Kino no Tabi:Volume6 Chapter6

“A Safe Country” —For His Safety—

There was a road bordering the edge of a lake.

The opposite shore of the enormous lake could not be seen, and the horizon seemed endless. The small waves born from the wind were pounding against the stony shore. The road was a reasonable distance away from the lake, on a slightly upraised area where the stone hardened, continuing to some unknown place.

Tall forests sprouted across the land, and could be seen well under the light of the clear morning. There were no more traces of snow.

Along the road were several points that intersect with a river. Surmounting the road, the cold water of the broad and shallow river blended into the lake.

Near this river, inside the forest a bit ways off the road, a single motorrad (Note: A two-wheeled vehicle. Only to note that it cannot fly) was parked. There was a human beside it.

The person was around mid-teens, with short black hair, and big eyes carrying an intrepid expression.

She was wearing a black jacket with a wide belt fastened around the waist. Several pouches were attached on the belt. On her right thigh and at the back of her waist were holsters for hand persuaders (Note: A persuader is a gun. In this case, a pistol). The one on her right thigh was a revolver-type. The one behind her waist with its grip up, was a slim automatic-type.

She pulled out the revolver from her right thigh and fired at waist height. It made a tremendous sound, and a white smoke drifted from it. The bullet hit an iron plate which looked like a chopping board, suspended from a tree far away. The birds flew away at once.

“Hit,” said the motorrad. The human had a slightly satisfied look on her face. This time she stretched her right hand out a bit and fired five shots in quick succession. The iron plate swung and danced as all of the bullets hit it.

“Your skills are as good as ever, Kino. Good job,” said the motorrad. The human called Kino thanked him, and the motorrad spoke again in return.

“Well, shouldn’t we be leaving soon?”

“Nope. Just a bit more.”

While saying so, Kino disassembled the persuader and replaced the emptied cylinder. She reassembled it back and returned it to the holster.

Kino walked up to the iron plate, and hung it again on a tree twice as far.

She walked back up to the motorrad. She pulled the persuader behind her waist with her left hand. She reached for and released the safety and aimed at the iron plate.

“Hermes, I'm in your hands.”

“Leave it to me,” the motorrad called Hermes replied. Kino fired. The gunshot was quieter than before, and the small empty cartridge flied out.

“Hit. Right in the middle,” said Hermes. Another shot was fired.

“Hit. A bit to the lower left.”

For each one of Kino’s shots, Hermes reported where the bullet hit.

Kino fired off the rest of the second magazine, put in a third one and locked the safety. She returned it to the holster and went to retrieve the iron plate.

“Superb. Master would've been satisfied," said Hermes when Kino returned.

"Yup, thanks. That’s enough practice for today.”

Kino removed the cotton stuffed in both of her ears, put them away in her pocket, and picked up all of the scattered empty cartridges. She then turned on Hermes’ engine. The engine’s sound echoed through the lake.

Kino put the iron plate in a bag lying beside Hermes. She stowed the bag on Hermes’ rear carrier, and secured it firmly with a rubber strap.

“By the way, Kino. Is the country we’re going to next that dangerous? You were practicing a lot since yesterday.”

“Huh? I don't know.”

"Don't know?"

“The truth is I don’t have an idea. I have too little information, see. But I should always be prepared. It might be similar to the last country we've visited. ...Well, shall we go?”

Kino finished loading the luggage, and checked if she left anything behind.

She put on her long brown coat and wrapped the long hem up to her thighs. She wore her hat whose flaps covered her ears, and strapped her goggles on.

She sat on Hermes and released the kickstand.

Kino launched Hermes off and returned to the road from the forest, riding with the sun behind them.

—

It was about noon when they arrived at a country facing the lake.

“Hello, miss traveler. Welcome to our country.”

Outside the country’s walls, on the window counter by the gate, the immigration inspector greeted the traveler who came riding a motorrad.

“Hi. I’m Kino and this here is Hermes. We would like to enter this country for sightseeing and recreation. We are hoping for a three-day stay.”

As Kino said this, the inspector looked at Hermes and asked.

“Uhm, that motorrad, Mr. Hermes, will also be staying in the country?”

“Of course,” Hermes said and Kino nodded. The inspector looked worried for a moment, and then spoke.

“Uhm, this is hard to say, but, please do not be offended.... The thing is, if the driver Miss Kino here does not agree to sign a pledge saying that Mr. Hermes’ engine will not be used, we cannot allow Mr. Hermes to enter the country. You see, in this country, driving a motorrad is prohibited by law.”

