The Cat Who Saved Books(39)

“I think it’s all to welcome you.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know of anyone who would want to welcome me quite this way.”

“Even if you don’t know them, they certainly know you. You’re quite the celebrity in this world.”

“This world?”

“And its ruler is a very special being. They possess incredible powers.”

“Wow, so I ought to be moved to tears that I’ve been invited here? Should I thank them for kidnapping my friend or something?”

The cat gave a small laugh.

“That’s a good approach. Logic and reason are never the best weapons in an irrational world.”

“Humor is, right?”

As Rintaro spoke, the carriage lurched and picked up speed. They were on a major road now. He looked out of the window to see the vast garden rolling past. Sunshine, breeze, splashing fountains—everything was pleasant, but at the same time there was something uncanny. Rintaro could detect no signs of life, and by that he didn’t mean human life only. There were no birds, no butterflies, no sign of anything that sustained this world. In other words, it didn’t matter how beautifully it was dressed up, this place was not real.

“This will be the last time I ever speak to you,” said the cat.

Rintaro turned his gaze from the scenery outside to look at his companion.

“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that from you.”

“Try to focus on yourself.”

Perched on the old-fashioned carriage seat, the cat turned its jade green eyes to stare straight into Rintaro’s.

“This time really will be the last.”

“Well, I have a bunch of questions for you before you go.”

The cat stared at him. Rintaro paused a moment, then laughed awkwardly.

“The thing is, I have no idea where to start.”

The light that fell on its face gradually turned the cat’s fur a deep crimson. Outside the carriage, daylight was quickly fading from dusk to night, and the interior began to sink into gloom. Rintaro looked up and saw that stars had already begun to twinkle in the night sky.

Suddenly the cat spoke.

“Books have a soul.”

Its beautiful eyes seemed to capture the light of the stars and they, too, twinkled in the darkness.

“A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”

“A soul?”

“That’s right,” replied the cat emphatically. “These days people rarely pick up books anymore, nor do they infuse them with their thoughts. Books are gradually losing their souls. But there are still a few people like you and your grandfather who love books with every fiber of their being. You really listen to their message.”

The cat slowly turned its head and looked up at the starry sky.

“You are a truly valuable friend to us all,” it added.

It was a curious thing to say, but each word sank deeply into Rintaro’s heart.

The cat’s eyes gleamed. Noble, confident to the point of arrogance, and yet beautiful. An amazing cat.

“You know, I feel as if I’ve known you for a long time,” said Rintaro suddenly.

The cat didn’t turn its head, but its pointed ears twitched as if to encourage the boy to continue.

“A really long time. Back when I was a little boy . . .”

Rintaro looked up at the carriage roof as if searching his memory.

“I met you once in a story. I think it was one my mother read to me.”

“Books have souls,” repeated the cat softly. “A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis.”

The calm, measured voice warmed Rintaro’s heart. He looked over and saw the cat faintly smiling.

“I told you that you weren’t alone.”

The carriage carrying the two friends raced on through the night. Through the windows, starlight fell on its velvet interior. Spotlighted by the pale light, the cat’s smile abruptly faded and its eyes flashed.

“However, a book with a soul is not always an ally.”

Rintaro frowned.

“Is this about Sayo?”

“I’m talking about this final labyrinth.”

The cat turned back to the window. Rintaro followed its gaze. The stars in the sky shone lustrous and beautiful, but they seemed to be arranged completely at random. He couldn’t make out a single familiar constellation.

“Just as a person’s soul can be warped by suffering, so can the soul of a book. A book that has been in the hands of a person with a twisted soul will also acquire a twisted soul. And together they run amok.”

“A book’s soul can be warped?”

The cat nodded emphatically.

“Older books, particularly those that have a long history, have been influenced by the minds and souls of a great many people. Those books become imbued with a tremendous power, whether it be good or evil. And when the soul of such a book becomes distorted . . .”

The cat sighed.

“Well, it ends up wielding a power far greater than I or any other could ever hope to have.”

“I think I’m starting to understand what you meant when you said this adversary is different from all the others.”