Fredwarshi no Ahiru Volume 1 Part 3 Carnival Girl Translation in English by Y.W natane@geocities.com This translation may not be 100% accurate as I tried to make the whole thing "flow" better and because my Japanese is by no mean perfect! :) 8:06 AM 11/28/98 Big thank you to - Lisa Yannucci" for informing me about the Mother Goose rhyme. Key { } = labels placed by the author [ ] = action by characters ( ) = speech bubble/ thought < > = sound ______________ Kevin (The overwhelming storm like work load ended a month ago. I haven't gone out or work on my next story. As a writer, a holiday without purpose is tedious. When I want to eat, I eat, when I want to daydream, I day dreamed. I need more challenge.) Owww!! Rosemary [appears brandishing a duster] Then look for a human friend then! Kevin Rosemary! Rosemary The only thing you've been doing is talk to yourself. Kevin Me? Talk to myself? Rosemary If you can't remember it means you're getting old Kevin, Kevin (God, I'm still young) Since when did you know this? Rosemary Since the beginning. Kevin (Maybe Rosemary is the only house keeper who also happens to be a duck in this world. She's also very meddlesome.) Rosemary You smoke too much as well Kevin. Kevin (Me talk to myself? *offended*) You didn't complain when I smoked while I was working. Rosemary I didn't want to bother you when you were working, but now you're resting. Your health is my priority...hmmm. {A housekeeper's sense pride is very high} Go and walk some where, breathe some fresh air! [literally kicks him out]. Don't catch a cold here's your jacket. Kevin I have low blood pressure! That's why I don't feel well in the morning. Why would I want to obey your order to take a walk?!! Rosemary You've gained weight. (not enough exercise?) Kevin *FAT!* depressed Rosemary Bye! Kevin *Find a human friend* (In the city, filled with other human I can't find a friend. Afraid that they will think I'm odd. After I've moved to a quiet area and now able to open myself...no one is around. What Rosemary said is always right.) town dweller Hey that's the weird writer from the edge of the lake! Kevin *WEIRD!* (Country people are too blunt) town dweller Hey maybe we can grab a drink together sometime. Kevin Sure. (I'll move to a quieter spot) Girl Mother said don't play with the gypsy in the wood. Kevin Who was that? Girl My mother said that I never should Play with gypsies in the wood, The wood was dark; the grass was green; In came Sally with a tambourine. I went to the sea- no ship to get across; I paid ten shillings for a blind white horse; I upon his back was off in a crack, Sally tell my Mother I shall never come back. (from Mother Goose) Would you like to dance? Kevin (Sharp eyes, shining black hair that reminded me of the southern countries. She looks 17 or maybe 18. A girl that emanates danger.) Rosemary Wow, Kevin received a reply from his publisher. I better tell him soon, he's been waiting for this for months. Girl What is your name? Kevin Kevin Fredward, I'm a writer. Girl A writer? wow what do you write about? Girl Oh I know, no one buys your books! hahahaha. I do know who you are, you live in that house right? {Change of topic} You keep a white duck. Kevin (Housekeeper) Girl She looks delicious and rather tasty. Kevin *shock* Girl My name is Sally, a gypsy dancer. I'm following a carnival, but last week I took a week off and came here. Kevin (No wonder I've never seen here around here before). Sally Why don't you dance with me? Kevin No, I'll pick my own partner. Sally Huh!, you think if you act like that women will fall at your feet? Kevin (Hey that's my line!) Rosemary Kevin are you there? Kevin (Rosemary?) Sally [Grabs his hand] I'll be here tomorrow, same time, will you come? Kevin No. (I can't even if you look at me like that). Rosemary Rosemary Kevin Kevin Don't talk in front of strangers, you might be sold to the circus. Rosemary [Rosemary looks back from Kevin's shoulder at Sally]. Kevin What is it?! I didn't do anything to that girl. Rosemary It's something nice isn't it? Be nice to her. Kevin It's not like that!! Letter We are sorry to say that this present story can not be published. Kevin (Again, it's been a year, but I haven't been able to publish one book. Maybe, a story about a maniac who tortures people at night is easier to sell. It'll be easy to use my old pseudonym like before. "I went to the sea- no ship to get across; I paid ten shillings for a blind white