Chapter 7 wind

When Yuuki Laiko returned to the room, her husband leaned his arm on the ebony table and was talking to the proprietress in a low voice. Yuki Yuo is a tall man, his slender body is leaning forward in order to talk to the chubby proprietress.He has a broad forehead and a high nose bridge; his slightly elongated face is very sculptural, always slightly frowning, with a dignified and majestic face, giving the impression of a middle-aged handsome man.The husband's friend once said in front of Lai Zi that this is a face that romantic women fall in love with. When Laizi opened the paper door, she saw her husband whispering to the proprietress, but she pretended not to notice and sat down in her seat.

"This is good news." The proprietress hurriedly turned her face away from Yuki Yuo, and straightened her waist.The voice was also amplified. "That piece of land is very valuable! I heard that an actress bought the land of a nearby prince at an exorbitant price a while ago, and built a house? My shop is still far behind!" "Is that so?" Yuuki Yukio looked down at the whiskey in the glass and said, "I thought the proprietress had quite a lot of money here." "Where." The proprietress said, waving her hands vigorously, "I'm covered in debts! The family's funds can't be turned around at all... I'm really sorry."

After finishing speaking, he smiled jokingly at Lai Zi who quietly put down the dish. Lai Zi knew in his heart that this topic was different from the content of the secret conversation before he returned to the room.She smiled quietly at the proprietress. On the dining table, there is iced wine in glasses.Several plates and china bowls glowed in brilliant colors under the bright electric lights. Lai Zi came to this "Guchuan" because of her husband's rare invitation.On weekdays, the husband always leaves home without saying hello, comes back once a week or ten days, and then goes out again immediately. For such a husband, Lai Zi is like watching people who have nothing to do with him, sending everyone away alone all day long. At dusk, every sunrise is ushered in.The husband did not travel far away on business, but had another family in the city.

Even when she returned home every few days, Lai Zi didn't ask her husband about the situation in those few days, and the husband kept silent.When her husband left home, Lai Zi just knelt at the door and never asked any questions.This unwritten rule has a history of five years. At first, Lai Zi got used to it from her husband, and later the husband also got used to it from his wife. Although there are two female servants in the family, they only cook for the Lai Zi, and there is no need for the husband.Even if he came back once in ten and a half months, the husband would not eat at home that night, and then went out again.

There was never a quarrel between the couple: to an outsider, it might be considered a peaceful couple.The husband speaks only what is necessary, and speaks very briefly.Lai Zi's answer is the same.When I speak to my husband, I never limit myself to answering. Concerning her husband's daily life, Lai Zi impeccably fulfills her duties as a wife.Of course, among the things that the husband took off after returning home after many days, there are a few things that the son did not do himself.That was another picture of her husband's life, but Lai Zi didn't mind. The husband came back every few days, and instead of staying overnight at home that day, he walked out of the house immediately.Lai Zi understands her husband's mood.Based on this kind of affection, it can be said that she is only fulfilling her duties as a wife in daily life.

The husband proposed to go to "Guchuan" for dinner together, so they followed suit.For Lai Zi, it is just as fulfilling an obligation. Although her husband's seat is close in front of her eyes, it seems to be far away in the sky. This kind of situation, reflected in the eyes of outsiders, will definitely regard Lai Zi at this moment as an elegant lady.She listened quietly while her husband spoke.From time to time, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and the only one who knew it was a faint smile was probably Yongxiong himself as the husband.The proprietress couldn't help staring at Lai Zi who was meeting for the first time, and said in surprise in Yuki Yuo's ear:

"What a beautiful lady!" Yuuki Yukio smiled dumbly.Whenever he lowered his head slightly and smiled, an indifferent shadow would appear on his cheeks, so all the women who met him said he had a cold charm.When the proprietress praised his wife, Yuuki Yongxiong did not make a sound, and the same expression appeared on his face.In some people's eyes, it may create an impression that this is a husband's reserve, which is a manifestation of the love in his heart. "Miss Boss, should I call someone?" Yuuki Yongxiong said. "Oh!" The proprietress raised her eyes in surprise, "Didn't you bring your wife with you tonight?"

"It doesn't matter!" Yuuki Yongxiong said casually, he ignored Lai Zi at all, and stood up with his hands on the ebony table. Laizi and the proprietress were talking about the willow garden flowers in the yard.After a while, Yongxiong came back from the bathroom. "Did you tell me, the usual one?" Yongxiong asked the geisha he had been calling to accompany him. "Does your wife really agree?" The proprietress glanced at Lai Zi again. "Please." Lai Zi said with a smile, "I also want to meet that beautiful person." "Is that so? Well, go and call right away." The proprietress winked at the maid next to her.The maid put her ear to the landlady's mouth, got up and went out.

"Just now, over there," Yuuki Yongxiong said to the proprietress, "I met a very beautiful lady!" "Ah, is it?" "Wearing a suit, she is a young lady in her twenties. Is it a guest? Who brought it?... In this kind of place, it is absolutely impossible for a female student to have a reunion..." "Oh, that's right." The proprietress said as if remembering, "That's the whole family. Maybe it's the lady, for sure." "Oh? Who is it?" Yongxiong tilted his head, asking about the girl's father. "This..." The proprietress smiled ambiguously. "Tonight, there are many families holding a family reception banquet!"

