Karasu's Engineering Firm is located at about two cities away. After taking the train for four stations, we still have to transfer to another train and then travel for another three stations before we arrived. It was already four something in the afternoon when we reached the place. Why did they travel that far to my house to collect the junk? If not for the guy at the treatment plant, it would be impossible for me to locate this place.
The town where my house at is not highly populated, nor is it bustling with life; but if I am to be slightly exaggerating, this is a totally desolated place. Even though it was separated by a river, the plot of empty space filled with weeds in front of the station stood out exceptionally. The noise from the Pachinko parlors further brought out the sad loneliness of the place.
Weiss has not spoken since a while back. "Are your legs fine?" She would definitely shake her head fervently if I asked her that—however, just about everyone can see that her steps were not stable at all. I was a little worried, and so I tried to slow down my pace as much as possible, so as to go along with her. The only problem was that the situation did not allow us to walk at a leisure pace.
We stopped at a book and stationery shop in front of the station, and checked the maps to confirm the location of Karasu's Engineering Firm. It's quite a distance away from the station.
It was partially due to Weiss not being able to walk too quickly, that resulted in us arriving at the place only after thirty minutes. It was a narrow road where two trucks could barely drive through side-by-side, and on the two sides of the road were old houses lined up together in a row—Karasu's Engineering Firm is located within one of those buildings. It was a two story building that seemed to be cut straight out from a black-and-white photo, and I didn't even have to see the rusted signboard to know that it's an engineering firm. It seemed like the whole of the first story was used as a parking area as well as a working area—an black colored truck was parked at the side, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt metal. Deeper in was a heap of things that looked like they were either tools or junk, but I could not quite see it clearly as it was getting dark already.
"It's this place?"
"Mmm."
The lights were switched on for the tin hut located on the second floor, which seemed to be the office. However, there was no one at the working area. I hesitated at the gate for a while. What to do? Should I head up to the second floor directly and say out everything truthfully? The other party may play dumb in response. Is everything that was picked up really stored inside?
"Wait here for a while, Weiss. I'll go take a look."
I placed the luggage next to Weiss' feet, and walked into the parking area. The smell of metal became heavier. At the side of the truck was a drill and lathe, as well as household appliances like an old television, fridge, microwave and etc.
I began searching for traces of my bass at the rubbish heap in the dark.
"Oi!" A voice suddenly came from behind me, causing me to turn my head in shock. I saw a burly man who had the sleeves of his T-shirt rolled up to his shoulders. His expressions didn't look too friendly. "What do you want? It's dangerous around here, so don't enter as you please."
"Umm, well…" The guitar case was about to slip off my shoulders, so I propped it back into place. "May I ask… if you collect any electronics… and stuff?"
"Yeah I do… but what do you want me to collect? Not everything's free."
"Ah, no, I am not asking you to help me to collect something… I just want to ask if you had collected some large-sized rubbish from my house on the day before yesterday? The address is No. 6, Chiba city. It's placed together with the television… it's a bass…"
In the end, I asked the guy directly about it. Even though I should not have seen the guy's face clearly as he was standing in front of the faintly shining street light with the rays shining into my eyes, I could still detect a change in his expressions.
"Hah?"
"… You see… I've accidentally threw it away by mistake as a large-sized rubbish…"
"Who the hell knows! We won't collect things that are not required from us, and moreover what reason do we have for running to a place that is two cities away? Think about that!"
That quick denial just further confirmed my doubts. This guy probably knew about the surrounding areas near my house at his fingertips, so he knew immediately where I was talking about after hearing my address, but there's an even greater possibility… it's probably this person who has taken away the rubbish without any prior permission.
"But, my family members said they've seen this truck before?" I wove a lie.
The man showed an expression as though the gum he was chewing on had changed into a caterpillar, and stared at me fiercely for quite a while.
"And then? What do you want?"
"I just want it back."
"I don't know!"
The man began to play dumb—seemed like he was planning to feign ignorance all the way.
"Bass? We do collect the typical guitars, and sometimes we accidentally pick up a bass or two as well, but we'll toss it away immediately."
"Where did you throw it to?"
"I don't know, I am not the person-in-charge here. Now just scram!"
"Please, may I know where do you throw them to? Please tell me!"
"Didn't I already say, I don't know! Stop creating trouble for me kid!"
He stomped his foot on the sandy ground, and then tramped his way up the stairs to the office. A loud sound of the slamming doors then came to me, as if he was trying to break the door. I was frozen in my place for a while.
I was left alone in the space which was dark and filled with the smell of metal. A heavy feeling of tiredness suddenly landed on my shoulders, and it felt like my muscles had kinked up together. I had already come here, I had actually chased all the way here. But my clues were dead once more. I no longer had the strength to even walk.
I could suddenly hear a footstep. I lifted my head, and saw Weiss dragging the luggage over. I forced a smile at her. I had said many times that "I'll definitely find it", but the result was actually something like this—it just felt really embarrassing. There's nothing which I could do. I did not manage to catch up to my destination. It somehow felt like that I had been repeatedly doing that all these while.
Suddenly, Weiss stretched out her not very agile index finger, and pointed it at the parking area.
"… Hmm?" I raised my head and looked in the direction which she was pointing to. Half of the reddish brown truck was hidden in the shadows.
"Somehow… it feels like I've seen this vehicle somewhere before." Weiss mumbled.
I stared at her for a while, before turning my attention back at the truck. Just then, a flicker of light flashed past my mind. I have an impression of it too.
I, too, have seen that truck before.
I know this vehicle, so I must have seen it somewhere before. It must have passed by me at somewhere. Where is it? Just as I was trying to remember, what appeared in my mind however was the side profile of Weiss' face. Why? Why did that truck remind me of Weiss? When exactly did I see it? When, where…
"Ah…!" I remembered. I do know this truck, because I had seen it with Weiss before. On that day when I first saw Weiss, we had brushed by this truck before. At a faraway town next to the seas, in the silent forest within the mountains. "… Do you really think this is the truck which we saw back then?"
Weiss did not answer me, but I was not waiting for her answer either. We had no other options in our hands, since that was the only clue left. Weiss and I looked at each other, and nodded at the same time. If so… then let's get moving.
We walked out of the engineering firm, and traced our steps back to the train station. Towards The Department Store of Hearts' Desires.