Fedwardshi no Ahiru by Ushijima Keiko
Volume 2 Part 1
The Goddess of Death
Translation in English by Y.W
natane@geocities.com
This translation may not be 100% accurate as I tried to make the whole thing "flow" better and
because my Japanese is by no mean perfect! :)
1:56 PM 12/10/98
Key
{ } = labels placed by the author
[ ] = action by characters
( ) = speech bubble/ thought
Notes
______________
Kevin (That night I had an odd dream, I was transformed to my younger self. Then in
front of my eyes stands my grandmother who died when I was 10.)
Grandmother!
Grandmother Kevin, listen carefully, he's not going to go, he's not going to go yet.
Kevin (I didn't understand what she was saying, but for some reason it was painfully
sad. When I woke up, I was crying in my bed, as if it was real.)
{An adult crying in bed!}
Cafe owner Welcome Mr. Fredward.
Kevin (It's been a year since I moved into this little town. This winter is going to
be the coldest yet.)
Cafe owner The menu today is rabbit and herb pie.
Kevin I'll order one with hot tea.
(When snow turned into rain, then spring will come again)
Girl That person is Kevin Fredward right?
Girl 2 No it's not!
Girl It is!
Girl 3 Um you wrote this book didn't you? "Rosemary's Garden".
Kevin Yes, but. (It feels rather awkward).
Girl (Aww he's gorgeous!) Could you please sign it? The place name was changed, but
the setting was this town wasn't it? The landmarks were the same that's why.
But what we liked most is the duck who is a housekeeper, Rosemary the main
character. I loved her very much.
Girl 4 You're the star of this town! Hope you'll stay successful! Thank you!
Kevin (It's been a while since I signed my work)
Woman You were once a famous suspense writer whom shocked the media, but now you're
only entertaining small town girls, poor man...Is this the same man who was my
lover?
Kevin Esmerelda!
Esmerelda It's been two years Kevin.
Kevin (Esmerelda, the top model who was called the world's diamond. Two years ago
we separated because of a fight, my ex-lover)
Kevin What are you doing in a place like this?
Esmerelda I arrived yesterday and I'm staying above this cafe.
Kevin That's not what I asked.
Esmerelda May I sit next to you?
[Kevin casually kicked the chair nearest to him down]
Kevin Be my guest.
Esmerelda In that case, excuse me.
[She sat herself on his lap]
Kevin You haven't changed a bit.
Esmerelda Neither have you, I'm glad Kevin.
Kevin It's her blunt honesty and spoiled nature which is the most worrying. Women are
like the devil. (afraid) In that case let's go outside.
Esmerelda A quiet town that resembles a graveyard, I hate small towns.
Kevin (There you go, her spoiled nature is showing through).
Esmerelda You call that a car?!
Kevin (What's wrong with a Rover?)
Esmerelda What happened to your Ferrari and Benz?
Kevin I threw then away they're useless in a town like this.
Esmerelda Don't tell me you want to stay here forever? I came to bring you back Kevin. Are
you sane yet? Why would you want to be a children's writer? Don't you want to
write suspense anymore? And also, how could a duck be a housekeeper?
Kevin ROSEMARY!
Rosemary What a surprise we have a guest, welcome.
[Sitting on top of the car's roof]
Kevin (I didn't invite her, she followed me home).
Rosemary Let me introduce myself, my name is Rosemary and I'm the housekeeper.
Esmerelda This duck can talk? impossible...
Kevin Hello Cliff.
[Esmerelda pinch Kevin's cheeks]
Kevin Awww!!
Esmerelda It's not a dream!
Kevin You!!
Esmerelda This is a miracle! How wonderful, I can't believe it's real. Kevin, can I have
this duck?
Kevin Rosemary is not an object, you can't just give her away.
Rosemary I'm sorry Esmerelda sama, I'm working for Kevin.
Esmerelda Then I'll double your wages, no I'll triple it even.
Rosemary I don't want to leave the town where I was born.
