Chapter 6 Chapter Six Tengo Shall We Go Far Away?

Xiao Song called, it was Friday morning, after five o'clock.Tengo was then dreaming of crossing a long, stone-cut bridge.Go to the other side to get an important document that was forgotten.Tengo was the only one walking on the bridge.The Chalei River with sandbars in several places.The water flows slowly, and willow trees grow on the sandbar.Trout could be seen swimming gracefully.The bright green willow leaves hang gently on the water.Scenery like Chinese painted porcelain plates.Then he woke up and looked at the clock beside his pillow in the darkness.Who would call at such a time, of course, would have expected it before picking up the receiver.

"Tengo, do you have a word processor?" Komatsu asked.There was neither "Good morning" nor "Are you up yet?" At this moment, he hadn't slept yet, so he must have stayed up all night.I don't want to wake up early to watch the sunrise.Before going to bed somewhere, he must have thought of something to tell Tengo. "Of course not," Tengo said.It was still dark around.And he is still in the middle of the long bridge.It was rare for Tengo to have such vivid dreams. "Not that I'm proud, I can't afford that kind of stuff." "Will it work?"

"I know how to use it. It doesn't matter whether it's a computer or a word processor, as long as I have it, I still know how to use it. I have it in cram school, and I often use it at work." "Then, you go out today to find a word processor and buy it back. I don't know anything about machines, so I'll leave it to you for the brand and model. I'll report the amount later. I hope you use this and start rewriting Air Chrysalis ASAP "That being said, the cheap ones cost around 250,000 yen." "To this degree, it doesn't matter." Tengo tilted his head while holding the microphone. "In other words, will Mr. Komatsu buy me a word processor?"

"Yeah, let me pay for it. This job requires such an investment. The stingy Barra has made a big deal. You also know that the manuscript sent by "Air Chrysalis" is typed with a word processor, so it needs to be rewritten. If you don't use a word processor, it's inappropriate. Try to format it as similar to the original manuscript as possible. May I start rewriting today?" Tengo thought about it. "Okay. If you want to start, you can start right away. But Fuka-Eri asked me to meet someone she appointed on Sunday as a condition for permission to rewrite, but I haven't met that person yet. If we meet, we can make a deal. , Isn’t it a waste of time and money? It’s not impossible.”

"It doesn't matter. There is always a way for that matter. You don't need to worry about some details, just start doing it right now. This matter is a race against time." "Are you confident that the interview will go well?" "Sixth sense," Komatsu said. "I have a good sixth sense. I don't seem to be gifted with any talent whatsoever, but only my sixth sense is strong. I'm sorry, but that's how I've lived until now. Hey, Tengo, talent and sixth sense, What do you think is the biggest difference?" "I do not know."

"No matter what talent you have, you may not be able to fill your stomach, but if you have a keen sixth sense, you won't have to worry about food." "I'll remember," Tengo said. "So you don't have to worry. It's okay to start homework from today." "If Komatsu-san says that, I don't mind. I just don't want to think that the opportunity comes and start to move, only to find out later that it's just a waste of effort." "I'm in charge of everything in this regard." "Understood. I have an appointment in the afternoon, and then I will be free. I will go to the street to buy a word processor in the morning and come back."

"Let's do it this way, Tengo. It's up to you. Together, the two of you can turn the world around." A married girlfriend called after nine o'clock.The time after she drove her husband and child to the station.She would have come to Tengo's place that afternoon.Friday is the day two people go on every date. "Not feeling well today," she said. "Unfortunately I can't go today. Wait until next week." The so-called physical discomfort refers to a euphemism for entering the physiological period.She had this refinement and tactful upbringing.She doesn't have this grace and tact in bed, but that's another question.I regret not being able to meet, too, Tengo said.However, since this is the case, there is no way.

