Chapter 5 coastal cemetery

The warm sun shone down on Honda's back. The bright sunlight fell on the white walls of this beautiful house, and also fell on the trees in the garden.There are pear trees, Himalayan pine, and plum blossoms in the garden.Dry rose bushes crawled on the fence.On the small leaves, there is a faint winter sun. By the way, this window, this pear tree and Himalayan pine are all in that photo.One of the two photos sandwiched in the book, and now its real scene is displayed in front of Zhenzi. This sprawling house, which is often seen in a quiet residential area in Tokyo, was built on a small hill in Kanazawa.This is the residence of Mr. Murota.Yes, the husband often visits here, so he took that photo.Why?Is it just to take care of the house, or is there another reason?

The door opened.The young maid looked at Sadako and Honda. "Please!" She immediately invited the guest in, apparently under the care of the host. They were ushered into the living room.Facing the inner country, there are two large glass doors with white gauze curtains.The sunlight through the door curtain and the stove in the house constitute the spring atmosphere in the house.The indoor furniture is all in warm colors, with a high style. The maid brought black tea and put it down.Zhenzi felt that the maid was always looking at her, maybe she was curious about the female guests from Tokyo.

After a while, the hostess appeared.Zhenzi couldn't help being surprised, the wife was younger than she thought.She was wearing a rouge-colored kimono, a light-colored short mantle, and a white collar, which looked very coordinated.The lady has a slender face and is tall. "My husband called, and I have been waiting for the visit." The lady said with a smile, "My name is Sachiko." Sadako and Honda saluted respectively. "Please!" Madam pointed to the chair, and sat down gently, perhaps because of her tall stature, her sitting posture was beautiful. Madam is not a beauty, but she has fair skin and a pleasing appearance.With a sweet smile, there is a kind and delicate beauty in the corner of his eyes.

"We went to visit the manager just now. Uhara has been taken care of by you in every possible way. Thank you very much. I am very sorry for the sudden visit today." Zhenzi expressed his gratitude respectfully. Madame said: "It's really surprising. Mr. Uhara disappeared. It's like a dream. I heard Muroda say it, and I can't believe it is true. Madam, you are really worried." "Yes, thank you for your concern." At this time, Honda said to his wife: "Uhara has taken care of you both public and private, and I would also like to express my gratitude to you. If you find anything unusual about Uhara-kun, please give me your advice."

"This..." Madam turned her gaze to Honda. "My husband also said the same thing. Mr. Uhara has been depressed recently for some reason. On the other hand, he is about to get married in Tokyo and then transferred back to work at the head office. He shouldn't behave like this. We always feel a little strange. But, saying that he Depression, in retrospect, doesn't seem particularly obvious." "Did Ubara specifically tell Madam anything?" Zhenzi asked.She heard from Manager Muroda that her husband often came to the house. "Mr. Uhara often comes to my house to play, and my husband appreciates him very much." The wife knew what Zhenzi was thinking, and went on to say:

"When my husband was away, he would talk to me in this living room and go back after fifteen minutes at most. I don't remember what he said about opening his heart. When my husband was around, he stayed a little longer.By the way, I have heard him say that Madame is a beauty and so on. " Zhenzi lowered his head.She felt the lady's eyes on her. Manager Murota said that after meeting his wife, he might understand something.Even so, after meeting Madam, I didn't hear anything new, maybe it was the first time we met, out of politeness.Both have scruples about each other.

For example, Zhenzi wanted to ask how much the wife knew about Uhara's life, because she vaguely thought that there was a woman beside her husband. Maybe Madame really doesn't know.However, after Zhenzi came to Kanazawa, she learned that the people who knew her husband's life best were none other than the Murata couple.If you ask in depth, you may get some kind of hint. However, Zhenzi didn't have the courage to ask the lady.To say that her husband is depressed is an extremely abstract suggestion, but at the moment she can only be content with that. The maid came in with Western whiskey, three glasses, and cheese.