“Driving is prohibited?”

“Huh? Then how do we move about then?” Hermes asked from behind.

“We have a completely safe and free unattended public transportation system. It’s like a car, but it’s free of charge and can be instructed to go anywhere you like. There’s enough space for Mr. Hermes to ride in, so you don’t have to worry about transportation. If you can promise not to start the engine, just that...”

Kino thought for a while. “I understand. I promise not to ride.”

“Kino?”

“It can’t be helped, Hermes. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'” Kino said, and Hermes spoke in a somewhat convinced tone.

“I understand. ——Well, compared to that other country where you were forced to wear weird clothes, this is way better.”

“... I don’t want to recall that,” murmured Kino.

“Thank you very much. Then please sign the pledge in these documents.”

The inspector happily held out the documents to Kino, as well as the writing instrument he was holding. It was a fine brush. Kino made a strange face for a moment.

“Ah, this is what we use in our country. The ink is over here.”

“Sure...”

Kino somehow managed to sign the documents, promising that she would not turn on Hermes’ engine while in the country. The inspector checked it.

“Okay. Thank you very much. We will prepare the gates immediately. Ah, do you happen to have any persuader with you?”

“I do,” Kino said, and took out from beneath her coat the revolver-type, grasping it by the barrel, its grip up. Kino called this 'Canon'. The other one on her back was called 'Woodsman'.

As Kino raised her face, the inspector suddenly jumped from his seat and fled to the far end of the room with the window. He hid behind a locker and timidly looked at Kino and the persuader.

“Th-that too..., is not allowed to be brought in our country,” he said from a distance.

“Eh?”

“Y-you see, in our country, civilian possession of persuaders is completely prohibited by law. In this country, only the members of the national defense force have persuaders. If you insist on taking it with you, it’s a pity, but, we cannot allow you to enter the country. Please understand.”

The inspector, which looked more apologetic than before, explained from afar.

“Now, Kino. What will you do?”

“That’s really a problem. I’ll have to go unarmed?”

Kino looked at 'Canon' in her hand with a really troubled expression on her face. Hermes spoke.

“‘Romans’, ‘Romans’, ‘Romans’.”

“Fine...,” muttered Kino. She went towards the inspector, and held out ‘Canon’.

“I understand. There’s no other way, right? And I've got one more. Will you please take care of these until we leave?”

“No, that’s impossible! ——Ah, I’m sorry. I’m afraid of persuaders. Ah, please do not show it to me! Eeek——”

The inspector completely hid himself behind the locker.

—

In the end, Kino disassembled all of her persuaders and put them in a safety deposit box provided by the inspector. It was decided that the box would be sent to the western gate and would be kept there for the meantime, until Kino’s departure.

The inspector then processed the documents. It took a while before the task was finished.

And then the inspector spoke. “Well, sorry for the wait. We’ll be opening the gate.... Ah! Uhm, do you have a knife, by any chance? In our country, civilian possession of knives is exclusively prohibited by law——”

Kino nodded several times without changing her expression.

“Yes, I have. I have lots. ... Excuse me, but can you tell me what else is prohibited in this country?”

—

"Finally,” Kino said upon passing through the gate.

“I’m so tired,” Hermes said while being pushed by Kino.

The documents were furnished after she surrendered all of her knives. The inspector told Kino which of her other belongings were prohibited by law. In the end, Kino wasn’t able to take her cutlery along with sharpening tools, and for some unclear reason, even the rope used in stretching a tent.

The sun was setting beautifully when Kino entered the country.

The inside of the walls was spacious, and many one-storey buildings were built at regular intervals. The completely paved roads were wide and in good condition. Since it was evening, there were not much people around.

Kino took off the coat she was wearing and placed it on top of the luggage. And then she muttered while looking at the now empty holster in her right thigh.

“Was my diet successful? My body feels so light. Oh, well...”

Kino looked at the road. After a while, a running car stopped silently right in front of Kino and Hermes. Several seats were lined up inside it, but nobody was aboard.

A voice saying ‘Please come aboard’ was heard from the car as the door slid open. Some of the seats folded and became a flat loading platform. The car lowered down until the loading platform was on the same level as the road surface.

“It’s ‘unattended’ alright,” Hermes said. Similar cars run about now and then. Kino understood, lifted Hermes onto the platform, and sat on one of the chairs.

‘Where are we going?’ the voice came, and Kino gave a loud order to head to the hotel.

‘Understood,’ came a reply, and the car began to run. It was very slow, about the speed of a running person.

