Chapter 5 - The Winds Blow Downhill
June gave way to July. On the fourth of the month, Edwin Arnold was set to attend his first-ever press conference--as an assistant to the higher-ups of the political column, that is. The contentious inheritance of Weber Hart had been a matter of great public interest since the great intellectual's sudden passing one month prior.
'...And his closest living heir, his adopted son, died at sea shortly after Hart's own death,' Edwin noted as he pedaled his bike. 'Just ahead is the Cromwell Street hill. Today's the day! I'll reach the top without stopping even once!' he shouted with his trademark enthusiasm.
'Hart's best friend and the chairman of the board are both laying claim to the inheritance... However...there are... rumors that...the son's death was...perpetrated by the two men themselves!' Edwin's breathing grew ragged.
'Hmm... That's a pretty common plot.'
'Still...could...the...rumors...be...true?!'
'Heck if I know,' muttered Agnès, watching the scenery go by. She was sitting behind Edwin on the luggage rack. The bike's vibrations shook both her and the insulated bag in her arms. As it happened, there were many coffee lovers at the Eaton News, including Ed's boss, Brandon. Agnès delivered her uncle's artisanal blend there once a week.
The catering service was little more than a hobby for Agnès, but she tolerated it well enough. The fact that Edwin insisted on escorting her during deliveries, however, was just a bit bothersome.
'So, Ed. You still hoping to land that cooking column?' she asked.
'Yeah. I'm supposed to do one next month, so I'm putting together a new article. Gotta write about whatever's in season, after all.'
'Hah. A righteous reporter getting his start from a cooking column...' mused Agnès. Being with Edwin like this put her at ease. As she fussed over her hair, which was fluttering in the wind, atop her head, the perennially drowsy Kagemaru let out yet another yawn.
'You just don't get it, do you?' Edwin tsked. There was no shame in a cooking column. 'I'd be helping my readers spice up their dinner tables. If my article can make even one person's life easier...'
Edwin began pedaling up the hill with all of his might. 'Who says there isn't justice in that, too?!' he roared.
The bicycle crested over the hill, letting gravity pull it over to the other side before propelling effortlessly down the slope. Agnès let out an astonished yelp, only for it to be drowned out by Ed's joyous cries as he picked up speed. They continued on and on, riding the rushing wind.
'This exhilaration Ed's feeling must be his reward for working so hard,' thought Agnès. She clutched her knit hat to her head to keep it from flying off and laughed at herself for being so shocked. Ed was always looking ahead. He was always chasing after his ambitions with that one-track mind of his... Sometimes to the point where it annoyed her.
'About what you said back there...'
'Huh?! Sorry, I can't hear you!'
Agnès raised her voice to yell over the wind. 'That rumor about Mr. Hart's heir being killed for the inheritance! Someone might have done it if they thought for sure they wouldn't get caught!'
Edwin nodded several times in sage understanding.
'Got it! I'll ask about that in today's interview!'
'Geez... And where's that going to get you?'
Ed was as dense and simple as they come, but that was also the reason Agnès felt so at ease around him. The reason they got along so well. She made sure he wasn't looking before grinning widely in a way she'd never shown anyone before. Today, Edwin had made another step toward adulthood. He might stumble and make a fool of himself, but she knew he would keep pushing forward like always.She only wished she could be there to watch it herself...
'Agnès!''...What?'
'If something ever happens, call me. Okay?!'
'I'm a righteous reporter, after all!' yelled Edwin. His laughter echoed across the clear, blue sky.
第５回 下り坂に風は吹く
月が変わってその年の７月４日、エドウィン・アーノルドは記念すべき人生初の会見取材に臨もうとしていた。といっても、もちろん、政治班の取材の手伝いである。先月急死した大文化人、ウェーバーハルト氏の遺産を巡る問題がこじれており、世間の耳目を集めているのだった。
「……それでな、たった１人の養子は、そのすぐ後、水難事故で死んじまったんだよ」エドウィンは懸命に自転車を漕ぎながら言った。そろそろクロムウェル通りの上り坂だ。今日こそは一度も止まらずに登りきってやるぜ、とお決まりの文句で息巻いてみせるエドウィン。
「……で、今はウェーバーハルトの親友と、理事長ってのが相続を主張してて……でも養子が死んじまったのは、その２人の、陰謀、だって、噂も、あるんだ……っ！」
「ふーん、ありがちな話ね」
「で、どうなんだ。……やっぱ陰謀説は本当なのかっ！？」そんなの私が知るわけないでしょー。アニエスはゆっくりと進む風景を眺めながら呟いた。ペダルの振動が保温バッグを抱えて荷台にちょこんと乗るアニエスにも伝わってくる。イートン通信社にはエドの上司ブランドンをはじめ大のコーヒー好きが多くて、アニエスは週に一度、叔父さんの作る凝ったコーヒーを届けに行くことになっていた。
ほとんど趣味みたいな出前サービスだけど、こういう仕事は嫌いじゃない。……エドが送っていくと言って聞かないのがちょっと暑苦しいけど。
「そういえば、エド？あの料理コラム、まだ狙ってるの？」
「おう、……来月になるけど、やるらしいからさ、……いま新しい記事書いてんだ、やっぱ旬の、メニューでねえとなっ」正義の記者って、初めはお料理コラムから入るのね。まったくエドウィンとこうしていると、どこまでも平和だ。風に乗ってくるくると踊りだす髪を気にしていると、頭の上で眠たげな目をしたカゲマルがまたブニューと鳴いた。「ちっちっちっ……分かってねえなぁ」よく考えてみろって、料理コラムだって立派なもんだぜ。
「だって俺の記事が、みんなの食卓を、豊かにするんだぜ……？……それで誰かがホッとできるんなら……！」渾身の力でペダルを踏み込んで、エドは叫んだ。
「それもっ、立派な正義だろ……っ！！」
自転車がついに上り坂を越えた。重力に引かれて、今度は勝手に前へ前へと滑り出す。アニエスが思わず上げた「えっ」という声には気づかなかったらしく、エドは陽気な歓声とともにスピードを乗せた。坂道を駆ける風に乗って、どこまでもぐんぐんと。……この爽快感は、きっと頑張ったエドへのご褒美だ。アニエスはずり落ちそうになるニット帽を押さえながらそう思った。そう、意外なんかじゃない。エドはいつだって目の前のことを真剣に考えている。そしていつも目標に向かって真っ直ぐだ。……こっちが悔しくなるくらいに。
「……さっきの話だけど」
「…………んあ？ なんだって！？」「ウェーバーハルト氏の遺産の話よ。
誰かが第一相続人を殺したかもって噂」アニエスは風に負けじと声を上げた。絶対にばれない自信があったら、そんな事をするかもね！！
なるほどな、と何度も頷いてみせるエドウィン。「よしっ、今日の会見で質問してみるぜ！！」「……もう、だからなんでそうなるかなぁ……」
エドウィンは鈍いし単純だ。だけど、だから安心して付き合える。エドがこっちを見ていない事を確認して、アニエスは人に見せないと決めている、とびきりの笑顔をこぼした。今日エドウィンは、また１つ大きくなるのだろう。またヘマをするかもしれないけど、まっすぐと目標に向かって。自分もついて行けたらいいのに……
「……アニエスッ！！」「……なによっ」
「何かあったらさ、俺を呼べよっ？」なんてったって正義の記者だからなっ！ 青天の空にエドウィンの陽気な笑い声がこだましていった。
Continue Reading Sunshine Agnès
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| ⇐ Chapter 4: Cry for Justice | Chapter 6: Fissure ⇒ |