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Ranpo - The Two-Sen Copper Coin
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Ranpo - The Two-Sen Copper Coin
Ranpo - The Two-Sen Copper Coin
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douglas nyachieoCopyright:
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Access provided by The University of British Columbia Library (26 Oct 2016 04:11 GMT)
Pda Psk)Oaj ?kllan ?kej
%DOGAWA 2ANPO
%DOGAWA 2ANPO IS THE PEN NAME OF (IRAI 4ARw ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR AUTHORS OF THE EARLY 3HwWA PERIOD AND A KEY FIGURE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF DETECTIVE AND MYSTERY FICTION IN *APAN (IS PSEUD
ONYM ECHOES THE NAME OF %DGAR !LLAN 0OE WHOM 2ANPO GREATLY
ADMIRED 0OE WAS KNOWN IN *APAN BY THE S AND HIS WORKS
ENJOYED GREAT POPULARITY AFTER THEY APPEARED IN TRANSLATIONS DONE BY
-ORI ÎGAI ¯ AND 4ANIZAKI *UN´ICHIRw´S BROTHER 4ANIZAKI
3EIJI ¯ IN THE S 7HILE THE INFLUENCE OF 0OE´S ±4HE
'OLD
"UG² IS EVIDENT°INDEED IT IS MENTIONED°IN THE STORY HERE
AND THE CENTRAL CHARACTER SIMILARLY EMPLOYS THE LOGIC OF RATIOCINA
TION TO SOLVE A CRIME AND DECIPHER A CODE THE CONTENTS AND CODES OF
±4HE 4WO
3EN #OPPER #OIN² ARE VERY MUCH THE PRODUCT OF 2ANPO´S
FERTILE IMAGINATION
2ANPO DEVOURED ADVENTURE STORIES AS A YOUTH GROWING UP IN
.AGOYA AND HE READ 3IR !RTHUR #ONAN $OYLE´S 3HERLOCK (OLMES
MYSTERIES IN %NGLISH WHILE STUDYING ECONOMICS AT 7ASEDA 5NIVERSITY
¯ IN 4OKYO "EFORE BECOMING A WRITER HE WORKED AS A CUB
REPORTER A USED BOOK DEALER AN EMPLOYEE IN A TRADING COMPANY AND
EDITOR OF A CARTOON MAGAZINE°A BROAD AND ECLECTIC BACKGROUND TYPI
CAL OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF *APANESE WRITERS BEFORE THE S AND S
2ANPO MADE HIS LITERARY DEBUT WITH ±4HE 4WO
3EN #OPPER #OIN²
4HE STORY´S APPEARANCE IN THE !PRIL EDITION OF 3HIN SEINEN
¯ .EW 9OUTH MAGAZINE NOT ONLY MARKED THE BEGINNING
OF A LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER BUT ALSO TRANSFORMED THE MAGAZINE
INTO THE PREEMINENT VENUE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF
*APANESE DETECTIVE FICTION TANTEI SHwSETSU *APAN HAD A LONG TRADITION
OF MORALISTIC STORIES ABOUT CRIME AND MURDER CENTERING ON COURT
CASES OLD #HINESE TALES OR THE DANGERS OF ±POISONOUS WOMEN² THAT
WERE INTENDED TO PROMOTE VIRTUE AND CHASTISE VICE )T WAS NOT UNTIL
THE S HOWEVER THAT DETECTIVE FICTION EVOLVED AS AN INDEPENDENT
GENRE INFORMED BY THE SPIRIT OF OBJECTIVITY AND SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
±.I SEN DwKA ² BY %DOGAWA 2ANPO ¯ 4RANSLATED BY *EFFREY !NGLES
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
4ANI *wJI AND 4ACHIBANA 3OTOO ARE OTHER WRITERS IN THIS ANTHOLOGY
WHO FOLLOWED IN 2ANPO´S FOOTSTEPS BY WRITING FOR 3HIN SEINEN AND
DEVELOPING THIS NEW MODE OF VERNACULAR MODERNISM
4RANSLATIONS OF STORIES BY 2ANPO HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE IN
%NGLISH SINCE THE MID
S BUT THE SCHEMATIC CHART THAT APPEARS IN
±4HE 4WO
3EN #OPPER #OIN² POSES AN ESPECIALLY COMPLEX PROBLEM
FOR THE TRANSLATOR )T COMBINES THE SOUNDS OF .AMU !MIDA "UTSU
(OLY !MIDA "UDDHA WITH *APANESE "RAILLE TO DECODE AND REVEAL THE
SECRET MESSAGE OF THE STORY .OT ONLY HAS *EFFREY !NGLES TRANSLATED
THE TEXT FOR US BUT HE HAS ALSO DEVISED AN INGENIOUS STRATEGY OF COM
BINING THE SACRED PHRASE WITH %NGLISH
LANGUAGE "RAILLE IN A WAY THAT
CLOSELY APPROXIMATES THE ORIGINAL
2ANPO PURSUED A LIFELONG INTEREST IN CRIMINOLOGY ABNORMAL
PSYCHOLOGY AND NON
HETERONORMATIVE SEXUALITY (E READ 3IGMUND
&REUD AND %DWARD #ARPENTER COLLECTED RARE BOOKS ON THESE TOPICS
AND SUPPORTED THE SCHOLARSHIP OF )WATA *UN´ICHI ¯ COM
PILER OF THE FIRST HISTORY OF SAME
SEX LOVE IN *APAN !LTHOUGH HE DID
MORE THAN ANY OTHER WRITER TO ESTABLISH THE MODERN DETECTIVE STORY
IN *APAN HIS INTERESTS GRADUALLY SHIFTED TOWARD WRITING WORKS OF THE
MYSTERIOUS AND BIZARRE KAIKI SHwSETSU ±4HE -AN 4RAVELING WITH THE
"ROCADE 0ORTRAIT² AND ±4HE #ATERPILLAR ² BOTH OF WHICH APPEAR IN
THIS VOLUME ARE IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF THE GENRE
)
±"OY THAT THIEF MAKES ME JEALOUS²
4HAT WAS THE SORT OF REMARK MY ROOMMATE AND ) EXCHANGED AT THE
TIME 4HAT´S HOW DESPERATE WE WERE FOR MONEY
) SPEAK OF THE DAYS WHEN -ATSUMURA 4AKESHI AND ) LAY IDLY ABOUT OUR
ONE
ROOM APARTMENT OUR HEADS FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT FOOLISH DAYDREAMS
7E LIVED IN A CRAMPED SIX
MAT ROOM FURNISHED WITH TWO BEATEN
UP PAPER
PLY
DESKS LINED UP SIDE BY SIDE 7E LIVED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF 4OKYO AND THE ROOM
WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF A SHABBY
LOOKING SHOP THAT SOLD WOODEN CLOGS
4HERE WE WERE JUST THE TWO OF US WITH OUR EMPTY WALLETS AND NOWHERE TO
TURN 4HAT´S WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE THIEF %VERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
ROBBER EXTRAORDINAIRE WITH HIS EVER
SO
CLEVER SCAM 7E COULDN´T HELP BUT FEEL
ENVY AND ADMIRATION°EVEN AT THE THOUGHT OF SOMETHING THAT WAS PROFOUNDLY
WRONG "UT LET ME BEGIN FIRST WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE THIEF´S STORY BECAUSE
IT HAS IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE TALE THAT ) AM ABOUT TO TELL
)T WAS PAYDAY AT A LARGE MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRICAL GOODS IN THE 3HIBA
SECTION OF DOWNTOWN 4OKYO 4EN OR SO PEOPLE IN THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT WERE
HARD AT WORK PORING OVER TIME CARDS AND CALCULATING THE MONTHLY WAGES OF THE
COMPANY´S NEARLY FIVE THOUSAND EMPLOYEES 4HEY WERE SWEATING AWAY STUFF
ING FIVE
TEN
AND TWENTY
YEN NOTES INTO PAY ENVELOPES WHICH WERE THEN
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
STACKED IN A HUGE CHEST 4HE CHEST HAD ARRIVED EARLIER IN THE DAY FROM THE BANK
FILLED WITH CASH )N THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY A GENTLEMAN CALLED AT THE
OFFICE DOOR
(E SAID HE WAS A REPORTER WITH THE !SAHI .EWSPAPER WHEN THE RE
CEPTIONIST ASKED ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT (E WISHED TO SPEAK WITH
THE MANAGER 4HE WOMAN TOOK HIS BUSINESS CARD AND HANDED IT TO HER BOSS
4HE CARD READ ±.EWS 2EPORTER (UMAN )NTEREST 0AGE 4OKYO !SAHI 0RESS²
)T JUST SO HAPPENED THE MANAGER PRIDED HIMSELF ON HIS FINESSE AT HANDLING
JOURNALISTS (E SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER "RAGGING TO REPORTERS AND HAVING
WHAT ONE SAID PRINTED IN THE PAPERS WAS NOT A SMART OR ADULT THING TO DO
"UT THE MANAGER COULD NOT RESIST 3OMEONE HAD ACTUALLY APPEARED TO INTER
VIEW HIM 3AID REPORTER WAS ABOUT TO BE WARMLY RECEIVED IN THE MANAGER´S
OFFICE
3PORTING LARGE TORTOISESHELL GLASSES A HANDSOME MUSTACHE A SENSIBLE
BLACK MORNING COAT AND A FASHIONABLE BRIEFCASE THE CALLER SEATED HIMSELF IN A
CHAIR IN FRONT OF THE MANAGER AS IF HE WERE THOROUGHLY ACCUSTOMED TO CONDUCT
ING INTERVIEWS (E REACHED INTO HIS CIGARETTE CASE AND PULLED OUT AN EXPENSIVE
%GYPTIAN BRAND (E STRUCK A MATCH AGAINST THE ASHTRAY ON THE TABLE AND SENT A
CLOUD OF BLUISH SMOKE BILLOWING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MANAGER´S FACE