"A lot of homes." "Yes! Look, isn't it the same here?" When the proprietress said this, Yuki Yongxiong sneered a few times with his nose. "Hmph, me..." As soon as he said two words, he lowered his head and started drinking. Lai Zi ate calmly.Yongxiong didn't say a word to Laizi, but turned his face to the proprietress.When Lai Zi smiled and talked, he always raised his head to the proprietress. The proprietress also seemed to feel a little abnormal.But he couldn't leave the table immediately like this, so he said with a smile: "It was the night before yesterday. A customer in the store said, let's take you to the nightclub at ten o'clock, so I followed him. Because it was rare to go there to see the last time, even though I was old, I still followed him to make fun of it. went."

"In nightclubs, older women also go there. That's how foreigners are!" "You're right. It's amazing how old American women dance!" "Isn't the proprietress dancing too?" "Damn it! I danced solo when I was young and never danced with men." "What nightclub did you go to?" "Yokohama!" "Yokohama?" Yuki Yukio suddenly shut his mouth. Lai Zi's heart suddenly went up to his throat.Her hand, however, was unflappable as she peeled the foil off the grilled chicken. "You want to talk about Yokohama? It will take a lot of travel." Yuuki Yongxiong said this out of nowhere. "That's right! I didn't want to go, but the visitor said to go for a drive, so..." "Miss Boss, do you know Yokohama well?" "I never like to go out, so I am not familiar with it. I was even laughed at by the guests." "Yamashita Park, have you gone?" Lai Zi suddenly closed his eyes. "Ah, it's the place where you can see the sea and float the giant steam ship?" "right." "The guest took me to see it. He said, because you, an old woman, have never seen it anywhere. However, there are many trees in that place, so it must be very quiet at night, right?" "A quiet place is just right!" After Yuki Yongxiong finished speaking, he burst out laughing for the first time. Lai Zi put down his chopsticks. Four geisha walked into the wicket of the "Tanigawa" restaurant noisily. The proprietress who came out of the guest room was waiting there. After receiving the greetings from the geisha, she immediately called one of them to stop and said, "Come here." "Yes." A geisha with a round face and narrow eyes swayed to the proprietress. "Mr. Yong is not alone!" "Are there any guests?" "I'll tell you, it's with my wife!" "Oh!" The round-faced geisha opened her slender eyes with a surprised expression. "Be careful!" The geisha was silent for a while, and then asked worriedly: "Isn't the wife here to find out the truth?" "Not necessarily," said the landlady. "It doesn't look like that kind of lady. She seems to be a very docile person, but..." The proprietress stared in thought. "What, Mom?" The geisha looked worriedly into the eyes of the proprietress. "No, it's nothing. Just be careful, it's not the same as usual!" The proprietress shifted her gaze to the three geisha standing behind, and reminded them: "You also have to be careful, don't talk nonsense if it's useless!" All three shrank their necks and replied: "Yes, yes!" A few geishas were pushing and hugging each other in the corridor and were about to move forward. "Wait a minute," the proprietress said after catching up again, "the lady is so pretty!" "Ah!" All four of them yelled loudly this time. The maid's head waiter was talking to the accountant when the landlady entered the counting room.She looked up at the proprietress and said: "It's the first time for Mr. Yong to bring his wife here!" "I was taken aback because he still wanted to call Choe Wan." The proprietress put a piece of the crisp biscuit that was there in her mouth. "However, compared to his wife, Chomaru-san is far behind!" "That's true. That child, when he came back, his eyeballs were swollen from crying!" "The clothes my wife wears are worth more than 100,000 yen! The diamond ring on my finger is two carats. It's very elegant...but..." Speaking of this, the female foreman suddenly lowered her voice and asked: "Mr. Yong, what kind of business is this man? He dresses up his wife so richly." "I don't really know!" The proprietress frowned slightly, and replied, "Whether he is a politician or an industrialist, he seems to know everything about everyone. But he never mentions his own affairs, so until now I don't even know the truth about him!" The proprietress even whispered, "It's really scary." At this time, the buzzer calling for the maid in the guest room rang, and the female foreman hurried