Kappa by Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

I went to several of Tok's recitals, but the one I will never forget was the third time. The hall was no different from ones you'd see in Japan. The stadium seating was filled with three or four hundred kappa, holding programs, eagerly listening. I sat with Tock, his mate, and the philosopher Magg in the front row. After a cello solo, a kappa with strangely narrow eyes arose, casually holding some music books. This was the famous composer named Craback, according to the program. But I didn't need to learn it from there -- I knew him from Tock's Super-kappa club.

"Lied -- Craback" (Programs in this country mainly used German.)

Craback bowed to enthusiastic clapping, then silently approached the piano. He began to play his own composition. Craback, as Tock had said, was a genius without peer in the entire land. I'd been interested in Craback's music, so I watched him play avidly. Tock and Magg were in a trance even greater than mine. But a beautiful (at least, by kappa standards) female was gripping her program, and from time to time stuck her tongue out. According to Magg, she had tried to capture Craback ten years before and even to this day considered him an enemy.

Craback played with passion filling his entire body, battling with the piano. Then suddenly throughout the hall rang the cry "Desist!" I turned to see a very tall police-kappa in the back row. He stood very calmly with a straight back, and spoke again, "This performance must desist." Then --

Then chaos ensued.

"Police oppression!" "Craback, play! Play!" "Idiot!" "Brute!" "Get out of here!" "You won't beat us!" yelled kappa standing on their chairs, hurling programs, even throwing cider bottles and chewed-on cucumbers. Amazed, I tried asking Tock what was going on. But he was so excited he was also standing on his chair, yelling "Craback, play! Play!" Besides which, his mate shouted "police tyranny!"

I had no choice but to ask Magg, "What's happening?"

"This? It happens all the time in this country. It's how art originates."

Something came flying and Mag ducked into his shell. He calmly continued, "In general, anyone can observe what a painting or book means. So their sale or showing is not prohibited. Musical performances, however, are often banned. No matter how moving a piece might be, it can't be understood by a kappa without an ear for it."

"Doesn't that officer have ears?"

"That's a very good question. Possibly the song just reminded him of his heart-beat when he's intimate with his wife."

During our conversation, the chaos had grown even more. Craback had turned back to his piano, ignoring us arrogantly. However, it couldn't be helped that objects flew in his direction and he had to duck every few seconds. In general, he managed the air of a great musician, looking around with his fine eyes. I, meanwhile, was using Tock's shell as a shield, but kept on talking to Mag.

"Isn't this an extreme form of censorship?"

"Well," said the philosopher. "It's more advanced than any other country. Take yours, for example, only last month they --"

But just then, a bottle came hurtling through the air and struck him on the head, and after uttering "quack!" he fell unconscious.