「その
「
「ええ、すると会社の
「決心したって、死ぬわねえ。わたしなんか
「保険
「保険会社の
「至当でしょう。それがわからないの。いえ
「
「妙ですとも、
「貯金があるの？」
「あるもんですか。自分が死んだあとなんか、ちっとも
「本当に
「いるものですか。
「ちっと
「ところが鈴木さんは、うちじゃ
「みんな
"I witnessed an interesting exchange, let me tell you. 'I don't deny the need for insurance. The fact that insurance companies exist and prosper attests to this need. However, unless one actually dies, what's the point in owning a policy?' Your uncle dug in from the start."
"Uncle said that?"
"He did. 'Of course there's no need for insurance if you don't die,' the salesman conceded, 'but human life, which seems so enduring, is actually quite fleeting. There are hazards all around, both seen and unseen.' 'Not to worry,' your uncle countered, casting all reason aside, 'I for one am resolved not to die.'"
"Resolve or no, every man dies. It's like my exams. I had every intention of passing, yet in the end I failed to make the grade."
"The insurance man said the same thing. 'No man dictates the number of his days. If resolve sufficed to assure long life, then who would ever die young?'"
"The insurance man's in the right."
"Absolutely. But try telling that to your uncle. 'I'm not going to die. I'll even swear to it,' he boasts in return."
"Odd."
"Odd indeed. More than odd. Even if he had the money for insurance payments, he asserts matter-of-factly, he'd be better off depositing it with the bank."
"Do you have much savings?"
"None to speak of. What happens to us when he's gone is furthest from his mind."
"That's rather unsettling. How did he come to be so? I don't see like tendencies in any of his associates."
"Of course not. He's always the odd man out."
"Maybe you could have Suzuki try to talk some sense into him. Suzuki is a calming presence and just might pull it off."
"Suzuki, I'm afraid, is is not in favor round here."
"That figures. In which case, how about that other fellow -- you know, the easygoing one --"