kafka-24grammata.com-free-e-book.-pdf

I get a sub city from the Governor every month. So I'm very happy to hear your
opinion, Mimi."
"I take it you're looking for a cat," Mimi said. "I wasn't eavesdropping,
mind you, but just happened to overhear you as I was taking a nap here. Goma, I
believe you said the name was?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"And Kawamura has seen Goma?"
"That's what he told me. But Nakata can't figure out what he said after
that."
"If you wouldn't mind, Mr. Nakata, why don't I step in and try to talk with
him? It's easier for two cats to communicate, and I'm fairly used to the way he
talks. So why don't I sound him out, then summarize it for you?"
"That would be very helpful, I'm sure."
The Siamese nodded lightly, and like a ballet dancer nimbly leaped down from
the concrete wall. Black tail held up high like a flagstaff, she leisurely walked
over and sat down beside Kawamura. He immediately began to sniff Mimi's rump, but
the Siamese gave him a swift blow to the cheek and the younger cat shrank back.
With barely a pause Mimi dealt him another blow to the nose.
"Now pay attention, you brainless dingbat! You stinky good-for-nothing!"
Mimi hissed, then turned to Nakata. "You've got to show him who's in charge up
front or you'll never get anywhere. Otherwise he'll go all spacey on you, and all
you get is drivel. It's not his fault he's this way, and I do feel sorry for him,
but what are you going to do?"
"I see," Nakata said, not at all sure what he was agreeing to.
The two cats began conversing, but they spoke so quickly and softly that
Nakata wasn't able to catch any of it. Mimi grilled Kawamura in a sharp tone, the
younger cat replying timidly. Any hesitation got him another merciless slap to the
face. This Siamese cat was clever, and educated too. Nakata had met many cats up
till this point, but never before one who listened to opera and knew models of
cars. Impressed, he watched as Mimi went about her business with a brisk
efficiency.
Once Mimi had heard everything she wanted to, she chased the younger cat
off. "Be on your way!" she said sharply, and he dejectedly slunk away.
Mimi affably nestled up into Nakata's lap. "I think I've got the gist of
it."
"Much obliged," Nakata said.
"That cat--Kawamura, that is--said he's seen Goma several times in a grassy
spot just down the road. It's an empty lot they were planning to build on. A real
estate firm bought up a car company's parts warehouse and tore it down, planning
to put up a high-class condo. A citizens' movement's opposed the development,
there was a legal battle, and the construction's been put on hold. The sort of
thing that happens all the time these days. The lot's overgrown with grass and
people hardly ever come there, so it's the perfect hangout for all the strays in
the neighborhood. I don't keep company with many cats, and I don't want to get
fleas, so I hardly ever go over there. As you're no doubt aware, fleas are like a
bad habit--awfully hard to get rid of once you get them."
"I see," Nakata said.
"He told me the cat's just like the one in the photograph--a timid, pretty
young tortoiseshell with a flea collar. Can't seem to speak that well, either.
It's clear to anyone that it's a naive house cat that can't find its way back
home."
"When was this, I wonder?"
"The last time he saw the cat seems to be three or four days ago. He's not
very bright, so he's not even sure about days. But he did say it was the day after
it rained, so I'm thinking it must have been Monday. I seem to recall it rained
pretty hard on Sunday."
"Nakata doesn't know about the days of the week, but I think it did rain
around then. He hasn't seen her since?"