But just for this week, I don't regret not being able to meet her.Making love with her was a pleasure, but Tengo's mood had already turned to the rewriting of "Air Chrysalis".All kinds of rewriting ideas, like the turmoil of the budding life in the ancient sea, emerged and disappeared in his mind.Then he would be no different from Komatsu, Tengo thought.Before the matter was finalized, the mood had already moved in that direction without authorization. I went out to Shinjuku at ten o'clock, and bought a Fujitsu word processor with my credit card.The latest model, much lighter than previous models in the same line.Also bought spare ribbons and printing paper.Take that back to the apartment, put it on the table and connect the wires.In the workplace, he had used a large word processor from Fujitsu, which was small but had the same basic functions.While confirming the operation of the machine, Tengo began to rewrite "Air Chrysalis".

How this novel is going to be rewritten does not have a definite plan.Just a few thoughts on the various details.There is no consistent approach or principle ready to be rewritten.Originally, Tengo had no real confidence in rewriting a fantasy and sensory novel like "Air Chrysalis" in a reasonable way.As Komatsu said, the article obviously needs to be greatly revised, but can such revisions not damage the original atmosphere and quality of the work? Is that equivalent to adding bones to the butterfly?” Thinking of this kind of thing, I became confused, and my anxiety gradually increased. .But things are moving.And time is limited.There was no time to stand still and think.In short, we can only start from the subtle places and sort them out one by one.Between handling the details, perhaps the overall image will emerge naturally.

Tengo, you can do it.I know, Komatsu asserted confidently.And for some reason, Tengo was able to completely accept what Komatsu said.Although he is a character with quite problematic words and deeds, he basically only thinks of himself.If necessary, the crispy mandarin mandarin fish may be discarded.And walk away without looking back.But as he himself said, there was something special about his sixth sense as an editor.Komatsu often does not hesitate.No matter what happens, you can act decisively and put it into action.Don't care what the people around you say.This is the qualification necessary for an outstanding frontline commander.And no matter how you look at it, it was a talent that Tengo did not have.