out. The proprietress carefully chewed the biscuits she put in her mouth. Lai Zi left "Guchuan" alone, walked across the gravel road, and came to the wide road.The driver who was waiting outside the door hurriedly got out of the car, and just about to open the door, Lai Zi stopped him, saying that he still had something to do and would not take this car. She hailed a cab. "Where are you going?" the driver asked. She couldn't tell where she was going, but she remembered the name of a place she had been to before, so she ordered: "Go to Mihetai Town." The streets at night are silent. More than half an hour after the geisha entered, Lai Zi said to her husband apologetically that she still had to go shopping in Ginza, and left the room. "Yeah." The husband Yongxiong only responded in this way, and he was still chatting with the geisha in high spirits. The husband probably won't be coming home tonight, and one of the geishas is always strangely wary of Lai Zi. Lai Zi also noticed this.However, it was not for this reason that Lai Zi withdrew from the meeting.This was decided in my heart at the beginning, and it has nothing to do with whether the geisha will come or not. After turning the tramway in Mikawadai Town, Laiko got out of the car. On both sides are tall mansions next to each other, all of which are surrounded by walls.There are few pedestrians on the street, only the street lamps radiate halos at certain distances. The road turned into a steep downward slope, paved with stones.If you put on leather shoes, there will be a creaking sound of footsteps.Down the slope is a valley with many small houses, and the slope opposite the houses rises up again.The walls on both sides slowly slide to the bottom of the valley along with the road surface, and then gradually rise up.Ivy covered the fence, and the trees were thick with leaves. Where the wind blows, the dark branches sway, and the ivy on the wall sways gently.The light inside the wall quietly sank to the bottom of the wall. There is a light on the high place, which is the embassy of a certain Nordic country. Yuki Laiko walked alone on this deserted road.It was probably a coincidence that my husband mentioned Yokohama just now.However, walking here at this moment is not to calm down the inner fluctuation caused by hearing that sentence. Lai Zi really wanted to say to Qiaofu Onogi in a dark place: "There is still a way out of desperation! Mr. Onogi..." After interrogating the last male repeat shoplifter, Joo Onogi looked at his watch. It was already eleven forty.Now I have to tidy up the desk in general, and then go to prosecutor Ishii to say goodbye. This should take about ten minutes or so.Just enough time to catch the 12:25 express train from Shinjuku Station to Nagano. Today is Saturday, although it is usually around one o'clock in the afternoon to leave the building of the Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office, but today is a special case.This has been pre-approved by Prosecutor Ishii. "You're in a bit of a hurry today." Prosecutor Yokota at the next table raised his eyes from the report and said. "Are you visiting the ancient ruins again?" Prosecutor Yokota understood Onogi's hobbies very well. "No, not today. I have something to do and I need to go out of town." "No wonder I didn't bring that shoulder bag." Yokota said with a smile. Onogi's suitcase was on the desk. "Is it far?" "No, it's very close. It's Shizuoka Prefecture." Noki lied. "Be careful!" This statement by Yokota seemed to have surprised Onogi suddenly. "Tonight, maybe there will be a typhoon." Onogi understood that Yokota's words did not refer to anything else, because the news was indeed published in the newspaper this morning. However, he himself could detect that his face was a little unnatural. "Where! It doesn't look like it's going to be a big deal. The observatory has already said that the typhoon's path is heading towards the southern sea." As soon as Onogi's words came out of his mouth, Prosecutor Yokota smiled and said, "Okay, I wish you a safe journey!" Onogi picked up the suitcase, said "I'll take a step first", and left Yokota. Prosecutor Ishii was writing, and raised his head after listening to Onogi's other greetings. "Go!" He nodded and asked again, "Can you come to work on Monday?" The light coming in from the window made the white hair on his temples glisten with silver. "Ah, this..." "I still have something to ask for your help on Monday." "Yes, I understand. Then, please allow me to resign." Seeing the senior prosecutor nodding in agreement, Onogi walked out of