No Longer Human ( PDFDrive )

109
busily stitching and pounding strips of cloth to make
thongs for sandals.
Horiki showed me that day a new aspect of his
city-dweller personality. This was his knowing nature, J
an egoism so icy, so crafty that a country boy like ^
myself could only stare with eyes opened wide in ,J>
amazement. He was not a simple, endlessly passive
type like myself. ^>
"You. What a surprise. You've been forgiven by <p
your father, have you? Not yet?" >
I was unable to confess that I had run away. C
In my usual way I evaded the issue, though I was ^
certain that Horiki soon, if not immediately, would
grasp what had happened. "Things will take care of
themselves, in one way or another."
"Look here! It's no laughing matter. Let me
give you a word of advice—stop your foolishness here
and now. I've got business today anyway. I'm awfully
busy these days."
"Business? What kind of business?"
"Hey! What are you doing there? Don't tear the
thread off the cushion!"
While we were talking I had unconsciously been
fiddling with and twisting around my finger one of
the tassel-like threads which protruded from the
corners of the cushion on which I sat—bindingthreads,
I think they are called. Horiki had assumed
-c
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