The Robot and the Weight of the Bed by Naoki Sanjugo Read online

  “When all is said and done, I will be an owner of Model XX. When selections are announced in official bulletins, the chosen women will appear in groups.”

  “Well, Shuntaro is probably smiling in his grave.”

  “But the change will be radical. Both society and people should fear the power of science.”

  Chapter 6

  “You look like you could love the robot more than me.”

  “Like loving a dog.”

  “There’s no jealously. None of those idiotic emotions. But loving a robot is not in my nature. It feels insulting.”

  “Well, I love this pipe.”

  “But a pipe is different.”

  ”So it is. It means one more plaything with different emotions and forms of love for me, how should I say it? It’s definitely charming. My intentions should be communicated unaltered. But, half is to love oneself. I definitely possess the delicate feelings and emotions provided in both sexes. I should enjoy more stimulated feelings. The more our senses differed, the more I came to love the metallic essence of that robot, cold and ticklish.”

  The scent of a beastly perfume resembling body odor hovered in the air. The wife drew a flower design identical to the one drawn on the robot’s chest on her chest in blue, red, and violet make-up and drew stripes in a vibrant dye on the skin of her exposed legs. This made her legs appear longer, and at the same time, was an alluring body decoration.

  “The power of man is known, but that of the robot is unlimited. As women gradually resist that power, men will become worthless. But people have some good points, too.”

  “What about me...”

  “...”

  “Because the promise was for two weeks, I...”

  “I remember. 5 o’clock.”

  “Then...”

  “It’s 5:20. If it were the robot, the knock would come at the first or second chime of 5 o’clock.”

  “Even in love, the robot will win and be the end of humanity.”

  “Yes, the power of life and death returns to the hands of women.”

  “It seems so.”

  The man stood up, then opened the door and entered the next room. On the right side of the room, the robot clad in new, colorful, rayon Japanese-style pajamas smiled.

  Staring, the man said, “Robot.”

  “Yes,” replied the robot.

  “Honey, you’re having an affair with the robot, too.”

  While walking with her colorful body under the thin silk, the wife said, “Only the robot is having an affair.”

  “Robot, do you love her?”

  “Yes.”

  The man stared at the robot’s face. The wife said, “He also understands the words of love.”

  “He can respond to those kinds of words.”

  “Only the simple words of love...”

  “Should I kick him out?”

  The robot was silent. The man looked at the unresponsive but smiling robot and felt like kicking him out.

  “He‘s strange, like there is a soul.”

  The wife opened the bed curtain, sat down, and said, “Let’s talk here,” and placed the chair beside the bed and her elbow poked into the top of the cushion.

  Chapter 7

  “Those staring robot eyes are unsettling.”

  The man stood up from the chair, placed it outside of the curtain, and pulled the curtain.

  The wife leaned her body on the large cushion with one leg hanging off the bed. The man sat at the edge of the bed. He looked at the wife with passionate eyes and said, “I...”

  The wife buried her head in the cushion and slightly opened her eyes and said, “Whaaat?” in a soft flirtatious voice like a female cat. The man said, “Can the robot kiss?”

  “Only a brief one.”

  “For that, a human has the advantage.”

  “True.”

  The man got closer the wife. He sat deeper onto the bed and wrapped his hands around her.

  “No. Don’t.”

  The wife turned her head away. This was nothing more than seductive flirting having the appearance of rejection.

  The robot advanced forward as precisely as calculated by Shuntaro synchronized to the signal from the bed, and pushed aside the curtain with his head and body.

  “Robot, don’t come any closer!” cried the wife.

  The man yelled, “Idiot!”

  The Robot opened both hands. When the wife screamed, “What are you doing?” he spread his hands to embrace the two wrapped in the bed.

  They turned pale, frightened by the robot’s behavior. In an instant, their bodies became cold with fear to the marrow of their bones, as those supple but powerful hands enveloped them.

  “No! Let go!”