the office building.Look at your watch, it's almost twelve o'clock. Eyes meet the rushing taxis, each carrying passengers, it is difficult to come to an empty taxi.Onogi stood anxiously on the dazzling sidewalk, thinking what if he couldn't catch up! The scene of not catching the train first appeared in Onogi's mind, and hot sweat oozed from his neck. After about six or seven cars passed by, a taxi with an empty sign finally arrived. “To Shinjuku Station!” After finishing speaking, he got up again and asked behind the driver: "The train at twelve twenty-five, is it in time?" The driver bent his arm and looked at his watch: "It's twelve-thirty. Find a way to catch up!" As he spoke, he slammed on the accelerator.This is a young lad.The car started running, but Onogi couldn't calm down.In his mind, he imagined Yuki Riko who was anxiously waiting for him.If you don't catch up, how good it is!Lai Zi probably got off the train when it was about to depart.Because we made an appointment yesterday, if possible, we will take the agreed train together. The young driver clicked his tongue impatiently every time he came across a red light, and when the light changed to green, he quickly and swiftly slipped through the gaps of other vehicles.Onogi was very happy with the driver's kindness, but when he imagined the scene of the accident, he wanted to close his eyes. If there was a car accident and he was taken to the hospital, there would be absolutely no way to get in touch with Lai Zi. The building of Isetan Department Store was already in sight, and the driver asked without looking back: "Sir, which platform?" "Central line." The driver didn't say anything, turned the steering wheel to the left from the intersection, and ran up Koshu Street.The driver knew it well, and it was convenient to take the South Exit of the Central Line platform.When the car drove up the land bridge slope, Onogi looked at his watch, it was twelve twenty-one. "Catch up." The driver stopped the car, turned his head and smiled at Onogi, wiping off his sweat with his hands. Onogi boarded the second-class carriage, and saw Yuki Raiko at a glance.She was wearing a white suit and was leaning on the seat to read a book.A middle-aged woman with a child was sitting next to her, and her sky blue suitcase was placed opposite Lai Zi. Onogi originally imagined that Lai Zi was standing on the platform worriedly.However, she was reading the book quietly, compared with the image of herself running out of breath, Onogi had to be somewhat surprised.However, this also gave him an impression that Lai Zi was such a woman. On the contrary, if you stand on the platform with your brows furrowed, you won't be a bad boy. In any situation, he can be calm and orderly, and Onogi likes this characteristic of Laizi very much. Because Onogi stood in front of him, Lai Zi raised his eyes.She smiled, took the suitcase from the seat opposite, and wiped the place where the suitcase was left with a handkerchief. "Thank you." Onogi put Lai Zi and his suitcase on the rack, and sat down in that position. "I thought it was too late, I was sweating all the way." Onogi wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief. "You must be nervous. I know you are very busy." Lai Zi smiled and kept his eyes on Onogi. "Did you never think that I would not be able to take this train?" Onogi asked. Lai Zi immediately shook his head lightly: "No. I knew you would definitely come." It seems that Lai Zi is going to say next: That's why I sat here motionless, reading a book and waiting for you.That demeanor fully shows that she fully believes that no matter what the price is, Onogi will come to her. After the train started, Lai Zi took out another small book, his eyes caught the typeface on the book.It seemed to be a foreign translation novel.Her attitude of not talking to Onogi makes people feel that she is still hiding her inner complicated feelings. Onogi took out his cigarette and smoked it.Outside the car window, the forest on the Musashino Highlands is constantly moving back, and at the foot of the mountain are patches of houses with red roofs. When we met a week ago, Onogi revealed that he would go on a small trip from Saturday to Monday.That appointment was proposed by Lai Zi on the phone, and the meeting was at night, walking on a quiet ramp. Onogi's leather shoes rattled in the dark when he reached a steep stone pavement. On the way they passed, they also saw the gate of a foreign embassy.Lai Zi told Xiao Yemu that he had passed by here just two or three days ago and liked this place very much, so he