±)´D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR COMPANY´S LABOR COM
PENSATION PROBLEMS² !LTHOUGH THE TONE OF HIS VOICE WAS INNOCENT AND PER
SONABLE LIKE ALL NEWSPAPER REPORTERS HE BROUGHT FORTH THIS AND ALL SUBSEQUENT
INQUIRIES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENGULF THE MANAGER IN A SEA OF QUESTIONS 4HE
MANAGER APPEARED TO TAKE THE BAIT AND HE BEGAN TO WAX LARGE ON THE IMPOR
TANCE OF PATERNALISTIC COOPERATION BETWEEN LABOR AND MANAGEMENT "ECAUSE
THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RELEVANT TO MY STORY LET ME SKIP AHEAD !FTER ABOUT THIRTY
MINUTES THE MANAGER FINISHED HIS SPIEL AND THE REPORTER EXCUSED HIMSELF TO
GO TO THE RESTROOM 4HAT WAS WHEN THE CALLER DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE
4HE MANAGER THOUGHT THE REPORTER´S BEHAVIOR WAS SOMEWHAT RUDE BUT
HE DECIDED TO PAY IT NO MIND )T WAS LUNCHTIME AND HE HEADED FOR THE CAFETE
RIA ! FEW MINUTES LATER AS HE WAS POLISHING OFF A STEAK OR ANOTHER DISH ORDERED
FROM A NEARBY RESTAURANT THE HEAD OF THE ACCOUNTING SECTION CAME FLYING INTO
THE ROOM (E LOOKED WHITE AS A SHEET AS HE RUSHED OVER TO THE MANAGER ±4HE
MONEY FOR THE SALARIES ² HE ANNOUNCED HYSTERICALLY ±IT´S ALL GONE )T´S BEEN
STOLEN²
4AKEN BY COMPLETE SURPRISE THE MANAGER ABANDONED THE FOOD STILL ON
HIS PLATE AND RAN TO THE ROOM FROM WHICH THE MONEY HAD VANISHED
4HE DETAILS OF THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CASH CAN BE RECON
STRUCTED ROUGHLY AS FOLLOWS
"ECAUSE THE FACTORY OFFICES WERE BEING REMODELED THE JOB OF CALCULAT
ING SALARIES WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN A SPECIAL ROOM CARE
FULLY KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY WAS DONE IN THE RECEPTION ROOM NEXT TO THE
MANAGER´S OFFICE &OR SOME REASON OR OTHER HOWEVER SOMEONE MADE THE MIS
TAKE OF LEAVING THE RECEPTION ROOM COMPLETELY UNATTENDED DURING THE LUNCH
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
BREAK )T APPEARED EACH OF THE WORKERS BELIEVED SOMEONE ELSE HAD STAYED BE
HIND !LL OF THEM WENT TO THE CAFETERIA AND NO ONE WAS GUARDING THE ROOM
)N THE PROCESS THE STACKS OF BILLS THAT WERE IN THE WOOD
AND LEATHER
COVERED
CHEST SAT OPEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR°AND IN A ROOM THAT WAS NOT LOCKED
$URING THOSE UNGUARDED MINUTES SOMEONE HAD SLIPPED IN AND MADE OFF WITH
A CONSIDERABLE SUM 4HE THIEF DID NOT TOUCH WHAT WAS ALREADY STUFFED INTO PAY
ENVELOPES NOR DID HE BOTHER WITH CASH IN SMALLER DENOMINATIONS (E TOOK
ONLY THE BUNDLES OF TEN
AND TWENTY
YEN BILLS INSIDE THE CHEST .ONETHELESS
WHEN THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAS COUNTED THE COMPANY´S LOSS CAME TO ABOUT FIFTY
THOUSAND YEN
/NLY AFTER MEMBERS OF THE STAFF QUESTIONED A NUMBER OF SUSPECTS DID
IT OCCUR TO THEM TO SUSPECT THE NEWSPAPER REPORTER !ND WOULDN´T YOU KNOW
WHEN THEY CALLED THE NEWSPAPER COMPANY THEY WERE TOLD NO ONE WORKED THERE
WHO FITTED HIS DESCRIPTION 4HE OFFICE WAS NOW IN AN UPROAR 4HE POLICE WERE
CALLED AND SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO WITHHOLD PAYING EMPLOYEES THEIR
WAGES IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE BANK PREPARE AN ENTIRELY NEW STACK OF TEN
AND TWENTY
YEN NOTES 4HE OFFICE STAFF NOW REALIZED THE MAN WHO HAD REPRE
SENTED HIMSELF AS A NEWSPAPER REPORTER AND HAD DUPED THE MANAGER WITH HIS
POINTLESS QUESTIONS WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE INFAMOUS THIEF WHO HAD CAUSED
A STIR OF LATE !LL OF THE NEWSPAPERS HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ±'ENTLEMAN
"URGLAR²
.OT A LEAD WAS FOUND WHEN THE DETECTIVES FROM THE POLICE STATION AR
RIVED TO INVESTIGATE 3INCE THE THIEF HAD BEEN SO THOROUGH AS TO PREPARE A
BUSINESS CARD WITH THE NAME OF A NEWSPAPER COMPANY ON IT IT WAS CLEAR THAT
THE TYPICAL MEANS OF DETECTION USED BY DETECTIVES WOULD NOT APPLY IN THIS CASE
.O THE THIEF HAD BEEN CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE BEHIND A SHRED OF EVIDENCE (IS
LOOKS OR AT LEAST AS THE MANAGER REMEMBERED THEM WERE THE SOLE CLUE ANYONE
HAD TO GO ON BUT THEY PROVED TO BE EVIDENCE OF A HIGHLY UNRELIABLE NATURE
.O QUESTION ABOUT IT 4HE SUSPECT COULD EASILY CHANGE HIS CLOTHES AND THUS HIS
APPEARANCE #OME TO THINK OF IT THE TORTOISESHELL GLASSES AND THE MUSTACHE
WHICH THE MANAGER THOUGHT WERE SUREFIRE LEADS WERE THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF
ANY OLD DISGUISE 3O MUCH FOR WHAT THEY´D REVEAL
3INCE THERE WERE NO LEADS THE POLICE BEGAN BLINDLY TO QUESTION ANY
BODY AND EVERYBODY°FROM RICKSHAW DRIVERS TO WOMEN WORKING IN CIGARETTE
SHOPS TO STREET VENDORS OR JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE VICINITY (AD
THEY SEEN A MAN FITTING THE SUSPECT´S DESCRIPTION )F SO THE POLICE WANTED TO
KNOW WHICH WAY HE HAD GONE !S PART OF STANDARD PROCEDURE A SKETCH OF THE
SUSPECT´S FACE WAS CIRCULATED TO EACH OF THE CITY´S POLICE BOXES
! DRAGNET WAS SET UP BUT NOTHING DEVELOPED /NE DAY TWO DAYS THREE
DAYS PASSED°ALL WITHOUT LEADS ! LOOKOUT WAS POSTED AT EVERY TRAIN STATION
2EQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE TELEGRAPHED TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN EVERY PRE
FECTURE IN *APAN "UT A WEEK WENT BY WITHOUT THE BURGLAR TURNING UP %VEN THE
POLICE BEGAN TO WONDER IF THE SEARCH WASN´T HOPELESS 0ERHAPS THE ONLY CHOICE
WAS TO WAIT FOR THE THIEF TO COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME %ACH TIME THE PHONE RANG
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER FROM 3HIBA WHO WAS CALLING
AND THE RINGING OF THE TELEPHONE SERVED TO REMIND THE POLICE OF THEIR DISMAL
FAILURE 4HE HEAD OF THE POLICE STATION AGONIZED OVER THE CASE AS IF HE HIMSELF
WERE THE ONE WHO HAD COMMITTED THE CRIME
)N THE MIDST OF SUCH DESPAIR ONE POLICE OFFICER TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF
TO VISIT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE NUMEROUS TOBACCO SHOPS IN 4OKYO 3HOPS
THAT CARRIED FOREIGN CIGARETTES NUMBERED BETWEEN TEN AND A FEW DOZEN IN EACH
WARD OF THE CITY 4HE DETECTIVE HAD VISITED ALMOST ALL OF THEM BY NOW /NLY THE
UPTOWN SECTIONS OF THE CITY°IN THE 5SHIGOME AND 9OTSUYA WARDS°REMAINED
ON HIS LIST (E PRESSED ON WITH BLIND DETERMINATION (E WOULD CHECK THERE TOO
AND GIVE UP ONLY IF NOTHING DEVELOPED ,IKE A MAN ABOUT TO READ THE NUMBER
ON A LOTTERY TICKET HIS MIND SWIRLED WITH ANTICIPATION AND NERVOUSNESS "UT HE
PLODDED ON STOPPING OCCASIONALLY AT A POLICE BOX TO ASK LOCAL PATROLMEN FOR
DIRECTIONS TO NEARBY TOBACCO SHOPS !GAIN AND AGAIN HE REPEATED THE NAME OF
THE SUSPECT´S BRAND OF %GYPTIAN CIGARETTES TO HIMSELF
±&IGARO &IGARO &IGARO²
!S HE LEFT THE TRAIN STATION AT )IDABASHI AND HEADED FOR +AGURAZAKA HE
WALKED ALONG THE WIDE AVENUE THINKING HE WOULD STOP AT A TOBACCO SHOP IN
5SHIGOME (E STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS IN FRONT OF A *APANESE
STYLE INN /N THE
GUTTER COVER WHICH SERVED AS THE THRESHOLD STONE TO THE ENTRANCE HE FOUND
WHAT A PERSON OF LESS ACUITY WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE OVERLOOKED°IT WAS THE
