose nodded. "My father didn't tell me the real cause of my mother's death until he passed away... Ah, it's not surprising. After all, the news that my mother was burned to death is a very heavy blow to a child. Then even if the child grows up, it will be difficult to change his mouth and say that what he told before was all lies. In addition, the father has a silent personality and doesn't like to talk too much..." "I see." Nakagaki echoed. "I only found out last year. I went to Aunt Dorothy's once...she's my father's sister." Rose reluctantly shifted her gaze from the sea to Nakagaki, leaning her back against the guardrail.The light from the cabin window dimly casts light on her beautiful cheeks.Although the strong personality is displayed between the brows, but due to the dim lighting, the outline is softer and more delicate. "At that time, I had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep. After Aunt Dorothy found out about this, she scolded me severely. When she taught me, she accidentally slipped her mouth... She said you If you continue like this, sooner or later you will follow in your mother's footsteps!" "Lingtang also takes sleeping pills?" Taking advantage of Rose's pause, Nakagaki immediately asked. "I heard that it was because I took sleeping pills and slept too deeply that I couldn't escape during the fire. I pestered Aunt Dorothy, but I could only find out such a little information..." "What about the rest of your family?" "Father seems to be on a business trip, and I was taken back to her hometown in the countryside by the maid for vacation... In Mount Liujia, there are hot springs..." "Ah, there are horses!" "Yes, I went to Arima. So, that night, only my mother stayed in Kobe alone. She probably slept too deeply and didn't notice the fire at all...Our family managed to escape the air raid." "It's so miserable." "After listening to Aunt Dorothy's words, I suddenly had an impulse to know more about my mother. At that time, because of emotional disputes and depression, I would take sleeping pills... To be precise, I was broken in love... I guess Mom probably has some troubles in her heart, so she will take sleeping pills. But I am afraid that even my mother's old friends will not tell me the truth, after all, things are a bit complicated... That's why I want to ask Mr. Nakagaki." "Is Lingtang your idol?" "Of course! Although I don't remember what my mother looks like, in my mind she is a perfect woman." "Then, maybe after my investigation, there will be some results that you don't want to know." "It's okay, no matter what happens, I can bear it. Please be sure to say it clearly, don't hide it, I'm already prepared." A fishing boat approached the Wuchang.In addition to the sound of engines and waves, there was also the sound of people talking and laughing on board.I couldn't hear the content of their conversation, but it was a long-lost hometown dialect. (How strange! If these fishermen speak Japanese, what language do Rose and Mrs. Rimbaud speak?) It's an amazing feeling. "It's a very difficult job." Nakagaki murmured. "But you will accept it!?" Rose took half a step towards Nakagaki, and asked as if she wanted to see through her heart. "I'll do my best to see." Nakagaki replied.Rose even told him the past about taking sleeping pills when she broke up in love, so how could he not agree. "Then I'll leave it to you. I've got some other things to do," said Rose. "The new semester only starts on April 10th, isn't there still more than a month's vacation?" "Taking advantage of this spare time, I