Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [49]
“I couldn’t read one one-millionth!” Uncle Lou replied, his body shaking with laughter. “What I want to know is, who’s writing all of them? Whoever it is, their heads must be full of words instead of brains.”
Konno Books was a small, three-story building. Uncle Lou pushed his way through the crowd with Wataru following close by. There were rivers of books flowing over display stands, and mountains of books stacked high to the ceiling. After spending close to an hour, they managed to find three glossy, oversize books that seemed to fit the bill.
“Whew!” said Uncle Lou, “talk about a workout!” Sweat was dripping from his brow.
They spilled out of the crowded store onto the street. Wataru was just about to take a deep breath, when someone slammed into him from behind. Caught off guard, Wataru wobbled and fell to his hands and knees on the pavement. A sharp sting ran up his arms and legs. He tried to get up, but his legs were numb. Helpless, he watched as a grimy sneaker came down on his right hand, stomping it into the asphalt.
“Yeeouch!”
Uncle Lou’s thick arm snaked around Wataru’s chest and lifted him up off the ground. “You okay? Are you hurt?” He was yelling. Numb from the pain in his hand, Wataru managed to nod and slowly stand.
His uncle dashed after a man walking fast in the opposite direction. He grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around, revealing a very young man in jeans wearing a gray T-shirt.
“What’s the big idea, knocking down a kid and stomping on his hand? You didn’t even say sorry!”
Even with Uncle Lou’s arms on him, the young man’s expression didn’t change a bit. He looked pale and sickly. His cheeks were hollow, his eyes vacant. They look like the eyes of a dead fish, Wataru thought, clutching his throbbing hand to his chest.
“Hey! Do you even know what you just did?” Uncle Lou was coming to a boil. His face turned beet red, and he grabbed the guy by the neck of his Tshirt. The young man remained coolly silent.
“It’s fine, Uncle Lou, I’m okay,” Wataru called out.
His uncle glanced back at Wataru, and then turned back to his captive. “You trampled that little boy over there and stepped on his hand, and you were just going to walk away like nothing happened? Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can get away with something like that?”
The man’s expression didn’t change. The muscles in his face were completely relaxed, giving him an angry look.
“You’re a grown man! Don’t you know that you’ve got to set an example? Now you go apologize to that boy, and make sure he’s not hurt!”
The man’s mouth finally moved, but from where he was, Wataru couldn’t make out what he was saying. He could see his uncle turn a deeper shade of red, though.
“What was that? Let’s hear you say that again!”
The man complied. “Shut up,” he said, louder this time.
Uncle Lou blinked. “Did you just tell me to shut up?”
“Man, give it a rest, will you?”
Uncle Lou was so surprised his grip loosened. The man wriggled out of his grasp and started to walk away. “What do I care if he gets stepped on, or run over?” he spat over his shoulder. “He shouldn’t be out in traffic.”
Satoru’s mouth fell open. His face went pale. This could be bad. Wataru felt his heart skip a beat. Uncle Lou, Uncle Lou, stay calm!
Just then, Wataru heard a familiar voice. “Your uncle’s in danger! You have to stop him!”
Wataru was so surprised he stopped for a second.
It’s her! Where is she speaking to me from this time?
“Traffic?!” his uncle snarled. “You don’t look like a car to me. And what gives you the right to run down children? You think this road only belongs to you?”
“Well, it sure doesn’t belong to you,” the man said with a sneer. “Out of my face, old man. I don’t got time for country bumpkins like you.”
Uncle Lou’s shoulders rose. He’s going to punch him! What do I do, what do I…
Wataru threw himself to the ground with a shrill cry. “Ouch, ouch, it hurts!”
It worked instantly. His wild bull of an uncle stopped on the verge