  The wife tried to free her leg from the robot’s hand. The man who was being held by the top of his shoulder blade tried with all his strength to free himself by gripping the bed frame with his right hand. The wife, her contorted face with protruding, terror-stricken eyes, screamed, “Help! Somebody! Help!” while she flailed and kicked at the air and the robot. The robot steadily and meticulously tightened his grip on the two...until their bones ached.

  “Aaaa! Ow! It hurts!” cried the wife.

  At that moment, the robot spoke, “The bed has been defiled.” His voice sounded just like Shuntaro’s to the couple. At that instant, they both felt searing pain spreading into their bones as if they were being stabbed at the bases of their skulls, and screamed.

  The robot responded, “I am the soul of the robot.”

  Their legs bent with excruciating pain. Trembling, their fingers were contorted to the breaking point. Their faces became a deep, dark red and blood oozed into their eyeballs. Soon blood was gushing from their nostrils, and their exposed eyes protruded as if they were about to fly out.

  The man only groaned feebly.

  When the people who came running to help arrived, the curtain was swaying slightly. The servants hesitantly inquired, “Ma’am?” The two servants glanced at each other. All they heard was dripping sounds. A moment later, they heard the rattling of a machine stopping. The two servants saw the wife’s discolored legs decorated by make-up dangling beneath the curtain. When they opened the curtain, they saw blood gushing from the wife’s eyes and mouth. On the two bodies, lay the robot.

   

  (Shinseinen, March 1931)

  Autobiographical Sketch of Naoki Sanjugo

  A Brief History of Me

  Real name Umemura Soichi

  Age 35 years old, born under Ippaku Suisei of ancient Chinese astrology

  Birthplace Andoji-machi, Minami-uchi, Osaka

  Father Sohachi, 81 years old

  Mother Shizuka, 69 years old

  Class Commoner

  Younger brother Seiji, teacher at Matsuyama High School

  Wife Sumako, 47 years old

  Son Ibuki

  Daughter Kinomi

  Height About 4.5 feet

  Weight About 102 pounds

  Origin of my pen name Naoki is the ume character in Umemura split apart. At that time, I was 31 years old, so I called myself Naoki Sanjuichi (Naoki 31). I only wrote one story for literary circles under this name.

  The following year, I became Naoki Sanjuni (Naoki 32). This time, I wrote two stories for a monthly review.

  After the Great Kanto Earthquake, I returned to Osaka and joined Planton Ltd. as the editor of the literary magazine Kuraku (Joys and Sorrows). I turned 33 and wrote for three magazines for the general public.

  Skipping the unlucky 34, when I turned 35, I entered the cinematic world and with the late Shozo Makino formed Renga Eiga Geijutsuka (United Film Artists Association). We produced films with actors like Sawada Shojiro and Ichikawa Ennosuke, and had our successes and failures. I later parted company with Makino in connection with the love affair between his daughter Makino Tomoko and Tsukigata Ryunosuke.

  Disgusted with the folly of the cinematic world, I returned to Tokyo to devote myself to literature.

 
Habits No hats, no cloaks, Japanese-style dress. I cannot write at a desk. My custom is to write while lying down. On many days, starting around midnight, I write and read until 8 or 9 in the morning. I rise around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. When I write fast, I can write 5 to 10 pages an hour. My speed record is 16 pages. (I wrote the final 24 pages of Odoriko Gyojyoki (The Dancer and Two Warriors) at this speed.)

  I don’t drink alcohol. I like vegetables. My cigarettes are limited to my own blend or Magnum by Three Castles. However, when I’m broke, Bat will do.

  As an airplane enthusiast, I board the largest number of times among the passengers and am sometimes the record holder.

  My personal car is a Panol roadster. This used car is worth 1500 yen and is co-owned with Kikuchi Kan. By sharing the car, Kikuchi, Bungei Shunju Ltd., and I split the monthly expenses three ways, which beats a one-yen taxi.

  Interests Go, 23 points, 2-dan; Shogi, 2-piece handicap, 8-dan; Mahjong, unranked; Coffee; Teahouses; Traveling; Not adverse to horse racing

  Assets One-half of a car and a few swords

  Originally published: Gendai Taishu Bungaku Zenshu, Vol. 8, Heibonsha Ltd., March 1931.