Tengo's actual rewriting began at half past twelve noon.He put the first few pages of the original manuscript of "Air Chrysalis" into a place suitable for ending, and typed the original text into the drawing of the word processor.Try to rewrite the paragraph to an acceptable level first.The content itself doesn't move, only the article is overhauled.Like changing the decor of your home.The basic structure remains the same.Because the structure itself is fine.The location of the water lines also remains the same.Anything else that could be replaced—floors, ceilings, walls, cubicles—was removed and replaced with new ones.I'm a handy carpenter who does everything.Tengo told himself so.There is no such thing as a decided blueprint.You can only adapt to the situation on the spot at any time, and work hard with intuition and experience. Add explanations to the parts that are difficult to understand after reading it, so that the article can be easily seen.Redundant parts and repeated descriptions are eliminated, and inadequacies are supplemented.In some places, the order of the chapters is reversed.Because there are very few adjectives and adverbs, on the one hand, we respect the feature of less, and at the same time, if we feel that it is necessary to add some kind of adjective expression, we will choose appropriate language to add it.Fuka-Eri's articles are naive on the whole, with clear advantages and disadvantages, so the choice is not as troublesome as expected.Because of its naivety, there are parts that are not easy to understand and read. On the other hand, there are also surprising and fresh performances despite its naivety.The former is simply cut off and replaced by other things, while the latter is kept as it is. When Tengo rewrote it, he felt again that Fuka-Eri did not write this work with the intention of leaving a literary work behind.She just recorded the stories she had in her heart—to borrow her language, what she actually saw—in a word, recorded them in testimony.It is also possible without language, but there is no suitable expression method other than language.That's all.So there was no so-called literary ambition from the very beginning.The finished thing is not intended to be a commodity, so there is no need to pay attention to the performance of the article.Comparing it to a house, as long as it has walls and a roof, it is enough to keep out the wind and rain.So Fuka-Eri didn't mind no matter how much effort Tengo put into her essay.Because her purpose has been achieved.She said, "You can change it however you like." Probably she meant it entirely. Even so, the articles that make up "Air Chrysalis" are definitely not the kind of articles that you can understand by yourself.If Fuka-Eri's purpose is to record the things that come to mind in documents, it should be enough to write them down in separate columns.There is no need to take the troublesome order of specially organized readings.No matter how you look at it, it is still an article written on the premise that someone else will pick it up and read it.So although "Air Chrysalis" was not written for the purpose of a literary work, and the article is naive, it still has the power to move people's hearts.But this so-called "who else" seems to be different from the "unspecified majority of readers" that modern literature takes to heart in principle.While reading, Tengo couldn't help but feel this way. So what kind of reader is she imagining? Of course Tengo didn't know. Tengo only knew that "Air Chrysalis" was a very special novel with both great advantages and disadvantages, and it even seemed to have some kind of special purpose. As a result of the rewriting, the number of words on the manuscript paper expanded by about two and a half times.Rather than writing too much, it is better to write less, so if you write in the order of the plot, the overall volume will increase anyway.After all, it was sparse at first.The article is rewritten into a reasonable and smooth normal text.Viewpoints are stabilized, making it easy to read.But the overall flow is a little stuffy.The theory is too explicit, and the sharpness of the original manuscript is diminished. The next thing to do is to delete the "unnecessary parts" of the bloated manuscript.Shake off the fat one by one.Removing jobs is much simpler than attaching them.Because of this assignment, the amount of articles has been reduced to about 70%.It's a mind game.First set the time zone that can increase as much as possible, and then set the time zone that can reduce as much as possible.While this kind of work interaction continues stubbornly, the amplitude gradually shrinks, and the amount of articles naturally falls to the stable place.To the point where it can no longer be increased, nor can it be decreased any more.The ego is pared away, superfluous embellishments are sifted out, and theories that are too obvious recede to the back of the room.Tengo was naturally good at this kind of work.A born techie.Possesses the sharp concentration of a bird to fly in the air looking for prey, and the stamina of a donkey to carry water, and always faithfully abide by the rules of the game. Concentrate on, continue to immerse yourself in that kind of homework, and look at the clock on the wall with a sigh of relief, it is almost three o'clock.That being said, I haven't had lunch yet.Tengo went to the kitchen, boiled a pot of water, and ground coffee beans in between.I ate a few biscuits with