Hermes spoke. “I see. This way, it’s like you were just running on your own.”

“Easy is easy,” Kino said while sitting comfortably on the chair.

After Kino and Hermes arrived to the hotel, they received a typical welcoming greeting and were guided to their room.

The room was spacious, but it was strange. There were several furniture items, but all were very low. Whether it’s the bed, the closet, the washstand, or the desk, nothing was over knee-height. There was no bathtub in the bathroom.

“I want to go sightseeing but I’ve had enough for today.”

Kino ate her meal, took a shower, and went to sleep.

—

The next day.

Kino got up at dawn. The weather was not bad.

She loosened up her body with light exercise, and was about to train with her persuaders, when she remembered that all of them were in safekeeping.

Reluctantly, she trained her combat skills more than usual.

She ate her breakfast and woke up Hermes after a while.

Kino’s body still felt light as she pushed Hermes out of the hotel. She was wearing her jacket, and the coat was rolled and securely tied on the carrier.

Several people were lined up out in the road. Kino was told that it could be relatively crowded in the mornings, and sometimes people have to wait in line for the cars.

Kino pushed Hermes and joined the queue. Then up front, a woman in her late-twenties spoke to Kino.

“Good morning. Are you a traveler?”

“Yeah. Good morning,” Kino returned the greeting, and the woman who was looking at Kino’s right thigh spoke with a slightly surprised face.

“Hey. Is that, by any chance, a persuader holster? I often see it in movies.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s right. However, all of my persuaders were locked up in a safety deposit box at the gate.”

The woman’s expression slightly darkened.

“You use a persuader, don't you?”

“Yup,” Kino nodded. The woman’s expression hardened, and then she spoke slowly.

“Hey, listen well. In this country, civilian possession of persuaders is completely prohibited by law.”

“So I heard.”

“Do you know why?”

To the woman’s question, Kino answered with, “No. I still haven’t heard this country’s history yet.”

And the woman said firmly while shaking her head,

“No, it has nothing to do with history at all. It’s simply because persuaders are very dangerous.”

Kino glanced at Hermes, and spoke to the woman.

“Dangerous, is it?” was her small response. The woman continued to talk as if lecturing a student.

“Yes. Persuaders are made for the sole purpose of shooting people and other living things. That’s why a person with a persuader will want to shoot other people. And they will get hurt. If everyone has a persuader, then everyone will want to shoot someone. Then as soon as tomorrow comes, there will be crimes involving persuaders here and there. Surely, there will be no such misfortunes if there were no persuaders. The truth is, people will be able to live happily, if only there were no weapons that can kill. ――Persuaders are very dangerous. Human lives are put in danger just because such a thing exists. That’s why in this country it is totally prohibited by law. Persuaders won’t do you any good, you know.”

Kino listened, nodding lightly. And then she spoke.

“In my case, there are unexpected situations I encounter during my travels, in which case, a persuader comes in handy.”

The woman’s expression remained dark.

“And probably in such times, you end up using persuader. You see, if both of you are holding persuaders, then your dispute will continue until either of you is dead. But, if you don’t have a persuader, your opponent will not think of killing you — because that is just so cruel. Also, there will be a chance for discussion. You will begin to explore more peaceful methods of resolving your differences."

“It's like that, huh?” was Kino’s half-hearted reply, and the woman spoke with a dignified and unworried face.

“You coming to this country might be a coincidence, but think of it as a very good opportunity. Please do take time to learn this country’s wonderful concept of safety. Bye.”

While looking at the woman going away by car,

“I will,” Kino said indifferently.

—

Kino rode in a car and immediately ordered it to go to the country’s center. The display in front of the car flashed ‘To the country’s center’ and went off.

The car was running slowly just as before. They come to a complete stop in every intersection, and then pass through it in the same order they came in. No matter where it was moving, it maintained a reasonable distance from the other cars.

“This is so boring—. I’m going to fall asleep,” Hermes complained as the car stopped beside the road. The recording asked them to let in another passenger.

A middle-aged man, waiting in queue, went on board.

"Oh, how rare. It’s a traveler. Good morning.”

The man sat opposite Kino.

“Good morning.”

“How do you find riding our completely safe and free unattended public transportation system?”

“It certainly is comfortable and easy,” Kino said, and the man nodded approvingly.

“Right, right. This is one of our country’s prides. Thanks to it, anybody can go anywhere, in a safe, easy, and efficient manner. It is a must-have in a wide country such as ours.”