want to investigate and collect some research reports. This part is related to my father." "My lord?" "Yes. In 1940, the year before the Pacific War, there was a spy case called the Marshall Affair. Did you know that?" "Ah... I'm a layman in this area. Unless it's a very big thing, I don't know." "That year, an Englishman named Frank Marshall was reported to the Kobe authorities by an international spy organization, and he committed suicide during the investigation. Because of this incident, my father was also arrested by them, and he was detained for a month before being released." Rose stared at the lights of the distant land, and narrated the Marshall incident, her tone was slightly different from when she talked about her dead mother just now. Although she specializes in modern Asian history, her main topics are related to the contact between Western European countries and Asia.For her who is of English-Japanese mixed race, it can be said that it is a suitable topic to choose. The Marshall incident was not like ①Editor's note: The espionage case that broke out in Japan in October 1941.German journalists Richard Sorge and Ozaki Hidemi reported Japanese government secrets to the Soviet Union, but were arrested and executed. This matter has less to do with her father than with Rose's research interests.It is slightly different in nature from the accidental death of the mother. "When my father was alive, I asked him many times, but he always replied that he and Marshall were not related, and that people would be suspicious only because they knew each other. My father repeatedly said that he was just an antique art dealer. The espionage case has nothing to do with it?" "It really doesn't matter." "However, I always feel that something is wrong." Rose said vaguely. "The espionage incident..." Nakagaki thought of his friend Yoshinoshi Shimada. Shimada has not loved classics but only novels since he was studying at a Buddhist university, and he has published several novels in fanzines.Nakagaki visited him before going to India. Although Shimada was already working in Kobe at that time, he still couldn't forget the novel. Ian was popular at that time?A spy novel headed by Fleming. ——Spy novels must have a basis in reality.For example, I plan to investigate the details of a certain espionage incident first, and then use it as a blueprint to write a novel.Must be a wonderful masterpiece! I still remember Shimada shaking his huge body and looking smug. "By the way, my friend may have researched this incident." Nakagaki said. "your friend?" Rose flicked her hair from her temples.I don't know when the wind started to blow. "He's a fan of novels. He also said that in order to write a novel, he must investigate real espionage incidents... This person happens to be living in a household now, so he may have investigated the Marshall incident you mentioned." "What a coincidence." "Anyway, I'll meet him and ask." "Please!" "got windy." Nakagaki said as he pulled up the collar of his coat. "Let's go in." Rose tapped on the guardrail lightly, turned and walked back. The way she walks is exactly the same as Mrs. Rimbaud walking out of the salon.The heels of high heels also seem to be heavily carved into the deck. Nakagaki followed behind her as if being led.Judging by the way he walks, you can probably guess that this person is not assertive. Walking to the door of the cabin, Rose suddenly turned around and said: "I have three purposes for returning to Japan this time. One is to know more about my mother; the second is to investigate the