9 Giovanni's Ticket (1/3)

by Kenji Miyazawa

"This is already the end of the Cygnus District. Look. That is the famous Albireo Observatory."

Outside the window, like scattered fireworks, four large black buildings stood in the middle of the Milky Way. On the flat roof of one of them, two transparent spheres, a striking blue jewel and a yellow jewel, quietly spun in a circle. The yellow sphere gradually rotated away, and the small blue sphere advanced towards them. Soon, the two ends overlapped, forming a beautiful green biconvex lens shape. Then it gradually shifted sideways, repeating the previous lens shape in reverse, and eventually separated smoothly, the sapphire rotating away and the yellow sphere advancing towards them, once again forming the shape it had just moments ago. Surrounded by the shapeless, soundless water of the galaxy, the black observatory truly seemed to lie quietly.

"That is an instrument for measuring the speed of water. Even water..." just as the bird catcher began to say,

"Tickets, please," a tall conductor in a red hat suddenly stood upright beside their three seats and said. The bird catcher silently took a small piece of paper from his pocket. The conductor glanced at it briefly, then immediately looked away and extended his hand towards Giovanni and the others, moving his fingers as if to say, "And yours?"

"Well," Giovanni stammered, troubled and fidgeting, when Campanella, as if nothing were amiss, produced a small, mouse-gray ticket. Giovanni was completely flustered and, thinking it might have been in his jacket pocket, reached in and felt a large, folded piece of paper. Wondering if such a thing could have been there, he quickly pulled it out, and it was a green piece of paper about the size of a postcard, folded into quarters. The conductor held out his hand, so Giovanni, thinking anything would do, handed it over. The conductor straightened up, carefully opened it, and examined it. As he read it, he kept adjusting the buttons on his jacket, and the lighthouse keeper below eagerly peered at it from underneath. Giovanni thought it must have been some kind of certificate and felt a slight warmth in his chest.

"Did you bring this from the third dimension?" the conductor asked.

"I don't know what it is," Giovanni said, looking up at him and chuckling, now relieved that everything was alright.

"Very well. We will arrive at the Southern Cross around the next third hour." The conductor handed the paper to Giovanni and walked away.

Campanella, unable to wait, quickly leaned in to see what the paper was. Giovanni also wanted to see it very much. However, it had strange, about ten characters printed on a black arabesque pattern, and staring at it made him feel as if he might be drawn into it. Then the bird catcher glanced at it from the side and said in a hurried manner,

"Oh, this is quite something! This is a ticket that can even take you to the true heavens. Not just the heavens, but a pass that can take you anywhere you please. If you have this, you can go anywhere on this imperfect, illusory fourth-dimensional Milky Way Railroad. You two are truly amazing."

“I don’t know what it is,” Giovanni replied, blushing, as he folded it again and put it back in his pocket. Feeling awkward, he and Campanella looked out the window again, but he vaguely noticed the bird catcher occasionally glancing their way as if saying, “That’s impressive.”

“It’ll be Eagle Station soon,” Campanella said, comparing the three small, pale triangular markers on the opposite bank with his map.

Giovanni, for some unknown reason, felt an overwhelming pity for the bird catcher next to him. Thinking about each of his actions—rejoicing at catching a heron, wrapping it tightly in white cloth, glancing at someone else’s ticket in surprise and then hastily praising it—Giovanni felt an urge to give the unfamiliar bird catcher anything he possessed, be it food or anything else. He even felt that for this person’s true happiness, he would gladly stand on the riverbed of that shining Milky Way for a hundred years, catching birds for him. He simply couldn’t remain silent. He was about to ask, “What is it that you truly desire?” but thinking it would be too abrupt, he pondered what to do. When he turned to look, the bird catcher was no longer there. The white luggage was also not visible on the overhead rack. He quickly looked outside, wondering if the bird catcher was bracing himself and looking up at the sky, preparing to catch a heron, but outside there was only a beautiful expanse of sand and waves of white pampas grass, and the bird catcher’s broad back and pointed hat were nowhere to be seen.

“Where could that person have gone?” Campanella also said vaguely.

