Haruki Murakami - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

She called me a week ago and said she had something to discuss, continued Noboru Wataya. We met and talked. Face-to-face. That's when Kumiko told me she was seeing a man.

For the first time in months, I felt like a smoke. Of course, I had no cigarettes with me. Instead, I took a sip of coffee and put the cup back in the saucer with a loud, dry clash.

Then she left home, he said.

I see, I said. If you say so, it must be true. Kumiko must have had a lover. And she went to you for advice. Its still hard for me to believe, but I cant imagine your lying to me about such a thing.

No, of course I'm not lying, said Noboru Wataya, with the hint of a smile on his lips.

So is that all you have to tell me? Kumiko left me for another man, so I should agree to a divorce?

Noboru Wataya responded with a single small nod, as if he were trying to conserve energy. I suppose you realize that I was not in favor of Kumiko's marrying you, to begin with. I took no positive steps to interfere, on the assumption that it was a matter that did not concern me, but now I almost wish I had. He took a sip of water and quietly set his glass on the table again. Then he continued: From the first day I met you I knew better than to hope you might amount to anything. I saw no sign of promise, nothing in you that suggested you might accomplish something worthwhile or even turn yourself into a respectable human being: nothing there to shine or to shed light on anything. I knew that whatever you set your hand to would end up half-baked, that you would never see anything through to the end. And I was right. You have been married to my sister for six years, and what have you done in all that time? Nothing, right? All you've accomplished in six long years is to quit your job and ruin Kumiko's life. Now you're out of work and you have no plans for the future. Theres nothing inside that head of yours but garbage and rocks. Why Kumiko ever got together with the likes of you I'll never understand. Maybe she thought the garbage and rocks in your head were interesting. But finally, garbage is garbage and rocks are rocks. You were wrong for her from the start. Which is not to say that Kumiko was all perfection, either. Shes had her own oddities since childhood, for one reason or another. I suppose thats why she was momentarily attracted to you. But thats all over now. In any case, the best thing will be to finish this business as quickly as possible. My parents and I will watch out for Kumiko. We want you to back off. And don't try to find her. You've got nothing to do with her anymore. All you can do is cause trouble if you try to get involved. The best thing you can do is begin a new life in a new place-a life that is better suited to you. That would be best for you and best for us.

To signal that he was finished, Noboru Wataya drained the water remaining in his glass, called the waiter, and ordered more.

Do you have anything else to say? I asked. Noboru Wataya responded this time with a single small shake of the head. In that case, I said to Malta Kano, where does the proper order come into this discussion?

Malta Kano took a small white handkerchief from her bag and used it to wipe the corners of her mouth. Then she picked up her red vinyl hat from the table and set it on top of the bag.

I'm certain this is all very shocking to you, Mr. Okada, she said. And for my part, I find it extremely painful to be speaking about such things with you face-to-face, as you can imagine.

Noboru Wataya glanced at his watch in order to ascertain that the world was still spinning on its axis and costing him precious time.

I see now, Malta Kano continued, that I must tell you this as simply and straightforwardly as possible. Mrs. Okada came to see me first. She came to me for advice.

On my recommendation, interjected Noboru Wataya. Kumiko came to talk to me about the cat, and I introduced her to Ms. Kano.

Was that before I met you or after? I asked Malta Kano. Before, she said. In that case, I said, to put things in their proper order, it went something like this.

Kumiko learned about your existence from Noboru Wataya, and she went to see you about the lost cat. Then, for some reason that is still not clear to me, she hid from me the fact that she had already met you, and arranged for me to see you-which I did, in this very place. Am I right?

That is approximately correct, said Malta Kano, with some difficulty. My first discussion with Mrs. Okada was strictly about the cat. I could tell there was something more to it than that, however, which is why I wanted to meet you and speak with you directly. Then it became necessary for me to meet with Mrs. Okada one more time and to ask about deeper, personal matters.

Which is when Kumiko told you she had a lover.

Yes. In summary, I believe that is the case. Given my position, it is not possible for me to go into any greater detail than that, said Malta Kano.

I released a sigh. Not that sighing was going to accomplish anything, but it was something I had to do. So, then, Kumiko had been involved with this man for some time?

Two and a half months or thereabouts, I believe.

Two and a half months, I said. How could it have been going on for two and a half months and I didn't notice a thing?

Because, Mr. Okada, you had absolutely no doubts about your wife, said Malta Kano.

I nodded. That's true. It never once crossed my mind. I never imagined Kumiko could lie to me like that, and I still cant really believe it.

Results aside, the ability to have complete faith in another human being is one of the finest qualities a person can possess.

Not an easy ability to come by, said Noboru Wataya.

The waiter approached and refilled my coffee cup. A young woman at the next table was laughing out loud.

So, then, I said to Noboru Wataya, what is the ultimate purpose of this gathering? Why are the three of us together here? To get me to agree to divorce Kumiko? Or is there some deeper objective? There did seem to be a kind of logic to what you said earlier, but all the important parts are vague. You say Kumiko has a man and has left the house. So where did she go? What is she doing there? Is she by herself or is she with him? Why hasn't Kumiko gotten in touch with me? If its true she has another man, thats the end of that. But I wont believe its true until I hear it directly from her. Do you see what I mean? The only ones who count here are Kumiko and me. Were the ones who have to talk to each other and decide things. You've got nothing to do with this.

Noboru Wataya pushed his untouched glass of iced tea aside. We are here to inform you of the situation, he said. I asked Ms. Kano to accompany me, thinking it would be better to have a third party present. I don't know who Kumiko's other man is, and I don't know where she is now. Kumiko is all grown up. She can do as she pleases. But even if I knew where she was, I certainly wouldn't tell you. She hasn't gotten in touch with you because she doesn't want to talk to you.

She did want to talk to you, apparently. How much could she have told you? You and she are not very close, as I understand it.

Well, if you and she were so damn close, why did she sleep with another man? said Noboru Wataya.

Malta Kano gave a little cough.

Noboru Wataya went on: Kumiko told me she has a relationship with another man. She said she wants to settle everything once and for all. I advised her to divorce you. She said she would think about it.

Is that all? I asked. What else is there? I just don't get it, I said. I don't believe that Kumiko would go to you with something so important. You're the last person she would consult on such a matter. She would either think it out for herself or speak to me directly. She must have said something else to you. If she had to talk to you in person, it must have been about something else.