Marshall incident; the third is to heal my wounded heart." The tone seemed to be solemnly declared. Not only to Zhong Yuan, but also to himself. Probably a strong-willed person must remind himself from time to time. Nakagaki sent Rose to the door, then turned around and turned back. The sea was very calm, and the ship didn't feel shaking.However, Nakagaki tightly grasped the iron railing installed on the corridor wall and sighed. (This row of railings with mottled paint will also become a pile of scrap iron!...) Nakagaki felt at the mercy of Rose's strong will, and had only now broken free from her magic.Although he didn't recite any spells, he felt like he was bewitching. Railings turned into scrap iron will eventually be melted and become invisible.That's not exactly the Buddhist truth that I'm used to hearing. form is emptiness— "Form" in Buddhist scriptures refers to tangible substances.Nakagaki, who came back from India, kept chanting its Sanskrit word "Ruba" silently in his heart. He slapped the railing with his palm. Before he knew it, he repeated Rose's action just now. Nakagaki quickly withdrew his palm. (Why are you afraid of Rose's willpower?) He asked himself quietly. He failed to achieve anything, and he didn't know where to end his life, so he returned to his hometown.Such a him, no wonder he was drawn by Rose's strong thoughts. It may be an exaggeration to say that she is afraid, but it should be said that Rose's willpower is dazzling.But he believes that as long as he is patient, he will get used to it. It might be an opportunity for Nakagaki to accept Rose's plea to investigate her mother's behavior.During this period, you may be able to find the direction of your life by getting in touch with her and being influenced by her. (Mrs. Rimbaud also advised me to give it a try. It is a matter of trust and loyalty. Just help her!) Nakagaki secretly decided. The next afternoon, the Wuchang arrived at Kobe Port. (finally arrived at home!……) Nakagaki felt ashamed that he only had such a little emotion for himself. The ship entered the harbor and slowly approached the pier, and almost all the passengers rushed to the deck.Nakagaki was also sandwiched between Mrs. Rimbaud and Rose, overlooking Kobe City and the mountains in the distance from the deck.Regardless of the buildings in the urban area or the screen-like Mount Rokko, the whole village is bathed in sunlight, shining brightly. Rose's brown eyes stared straight ahead as she bit her lower lip.Missing her mother and curiosity about the Marshall incident must be surging in her heart, full of youthful strength. From time to time, Mrs. Rimbaud had a slight smile on her face—she was about to set foot on the land where the missing man was, and the satisfaction in her heart could not help showing on her face. (But how do I feel in my heart? Seeing the motherland that I have been away for a year, do I not feel it?) Nakagaki blamed himself secretly. But no matter how much he blamed himself, there was no water coming out of his dry heart spring. "Will your friends from Kobe come to pick you up?" Rose asked. "No, I didn't notify him... What about you? Is someone from the school coming to pick you up?" "I didn't tell them the name of the boat either. Because I wanted to enjoy traveling more freely." "Mrs. Rimbaud, where is the person you miss?" Nakagaki turned to Mrs. Rimbaud on the right. She shook her head quietly. "I didn't invite him here. Meeting at the port will spoil the atmosphere. I have to collect my luggage later and go through formalities. How can I be in