"Where could he have gone? Where on earth will I meet him again? I deeply regret not having said a few words to him."

“Ah, I feel the same way.”

"I felt like that person was in my way. That's why I'm in so much pain." Giovanni thought that this strange feeling was truly a first for him, and that he had never said such a thing before.

"It smells like apples. Is it because I was just thinking about apples?" Campanella looked around curiously.

"It really does smell like apples. And also like wild roses."

Giovanni also looked around, but it still seemed to be coming in through the window. Giovanni thought that since it was autumn, there shouldn't be any smell of wild rose blossoms.

At that moment, suddenly, a boy of about six with shiny black hair, his red jacket unbuttoned, stood barefoot, trembling with a surprised look on his face. Next to him, a tall young man, neatly dressed in black clothes, stood holding the boy's hand firmly, his posture as dignified as a zelkova tree swaying in the wind.

"Where are we? What a beautiful place," the young man said, and behind him, a lovely brown-eyed girl of about twelve, wearing a black coat, clung to the young man's arm and looked out the window with a curious expression.

"This is Lancashire. No, it's Connecticut. Yes, we've come to the sky. We are going to heaven. Look, that sign is a sign from heaven. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore. We are called by God," the young man in black said happily to the girl. However, for some reason, deep wrinkles were etched on his forehead, and he looked tired. Forcing a smile, he had the boy sit next to Giovanni. Then, he gently pointed to the seat next to Campanella for the girl. The girl obediently sat there and clasped her hands neatly.

“I’m going to my sister’s place,” the boy, who had just sat down, said to the young man sitting across from the lighthouse keeper. The young man looked at the boy’s curly, wet hair with an indescribably sad expression. The girl suddenly covered her face with both hands and began to sob.

“Father and your sister still have many things to do. But they will follow soon. More importantly, how long Mother must have been waiting. She’s truly worried, wondering what song my precious Tadashi is singing now, or if he’s holding hands with everyone on a snowy morning, playing around the elderberry bushes. So, let’s go quickly and see Mother.”

“Yes, but I wish I hadn’t gotten on the boat,” the boy said.

“Yes, but look, that magnificent river, remember, that’s where you always saw a faint white glow from the window when you rested, singing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ all summer long. That’s it. See, isn’t it beautiful, shining so brightly?” the young man said.

The sister, who had been crying, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and looked outside. The young man, as if teaching them, spoke to the siblings again. “We have nothing sad to feel anymore. We are traveling to such a wonderful place and will soon go to God’s place. It is truly bright, smells wonderful, and is full of splendid people. And those who were able to get on the boat instead of us will surely all be saved and return to their worried fathers and mothers, and to their own homes. Come, it will be soon, so let’s cheer up and go, singing joyfully.” As he said this, the young man stroked the boy’s damp, black hair, comforting everyone, and his own complexion gradually brightened.

“Where did you two come from? What happened?” the lighthouse keeper, who seemed to finally understand a little, asked the young man. The young man smiled faintly.

“No, the ship sank after hitting an iceberg. Our father here had an urgent matter and returned to our home country two months ago, so we departed later. I was attending university and was employed as a tutor. However, on exactly the twelfth day, around today or yesterday, the ship hit an iceberg, tilted sharply, and was already sinking. The moonlight was somewhat dim, but the fog was very thick. However, half of the port side of the boat was already damaged, so not everyone could get on. The ship was sinking, and I desperately shouted for them to let the small children on. Those nearby immediately made way and prayed for the children. But there were still small children and parents on the way to the boat, and I didn't have the courage to push them aside. Still, I felt it was my duty to help these people and tried to push aside the children in front. However, I also thought that it would actually be their happiness to go before God together, rather than doing such a thing. Then again, I thought I would bear the sin of disobeying God alone and definitely try to help them. But no matter how much I watched, I couldn't do it. Seeing the mothers frantically blowing kisses as their children were put into the boat, and the fathers standing straight, enduring their sorrow, it felt like my guts were tearing apart. Meanwhile, the ship was sinking faster and faster, so we huddled together, completely resigned, holding these two, and waited for the ship to sink, determined to float as much as we could. A life buoy, thrown by someone, flew towards us, butand it slid far away. I struggled to leave the grated part of the deck, and the three of us held on tightly to it. From somewhere, a voice cried out, "Number 306!" Immediately, everyone sang it in unison in various languages. At that moment, there was a sudden loud noise, and we fell into the water. Thinking we were already caught in a whirlpool, I held these people tightly. While I was dazed, I realized I was already here. These children's mother passed away the year before last. Yes, the boat must have been saved. After all, skilled sailors were rowing it, moving quickly away from the ship."

