Author(s): Haruki Murakami

FICTION

"Eyes mark the shape of the cityi>he midnight hour approaches in an almost-empty diner. Mari sips her coffee and reads a book, but soon her solitude is disturbed- a girl has been beaten up at the Alphaville hotel, and needs Mari's help. Meanwhile Mari's beautiful sister Eri lies in a deep, heavy sleep that is 'too perfect, too pure' to be normal; it has lasted for two months. But tonight as the digital clock displays 00-00, a hint of life flickers across the television screen, even though it's plug has been pulled out. Strange nocturnal happenings, or a trick of the night?"