A Pale View of Hills Read Free Page A

my uncle’s house.”
    “I assure you, I was merely…”
    “Yes, of course. So there’s no need to get embarrassed, is there?” She laughed and passed me my teacup. “I’m sorry, Etsuko, I don’t mean to tease you. As a matter of fact, I did have something to ask you. A little favour.” Sachiko began to pour tea into her own cup, and as she did so, a more serious air seemed to enter her manner. Then she put down the teapot and looked at me. “You see, Etsuko, certain arrangements I made have not gone as planned. As a result, I find myself in need of money. Not a great deal, you understand Just a small amount."
    “I quite understand," I said, lowering my voice. “It must be very difficult for you, with Mariko-San to think of.”
    “Etsuko, may task a favour of you?”
    I bowed. “I have some savings of my own” I said, almost in a whisper. “I’d be pleased to be of some assistance.”
    To my surprise, Sachiko laughed loudly. “You’re very kind,” she said. “But I didn’t in fact want you to lend me money. I had something else in mind. You mentioned something the other day. A friend of yours who ran a noodle shop.”
    “Mrs. Fujiwara, you mean?”
    “You were saying she may want an assistant. A small job like that would be very useful tome.”
    “Well,”I said,certainly “I could enquire if you wish.”
    “That would be very kind." Sachiko looked at me for a moment. “But you look rather unsure about it, Etsuko,”
    “Not at all. I’ll enquire when I next see her. But I was just wondering”—I lowered my voice again—‘who would look after your daughter during the day?”
    “Mariko? She could help at the noodle shop. She’s quite capable of being useful.”
    “I’m sure she is. But you see, I’m not certain how Mrs. Fujiwara would feel. After all, Mariko should in reality beat school during the day.”
    “I assure you, Etsuko, Mariko won’t be the slightest problem. Besides, the schools are closing next week. And I’ll make sure she wont get in the way. You can rest assured on that.”
    I bowed again. “I’ll enquire when I next see her.”
    “I’m very grateful to you.” Sachiko took a sip from her teacup. “In fact, perhaps I could ask you to see your Mend within the next few days.”
    ‘I'll try."
    “You’re so kind.”
    We fell silent for a moment. My attention had been caught earlier by Sachiko’s teapot; it appeared a fine piece
    of craftsmanship made from a pale china. The teacup! now held in my hand was of the same delicate material. As we sat drinking our tea, I was struck, not for the first time, by the odd contrast of the tea-set alongside the shabbiness of the cottage and the muddy ground beneath the veranda. When I looked up, I realized Sachiko had been watching me. “I’m used to good crockery, Etsuko,” she said. “You see, I don’t always live like”—she waved a hand towards the cottag—“like this, Of course, I don’t mind a little discomfort. But about some things, I’m still rather discerning.”
    I bowed, saying nothing. Sachiko, also, began to study her teacup. She continued to examine it, turning it carefully in her hands. Then suddenly she said: “I suppose it’s true to say! stole this tea-set. Still, I don’t suppose my uncle will miss it much.”
    I looked at her, somewhat surprised. Sachiko put the teacup down in front of her and waved away some flies.
    “You were living at your uncle’s house, you say?’ I asked. She nodded slowly. “A most beautiful house. With a pond in the garden. Very different from these present surroundings.”
    For a moment, we both glanced towards the inside of the cottage. Mariko was lying in her corner, just as we had left her, her back turned towards us. She appeased to be talking quietly to her cat.
    “I didn’t realize”, I said, when neither of us had spoken for some time, “that anyone lived across the river”
    Sachiko turned and glanced towards the trees on the far bank. “No, I