BUTT OF A CIGARETTE THAT SOMEONE HAD TOSSED AWAY )T WAS THE SAME %GYPTIAN
BRAND HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR
4HUS A SINGLE CIGARETTE BUTT PROVIDED THE CLUE THAT WOULD TAKE THE
GREAT 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR AND REDUCE HIM TO THE STATUS OF A LOWLY PRISONER OF
THE LAW "ECAUSE THE CHAIN OF EVENTS CONNECTING THE CIGARETTE BUTT TO THE AR
REST OF THE BURGLAR WAS AN EXCITING DETECTIVE STORY THE NEWSPAPERS RAN A SERIES
OF ARTICLES ON THE CASE 4HE STORY WAS SUCH A SUCCESS THAT IT EVEN QUOTED THE
DETECTIVE BRAGGING ABOUT HOW HE HAD CRACKED THE CASE
°!S A MATTER OF FACT THE ACCOUNT ) HAVE GIVEN HERE IS BASED ON THOSE
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES "ECAUSE ) AM IN A HURRY TO LEAP TO THE CONCLUSION OF MY
STORY HOWEVER ) REGRET ) CANNOT LINGER OVER THE DETAILS ) MUST JUMP AHEAD AND
GET TO THE UPSHOT OF THESE EVENTS
$OUBTLESS YOU MY READER HAVE ALREADY GUESSED BUT OUR THOROUGHGO
ING DETECTIVE SUCCEEDED IN HIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE HE PAID ATTENTION TO THE
UNUSUAL CIGARETTE BUTT THAT THE THIEF LEFT BEHIND IN THE OFFICE OF THE MANAGER
AT THE MANUFACTURING PLANT 4HAT WAS THE CLUE (E HAD VISITED NEARLY ALL OF
THE MAJOR TOBACCO SHOPS IN 4OKYO AND LEARNED THAT ALTHOUGH MANY STORES
CARRIED THE USUAL BRANDS OF CIGARETTES OF LATE ONLY A FEW SOLD &IGAROS &IGAROS
DIDN´T SELL WELL /NLY A HANDFUL OF CUSTOMERS SMOKED THEM 4HERE COULD BE
LITTLE DOUBT AS TO THE IDENTITY OF THE MAN WHO PURCHASED THEM (E WOULD BE
AN ATYPICAL CUSTOMER
!S PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IT WAS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE DETECTIVE´S INVES
TIGATIONS THAT HE FOUND THE CIGARETTE BUTT IN FRONT OF AN INN NEAR )IDABASHI (E
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
DECIDED TO STEP INSIDE (IS AMAZINGLY GOOD FORTUNE IN IDENTIFYING THE INITIAL
CLUE WAS HIS FIRST STEP ALONG THE ROAD TO ARRESTING THE CRIMINAL
.ONETHELESS HE WAS TROUBLED BY CONSIDERABLE DOUBTS 7HAT IF THE MAN
WHO THREW THE BUTT IN THE STREET WASN´T THE PERSON WHO HAD VISITED THE FAC
TORY MANAGER )N THE END HOWEVER THE POLICE FOUND THE MORNING COAT TOR
TOISESHELL GLASSES AND FALSE MUSTACHE THAT THE THIEF USED TO COMMIT HIS CRIME
4HEY WERE HIDDEN AT THE BOTTOM OF A BRAZIER IN A ROOM AT THE INN !RMED WITH
IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE THEY WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THE NOTORIOUS ±'ENTLEMAN
"URGLAR²
!CCORDING TO THE CONFESSION THAT HE MADE UNDER POLICE QUESTIONING
ON THE DAY OF THE CRIME THE BURGLAR ENTERED THE ROOM WHERE THE PAYROLL CAL
CULATIONS WERE BEING DONE (E KNEW FULL WELL IT WAS PAYDAY AND HE TOOK THE
MONEY WHILE THE MANAGER WAS AWAY (E THEN REMOVED A RAINCOAT AND TWEED
CAP FROM THE EXPANDABLE PORTFOLIO HE HAD BROUGHT WITH HIM (E FILLED THE
EMPTY PORTFOLIO WITH SOME OF THE BILLS 4HEN HE REMOVED HIS GLASSES AND
PULLED OFF THE MUSTACHE (E COVERED HIS MORNING COAT WITH THE RAINCOAT AND
AFTER REPLACING HIS FELT HAT WITH THE TWEED CAP HE EXITED THROUGH ANOTHER
DOOR°LOOKING ALL THE WHILE AS CALM AND COLLECTED AS A CUCUMBER 4HE PO
LICE ASKED HIM HOW HE MANAGED TO CARRY OUT THE FIFTY THOUSAND YEN WITHOUT
ANYONE NOTICING 4HE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR LAUGHED WITH THE SORT OF CHUCKLE
TYPICAL OF AN EXPERT ±4HE CLOTHES WE WEAR ARE FULL OF PLACES TO HIDE THINGS
*UST LOOK AT THE MORNING COAT YOU CONFISCATED FROM ME !T FIRST GLANCE IT
LOOKS LIKE ANY OLD JACKET !S A MATTER OF FACT THERE ARE POCKETS ALL OVER IT JUST
LIKE IN A SUIT OF CLOTHES MADE FOR USE IN SLEIGHT
OF
HAND SHOWS 9OU MAY THINK
HIDING FIFTY THOUSAND YEN IS QUITE A FEAT BUT HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A #HINESE
MAGICIAN AT WORK (E KNOWS HOW TO HIDE EVEN BIG BOWLS FULL OF WATER UNDER
HIS ROBE
(IS STORY PROBABLY WOULDN´T BE OF MUCH INTEREST WERE IT SIMPLY THE
STORY OF A ROBBERY 4HERE IS ONE MORE MYSTERIOUS PART THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT
FROM A TYPICAL THEFT AND IT HAS TREMENDOUS BEARING ON THE PLOT OF MY NARRA
TIVE .AMELY THE ROBBER NEVER REVEALED A WORD ABOUT WHERE HE HID THE STOLEN
MONEY (E MANAGED TO PASS THE THREE BARRIERS OF THE POLICE THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY AND THE JUDGE WITH A MERE ±) DON´T KNOW² !LL THREE USED DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO PRESSURE HIM INTO REVEALING THE LOCATION OF THE MISSING FUNDS )N
THE END HE SPOUTED SOME NONSENSE ABOUT HAVING SPENT IT ALL°AND ALL WITHIN
THE COURSE OF A WEEK AFTER THE ROBBERY 4HE POLICE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ASSIGN
DETECTIVES TO WORK AT FINDING OUT WHERE THE MONEY WAS HIDDEN 4HEY LOOKED
HARD AND LONG BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE FOUND &OR CONCEALING THE WHEREABOUTS OF
THE FIFTY THOUSAND YEN THE MAN WAS CHARGED WITH THE CRIME OF GRAND LARCENY
AND SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE
"ECAUSE THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY SUSTAINED THE GREATEST LOSS AS A
RESULT OF THE ENTIRE INCIDENT IT WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO FIND THE MONEY RATHER
THAN THE PERPETRATOR OF THE CRIME /F COURSE THE POLICE DID NOT GIVE UP THE
SEARCH BUT THEIR EFFORTS SEEMED TO GROW MORE LAX WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
4HE PLANT MANAGER ANNOUNCED THAT ANYONE FINDING THE MONEY WOULD BE EN
TITLED TO ONE
TENTH OF IT AS A REWARD
4HE STORY TO WHICH ) AM NOW ABOUT TO TURN°THE TALE THAT IS RELATED TO
-ATSUMURA 4AKESHI AND MYSELF TO SOME EXTENT°ALSO HAPPENED AT THE SAME
TIME THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ROBBERY BEGAN TO UNFOLD
))
!S ) MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING -ATSUMURA AND ) HAD LOST ANY ABILITY TO
MOTIVATE OURSELVES INTO TAKING ACTION 7E HAD SUNK INTO THE DEPTHS OF POVERTY
IN THE SIX
MAT ROOM OVER THE CLOG SHOP ON THE EDGE OF 4OKYO "UT EVEN IN THE
MIDST OF MISERY IT WAS SPRINGTIME AND WE MANAGED TO BE HAPPY 3UCH HAP
PINESS IS A SECRET KNOWN ONLY TO THE POOR &ROM THE END OF WINTER TO THE FIRST
DAYS OF SUMMER WE POOR PEOPLE PROSPER /R RATHER IT FEELS AS IF WE DO BE
CAUSE WE TAKE OUR COATS EXTRA LAYERS OF CLOTHING AND OTHER WINTER NECESSITIES
TO THE PAWNSHOP )F OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION CONTINUES TO WORSEN THEN WE HOCK
EVEN THE BEDDING AND BRAZIERS IN OUR ROOMS )N SPRING WE POOR PEOPLE LUXURI
ATE IN THE BLESSINGS OF A WARMER CLIMATE 7E BREATHE EASILY FOR A MOMENT°OR
FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN SET ASIDE OUR WORRIES ABOUT WHAT WE WILL DO TOMORROW OR
WHERE WE WILL GET THE RENT MONEY BY THE END OF THE MONTH 7E GO TO THE PUB
LIC BATH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE A WHILE 7E GO TO THE BARBERSHOP -OREOVER
WE STRETCH WHAT LITTLE FUNDS WE HAVE AT DINNERTIME AND ORDER SASHIMI INSTEAD
OF MISO AND PICKLED VEGETABLES
/NE DAY AFTER ) RETURNED FROM THE BATHHOUSE IN A GOOD MOOD )
PLOPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF MY SCARRED BROKEN DESK -ATSUMURA WHO HAD
BEEN ALONE IN THE ROOM TURNED TO ME WITH THE STRANGEST LOOK OF EXCITEMENT