“Can this vehicle be driven on your own?” Kino asked casually. The man suddenly frowned.

“Drive? ――Did you just say ‘drive’? By that, do you mean to move this car by yourself?”

“Yes. I was wondering if there were people who wanted to drive it on their own. To go to the places they want to go to on their own.”

As Kino said this, the man’s face changed color.

“Driving is dangerous! For a human to operate a car.... That is such a dangerous thing!”

“Really?”

“Of course. A car has a large mass and runs at a high speed. That energy is comparable to that of a persuader bullet. You must imagine what would happen if you bump into a person?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“Humans aren't perfect living things. We make mistakes. There are some who think it’s fine if it’s just one person. ――But, mistakes will not be caused if there aren’t any people to commit them in the first place. And that is true for driving cars. Once we allow people to drive, for sure, someone somewhere will get into a car accident. Someone or something will get hurt, or killed even. That’s why in our country, driving of vehicles by civilians is completely prohibited by law. An era where people are allowed to drive vehicles is a barbaric one. Now you can automatically go to your destination safely, and with just one command, so thinking of driving a vehicle on your own..., just what are you thinking? Ah, that was rude of me. I’ve said too much. But, driving is...”

The man stopped the car and stood up.

“Miss traveler, please do not ever think of driving this thing on your own.”

The man who was about to get off left those words in a loud voice. Then a very old man came aboard and sat across Kino.

The car moved, and while looking out the window, the old man suddenly began to himself.

“Ah, driving.... Such a nostalgic word. When I was still young, you can sit behind the wheel and step on the accelerator pedal. However, during that time, tragic accidents that happen day in and day out were always taken for granted. In fact an uncle of mine got hit by a car while crossing a road, and was dead the next day. He was young, had a wife and kids. There were a lot of other tragic accidents; inexperienced youths driving too fast, failing to overtake a curve and running over a column of kindergartners, truck drivers looking away for a bit and crushing a car in front of them, and so on. Those people who make mistakes are no different from animals. For instance, even though there were firm rules and trafic signals, the people who created them couldn't obey the rules themselves. The vehicles can also be used for crimes. Criminals escaping by car compromise the safety of all the people around them."

“I see,” Kino nodded suitably.

"A car is a tool for killing people. It is a truly frightening murder weapon. People had to be refrained from using cars. But now we can move about using these machines without a single risk. This is how it should have been right from the start. Ah, people would have lived longer.”

The old man was still gazing into the distance, speaking to himself.

—

Identical one-storey buildings were lined up at the center of the country. The streets were clean and well-maintained.

“Who said that this will be interesting? THese are just boring buildings,” Hermes complained.

“Where should we go this time?” Kino said, and as she began to push Hermes,

“You! Hey you there, wait!”

A voice raised from behind. It was a high-pitched female voice.

Kino turned around. A rather portly, middle-aged lady rushed wildly as she beckoned to Kino, and somehow managed to stop in front of her.

“I thought she was about to knock you down,” Hermes said in a small voice.

“By any chance, do you travel with this?”

The lady pointed her finger at Hermes, still in her high-pitched voice.

“Yeah. But here I’m not allowed to start the engi――”

“No way! Such a dangerous thing!”

The lady’s voice drowned Kino’s remark.

“I――”

“Motorrads are dangerous! Do you get it? Just think about it! Your body in such an unprotected state, in such a speed, just what do you think will happen if you fall down? You don’t have anything to protect body with!”

“That’s――”

“You! Life is very important! It’s a precious thing! So please stop riding motorrads! You cannot have your life back when you get in an accident! Don’t try risking your young life with riding something like a motorrad. Please stop while it’s not yet too late. Do you get it? Think of the sorrow you will cause your parents if you have an accident!”

“Yeah, but my――”

“It’s good that you understand! I just shared my concern for your safety! I hope you learn various things from this country. Bye.”

The lady rushed once more, and boarded a car.

After a while, Hermes spoke.

“Wow. This country might be more troublesome than we thought.”

Kino nodded.

“Now let’s go see the shops.”

—

Kino and Hermes rode a car and went to the shopping district.

In the middle of a large building was a passage, on both sides of which many stores were lined up. Kino walked through the passage, pushing Hermes along.

Kino found a hardware store and went inside. The interior was spacious, and pots were placed on a low shelf. She was greeted by a shopkeeper in his mid-thirties, sitting on the floor, working.

“Welcome, traveler. What would you be looking for?”

