The Cat Who Saved Books(6)
“This is where the books are?”
“They’re imprisoned behind there.”
Rintaro took another look at the magnificent gate and the mimosa tree above. Its giant branches were covered in cottony blossoms. That was strange. It was December, which made this a very unusual mimosa indeed. But then again, from the outset everything he had seen today had defied common sense. At this point it seemed hardly worth taking issue with these hardy flowers.
“What an impressive mansion. This gate alone is about the size of our bookshop,” Rintaro said.
“Don’t worry. It’s all a bluff. Behind a big impressive gate lives many a sorry excuse for a man.”
“Well, from the point of view of a high school student who lives in a sorry excuse for a house, I wouldn’t say no to a gate like this.”
“Make the most of your freedom to stand around kvetching,” said the cat. “If we don’t manage to rescue those books, you’ll be stuck in this labyrinth forever.”
Rintaro was flabbergasted.
“. . . I, er . . . you seem to have left that part out.”
“Well, obviously, if I’d told you that bit before, you’d never have agreed to come. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”
“That’s a dirty trick.”
“Is it though? Sitting there with your miserable face, it was pretty clear you had nothing much to lose.”
The cat’s words were pure venom. So this is what they mean by “brutally honest,” Rintaro thought. He stared up at the gloriously blue sky as he formulated his response.
“I don’t get a kick out of hurting dumb animals, but . . .”
He paused to adjust his glasses.
“. . . right now, I’ve got this overwhelming desire to grab you by the scruff of your neck and shake you.”
“Splendid. That’s the spirit!”
With utter composure, the cat began to climb the steps to the gate. Rintaro scrambled after it.
“Just wondering—what happens if we can’t get back?”
“We’ll probably be doomed to walk the length of this wall for eternity. Then again, I’ve never gotten stuck here before, so I don’t really know,” the cat admitted.
“That’s not good.”
Rintaro stopped on the top step, right before the massive wooden doors.
“So what exactly do I need to do?”
“Just talk to the lord of the manor.”
“And then?”
“If you manage to persuade him, then we’re done.”
“That’s it?”
Rintaro looked surprised. But the cat wasn’t finished.
“I’ve got one more assignment for you,” it announced in a pompous tone. “Would you mind pressing the doorbell?”
Rintaro did as requested.
*
Out from the small door by the gate came an attractive woman dressed in a simple indigo kimono. From her restrained demeanor, you would have guessed she was an old lady, but her exact age was hard to judge. There was no air of warmth about her, and she had dead eyes. From the red ornamental hairpin stuck in her chignon and the porcelain whiteness of her skin, she could easily have been mistaken for an exquisite Japanese doll.
Rintaro couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“May I help you?” she said in a monotone voice.
The cat took over from the flustered boy.
“We would like to meet with your husband.”
The woman turned her lifeless eyes onto the cat. Rintaro felt a nervous chill run through him, but both the cat and the woman seemed completely unfazed.
“My husband is a busy man. Unexpected visitors—”
The cat cut her off.
“This is a matter of great importance. And time sensitive, too. Please let him know we’re here.”
“Every day my husband receives visits from people who claim they have urgent and important business with him, but he’s far too busy with his TV and radio appearances. It’s not the kind of schedule that permits him to meet with unannounced guests. Please come back another time.”
“We don’t have time for that.”
The determination in the tabby’s voice stopped the woman in her tracks. The cat seized the moment.
“We’re here to discuss book matters—this young man here has vital information for your husband. I’m sure he’ll be able to find time for us.”
The cat’s manner appeared to have an effect on the kimono-clad woman. She stood for a while, apparently considering its words. Then finally, with a cursory “Wait here,” she gave a quick bow and disappeared back through the door.
Rintaro stared at the cat.
“Who has ‘vital information’?” he demanded.
“Let’s not worry about the details for now. As I see it, we’re using the bluffer’s own tactics to stand up to him. Bluffing the bluffer, if you like. We’ll work out what we’re going to say once we get inside.”
“That’s so . . . !”
Rintaro hesitated a moment.
“. . . reassuring,” he spat.
The woman soon reappeared. She bowed to the boy and the cat, before addressing them in the same monotone.
“This way, please.”
*
On the other side of the gate stood a magnificent mansion, the likes of which Rintaro had never seen.