ON HIS FACE
±(EY YOU MUST HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO PUT THIS TWO
SEN COPPER COIN ON
MY DESK 7HERE DID YOU GET IT ²
±)T WAS CHANGE FROM THE TOBACCO SHOP²
±7HICH TOBACCO SHOP ²
±4HE ONE RUN BY THE OLD WOMAN NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT 9OU KNOW THE
ONE THAT DOESN´T SEEM TO BE DOING TOO WELL²
±(MM (OW ABOUT THAT ² -ATSUMURA´S MIND SEEMED TO SLIP INTO DEEP
THOUGHT 4HAT WAS WHEN HE ASKED ME ABOUT THE COIN A SECOND TIME°AND IN
A MANNER MORE PERSISTENT ±7ERE THERE ANY CUSTOMERS THERE WHEN YOU WENT
TO THE SHOP ²
±) DON´T BELIEVE SO 4HE OLD WOMAN HAPPENED TO BE TAKING A NAP 3O
NO THERE WEREN´T ANY CUSTOMERS BESIDE MYSELF² 4HE ANSWER SEEMED TO REAS
SURE -ATSUMURA SOMEWHAT
±$O YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WORKS IN THE SHOP ²
±7ELL SURE ) KNOW ALL ABOUT THE PLACE BECAUSE THE OLD WOMAN AND )
HAVE BECOME FRIENDS 9OU CAN TELL FROM THE SERIOUS LOOK ON HER FACE HOW BAD
BUSINESS IS BUT ODDLY ENOUGH THAT´S WHY ) TOOK A LIKING TO HER 4HE ONLY OTHER
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
PERSON AROUND IS AN OLD MAN AND HE LOOKS EVEN HARDER UP THAN SHE DOES 3AY
WHAT GIVES 7HY ALL THE QUESTIONS ²
±)´LL GET TO THAT BY AND BY -EANWHILE ) HAVE MY REASONS FOR ASKING
#OME ON TELL ME MORE SINCE YOU SEEM TO KNOW SO MUCH²
±7ELL THE OLD MAN AND WOMAN HAVE A DAUGHTER )´VE SEEN HER ONCE OR
TWICE AND SHE´S A REAL LOOKER ) HEAR SHE´S MARRIED TO A MAN WHO MAKES A LIVING
DELIVERING FOOD TO PRISONERS IN JAIL ) SEEM TO REMEMBER THE OLD WOMAN SAYING
HE WASN´T DOING BADLY (E GIVES HER MONEY TO KEEP THE SHOP AFLOAT²
!S ) WAS TELLING -ATSUMURA WHAT ) KNEW HE SURPRISED ME BY SUDDENLY
JUMPING TO HIS FEET )T WAS AS IF HE DIDN´T WANT TO HEAR A WORD MORE OF WHAT
) HAD TO SAY EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE SHOP IN THE FIRST PLACE (E
BEGAN CIRCLING THE ROOM LIKE A BEAR CAGED AT THE ZOO
.OW )´LL ADMIT BOTH -ATSUMURA AND ) CAN BE FAIRLY WHIMSICAL )T WASN´T
UNUSUAL FOR ONE OF US TO JUMP UP AND WALK ABOUT THE ROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CONVERSATION "UT THIS TIME -ATSUMURA LOOKED SO ODD THAT ) DIDN´T KNOW WHAT
TO SAY
(E WALKED IN CIRCLES FOR THIRTY MINUTES OR SO ) SAID NOTHING ) LET
MY EYES FOLLOW HIM WONDERING ALL THE WHILE WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE HIS
HEAD (AD A TOTAL STRANGER WALKED IN HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BOTH OF US WERE
CRAZY
) WAS GETTING HUNGRY )T WAS DINNERTIME AND AFTER HAVING A BATH )´M
USUALLY FAMISHED 7HEN ) SUGGESTED WE GO OUT TO EAT -ATSUMURA CONTIN
UED TO PACE MADLY ABOUT THE ROOM ±.O ² HE FINALLY REPLIED ±)´M SORRY BUT
YOU´LL HAVE TO GO BY YOURSELF² .OT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO ) DID AS HE
SUGGESTED
7HEN ) RETURNED HOME ON A FULL STOMACH ) FOUND TO MY AMAZEMENT
THAT -ATSUMURA HAD CALLED A MASSEUR AND WAS GETTING A MASSAGE 4HE MAS
SEUR WAS A MAN WHOM WE KNEW A YOUNG STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
AND DUMB !S HE GRIPPED -ATSUMURA´S SHOULDERS -ATSUMURA BLURTED OUT
±.OW DON´T THINK )´M BEING EXTRAVAGANT 4HERE´S A REASON FOR THIS "EAR WITH
ME AND YOU´LL SEE WHAT ) MEAN² (E SPOKE TO FORESTALL ME FROM GIVING HIM A
SCOLDING )T WAS OUTRAGEOUS OF HIM TO REDUCE OUR JOINT BUDGET OF TWENTY YEN
BY SPENDING SIXTY SEN FOR A MASSEUR !FTER ALL THAT WAS THE MONEY THAT WE HAD
GENERATED YESTERDAY BY TALKING AND BEGGING WITH THE CLERK AT THE PAWNBROKER
)T WAS OUR LIFELINE (OW COULD HE COUNTENANCE SUCH LUXURY
3TILL ) FELT THERE WAS SOMETHING INEXPRESSIBLY CURIOUS ABOUT -ATSUMU
RA´S EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOR ) SAT DOWN IN FRONT OF MY DESK AND PRETENDED TO
BE ENGROSSED IN A BOOK BOUGHT AT THE USED BOOKSTORE &ROM TIME TO TIME )
STOLE A QUICK GLANCE IN HIS DIRECTION
!FTER THE MASSEUR LEFT -ATSUMURA SAT DOWN IN FRONT OF HIS DESK (E
WAS READING SOMETHING ON A SCRAP OF PAPER !FTER A WHILE HE PULLED ANOTHER
SCRAP OF PAPER FROM HIS POCKET AND PUT IT ON TOP OF THE DESK 4HE PAPER WAS
NO BIGGER THAN TWO INCHES BY FOUR INCHES AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CHARAC
TERS ON IT WRITTEN IN A SMALL DELICATE HAND -ATSUMURA APPEARED TO STUDY THE
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
TWO BITS OF PAPER BY COMPARING THEM WITH EACH OTHER 4HEN HE REACHED FOR A
NEWSPAPER AND JOTTED DOWN SOMETHING IN PENCIL IN THE WHITE SPACE ALONG THE
MARGIN (E ERASED IT WROTE SOMETHING ELSE AND ERASED IT AGAIN
)T WAS GETTING DARK BY NOW AND THE STREETLIGHTS WERE COMING ON !
TOFU VENDOR CAME TOOTING ALONG AND A CROWD AS LARGE AS AT A TEMPLE FAIR
PASSED DOWN THE STREET AND THEN DISAPPEARED ) HEARD THE PLAINTIVE NOTES
OF THE FLUTE THAT ANNOUNCED THE MAN WHO SOLD #HINESE NOODLES !T SOME
POINT NIGHT HAD FALLEN -ATSUMURA HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT DINNER AND HE
REMAINED TOTALLY ABSORBED IN HIS ODD UNDERTAKING ) PULLED OUT MY FUTON
AND STRETCHED OUT ON IT WITHOUT SAYING A WORD TO HIM ) WAS BORED WITH THE
BOOK ) HAD ALREADY FINISHED IT BUT HAVING NOTHING ELSE TO DO ) STARTED IT
ALL OVER AGAIN
±(EY YOU OWN A MAP OF 4OKYO ² -ATSUMURA SUDDENLY TURNED AND
LOOKED AT ME
±(MM ) DON´T THINK SO 7HY NOT ASK THE WOMAN IN THE CLOG SHOP
DOWNSTAIRS ²
±'OOD IDEA²
(E STOOD UP WALKED DOWN THE CREAKY STAIRS AND BORROWED A DOG
EARED TATTERED MAP OF 4OKYO 3ITTING IN FRONT OF HIS DESK HE CONTINUED HIS
DILIGENT RESEARCH ) WATCHED HIM WITH MOUNTING INTEREST
4HE CLOCK DOWNSTAIRS STRUCK NINE -ATSUMURA GOT UP FROM HIS DESK AS
IF THE FIRST STAGE OF HIS RESEARCH WAS NOW COMPLETE (E SAT DOWN NEXT TO MY
PILLOW
±#OULD YOU PLEASE PULL OUT TEN YEN FOR ME ² ) COULD TELL FROM THE TONE
OF HIS VOICE THAT HE FOUND THE QUESTION HARD TO ASK ) DID NOT PROTEST EVEN
THOUGH TEN YEN WAS HALF OF OUR JOINT SAVINGS 4HAT´S BECAUSE ) WAS PROFOUNDLY
INTERESTED IN -ATSUMURA´S STRANGE BEHAVIOR FOR REASONS ) HAVE YET TO REVEAL TO
YOU MY READER
(E TOOK THE TEN
YEN NOTE AND PULLING ON AN OLD PAIR OF HAKAMA OVER
THE SKIRT OF HIS KIMONO AND SLAPPING A BADLY WRINKLED HUNTING CAP ATOP HIS
HEAD HE RUSHED FROM THE ROOM WITHOUT A WORD MORE ) SAT THERE ALONE SMIL
ING TO MYSELF AND WONDERING WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DO 0RETTY SOON ) DOZED OFF
,ATER WHEN ) WAS HALFWAY BETWEEN DREAMS AND THE WAKING WORLD ) NOTICED
-ATSUMURA HAD RETURNED "UT ) WENT BACK TO SLEEP ) KNEW NO MORE IN THE
MORNING THAN ) HAD THE NIGHT BEFORE
3INCE ) ALWAYS SLEEP LATE IT WAS NEARLY TEN BEFORE ) WOKE UP AND SAW
WHAT LOOKED TO MY ASTONISHMENT LIKE A STRANGER SLEEPING BESIDE MY PILLOW
(E WAS WEARING A STRIPED KIMONO STIFF BELT AND NAVY BLUE SHOP APRON°THE
SORT OF CLOTHES WORN BY A SHOPKEEPER 3LUNG ON HIS BACK WAS A BUNDLE WRAPPED
IN A FUROSHIKI
±7HY LOOK SO FUNNY )T´S ME YOU KNOW²
4HE SHOPKEEPER SPOKE WITH -ATSUMURA´S VOICE ) LOOKED HIM OVER
CAREFULLY AND SAW THAT THE MAN WAS AFTER ALL -ATSUMURA ) HADN´T BEEN ABLE TO
RECOGNIZE HIM RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE HIS CLOTHES WERE SO DIFFERENT
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
±7HAT´S GOING ON 9OU´VE GOT A BUNDLE SLUNG OVER YOUR BACK AND