horse; I upon his back was off in a crack," Life is really like sailing the sea and wandering through the land on a blind horse...never knowing when the journey ends. I'm interested, maybe I'll visit her tomorrow). Rosemary Breakfast is ready! Kevin Why are you so happy? Rosemary It's your date isn't it? [Prepares a hamper for Kevin] Kevin It's not like that!! Rosemary Kevin, be nice to women. Kevin I'm not cruel! (I'm popular too you know). Rosemary Be careful! Kevin (It doesn't feel right to have fun while my career is in the dump.) Sally I didn't think you'll come, Kevin. Kevin (She's not at all like she was yesterday, she looks sadder, but nevermind. her expression changes like a cat's eyes, maybe because she's bothered about something like me. I won't question it, someone is smiling beside me, and I should accept it. Thanks Rosemary) Sally Wow, this much food! Kevin you don't eat much. Kevin (dieting) [lights a cigarette] Sally Let me try some as well. Kevin You? Sally I just want to see the smoke, Kevin Smoke? Sally If only the smoke is not white, but blue or purple. The smoke rises to heaven like velvet light, blue velvet. Kevin It's called purple smoke. Sally It's practical isn't it? Kevin Why? Sally It can hide your breath. Kevin (How did she know) [About to throw his cigarette to the lake] Sally Don't Kevin!, don't throw it to the lake. A few people had drowned in the lake. The weeds inside the lake grows thick, they do not want to release the bodies of those who drowned. It's like being held by fine hair, it won't let go... I lived here until I was 15, so I know. Kevin You were born here? Sally Yep, near the orphanage around here. Kevin (Orphanage?) Sally Hey look there's a boat, let's go. Kevin We can't do that! *forced to get on* Sally Let's go there, come on! Stop. When I was younger, a friend of mine drowned here. Kevin Don't tell me! *afraid*. Sally A strange child who liked to be alone. We often played together. Some people say that it was an accident, but others disagreed. That girl is looking at you from below the lake. Kevin I didn't see her. Sally I can, I could never forget her face. As long as I remember her, she will always be here with the same face she had when she was alive, right Kevin? Even if you die, you still lives in other's memories. Maybe this story isn't very pleasant for other people, but there was a rumour that a nun also drowned herself here. Kevin A nun? Sally She was upset that her love was unrequited, I can understand how she feels. Kevin Why? Sally My love is also unrequited. The man I love is similar to you Kevin, not in looks, but in the way you act. He dislikes being close to people, he was a great dancer. Kevin Have you told him about your feeling? You're different to that nun, your gaze is direct , don't hide your feelings towards him. Sally You mean, there's no harm in suffering a little for your own good. Kevin Yes. Sally I have to go home. Kevin Can I see you again? Sally If you want. Town dweller Hey writer! The lake is dangerous! what are you doing there alone! Kevin (Alone?!, Sally did you dive into the lake? nothing...) [The boat tipped and Kevin fell overboard] Town dweller Are you alright? Kevin Rosemary! Rosemary Why are you drenched? Kevin Sally disappeared! Rosemary So she never said anything to the end? That she had died. Kevin What are you saying Rosemary? Rosemary When I came to find you yesterday at the lake, I didn't see her, all I saw was an aura of a person. Kevin You mean she's some sort of phantom! I don't believe that, her body was warm! Who was she! "There was a nun who drowned herself" Rosemary is there an orphanage nearby? Rosemary There was one, it was run by the church, but it was destroyed 20 years ago. Kevin, maybe she wanted to be known by someone, that she is alive and exists in this human world. Kevin (Sally, you told me that there's no harm in suffering a little, for your own sake!) Sally I'm sorry Kevin Kevin Sally? Sally I can't, even if the whole world loves me, I can't live if he doesn't. But, I can't stand being alone, it's very lonely. Rosemary *flashback* Kevin, don't empathize with the soul of those who died, if that happens you will also be affected. You have been kind to her, to that soul like you would to another human being. Kevin (Will she always dance alone?) Sally! (Like a wave that comes and goes, while letting herself drown in her own regret I met a girl from a carnival this fall...