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murakami, haruki - Norwegian wood

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"Doing what?" Naoko asked me, - just the two of you."<br />

"Not at liberty to say, Miss," I answered.<br />

Naoko chuckled and set down her book. Then the three of us ate<br />

grapes to the sound of the rain.<br />

"When it's raining like this," said Naoko, "it feels as if we're the only<br />

ones in the world. I wish it would just keep raining so the three of us<br />

could stay together."<br />

"Oh, sure," said Reiko, "and while the two of you are going at it, I'm<br />

supposed to be fanning you or playing background music on my guitar<br />

like some dumb geisha? No, thanks!"<br />

"Oh, I'd let you have him once in a while," said Naoko, laughing.<br />

"OK, then, count me in," said Reiko. "Come on, rain, pour down!"<br />

The rain did pour down, and kept pouring. Thunder shook the place<br />

from time to time. When we had finished the grapes, Reiko went back<br />

to her cigarettes and pulled out the guitar from under her bed and<br />

started to play - first, "Desafinado" and "The Girl from Ipanema", then<br />

some Bacharach and a few Lennon and McCartney songs. Reiko and I<br />

sipped wine again, and when that was gone we shared the brandy that<br />

was left in my flask. A warm, intimate mood took hold as the three of<br />

us talked into the night, and I began to wish, with Naoko, that the rain<br />

would keep on falling.<br />

"Will you come to see me again?" she asked, looking at me.<br />

"Of course I will," I said.<br />

"And will you write?"<br />

"Every week."<br />

"And will you add a few lines for me?" asked Reiko. "That I will," I<br />

said. "I'd be glad to."<br />

At eleven o'clock, Reiko unfolded the sofa and made a bed for me as<br />

she had the night before. We said goodnight and turned out the lights.<br />

Unable to sleep, I took The Magic Mountain and a torch from my<br />

rucksack and read for a while. Just before midnight, the bedroom door<br />

edged open and Naoko came and crawled in next to me. Unlike the<br />

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