“So what exactly do I need to do?”
“Just talk to the lord of the manor.”
“And then?”
“If you manage to persuade him, then we’re done.”
“That’s it?”
Rintaro looked surprised. But the cat wasn’t finished.
“I’ve got one more assignment for you,” it announced in a pompous tone. “Would you mind pressing the doorbell?”
Rintaro did as requested.
*
Out from the small door by the gate came an attractive woman dressed in a simple indigo kimono. From her restrained demeanor, you would have guessed she was an old lady, but her exact age was hard to judge. There was no air of warmth about her, and she had dead eyes. From the red ornamental hairpin stuck in her chignon and the porcelain whiteness of her skin, she could easily have been mistaken for an exquisite Japanese doll.
Rintaro couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“May I help you?” she said in a monotone voice.
The cat took over from the flustered boy.
“We would like to meet with your husband.”
The woman turned her lifeless eyes onto the cat. Rintaro felt a nervous chill run through him, but both the cat and the woman seemed completely unfazed.
“My husband is a busy man. Unexpected visitors—”
The cat cut her off.
“This is a matter of great importance. And time sensitive, too. Please let him know we’re here.”
“Every day my husband receives visits from people who claim they have urgent and important business with him, but he’s far too busy with his TV and radio appearances. It’s not the kind of schedule that permits him to meet with unannounced guests. Please come back another time.”
“We don’t have time for that.”
The determination in the tabby’s voice stopped the woman in her tracks. The cat seized the moment.
“We’re here to discuss book matters—this young man here has vital information for your husband. I’m sure he’ll be able to find time for us.”
The cat’s manner appeared to have an effect on the kimono-clad woman. She stood for a while, apparently considering its words. Then finally, with a cursory “Wait here,” she gave a quick bow and disappeared back through the door.
Rintaro stared at the cat.
“Who has ‘vital information’？” he demanded.
“Let’s not worry about the details for now. As I see it, we’re using the bluffer’s own tactics to stand up to him. Bluffing the bluffer, if you like. We’ll work out what we’re going to say once we get inside.”
“That’s so . . . !”
Rintaro hesitated a moment.
“。 . . reassuring,” he spat.
The woman soon reappeared. She bowed to the boy and the cat, before addressing them in the same monotone.
“This way, please.”
*
On the other side of the gate stood a magnificent mansion, the likes of which Rintaro had never seen.
They walked across the neat flagstones, passed through the latticed front door, and took off their shoes at the genkan entrance foyer. Then they stepped up into a corridor with a polished wood floor. This led into the engawa veranda that surrounded the house, which in turn led into a kind of connecting bridge that took them over toward an annex building.