“Yes. I’m looking for a knife. One with a sharp, double-edged blade, longer than the palm of my hand. I couldn't find one anywhere.”

“What are you saying? Ah, didn't you know? In this country, bladed objects are completely prohibited by law.”

"Eh? It’s not available anywhere? At all? What about in other shops?” Hermes asked rather deliberately.

“Of course you won’t find any. Possession of bladed objects by civilians is strictly prohibited by law.”

“Why is that?” Kino asked the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper responded immediately.

“Why of course, it’s because bladed objects are dangerous, isn’t it?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes it is! Bladed objects are tools made for the sake of cutting and hurting people. People who want to have knives are people who do not know the value of life. They are a reserve army of murderers. We cannot allow such people to handle bladed objects. Societies which deem bladed objects as necessary for the lives of its citizens are indecent. This country’s excellent rules and regulations against knives are just so wonderful I can’t control my tears from flowing!”

The shopkeeper’s eyes blurred as he said this, and Kino asked.

“But, what do you use to sharpen pencils?”

“We use pencil sharpeners!” The shopkeeper immediately replied. Kino asked once more.

“But what about handicrafts? Ah, and cooking too.”

“Materials and food ingredients that are being sold here are already cut properly. After all, this is not a rural area. We have thoroughly trained professionals who do the cutting in, say, the butcher and fish shops. They are the only ones who need bladed objects as tools. Even these pros are not allowed to use the tools outside the workplace. The tools are stored properly in a safety deposit box. Knives in circulation among the general public.... Just the thought of it scares me. If ――”

Kino and Hermes waited for the next words of the shopkeeper.

“―― If such a country exists, then in that country, there must be frequent street killings using knives, right? If a desperate human were to obtain a kitchen knife from just any store, clutching it with both hands and slashing randomly at innocent bystanders in a street they thought safe and peaceful! ... Ah, it’s horrible to imagine. I’d hate to live in a country like that. Ah, so terrifying.... Scary.... Too frightening...”

“I see. I understand what you're saying. If you’ll excuse us.”

“Thanks.”

Kino and Hermes left the shop, with the shopkeeper holding his head in anguish.

Eventually, they walked through the shopping district devoid of people. After a little while, Kino muttered, “Nothing at all, huh?”

Hermes then spoke with a serious tone to Kino who seemed lost in wonder.

“I can understand a little how you feel. A long time ago, there was also a crazy guy who tried to kill Kino with a kitchen knife. ――A ‘devil out-of-place’, so to speak.”

"...‘Crazy guy with a blade’, you mean?”

“Yeah, that.” Upon saying so, Hermes fell silent for a while.

And then pulled himself together, “Now, what will we do?”

“... Then let’s finish shopping for things that we really need,” Kino said while looking around.

“Kino. Didn’t you say that the strap of the bag came off?”

“Oh, that’s right. I need some strong glue.”

—

Kino approached some people and asked for the location of the general store.

As expected, the store she went into had low shelves. A middle-aged man who seemed to be the store manager greeted her.

"Welcome. Oh, a traveler, isn’t it? Welcome to our country, and welcome to my store. Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“Hello. Do you have instant glue, or anything similar?”

The store manager was slightly surprised, and immediately said carelessly.

“None. Is there a reason for something like that to exist?”

“None?” Hermes said, and the store manager put up his finger.

“This is a good chance to tell you. Ah—, ehem. In our country, civilian possession and use of instant glue is strictly prohibited by law.”

“....... Uh-huh, how come?” Kino asked, and Hermes murmured that she must have an idea why.

“Of course, it’s because instant glue is dangerous. See, what will you do if you cannot take it off from your finger? What if it gets in your eyes? What if a child swallows it? In all cases, the damage will be irreparable. Things that bring danger to the public have to be regulated by law. For that reason, if you want to have something repaired, you can use the glue we have right here.”

The store manager held out a glue in a colorful tube. Kino took it and examined it for a while.

“How long does this thing take to dry?”

“It’s fast. It takes only half a day.”

“......”

Kino returned the glue on top of the low desk.

“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll pass on the glue. Instead, do you have a strong thread and a big-eyed needle suitable for sewing leather?”

To Kino’s question, the store manager answered with, “We have threads, but only thin ones. By the way, all objects with tensile force above ten years are prohibited by law.”

“What do you mean by ‘tensile force above ten years’?” Kino asked, and the store manager explained.

“In this country, the weight of a typical ten-year old should break a string within three seconds.”

“And why is it prohibited?” Hermes asked.

