novel translations

Rattling

Author: Ukari

To say here is far, and to call yonder nearby. Stories on the edge of the every day, strange tales you may or may not be moved by. Strange, curious, fantastic stories told by me, you, him and her. There are many stories but they’re all concluded within a single page, each story around 200 to 1200 characters in length, a short story collection you can easily read. Please enjoy them. Updated every Saturday at 6pm.

***

It’s been a month since I moved into my cheap new apartment and I’ve been noticing something.
Every morning. I haven’t properly checked so I can’t say the exact time, but usually it happens around 4 or 5am.
There’s something rattling on the road next to the house.

The sound is very light. Like a hollow piece of metal, a steel pipe being dragged along the road or something.
It’s a bit slower than the speed of a person walking, rattle, rattle, rattle.
It passes without fail every morning.
You probably wouldn’t hear it if you’re not on the first floor, but even if you did the sound is so small it wouldn’t even disturb your sleep.

I’ve never actually gone to check what it is.
All I’d have to do is open the storm shutters and curtains. That would resolve the entire story. I know that.
But I can’t do it.
If I look, I feel like in return I’ll be the one who’s seen.

Rattle. Rattle. Rattle.

That light thing is again slowly passing down the street today.

 

Original Japanese

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