invited him to come here. Onogi asked her "Are you alone?" Lai Zi replied with a smile in the dark: "Of course I'm alone!" When Onogi said that he planned to spend the night in the country, Laizi suddenly raised his face and said: "I want to go with you too." "This..." Onogi was taken aback, he only uttered these few words, and couldn't even say the following words. Usually, as long as Onogi hesitated, Lai Zi would immediately withdraw her request wisely, but this night she stubbornly insisted on going together.For Onogi, there's no reason to think this will cause trouble.It was the first time this kind of thing happened, so he had a premonition that Lai Zi probably had something to say. Onogi still doesn't know the whole situation of Yuki Laiko.Except for what was shown to Onogi, she never told him about her situation in another world or her life. "Mr. Onogi only needs to know me in front of you! As for the background behind me, it doesn't matter if you don't know." Whenever Onogi started to ask questions about this aspect, Lai Zi would definitely use this kind of statement: neither did he tell the exact address, and Lai Zi always hung up the phone call, which was completely one-sided. When Lai Zi asked to go on a trip with him, Onogi thought that this time he might learn all about Lai Zi.Regarding this wonderful relationship with Onogi, Lai Zi must also feel very uncomfortable, because this is not a game, and Onoki can also imagine that Lai Zi is restricted by some reason, and it is inconvenient to reveal the truth to herself. Definitely struggling with this.Lai Zi is usually a very scheming person, but because of this, even if he sees him, he never shows this pain to the outside.However, in some cases, this distress will appear in a flash like a fault.Whenever this kind of moment, viewed from the side, Lai Zi's expression always seems to be enduring suffering. Onogi judged that things that cannot be said in the usual Tokyo can be disclosed at the destination of the trip.It was this determination that prompted Lai Zi to take the train on the Central Line. Onogi looked out of the window from time to time, and from time to time stared at Lai Zi who was reading Bunko's novel from the front. The train passed through several caves, and every time it came out, there must be a river in the lowlands on the left side of the direction of the train. At Otsuki Station, many young people dressed as mountaineers and walkers in white clothes holding sticks and Buddhist attire got off the train.There are also foreigners mixed in.On the opposite side of the platform was a short train, and the people who got off the train all boarded up together. "Where does that train go?" Lai Zi, who was riding this line for the first time, raised her head from the book, broke the silence and asked Onogi. "Climbing Mt. Fuji or going in the direction of Lake Kawaguchi." After Onogi finished speaking, Lai Zi responded, "Ah, so that's the case." His eyes were still fixed on the train. "Is it very close to Mount Fuji?" Lai Zi asked in a childlike tone, feeling very curious. "It's an hour to Lake Kawaguchi. To climb Mt. Fuji, you need to take a bus from there to the foot of the mountain... I think the train journey is fun." "Is there anything?" "There is a forest covering the gentle slope at the foot of the volcano. It is a vast forest. If you get lost and go in, you will not be able to get out alive! On a scorching sun like today, people will feel a kind of sweltering miasma transpiration out." Onogi went there with his friends when he was a student, and the time was also in the summer. When talking about the memories of that time, Lai Zi opened his eyes wide in surprise. After the train they took left the platform and approached a steep slope, the heat from the grass seemed to be blowing against the windows.Lai Zi stared intently at the steep slope in front of him. "When..." Lai Zi said to Onogi, "Can you take me there once?" It seems that Lai Zi is still imagining the scene of the forest sea out of thin air in his mind. "What are you going to do in that place?" "But, didn't Mr. Onogi just say that it's a good place!" "That's the way it is. But in general, it's not a fun place to be!" "I love going to see that place." What surprised Onogi was not only the tough tone, but also the desire itself that existed in Lai Zi's heart, because she had always thought of her as a person in a luxurious and comfortable environment. Onogi didn't make a sound, just lowered his head slightly, and lit a cigarette again.When Onogi raised his face while puffing out smoke, Laizi