Quicksand by Junichiro Tanizaki

Author:Junichiro Tanizaki
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781407073903
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2010-06-15T17:00:00+00:00

As for my relations with Watanuki, Mitsuko had managed to bring us together, but we remained wary of each other and wouldn’t let down our guard. Neither of us suggested meeting again, and Mitsuko herself seemed to have given up trying to make us friends. Anyway, one day—about two weeks after we all went to the Shochiku, I think it was—Mitsuko and I had spent the afternoon at the inn, but about five-thirty she chased me out:

“Do you mind leaving before me, Sister? I have a little something to take care of.”

That was always happening, so I didn’t feel particularly annoyed.

“All right, I’ll go on ahead of you,” I said.

But as soon as I left the inn I heard a low voice calling: “Sister!” When I turned to look, it was Watanuki.

“Are you on your way home, Sister?” he asked.

“Yes, I am. Mitsu’s waiting, so hurry on in,” I replied sarcastically, and started walking down the street toward Someoncho to look for a taxi.

“Please . . . just a moment,” he called after me, following close behind. “There’s something I want to discuss with you. Could we walk around the neighborhood for an hour or so, if you don’t mind?”

“I’m perfectly willing to hear what you have to say,” I told him, “but she is waiting for you.”

“Well, maybe I ought to phone her,” Watanuki said.

We stopped in at the nearby Umezono tearoom for a snack, and he telephoned Mitsuko. After that we strolled north along the Tazaemon Bridge Avenue.

“I told her some important business had come up and I might be an hour late,” he said. “Would you promise to keep our meeting secret, Sister? I can’t talk unless you do.”

“If I’m told to keep it to myself, you can be sure I will!” I replied sharply. “But sometimes while I’m trying not to break a promise, I find that people are making a fool of me. . . .”

“Oh, Sister. You think Mitsuko acts as she does because I’ve been pulling the strings, don’t you? I know you have your reasons for thinking so.” He looked down and sighed. “That’s precisely what I want to talk to you about. Which of us do you believe she loves most, you or me? I’m sure you feel you’re the victim and that you’ve been used, but I feel the same way. I admit I’m jealous. According to Mitsuko, having you visit her is just a convenient trick to deceive her parents; that’s why she’s seeing you, she says. But does she need to do that any longer? Isn’t it bound to come between us? If Mitsuko loves me, why hasn’t she been willing to marry me?”

I listened intently, but as far as I could tell, Watanuki was deadly serious. And what he said seemed to make sense.

“If she won’t marry you it must be because her family is opposed, don’t you think? She always tells me she’d like to get married.”

“That’s what she says, of course. I’m sure her family would be opposed to me.

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