A Quiet Place Read Online Free PDF Page A

topped with a tall bamboo fence stretching for about a hundred and twenty yards. Along the base of the fence was an azalea hedge, and above, the heads of several evergreen trees poked out from inside the garden. The zelkova tree was right in the corner. At the bottom of a flight of stone steps leading down from the house was a roofed gateway. The nameplate on the gate read KUBO . The nameplate, the gate, the bamboo fence and the partially visible two-storey house were all very old. It was fairly typical of the homes in this neighbourhood.
    Miyako stopped just beyond the Kubo house. The frontage of the next building was only about three or four yards wide; the second floor was almost completely hidden by a large sign that read TAKAHASHI COSMETICS . It was a small shop, but the products displayed in the windowwere colourfully packaged and the whole place gave off a cheerful vibe.
    â€œThis is it,” Miyako announced, taking off her light-grey coat. Underneath, her suit was the exact same shade.
    On the other side of the boutique, built on an incline, was a western-style house with its own garage. It looked brand new. There was a front lawn surrounded by stylish iron railings. In the middle of the lawn was a traditional Japanese rock garden. Glancing at the nameplate, Asai could read the name HORI .
    Asai removed his overcoat as well, and followed Miyako into the boutique. The interior was narrow, and it was a little awkward for two people to stand side by side.
    A round-faced woman of thirty-seven or thirty-eight, dressed in a white work coat, appeared from the back of the shop. She initially registered surprise when she saw Miyako, but swiftly turned this into a smile. Her eyes were big and her lips full, and her complexion was made up to look as white as possible, as if she were modelling her own cosmetics range. She was on the short side, but had a full, shapely figure.
    â€œThank you for all you did for my sister… And thank you so much for coming to the funeral service. We truly appreciated your offering.”
    Miyako suddenly remembered that she was accompanied by the husband of the deceased.
    â€œThis is my sister’s husband. I’m sorry that we’ve left it so long, but we’re here to thank you for your kindness.”
    Miyako took a step or two backwards, and Asai stepped forward.
    â€œI’m Tsuneo Asai,” he said, holding out his name card and bowing deeply. “I’m truly sorry for all the troublemy wife caused you. There really isn’t any good way to apologize. I should have visited you earlier to express my apologies and my thanks for all you did for her, but her passing was so sudden, and I was so busy taking care of the funeral arrangements. Then it wasn’t possible to visit until after the seventh-day memorial service, so I’m afraid I’m rather late to offer my thanks.”
    â€œI’m so sorry for your loss. Has the seventh-day memorial really taken place already? It all feels like a dream to me – I can’t imagine what it must be like for you.”
    Following this appropriate exchange of greetings, Asai placed the basket of fruit on the glass-topped counter, along with an envelope containing three 10,000-yen notes.
    The boutique owner seemed flustered. “You really didn’t need to do that,” she said, hurriedly pushing the envelope back towards Asai.
    â€œNo, we insist. It’s an expression of our regret. We feel terrible for all the inconvenience you’ve suffered. Please accept this small gift.”
    Miyako joined him in a deep bow, but the shopkeeper was unmoved.
    â€œNo, truly. I only did what anyone would have done. But I couldn’t even save her. I wish things had turned out differently. It was so tragic.”
    â€œNo, really, it’s no more than we owe you. We realize that you had to shut up shop that day while you dealt with my sister and waited for the car to come.”
    â€œNo, no. I’m