A Pale View of Hills Read Online Free PDF Page A

expect a little criticism. That’s only natural.”
    “Of course,” he said, breaking out into a laugh. “No, don’t concern yourself about it, Etsuko. I hadn’t given it a second thought. I just happened to think of it because Jim was going to his reunion. I wonder if Endo read the article.”
    “I hope you have a good day, Father,” Jiro called from the entryway. “I’ll try to be back a little early if I can.”
    “Nonsense, don’t make such a fuss. Your work is important.”
    A little later that morning, Ogata-San emerged from his room dressed in his jacket and tie.
    “Are you going out, Father?” I asked.
    “I thought I’d just pay a visit to Dr Endo.
    “Dr Endo?”
    ‘Yes, I thought I’d go and see how he was keeping these days.”
    “But you’re not going before lunch, are you?"
    ‘I thought I’d better go quite soon,” he said, looking at
    his watch. “Endo lives a little way outside Nagasaki now. I’ll need to get a train.”
    “Well, let me pack you a lunch-box, it won’t take a minute.”
    “Why, thank you, Etsuko. In that case I’ll wait a few minutes. In fact, I was hoping you’d offer to pack me lunch."
    “Then you should have asked,” [said, getting to my feet. “You won’t always get what you want just by hinting like that, Father.”
    “But I knew you’d pick me up correctly, Etsuko. I have faith in you.”
    I went through to the kitchen, put on some sandals and stepped down to the tiled floor, A few minutes later, the partition slid open and Ogata-San appeared at the doorway. He seated himself at the threshold to watch me working.
    “What is that you’re cooking me there?"
    “Nothing much. Just left-overs from last night. At such short notice, you don’t deserve any better.”
    “And yet you’ll manage to turn it into something quite appetizing, I’m sure. What’s that you’re doing with the egg? That’s not a left-over too, is it?”
    “I’m adding an omelette. You’re very fortunate, Father, I’m in such a generous mood.”
    “An omelette. You must teach me how to do that. Is it difficult?”
    “Extremely difficult. It would be hopeless you trying to learn at this stage.”
    “But I’m very keen to learn. And what do you mean ‘at this stage? I’m still young enough to learn many new things.”
    “Are you really planning on becoming a cook, Father?”
    “It’s nothing to laugh at. I’ve come to appreciate cooking over the years. It’s an art, I’m convinced of it, just as noble as painting or poetry. It’s not appreciated simply because the product disappears so quickly.”
    “Persevere with painting, Father. You do it much better."
    “Painting.” He gave a sigh. “It doesn’t give me the satisfaction it once did. No, I think I should learn to cook omelettes as well as you do, Etsuko. You must show me before [go back to Fukuoka.”
    “You wouldn’t think it such an art once you’d learnt how it was done. Perhaps women should keep these things secret."
    He laughed, as if to himself, then continued to watch me quietly.
    “Which axe you hoping for, Etsuko?” he asked, eventually. “A boy or a girl?”
    “I really don’t mind. If it’s a boy we could name him after you.”
    “Really? Is that a promise?”
    “On second thoughts I don’t know. I was forgetting what Father’s first name was. Seiji—that’s an ugly sort of name.”
    “But that’s only because you find me ugly, Etsuko. I remember one class of pupils decided I resembled a hippopotamus. But you shouldn’t be put off by such outer trappings"
    “That’s true. Well, we’ll have to see what Jim thinks.”
    “Yes.”
    “But I’d like my son to be named after you, Father."
    That would make me very happy.” He smiled and gave me a small bow. “But then I know how irritating it is when relatives insist on having children named after them. I remember the time my wife and I argued over what to call Jim. I wanted to name him after an uncle of mine, but my wife disliked