a good mood in such a chaotic situation!? Plum blossoms are blooming." This year's plum blossoms are more than half a month later than in previous years. Even so, the plum blossoms at Suma Shousunji Temple are just beginning to bloom. The young abbot Yoshinori Shimada took the cushions to the corridor and placed his huge body on top of them. "Hey!" While making a yelling sound, he crossed his legs, as if his body was too heavy to control. "You seem to have gained weight again." Seeing Shimada's huge body tremblingly sitting on the cushion, Nakagaki couldn't help but said. Shimada rubbed his head with his hands, "I can't help it! I have nothing to do, so I have to work hard to gain weight. It seems that I have to do beauty gymnastics." "You, you have a big heart and a fat body." Nakagaki said, and sat down opposite Shimada. "Alas! I envy you that you can sit down without making a sound." "Am I losing weight?" "Have you? I can't remember what you looked like a year ago." "You are so careless that you keep gaining weight." "Si, makes sense! Ha, ha, ha..." Shimada laughed loudly. Although the two were joking, Shimada knew why Nakagaki lost weight.It was not only because of the hot climate in India, but also because of the news of Kazuko Komahashi's marriage, which deeply shocked Nakagaki's body and mind. Before going to India, Nakagaki taught at a high school related to Buddhism in Kyoto. Kazuko Komahashi was the daughter of a teacher who lived near his residence.Since he is a distant relative of the landlord, he often visits his house to play.Kazuko had just graduated from a short-term college at that time, hadn't looked for a job, and was staying at home to get married. Shimada often went to Kyoto to find Nakagaki, so he knew about their relationship. ——That woman is very powerful, you have to be careful. At that time, Shimada poured cold water on Nakagaki, and his guess proved to be correct afterwards. "Would you like to hear from her?" Shimada turned his gaze to the garden.He, who has always been upright, has such a delicate mind that he dare not look at the other party when talking about this topic. "At this point, I don't want to hear about it anymore." Nakagaki replied. "Liar!" Shimada looked away and said in a low voice. "real." "Oh, you got enlightened in India? Ha, ha, ha..." Shimada laughed, while staring at Nakagaki as if looking for some flaw. "Even if you are enlightened, you might as well listen to her news... Anyway, you have given up. In fact, it is not bad to know the result early. In short, she regards marriage as arithmetic, and the marriage partner has been decided long ago." Nakagaki listened to Shimada's words in a daze. (back home!) So far there is a real feeling. When he was at the Kobe pier, he was in such a hurry that he had the illusion that he was still traveling.Rose was going to Fuso Women's University in Hanshin City, while Mrs. Rimbaud would stay in the hotel overnight and go to Tokyo early the next morning, and the three broke up.Nakagaki doesn't know where Rose lives, so he can only contact her through the university. On the way to Suma Shousunji Temple by taxi, Nakagaki looked at the street scene of Kobe outside the car window, and did not feel any special emotion of returning home. Only now did he feel like he was finally home. (Is it because of the plum buds?) Nakagaki stared blankly at the plum blossom buds in the yard, thinking so. Shimada continued: "The other party is a relative of the flower arrangement teacher. His father is the chairman of a large company. He seems to be the