The following text was used in our reading class, and being an enjoyable story I opted to get some translating excercise out if it : D
殺し屋ですのよ。
星新一
I`m an assassin
It was a certain country place morning. On a small forest road Mr. N was taking his solitary stroll. Even though the CEO of a large firm, on the weekends Mr. N is devoted to forgetting about his job, taking a walk through the woods. Being there in that refreshing atmosphere, hearing the small birds chirp…
Then, from the shadows of the trees appeared a young woman. Bright clothes, bright make-up. Right then, she spoke with a benign voice.
‘Good day’
Mr. N`s legs froze up, and he startlingly listened.
‘Who are you? I`m sorry but you don’t seem familiar’
‘Well that would make sense, seeing it`s the first time we meet. Actually, I`ve got an offer.’
‘Who are you again?’
‘If I`d tell you, I`m sure I’d scare you’.
‘I`d doubt it, I`m seldom afraid’
‘I`m an assassin’ she said concisely.
However, from looking at her you would get the impression she would not even be able to kill a single insect.
‘You can’t be serious’ said Mr. N while laughing.
‘I wouldn`t go through all the trouble of waiting up for you at this kind of place if I was lying would I?’ the woman said with a grave voice and a facial expression equally so. Noticing, Mr. N felt a sudden chill and rambled on while turning eerily pale.
‘This wouldn`t be his doing would it? I didn`t expect he`d resort to these kind of cowardly measures, but w-wait! I beg of you, don`t kill me!
When repeating his plea, the woman spoke.
‘I don`t want you to misunderstand, I didn`t come to kill you’.
‘What do you mean? You ambush me from behind a tree, but you`re not here to kill me? Wouldn’t the very killing op people be what your profession is all about?’
‘I wouldn`t want you to jump to such a hasty judgment. Sometimes going out to extend my services is part of my job. This is one of those times. I wonder, if you should have any wish for my services?’
Being ready for the worst, Mr. N sighed with relief.
‘Is that so? You really had me there! However, as of now I have no need for your services’.
‘Is that so? I thought I heard you talk about a certain person before, wouldn`t that be the CEO of G-Company?’
‘Ah, G-Company, well they are our biggest rivals in business. In order to beat them it`s conceivable we`d have to resort to drastic measures. They truly are our rivals in business. In all honesty there`s no reason to think it wouldn`t be in our best interest if he were to die’.
The woman`s eyes glistened and leaned forward.
‘Should I do it for you?’
‘Well, that is a tempting offer..’.
‘If I`d take on the job, I wouldn`t make a single mistake, perfectly accomplishing the task’.
Mr. N looked her over again. She really didn`t look like she would be able to do it. Neither did it look like she had any merciless henchmen. Thinking a while, Mr. N spoke up.
‘I`m sorry but I`m going to have it decline. I`d like to trust you, but there`s no ground for me to trust you, is there? It`d be me downfall if you`d slip up, get caught and your service to me would be made public. Knowing it to be that dangerous, I really have no desire in killing him`.
‘Well, that`s reasonable. However, with just the knowledge from novels and TV-shows you just can`t imagine the workings of an assassin. Using weapons and poison, staging car accidents, easily exposed methods like these just won`t do’.
‘What method would you use?’.
‘A death that doesn`t cry suspicion, I`d give him a natural death’.
Mr. N frowned and started laughing.
‘Don`t kid me! There`s no way to do such a thing. First of all, how would you even begin making him ill?’
‘I could curse him?’
‘That`s even more outrageous! I`m sorry, but are you in your right mind? How could you possibly make him ill through cursing him?’.
As if unaware of his mocking stare, the woman continued speaking.
‘Being old words meant to kill, retelling them wouldn`t do. With the use of ingenious techniques I’d raise the stress through his surroundings, enfeeble his heart and induce his death. According to contemporary medical theories, stress…’
‘Well, this turned into a difficult story all of a sudden. In short, give him a natural death huh? It`s just, I`m still not sure I can trust you. That it could possible go so well’.
Mr. N crossed his arms and tilted his head.
‘As if sensing his thoughts, she said ‘Offering promising stories, take your money and leave it at that. That`s what you`re worried about, huh? But don`t worry, I`d like to reassure you I would readily agree to my compensation after completion. Something like a deposit won`t be necessary’.
‘Well..’
‘Let`s agree on a time limit. I`d like to say I could do it in three months, but if I had some leeway, say, 6 months, I could guarantee a definite success’.
‘You seem to have an awfully lot of confidence, but what would you do at that time? Even though having succeeded in your task, I might not pay. Wouldn`t that distress you?’.
‘I`d make it a point that you do. Knowing fully well my capabilities.’
‘Is that so? Well, alright. Go ahead. If you`d succeed, I will pay you. If not, it`s all the same to me. If you do get caught, please make it so I won`t get entangled, not leaving behind any evidence’.
While deliberately contemplating, Mr. N finally nodded his head.
`Well then, please look forward to my results’
The woman swiftly returned. Looking after her, Mr. N incredulously mumbled to himself ‘There truly are inexplicable people aren`t there..would she really be able to pull it off? Well, there wasn`t any deposit so there`s no harm done even if she`s couldn`t.
Forgetting all about the event, just four months later Mr. N received the news. Without even being treated at the hospital the CEO of G-Company died because of heart ailments. Furthermore, there have been no signs of suspicion nor investigations by the police, and his funeral quietly passed. Some few days after, when Mr. N was on his regular morning walk, that woman from before was waiting. This time it was Mr. N who spoke first.
‘I certainly didn`t expect this kind of capability. Thanks to you it looks like my company is able to overthrow G-Company. Although I still just can`t believe it!’
‘Well, all as agreed to. I`ll accept my compensation now’.
If he decided to refuse payment, he might be made be target..
‘Certainly, as promised, here is your payment’
‘Thank you very much’
As she took his money, she parted from Mr. N, and went to the city. She was quite careful to not leave any traces behind. It would be troubling should her identity be known. At home she changed her clothes, hairstyle and make-up. She altered all of her inconspicuous features, and went to work. In her white dress she made for a magnificent nurse. In fact, the trust among her co-workers was quite deep. Therefore, any question she would ask would readily be answered by the doctors.
‘Doctor, even though he can go home, what state is his condition in?
‘Not good. Frankly, he might have as little as 5 months, 8 at best. But don`t say anything to him or his family, it would grievously shock them’.
‘Of course, I understand..’
She had no intention of telling him or his family. She instead would check the chart for his address, occupation, who bears a grudge for him, or any rivals in business...