"How about it? Come on a little bit." The lady's parishioners declined in fear.Honda politely accepted it. Mrs. Murota put the wine glass behind, looked at Zhenzi, and praised: "What a beauty! Mr. Uhara is really too. Where did you leave such a beautiful wife?" Madam seems to be blaming Uhara Kenichi. Honda put down his whiskey glass, suddenly remembered something, and said, "Oh, by the way, madam, have you heard where Uhara-kun lives?" This is the most appropriate question, as a wife cannot say it. The lady opened her eyes wide: "Oh! Is it in Kanazawa?"

Zhenzi blushed involuntarily.The shyness of being a wife flowed through my body. Ben Duo said in embarrassment: "Yes, he lived in Jinze at first. But a year and a half ago, he returned the house in Jinze and moved. The people in the office didn't know about it. Therefore, when something happened this time, he was helpless. " Madam restrained her surprise and said calmly: "It's the first time I've heard of it." This is a courtesy to Uhara's wife.After Zhenzi understood her intention, she felt sad. "I always thought he lived in Kanazawa, Mr. Uhara never mentioned it." Madam said sympathetically.

It seemed that the Murotas didn't know where their husband lived. They only knew that he was serious about his work and often traveled on business. No one took his residence as a problem. Zhenzi pulled away the chair and prepared to say goodbye. After exchanging pleasantries, the lady's soft eyes expressed condolences to her young Zhenzi. "Please don't worry too much. Maybe Mr. Uhara will come back safe and sound in a few days." When they came to the corridor, the air suddenly became cold, and Madam saw them off from behind. Zhenzi came to the gate, faced his wife, and said resolutely:

"Uhara took pictures of the family, and seeing him with my own eyes today is very memorable." Madam stood gracefully, smiled slightly, showed surprise eyes, and replied softly: "I don't know. So, Mr. Uhara admires this house very much, and he wants to build such a house. Maybe the photo was taken as a reference, so I don't know." Zhenzi bids her farewell here.Where the lady was standing, among the bushes next to it, evergreens were stretching their leaves, and the dark, gloomy color permeated the cold of winter. Leaving Muroda's house, Sadako and Honda walked down the ramp. In this hilly area, there are snow-covered mountains behind and a panoramic view of Kanazawa City in front.Clouds covered the sun, and in the dim sunlight, you could see the sea near the inland beach in the distance, and the Noto Mountains stretched out to the sea like a belt. "There's not much to gain from Mr. Murota." Honda put his hands in the pockets of his coat, and his leather shoes made a "choke, choke" sound as he walked downhill. "Yes!" Zhenzi looked at the distant scenery absently while walking. "I still can't find Mr. Uhara's residence. The other party seems very surprised." Honda suddenly remembered something, and said apologetically: "I shouldn't have asked such a question in front of you." "No, it's okay, it's better if you ask." She felt very happy for Honda's concern.She looked at Honda who was walking ahead, as if his broad shoulders reflected his kindness.When seeing off her husband at Ueno Station that day, he was the one who congratulated himself on his wedding.Then he got into the car with a small bottle of whiskey.He is very careful about everything.At this moment, Zhenzi remembered the scene at that time. "I also wanted to ask, but I couldn't say it for a while, so you asked for me, which really helped me a lot." There was a commotion in her heart again, where is her husband hiding? "Even the relatively close Murata couple don't know, where is Mr. Uhara?" Honda's tone seemed to be questioning not only Zhenzi, but also himself.Zhenzi didn't answer.Silence, on this occasion, was her answer. "Ma'am, you finally asked Mrs. Murota about that photo." Honda waited for Sadako to walk with him and said: "I heard it from the side, and I couldn't help being startled. Baotian's house is exactly the same as the house in the photo you showed me last night. I'm still fuzzy, but you've noticed it a long time ago." "As soon as I saw his house, I immediately remembered it. Look, isn't it the same as the one in the photo?" Zhenzi said. "It seems that Ma'am, you are more serious than me. However, Mrs. Baotian's words seem to have no content and no special meaning." Yes, Madam's words have no special meaning, the problem lies in the method of preservation of this photo.The photo was included in the legal book, along with a picture of the farmhouse.The two photos are pretty incongruous, if that makes any sense. If it is said that Murota's house was photographed by her husband for reference in order to dream in the future.So, what kind of dream does the humble farmhouse have?These two photos are sandwiched in the book. What kind of meaning does the completely opposite type of house have in the husband's heart at the same time? Honda didn't know what to think, Zhenzi wanted to ask him. Honda clearly remembered. "That picture of the farmhouse, I'm not sure. Maybe Mr. Uhara went somewhere on a business trip and saw the local style of the house, so he thought it was rare. It seems that he took it not long after he took office. Look at that The photos are also outdated." Honda's speculation is also reasonable. Maybe so.Is it so simple.Kenichi also has many landscape photos posted in the photo album, but these two photos are only included in the book.What is the reason? However, Sadako didn't have the courage to ask Honda this question.After all, he is her husband's colleague and must be treated differently.The husband's secret is only known to him, and he is unwilling to spread it outside.At this time, even though Zhenzi didn't realize it, she was indeed Kenichi Uhara's wife. "What's the next step?" Honda suddenly stopped and glanced at Zhenzi, who immediately understood what he meant.The corpse lying on the coast of Noto has also been lying in Sadako's heart, and I'm afraid Honda is also worried. "Go and see the scene now." Zi replied.When I descended the slope, the long and thin shadow of Noto mountain that I saw from the position just now disappeared. Bendo looked at his watch. "It's past twelve o'clock. I'm going to the scene now, and I'm coming back very late." "But, I have to go!" "Yes, we need to confirm as soon as possible. The body is not Mr. Uhara." "thanks." "Madam, no matter how late it is, I will wait for the result in the hotel." Yoshio Honda finished speaking, staring at Zhenzi.This sight was so strong that Zhenzi felt a little embarrassed and turned his face away. At the bottom of the slope, three or four men and women climbed up with their shoulders shrugged coldly, and the rumble of a tram could be heard. Sadako took the 13:05 train bound for Wajima from Kanazawa Station and set off. The carriage was small and poorly equipped, and Zhenzi sat alone in the window seat.There were two local youths in front of me, talking about movies until Tsubata got off the bus. Trains make frequent stops at small stations after leaving the main line.For a while the lake appeared, and for a while it was close to the foothills.From the map, the train was running on a peninsula jutting out of the sea like a fist. The train traveled for an hour to Yuzai Station.From here, it will take more than an