managing director himself. He opened a small coffee shop in Kawaramachi after work. The chic cafe owner is very attractive to girls. , school teachers or monks are not comparable. As for Miss Komahashi's eyes on you at that time... To put it bluntly, I think she is fascinated by your melancholy face. But people with sad faces only You can watch it, but it’s troublesome to stay together. So after you went to India, she probably figured it out. It’s better to marry a coffee shop owner and a young industrialist... This is a simple calculation that anyone can do! " While Shimada was talking, Nakagaki kept looking in the direction of the courtyard.However, he could feel Shimada's hesitant gaze staring at the side of his face, making it very uncomfortable. "It may be cruel, but I think we should try our best to let you know the truth." After speaking, Shimada coughed dryly. "That's it?" Nakagaki asked. "That's the outline of the matter." "never mind." "Oh, relieved. I thought you would get to the bottom of it." "I realized it in India." Nakagaki said with a smile.The laughter was unexpectedly hearty.He looked away from the plum tree, and saw Shimada's full moon-like face showing a look of relief. When returning to Japan, he must face the news of Komahashi Kazuko's marriage.This matter has been lingering in his mind, so when Shimada mentioned Kazuko just now, he immediately felt that he had finally returned home. "I want to ask you another matter." Nakagaki put his thumb to his chin and said. "Oh, something else?" When Shimada heard that it was not Kazuko Komahashi that Nakagaki was interested in, he immediately relaxed.He stretched his crossed legs forward and stacked them together. "Are you still writing novels?" Nakagaki asked. "Occasionally, it's not in a hurry anyway." "What about spy novels? Didn't you say you wanted to write spy novels based on real events?" "Not yet. We have to collect data first." "Haven't you collected any information yet?" "I've been too busy lately." "Probably before the outbreak of the Pacific War, there was a Marshall incident in Kobe. How much do you know about this espionage case?" "Ah, is it the British spy case where the protagonist committed suicide by jumping off a building in the middle of the investigation?" "Yes. Did you investigate, too?" "No. That espionage case is very difficult to find out. . . Why are you interested in it?" "On the ship back to Japan, I met a girl whose father had been involved in the Marshall spy case... That's why I wanted to know the truth of the matter." "Really?" Shimada rubbed his nose, thinking for a moment. "I have information on this incident." "Great! Can you explain?" "Okay. Wait a minute, I'll go look for it." Shimada raised his heavy body with another yell. (Did he yell like this when he chanted sutras for the benefactor?) Nakagaki couldn't help but smile wryly as Shimada's chubby body walked out of the room as if swimming. After waiting for a while, Shimada finally walked in with a card. As before, he sat down with his huge body shaking, and handed the card to Nakagaki. "This is it." "Only this card?" Shimada said there was information, but he thought it was a thick stack of files, but unexpectedly it was just a data card the size of a postcard.Moreover, a few words were written on the card.Nakagaki felt disappointed. The data card reads: Frank Marshall, British, thirty-two years old at the time, was stationed in Japan on Steamship H, and later committed suicide. Simon Gilmore, an Englishman then thirty-four years old and an antiques dealer, was released