The violent gust of wind caught Akiko Tanahata’s umbrella, snapping it inside out and almost pulling her over. Turning her back to the driving rain, she tried to pull the umbrella the right way out again, groaning as she realised that the wind had snapped two of the spokes. She looked around to get her bearings, thinking about places to find some shelter. There were no convenience stores close by, just residential streets. Grimacing, she came to the conclusion that she would have to run down the hill to the main road before she could get under cover, and she could already feel the rainwater soaking through to her skin.
As she started to run, there was a flash of lightning. It illuminated a stone torii a short distance ahead, the wet double-lintelled gate sparkling in the brief flash of light. Akiko smiled as the thunder roared, and started running in earnest. She’d forgotten about the shrine, and if nothing else she should be able to shelter under the eaves. She wondered whether there might even be a waiting room of some sort, where she could get properly out of the rain.
Lightning flashed again as she reached the bottom of the steps, and the torii stood out against the darkness of the trees around it, trees that swayed in the strong wind, sweeping their branches back and forth as they scattered rain drops. Akiko wiped her forehead, trying to stop the rainwater running into her eyes, and started up the steep flight of stone steps leading up from the street.
She slipped on the first step, coming down hard and banging her knee. Involuntary tears pricked at her eyes, and she couldn’t suppress a brief cry of pain. Biting her lip, she got back to her feet, and reluctantly pulled her shoes off; the soles were too slick and the heels too high. The wet stone was cold and unpleasant under her bare feet, but she could feel the chill of the rain all down her back now, and she really wanted to get under cover before her underwear was soaked, if possible.
Lightning and thunder together as she started climbing, the noise drowning out every other sound and leaving her ears ringing. The wind seemed to get stronger, and several times she slipped, grabbing the central railing for support, even putting her hands down on the steps to balance. Her injured knee was getting steadily sorer, and as she stood up from another stumble she could feel water running down her back. It briefly occurred to her that she probably couldn’t get any wetter now, and for a moment she thought about going back down and making a run for the main road. Even then, it was a long way home, she thought, deciding that it was better to find cover now, and then call a taxi.
She dashed up the last few steps, ducking her head involuntarily as she ran through the torii.
Inside the shrine precincts, the sun was shining from a clear blue sky.