“Isn't it obvious? It is to prevent suicide by hanging and death by strangulation. A tough string is a murder weapon, see.”

“......” “That’s the reason why they did not allow the rope.” Kino fell silent, and Hermes muttered.

“The shelf of yellow threads is over there. But we don’t have needles. Possession of needles by the public is prohibited by law.”

Kino nodded. “It’s probably dangerous because it can be used to stab. There is also the risk of the tip of the needle going to the lungs through the blood vessels.”

“Exactly. Oh, didn’t you know? Public possession of needles and other similarly pointed objects is completely prohibited by law. Compass tips and ball pen points should be the same sort as a fountain pen’s. Pencils whose tips are within 120 degrees are illegal, too.”

“......”

“However, needles are attached to sewing machines, and in such cases only the suppliers are allowed to remove the needles for each unit used. Possession of a sewing machine requires a license and for your current address to be listed, in order to identify each person to whom a unit has been sold. If your criminal record is clear, the product will be delivered within two weeks. After that, you will have to go to the police station to register the serial number of the needle.”

“Wha—. That’s so troublesome.” Hermes said in a disgusted tone.

“That is in order to establish the public's safety,” the manager said proudly. Kino asked.

“The sewing machines are allowed?”

“Yes. Possession of the sewing machine itself is allowed and anyone can have it. You just have to submit a resumé to the nearest police station, to prove that there are no problems with your medical certificate and that you have no prior criminal record. There’s a written test, and a practical test after a training course on the operation of an actual sewing machine. Once you pass these exams, you can have your permit to purchase a sewing machine and go straight to a shop to buy one. Once you buy the machine, you will have to go to the police station again to register the main body of the sewing machine. Then you will be required to have a locker and a key to store the sewing machine at home. You have to make sure that the locker can be secured somewhere in your house. If you have a family, you will also need to submit medical certificates and written consent from all of them. Then you will be able to use the sewing machine installed in your home. You can make anything you like, whether it be children's clothing or rag skirts. Then once a year, the police will come to check that the needle has not been removed or modified, and your registration will be updated. I have a study manual for sewing machine operations. Do you want one?”

As the store manager said this, he took out a book as thick as an encyclopedia from under his feet.

“No, thank you.... Excuse us for disturbing you.”

—

After lunch, Kino came to the lake shore. The sun was at its highest, and the lake was transparent and blue under it. Several streaks of clouds were visible on the horizon.

Kino stopped Hermes on the lawn and she squatted down.

“Hey there, miss traveler.”

A voice came from behind. Kino looked back, and a man took three steps towards her. He was around thirty, wearing glasses, and was wearing white clothes like that of a researcher.

“Hello. This is such a beautiful lake.” As Kino said this, the man laughed heartily.

“Isn’t it? Our ancestors chose this land because they wanted to have this view. In midsummer, this sandy beach gets filled with people who come to play.”

“Oh. You can swim here during the summer?” Kino asked happily. At the same time, the expression of the man darkened. He came two steps closer to Kino and in a cold tone different from earlier,

“Swimming? How ridiculous. Swimming is prohibited by law.”

“Prohibited?”

“Yes. I’m sure you don’t understand how terrifying water could be. Don’t you know? Humans can drown in shin-deep water."

“But, swimming is fun,” Kino said, and the man sighed and took a big breath. He lifted his finger up and shook his head lightly.

“Fun..., huh. That ephemeral desire for pleasure results in an endless number of tragic deaths anywhere. The horrors of water-related accidents are taken too lightly. Anyway, in this country, citizens are prohibited to swim — whether in the river or in the lake. Well, if you are a little more aware of the value of life, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. But if you still want to swim no matter what, go ahead. I won’t stop you from committing suicide.”

“O...kay...”

After her half-hearted reply, “Oh! ――By any chance, are bathtubs banned for the same reason?”

“That’s right. Those used for infants are a special case, and require permission to be used, but other than that, all other equipment similar to bathtubs are strictly prohibited. There is always the risk of small children and old people dying from drowning. I have heard stories of countries having such a dangerous thing installed in their homes. But if people from those countries were to come here, they will realize how immature their culture is. I want them to come and learn how real advanced countries do things.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. That’s why travelers are in luck. You can share our country’s splendid ways to your own country once you go home. You can tell everything you’ve seen here without hesitation. I’m sure everyone will be surprised. By the way, motorrads are really dangerous, so you’d better stop riding them. Bye.”

The man walked away, and Hermes asked, “Now what? Are we going back to the hotel?”

“It's also nice to take a nap here."