Esmerelda In that case...Kevin, I've changed my plans, I'm staying at this house. Life in
a small town may not be that boring. Please?
My room?
Rosemary Second floor.
Kevin (She suddenly appeared in front of me, what's the meaning of this Esmerelda?)
Esmerelda It's not such a bad room, how did you learn to speak human language?
Rosemary I came from a special family, but the other 1/9 comes from ordinary duck.
May I ask something?
Esmerelda What?
Rosemary Is Esmerelda your real name?
Esmerelda No, my real name is Maria Christine Landsley, Esmerelda is my stage name.
Rosemary Then you took it from the novel by Victor Hugo right?
Esmerelda Wow! you can read as well?
Rosemary Yes that's right.
Esmerelda In the middle ages, in France, Esmerelda the gypsy who loved freedom. She died
in the end, but when she died she said this, "life is beautiful". Her strength
made me envious.
Rosemary Are you here for a vacation?
Esmerelda It's something to do with Kevin's book, do you know the company owned by
Blackwell? Oh don't worry, I'll tell it to him myself.
[Rosemary looks extremely puzzled]
Esmerelda I also wanted to stay away from the city for a while. Kevin haven't changed at
all. His thoughts are reflected on his face constantly.
Rosemary This is a peaceful place, then a gain Kevin is not the kind of person who would
ask about the reason why you came here.
Esmerelda It seemed like you know everything about him.
Rosemary I have lived with him for a year.
Esmerelda I lived with him for three years, go away I don't like animals.
[Rosemary looks even more puzzled]
Kevin What's wrong Rosemary, why are you sighing?
Rosemary I think I might have displeased her.
Kevin Oh don't worry, she's always moody 365 days of the year. It usually doesn't last
long, she's highly strung. She comes from a famous aristocratic family that's
why. She lives in complete luxury, friends from the upper class, intellectual
conversation. I doubt she have ever hold her own umbrella when it rains, she had
always been followed by bodyguards and various servants since she was young.
After she ran away from home, she became a whore, an actress, a drug addict.
There's no way that she could have met me when I was still going through thrash
with my street gang. It was fun living with her for three years, but we fought
all the time...now that I remembered it.
I'll go and get her stuff, Cliff take care of the house.
Rosemary (I doubt that the two separated due to their background, they're too similar.
Even husband and wife who are too similar would not last long. Someone must give
in, while the others takes. They take pleasure in the same thing, laugh for the
same thing, and cry for the same thing, hurt by the same thing. It's for these
reasons that they understand each other.
A pair which is both suited very well, and not at all at the same time.
When they met, they will fall in love, but they will also quarrel.)
Esmerelda Rosemary! I borrowed Kevin's clothes.
Rosemary It suits you.
Esmerelda I can't believe Kevin would keep a dog like him, he looks too peaceful.
Rosemary His name is Cliff.
Esmerelda A puppy who's the runt of the litter. Come here.
[She flicks her finger at Cliff's face]
Got you! hahahahahha
Rosemary Don't torture smaller animals.
Esmerelda You want to argue with me? Trust a duck!
Rosemary Human!
[The two looks at each other, and a quiet understanding passes between the two].
Esmerelda What are you doing?
Rosemary I'm making dessert.
Esmerelda How do you mix the ingredient with wing like this?
Kevin I'm home, here's your stuff.
Esmerelda Hello Kevin!
[Esmerelda was mixing the ingredients]
Kevin (Esmerelda's cooking!!) {shock}
Esmerelda Bring the baggage upstairs.
Kevin (Must be the end of the world)
Esmerelda Thank goodness, this way I have change of clothes, your clothes reek of cigars.
Rosemary, the berries are cooked.
Rosemary In that case, strain them, then add a little lemon or butter. Have you added some
rum as well?
Esmerelda Wah!
Kevin (It's nice like this)
Rosemary You bake, then afterward you decorate it with cold cream.
Kevin, don't smoke in the kitchen! {women protest group}
Esmerelda If you're just going to stand there, you're being in the way.
