Kino no Tabi:Volume14 Chapter5
“Land of Posthumous Works” — Write or Die —[edit]
It was a fine day, at a beautiful lake in a certain country.
As Kino and Hermes noisily traversed the road on the lakeside, they found a man fishing by its shore.
Under the morning sun, the man sat on an upturned bucket at the middle of the road, carrying a long fishing rod in his hands.
The thread tied at the end of the rod hang perfectly straight down, not towards the lake, but to a shallow puddle of water on the road created by the previous day’s rain. The buoy was floating on it.
As the puddle was rather shallow, the thread beneath the float has coiled itself messily. Even the earthworm attached to the fish hook could be seen.
Kino stopped Hermes and put down his stand so that he would not collapse.
Then she addressed the man who did not pay them any mind.
“You’re this country’s best-selling author, right?”
“...”
The man turned to Kino for the first time, and asked her how she knew.
Kino answered.
“Because I was asked to kill you.”
A persuader (Note: A gun) glittered black on Kino’s hip.
The day before.
It was the second day since Kino and Hermes entered the country.
A group of men in business suits made their way towards Kino, who has just finished stuffing herself for lunch.
They entreated for her attention, as there was a matter they needed her assistance with.
“Okay, but I’m not yet sure if I will accept it,” Kino said, after which she and Hermes were guided into an exquisite building.
Within it were a number of old men with serious expressions.
They told Kino that there is someone they want killed.
“That must be a top-notch joke in this country, Kino. You’ve got to laugh,” Hermes said, but the men remained serious and began their impassive explanation.
‘Please kill this man.’
Needless to say, murder is illegal. However, the police cannot pursue a criminal beyond the country’s walls.
If on the next day, she leaves right after killing the man, there won’t be any problem. She will also be rewarded generously.
The person they wanted to have eliminated is the author of a best-selling novel in the country.
The series he wrote became incredibly popular, and sold tremendously all over the country. His work has been adapted into stage plays, films, TV dramas, comics, and is well-loved all over the country even to this day. It was the country’s most recent hit.
“Oh I get it! You guys are from the rival publishing company, aren’t you?” Hermes said at this point, but the men shook their heads, their faces still as serious as before.
Then they introduced themselves as the company holding rights to the best-selling author’s works.
“What? Why do you want to kill your garden moose?” Hermes remarked.
“...?”
Everyone fell silent.
“... You mean ‘golden goose’?”
“Yes that’s it!” Hermes said and went quiet for a while before correcting himself and asking the dumbfounded men once more, “Okay, like I said, why do you want to kill your golden goose?”
The question was answered by the most important-looking man among the group.
“Because he’s no longer laying eggs.”
Kino asked for an explanation.
The man was most certainly a brilliant author. His works become popular among the people. He wrote at an amazing speed. In just a short time, he finished writing the novels in his series one after another.
But recently, he has stopped writing, and has refused to write the continuation of his novel.
No matter how many times he was rushed by his editor, requested by the company’s president—even if he was pampered or scolded—the author refused to write the sequel.
The fans were already demanding for the release date of the next book.
He refused, even though he knew very well that the timing was perfect for a new book—just when the film and drama are currently airing.
It’s like letting a big opportunity escape before their very eyes. Even if the previously published books were still selling, if a new book doesn’t come out, the sales will eventually taper off.
“But if you kill him—”
‘You will have lost both the interest and the principal.’ Hermes was about to say, but Kino interrupted.
“I see... It’s really more advantageous for the publisher if he dies.”
“What do you mean, Kino?”
Kino explained in place of the men, who only agreed in silence.
“Say, Hermes. If a best-selling author dies, it will be big news all over the country.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“And when that happens, his works will suddenly receive attention.”
“I see! Even those who haven’t taken notice before will gather around a shelf where something like ‘In memory of author so-and-so’s sudden death’is posted!”
“And so the published books will get sold. That’s one reason. Another is, if an author dies, the series can be continued by someone else. Marketing it as a ‘new work that inherits the plot and the author’s dying wish’ is enough for it to sell. Plus the movies and dramas can go on.”
“I get it! That’s really clever, Kino! Say, where have you learned such a mean trick?”
“I’ve seen it in a mystery novel I’ve read in one country. Though in that story, it was not an author, but a popular cartoonist.”
“I see. So reading has its uses at times too.”
“At times? Anyway, that’s not important right now.”
Kino turned to the men.
That Kino knew the reason made the explanation easier, so they went and reiterated the request.
‘We’ll pay you well, so please accept this job.’
And Kino told them her answer.
“In short, I refused the assassination request for you, and now I’m on my way out of this country,” Kino told the man.
The man remained unfazed even after hearing the story.
“Hm, so when you refused, what did the publisher say? Wait, it must be something like this: ‘Why won’t you do it?! You have a persuader don’t you? Since you have that, you must have killed people along the way, right? If you’ve killed a lot of people before, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to kill just one, right? What difference would it make if you killed one or two lazy authors? If you leave the country immediately, you won’t be arrested! And in exchange, you’ll be rewarded handsomely! This is a blessed opportunity for you! You can help a bunch of people, too! We’re in trouble! Don’t you care about our livelihood?! Huh?’”
The man quickly followed his question with a dialogue he made up on the spot, while enunciating it with a gruff voice.
“Clap, clap, clap!” Hermes applauded with words. Kino’s eyes were also round in amazement.
“That’s amazing. You almost nailed it.”
“That’s an author for you! —But what are you gonna do? Your life is in danger, you know?”
With his fishing rod still at hand, the man answered Hermes. “Hmm. Well I doubt there’s anyone in the company who would go as far as throw away their lives to kill me, and since travelers rarely come to these parts, I think it will be all right.” He was thoroughly relaxed.
He removed his glance from Kino and Hermes, and turned absentmindedly to the buoy in the puddle.
“How’s it going? Caught any?” Kino asked.
This question took the man aback. Then he answered with a grin,
“You’re an odd one, traveler. There’s no way you can catch a fish from a puddle!”
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