“Isn’t it a bit chilly? You’ll catch a cold.”

“I see.... So taking a nap is also dangerous.”

—

In the hotel lobby low shelves and expectedly low sofas were lined up.

A circular water tank was affixed on top of the shelf. Its upper portion was spread out in folds, and has the shape like that of a fat tulip.

A number of goldfish were swimming inside. There were red and white speckled types, as well as weird ones with bulging eyes.

Kino was squatting to look at the aquarium, and then a hotel boy who happened to pass by spoke.

“Aren’t they cute? These are the pets this hotel is so proud of. Right now, goldfish are the most popular pets in this country.”

And then he pointed at the type with bulging eyes.

“We have a shortage of this particular type, and breeders are reaping a profit from them.”

“Eh. Aren’t there any other pets around? For instance, dogs,” Kino asked. The boy was slightly surprised, and then with a calm tone,

“There are no dogs here. In our country, keeping a dog is prohibited by law.”

“Prohibited, is it?” Kino asked as she stood up.

“Yes. What would you do if you get bitten by those scary teeth? A human will have a serious injury in no time. In the worst case, you might even get killed. I can’t imagine a world where such dangerous animals like dogs aren’t prohibited. It’s common sense. Only animals which can do absolutely no harm to humans can be kept as pets.”

“That is to say, only the ones allowed by law can be kept as pets?”

The boy nodded, then said afterwards, "Goldfish, small fish, and adult fish not exceeding twenty centimeters, as well as sea monkeys ―― have you heard of those? Then later on, freshwater jellyfish were also allowed. They’re all cute."

“Is that all? What about carp?”

“Carp? Carps are dangerous. You’ll have to have a pond built to keep some. What would happen if a child falls into it?”

“What about cats?” Hermes asked.

“Why of course, cats are no good either. If you were scratched by those claws and catch tetanus what would you do?”

"And small birds?” Kino asked.

“They were allowed until three years ago. But people found out that dust from the feathers entering your windpipe is bad, and since then they have been completely regulated. Those who have been keeping them as pets at the time were required to surrender them."

“Turtles?” Hermes asked.

“Anything with bite force exceeding 0.5 pencil is not allowed. Such as snapping turtles.”

“What do you mean by ‘0.5 pencil’?”

“It’s a measurement of bite force. One pencil is the force required to break a pencil in one minute. That means, if a bite can break a pencil within thirty seconds, it is not allowed.”

“What a stringent check,” Hermes said.

The boy expanded his chest, and said proudly, “All of these are for the safety of human lives,” he said with a radiant smile.

Kino called out to the boy who was about to leave.

“I have one more question. Why is it that the shelves are low anywhere you go?”

"Because it’s dangerous if an object falls from a high place. In this country, the maximum height for a shelf is the average height of a baby that can walk. Building shelves higher than that is prohibited by law. That’s why the rooms are very spacious. Thanks to this law, there are absolutely zero human casualties due to falling objects. The country guarantees the safety of its citizens. Oh, that’s it!”

The boy pointed to a corner of the lobby, where a low bookshelf lined from end to end with thick books was placed. There were about fifty books.

“Over there are this year’s latest editions of our law books. If you so wish, you can read them and make them as a reference for your own country’s laws. We wouldn’t mind at all.”

—

The next day.

As usual, Kino got up at the crack of dawn. She moved her body a bit to relax.

She quickly ate her breakfast, tapped Hermes awake and departed immediately to avoid the morning rush. As there were no other customers in the car, it was a bit shaky for a while until they arrived at the western gate.

The young inspector in his twenties was waiting by the window in the outer walls. Kino saw him and the carriage containing the deposit box right next to him.

“Here. We are grateful for your cooperation.”

Kino first placed the small objects in her bag. Then, she put the knives back in place. The inspector looked on curiously.

Kino took out the pieces of her persuaders, and quickly reassembled them. The inspector who did not run away this time, was gazing at her work.

She then returned ‘Canon’ and ‘Woodsman’ in their holsters. Kino jumped lightly as if confirming the weight.

“As I thought, I feel calmer. It feels as if I lost an arm and it grew back,” Kino said.

The inspector who was silently looking on from the beginning then talked to Kino.

“Hey, miss traveler. Just for a moment. I want to talk to you. ――There’s something I want you to listen to.”

“What is it?” Kino turned around and asked. The young inspector hesitated for a bit.