Small sighs and prayers were heard from around them, and Giovanni and Campanella vaguely recalled various things they had forgotten until now, and their eyes grew warm.

"Ah, wasn't that great sea called the Pacific? In the northernmost sea where icebergs drift, someone is on a small boat, fighting against the wind, freezing seawater, and severe cold. I feel truly sorry and apologetic to that person. What can I possibly do for that person's happiness?"

Giovanni bowed his head, completely despondent.

"We don't know what happiness is, do we? Truly, no matter how difficult something is, if it happens while we are on the right path, then every step, both uphill and downhill, is a step closer to true happiness."

The lighthouse keeper comforted him.

"That's right. All sorrows are also part of the divine plan to lead us to the greatest happiness."

The young man replied as if in prayer.

At that moment, the siblings were completely exhausted and were sleeping, leaning against each other. Their feet, which had been bare just a moment ago, were now, somehow, wearing soft white shoes.

The train rumbled along the bank of a river of brilliant phosphorescence. Looking out the opposite window, the field was like a magic lantern show. Hundreds, even thousands, of various sized triangular markers stood in rows, and on the larger ones, surveying flags with red dots could be seen. At the edge of the field, they gathered together into a faint, pale blue mist, and from there, or perhaps even further beyond, occasionally various shapes of faint smoke signals were launched into the beautiful bellflower-colored sky. Truly, the transparent, beautiful wind was filled with the scent of roses.

"How about this? You've never had apples like these before, have you?" The lighthouse keeper in the opposite seat held a large apple, beautifully colored in gold and crimson, in both hands on his lap.

"Oh, where did these come from? They're magnificent. Can apples like these grow here?" The young man seemed truly surprised, gazing intently at the pile of apples held in the lighthouse keeper's hands, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head, completely lost in admiration.

"No, please, take one. Please, do take one."

The young man took one and glanced at Giovanni and the others.

"Now, you young gentlemen over there. How about it? Please take one."

Giovanni was a little annoyed at being called "young master," but Campanella said, "Thank you."

Then the young man handed one to each of them himself, so Giovanni also stood up and said, "Thank you."

With his arms finally free, the lighthouse keeper then gently placed one apple each on the laps of the sleeping brother and sister.

"Thank you very much. Where do such magnificent apples grow?" The young man asked, examining them closely.

「Of course, we farm in this area, but usually, things are naturally set up to produce good results. Farming isn't that hard either. Most of the time, if you just sow the seeds you want, they grow naturally. Even rice doesn't have husks like in the Pacific region, and it's ten times bigger and smells better. However, where you all are, there's no more farming. Even apples and sweets have no residue at all, so they all turn into a faint, pleasant scent, different for each person, and scatter from their pores.」

At that moment, the boy opened his eyes wide and said,

「Oh, I was just dreaming about my mom. My mom was in a place with splendid cupboards and books, looking at me, reaching out her hand, and smiling. I said, 'Mom, should I go pick some apples for you?' and then I woke up. Oh, this is the train from earlier, isn't it?」

「Those apples are right there. This old man gave them to us,」 the young man said.

「Thank you, old man. Oh, Sister Kaoru is still sleeping. I'll wake her up. Sister, look, I got apples. Wake up.」

The sister woke up with a smile, put her hands over her eyes as if dazzled, and then looked at the apples.

The boy had already started eating it as if it were a pie. Even the beautifully peeled skin, as it curled into a corkscrew shape and fell to the floor, shimmered gray and evaporated.

The two carefully put the apples in their pockets.

