「
「
「飲むとも――
「ええ、
「それは
「字って
「うん」
「知らないわ、――
「いや、まだ飲む。一番長い字を
「ええ。そうしたら御飯ですよ」
「Archaiomelesidonophrunicherata と
「
「出鱈目なものか、
「
「
"A problem of this order is not so readily resolved." The master works a mouthful of the aforementioned fish. Without missing a beat, he takes on a pork and potato side dish as well. "Pork, I take it?" "Yes, that's pork." "Huh." Seemingly unimpressed, he swallows it down. "More saké." He holds out his cup.
"You're really putting it down tonight. You're already looking red."
"It's a night for drink. -- Say, do you know the world's longest word?"
"Sure, it's that Grand State Councilor Kampaku such-and-such, is it not?"
"That's a title. Do you know the longest word?"
"I take it that includes alphabetized languages?"
"Exactly."
"I wouldn't know. -- That's enough saké, isn't it? Let me serve up your rice."
"One more drink first. Shall I tell you the longest word?"
"If you like. Then on to your rice."
"It's Archaiomelesidonophrunicherata."
"You made that up."
"I did not make it up. It's Greek."
"What does it mean? In Japanese."
"I'm not sure what it means, but I know how to spell it. Written out, it fills the page from margin to margin."