A Pale View of Hills

“It’s perfectly all right, Father. Now listen carefully, or else you’ll never find the noodle shop. You remember where the doctor used to have his surgery?”

But Ogata-San was no longer listening. Across the road, e entrance gate had slid open, and a thin young man with spectacles had appeared. He was dressed in his shirt leeves and held a small briefcase under his arm. He squinted a little as he stepped further into the glare, then bent over the briefcase and began searching through it. Sigheo Matsuda looked thinner and more youthful than I remembered him from the few occasions I had met him in he past.

Chapter Nine

Shigeo Matsuda tied the buckle of his briefcase, then glancing about him with a distracted air came walking over to. our side of the road. For a brief moment he glanced our way but, not recognizing us, went walking on.

Ogata-San watched him go by. Then when the young man had gone several yards down the road, he called out:, “Ah, Shigeo!’

Shigeo Matsuda stopped and turned. Then he came towards us with a puzzled look.

“How are you, Shigeo?”

The young man peered through his spectacles, then burst into cheerful laughter.

“Why, Ogata-San! Now this is an unexpected surprise!’ He bowed and held out his hand. “What a splendid surprise. Why Etsuko-San too! How are you? How nice to meet again.

We exchanged bows, and he shook hands with us both. Then he said to Ogata-San:

“Were you by any chance about to visit me? This is bad luck, my lunch breaks almost over now.” He glanced at his watch. But we could go back inside for a few minutes.”

No, no,” said Ogata-San hurriedly. Don’t let us interrupt your work. It just so happened we were passing this way, and I remembered you lived here. I was just pointing out your house to Etsuko.”

‘Please, I can spare a few minutes. Let me offer you some tea at least. It’s a sweltering day out here.”

“No, no. You must get to work.”

For a moment the two men stood looking at each other. “And how is everything, Shigeo?” Ogata-San asked.

How are things at the school?’

“Oh, much the same as ever. You know how it is. And you, Ogata-San, you’re enjoying your retirement, 1 hope? I had no idea you were in Nagasaki. Jiro and I seem to have st touch these days.’ Then he turned to me and said: “I’m always meaning to write, but I’m so forgetful.”

I smiled and made some polite comment. Then the two .en looked at each other again.

“You’re looking splendidly well, Ogata-San,” Shigeo Iatsuda said. “You find Fukuoka to your liking?”

“Yes, a fine city. My hometown, you know.’

There was another pause. Then Ogata-San said; “Please don’t let us keep you. If you have to hurry away, I quite understand.”

, “No, no. I have a few minutes yet. A pity you weren’t passing a little earlier. Perhaps you’d care to call in before you leave Nagasaki.”

“Yes, I’ll try to. But there’s so many people to visit.”

. “Yes, I can understand how it is.”

“And your mother, is she well?”

‘Yes she’s fine. Thank you.”

For a moment, they fell silent again.

“I’m glad everything’s going well,’ Ogata-San said, eventually. “Yes, we were just passing this way and I was Biting Etsuko-San you lived here. In fact, I was just remembering how you used to come and play with Jiro, then you were both little boys.”

Shigeo Matsuda laughed. “Time really flies by, doesn’t “ he said.

“Yes. I was just saying as much to Etsuko. In fact, I was St about to tell her about a curious little thing. I happened remember it, when I saw your house. A curious little thing”

Oh yes?”

Yes. I just happened to remember it when I saw your house that’s all. You see, I was reading something the other day. An article in a journal. The New Education Digest, I think it was called’

The young man said nothing for a moment, then he adjusted his position on the pavement and put down his

briefcase.

“I see” he said.

“I was rather surprised to read it. In fact, I was quite astonished.”

Yes. I suppose you would be.”

It was quite extraordinary, Shigeo. Quite extraordinary.”

Shigeo Matsuda took a deep breath and looked down at the ground. He nodded, but said nothing.

“I’d meant to come and speak to you for some days now,” Ogata-San continued. “But of course, the matter slipped my mind. Shigeo, tell me honestly, do you believe a word

of-what you wrote? Explain to me what made you write such things. Explain it to me, Shigeo, then I can go home to Fukuoka with my mind at rest. At the moment, I’m very pled.”

Shigeo Matsuda was prodding a pebble with the end of his shoe. Finally he sighed, looked up at Ogata-San and adjusted his spectacles.

“Many things have changed over the last few years,’ he said.

Well, of course they have. I can see that much, What kind of answer is that, Shigeo?’

“Ogata-San, let me explain.” He paused and looked down at the ground again. For a second or two, he scratched at his ear. ‘You see, you must understand. Many things have changed now. And things are changing still. We live in a different age from those days when - . . when — you were an influential figure”