“One of Waga’s friends is the critic Sekigawa Shigeo. When Sekigawa found out that his lover, a bar hostess named Miura Emiko, was pregnant but refused to have an abortion, he asked Waga’s help in dealing with the situation. From here on, we have Sekigawa’s testimony. He asked for Waga’s help because he had heard Waga say that it was possible to induce abnormal physical conditions through exposure to electronic music. Emiko was brought to Waga’s studio. She ended up like Miyata. I think that, in this case, there was no intent to kill on Waga’s part. He used this method hoping only to cause an abortion. Emiko fell because of a dizzy spell as she left the studio. When she fainted, she fell off the raised outdoor hallway onto the hard concrete underneath.
“It was not only Waga, but also Sekigawa, who was shocked at Emiko’s death. This had to be kept a secret. Sekigawa was placed in Waga’s power. And suddenly, this envious friend and formerly severe critic began to praise Waga’s work.
“This is a brief summary of the evidence gathered so far. The suspect is scheduled to leave Japan from Haneda Airport tomorrow night. I will answer your questions now. Depending on your conclusions, I would like to request a warrant for Waga Eiryo’s arrest.”
There was still almost an hour until the departure of the ten p.m. Pan American flight to San Francisco. The international lobby at Haneda Airport was always filled with cheerful people seeing others off. Tonight, long-haired youths and young girls dressed in colorful clothes stood out among the others. It was an elegant crowd of well-wishers. These people were seeing off the prominent young composer, Waga Eiryo.
The clock pointed to 9:20. Those who had been chatting in the lobby gathered around Waga. This evening, Waga was wearing a new outfit. He had a large rose in his lapel and carried several bouquets under his arm. Beside him stood his fiancée, Tadokoro Sachiko, in a cobalt blue suit. She smiled more than anyone else.
It almost seemed as though they were about to leave on their honeymoon. Tadokoro Shigeyoshi stood next to them, his ruddy face all smiles. Because he was a cabinet minister and a leading politician, other politicians with no connection to the music world were also in attendance. Members of the Nouveau group stood directly in front of Waga. Takebe, Katazawa, and Yodogawa were joined by some others. For some reason, Sekigawa had not come.
They were saying that he must have had some unexpected business to attend to.
Surrounded by many people, Waga gave a speech. His expression was bright. The large flower in his lapel seemed to symbolize his happiness.
The boarding announcement began. “The ten o’clock flight for San Francisco via Honolulu is ready for boarding. Passengers on this flight, please proceed to the departure area.”
A cheer went up. A multitude of arms were raised in waves. Those who were seeing off others stared at the crowd around Waga.
The enormous foreign airliner was already positioned on the apron. The crowd flowed from the lobby to the observation deck. They prepared to wave to Waga as he entered the airliner. The boarding ramp was moved slowly up to the body of the plane.
Waga walked down the hallway reserved for passengers only. On either side of the corridor were sections for customs, visa inspection, currency exchange, and other procedures. Beyond this area was a passenger departure lounge. Here the passengers waited until the stewardess made the boarding announcement.
“It’ll be soon now,” Imanishi said to Yoshimura as they waited outside.
Yoshimura stood shivering slightly, his hands in his pockets and his eyes watching the passageway.
“It’s been a long investigation.” Imanishi let out a sigh. “Hey,” he continued, “you show him the arrest warrant. Grab his arm forcefully.”
“Imanishi-san…” Yoshimura protested.
“Don’t mind me. From now on, it’s the era of you young people.”
The passengers came walking down the passageway in a line. First came a large American couple. People were going through exit procedures: baggage check, passport control, and currency exchange. Those who were finished entered the waiting room.
The lounge was not large. The first passengers entered and sat down.
Imanishi pointed with his chin at a young Japanese man standing in the middle of the line.
A tense Yoshimura approached Waga. “Waga-san.”
Turning to the man who had spoken to him, Waga gave a start when he saw his face. It was the detective in the raincoat who had been among those at his house the previous day.
“Excuse me.” Yoshimura called Waga aside. “I’m sorry to disturb you. Please pardon me.” He led Waga over to where Imanishi stood.
Taking an envelope from his pocket, Yoshimura pulled out the document inside and handed it to the composer. With trembling hands, Waga took the piece of paper and ran his eyes over its contents. It was a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of murder. The blood drained from Waga’s face. His eyes stared vacantly off into space.
“We won’t handcuff you. There’s a police car waiting out front. You are to come with us.” Yoshimura put his arm around Waga as though he were a close friend.
Imanishi stepped to Waga’s other side. He did not say a word. His expression did not change, but his eyes watered slightly.
The other passengers watched with puzzled looks as the three men retraced their steps along the passageway.
On the observation deck, those who had come to send Waga off stood looking down at the large airliner. Lights illuminated the walkway with the intensity of high noon.
The first passenger left the building. The well-wishers all turned toward that person. It was a tall American military officer. Next followed the large American couple, then a short Japanese, a foreign woman with a child, a young Japanese woman in a kimono with a young man, and another foreigner.
Waga was nowhere in sight. One of the first passengers reached the top of the steps and turned around to wave at his friends. The boarding continued. The last person left the building, a fat, elderly foreigner. Sachiko’s face clouded with puzzlement.
Everyone looked bewildered. The Tadokoro family’s expressions became anxious.
At this moment, an announcement was broadcast.
“This announcement is for those seeing off Waga Eiryo who was scheduled to depart on the ten p.m. Pan American flight to San Francisco. Waga-san has been detained by urgent business and will not be boarding this flight. Waga-san will not be boarding this flight…”
The voice was modulated, the cadence of the words was slow. It sounded as lovely as music.
Seichō Matsumoto
Seichō Matsumoto was born in 1909 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu. Now Japan's foremost master of mystery, Matsumoto was forty years old before he launched his literary career. His first work appeared in the influential Weekly Asahi in 1950. Two years later, he received the coveted Akutagawa Literary Prize for his Aru kokura nikki den. He also received the Japan Detective Story Writers' Prize for his short story Kao (The Face). Ten to sen, the Japanese version of Points and Lines, became a best seller and created a Matsumoto boom. Several of his short stories have been translated into English. A prolific writer, his work includes novels and essays, as well as detective stories.
