第二章 阳台的灯

Xiao An gradually got used to the sounds of 403.

But there were other sounds in this building.

Every night at two, the balcony light on the sixth floor would turn on.

Once the light was on, someone would be on the balcony, walking back and forth for a long time.

Sometimes there was also a very faint sound, wu-wu, like someone crying.

Xiao An asked Aunt Zhang, 'Who lives on the sixth floor?'

'A young couple who just got married,' Aunt Zhang said.

'Don't they sleep at night?'

Aunt Zhang thought for a moment and said, 'Some people say the woman in that apartment doesn't sleep at night and walks around outside.'

'Why?'

'I don't know,' Aunt Zhang said. 'Some also hear crying. It doesn't sound like a good thing.'

Xiao An thought: It's not the cat. The cat from 403 runs around in 403; it wouldn't go to the sixth floor.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

On the third night, at two o'clock, the light on the sixth floor turned on again.

He slowly went upstairs and listened for a moment at the door on the sixth floor.

Inside there was crying, and the sound of walking back and forth.

Xiao An wanted to go in and take a look, but felt it would be inappropriate. He went downstairs.

One afternoon, at the building entrance, Xiao An saw the woman from the sixth floor.

She was carrying a very small child.

The child was asleep.

When she saw Xiao An, she looked a little embarrassed.

'Are you from 303?' she asked.

'Mm,' Xiao An said.

'Aunt Zhang said you heard sounds from the sixth floor at night,' the woman said.

'It's my child,' she smiled.

'A child?' Xiao An asked.

'He doesn't sleep well at night,' the woman said.

'When he cries, I carry him and walk. As I walk, he stops crying.'

'Sorry for disturbing your rest.'

'No, the sound is very faint and doesn't bother me. I was just a little worried,' Xiao An said.

The woman thanked him and went home.

Xiao An felt relieved.

At night, Xiao An went back to bed and slept.

At two o'clock, the light on the sixth floor turned on again.

This time, Xiao An didn't hear it.