Across the river downstream, a large, lush green forest could be seen, and its branches bore many round, ripe, glowing red fruits. In the middle of that forest stood a very tall triangular marker, and from within the forest, an indescribably beautiful sound, like an orchestra, flowed on the wind, melting and permeating.

The young man shivered, his body trembling.

As I silently listened to the music, it seemed as if bright fields of yellow and pale green spread out all around, and pure white, wax-like dew brushed past the face of the sun.

“Oh, look at that crow!” exclaimed the girl next to Campanella, who was called Kaoru.

“Those aren’t crows. They’re all magpies,” Campanella called out casually, almost scolding, which made Giovanni laugh involuntarily, and the girl looked embarrassed. Indeed, many black birds were perched in a line on the pale blue light of the riverbed, quietly catching the faint glow of the river.

“They are magpies, aren’t they? Their feathers are standing straight up behind their heads,” the young man said, trying to mediate.

The triangular marker standing in the blue forest approached the front of the train. Then, from the rear of the train, the familiar melody of hymn number 306 could be heard. It seemed that many people were singing in chorus. The young man’s face suddenly turned pale, and he instinctively started to go in that direction, but quickly reconsidered and sat back down. Kaoru-ko covered her face with a handkerchief.

Giovanni also felt a tickle in his nose. However, before he knew it, someone started the song, and it gradually became clearer and stronger. Giovanni and Campanella involuntarily began to sing along.

The blue olive forest, quietly shining beyond the invisible Milky Way, gradually moved into the distance. The sounds of strange instruments flowing from it were also drowned out by the sound of the train and the wind, gradually becoming fainter.

“Look, there’s a peacock! Oh, there’s a peacock!” someone shouted.

“It must be that Forest Harp Inn,” the girl said. “I think the old, big orchestra people are gathering there. There must be many blue peacocks around it.”

“Yes, there were many,” another girl replied.

Giovanni saw the pale blue peacocks on the shrinking forest, spreading and closing their wings.

"Oh, I heard the peacocks earlier too," Campanella said to the girl.

"Yes, there were certainly about thirty of them," the girl replied.

Giovanni was suddenly overcome with an indescribable sadness, and he almost said, "Campanella, let's get down from here and go play," but his face stiffened.

At that moment, Giovanni spotted something strange far downstream. It was a black, smooth, elongated object that emerged from the invisible water of the Milky Way, drew an arc like a bow, and disappeared back into the water. Thinking it odd, he watched carefully, and then he saw a similar phenomenon occurring closer by. Soon, many of these black, smooth objects were seen leaping out of the water here and there, flying in a curve, and then diving back into the water. It seemed they were all heading upstream like fish.

"Oh, what is it? Taa-chan, look. There are so many of them. What could those be?" said the boy, who had been rubbing his sleepy eyes, as he stood up in surprise.

"What could it be?" the young man also stood up.

"They're strange fish, what could they be?" the girl said.

"They're dolphins," Campanella replied, looking in that direction.

"Dolphins, I've never seen them before. But this isn't the sea," the girl said.

"Dolphins aren't always in the sea," that strange low voice was heard from somewhere.

Indeed, the shape of those dolphins was strange; they leaped out of the water in a posture as if lowering both hands, then plunged back into the water headfirst. Even the invisible water of the Milky Way shimmered like blue flames at that moment.

"Are dolphins fish?" the girl asked Campanella. The boy was leaning back in his seat, tired and asleep.

"Dolphins aren't fish. They're creatures similar to whales," Campanella replied.

"Have you ever seen a whale?"

"Yes, there are. You can only see their heads and black tails. When they spout water, it looks just like it's written in books."

"If it's a whale, it must be big."

"Whales are big. Even their calves are about the size of a dolphin."

"That's right, I saw them in 'Arabian Nights'," my sister said cheerfully, fiddling with a slender silver ring.

(Campanella, I'm leaving now. I've never even seen a whale.)

Giovanni, feeling an unbearable irritation, bit his lip and endured, looking out the window. Outside that window, the dolphins were no longer visible, and the river had split into two. In the middle of a dark island, a very tall tower had been erected, and on top of it stood a man in loose clothing and a red hat. He held red and blue flags in both hands and was sending signals while looking up at the sky.