"Why?"

     "What a wonderful mother." Tanaka was greatly moved.

     We both tried to finish our breakfasts, but we could barely swallow the food. Although Tanaka repeatledly asked me not to, I paid the bill. I took Tanaka to the post office to cash the check, and insited on paying him back. Afterwards I felt much more lighthearted. I gave Tanaka my address at the hotel and left.

     When I got back to the hotel, I dug under the covers. I was so exhausted I couldn't support myself any longer. In the midst of my daze I thought about my mother's last words. I thought about how I might possibly help alleviate the miserable situation in our home village, but I couldn't think of anything. Save money to help them? I shook my head and gave up those thoughts. That would be ridiculous. I had just spent twenty days working as a newspaper boy, after wandering around Tokyo for a month. I couldn't even take care of myself, never mind save money - - how could I think of other things?

     Suddenly I felt extremely tried, as thoguh the accumulated weariness of the last two months had been deposited on my shoulders. I drifted into sleep.

XVI.
     The surrounding noises made me feel as thoguh I was being dragged from the depths of the ocean to the shallow waters of the shoreline. I woke up intermittantly, but I couldn't open my eyes and I eventually fell back into a deep sleep.

     "Mr.Yang, Mr.Yang? Half conciously, I heard someone calling me. I vaguely remember responding to the call, but sleepiness overtook me and I feel asleep again.

     "Mr. Yang!" this time I heard someone yelling, and someone shook my leg. I opened my eye s reluctantly, but I wasn't completely awake. I came out of my dizziness as though I was standing in a dense fog, and the fog was gradually dissappearing. It took a long time for me to realize that someone was sitting next to me. Tanaka.

     Immediately, I pushed away my blankets and pillows and sat up. I looked around the room sleepily. The owner of the hotel was standing at the doorway laughing at me for being so disoriented.