Death in Midsummer & Other Stories by Yukio Mishima Read Free Book Online Page A

child had surroundings of which a parent need not be ashamed, if not, perhaps, enough to see it all the way to adulthood. Kenzo had already made thorough inquiries with friends who had children, and knew what expenditures for powdered milk could be considered reasonable.
    With their own plans so nicely formed, the two had nothing but contempt for the thoughtless, floundering ways of the poor.
    Children were to be produced according to plan in surroundings ideal for rearing them, and the best days were waiting after a child had arrived. Yet they were sensible enough not to pursue their dreams too far. They kept their eyes on the light immediately before them.
    There was nothing that enraged Kenzo more than the view of the young that life in contemporary Japan was without hope.
    He was not a person given to deep thinking, but he had an almost religious faith that if a man respected nature and was obedient to it, and if he but made an effort for himself, the way would somehow open. The first thing was reverence for nature, 41

    founded on connubial affection. The greatest antidote for despair was the faith of a man and woman in each other.
    Fortunately, he was in love with Kiyoko. To face the future hopefully, therefore, he had only to follow the conditions laid down by nature. Now and then some other woman made a motion in his direction, but he sensed something unnatural in pleasure for the sake of pleasure. It was better to listen to Kiyoko complaining about the dreadful price these days of veg-etables and fish.
    The two had made a round of the market and were back at the toy department.
    Kenzo's eyes were riveted to the toy before him, a station for flying saucers. On the sheet-metal base the complicated mechanism was painted as if viewed through a window, and a revolving light flashed on and off inside the control tower. The flying saucer, of deep blue plastic, worked on the old principle of the flying top. The station was apparently suspended in space, for the background of the metal base was covered with stars and clouds, among the former the familiar rings of Saturn.
    The bright stars of the summer night were splendid. The painted metal surface was indescribably cool, and it was as if all the discomfort of the muggy night would go if a person but gave himself up to that sky.
    Before Kiyoko could stop him, Kenzo had resolutely snapped a spring at one corner of the station.
    The saucer went spinning towards the ceiling.
    The salesgirl reached out and gave a little cry.
    The saucer described a gentle arc towards the pastry counter across the aisle and settled square on the million-yen biscuits.
    'We're in!' Kenzo ran over to it.
    'What do you mean, we're in?' Embarrassed, Kiyoko turned quickly away from the salesgirl and started after him.
    'Look. Look where it landed. This means good luck. Not a doubt about it.'
    The oblong biscuits were in the shape of decidedly large banknotes, and the baked-in design, again like a banknote, carried the words 'One Million Yen'. On the printed label of the 42

    cellophane wrapper, the figure of a bald shopkeeper took the place of Prince Shotoku, who decorates most banknotes. There were three large biscuits in each package.
    Over the objections of Kiyoko, who thought fifty yen for these biscuits ridiculous, Kenzo bought a package to make doubly sure of the good luck. He immediately broke the wrapping, gave a biscuit to Kiyoko, and took one himself. The third went into her handbag.
    As his strong teeth bit into the biscuit, a sweet, slightly bitter taste flowed into his mouth. Kiyoko took a little mouselike bite from her own biscuit, almost too large for her grasp.
    Kenzo brought the flying saucer back to the toy counter.: The salesgirl, out of sorts, looked away as she reached to take it.
    Kiyoko had high, arched breasts, and, though she was small, her figure was good. When she walked with Kenzo she seemed to be hiding in his shadow. At street crossings he would take her arm firmly, look to