a month later.Showa thirty years back to England. Wang Shenming, Chinese, was 23 years old at the time: a student of the Economics Department of Peking University.After the incident, he was deported and returned to Japan after the war. He is now the owner of Kobe Kenmo Company. Tsunezo Kishio, a former military police lieutenant, was thirty years old at the time, and was transferred from Tokyo to Kobe to investigate the incident.A native of G Village, S County, Nagano Prefecture. Yoshitojiro, a reporter from B Newspaper, a native of Kumamoto Prefecture. "It's only that little?" Nakagaki couldn't hide his disappointment. Shimada shrugged exaggeratedly, "These are the key notes collected for future data investigation. Didn't I say that I haven't started yet?... Don't underestimate this information, but it is a very precious clue!" "Okay. Let me explain, what treasures are there in these materials?" "These data are from an old special police officer named Okazaki. He is old and his mind is not clear. I can only inquire about it from him." Shimada snatched the card back from Nakagaki's hand, and continued: "There are three people involved in this incident. Since the main suspect Marshall committed suicide, the investigation could not continue, so Gilmore was released, and this Chinese student named Wang Tongming was also deported. Well, this is the whole incident outline." "Please ask me to investigate, it is Mr. Gilmore's daughter." "Really? ... Si, I heard that Mr. Gilmore stayed in Japan until Showa 30." "He died two years ago in London." "Oh, I'll have to take this news down...it's kind of a big deal." Shimada stretched out his hand as he spoke, and Nakagaki took out a pen from his pocket and handed it to him. "Two years ago..." It took a while for such a simple calculation, and Shimada filled in the card with a pen: ——Death in Showa 41. "This Kishio Tsunezo is a gendarme sent from Tokyo to investigate. Mr. Okazaki said that at that time, all special incidents were handed over to the special police or gendarme for investigation, and they were not allowed to leak out. Therefore, I am afraid that only Kishio knows best about this case. .” "Kishio's hometown is very close to my hometown." "That's right... If you want to investigate, looking for Kishio is the fastest way. Although I don't know where he lives now, but I know where he is from. We are lucky, Mr. Okazaki's friend happens to be from Kishio's hometown. That way at least you don’t have to look for a needle in a haystack.” "Where is the last reporter?" "Well, him? ... This person seems to know the ins and outs of the matter very well. Okazaki said that he might know the details better than other special police officers. That's why I included him. I only know that he is Kumamoto People from the prefecture, everything else including age is a mystery. Anyway, as long as you can find Kishio, you can also find Yoshioka in the same way." "Wang Tongming, who was expelled, has returned to Japan?" "I do know his whereabouts. I live in Kobe, and I can make an appointment to meet at any time. Since I haven't started writing, I haven't met him yet." Strictly speaking, this card is not counted as data, but a clue of how to obtain the data. (You can start here!) Nakagaki stared at the card as if seeing the starting line. "Well, is Gilmore's daughter pretty?" Yoshinori Shimada asked while shaking his body. "very beautiful." "Oh... Miss?" "That's right." "I want to meet her too, maybe I can help... By the way, I plan to start writing a novel about the Marshall incident." "Aren't