Kino no Tabi:Volume6 Frontispiece1
Frontispiece: "A Land of No Admittance” —Reasonable—[edit]
One spring day.
A traveler knocked at the gates of a certain country.
The traveler was a young person, wearing a brown coat over a black jacket. She has short black hair, and was wearing a brimmed hat and goggles. A hand persuader (Note: A persuader is a gun. In this case, a pistol) holster was suspended from her waist.
She came here riding a motorrad (Note: A two-wheeled vehicle. Only to note that it cannot fly).
"Please let us enter,” the traveler said.
Then, the gatekeeper narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“No! We cannot allow people like you to enter the country! Please leave right away!”
The traveler asked for the reason, and the gatekeeper responded,
"It’s because you have a persuader with you! All persuader-holders who came to this country before caused terrible incidents. We've had enough of these incidents. Since then, all persuader-holders who sought to enter this country were asked to turn back. Now that you’ve heard the reason, please hurry up and leave.”
The traveler asked, “Can’t I just leave my persuader in custody at the gates so I can enter?”
The gatekeeper became angry, “Don't you get it?! People using things like persuaders are not right in the head, so it doesn’t matter whether they discard their persuaders or not!”
The traveler looked rueful, and gave up on entering the country. She went away on her motorrad.
One summer day.
A traveler knocked at the gates of a certain country.
The traveler was a young person, wearing a black vest which was converted from a jacket by removing the sleeves, and a white shirt underneath. She had short, black hair, and was wearing a brimmed hat and goggles. A hand persuader holster was suspended from her waist.
She came here riding a motorrad.
“Please let us enter,” the traveler said.
Then, the gatekeeper narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“No! We cannot allow people like you to enter the country! Please leave right away!”
The traveler asked for the reason, and the gatekeeper responded,
“It’s because you are riding a motorrad! All motorrad riders who came to this country before caused terrible incidents. We've had enough of these incidents. Since then, all motorrad riders who sought to enter this country were asked to turn back. Now that you’ve heard the reason, please hurry up and leave.”
The traveler asked, “Can’t I just promise not to start the motorrad’s engine so I can enter?”
The gatekeeper became angry, “Don't you get it! People riding something like a motorrad are not right in the head, so it doesn’t matter whether they discard their motorrads or not!”
The traveler looked rueful, and gave up on entering the country. She went away on her motorrad.
One autumn day.
A traveler knocked at the gates of a certain country.
The traveler was a young person, wearing a black jacket with a wide belt fastened around the waist. She had short, black hair, and was wearing a brimmed hat and goggles. A hand persuader holster was suspended from her waist.
She came here riding a motorrad.
“Please let us enter," the traveler said.
Then, the gatekeeper narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“No! We cannot allow people like you to enter the country! Please leave right away!”
The traveler asked for the reason, and the gatekeeper responded,
“It’s because you are wearing a black jacket! All persons wearing black jackets who came to this country before caused terrible incidents. We've had enough of these incidents. Since then, all people wearing black jackets who sought to enter this country were asked to turn back. Now that you’ve heard the reason, please hurry up and leave.”
The traveler asked, “Can’t I just take off my jacket so I can enter?”
The gatekeeper became angry, “Don't you get it! People wearing black jackets are not right in the head, so it doesn’t matter whether they discard their jackets or not!”
The traveler looked rueful, and gave up on entering the country. She went away on her motorrad.
One winter day.
A traveler knocked at the gates of a certain country.
The traveler was a young person, wearing a black jacket underneath a thick snowsuit. She had short, black hair, and was wearing a furry winter cap and single-lens goggles. A hand persuader holster was suspended in front of her stomach.
She came here riding a motorrad.
“Please let us enter," the traveler said.
Then, the gatekeeper narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“No! We cannot allow people like you to enter the country! Please leave right away!”
The traveler asked for the reason, and the gatekeeper responded,
“It’s because you have a persuader, ride a motorrad, and wear a black jacket! All people who had persuaders, riding motorrads, and wearing black jackets who came to this country before caused terrible incidents. We've had enough of these incidents. Since then, all people who have persuaders, riding motorrads, and wearing black jackets who sought to enter this country were asked to turn back. Now that you’ve heard the reason, please hurry up and leave.”
The traveler asked, “Can’t I just leave my persuader in custody, promise not to start the motorrad’s engine, and take off my jacket so I can enter?”
The gatekeeper became angry, “Don't you get it! People who have persuaders, ride motorrads, and wear black jackets are not right in the head, so it doesn’t matter whether they discard them all or not!”
“That’s a pity. I got heaps of rare fur from the animals I shot down in the forest, but it seems that I can’t sell them in this country.”
The traveler looked rueful, and gave up on entering the country.
The gatekeeper restrained the traveler who was about to turn back.
“But after thinking it through, we realized that a persuader is necessary in such a dangerous journey; a motorrad’s maneuverability makes it a convenient and nifty vehicle; and a black jacket is fashionable — it looks great on you. It would be harsh if we send away a precious traveler in such cold weather. Please go ahead and enter.”
“Is that so? Then I wouldn’t hesitate.”
The traveler entered the country.
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