“I have not told this to anyone else in the country but.... Having this sort of job, I often have a chance to speak to travelers like you. It might be that..., the way of thinking of everyone in this country, that is, regulating everything that is considered dangerous, is somewhat wrong. I’ve been feeling this way for some time...”

“What do you mean? Kino asked. The inspector spoke slowly, in a cautious tone.

“... It’s just that, motorrads, knives, persuaders, cars, instant glue; these are mere ‘objects’.... I don’t know how to say it. I have a feeling that, it depends on the people who uses it, that is to say, a thing becomes either dangerous or not, depending on the way we use it. In other words...”

“Please continue,” Kino said. The inspector looked ahead of Kino.

“In other words, I'm starting to wonder whether the real danger comes from humans. To be precise, human will. It doesn’t mean that things which are considered dangerous and can potentially hurt people are objects that have a will to move freely and attack humans. I think it’s more like somebody used it to intentionally hurt people, or due to lack of knowledge and experience, used it far from its purpose and hurt himself and others as a result. There’s no such thing as a ‘dangerous object’, rather, there are only ‘dangerous humans’, don’t you think? Wouldn't it be better to have people who are well-trained in the correct way of using these objects, as well as in the morals and rules of using them? Instead of not letting people have a dangerous object, shouldn’t we just nurture people that are able to recognize the risks of using them? We ought to increase the number of such people. And I feel that if such people were to acquire the skill to use these various things properly, they will find these objects as more convenient or more fun to use. And I think that there’s a potential for life to be more fulfilling and enjoyable. Of course, there’s always the risk. But if we put them in a balance, I think the potentials would outweigh the risks way way more.”

And then the inspector shook his head, confirming that nobody was around. Even so, with a considerably small voice, he asked Kino.

“Hey, miss traveler. You have knives, persuaders, and a motorrad. In fact, you use them. That’s why I want you to tell me..., uhm, these thoughts I’m having, are they wrong? If in this country, I’m the only one who have such ideas, then maybe there’s something wrong with my head. I want to know the truth. I feel that, if it comes from a traveler, I’d definitely find the answer to my question.”

Kino was earnest all the while, never once shifting her gaze from the serious face of the inspector. She thought for a while.

And then,

“I’ll give you an honest answer. The answer to your question is, ‘Yes’. ――There must be something wrong with your head,” Kino said. The inspector’s eyes opened wide in surprise,

“Ah.... No, but...” and was tongue-tied.

Kino continued.

“The people of this country firmly believe in the importance of living safely, and made a variety of wonderful laws for that purpose.”

“Eh? But...”

“Thanks to that everyone can live safely. And happily. Do you think the people of this country are suffering and grieving in inconvenience and misfortune?”

“......”

“I also want to live safely if I can. That’s why I think this country is a very wonderful place. And, if you think a country is wrong for wanting to be safe, then, there is definitely something wrong with you. It’s a good thing you haven’t said that to anybody else yet.”

“....... I-is that so?”

“Yes. That’s why you have to be more confident of your country’s ways, and live in this country with pride,” Kino declared. He looked at her.

“Is that so...” The inspector muttered, dropping his shoulders.

“We’ll be going then.”

Kino started Hermes’ engine. The engine’s roar bounced off the walls.

“Ah, thank you.... Please take care...,” the inspector said.

“'You take care’,” Kino said. She faced forward, strapped her goggles on, and launched Hermes off.

“....Is that so.”

The inspector was staring blankly at the running motorrad.

—

“It’s been a long time. I feel so good,” Kino said while riding.

Kino and Hermes were riding at a considerable speed along the lakeside road. To the right was the flowing forest, and to the left was the sun, which was reflected radiantly on the surface of the lake up to the horizon.

“I agree. As I thought, a motorrad running using its own engine is much better. Being carried by the tires of another vehicle somehow felt wrong.” Hermes said happily as well. Kino purposely let the rear wheel slide when they reached a curve, and small stones came flying out of the road.

“Hey, Kino,” Hermes asked.

“Hmm?”

“That inspector’s way of thinking was exactly the same as Master’s teachings, wasn't it?”

Kino’s expression softened underneath the goggles.

“That’s right. It felt so nostalgic, listening to him.”

“I knew it. So it was on purpose. But why?”

To Hermes’ question,

“For his safety,” Kino answered. “If they can get rid of dangerous things, what more of a dangerous person?”

“Yup. In each person, there’s always that instinct to live safely.”

Kino stepped on the brakes, and let Hermes’ speed drop.

“Maybe.”

They avoided a large stone lying in the middle of the road.

And accelerated.

Translator's Notes

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