THEN THERE´S THE STRANGE
LOOKING OUTFIT YOU´VE GOT ON ) TOOK YOU FOR A SHOP
CLERK²
±3HHHHH $ON´T TALK SO LOUD² -ATSUMURA GESTURED WITH BOTH HANDS
FOR ME TO BE QUIET 4HEN HE SAID IN A HUSHED VOICE ±)´VE BROUGHT US AN AMAZ
ING GIFT²
±$ID YOU GO OUT AGAIN EARLY THIS MORNING ² 'IVEN THE STRANGE WAY HE
WAS ACTING ) SOON FOUND MYSELF WHISPERING IN THE SAME LOW VOICE°BUT WITH
OUT STOPPING TO ASK WHY
-ATSUMURA´S GRIN GREW WIDER AND WIDER UNTIL IT ENVELOPED HIS WHOLE
FACE (E PRESSED HIS LIPS TO MY EAR AND SPOKE IN A VOICE SO QUIET THAT IT WAS
BARELY AUDIBLE
±)NSIDE THE PACKAGE MY FRIEND IS FIFTY THOUSAND YEN²
)))
!S MY READERS HAVE NO DOUBT SURMISED -ATSUMURA 4AKESHI MANAGED TO RE
TRIEVE THE ELUSIVE FIFTY THOUSAND YEN THAT THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR HAD HIDDEN
)T WOULD YIELD A FIVE
THOUSAND
YEN REWARD WERE HE TO TAKE IT TO THE FACTORY BUT
-ATSUMURA HAD NO SUCH INTENTIONS (E BEGAN TO EXPLAIN WHY
!CCORDING TO HIM IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO BE SO HONEST AS TO REPORT
HAVING FOUND THE MONEY .OT ONLY THAT )T WAS FRAUGHT WITH CONSIDERABLE DAN
GER 4HE DETECTIVES CHARGED WITH THE INVESTIGATION HAD SPENT NEARLY A MONTH
SEARCHING FOR THE MONEY BUT THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO FIND IT 3UPPOSE WE WERE
TO KEEP IT WITHOUT TELLING A SOUL 7HO WOULD EVER SUSPECT US !ND WOULDN´T WE
PREFER HAVING FIFTY THOUSAND YEN INSTEAD OF FIVE
3TILL MORE DAUNTING WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR EVEN
TUALLY SEEKING REVENGE .OW HERE WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD STRIKE FEAR IN ONE´S
SOUL (ERE WAS A MAN SO CLEVER AT CRIME THAT HE WAS CONSIDERED A GENIUS (E
WASN´T LIKELY TO TOLERATE OUR SNATCHING THE MONEY FOR WHICH HE WAS ABOUT TO
SACRIFICE SEVERAL YEARS IN PRISON -ATSUMURA SPOKE OF HIM WITH FEAR AND AWE IN
HIS VOICE 4RUE IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO STAY QUIET AND DO NOTHING BUT IF HE
DELIVERED THE MONEY TO THE FACTORY AND TOOK THE REWARD HIS NAME WOULD BE
IN THE PAPERS IMMEDIATELY ±)´D BE REVEALING OUR WHEREABOUTS TO THE ENEMY
WOULDN´T )
±&OR THE TIME BEING )´VE BEATEN HIM AT HIS OWN GAME /F COURSE )´M
GLAD TO HAVE THE FIFTY THOUSAND "UT WHAT´S MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW GOOD ) FEEL
AT HAVING OUTWITTED HIM ) AM BRILLIANT DON´T YOU THINK /R AT LEAST YOU´LL
HAVE TO ADMIT )´M SMARTER THAN YOU 7HAT LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE MONEY
WAS THAT TWO
SEN COPPER COIN YOU BROUGHT HOME IN CHANGE FROM THE TOBACCO
SHOP 9OU KNOW WHAT ) MEAN°THE COIN YOU LEFT ON MY DESK ) NOTICED A DETAIL
ABOUT IT THAT YOU MISSED 4HAT´S WHAT TURNED A SINGLE TWO
SEN COIN INTO FIFTY
THOUSAND YEN°OR SOMETHING WORTH TIMES ITS ORIGINAL VALUE !T THE
VERY LEAST IT MEANS )´M A WHOLE LOT SMARTER THAN YOU RIGHT ²
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
7HEN TWO BRIGHT AND INTELLIGENT YOUNG PEOPLE SHARE A ROOM IT IS ONLY
NATURAL FOR THEM TO COMPETE AT SHOWING WHO IS THE SMARTER OF THE PAIR 7E
HAD A LOT OF FREE TIME TO KILL AND -ATSUMURA AND ) OFTEN ARGUED )T WAS NOT
UNUSUAL FOR US TO TALK ON AND ON LIKE WE WERE POSSESSED "EFORE WE KNEW IT
NIGHT WOULD FALL 7E WOULD BOTH CLAIM TO BE SMARTER AND NEITHER OF US WAS
PREPARED TO YIELD )N SHORT -ATSUMURA´S LATEST EXPLOIT°HOWEVER GRAND IT MAY
BE°WAS NOW BEING SUBMITTED AS CONCRETE PROOF OF HIS SUPERIORITY IN THE PE
RENNIAL BATTLE OF WITS BETWEEN THE TWO OF US
±) SEE 7ELL QUIT BRAGGING AND TELL ME HOW YOU FOUND THE MONEY
7HAT WAS THE LOGIC BEHIND IT ALL ²
±7HOA HOLD ON THERE WILL YOU )´D PREFER TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE´RE
GOING TO USE THE FIFTY THOUSAND "UT ALL RIGHT IF YOU INSIST )´LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF
ACCOUNT OF MY GREAT ORDEAL TO SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY²
)T WAS CLEAR HE WAS AS EAGER TO SATISFY HIS DESIRE FOR RESPECT AS HE
WAS TO WHET MY CURIOSITY (E PROCEEDED TO DELIVER THE FOLLOWING ±ACCOUNT
OF HIS HARDSHIPS² ) STRETCHED OUT ON MY FUTON AND STUDYING HIM WITH A
LOOK OF GREAT ADMIRATION ) LET HIM TALK 4HERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING UNIQUE
ABOUT THE WAY -ATSUMURA TALKED AND MOVED HIS MOUTH AND JAW AT TIMES LIKE
THESE
±9ESTERDAY WHEN YOU WERE OUT AT THE PUBLIC BATH ) PLAYED WITH THE
TWO
SEN COIN UNTIL ) HAPPENED TO NOTICE SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT IT 4HERE
WAS A SEAM ALONG THE EDGE ±(OW STRANGE ² ) THOUGHT ) EXAMINED IT AND TO
MY SURPRISE THE COIN SEPARATED INTO TWO HALVES (ERE TAKE A LOOK² (E PULLED
THE COIN FROM HIS DESK DRAWER (E TWISTED THE TOP OF IT LIKE HE WAS OPEN
ING THE CAP ON A BOTTLE OF MEDICINE )T POPPED OPEN YIELDING A COIN IN TWO
PARTS°WITH UPPER AND LOWER HALVES
±,OOK AT IT )T´S HOLLOW INSIDE )T´S LIKE A CONTAINER MADE FROM TWO COP
PER COINS )T´S SKILLFULLY MADE DON´T YOU AGREE )T LOOKS LIKE A REGULAR COIN IF
YOU DON´T LOOK TOO CAREFULLY
±4HAT WAS WHEN ) REMEMBERED SOMETHING ) ONCE HEARD ABOUT A PRIS
ONER WHO BROKE OUT OF JAIL WITH A SAW HE MADE FROM THE COG OF A POCKET
WATCH 4HE SAW WAS SO TINY IT MUST HAVE LOOKED LIKE IT CAME FROM THE LAND
OF MIDGETS 4HE PRISONER PUT IT INSIDE A CONTAINER MADE FROM TWO COINS THAT
HE SCRAPED OUT AND MADE HOLLOW .O MATTER HOW STRONG THE STEEL BARS WERE
IN THE PRISON HE STILL COULD BREAK OUT SO LONG AS HE HAD THE COIN WITH THE
SAW INSIDE 4HEY SAY HE ORIGINALLY LEARNED THE TRICK FROM A THIEF FROM A FOR
EIGN COUNTRY ) BECAME CONVINCED THE TWO
SEN COIN ON YOUR DESK MUST HAVE
ONCE BELONGED TO THE PRISONER 3OMEHOW OR OTHER IT HAD SLIPPED THROUGH HIS
HANDS HOWEVER
±!ND THAT´S NOT ALL 4HE THING THAT MADE ME REALLY CURIOUS WAS THE
SCRAP OF PAPER INSIDE THE COIN 3EE HERE IT IS²
)T WAS THE SMALL THIN SLIP OF PAPER THAT -ATSUMURA EXAMINED SO INTENT
LY LAST NIGHT /N THE TINY TWO INCH BY FOUR INCH PIECE OF TRADITIONAL *APANESE
PAPER WERE MANY SMALL FINELY PRINTED CHARACTERS 4HEY READ AS FOLLOWS
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
4HE CHARACTERS ON THE SCRAP OF PAPER CLEARLY SPELLED OUT THE "UDDHIST PRAYER
±.AMU !MIDA "UTSU² $EVOTEES OF THE 0URE ,AND 3ECT BELIEVE THAT IF THEY
REPEAT THE WORDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THEY´LL ENTER THE 7ESTERN 0ARADISE WHEN
THEY DIE 4HE STRANGE THING WAS HOWEVER THAT THE STRING OF CHARACTERS BE
TWEEN THE COMMAS DIDN´T SPELL OUT THE WHOLE PHRASE OF ±.AMU !MIDA "UTSU²
4HERE WERE ONLY FRAGMENTS OF IT AND THAT DIDN´T MAKE SENSE
±)T READ LIKE A PRIEST MUMBLING AS HE FELL ASLEEP CHANTING THE PHRASE
3O WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS ALL ABOUT !T FIRST ) THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SCRIBBLING
-AYBE THE THIEF OR SOMEBODY REGRETTED HOW HE HAD BEHAVED IN THE PAST AND
HE WAS REPEATING THE WORDS OF THE PRAYER OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO ABSOLVE HIS
SINS (E COULD HAVE STUCK THE SLIP OF PAPER INSIDE THE COIN INSTEAD OF THE TINY
SAW FOR BREAKING OUT OF JAIL "UT WHAT STRUCK ME AS STRANGE WAS THAT NOT ONE
OF THE PHRASES WAS COMPLETE 3OMETIMES THE PHRASE IS ±.A -U $A² /R ±!