lowered his eyes to the book again.It was a gesture of refraining from talking.This posture did not change until Kofu Station. After getting off the train in Kofu, the two boarded another passenger car.The terminus of this Minobu Line is Fuji Station, so it is not wrong for Onogi to tell Yokota prosecutors to go to Shizuoka Prefecture.It's just that the destination tonight is a hot spring with a country flavor called S on the way.Because of Laizi, Onogi changed his original intention of going to the mountain road and decided to come here. The train passed through a basin full of vineyards and into a valley.On this train without second-class carriages, opposite Onogi and Laizi sat an elderly couple who were going to pay homage to the Kuonji Temple in Shinnobu. It is said that the old couple came from the northeast on purpose. When talking to Onogi and Laizi, they called them Mr. and Mrs., which made them very embarrassed.When they got off at S Onsen Station, the old couple repeatedly said in a Northeast accent that their home is in Daqu, Akita Prefecture, and if they go there, please come and visit us at home. "You two have come from a long distance, I think the gods and Buddhas will definitely manifest for you two." Reiko said this while standing up holding the suitcase.The old couple bowed their heads many times to express their gratitude with smiles on their faces. As expected before coming, the station was deserted, and there were only three taxis. "Have you decided where to stay?" The driver came over and asked.It was only now that I noticed that the driver's face looked very gray, not only because it was dusk, but also because the sky was gloomy and the dark clouds were moving fast.The wind was also blowing hard. Because he said "at your own discretion", the driver did not drive the car towards the ramp with a row of hotels, but drove in the opposite direction. "It's very windy, it seems like a typhoon is coming!" the driver said in the local dialect. Onogi remembered what Prosecutor Yokota said.Feeling uneasy, I looked outside and saw that the branches were swaying violently. "Will the typhoon really hit this area? The newspapers say it will be biased towards the Pacific Ocean." Lai Zi also said worriedly. "No, probably there will be no problem. What is blowing now may be its aftermath!" Onogi still believed in the forecast in the newspaper. The hotel they went to was said to be the largest in the area, with a huge courtyard in the field, and only one building quietly standing there. The maids who came to meet the taxi outside the gate all looked at Lai Zi in surprise.Their hair was also blown tousled by the wind. The rooms are separate from the old main building.It is said that only this building is newly built, with a veranda connected to the main house.Precisely because the main building is an old residence, its decay and simplicity are extremely conspicuous.Originally, this hot spring was mainly used to receive recuperation guests who provided their own meals. Immediately behind the room is a river.Probably for the sake of beautifying the environment, willow trees are only planted within the area of ​​the hotel.The willow branches hang down obliquely. "Today is really unfortunate, the wind is too strong." A middle-aged female servant came to deliver tea, and said in such a friendly way, "There is another news, the radio broadcast at three o'clock said that a typhoon is coming, it is really annoying. !" Onogi and Laizi glanced at each other. "What did you say on the radio?" Onogi asked anxiously. "Ah, how should I put it? It seems to be about landing from the Izu Peninsula, passing through the northern part of the Kanto region, and then blowing to the Sea of ​​Japan. It is said that the wind will be strongest in Yamanashi Prefecture around eleven o'clock tonight." The maid said. Paraphrased, "However, I don't think there is anything to worry about. Because this area has never been hit by a typhoon. The broadcast always exaggerates, so I often laugh at them for making a fuss afterwards." The maid laughed herself first, as if to reassure the guest. "The bath is at the corner on the left of the corridor and is shared by the whole family." The maid said again, "Please wash slowly! We use this time to prepare meals for the two of you", and then backed out. "Mr. Onogi, please go first?" Lai Zi said in a natural tone. "Okay." Onogi had already prepared for this kind of thought, so he took off his suit and changed into a hotel bathrobe.Lai Zi immediately picked up Onogi's suits and shirts and put them in the suit closet.Seeing