Kevin {The truth is he can't do anything}
(Don't worry Cliff, as fellow man we'll just go and play with the ball)
Rosemary There, we drink it with tea, biscuit and cream.
Kevin First that, now this dress, I thought you don't like black, you said it reminded
you of funerals.
Esmerelda It's a mourning dress.
Kevin Eh?
Esmerelda Kidding
Kevin Sometimes when I talk to you I never know when you're telling the truth or when
you're joking.
Esmerelda It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Rosemary I'm on a diet, can we eat
chicken for dinner?
Kevin Esmerelda!! I won't even eat turkey for Christmas or Thanks Giving!
Esmerelda Rosemary can cook chicken? that's like eating your friend!
Rosemary (I can't do that) [Looking extremely ill]
Kevin is the one who orders turkey from town.
Esmerelda Your reaction is too transparent, I was tempted to tease you. Why don't we eat
fish for tonight?
Kevin (I hate fish)
Esmerelda You still don't like fish? (He still acts like a kid)
Kevin Be quiet.
Rosemary I'll make it in the Chinese style, so that way Kevin can eat it.
Esmerelda I'll help, cooking is like working in a lab, it's very interesting.
Kevin I'll need to stock up on stomach medicine then.
Esmerelda Don't worry I only use poison.
Rosemary As long as you only use it on Kevin's food.
Kevin (If only time would stop...If only we can stay like this, like a photo from a
family album)
Esmerelda Ughh...[rushes to the bathroom]
Kevin Esmerelda!!
[Rosemary watches as Esmerelda throws up in the sink].
Rosemary You're pregnant aren't you Esmerelda sama?
Esmerelda Yes...not even three months yet.
Kevin The father?
Esmerelda You don't know him Kevin.
Rosemary Does this man know?
Esmerelda No, he doesn't know anything.
Kevin Do you love him?
Esmerelda Even if I do, it's a useless situation.
Rosemary Esmerelda sama, in that case...
Kevin Rosemary! let it go, it's her problem. She needs time to think it over.
Rosemary (Kevin's hand shook when he said that)
Esmerelda I want to rest for a while.
Rosemary (Kevin, is this wise? Is it wise to leave it like that?)
Kevin (I don't know how many nights I counted, how many bottles I drank to forget her
eyes.
"You don't know him Kevin" . Who could it be?
This warm feeling which I should have been able to forget, why did it come again?
I'm starting to love her again.)
Good morning Rosemary, where is she?
Rosemary Still in bed.
Kevin Breakfast, princess.
Esmerelda I don't want any. You're mad at me, you must hate me.
Kevin (If I can do that, how...)
If you don't eat, it's not good for your body.
Esmerelda I can't stand this. After reading your book I wanted to meet you, then...
Kevin Esmerelda!
Esmerelda Did you remember? The first time we met? I was a fan of your suspense novel, then
I begged your publisher to drag you who hates the mass media.
Kevin If I remember correctly, it was during a press conference wasn't it?
Esmerelda Kevin, would you cry if I die?
Rosemary Kevin phone! He said it's from Blackwell organization.
Kevin Hmmh ? I don't know.
Esmerelda Blackwell?! Kevin, your book is about to receive the "Golden Bless" award
sponsored by the organization.
Kevin (Golden Bless? The same award that's the equal of an academy award for children's
book in this country?)
Esmerelda I have a friend in the organization, and I heard it from him, if I remembered it
right.
Phone We're sorry it's so sudden, but we're giving it a few days. If you would be able
to come, please come tomorrow.
Esmerelda Will you go?
Kevin Do I have to?
Esmerelda Even if I ask you not to?
Kevin Rosemary, take care of her.
(She's not usually like this, what are you afraid of Esmerelda? Why am I
returning to the city where I was raised like this?)
(In the hotel)
Just finished checking in Rosemary, I was late because of a meeting.
(It feels strange talking to a duck on the phone)
Rosemary What was that!