hour to change to a small tram to Nengdenggaodian.The sea surface flickered along the way. Zhenzi had had enough of the scenery outside the car window, and casually spread out the local newspaper bought at Kanazawa Station, and the title of the Kanazawa City Women's Federation Executive Meeting came into view.The message contains resolutions and a list of officers present.Among them, the name of Sachiko Murota ranked third. Sachiko Murata's tall stature, elegant figure in a kimono, and a slender face appeared in front of Zhenzi's eyes.Mrs. likes to make a soft smile. The manager's Mrs. must be a local celebrity woman.Mrs. Murota is quite famous in Kanazawa.Zhenzi wanted to know about Mrs. Murota's activities, so she read the small news twice. It was past four o'clock when I got off at Noto Takahiro Station.The winter is short and it is almost evening. Zhenzi visits Gaowa's police station, which is a little bigger than the police station. The inspection minister said to Zhenzi: "We have been waiting for you since we received a call from the Kanazawa Department. The body has been temporarily buried. I took a photo beforehand. Would you like to see the photo first, or the relic first?" "Look at the photos first." The inspection minister took out the photo.Zhenzi felt distressed for a while, and closed her eyes. "It's this one." Upon hearing the inspector's voice, Zhenzi opened his eyes with a bang. What came into view was an unfamiliar face, a close-up from the top of the head to the neck, with black spots on the nose and mouth. Zhenzi shook his head silently, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, felt sick for a while, and sweat dripped from his forehead. The old inspector smiled at Zhenzi, and quickly packed up the photos. "Isn't it? That's good. You come all the way to look at the photos. Since it's not the person you're looking for, that's great." The inspector said with a smile: "This person committed suicide by jumping off a cliff after taking medicine. There are many cliffs around here, and there are always three or four people who commit suicide by jumping off cliffs in a year. Therefore, Dongxunfang has become a famous place for suicide, and it is well-known. It seems that people I like to commit suicide from a cliff. But when I look down from a height, I am so frightened that I don’t have the courage to die.” Zhenzi just nodded, the words stuck in his throat, unable to speak. "Recently, another person who committed suicide by throwing himself off a cliff was discovered here. Fortunately, his identity was identified immediately and he was taken away. This is considered good, because the identity will never be found out, which makes people troubled. Maybe the suicide person did not want to reveal his identity. But, For us, there is always a bad aftertaste with such an unidentified body." After drinking a cup of tea, Zhenzi walked out of the police station. Gaohong is a fishing village, walking on the street smells like fish.Zhenzi asked the locals where the cliff was, and replied that he lived in Chi, and it took about 20 minutes by bus. Sadako got on the bus.One side is the sea, the other side is the hills, and the bus travels in a meandering environment.The hilly area has terraced fields one by one, and the soil is barren. Chizhu is a village of fifteen or six families, half farming and half fishing.Zhenzi walked on the road, and the peasant women followed her with curious eyes. Zhenzi was walking on the road leading to the cliff, and he arrived in less than ten minutes.The sun was gradually setting in the closed clouds.Cast a faint light and shadow on the desolate sea. There are only rocks and dry grass in this area.The sea was raging in the distance.The blue-gray sea beneath the clouds was billowing with white waves.Only where the sun shines, there is a faint light. Why do I have to stand here?Zhenzi could not find a reasonable explanation.She just wants to stand on the choppy cliff for a while.The gloomy clouds and dark sea in the Hokuriku region were something she had dreamed of a long time ago. Zhenzi stared at the dark sea, as if her husband died in this sea, and her husband was lying in this turbulent sea. The deep blue sea naturally aroused her illusion. Just herself, standing in such a place, overlooking the sea to the north, why is that?In order to find her missing husband, the young wife is wandering around.How helpless and pitiful I am! The sun went down, and the thick clouds grew darker.The sea was pitch black, the waves roared, and the wind blew across the surface. Zhenzi was cold all over, and his hands and feet were frozen.Unconsciously, she remembered a stanza of a foreign poem she had read as a student.Look, the sky is full of clouds, and the sea is choppy.The tall tower gradually sank, as if smashing open the turbid sea.The pointed spire pierced the sky.A crack appeared in the sky, and the waves glowed red.Time passed in suffocation.In the moaning away from the world.This poem was recited over and over again in Zhenzi's heart, her eyes staring at the changes in the twilight sea. Zhenzi couldn't help but recite a line of poetry, and shed tears. —Cemeteries along the coast, graves in the sea When the train arrived at Kanazawa Station, the lights were already on.It was bitterly cold on the platform.The passenger shrugged and walked towards the ticket gate.Sadako's carriage is at the rear of the train, and she walks behind the passengers, the smell of the sea tide from the Noto coast still seems to be attached to her body. The electric clock at the station said nine thirty.The ticket gate is under the electric clock.People