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Show Notes
「それであなたの判断によれば、この渋滞は簡単に解決しない？」
「当分は無理ですね」と運転手は静かに背きながら言った。「そいつは保証できます。いったんこうがちになっちまうと、首都高は地獄です。待ち合わせは大事な用件ですか？」
青豆は考えた。「ええ、とても。クライアントとの待ち合わせだから」
「そいつは困りましたね。お気の毒がたぶん間に合いません」
運転手はそう言って、こりをほぐすように軽く何度か首を振った。首の後ろのしわが太古の生き物のように動いた。その動きを見るともなく見ているうちに、ショルダーバックの底に入っている鋭く尖った物体のことを青豆はふと思い出した。てのひらが微かに汗ばんだ。
「じゃあ、どうすれば良いのかしら？」
「どうしようもありません。ここは首都高速道路ですから、次の出口にたどり着くまではての打ちようがないです。一般道路のようにちょっとここで降りで、最寄りの駅から電車に乗るというわけにはいきません」
「次の出口は？」
「池尻ですがそこに着くには日暮れまでかかるかもしれませんよ」
日暮れまで？青豆は自分は日暮れまで、このたくしーの中に閉じ込められところを想像した。ヤナーチェっくの音楽はまだ続いている。弱音器のきの弦楽器が気持ちの高まりを癒すように、前面に出てくる。さっきのネジれの感覚は今はもうずいぶん収まっていた。あれはいったいあんだったのだろう？
"So, according to your judgment, this traffic jam won't be resolved easily?"
"For the time being, it's impossible," the driver said quietly while looking back. "I can guarantee that. Once it gets this congested, the expressway is hell. Is your appointment very important?"
Aomame thought for a moment. "Yes, very. It's a meeting with a client."
"That's troublesome. I'm sorry, but you probably won't make it on time."
The driver said this and then shook his head lightly a few times as if to loosen it. The wrinkles on the back of his neck moved like an ancient creature.
As Aomame watched this motion absently, she suddenly remembered the sharp, pointed object at the bottom of her shoulder bag. Her palm began to sweat slightly.
"Then, what should I do?"
"There's not much you can do. This is the expressway, and until we reach the next exit, there's no way to deal with this. It's not like you can just get off here and hop on a train from the nearest station."
"And the next exit is?"
"Ikejiri, but it may take until dusk to get there."
Until dusk? Aomame imagined herself trapped inside the taxi until dusk. Janáček's music was still playing. The muted strings rose to the forefront, soothing the swell of her feelings. The twisted sensation she had felt earlier had now considerably subsided. What was that all about?
Interesting Vocabulary
* 解決 (かいけつ): Solution, settlement
* 保証 (ほしょう): Guarantee, assurance
* 渋滞 (じゅうたい): Traffic jam, congestion
* 地獄 (じごく): Hell
* 用件 (ようけん): Business, matter for attention
* 判断 (はんだん): Judgment, decision
* 沈黙 (ちんもく): Silence, hush
* 焦燥 (しょうそう): Impatience, irritation
* 微か (かすか): Faint, dim, slight
* 閉じ込める (とじこめる): To confine, to lock up
* 想像 (そうぞう): Imagination, guess
* 弱音器 (よわおんき): Mute (for musical instrument)
* 弦楽器 (げんがっき): String instrument
* 収まる (おさまる): To subside, to settle down
* 背く (そむく): To turn one's back on, to be contrary to
* 思い出す (おもいだす): To recall, to remember
* 心地 (ここち): Feeling, sensation
* 救い (すくい): Relief, aid
* 着く (つく): To arrive at, to reach
* 登録票 (とうろくひょう): Registration card, plate
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