Points and Lines (Japan's Mystery Writers) by Seicho Matsumoto

Author:Seicho Matsumoto [Matsumoto, Seicho]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery & Crime
ISBN: 9780870114564
Amazon: 0870114565
Publisher: Kodansha America
Published: 1971-01-01T11:00:00+00:00

9 Landscape with Figures

The house stood at the bottom of a slight slope, some distance from the station. Most of the houses in the neighborhood were of wood, the walls a combination of bamboo and cedar. The Yasuda home had only one story and was quite small. It was shaded by a few tall cedars and a hedge enclosed the tiny garden. It was the kind of place a person would choose to recuperate in.

Mihara pressed the bell. He could hear it ringing in the house. He took a deep breath; the task before him was not a pleasant one.

The door was opened by an elderly woman.

"My name is Mihara; I'm from Tokyo. I'm a friend of Mr. Yasuda's. I happened to be in the neighborhood and have called to inquire about Mrs. Yasuda."

The servant listened politely, then disappeared indoors. She presently returned. "Please come in," she said.

She showed him into a Japanese-style room, about eight mats in size. The sunlight, slanting through the sliding glass doors that faced the garden, reached to the middle of the room where a bed was spread on the tatami.

Mrs. Yasuda was sitting up in the bed, waiting to receive her guest. The servant slipped a haori over her shoulders while she acknowledged Mihara's greeting. The dark silk jacket had a brilliant red pattern that formed a pool of color in the center of the room. She was a woman in her early thirties; her hair was tied loosely at the back and on her thin, extremely pale face Mihara noticed a trace of make-up, as if she had put it on hastily to receive him.

"Please forgive me for dropping in unannounced," Mihara said. "My name is Mihara; I'm a friend of Mr. Yasuda's. I was in the neighborhood and felt I should call." He could not very well hand her his official business card.

"It is very kind of you. I am Mr. Yasuda's wife."

She was very beautiful. Her eyes were large, the nose rather thin and pointed. The line from cheek to chin was angular and sharp but there was no noticeable sign of illness. A broad forehead, very slightly creased, gave her an air of intelligence.

"I hope you're feeling better," Mihara said. He felt guilty for deceiving her.

"Thank you. It will be a long convalescence, I'm afraid; I have given up hope of a quick recovery." A polite smile played about her lips.

"That is unfortunate. But perhaps now that it's getting warmer you'll get better more quickly. It has been a particularly cold winter."

Mrs. Yasuda looked out at the garden, her eyes blinking in the bright light. "This part of Kamakura does have a mild climate. There's usually a difference of four or five degrees be- . tween here and Tokyo. Even so, it has been very cold. I'm glad the warm weather has set in."

She looked up at Mihara. She had clear, beautiful eyes, and her gestures were graceful but studied, as if she calculated the effect of her glances. "Forgive me for asking, but are you a business friend of my husband?"

"In a way," Mihara replied vaguely.

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