-I "UTSU² %ACH CONSISTED OF SOME COMBINATION OF THE SIX CHARACTERS IN ±.A
-U !
-I
$A "UTSU ² BUT NOT ONE PHRASE CONTAINED THEM ALL ,OOK HERE 3EE
THERE´S JUST ONE CHARACTER BUT OVER HERE THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE
±!T FIRST ) THOUGHT IT WAS MEANINGLESS SCRIBBLING UNTIL ) HEARD YOUR
FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS WHEN YOU RETURNED FROM THE BATH ) QUICKLY HID THE COIN
AND THE SCRAP OF PAPER "UT WHY HIDE THEM ) MYSELF WAS NOT EXACTLY SURE BUT
) PROBABLY WANTED TO KEEP THE MYSTERY ALL TO MYSELF ) WANTED THE SATISFACTION
OF FIGURING IT OUT ON MY OWN THIS ONCE AND THEN SHOWING IT TO YOU )T WAS AS
YOU WERE COMING UP THE STAIRS THAT ) HAD A FLASH OF INSPIRATION
±) THOUGHT ABOUT THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR .O ONE KNEW WHERE HE
STASHED THE MONEY %VEN A FOOL WOULDN´T THINK IT WOULD STAY WHERE IT WAS HID
DEN UNTIL HIS PRISON TERM ENDED (E WOULD WANT ONE OF HIS HENCHMEN TO TAKE
CHARGE OF IT "UT WHAT IF HE DIDN´T HAVE TIME TO INFORM HIS PARTNER OF THE LOOT´S
WHEREABOUTS BECAUSE OF HIS UNEXPECTED ARREST (IS ONLY CHOICE WAS SOMEHOW
OR OTHER TO CONVEY THE INFORMATION TO AN ACCOMPLICE WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON
AWAITING TRIAL 7HAT IF THIS STRANGE PIECE OF PAPER WAS THE MESSAGE CARRYING
PRECISELY THAT INFORMATION 4HAT WAS THE IDEA THAT POPPED INTO MY HEAD !
MERE PIPE DREAM OF COURSE BUT A NICE ONE DON´T YOU THINK
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
±4HAT´S WHY ) ASKED YOU WHERE YOU GOT THE COIN .OW DIDN´T YOU TELL
ME THAT THE DAUGHTER OF THE TOBACCO SHOP OWNER WAS MARRIED TO A MAN WHO
DELIVERED MEALS TO THE PRISON )F THE THIEF WERE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH
THE WORLD OUTSIDE WOULDN´T IT BE BEST TO USE THE PERSON WHO SUPPLIED FOOD TO
THE PRISON AS HIS INTERMEDIARY "UT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE PLAN
THE MESSAGE WOULDN´T GET DELIVERED AND IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE
GO
BETWEEN !ND HIS WIFE MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY HAVE TAKEN THE COIN°AND THE
MESSAGE°TO HER PARENTS´ HOUSE 4HE MORE ) THOUGHT ABOUT MY IDEA THE MORE
INTRIGUED ) BECAME
±.OW IF THE NONSENSE ON THE SCRAP OF PAPER IS SOME KIND OF CODE THEN
THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW TO CRACK IT ) WONDERED ABOUT THAT AS ) PACED ABOUT
THE ROOM !FTER ALL THE CODE IS A PRETTY TOUGH NUT TO CRACK ,OOKING AT THE
WHOLE THING ALL WE HAVE ARE SIX CHARACTERS ±.A
-U !
-I
$A "UTSU ² AND
A FEW COMMAS 7HAT KIND OF MESSAGE CAN YOU SPELL WITH SO FEW CHARACTERS
) HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON CODES BEFORE ) MAY NOT BE 3HERLOCK (OLMES
BUT ) DO KNOW ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF CODES ) TRIED RECALLING ALL OF THE
METHODS OF ENCRYPTION THAT ) KNEW ONE BY ONE ) WAS LOOKING FOR THE ONE THAT
MOST CLOSELY APPROXIMATED THE MESSAGE ON THE SCRAP OF PAPER )T TOOK A LOT OF
TIME AND TROUBLE
±) REMEMBER YOU SUGGESTED WE GO OUT TO EAT RIGHT ) REFUSED AND RE
MAINED BEHIND LOST IN THOUGHT 4HEN ) DISCOVERED TWO CODES THAT SEEMED TO
HAVE A SMALL DEGREE OF SIMILARITY TO THIS ONE
±4HE FIRST WAS "ACON´S ³TWO
LETTER CODE´ )N "ACON´S CODE YOU CAN
SPELL OUT ANY MESSAGE THROUGH VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS OF THE LETTERS ³A´ AND ³B´
4HAT´S IT JUST TWO LETTERS &OR EXAMPLE IT WILL GIVE YOU ³AABAB AABBA ABABA´
FOR THE %NGLISH WORD ³FLY´ 4HE OTHER CODE ) THOUGHT OF WAS ONE THAT WAS SUP
POSEDLY USED IN THE COURT OF +ING #HARLES THE &IRST TO ENCODE CONFIDENTIAL
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS )N THIS CASE YOU USE SEQUENCES OF NUMBERS INSTEAD OF
THE ALPHABET &OR INSTANCE ²
-ATSUMURA SPREAD A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE CORNER OF HIS DESK AND WROTE
DOWN THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES
! " # $
±)N OTHER WORDS YOU REPLACE THE LETTERS WITH NUMBERS ) GUESSED THAT
AS IN "ACON´S CODE OR THE ONE USED BY +ING #HARLES THE GROUPS OF CHARACTERS
PROBABLY CORRESPONDED TO THE FORTY
EIGHT SOUNDS OF THE *APANESE SYLLABARY
AND THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO BREAK THE CODE 7ERE WE TALKING ABOUT %NGLISH OR
&RENCH OF COURSE ALL )´D HAVE TO DO IS SEARCH FOR THE LETTER ³E´°LIKE IN 0OE´S
STORY ³4HE 'OLD "UG´°BUT THE HITCH WAS THE TEXT WAS IN *APANESE ) TRIED DE
CIPHERING THE MESSAGE USING 0OE´S FORMULA BUT IT DIDN´T HELP AT ALL
±) WAS COMPLETELY STUMPED ) KEPT THINKING ³GROUPS OF SIX CHARACTERS ´
³GROUPS OF SIX CHARACTERS ´ AS ) CIRCLED THE ROOM 3INCE ) SUSPECTED THE ANSWER
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
LAY IN THE IDEA OF SIX CHARACTERS ) TRIED TO RECALL ANYTHING THAT INVOLVED THE
NUMBER SIX
±) STARTED THINKING AT RANDOM AND ) HAPPENED TO REMEMBER ONCE READ
ING A BOOK ABOUT THE WARRIOR 3ANADA 9UKIMURA AND HIS FLAG OF SIX LARGE DOTS
ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE "UT NO THAT COULDN´T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CODE )
TOLD MYSELF 3TILL ) KEPT REPEATING THE NAME OF THE SIX
DOT PATTERN OF ³ROKUREN
SEN ´ OR ³SIX CONNECTED COINS ´ OVER AND OVER TO MYSELF
±4HAT´S WHEN ) HAD A GREAT FLASH OF INSPIRATION ) REMEMBERED "RAILLE
THE SYSTEM THE BLIND USE 4HE SHAPE OF THE DOTS MAKES THEM LOOK LIKE MIN
IATURE VERSIONS OF 3ANADA´S SIX
COIN PATTERN %VEN ) COULDN´T RESIST BEING IM
PRESSED AT MY ³DELICIOUS´ DISCOVERY BECAUSE AFTER ALL FIFTY THOUSAND YEN WAS
AT STAKE ) DIDN´T KNOW MUCH ABOUT "RAILLE BUT ) DID REMEMBER ALL LETTERS IN
THE SYSTEM CONSIST OF COMBINATIONS OF SIX DOTS ) CALLED THE BLIND MASSEUR RIGHT
AWAY AND PUT MYSELF IN HIS HANDS ) HAD HIM TEACH ME THE "RAILLE ALPHABET
AND HERE IT IS²
-ATSUMURA PRODUCED ANOTHER SHEET OF PAPER FROM HIS DESK DRAWER
4HERE IN A SERIES OF PARALLEL ROWS WERE ALL OF THE SYMBOLS USED IN *APANESE
"RAILLE°THE FORTY
EIGHT SOUNDS OF THE *APANESE SYLLABARY VOICED SOUNDS
SEMIVOICED SOUNDS CONTRACTED SOUNDS LONG VOWELS NUMERALS
AND OTHER SUNDRY SYMBOLS
±)F YOU WRITE OUT THE SIX CHARACTERS ³.A
-U !
