AFTERWORD

I’ve been thinking of how to start this afterword for three weeks, but the next thing I know, it’s the day before deadline. I’m in trouble if I don’t shape up and write it today.

…After racking my brains for three weeks, this is the introduction I come up with.

Hello, I’m Yukako Kabei.

I’m writing this as I eat breakfast in my neighborhood coffee shop. Even though it’s evening. I get the feeling that, as I sit here for hours every single time, staring at my laptop, staring at my printouts, sometimes eating my pencil, the employees are suspicious of me, wondering what that customer does for a living, and it makes me uneasy. I’m not anyone worthy of suspicion, so…

This book, Kieli: White Wake on the Sand, is the continuation of my previous, and virgin, work, Kieli: The Dead Sleep in the Wilderness.

My last book centered around the journey of a train, spouting smoke as it chugged across the wilderness, and now this book focuses on the journey of a steamship, spouting smoke as it sails across an ocean of sand. Storywise, it’s about a girl with a complicated personality and a man who hates doing anything, getting together and being separated, as well as the story of a man who’s tired of living regaining purpose in his life…but he can’t quite fully grasp that purpose, and sometimes ends up dragging emotional baggage. Was it okay for me to write that? Well, I already did…

Um, yes. Tentatively, for now, at the present, there are plans for a sequel.

294 - afterword

If you like, I would love it if you would stick around for their story a while longer.

Now then, a lot of people helped me make this book a reality. I’m going to do this every time, and use this space to express my gratitude.

To everyone who helped in the production of this book, and to my editor. I know this is my second book, but I haven’t gotten used to a thing, and I actually caused a lot more trouble than last time, but you never threw out the annoying newbie, and you patiently stuck with me. I am truly thankful for that.

To Taue-san, who again made my clumsy story exciting with his beautiful illustrations. You’re a wonderful, soothing person, just as would be expected of someone who draws such delicate, gentle pictures. On the way home from the party celebrating the completion of the last book, we kept bowing to each other, saying, “Really, thank you so much, thank you for all you did, I look forward to working with you in the future,” and someone from the editorial department asked, “What are you, shishi-odoshi*?”

To my family, friends, and acquaintances. I’m managing to survive somehow, so please don’t worry. It looks as if it will be a little longer before I can keep a mameshiba.**

* “Shishi-odoshi” is the device seen in a lot of Japanese gardens to scare away deer. It’s made of bamboo, and placed in a little stream, so that as it fills with water, it tips downward, striking a hard surface beneath it (to make a noise and scare deer away), thus emptying it so it stands upright again. Thus, it is constantly bowing.

** “Mameshiba” is the miniature breed of the shiba ken dog breed.

And finally, of course, this will turn into the same conclusion as last time, but really, with all my heart…

I offer my sincerest thanks to you who are holding this book in your hands. I hope we get a chance to meet again.

Yukako Kabei