And thus mankind took its first step into space.
I am sure many will not accept this story as fact. It does speak much about people who are no longer living and much about things which have not been thoroughly investigated. However, it is the truth.
I know this because I heard it from my adventurer of a grandfather. When I was young, I would ask him to tell the story at every opportunity.
He would often say that he would not have lived such a fulfilling life if it had not been for them.
My grandfather was a simple soldier who appeared in this story. He is no longer with us, but his way of living greatly influenced me.
I believe I will eventually have another chance to tell stories of him.
I will now set down my pen while I wish good fortune to earth’s civilization that is now able to fly from the Milky Way and to all the people who paved the way to this era.
12/25/1996 4:05 PM – The same time as when mankind first reached space for the second time.
-Michael Schrier
Imagine a woman you haven’t seen in a while approaches you and says you need to get married because she’s pregnant.
I think getting a phone call saying your novel just won first prize is a lot like that.
Or at least, it was for me. I felt like I had bloody sweat pouring from my nose, my ears, and the top of my head.
After all, something I had prepared quite a while ago had all of a sudden shown up and was telling me to think about my future. On top of that, it was entirely my own fault. Really, what are you supposed to do then?
Also, my friends are way too persistent. One of them called me up out of the blue.
“Ah! Kawakami? I saw it, I saw it, I saw it! I saw that embarrassing thing of yours!”
“You use a cellphone, don’t you? How can you yell something like that out in public? Anyway, what did you see?”
“Your name’s in a magazine.”
“Eh? Really? (I should really check on these things.)”
“Heh heh heh. Exposing yourself in a national magazine. What a naughty guy. Now I’m gonna go tell the others.”
“Dammit, don’t go telling everyone without asking permission.”
“Fine. So can I tell everyone? Okay, I asked. Time to go tell them.”
Everyone learned about it in no time. You don’t realize how scary our computerized society is until you experience it yourself.
But since this is happening, it’s happening. Just a bit ago, I read back through the book while listening to Mighty Wings from Top Gun because it was my background music while writing it.
“Who was rewarded the most in this novel?”
It made me wonder that.
Now then, now then. London will be the next stage.
September 1996. A clear morning.
-Kawakami Minoru
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