-I
$A "UTSU´ VERTICALLY
WITH THE LINES READING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT IN THE *APANESE FASHION YOU CAN PUT
THESE SIX CHARACTERS INTO TWO COLUMNS OF THREE CHARACTERS EACH 4HIS MEANS
THE CHARACTERS WILL MATCH THE POSITIONS OF THE SIX DOTS IN "RAILLE SO THAT EACH
CHARACTER CORRESPONDS TO ONE DOT IN A LETTER 4HAT MEANS THE LETTER ³A´ BECOMES
³-I ´ THE LETTER ³B´ ³-I $A ´ AND SO ON
±.OW THAT ) HAD EVERYTHING ) NEEDED TO DECODE THE COIN´S MESSAGE )
PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING CHART AND CRACKED THE CODE 4HE TOP LINE CONSISTS OF
THE CHARACTERS ³.A
-U !
-I
$A "UTSU´ LINED UP IN THEIR CORRECT SPACES WITH
BLANKS FOR THE MISSING CHARACTERS 4HE MIDDLE LINE SHOWS THE CORRESPONDING
"RAILLE LETTER AND THE BOTTOM THE TRANSLATION FOR THE "RAILLE²
7ITH THAT -ATSUMURA PULLED OUT ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER CONTAINING THE
CHART THAT HE HAD JUST DESCRIBED
±³*UST TAKE FAKE MONEY FROM 3HwJIKIDw CALL YOURSELF $AIKOKU
YA´ 4HE
MEANING WAS OBVIOUS 'O TO 3HwJIKIDw AND PICK UP THE MONEY USING THE ALIAS
³$AIKOKU
YA´ "UT WHY WOULD ANYBODY BOTHER TO PICK UP FAKE OR TOY MONEY
IN THE FIRST PLACE )T MADE ME WONDER BUT THIS TIME THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE
WAS A WHOLE LOT EASIER !LL OF A SUDDEN ) REALIZED HOW SHREWD OUR 'ENTLEMAN
"URGLAR WAS 7HAT A BRAIN 0LUS HE HAD THE WIT OF A NOVELIST $ON´T YOU THINK
THE WORDS ³FAKE MONEY´ ARE TERRIFIC
±!S LUCK WOULD HAVE IT MY CONJECTURE TURNED OUT TO BE RIGHT ON TAR
GET 4HE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR MUST HAVE CONSIDERED ALL POSSIBLE WHAT
IFS AND
PREPARED THE SAFEST POSSIBLE HIDING PLACE IN ADVANCE .OW THE SAFEST WAY IN
THE WORLD TO HIDE SOMETHING IS NOT TO HIDE IT AT ALL %XPOSE IT TO THE EYES OF
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
ALL°AND IN A PLACE WHERE NO ONE WILL NOTICE IT 9EP HE WAS A SHREWD ONE (E
DREAMED UP THE INGENIOUS TRICK OF USING FAKE MONEY ) GUESSED THAT THE WORD
³3HwJIKIDw´ REFERRED TO A SHOP THAT PRINTS TOY MONEY )T TURNS OUT ) WAS RIGHT
(E HAD ORDERED SOME PLAY MONEY FROM THEM UNDER THE NAME OF THE $AIKOKU
YA STORE
±) HEAR IN THE GEISHA DISTRICT IT´S POPULAR TO USE TOY MONEY THAT LOOKS
COMPLETELY REAL 7HO TOLD ME THAT /H WAIT IT WAS YOU WASN´T IT 9OU TOLD
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
ME THAT MEN WHO WANT TO TAKE THEIR WOMEN BY SURPRISE AND TEASE THEM HAVE
TOYS JACK
IN
THE
BOXES CAKES AND CANDIES MADE OUT OF MUD FAKE SNAKES AND
SO FORTH TO LOOK REAL .O ONE WOULD SUSPECT THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR STORED
REAL CASH AT A PLACE WHERE HE HAD ORDERED FAKE BILLS MADE UP IN THE SAME SIZE
TO LOOK LIKE THE REAL THING 3HORTLY AFTER HE STOLE THE MONEY FROM THE COMPANY
HE MUST HAVE SNUCK INTO THE PRINTING SHOP AND SWITCHED THE REAL MONEY FOR
THE FAKE STUFF THAT HE HAD ORDERED EARLIER 4HAT MEANT THE FIFTY THOUSAND YEN IN
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
REAL BILLS WOULD REMAIN SAFELY IN THE PRINTER´S WAREHOUSE UNTIL THE PERSON WHO
PLACED THE ORDER WENT TO PICK IT UP
±-AYBE IT WAS ALL A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION BUT MY THEORY SEEMED
PLAUSIBLE ) WAS DETERMINED IN ANY EVENT TO FIND OUT IF ) WAS RIGHT ) FOUND
'OKEN
CHw THE AREA IN +ANDA WHERE THE PRINTING SHOP IS LOCATED ON THE MAP
OF 4OKYO 4HE TIME HAD COME TO GO AND RETRIEVE THE TOY MONEY BUT ) KNEW IT
WOULDN´T BE EASY ) MEAN ONCE ) GOT HOLD OF IT ) HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE
BEHIND THE SLIGHTEST TRACE OF HAVING BEEN THERE 4HAT´S BECAUSE THE ONLY THING
) KNEW FOR SURE WAS THAT THE BURGLAR WOULD EXACT REVENGE ONCE HE FOUND OUT
WHAT ) HAD DONE )´M A COWARD AT HEART AND THE MERE THOUGHT OF THE ENTIRE
ESCAPADE MADE ME SHUDDER ALL OVER ) HAD TO CHANGE MY APPEARANCE DRAMATI
CALLY SO THAT´S WHY ) LOOK THE WAY ) DO 4HE TEN YEN MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO
TRANSFORM MYSELF FROM HEAD TO TOE 4AKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME .OT A BAD IDEA
HUH ²
-ATSUMURA SMILED DISPLAYING HIS SET OF BEAUTIFULLY EVEN FRONT TEETH
-OMENTS BEFORE )´D NOTICED A SINGLE GOLD TOOTH IN HIS MOUTH )T GLEAMED
WHENEVER HE SMILED 4HEN EVER SO PROUDLY HE USED HIS FINGER TO REMOVE IT
(E HELD IT OUT FOR ME TO SEE
±)T´S ONE OF THOSE GOLD
PLATED TIN THINGS THEY SELL AT STANDS ON THE STREET
9OU JUST FIT IT OVER YOUR REAL TOOTH 4HE TOOTH COVER COST A MERE TWENTY SEN
BUT IT HELPED IMMENSELY 'OLD TEETH HAVE A WAY OF CATCHING PEOPLE´S EYE )F
SOMEONE COMES LOOKING FOR ME LATER ON THEY´LL PROBABLY BE LOOKING FOR SOME
ONE WITH A GOLD TOOTH
±) SET OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING AFTER ) FINISHED GETTING READY "UT THE
ONE THING THAT WORRIED ME WAS HOW TO MAKE PAYMENT FOR THE FAKE MONEY )
FIGURED OUR THIEF HAD PAID FOR IT IN ADVANCE OUT OF FEAR THAT THE SHOP MIGHT
CLOSE AND SELL HIS ORDER TO ANOTHER SHOP "UT IF HE HADN´T THEN ) WOULD NEED
ANOTHER TWENTY TO THIRTY YEN AT LEAST 5NFORTUNATELY NEITHER OF US HAD THAT
MUCH CASH "UT WHAT THE HELL ) WAS OPTIMISTIC ) COULD INVENT SOME STORY
AS ) SET OUT FOR THE 3HwJIKIDw SHOP
±%VERYTHING WENT BEAUTIFULLY 4HE PRINTER DIDN´T SAY A WORD ABOUT PAY
MENT AND HE JUST HANDED OVER THE GOODS 4HAT WAS HOW ) MANAGED TO SNATCH
THE FIFTY THOUSAND YEN FROM THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR²
"UT THEN HE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT ±(OW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT ALL
7HAT DO YOU THINK ²
)T WAS RARE FOR -ATSUMURA TO TALK WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT AND ELOQUENCE
) WAS FILLED WITH AWE AT THE MONUMENTAL POWER OF FIFTY THOUSAND YEN TO PRO
DUCE SUCH A CHANGE IN HIM )T WAS A SIGHT TO SEE -ATSUMURA BEAM WITH DELIGHT
AS HE TOLD THE ±TALE OF HIS HARDSHIPS ² AND ) CHOSE NOT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT ALL
MEANT (E TRIED HARD NOT TO LOOK TOO HAPPY BUT TRY AS HE MIGHT HE COULD NOT
RESTRAIN HIMSELF AS THE JOY WELLED UP INSIDE HIM &ROM TIME TO TIME HE EMIT
TED AN ODD
SOUNDING CHUCKLE WHEN HE BECAME EXCITED AND LAUGHED 4HERE
WAS SOMETHING INDEFINABLY STRANGE°EVEN A TAD INSANE°ABOUT IT AND THE WAY
HE LOOKED BEGAN TO FRIGHTEN ME ) HAD HEARD STORIES ABOUT HOW ONCE UPON A
4(% 47/
3%. #/00%2 #/).