lined up in a long line and dispersed towards the station square after passing through the narrow passage. Sadako's eyes caught on to a point in the passenger group.Oops, her eyes widened, what a familiar back.She stopped and looked ahead as people streamed shoulder to shoulder toward the square. Is it uncle?The round, thick neck and broad shoulders resembled Sotaro Uhara, the older brother of her husband Kenichi. Zhenzi quickened his pace and exited the ticket gate. "You're back!" She ran into the person who came to greet her. "oops!" It turned out to be Yoshio Honda standing there humbly.Sadako's eyes still moved to the direction of the search just now.The figure of that person disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again. "Did you come to greet me on purpose?" Zhenzi shifted his gaze to Honda, and the neon lights in the distance fell on his shoulder. "I guess you will come back by this train. I want to know the result of the trip to Noto as soon as possible." Honda lowered his eyelids and defended. "That's really hard for you." Zhenzi bowed to him, still thinking about that posture just now. That man looked too much like his uncle, maybe it was his own illusion.Because it is impossible for uncle to appear here at this moment. "How's the situation?" Honda asked with awareness.He was asking about the corpse that Noto found, and it was only then that Zhenzi came to his senses. "No, it's a completely different one." Zhenzi replied, remembering the person in the photo. "Isn't it?" Honda heaved a sigh of relief, and his shoulders drooped. "That's great. Then I can rest easy." "It really bothered you. You even came here to greet me." "No, it's nothing..." The crowd dispersed, leaving only Sadako and Honda.The wind blew underfoot. "Let's find a place to have a cup of tea." Honda said, Zhen Zi also wanted to drink something hot, followed Honda, and walked into the simple restaurant in front of the station. "Are you tired?" They sat across from each other at the table, and Honda asked, crossing his fingers.His eyes were on Sadako from the front.Zhenzi remembered the complicated expression in his eyes on the way back from Muroda's house, so he turned away from looking at him. "That place is really scary." Zhenzi replied calmly. "I heard that that place is the most closed place in this county." "However, if you take a look, you will feel at ease." "That's right, it's necessary to confirm whether it's Mr. Uhara." "You're right. Apart from this, I'm very happy to see the scenery of the North Sea this time. It seems that I won't go there a second time." These words sounded a little careless, Honda was silent for a while and said: "Yes, it is because you are relieved that you are in the mood to appreciate the scenery." The black tea is here.Zhenzi took a sip, and the hot sweetness seeped into her tongue.The salty taste of the cold Sea of ​​Japan air still seemed to be on the lips. "Have you not eaten yet?" Honda asked, raising his face. When he said this, Zhenzi remembered that he hadn't eaten since morning.There was nothing to eat in the Noto countryside, and no appetite on the train. "I don't want to eat," Zhenzi said. "That will ruin your health. How about finding a restaurant and eating something delicious?" Honda said politely, but his eyes were eager. "Thank you. Let's eat when we get back to the hotel." "yes?" Honda said something and never tried to persuade her again, but he felt a little disappointed. He came to the station to meet her so late, and seeing his eyes and expression just now, Zhenzi understood Honda's mood.At this moment, I am sad and upset.Of course, it's okay to have a meal together, but it will only increase your worries. The two walked out of the restaurant and parted ways.It was getting late, and Zhen Yu got into a taxi.Honda saw her off against the cold wind, and Zhenzi felt very sorry. Back at the hotel, she was exhausted. After taking a shower and eating, she immediately got into bed; although she was tired, she couldn't sleep. I went to the police station the next day, but there was still no news. In the night, the phone rang. "It's from Tokyo," the operator said. "Hey, hello, is this Zhenzi?" It was the mother's voice. Zhenzi's mind came to the place where her mother's house put the phone. "How's it going?" "Haven't figured it out yet." In order to hear her mother's voice clearly, Zhenzi put the receiver close to her ear. "Really? That's annoying." "What's going on with you there?" "'No. By the way, you asked me to investigate Kenichi's past, and Mr. Saeki came to tell me today." "yes?" "It's all written here. Let me talk about it here. I dropped out of school halfway through my education, and immediately joined R Trading Company. I was enlisted in the army and went to China in 1942. I returned to Japan two years after the defeat. In the second year, I joined R Trading Company. The company resigned. In 1950, he worked as a patrol officer in the Metropolitan Police Department and was assigned to the Tachikawa Police Station..." "Throat?" Zhenzi couldn't help asking: "He was a patrolman?" "Yes, I was taken aback too, I couldn't tell from him at all." Her husband, Kenichi Uhara, worked as a patrolman at the Tachikawa Police Station. ——The things that have not been tidied up in the apartment appear before Sadako's eyes! old books.All legal books. "After working as a patrol officer for a year and a half, I joined Company A. That's all. Mr. Saeki told me after investigation. It seems that there will be no mistakes." "Hey, hello," my mother said, "I asked him later, and he said that, as far as he knew, Kenichi had no relationship with