Alien Rice; A Novel. (11 page)

She now recalled her own visit to Director Sasaki's house, carrying a bottle of whisky with her, on that muggy July afternoon several years before, and realized how futile such efforts had proved to be.

One Sunday just before their departure, Alice suddenly remarked to Saburo, "We cannot leave Japan without calling on the Watanabes. Since today is Sunday, they must be at home."

So the couple went to the Tozai staff apartments outside Yokohama. Mrs. Watanabe, who was alone, was surprised to see the Tanakas.

"We've come to say good-bye to you, Mrs. Watanabe," Alice announced. "We are leaving for South America within a few days."

"Oh, to South America! Which country of South America? And what is your husband going to do there? Is Toshio also going with you?" Mrs. Watanabe inquired.

Neither Alice nor Saburo wished to divulge their plans prematurely; if they did, rumors, false or exaggerated, would run round like wildfire. So Alice did not go into details.

"We'll go to Argentina and stay in Buenos Aires for some time, as I have a few friends there. Today we have come to tell you how much we appreciated your extraordinary kindness at the time of the fire. We shall never forget your bravery and kindness and will be forever grateful."

"Oh, that was nothing. In Japan neighbors know each other well and help each other, you know. I had nearly forgotten about that incident until you reminded me," Mrs. Watanabe said breezily.

The S.S.
Brazil Maru
was in Kobe. The ship was to sail at six
P.M.
with some hundred passengers aboard, most of them steerage passengers bound for Santos, Brazil. The twelve first-class passengers included Mr. and Mrs. Saburo Tanaka, Master Toshio Tanaka, and several elderly American tourists who chose the Japanese ship to enjoy a leisurely trip to Los Angeles, Panama and the Atlantic ports of South America.

On their journey from Tokyo to Kobe, the Tanakas had stopped briefly at Nagoya to bid Genzo Tanaka and his wife good-bye.

"Father, we are going abroad again and have come to say good-bye," Saburo announced.

"Which branch office of the company are you going to this time?" his father asked, for Saburo had not told his father about his resignation from Tozai.

"To Argentina."

"How long will you be gone for?" the old man inquired.

"We don't know yet." Saburo did not wish to tell the truth. Already his parents had felt that Saburo's marriage to a Western woman kept them from seeing much of their son and grandson, and Saburo suspected it. So he did not wish to give his aging parents added grief and despair.

"Please take good care of yourselves, Father and Mother." Saburo knew that he would never see them again, and had tears in his eyes as he uttered these few final words.

On the train journey down to Kobe Toshio was in high spirits.

"What kind of school will I go to in Argentina, Mother?" Toshio inquired.

"We don't know yet," Alice replied.

"I've asked Carlos about the schools in Buenos Aires. He told me there were many fine schools and pupils came from many different countries, like St. Mary's in Yokohama. Kids over there are very friendly and kind, Carlos said." At St. Mary's primary school, where Toshio had spent the last twelve months, he had become good friends with Carlos, a son of the Argentine consul in Yokohama.

Alice knew how mortally Toshio's sensibility was wounded when he was beaten up by his Japanese school-mates a year before. She thought that in a way racial prejudice in Japan, which erupted from time to time in a most virulent form, was as bad as apartheid in South Africa. At least she was glad that her son would not be subject to any such abuse or indignity in South America.

"Toshio, I'm sure Carlos is right. You'll find many good friends like Carlos in Buenos Aires," she said.

The Tanakas stayed overnight at the Oriental Hotel. Saburo suggested going to the famous Hamakuma restaurant for dinner. It was to be their last meal in Japan and Saburo was somewhat sentimental.

Saburo, Alice and Toshio all sat on the tatami floor and ordered an authentic Japanese dinner. Saburo was surprised to see Alice eating everything with relish, including the sliced raw fish. And how well she manipulated the chopsticks now!

"Now you like
sashimi,
don't you, Alice?"

"Yes, dear. Raw fish in Japan is all right. I think that the food of the country is best, because it is a product of many centuries' experience, like tea and kippered herring in England. It is most suited to its climate, and also the ingredients are readily available. I find
sashimi
here is wonderful."

"The
tai,
or sea bream, you've just eaten comes from the Inland Sea, and is considered the best fish in Japan," Saburo explained.

"I like
miso
[bean soup] very much. I shall miss it when we get to Argentina," Toshio butted in.

It was altogether a most delightful dinner, their last dinner in Japan. They enjoyed it, not only because of the good food, but also because they were about to embark on the first leg of their new journey and were filled with fresh hopes and expectations.

One hour before the departure time of the
Brazil Maru,
Mr. Enami and his daughter hurriedly came up the gangplank. Miss Enami brought a magnificent bouquet of flowers for Alice. The Tanakas had not expected the visit, since the Enamis lived in Yokohama. They had come all the way to Kobe by an afternoon superexpress, especially to bid the Tanakas good-bye.

"It's awfully good of you to have come all the way to see us off," Alice thanked them.

"I'm so sad to part with you, Mrs. Tanaka. My mother used to talk much about you. Will you come back to Japan again?"

Miss Enami was already in tears and was almost choked with sadness.

"Miss Enami, I shall always remember your late mother, Mr. Enami and yourself. You all have been so kind to us. Yes, I hope to come back to Japan one day."

Alice said this to comfort Miss Enami, but at heart she doubted the possibility of ever visiting Japan again.

The Rokko Mountain ranges behind the city of Kobe loomed dark, silhouetted against the evening twilight. In a few more minutes, the Oriental Hotel, Sannomiya Shrine and other familiar landmarks were no longer to be seen in the gathering dusk. By the time the
Brazil Maru
was ready to depart, billions of fairy lights, blue, red and white, were glittering like jewels as far as the eye could see. The narrow belt of thickly built-up areas between the mountains and the sea was now turned into a nocturnal panorama of extraordinary brilliance. Scattered lights atop the Rokko Range twinkled like stars in the sky.

Suddenly sirens sounded lugubriously.

The ship edged slowly away from the dock, finally off on the long voyage to Buenos Aires. Then she sped rapidly to the south, leaving behind long ribbons of foam which glistened in the bright light of the port areas like silver streams. In no time Kobe City was receding into the distance.

Saburo, Alice and Toshio remained on the upper deck for a long time, until Japan disappeared in the darkness.

*
The Mongolian spot is about the size of the ball of the finger, and blue in color. It appears on the spines of Japanese and other Oriental babies and disappears at the age of about two years.

*
keto:
foreign devil. Literally, a hairy Westerner.