Back in the car, Akiko started to shake. The headache and nausea had gone, but the release of tension left her too weak to do anything but sit there and gaze blankly at the passing houses. Shiraishi was also quiet as she drove, for which Akiko was grateful.

She was sure that purifying the factory had been the right thing to do, but now that it was over her doubts about their strategy returned in full force. How many places like that were there that she hadn’t seen? How long would it take for the pollution to build up again?

Were they really trying to hold back the tide with a bucket?

They parked the car, and walked round to the entrance to the shrine. There was a large group of protesters gathered, with a “Shinto = Fascismâ€ banner. Akiko could see Mrs Watanabe, Naoyuki, and the man who had been blocking Mr Yamaguchi, but there was no sign of Mr Akiyama. She sighed; he was normally a moderating force. She heard Shiraishi sighing as well, and they glanced at each other. The priest let her irritation show for a moment, then shrugged and looked back at the protesters.

Akiko followed her to the base of the steps.

The protesters did not move. Akiko frowned; in the past they had always got out of the way, presumably because Akiko and Shiraishi actually lived in the shrine. This time, however, they did not.

“Excuse us.â€ Shiraishi sounded irritated, but she wasn’t shouting.

The protesters still didn’t move. A couple of them shifted and looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable, but they didn’t break ranks.

“Excuse us. We would like to go home.â€ Shiraishi sounded more annoyed this time, and a couple more protesters seemed to be having second thoughts. Mrs Watanabe, however, was still planted in the middle of the steps, staring straight at them, face set.

“You cannot keep us out of our home!â€ Shiraishi had raised her voice by the end of the sentence.

“Let us through!â€ Akiko couldn’t let the priest fight alone any more.

One of the other protesters plucked at Mrs Watanabe’s sleeve, but she shook him off without looking away from Shiraishi.

“It is illegal to keep us out of our home. We’ll call the police.â€

Mrs Watanabe finally broke her silence.

“Yes, that’s typical of Shinto. Bring the power of the state down on those who disagree with you. Violence and bullying, that’s the only way you and your kami know to deal with the world.â€

“What?â€ Akiko blurted out, shocked into responding. “Us? You’re the ones blocking our way home! We’re not the bullies; you are!â€

“Oh, very mature.â€ Mrs Watanabe was shaking her head, as if disappointed with a small child. “‘I’m not, you are!’ Is that the highest standard of argument you can manage?â€

Akiko was getting really annoyed now, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. The protesters were the bullies, though, and it was very unfair.

“Mrs Watanabe,â€ Shiraishi said, her voice quiet and calm, but obviously strained, “if you do not get out of our way <em>right now</em> I will call on Tamao to curse you.â€

Mrs Watanabe almost jumped, and quickly stepped back, clearing a path. For a moment, Akiko could only stare, but Shiraishi was already on her way up the steps, so Akiko quickly followed.

“Curse her?â€ Akiko asked, as they reached the house.

Shiraishi went bright red and looked down.

“I thought, ‘if they want to be bullied…’ It wasn’t a very good idea, really.â€

“It worked, though,â€ Akiko noted.

“Yes.â€ Shiraishi looked up. “Yes, it did. I wonder why?â€