men and women. Mr. Saeki will not lie. " "Yeah." Zhenzi understood Mr. Saeki's personality. Mother said hastily: "Hello, hello, time is running out. Are you still staying there?" "Hey, the situation is unclear now, and it's meaningless to stay any longer. I want to go back to Tokyo in a day or two." "Well, come back and see the situation in Tokyo." The mother called her daughter. "Well, let's do that." "It's cold over there, don't catch a cold." "It's okay." "Then I'll wait for you to come back." Said, mother hung up the phone. The husband's experience figured it out.To her surprise, he had been a patrolman for a year and a half.The husband never brought it up, maybe he didn't like his résumé. However, judging from his collection of books, it seems that Wanyi is going to make a difference in the police world, rising step by step from a patrolman to a higher position. For this reason, he studied hard and passed various exams.These law books are for informational purposes only. Why did Xianyi give up this ambition again? Maybe he considered that entering Company A would be more promising than being a policeman.Maybe someone suggested it is unknown.In short, he has been in the company for six years. As the director of the local office, he can be regarded as a promotion. Therefore, he cannot be regarded as a failure in company A. Zhenzi wants to make a call to his uncle's house.The man I saw at the station just now looks like an uncle.The mother called and learned about her husband's resume. All these things together made her make up her mind to make a phone call. Calling Tokyo is like making a local call, and you get connected right away.The maid immediately called her sister-in-law.Sister-in-law's voice is still as high as before: "Oh, it's Zhenzi, hello! Your call came at the right time. How is it? Have you found out about Kenichi's situation?" "No, not yet,'" Sadako replied. "Not yet? How many days have passed?" sister-in-law asked.After Zhenzi answered.sister-in-law said: "It's been so long? Where did this Xianyi go?" She hadn't considered that life and death were unknown, and the noise of children came from the receiver. "Is brother at home?" Zhenzi asked. "He went to Kyoto on a business trip. He left two days ago. He said that he might go to your place after finishing his business." The sister-in-law said vigorously. Zhenzi thought, could it be that the man he saw at the station the night before yesterday was his uncle?I went to Kyoto for a business trip two days ago, and it was impossible to come to Kanazawa at night. "It would be great if he could really go." The sister-in-law said brightly. "Yes, if he can come, it will help me a lot." Zhenzi replied. "You are timid alone, and he will give you courage when he goes. The company is too busy." After talking for a few more words, I hung up. That night, Zhenzi felt tired.I went to bed early. The next morning, Zhenzi got up later than usual. After breakfast, she leaned on the window and looked at the tower in a daze. The phone rang. Thinking it was Honda calling, she picked up the phone and listened. "Is it a member?" The voice of the eldest brother Uhara Soutaro suddenly entered his ears. "Ah 2 is brother?" Zhenzi couldn't help but exclaimed. "Good morning, I'm in Kanazawa now, and I transferred from Kyoto. I called the office of Company A and asked where you are staying." "Really? That's good." "I'll go to your place now, okay?" "Please. I'm waiting for you." Putting down the phone, Zhenzi suddenly became flustered.It's only natural that the elder brother can come, or rather, he came late.However, when the uncle came, the situation was different.I can deal with it by myself no matter what, but now I have to consider the residence of my uncle, and I suddenly feel nervous. About thirty minutes later, Sotaro Uhara, led by the waitress, appeared in Sadako's room with his fat body. The waitress came in with the uncle's purse.The uncle took off his coat with a smile, and sat down on the tatami. "You came just in time, brother, and I'm sorry you're so busy." The uncle hugged his knees and replied: "It was supposed to be here earlier, but the company was too busy to leave. I happened to be on a business trip to Kyoto, so I hurried to finish my work and came here immediately. I just arrived now." The uncle's face was unshaven, showing the fatigue of the journey. It seems that the person I saw at the station the night before was not my uncle, so I must have made a mistake. ——Think about Zhenzi. "I'm sorry to have troubled you." "Zhenzi, you are too choked up!" The uncle took out his cigarette and lighter and lit it. "Since then, what has happened to Xianyi?" "I still haven't figured it out. Mr. Honda here is looking everywhere." "Mr. Honda? Who is he?" the uncle asked after puffing out a cigarette. "It's Kenichi's successor. He arrived from Tokyo not long ago." "Oh, it's him." "I forgot to mention. My sister-in-law said on the phone last night that you might come here when you are on a business trip to Kyoto." "Really?" Maybe he was choked by the smoke, the uncle narrowed his eyes, his expression was very similar to Kenichi.He returned to Xianyi's topic: "But... don't you have any clues at all?" "No, after discussing with Mr. Honda, I called the police, but they didn't find any clues. I heard that a suicide body was found in the countryside the day before yesterday. I went to see it, but luckily it wasn't him." The uncle raised his voice and said, "Suicide? That's impossible. Xianyi had no reason to commit suicide, and he wouldn't do such a thing." The uncle showed a stern expression. "He lives, he must live somewhere."