街の探偵The Town Detective

What you'll learn

The narrator and detective Homura hear a rhythmic sound from the ceiling, which Homura identifies as a Kipp's apparatus generating hydrogen. He suddenly smashes a window and forces the narrator to flee outside, seconds before their office explodes. Homura explains it was a bomb triggered by a phone call.

Seven researchers are found dead from phosgene gas poisoning in a laboratory. One survives and provides a timeline. Homura investigates and discovers that the heavy phosgene gas flowed from a shed on the roof through an air vent into the warm laboratory, aided by the temperature difference.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～じゃないか N4Adds emphasis or assumes the listener agrees, often used for rhetorical questions or confirming something.
  『鼠が居るのじゃないか』
• ～んだからね N2Used to state a reason or excuse, often with a tone of justification.
  『敵は君がいることを、電話でたしかめようとしていたんだからね』
• ～ようにしないと N3Indicates necessity: 'if you don't do ~, then...'
  『すぐさま逃げだすようにしないと、君の生命は危いぜ』
• ～かね N2Used to ask a question in a rather abrupt or masculine way, often implying the speaker is thinking aloud.
  『あの爆発は、どんな仕掛だったのかね』
• ～てみろ N4Imperative form of ～てみる; 'try doing ~' (rude/casual command).
  『君が電話へ出てみろ』

Cultural notes

• Kipp's ApparatusA classic laboratory device for generating hydrogen gas by reacting zinc with dilute sulfuric acid. It was commonly used in early 20th century chemistry.
• Phosgene Gas in WWIIPhosgene was a deadly chemical weapon used in World War I. Its presence in a laboratory story reflects the pre-WWII era when chemical warfare research was ongoing.
• Japanese Detective FictionThis story is from the 'Modan gaar' (Modern Girl) era of Japanese literature, featuring a detective duo reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Watson.

Try a comprehension question

Read a sample in Japanese

Topics

Short Storymysterysuspensesuspensefulaozora bunko