this scene, Onogi felt that Laizi's fingers showed that she was married.Onogi felt that he saw another side of Lai Zi clearly. While Onogi was taking a bath, it began to rain outside.From the sound of beating against the glass windows, the raindrops were quite heavy.The water in the bath was lukewarm.When she returned to the room, the maid was laying dishes on the table while having a brief conversation with Lai Zi. "Aren't you taking a bath before dinner?" Onogi said to Lai Zi.Lai Zi was still sitting there in a white suit. "Really," the middle-aged maid urged in a hoarse voice, "it would be great if the madam went to wash with the husband! Or, why don't you go wash now, and then change into the kimono comfortably?" Lai Zi declined, smiled generously and said to the maid, "Let's wait a while." "Ah, yes." The maid glanced at Onogi and said, "Then please go ahead!" She bowed solemnly to Lai Zi and stepped back. "Why don't you change your clothes?" Onogi asked Lai Zi, who was serving himself a meal.Although there was absolutely no reproach in the tone, it might sound like that to Lai Zi. "I have something to tell you later." Lai Zi said in a low voice. Onogi's heart moved, and he had a premonition that something he often thought about was about to appear.Lai Zi probably wanted to tell the truth.She seemed to be expressing her will, and she had to maintain the previous state before explaining the truth. Onogi felt nervous, his heart trembling slightly. Nearly an hour passed after that, and it became increasingly windy and rainy outside. The maid in the middle came once, said that there might be a power outage, put down the candles and matches, and left. Onogi smoked a cigarette, listening to the sound of the storm outside.This is just right for waiting for Lai Zi to explain the truth. Lai Zi, who had been sitting with her head bowed, suddenly fell on Onogi's lap after the light was turned off.In this stormy darkness, listening to Lai Zi confide the whole truth seems to make my heart bearable... After the lights went out, the whole room was pitch black.However, even in the darkness, there is a faint light.Although it doesn't know where it comes from, and it's not enough to call it light; anyway, Onogi's eyes can see the outline of the weight on his knees.The hazy white is the clothes on Lai Zi's back. She was shaking, which of course was not seen with the eyes, but felt by Onogi's legs.Laizi sobbed, putting all her weight on Onogi's legs. Outside, the wind was blowing loudly and the rain was getting heavier.When the maid came to deliver candles and matches earlier, she said she was afraid of a strong wind blowing into the house, so she closed the wooden casing outside the glass window before leaving.The wooden casings vibrated constantly, making the sound of heavy rain hitting them. Someone is calling outside. Onoki remained motionless.What Wei Wei is moving is Lai Zi's body, and it is getting stronger and stronger. Onogi knew what Lai Zi was going to say, and his heart was trembling.This woman who was always calm and unhurried had never lost her composure in such an abnormal way.Onogi was waiting for Laiko's sobs to be translated into some language. The candles were not lit, they were still on the table.If it was lit, Lai Zi would definitely ask to put it out immediately. A gust of wind whizzed by, shaking the whole house. After the wind passed, Lai Zi said: "Mr. Onogi." The voice seemed to come from deep in the throat, but it was clearly spoken. "Will you listen to me calmly?" Onogi didn't answer immediately, he swallowed his saliva before answering in a hoarse voice; "Yes." As with a premonition of some terror, his heart beat harder.Lai Zi said in advance that she wanted to be "calm", which is indeed her usual way of speaking. "I……" Another gust of wind blows.Onogi thought it was the wind that interrupted Lai Zi's words, but that was not the case. "I have a husband." The voice didn't sound like a confession, but an official announcement to Onogi. Lai Zi was still dressed in a suit, sitting on her knees neatly.It was only the bent upper body that fell to Onogi.Onogi had anticipated that Lai Zi refused to change into hotel clothes, precisely because of this confession.And he knew in his heart that when he left Tokyo, Lai Zi was already mentally prepared. "This problem," said Onogi, "I've imagined it for a long time." At the moment of accepting Lai Zi's announcement, the terror that had been making Onogi's heart beat violently disappeared, and what was replaced was a burst of wailing that had never been thought of. "Really?" Lai Zi raised his head slightly from his lap. "Have you noticed it a long time ago?" Her voice was very low, with tears in her eyes. "It may be more appropriate to say 'know'." Onogi replied. "I also think," Lai Zi's voice lowered, "Mr. Onogi has already noticed this." The wind broke the trees outside, and the sound seemed to tear the air.It rained harder. Lai Zi said in a slightly more emphatic tone: "I don't need to say that I am a bad woman anymore. I can listen to this accusation quietly in my heart alone. But, I can no longer deceive Mr. Onogi and continue to get along." "..." “我这样说，您大约已经明白了。