cheese, ate an apple, and made coffee after the water was boiled.While drinking from a large mug, in order to change my mood, I thought about having sex with my older girlfriend for a while.Originally, at this time, he should be doing that with her.What is he doing now, what is she doing.He closed his eyes, facing the ceiling, and sighed deeply, a sigh that contained heavy hints and possibilities. Then Tengo returned to his desk, switched the circuit of his mind back again, and reread the opening stanza of the rewritten "Air Chrysalis" on the screen of the word processor.Just like Stanley.In the opening scene of Kubrick's movie "Paths of Glory", the general goes to the trenches to inspect the positions.He nodded at what he saw.not bad.Article improved.Things moved forward.But it's not perfect.There are still many things that cannot be avoided.There are collapsing sandbags everywhere.The machine gun doesn't have enough bullets.It can be seen that the barbed wire is too weak in several places. He printed the article on paper first.Then file it up, turn off the power to the word processor, and push the machine over to the desk.Put the printed manuscript in front of you, pencil in one hand, and reread it carefully.Delete the part that feels redundant, add the part that is not enough, and rewrite the part that does not go well until it is approved.As if choosing the right tile for the bathroom, carefully choose the language necessary for that location, and check the fit of the mosaic from every angle.If the fit is poor, adjust the shape.A little nuance in tone can make or break a piece of writing. Viewed on the screen of a word processor or printed out on paper, the impression of the exact same article is subtly different.Writing with a pencil on paper and typing with a word processor's keyboard changes the feel of the language used.It is necessary to examine it from two angles.Turn on the power of the machine, and input the corrections written on the printed manuscript with a pencil into the screen one by one.Then reread this new draft on the screen.Not bad, Tengo thought.Each passage has its own weight, and a natural rhythm emerges from it. Tengo still sat on the chair with his back straightened, looked up at the ceiling and let out a deep breath.Of course this is not completely done.When you leave it for a few days and reread it, you should see what needs to be revised.But that's all for now.This is the limit of attention.A cooling period is required.The hands of the clock approached five o'clock, and the surroundings began to darken.I'll start editing the next paragraph tomorrow.It took almost a whole day to revise the first few pages.It takes more time than expected.But once the track is laid and the rhythm is established, the job should move much more quickly.And no matter what it is, the most difficult and troublesome part is the beginning part.As long as this is resolved, the next step is——. Fuka-Eri's face appeared in Tengo's mind, and he wondered how she would feel after reading the rewritten manuscript.But Tengo could not guess how she would feel.As for Fuka-Eri, he didn't know anything about it.Except that she was seventeen, a third-year high school student who had absolutely no interest in taking college entrance exams, had a unique way of speaking, liked white wine, and had the kind of pretty face that would confuse people. However, I have gradually been able to grasp the establishment of the world that Fuka-Eri wanted to describe (or record) in this work of "Air Chrysalis", and Tengo felt this kind of feeling, or something close to it. .The scene that Fuka-Eri wanted to describe with that unique limited language, after Tengo rewrote it carefully and carefully, emerged more vividly and clearly than before.There is a flow here.Tengo knew.Although he only started to reinforce it from the technical level, as if it was written by himself, the processing was very naturally integrated.And the story called "Air Chrysalis" is about to stand up strongly from there. This made Tengo happier than anything else.Rewriting work requires long hours of concentration, so the body is very tiring, but the mood is relatively exciting.After turning off the power of the word processor and leaving the desk, I often can't restrain myself and want to continue rewriting.He really enjoyed the job of rewriting the story.If this continues, Fuka-Eri should not be disappointed.Having said that, Tengo couldn't imagine how happy or disappointed Fuka-Eri would be.Not only that, even the corners of the mouth gradually relaxed into a smile, or when the face was slightly clouded, I couldn't imagine it.There was no such thing as expression on her face.Did he have no emotion in the first place, so he had no expression? Or did he have emotion, but that couldn't be connected with the expression? Tengo didn't know.All in all, she was an incredible girl, Tengo felt that way again. The protagonist of "Air Chrysalis" may be Fuka Eri herself in the past. She is a ten-year-old girl who lives in a special community (or commune-like establishment) in the mountains and takes care of a blind goat.That was the job she was given.All the children are assigned jobs individually.Although this goat is old, it is a goat that has special meaning to the community and needs to be guarded so that nothing goes wrong.The eyes can't move away even a little bit.She was so commanded.But finally he turned his eyes away carelessly, and the goat died in the