Kouya Hijiri: CHAPTER 11

"It's about 20 miles."

"Is there somewhere I can stay near here?"

"No, there isn't." She looked at me straight with clear eyes.

"To tell the truth," I said plainly "I'm tired out and I couldn't go a step further, even there was a rich house offering food and a bed. Please let me stay here. Even a corner in the stable will do. Please!" I was hoping they might have a stable, because I had heard the horse neigh.

She sat for a while thinking. She took a small wooden tub and put it on her knee and then took a cloth rice bag nearby. She scooped rice into the tub and looked it over. Then she said "All right. There is enough rice to eat for all of us. Its cold here, but it's summer and we should have enough bedding. Please come in."