Earthlings, page 19
“Popinpobopia?”
I slowly raised myself up and turned my face toward where the stench was coming from. Through the paper shoji I saw a pale glow, as though reflected off the snow.
Piyyut lay sprawled out by my ankle. I picked him up and hugged him to me. Piyyut looked different now and was woven from a mass of black, gray, and white Earthling hair. He snuggled up to me.
As I cuddled Piyyut in my arms, the backs of my legs picked up the vibration of the floor creaking. I leaned forward and reached out a hand to a thigh lying on the floor. I grabbed it and shook it hard.
“Tomoya!” I whispered.
My thin, bony husband responded to my shaking. Instantly he wrapped his arms protectively around his swollen belly and slowly opened his eyes.
He had fallen asleep while eating some arm soup we’d made during Dark Time. I gently put the bowl on the TV stand, careful not to spill any of the precious food, and called to the other creature lying next to my husband.
“Yuu.”
Yuu’s belly was even more swollen than my husband’s. His thin skin was stretched taut, and the bones and swollen belly within it stood out clearly.
“Popinpobopia,” Yuu responded in our language, rubbing his eyes.
Just then, the creaking of the floor grew louder, and with it came the sound and vibration of footsteps as the smell of Earthling abruptly grew stronger. Yuu and my husband raised themselves up and we huddled our bodies together. Yuu and my husband held their arms protectively over their swollen bellies, and I clutched Piyyut to my chest.
Aiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!
I wondered what that sound was for a moment, before realizing it was an Earthling’s scream. My sister appeared through the door, took one look at the three of us, and screamed again.
Aiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Mom was just behind my sister, and their shrill screams resonated through the room.
There were more footsteps as other Earthlings came running, alerted by the loud cries. A number of other Earthlings clad in orange suits clustered behind Mom. Judging from their attire, I thought they were probably Earthlings who performed the role known as a rescue party.
“Earthlings,” I muttered.
The rescue party Earthlings took one glance at us huddled together and grunted, holding their hands over their mouths.
“Are you . . . human?” an Earthling male finally managed to squeeze out as he stared at us.
The three of us looked at each other.
“Popinpobopia?”
“Popinpobopia.”
Gently rubbing his swollen belly protectively with his right hand, Yuu started speaking to him in fluent Earthling language.
“We are from Planet Popinpobopia. You are, too, aren’t you?”
Liquid spurted from the man’s nose and mouth as he stood there, although I wasn’t sure if it was saliva from the shock or if he was bringing up gastric juice.
“What are those . . . bellies?” another Earthling male next to him asked, his voice hoarse.
“The three of us are pregnant,” my husband said, holding his belly up with both hands for them to see.
The Earthlings started shaking and took some steps back away from us, their faces pale.
“Don’t worry,” Yuu said. “This form of yourselves is also dormant within you, even if it isn’t evident now. It can infect you at any time.” He smiled at them reassuringly. “Tomorrow we will multiply. The day after we will multiply more.”
The Earthlings didn’t seem to be listening to Yuu’s careful explanation. One at the back was violently throwing up.
“Shall we go outside? Our future is awaiting us,” Yuu said to us, and we nodded.
Gently entwining our arms and legs together, we three Popinpobopians rose up. From the outside world, the glow of Light Time with its reflection from the snow softly flowed into our spaceship.
Holding hands, shoulder to shoulder, and engulfed in light, we slowly stepped out onto the Earthlings’ planet. As if in concert with us, the cries of the Earthlings rang out to the far corners of the planet, setting the forests trembling.
Sayaka Murata, Earthlings