能结识小野木先生，到现在为止，我一直感到很荣幸。虽然时间很短，即使明天就死去，我也毫不后悔。不，其实就这样突然死去，说不定会更加幸福。因为，比较起来，明天又要开始的生活方式，是那样地无聊，简直令人无法忍受。” "Laizi!" Onogi called out. 小野木明白，听到结城赖子坦白之时，便是与她别离之际。但是，当赖子突然伏身哭泣的时候，小野木产生了一个强烈的愿望，想使出浑身的力气，把就要转身离去的赖子再拉回来。 突然从远处的主建筑物传来了人们的嘈杂声，接着走廊里又响起了有人跑过来的脚步声。 “对不起！”女用人慌慌张张地站在拉门外喊了一句。 赖子从小野木的腿上离开，口里应了一声。 纸门拉开后。女用人“啊！”了一声。因为没有点燃蜡烛，屋子里很黑，所以女用人似乎有点惶恐。正要把身子立即躲到刚拉开的纸门后面去。 “不要紧，没关系的。”赖子忙止住说。“因为有风，特地没有点上蜡烛。” 一道暗淡的灯光从女用人拉开的门缝里射进来，原来女用人手里提着灯笼。橙黄色的灯苗，在房子里也晃个不停。 “台风刮得更厉害了。”这是位上了年纪的女用人，声音有些慌乱，“怕出现意外情况，所以要请二位客人马上转移到别处去。” “到别处？”竟要去避难，这简直不可想象。小野木又问，“你讲的别处，是去哪儿？” “啊……”女甩人有些不好意思地打量着这两位没有点燃蜡烛、跪坐在漆黑房间里的客人。小野木穿着旅馆的浴衣坐在桌前，赖子身穿白色的西装稍微离开一点。昏暗的灯笼光没有照到他们俩的全身，投射出令人不安的阴影。 “在这东边，有个旅馆工会的办事处。那里地势高，比这儿安全。我们想暂且把客人领到那里去，然后再与附近的旅馆交涉，请他们给安排住处。” 小野木想起来了，乘出租汽车到这里来的路上，沿着斜坡建有一排旅馆。 “你是说，这里危险，对吗？”小野木问。 “是的。旁边就是河，据说也许会发生洪水。因为这幢房子是建在最低的地方。” 雨很大，这是显而易见的。然而，却不知道还有洪水泛滥的危险。小野木脑海里掠过去年伊豆半岛发生台风的情景，当时曾把该地的温泉镇刮得一塌糊涂。他想，或许是因为有了那一次的前车之鉴，这个旅馆也在采取预防万一的措施。 狂风依旧呼啸不已。每当风声一紧，拍打在整个建筑物上的雨滴也就更猛。 尽管受到风雨声的阻碍听得不大真切，但仍能听到从旅馆旧主建筑物方面传来了三、四个男人的喊声。 “那边的客人也都离开了。” 女用人催促着说。每当风雨狂呼而过，女用人的声音就增加一层不安。 “赖子，准备好了吗？”小野木问道。在这种危险迫近的时刻，小野木心里竟首先涌出来一个奇怪的念头，就是要把赖子安然无恙地送回丈夫身边。 “嗯，我……”赖子的声音不同往常。她蓦地站起身，急步朝装有西服衣挂的固定门走去，敏捷地取下小野木的衣服，抱在手里。 小野木站起来，要把浴衣脱掉。 “还是穿着出去好。要是把西服淋湿了就……”赖子一面说，一面把拿在手里的小野木的西服、衬衣等分装在自己和小野木的旅行皮箱里。因为不能一下子全装到同一个皮箱里。赖子迅速、麻利地做完这件事。这时响起了树木或别的什么东西倒下去的声音。 “您二位携带的东西就这么多吗？”女用人惊恐不安地问。 “快，请吧！”女用人提起一个旅行皮箱，打着灯笼，首先走出了房间。然而，在快到游廊的时候，灯笼灭掉了。没安窗子的游廊里，风和雨穿堂掠过。 小野木搂住赖子在游廊里跑着。只跑过三米多的距离，小野木半边身子就被雨淋透了。 一个披着雨衣的旅馆男侍，从黑暗中靠近过来，嘴里喊着女用人的名字。 “这是新楼那边的客人呀！”女用人把旅行皮箱交给旅馆的那个男侍，喊道：“快把客人的皮鞋包好！” 赖子把旅馆借的男用雨衣披到头上。小野木搂着她的肩又跑起来，由于风雨交加，赖子的身体好象就要倒在地下。 两人都感到身体发飘。瞬息而过的强风一吹，他们险些就要被吹散到漆黑的夜幕里去，脚尖根本用不上力气。 走在前面的那个旅馆男侍，不断地从黑暗中朝他们喊着，“走路的时候，身体向前倾！用往前倒的姿势迈开步子！” 因为风的关系，那声音忽而变细，忽而又大起来。雨点打在身上很疼。水顺着鼻子嘴流到下颚。风吹得人透不过气来。 “赖子。”小野木搂着赖子淋得透湿的身子走着。“不要紧……请放心。”赖子只有声音从遮头的雨帽下传出来。看不到她那白暂的面孔。小野木的浴衣已经被水粘到身上了。 后边还有避难的客人走过来。大家都很害怕树木倒下去的声音以及河水的轰响。没有一个人吭声。地面上的水沿着斜坡流成了河。 倒伏的草木在黑暗中抖动着，分不清是走向哪里。风，和着雨声吼叫着。 “赖子！”小野木放开噪门叫了一声。他心里想，任谁听到也无所谓了。 “请放心！”赖子又讲了同样的话。 小野木要说的并不是这件事。他是想说，赖子，您不要走开！请您不要离开我，我们决不分离！这才是小野木心里要说的话。他很想在风雨交加之中，不顾一切地把这些话喊出来。 赖子好象把小野木那句话理解为要讲暴风雨了。小野木不再吭声，没有讲出下面的话。 然而，他马上又想到，赖子说“请放心”，也许就是在回答自己的这种心情吧！以赖子的敏感，她不会不理解的。“请放心”这三个字，大概就是赖子做出的回答。 小野木想把赖子抱得更紧。 从对面传来有人喊叫的声音“喂……！” “喂！”走在前头的旅馆男侍应了一声。 “几个人哪……？”对方在问人数。 “七位呀……！”这边的领班回答着。 越过铁道口，路开始上坡。从坡上走下来一群黑影，手里拿着电筒，脚下淌着水。这几个男人里，有的穿着消防团的号衣，也有的赤身露体。 “是七位吗？”领头的男子向领班核实着人数。他好象还在用指头数着。 “暂时在工会的二层吧！筱屋旅馆遭了灾，所以那边的客人都逃了过来，房间分配不开了！”那个男子怕风吹得听不清，大声地说着。 “筱屋遭了灾啦？”领班发出了吃惊的声音。 “发生山崩啦！” 只有旅馆那幢开始倾斜的楼房黑影，在夜幕中尚能看到，手电筒的微光在房檐下忽隐忽现。旅馆后面也有一条河，不断传来河水奔腾咆哮的声音。小野木知道那条河的上游是个峡谷，就在那个方向的远方，发出地动一般的轰响。 房屋、楼顶、檐下，都不断响着类似金属的声音。 “现在领各位到工会办事处去，走路的时候请多留神！” 消防团的男子带着几分傲慢的腔调说。客人们都保持着沉默。 一路上不断地响起东西落下来摔碎的声音。 “小心瓦片飞过来，请尽量靠房檐里面走！” 消防团的男子在狂风里又吼了一句。赖子仍由小野木搂着走在路上，她叫了一声：“小野木先生！” 似乎听她说了句“我真高兴”，却被风遮去没有听清。小野木反问了一声“啊？”但这次赖子也仿佛没有听到。 旅馆工会办事处的二楼，有二十张铺席大小。然而，这里一点也不宽敞，其狭小的程度使人觉得，简直要彼此背靠背地挤在一起。收容到这里来的，有小野木他们所住旅馆的七名客人，以及从其他旅馆来避难的十一名房客。 和其他旅馆进行交涉，也都以住着团体客人或满员为理由，遭到拒绝。因为旅馆本来就不多。再加上所有旅馆都受到洪水的威胁，全都拒绝接受新的避难客人。 小野木和赖子掺杂在其他房客中间，在这二层搂上度过了昏暗的一夜。据说点燃光秃秃的蜡烛很危险，因而吊起了马灯，人们都用手电筒照着脚底下走路。简直和战争时期的夜晚一样。 小野木让赖子把头枕在自己的膝上睡着了。就是这样也无法充分伸开手脚，否则就会碰到邻人身上，因此不得不蜷缩着身子躺在那里。 小野木用手指轻轻地抚摩着赖子濡湿的头发。她的头发和面颊都象沾着水一样冰凉。在马灯微弱的亮光下，赖子的脸很暗，表情模糊不清。 “小野木先生，您不睡也不行的呀！”赖子在小野木的膝上迷迷糊糊地睡了一会儿，马上又睁开了眼睛。尽管事先约好要轮换睡觉的，赖子却立即坐起身来。 “可以的。您再睡一会儿吧！” “不，我睡不着。还是坐起来舒服。” 旁边就睡着别人，不能大声讲话。两个人低声耳语起来。 "Sorry!" 小野木也把头放到赖子的腿上了。赖子脱去淋湿的西装，换上了旅行皮箱里备用的连衣裙。小野木也穿着从皮箱里取出的衬衣和西服裤子。躺在赖子的腿上，小野木刚刚睡意朦胧，马上又把眼睛睁开了。 “对不起！把您领到了这种地方。”小野木从下面仰视着赖子的脸说。 “不，原因并不在小野木先生呀！”赖子含着微笑答道。 “不过，我要是不来这里的活，就不会遇上这样的天灾了。” “这没办法呀！是我任性跟着来的。” 外人就躺在身边，不可能进行复杂的谈话。这说不定倒是件好事。刚才这些活，自然而然地脱开了赖子所坦白的问题的核心。然而，结果却相反，使彼此的心更加贴近了。外面正在呼啸的暴风雨，室内光线暗淡的吊灯，加上灯光下映出的胡乱挤睡在一起的模糊的人影，这一切都促使两个人的心贴得更紧。 这一夜里，竟两次听到了山崩的声响…… 天将破晓时分，从背后穿过的河流，清晰地发出了洪水的声音。 这条河的坡度很陡，两岸崖壁很高，一般认为河水不会溢出河床。尽管如此，也还是有人通知说河水已经开始漫到公路上。 那条公路已经流成了河。 在夜幕刚刚拉开的晨曦之中，朝后面那条河流望去，鲜红的浊流正以意想不到的宽度和流量奔腾咆哮着。 树木和断崖的土方在水里翻滚着，以一泻千里之势飞流而去。雨小了，风也停了。只有那红色的洪流还在尽情地逞着威风。 “今天早晨七点三十分满潮！”穿着消防团服装的三个男人来到二楼说。他们好象是来查看这座建筑物是否安全的，还仔细观察了正在奔腾的河水。 “还有两个小时啊！”另外一个男人说。 “富士川说不定也要泛滥呢！” “火车会不通的吧！” “那是肯定的。身延线被冲得七零八落。若是东海道干线的话，会马上修复，但支线就慢了。即使水退下去，也得两三天吧！” 小野木脸色变了。首先产生的冲动还是无论如何也要在今天把赖子平安地送到她丈夫的身边，送到她那既没见过面、也不知道名字的丈夫跟前。这是小野木的责任。