Forty-Seven Views

A game you are not meant to hurry. Three companions travel to somewhere in Japan in your place. All you do is pack a snack and send one off. Where they go is up to them, so you will not know until they come home. A few hours later they return with a postcard. Turn it over and there is the place they went. Press the paw stamp, and they say one thing. "The lake made no sound. Doubted my ears for a while. Turned out my ears were just wet." They say it with a straight face, and it is always slightly off. ◆ Three companions The warbler likes high places. Towers, castles, anywhere with a top to perch on. Comes straight home if the wind picks up. The fox likes walking through towns disguised as a person. Shrines, temples, hot spring streets. The tail is always out. The otter likes anywhere with water. Lakes, waterfalls, the sea. Counts stones and waves, and soon gets bored of counting. Back at…