1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3)

by Haruki Murakami

“Your father must have really liked his job. Going around collecting NHK subscription fees.” “I don’t think it’s a question of liking or disliking it,” Tengo said. “Then what?” “It was the one thing he was best at.” “Hmm. I see,” Kumi said. She pondered this. “But that might very well be the best way to live your life.” “Maybe so,” Tengo said as he looked out at the pine windbreak. It might really be so. “What’s the one thing you can do best?” “I don’t know,” Tengo said, looking straight at her. “I honestly have no idea.”

The stiff, stocky corpse simply reminded them of certain lessons, and reconfirmed a few reflections on life. Nothing more. Once time has passed, it can’t be taken back. If death brings about any resolution, it’s one that only applies to the deceased. Those sorts of lessons, those sorts of reflections.

“We’re going to leave the cat town,” Tengo said, speaking aloud for the first time. Aomame treasured this fresh, newborn voice. “The cat town?” “The town at the mercy of a deep loneliness during the day and, come night, of large cats. There’s a beautiful river running through it, and an old stone bridge spanning the river. But it’s not where we should stay.” We call this world by different names, Aomame thought. I call it the year 1Q84, while he calls it the cat town. But it all means the same thing. Aomame squeezed his hand even tighter.