A translation of 星新一 (Shinichi Hoshi)’s short story, 誘拐 (Kidnapping.) I quite enjoyed reading this in Japanese and wanted to give it a shot as my first translation project.
注: I benefited greatly from flashfictionjapan’s translation; the perspective of prior translators was vital in my efforts. I am a complete beginner, so I do not stand by this as the “one true” translation of the work (nor do I think such a thing exists!) Critique is welcome so long as you keep in mind that I am doing my best, and also that literal =/= correct.
And, without further ado, the story!
The doctor leapt up at the phone’s ring. He put it to his ear, and from its jet black depths came a thin voice.
“Hello, is this the master of the house?”
“That’s me; what is it?”
“That would make you the famed Dr. Estrela; is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right, but who in the world is this?”
“I’m afraid I won’t be introducing myself, but I’m sure you’ve guessed by now what I’m here to discuss with you. Isn’t that right?”
And here the voice succumbed to a chilly laughter.
“Oh—then you—!”
That cool voice interrupted the doctor once again.
“Precisely. Your child is, of course, just falling asleep here.”
The doctor’s voice shook. “You’ve taken my son? And what do you plan to do with him? He’s my whole world—not even a year old—”
“If he meant so much to you, you wouldn’t have left him in the car while you went about doing your silly little errands.”
“So that’s when you took him? When I’d just gone in to get a magazine! You must’ve had your eye on him from long before.”
“Now, Doctor. Instead of panicking, why don’t you accept reality, like any good scientist?”
“Why on earth are you doing this? If you had some kind of grudge against me, we could have settled it personally. This kind of cruelty—”
“No, nothing like a grudge, Doctor. If anything, I’d say I quite respect you.”
“Then what are you going to do? My wife is being driven mad; she’s bedridden!”
At this, the voice donned a layer of concern.
“Oh, Doctor, you don’t say! You haven’t called the police, have you?”
“No, not yet. I thought, just in case, I’d better wait to see if you called first, and that’s where I was when you did. Now just don’t hurt my son.”
“Just as I’d expect from you, Doctor. Given all that, you see there’s no cause for alarm. Your son is quite safe. Now, to business.”
“‘Business’. But you must know that to kidnap a child, to demand money for a child, is a heinous crime.”
“Of course, yes, I know that. But let me tell you this, Doctor—what I don’t know is what will happen to your child if you try anything funny.”
“Please—please just wait! How much do you want?”
“Let’s put it plainly. What I want is the Doctor’s recently completed, most heavily rumored secret—that is, the blueprints to the robot.”
“What?! No, that’s impossible.”
“Now, now, putting it that way just sounds like selfishness, Doctor.”
“You’re talking about something I made to punish evil. I can’t even consider the idea of putting it in the hands of someone like you. I’ll pay anything you like, so just give me an amount in money and have done with it!”
“But, Doctor, it’s just as you’ve always said: research can’t be bought in money, can it? Speaking of which, by the way, when it comes to turning those blueprints into money, I’m certain I’ll be far more effective at it than you.”
“Oh, to hell with you! And you dare to still call yourself human?!”
“The very same. And here’s your evidence—just like anybody else, I’ve got my cravings.”
“A bastard like you shouldn’t be allowed to live!”
“Come now, don’t get excited. You mustn’t forget, you’re responsible for the life of your child.”
“Fine. There’s nothing I can do. Let me respond to your proposition.”
“Yes, of course! There’s my rational Doctor.”
“But first, you’re telling me that my son is definitely there with you now?”
“Don’t you worry about that. Yes, right here on the sofa, sleeping soundly all this time.”
“Alright. That’s a relief, I suppose. But let me hear his voice, just to be sure.”
“He doesn’t talk yet, does he?”
“No, even a cry is enough. Please, let me hear the cry of my child, so I can respond with surety.”
“It’s really alright with you? To make your child cry?”
“To be sure my child is safe? Of course. Just pull one ear hard for me, please. No matter what, the nerves of his ear are quite sensitive; even in sleep it’s certain to make him cry.”
“That’s an oddity, isn’t it? Well, alright. I’m going to try it now. But a baby’s cry is loud, and we wouldn’t want anyone to come running... I’m going to shut the window.”
“That’s just fine. If you’re worried, go ahead and lock the door, too.”
“What?”
“Whatever you like. Quickly, let me hear my child’s cry. Prove to me that he’s safe and sound.”
“Please, patience. I’m about to do it. Let’s end this and get back to our business.”
For a moment the line grew quiet, followed by the sound of a window closing. Then a distant voice could be heard.
“Alright, son, your father says he wants to hear you cry. This might hurt, but you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
The doctor pressed the phone to his ear with all the force in his hands.
A violent explosion sounded.
Returning the phone to its cradle, the doctor laughed to himself.
“They never guess that the ear is the trigger. One more villain down.”