you busy?" "Ha, ha... You will be punished if you miss the opportunity to get close to a beautiful woman. By the way, she is a blonde beauty, right?" "Her mother is Japanese." "Then she's not blonde." It seems that except for the things recorded on the card, Shimada doesn't know anything about it.Simon of his cards?Add a note after Gilmore's column - married a Japanese woman. "Where's her mother?" "My daughter died when she was five years old. It happened in the 21st year of the Showa era." Thinking that it would be troublesome to explain being burned to death, Nakagaki only answered a few words briefly. "Showa was five years old in the 21st year, so she...um...now she is 27 years old. It is the most beautiful time." Shimada said with a smile. "She is going to be an English teacher at Fuso Women's University. She was originally a female scholar specializing in history." "Whether it's a female scholar or a female teacher, a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman... Hey, Nakagaki, do you want to attack? I think you are very promising. Think about it carefully, as fat as me, even if we meet, There will be no opera singing, so forget it!" Shimada scratched his head and said.He deliberately spoke in a joking tone, as if he wanted to encourage Nakagaki's heart hurt by Komahashi and Koko's empathy, but he was afraid that a too direct confession would embarrass Nakagaki, so he had to adopt this evasive way.对中垣而言，治疗受伤心灵的方法，倒不是和罗丝交往，而是学习她积极的生活态度。 中垣打算在神户停留一阵子，调查马歇尔事件和罗丝母亲的事。目前唯有把注意力集中在某些事上，才能使自己振作起来。 “可以在这里住一阵子吗？要和她多亲近也得花时间哪。所以我需要一个落脚处。” “没问题，我帮你准备一个房间。虽说不可以太猴急……不过，还是趁早追到手吧。否则住宿费和饮食费不是白花了吗？哈、哈、哈……” 要去印度之前，为了等船，中垣曾在祥顺寺住过一个星期。而岛田则自学生时代开始，每逢暑假便到信州中垣家“避暑”，两个人交情匪浅。 父亲过世后，岛田继任为祥顺寺的住持，又因为还没结婚，所以生活上无忧无虑。 这时岛田的母亲端茶进来，“我的年纪大了，希望良范早点娶老婆，中垣先生，麻烦你多劝劝他！” 岛田听到这些话，咧开嘴笑着说：“妈妈，中垣也还单身啊。等他娶了老婆再来催我吧。” “他没结婚是因为要去印度嘛……现在回来，应该快了吧？” 说着，岛田的母亲像要看穿什么似地凝视中垣的脸庞。 “还没呢……”中垣摸了摸下巴。 “妈妈，您的机会来了。现在赶快警告他吧！” 岛田双手抱膝，淘气地伸出舌头。 “麻烦你啦，中垣先生。” 岛田的母亲敛头为礼，告辞出去。 “借你的桌子一用。” 中垣打开旅行箱，取出笔记本和便笺，再向岛田讨回刚才的钢笔，坐在桌前照卡片上所述，一条条记录下来。抄好后，他写信给父亲。 ……由于有一点事，我将在神户的祥顺寺住一阵子，事情办完后将尽快回家。至于今后行止，亦于回家后再决定…… 如此写来才不过一张信纸，似乎太过冷淡，于是在后面又加了“有关未来方向想听听岛田良范的意见”等字，才勉强凑了两页。 ——和岛田那个闲散的家伙能商量出什么！ ... 中垣似乎可以想象得出父亲看到信时抱怨的模样。 “电话在隔壁？” 写好信，中垣问。 岛田把中垣的座垫对折当做枕头，气定神闲地躺在地上，对着天花板说：“嗯，没错，你要打给谁？” “女子大学。” “哦，和她连络啊！？” 岛田转头朝中垣露齿而笑。 中垣在隔壁房间查电话簿，接着拨动电话键。 扶桑女子大学的中庭也有一株梅树。 从校长室的窗口望见梅花，罗丝想起了母亲。 在所有的树木当中，只要提到哪种最具日本味，她的脑海里立刻浮现出梅树。奇怪的是，她在日本的少女时代并不会对梅树或梅花有多么深刻的印象，反倒是樱花还比较常见些。 伦敦郊外桃乐丝姑姑家的附近有一个果园，种满樱桃树。樱桃树和日本的樱花树虽然略有不同，但在罗丝眼里，她可能把樱花树也归为“英国的树”吧！ 至于梅树则为东南亚特有的植物，世界其他地区并不多见——这是罗丝得自百科全书的知识。 尽管十四岁时就回到英国，但是罗丝对母亲祖国的思念并不会稍减，仍不停地补充这方面的知识。 只不过那并非对日本的真实了解，而是在脑海里描绘出的模样。她也深知这个缺陷，所以才期待这趟日本之行，能为白纸黑字的知识加上血和肉。 见到梅花就想起母亲，也是从书本知识所引发的感情。 她一面眺望着含苞待放的梅花蓓蕾，一面想： （对妈妈祖国的知识就像这些蓓蕾，正在添加血肉，逐渐丰盈起来……） 校长石村圭造并拢双膝，两手迭放膝头，背脊挺直地端坐在罗丝面前。这位肤色略黑的老人，听说会在昭和初年到英国留过学。 “你负责的课程是英语会话。假如学生们知道你会说日语，或许会因此偷懒也不一定。所以希望你在上课时，尽量不要使用日语。” 石村校长说话时只有嘴唇在动，身体或是表情全然维持原状。 （好像铜像在说话！） 罗丝越看越觉得好笑，忍俊不住，只好露出微笑遮掩过去，回答： “是的，我明白。事实上我也有此打算。虽然欺骗了学生不太好，但为了方便教学，暂时不让大家知道我会说日文吧。” “你的想法很对。其实也不算欺骗，反正是为学生着想。” 校长严肃地说道。 ——自我压抑是日本人的传统修养美德。为了达到喜怒哀乐不形于色的美德，他们变得没有表情！ 这段书籍上记载的文字知识，如今在眼前的石村校长身上，得到了强烈的印证。 这便是她所期待的。 由少女时代模糊的记忆，混合文字知识塑造出的“日本像”，终于可以获得实际的确认。这是她来日本的一个目的，也是她理解亡母的方法。 同时，亦可藉此而深刻了解体内流着日本人血液的自己。 在罗丝之前任敦的是一位美国籍的老太太，已经卸职回国了。 “学生们的发音可能比较偏向美式英语。会不会给你带来困扰？”石村校长说。 “不会，我有不少朋友是美国人。” 罗丝回答着，想起武昌号上兰波太太和其他乘客用美式英语交谈的情形。 兰波太太的英语与其说是科班出身，倒不如说是亲身体验之后学来的。 “那么，我请人带你去宿舍。” 校长打电话到办公室，叫值班的小姐到校长室。 扶桑女子大学的校园建在远眺大阪湾的高地上。崭新的校舍，不像罗丝在英国的学校那般有股慑人的威严，反倒流露出明快、轻松、亲切的感觉。 庭院里的梅树与现代化的校舍显得格格不入。 大概发现罗丝一直注视梅树，校长站起身走到窗口，解释说： “梅花快开了。这里以前是有名的默林，可惜现在只剩下这几棵。时代在改变哪。” 没多久，年轻的女职员走进来。她的个子很高，身材健美，是个运动员型的女郎。 “基尔摩小姐，行李已运来了，我带你去房间。”她用英文说着，语气十分轻快。 “Thank you——”罗丝也故意用英语回答，然后朝校长笑了笑。如此一来，连女职员也不知道罗丝会说日语。为了骗学生，不得不对工作人员有所欺瞒。 可是校长依旧表情严肃，用带着浓厚口音的英语介绍着：“这位是山下小姐，今年刚毕业，在办公室工作。” 山下小姐伸出手，罗丝握了握。年轻的手十分有弹性。 离大学约五分钟车程，有一幢名叫尤加利屋的七层楼公寓。屋前如名字所示，种着一棵巨大的尤加利树。这幢公寓的二楼是前任教师留下的，现为罗丝的宿舍。 有起居室、卧室、客厅三个房间，也有宽敞的厨房和浴室。 山下向罗丝仔细说明怎么开锁，怎么打电话，怎么买东西等等生活细节，口齿清晰的英语带着美国腔。 看着宛如新鲜鲶鱼般活蹦乱跳的山下，罗丝忽然有点迷惑。 （在她看过的书籍中，并没有如山下这般年轻的新女性啊！） 她只知道日本传统的女性不敢抬眼看人，不管做什么事都非常客气——然而这种典型日本女性的印象，却无法套用在山下小姐的身上。 漫长的岁月里，罗丝不断雕塑、修饰着母亲的形象。然而现在，她再也无法确定自己塑造出来的形象是否与实体一致。因为无论如何，真实的模特儿已不存在，同时由于火灾的关系，连一张照片也没留下。 听桃乐丝姑姑说，母亲经常吃安眠药。她一定是有什么烦恼，才会必须藉助药剂——这件事似乎与罗丝塑造出的母亲形象不合。 （假如真实的母亲不是这样，那该怎么办？） 她有这样的疑虑。 不过，终究无法抱着充满少女趣味的母亲形象不放，因为罗丝的本质比较像喜欢追根究底的学者——正当她怔怔地望着空荡荡的柜子胡思乱想时，桌上的电话铃响了。 原来是中垣照道从须磨的祥顺寺打电话来。他先拨电话到大学，才打听出尤加利屋的电话号码。 ——如果可以，今天晚上一起吃晚饭好吗？ 中垣提议。 “可是晚上要去校长家，明天好吗？” 话才刚出口，罗丝便警觉地朝山下那边望去。 只见原来正忙着调整窗帘的山下，听到罗丝流利的日语后，把眼睛瞪得老大。 约好碰面的时间，罗丝放下电话，山下便一脸讶异地嚷着： “基尔摩小姐，你的日语很棒呢……吓我一跳。” “我小的时候住在日本，所以还记得一点点。”罗丝回答。 “哎，那可不只一点点。真不好意思，我还拚命用蹩脚英语和你说话。” “对不起。因为校长认为我教英文会话时，最好不要让学生知道我会日语……所以，山下小姐，可不可以请你保守秘密，不告诉学生我会日语？” "no problem." 山下一脸淘气，猛力点着头。 她夸张的表情及动作，都与罗丝心目中典型的日本女性相距甚远。 （这种事实在不必大惊小怪。） 一面如此说给自己听，她一面打开行李箱。 等山下做完事走出房间后，罗丝才从行李箱中掏出一个粉红色的纸袋。然后，她拿着这个纸袋发了好一会儿呆。 “还是先抽这个出来……” 她喃喃说着，从纸袋里取出一些东西。 首先是艾利欧的照片，然后是三封他寄来的信——她把这些东西仔细地一一摊放在桌上。 她有好几张艾利欧的照片，可是到最后只保留了这一张，其他的全都烧了。她本来打算连这张也一起烧掉，但却不忍心把它付诸一炬。 照片中的人微笑着，露出少许洁白的牙齿。虽然张着口，可是真要诉说什么的却不是嘴，而是眼睛。 艾利欧蓝色的眸子似乎想向她诉说一些事情。 （什么？） 每次看到这张照片，她总忍不住脱口而问，然后再慌张地四下张望一番。 信纸还没从信封中拿出，不过她记得信上的每一个字，每一句话。 ……经过多方考虑，我终于有了一个结论—我不应该再和你见面。到目前为止，我都很尊敬你。正因为尊敬，所以我不得不离开你……，不论是字句还是艾利欧流露出的情感，都深深刻在她的记忆里——但如同他的泪痕很快会消失，那悲惨的一天也终会被忘得杳无踪影吧。 她有股冲动——这或许是唯一合理的解释。 前任的美国太太似乎会抽烟，所以桌子上有烟灰缸也有打火机。罗丝按下打火机，燃起一道长长的火焰。 下一瞬间，她的指尖夹起艾利欧的照片。 （烧了吧？） 虽然是自己在做着这些动作，却有种询问别人意见的错觉。 （嗯，让它化成灰烬。） 像回答某人问话似地，她在心里暗暗说道。 被火舌吞噬的照片渐渐变成茶褐色，靛蓝的火焰在她手上蔓延。她把那团火丢进烟灰缸。 由于只剩下一张，烧掉艾利欧的照片，她心中难免有些恋恋不舍。 罗丝已经不再迟疑。 三封信及信封一股脑儿地全烧光了。 化成灰烬的字句虽然仍深刻在她的脑海，但随着时光飞逝，终有一天会被淡忘。而且只字词组根本窥不清艾利欧的真心。他是怕如果太接近，会伤了罗丝的心吗？若真有这层顾虑，对她而言岂不是一大屈辱？ 望着信封在火焰中蜷缩起来，罗丝忽然发现： （重要的是，在他面前出现比我更富吸引力的女性！） 这个发现固然让人沮丧，不过她有接受现实的勇气，也不愿欺骗自己。 其实在接到分手的信之前，她已隐隐有种不安的感觉。有一次两人在伦敦广场前边喂鸽子边散步时，她便察觉出艾利欧的目光闪烁，显得不知所措。 那时他的心已经渐渐偏离，只要一有机会，立刻会拔腿奔逃。她记得那天仰望纳尔逊纪念塔时，胸中汹涌翻搅的不安——事后证明，她的疑惧并非空穴来风。 她望着烟灰缸中燃烧的照片和信，浸淫在冥想中。 （让该消失的东西化成灰烬吧！……） 罗丝挺直背脊。 烟灰缸中的火焰已经熄灭，烧过的纸只剩下少许灰烬。 她开始沉吟自己的未来生活，第一步是必须确认她从父母那里得到些什么。 ——神户市神户区北野町三段XX号 她打开笔记本，口中喃喃重复着母亲被烧死处的门牌地址。 这时，忽然有人敲门。 “谁？”罗丝用日语问。 门外沉默片刻，接着那人用英语回答： “我住在隔壁。” “请进。”罗丝一边说，一边打开房门。 只见一个约五十岁的中年妇人站在门口，瞇着眼上下打量罗丝，说：“我和住在这间公寓的史密斯太太很熟，我叫克拉拉？鲁森。” 罗丝也介绍了自己，并且邀请对方坐在客厅的沙发上。 “刚才我敲门时，你是说日语吧？”克拉拉？鲁森问。 “思，我会一点日语……鲁森太太也会说日本话？” “会啊，我已经在这里住了三十年以上。你是在哪里学日语的？” “我在东京住到十四岁。五岁就离开神户，所以没什么印象。” “五岁吗？” “一九四六年……或许您认识家父。先父叫西蒙？基尔摩。” 鲁森太太不论姓氏或容貌都像法国人，应该八九不离十吧。然而，长住在神户的外国人并不多，哪怕国籍不同，彼此大概也曾见过面。所以罗丝才决定试试看，说不定鲁森太太碰巧是父亲的旧识。 鲁森太太有种刚毅之美，年轻时；一定是个大美人。尽管罗丝仔细盯着夫人的眸子，想从眼神里读出些许的变化，但对方瞇起眼睛，丝毫没有反应。过了一会儿，鲁森太太才回答：“我认识令尊……你是基尔摩先生的女儿啊！” 说话的速度非常缓慢，不知是天性闲散，抑或是为了惯重起见。奇怪的是她与故人的女儿相见，却没有露出惊讶的神情。 “是的。”罗丝，“您与家父是旧识啊。” "Ok……" 像要打断罗丝的话，鲁森太太简短地回应了一声。 由此可以立刻看出鲁森太太并非生性闲散，而是城府极深。 “家父在两年前去世了。他生性沉默，因此甚少提起在神户的生活。这次我有机会重返幼时的故乡，也希望能和认识父亲的人多聊一聊。” 听罗丝说完，鲁森太太含混地回答： “其实我和令尊并不大熟……” 一般人就算再不熟，也会敷衍地随口提两句有关西蒙？基尔摩的趣事，或者干脆说“他是个好人”之类的客套话。可是，克拉拉？鲁森咬着嘴唇，脸上的表情却是摆明了不想多谈罗丝的父亲。 （难道这个人喜欢父亲？） 罗丝直觉地认为。 鲁森太太会说她和前任教师史密斯太太很熟，当得知有新的继任者住进来时，立刻就前来拜访。由此可见她十分善于交际，也应该很健谈才对。 （难道是碍于父亲更改国籍的事？） 罗丝这么猜想着。马歇尔事件之后，她的父亲便归化为日本籍。对于这件事，父亲会向她解释： ——在当时那样的环境，假如不变更国籍，根本无法在日本待下去。 的确，战争期间若仍坚持保住英国国籍，恐怕不是被当成敌人遣返，就是会遭到拘禁。因此，罗丝的父亲若想和日本籍的太太继续厮守，唯有归化为日本籍一途。罗丝母亲的娘家姓立花，所以西蒙，基尔摩也煞有介事地取了一个日本名字，叫立花左卫门。 不过，等战争一结束，他就立刻脱离日本籍，再度恢复英国籍。不管他有多么充分的理由，罗丝父亲的行为难免遭人物议，被指责有欠操守。 战后，基尔摩先生搬到东京，一方面是刚遭妻子意外身亡的变故，另一方面恐怕也是为了躲避同伴间指责的目光——罗丝这么揣测着。 “战争期间鲁森太太住在哪儿？”罗丝问。 “一直待在日本。” “有没有遭到囚禁？” “没有。我是法国人。由于当时法国的贝当政府投降德军，算是日本的同盟国，所以并没有被当成敌国人民看待。盛管有点不自由，可是大致上还算礼遇。” "That would be wonderful." “你父亲也一样啊。他因为归化日本籍，所以平安无事。”