meantime.She was punished for it.Locked up in an old warehouse with dead goats.During those ten days, the girl was completely isolated and not allowed to go out.Don't talk to anyone. The goat acts as a gateway between the Little People and the world. Whether the Little People were good or bad, she didn't know (and neither did Tengo, of course).At night, the Little People will come to this side of the world through the dead goat.Then at dawn, go back to the world over there.Maidens can talk to Little People.They teach young girls how to make air chrysalis. What Tengo admired was that the habits and actions of Shanfeng, who was invisible to the eyes, were described in great detail.Such details make this work very vivid from the whole.Did she really raise blind goats? And did she really live in the mountain community as described above? Tengo speculated that it might have been.If there is no such experience at all, Fuka-Eri has a rare talent for a storyteller. The next time he saw Fuka-Eri (it should be Sunday), Tengo wanted to ask her about goats and communes.But of course I don't know if Fuka-Eri is willing to answer such a question.When recalling the dialogue from the last conversation, she seemed as if she only answered questions she thought could be answered.Questions that you don't want to answer, or don't intend to answer, are simply ignored.It was as if he couldn't hear it.Same as Komatsu.They are very similar to each other in this respect.Tengo was not.If you are asked anything, no matter what kind of question, you will answer it in a regular manner.This kind of thing may be a natural personality. At half past five, my older girlfriend called. "What did you do today?" Soo Tang asked. "I've been writing novels all day," Tengo said.Half true, half false.Because I'm not writing my own novel.But it doesn't have to be so detailed. "How is your job going?" "So-so." "Sorry for being so sudden today. I think we can meet next week." "I'm looking forward to it," Tengo said. "Me too," she said. Then she talked about the children.She often talked about children to Tengo.two little girls.Tengo had no siblings, and certainly no children.So I don't really know what a small child is like.But she doesn't mind such things and talks about her own children.Tengo would not take the initiative to talk too much.No matter what, I like to hear what others have to say.So he listened with interest to what she had to say.She said that her eldest daughter in the second grade of elementary school seemed to be bullied at school.The child himself didn't say anything, but the mother of a classmate told her that it seemed to be the case.Of course Tengo had never seen the girl.Once she showed him the picture.Not quite like a mother. "What was the reason for being bullied?" Tengo asked. "Because asthma attacks sometimes, I can't move with everyone. It may be because of this. A child with a very good personality, and his homework grades are also good." "I really don't understand," said Tengo. "Children with asthma attacks should be protected and not bullied." "A child's world is not that simple." She said with a sigh. "Sometimes you will be rejected just because you are different from everyone. Although the world of adults is similar, the world of children will appear in a more direct form." "What kind of form exactly?" She brought up specific examples one by one.In each instance, while nothing serious, it can be difficult for a child when it becomes part of everyday life.What will they hide.don't open your mouth.Will do malicious imitation. "Did you ever get bullied when you were a child?" Tengo thought back to his childhood. "I don't think so. Although there may be, Buzhitao didn't notice." "If you don't notice, it means you haven't been bullied once. Because the purpose of bullying is to make the other party feel that you are being bullied. If the person being bullied doesn't notice, the bullying will be established. " Tengo had been tall and powerful since childhood.Everyone looked at him differently.Maybe that's why I wasn't bullied.But Tengo at the time had more serious problems than bullying. "Have you been bullied?" Tengo asked. "No." She said plainly.Then there seemed to be a little hesitation. "I've bullied others." "Are you with everyone?" "Yes. In the fifth grade of elementary school. We made an appointment not to talk to a boy. I can't remember why I did this. There must be some direct reason, but since I can't remember it, I don't think it should be What a great thing. But no matter what, now I feel that it is wrong to do that. I feel very ashamed. I don’t know why I did that.” Because of this, Tengo suddenly remembered something.That happened a long time ago, and occasionally the memory still comes back.can not forget.But he didn't mention it.It will be long to mention.And that's the kind of thing that loses the most important subtlety once it's translated into words.I have never mentioned it to anyone in the past, and I may not mention it in the future. "As a result," said the older girlfriend, "everyone can feel reassured that they belong not to the excluded minority, but to the excluded majority. Ah, luckily it's not me over there. No matter what era It’s basically the same in any society, when you’re on the side of many people, you don’t need to worry about getting into trouble.” "If you enter the side of a few people, you must always worry about what to do if you get into trouble." "That's it," she said in a