Kevin Hmm a card, wonder what it is. "Breakfast together tomorrow morning, President
Blackwell, Company, Richard G. Blackwell" President?!
Rosemary What's wrong Kevin?
Kevin No...nothing's wrong.
Rosemary Oh one more thing, Esmerelda sama had been acting rather odd. She cried when she
watching a soap opera, especially when one of the characters died.
Kevin She was crying?
("It's a mourning dress"
"Would you cry if I die?"
What if...)
Rosemary Kevin?
Kevin (What if she's sick?)
Richard Let me introduce myself, my name is Richard G. Blackwell.
Kevin (I must go home quickly, there's no time to eat breakfast)
Richard I had wanted to meet you for a while Mr. Fredward. I heard about you from
Esmerelda.
Kevin (This man? this man is...Esmerelda's lover?)
Richard I came here today not as the President from Blackwell Company, but as her lover.
I wanted to see her. I've read the book that she recommended for me, she said it
was a very good book.
Kevin Eh? (He's praising my book? liar!) {unconvinced}
Richard I wasn't involved with choosing the winner for the award.
Kevin (I wonder if he knew that Esmerelda is sick, if she's carrying a new life)
Richard Maybe I should be honest with you. I had been looking for her for the past four
days, Esmerelda had left her show.
Kevin Hah?!
Richard Maybe she's staying with you...
Kevin No.
Richard Oh really? She seemed to know that I'm terminally ill.
Kevin So the person who is sick, isn't Esmerelda, but this man?
Richard Maybe I have a year, three years at best.
Kevin It doesn't seem to concern me. (Why is he so calm?)
Richard Esmerelda said the exact same thing.
flashback
Esmerelda Why are you always smiling Richard? Why do you always forgive my spoiled nature.
It seemed like you intended to give up with everything.
Richard I am not giving up, I just don't want to deny the time limit that I have or my
feelings towards her.
Kevin ("After reading your book I wanted to meet you"
No! The real reason why Esmerelda wanted to be with me is...because she loved
loved this man. I'm the place where she escapes to.)
Excuse me, I want to go home.
Richard They're giving the award in a few hours!.
Kevin Rather than accept your award there is something that I must do.
Rosemary We'll celebrate tomorrow when Kevin comes back. What's wrong Cliff?
Kevin?!
Kevin Richard have told me everything.
Esmerelda So you met him, I thought so.
Rosemary Come on Cliff, let's go to bed.
Kevin I'll escort you to the station tomorrow.
Esmerelda No! I don't want to go back! I won't go! Do you want me to see Richard becoming
weaker and die? Do you! The doctors said that there are patients whose life
expectancy exceeded expectation, but that's just to cheer me up.
HE'S GOING TO DIE!
Kevin (So you went back to me, when all you can do is cry for him. What if you think
I'll do?
{Flashback}
"Kevin listen carefully, he's not going to go"
That dream...)
He's not gone yet.
(Like that dream, it was both sad and upsetting, then...a sense of loss.
Snow that comes in the middle of the night will be transformed into rain in the
morning)
Rosemary You're leaving?
Esmerelda I had been taking your time, I want to give you this as a sign of thanks.
Rosemary It's real pearl, I can't keep something this expensive!
Esmerelda I bought this in a gallery. I want you to keep it, but may I come back?
Rosemary I will always be waiting for you...always.
Kevin It will be spring soon.
Esmerelda I'm afraid...I beg you Kevin, take me away.
Kevin You can't stay Esmerelda, even if it means that you may never forgive me. I won't
be able to forgive myself if you come with me...I'll only hate you. We would only
be repeating the same mistake we made two years ago. We'll part here.
Goodbye Esmerelda.
Esmerelda Kevin!!
(I realise that there's only one place that I can call home, and I know where it
is. I'm being spoiled again, I hurt you again.)
I'm sorry.
Kevin (In heaven, maybe there's another world for me and for you. In heaven, there must
be a different world from now.)
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