TIME A POOR MAN WENT CRAZY AFTER WINNING A LOTTERY FOR A THOUSAND PIECES OF
GOLD -AYBE -ATSUMURA WAS GOING INSANE WITH RAPTURE OVER THE WINDFALL OF
FIFTY THOUSAND YEN 3UCH THINGS DO HAPPEN
) WISHED HIS JOY WOULD LAST FOREVER ) WISHED IT FOR HIS SAKE BUT A FAR
DIFFERENT REALITY WAS ALREADY AT WORK°AN IMMOVABLE FACT ABOUT WHICH WE
COULD DO NOTHING 3UDDENLY ) BURST OUT LAUGHING AND ) LAUGHED SO HARD THAT
) COULDN´T STOP ) TOLD MYSELF NOT TO LAUGH BUT A TINY MISCHIEF
LOVING DEMON
INSIDE ME EGGED ME ON 4HE SOUND OF MY LAUGHTER ROSE AND ) LAUGHED LIKE
SOMEONE WATCHING THE WORLD´S FUNNIEST COMEDY -ATSUMURA WAS TAKEN ABACK
(E STARED AT ME AS ) STOOD THERE BOWLED OVER WITH LAUGHTER ,OOKING VERY
PUZZLED HE ASKED ±7HAT´S HAPPENED TO YOU ²
) FINALLY STIFLED MY LAUGH ±9OUR IMAGINATION IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
)T´S INCREDIBLE HOW YOU MANAGED TO PULL ALL OF THIS OFF .O QUESTION ABOUT IT
) RESPECT YOUR INTELLIGENCE MORE THAN EVER -Y BRAIN IS NO MATCH FOR YOURS
JUST LIKE YOU SAY "UT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE REALITY IS AS ROMANTIC AS ALL OF
THAT ²
-ATSUMURA LOOKED AT ME WITH THE STRANGEST EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE
±) MEAN DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR WAS THAT WITTY
'RANTED YOUR FANTASIES MAY HAVE ALL OF THE MAKINGS OF A NOVEL BUT THE WORLD IS
FAR MORE REALISTIC THAN ANY STORY )F YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FICTION THEN THERE´S
SOMETHING ) NEED TO TELL YOU .AMELY THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER WAY TO DECODE
THE SAME MESSAGE 7OULD YOU TRANSLATE WHAT YOU READ TO ME ONE MORE TIME
(OW ABOUT READING ONLY EVERY THIRTEENTH LETTER IN THE MESSAGE ²
) MARKED -ATSUMURA´S TRANSLATION OF THE MESSAGE AND READ IT ALOUD
LIKE THIS
±* ¯ UST TAKE FAKE MONEY FROM 3HwJIKIDw CALL YOURSELF $AIKOKU
YA
'ET IT
±³* / + % ´ 7HAT ABOUT THE WORD ³JOKE´ HERE )S IT MERE
COINCIDENCE OR DO YOU THINK SOMEONE MIGHT BE PLAYING A TRICK ON YOU ²
-ATSUMURA LOOKED DUMBSTRUCK AS HE STOOD THERE 4HEN HE PULLED OUT
THE BUNDLE WRAPPED IN THE FUROSHIKI (E WAS CONVINCED IT CONTAINED STACKS OF
BILLS WORTH A TOTAL OF FIFTY THOUSAND YEN
±/KAY THEN 7HAT ABOUT THIS PIECE OF REALITY &ICTION CAN´T PRODUCE
FIFTY THOUSAND YEN² (IS VOICE WAS DEAD SERIOUS AS IF HE WERE CHALLENGING ME
TO A DUEL )T FRIGHTENED ME AND ) REGRETTED THAT MY BIT OF MISCHIEF HAD PRO
DUCED AN UNEXPECTED REACTION
±)T WAS A TERRIBLE THING TO DO TO YOU 9OU MUST FORGIVE ME "UT THE
PACKAGE YOU´VE CARRIED BACK LIKE A TREASURE IS REALLY FILLED WITH TOY MONEY *UST
OPEN IT AND TAKE A GOOD LOOK INSIDE²
7ITH THE ODD GESTURES OF A MAN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING IN THE DARK
-ATSUMURA TOOK THE LONGEST TIME TO UNTIE THE CLOTH IN WHICH THE BUNDLE WAS
WRAPPED )T MADE ME FEEL ALL THE MORE SORRY FOR HIM )NSIDE WERE TWO SQUARE
PACKAGES EACH CAREFULLY WRAPPED IN NEWSPAPER 4HE PAPER AROUND ONE WAS
TORN REVEALING THE CONTENTS
%$/'!7! 2!.0/
±/N THE WAY BACK ) OPENED IT AND CHECKED IT WITH MY OWN EYES ² SAID
-ATSUMURA "UT THE WORDS SEEMED TO STICK IN HIS THROAT "Y THEN HE HAD COM
PLETELY PEELED AWAY THE NEWSPAPER WRAPPING
!ND WHAT WAS INSIDE 4HE MONEY WAS FAKE ALL RIGHT BUT IT WAS FAKE
TO A DEGREE THAT APPROACHED THE REAL°INDEED IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO REAL !
MERE GLIMPSE AT IT AND EVERYTHING LOOKED GENUINE BUT CLOSER EXAMINATION
REVEALED THAT ON THE FRONT OF EACH BILL WAS THE CHARACTER ±YEN²°BUT WITH A
MINOR YET SCARCELY NOTICEABLE MISPRINT 4HE MISPRINT CHANGED THE MEANING
OF THE WORD ALTOGETHER !S IF HE COULDN´T BELIEVE IT -ATSUMURA STARED AT THE
PLAY MONEY AGAIN AND AGAIN &IRST A TEN YEN NOTE THEN A TWENTY°EACH WITH
THE SAME MISPRINT (E LOOKED AT ONE BILL AFTER ANOTHER IN UTTER DISBELIEF
-EANWHILE ANY TRACE OF A SMILE HAD VANISHED FROM HIS FACE (E FELL INTO A
DEEP DEEP SILENCE ) FELT FULL OF REGRET AND ) EXPLAINED HOW ) HAD ALLOWED
THE JOKE TO GO TOO FAR "UT -ATSUMURA GAVE NO SIGN THAT HE WAS LISTENING TO
ME &OR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY HE REMAINED AS SILENT AS SOMEONE WHO
CANNOT SPEAK
4HIS IS THE END OF MY STORY "UT TO SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY MY READERS
LET ME ADD AN EXPLANATORY WORD ABOUT MY TRICK 4HE 3HwJIKIDw PRINTING SHOP
BELONGS TO A DISTANT RELATIVE OF MINE /NE DAY WHILE ) WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW
TO DISPEL OUR STIFLING POVERTY ) REMEMBERED THIS RELATIVE WHOM ) HAD FAILED
TO VISIT FOR A LONG TIME 7ONDERING IF HE COULD SPARE ME SOME MONEY°ANY
AMOUNT WOULD HELP°) RELUCTANTLY WENT TO SEE HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE
A WHILE -ATSUMURA DIDN´T KNOW ABOUT MY VISIT OF COURSE !S ) EXPECTED )
FAILED TO GET A LOAN BUT ) DID SEE PLAY MONEY ROLLING OFF THE PRESS AT HIS SHOP
)T HAD BEEN ORDERED BY A STORE CALLED THE $AIKOKU YA A VALUED CLIENT )T HAS
PLACED MANY ORDERS WITH MY RELATIVE ACROSS THE YEARS
) CAME UP WITH THE SILLY PRANK OF LINKING THE TOY MONEY WITH THE IN
CIDENT OF THE 'ENTLEMAN "URGLAR THAT -ATSUMURA AND ) HAD TALKED ABOUT SO
MUCH OF LATE ) WOULD STAGE A LITTLE DRAMA ,IKE -ATSUMURA ) TOO WANTED TO
PROVE THAT IN THE BATTLE OF WITS MINE WAS THE SUPERIOR INTELLECT
4HE AWKWARDLY ENCODED MESSAGE IS SOMETHING ) MADE UP OF COURSE )
DIDN´T HAVE A COMMAND OF THE HISTORY OF FOREIGN CODES EQUAL TO -ATSUMURA´S
)NSTEAD THE CODE WAS SOMETHING ) THOUGHT UP ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT
4HE STORY ABOUT THE DAUGHTER AT THE TOBACCO SHOP BEING MARRIED TO A MAN
WHO DELIVERED FOOD TO THE PRISON WAS ALSO NONSENSE ) DIDN´T EVEN KNOW IF THE
OWNER HAD A DAUGHTER OR NOT "UT IN MY HOMEMADE DRAMA OF A PRACTICAL JOKE
THE CRUCIAL PART HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT WAS TERRIBLY DRAMATIC .O IT
HINGED ON A SINGLE DETAIL THAT WAS VERY REAL MINOR AND EVEN COMIC WHEN SEEN
FROM THE VANTAGE OF THE WHOLE )T WAS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE BILLS THAT )
HAD SEEN AT THE 3HOJIKIDw PRINTING SHOP WOULD STILL BE AT THE STORE BY THE TIME
-ATSUMURA WENT TO GET THEM
) WASN´T AT ALL WORRIED ABOUT THE PAYMENT FOR THE TOY MONEY $AIKOKU
YA AND MY RELATIVE HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS WITH EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME
!LSO 3HwJIKIDw DOES BUSINESS IN AN EXTREMELY OLD FASHIONED CASUAL WAY SO )
4(% 47/ 3%. #/00%2 #/).
KNEW -ATSUMURA WOULD SUCCEED EVEN IF HE DIDN´T HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM THE
$AIKOKU
YA
!ND LASTLY ) REGRET BEING UNABLE TO GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE POINT OF
DEPARTURE FOR THE WHOLE TRICK THE TWO
SEN COPPER COIN 7ERE ) TO MAKE A MIS
TAKE IN TELLING THAT PART OF THE TALE THEN THE PERSON WHO GAVE IT TO ME MIGHT
SOMEDAY FIND HIMSELF SEVERELY INCONVENIENCED )T WILL BE BEST IF MY READERS ARE
KIND ENOUGH SIMPLY TO BELIEVE THAT QUITE BY CHANCE ) HAPPENED TO OWN IT
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