melancholy voice. "But if you are in that environment, maybe at least you will learn to use your brain." "Maybe I can use my brain, but I keep thinking about some troublesome things." "That's also a problem." "It's better not to think too deeply," Tengo said. "It didn't get too serious in the end. Because there must be a few children in the class who can think seriously with their own minds." "Yeah," she said.Then I didn't know what to think for a while.Tengo, still holding the receiver to his ear, waited patiently for her to think things through. "Thanks. It's easier to talk to you," she said later.It seems to have thought of something. "I feel lighter, too," Tengo said. "why?" "Because I can talk to you." "See you next Friday," she said. After hanging up the phone, Tengo went outside to buy food at a nearby supermarket.Go home with a paper bag, wrap the vegetables and fish in plastic wrap and put them in the refrigerator.Then, while preparing to make dinner while listening to music on the FM radio, the phone rang.Four phone calls a day were unusual for Tengo.This happens several times a year.This time it was Fuka-Eri who called. "This is about XING QI TIAN." She said without opening words. A car horn could be heard on the other end of the phone.The driver seemed very angry about something.Probably from a public phone on the main road. "This Sunday, the day after tomorrow, I'm going to meet with you, and then I'm going to meet someone." Tengo added content to her words. "Nine o'clock in the morning, Shinjuku Station to the front of LI CHUAN." She said.Three facts are listed here. "In other words, wait at the boarding area of ​​the first car on the down platform of the Chuo Line, right?" "right." "Which station should I buy the ticket for?" "casual." "Buy whatever you want first, and calculate the fare when you arrive." Tengo speculated and added.Like the job of rewriting Air Chrysalis. "So shall we go far away?" "What are you doing now?" Fuka-Eri asked, ignoring Tengo's question. "I'm making dinner." "what." "I'm alone, so I don't do anything amazing. Grill dried pike, make mashed radish. Cook green onion and clam miso soup and eat it with tofu. Also make pickled cucumbers and kelp sprouts with vinegar. Then white rice and pickled cabbage, that's all .” "It looks delicious." "Is that so? It's not a particularly delicious thing. I eat something similar to it all the time," Tengo said. Fuka-Eri didn't speak.In her case, she didn't seem to mind not talking for a long time.But Tengo couldn't do it. "By the way, I'll start rewriting your "Air Chrysalis" today," said Tengo. "Although I haven't got your final permission, but because the working days are not too many, it will be too late if I don't start." "Mr. XIAO SONG wants you to do this." "Yes. Mr. Komatsu told me to start rewriting." "You and Mr. XIAO SONG are very good." "Yeah. Probably very good." There may not be anyone in this world who can get along well with Komatsu.But it's a long story. "Did the rewriting go well?" "So far. Generally good." "That's good," Fuka-Eri said.This does not seem to be just a way of expressing words.It sounds like the rewriting work is going well, and she seems quite happy.It's just a limited display of emotion, and it can only show so far. "I hope it satisfies you," said Tengo. "Don't worry." Fuka-Eri said without hesitation. "Why do you think that?" Tengo asked. Fuka-Eri did not answer this.There was just silence on the other end of the receiver.The deliberate kind of silence.Perhaps it was a silence to make Tengo think about something.But no matter how hard he racked his brains, Tengo still had no idea why Sou had such a strong belief. To break the silence, Tengo said, "Hey, I want to ask you" a question.Did you actually live in a place like a commune and raise goats? Those things are described very realistically.So I kind of wondered, did it really happen?" Fuka-Eri coughed lightly. "Don't talk about goats." "It's okay," Tengo said. "If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay not to talk about it. I'm just asking. Please don't mind. For a writer, the work is everything. There is no need to add any explanation. See you on Sunday. Also, to meet this person, you must Don't pay attention to what?" "do not understand." "In other words... it's better to dress neatly, or bring some gifts, etc. Because I don't know what kind of person the other party is, and I don't have any hints." Fuka-Eri fell silent again.But this time it wasn't a deliberate silence.It's just that she still couldn't understand the purpose of simply asking Tengo, and the thought itself.That question didn't seem to land in any area of ​​her consciousness.Beyond the edge of meaning, sucked forever into nothingness.Like a lone planetary probe rocket passing directly next to Pluto. "It's okay, it's nothing important," Tengo said resignedly.Asking such a question to Fuka-Eri was a mistake.Forget it, just buy some fruit somewhere. "Then I'll see you at nine on Sunday," said Tengo. Fuka-Eri paused for a few seconds, then hung up the phone without saying anything.No "goodbye" or "see you on Sunday, then".It's just that the phone card is cut off. Maybe she saluted and nodded to Tengo before hanging up the phone.But unfortunately, most physical testimony cannot play its original role on the phone.Tengo put down the receiver, took two deep breaths to switch the circuits of his mind to something more realistic, and then continued with the modest dinner.