INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(725, 1, '2009-07-11 20:38:48', '2009-07-11 11:38:48', '', 'Purification by Fire', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '724-revision', '', '', '2009-07-11 20:38:48', '2009-07-11 11:38:48', '', 724, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/11/724-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(726, 1, '2009-04-23 11:05:14', '2009-04-23 02:05:14', 'That was the pressing question. Akiko sat down across from Shiraishi, and tried to be as positive as possible.\r\n\r\n“Well, we could call the ujiko. I’m sure Akira would help, and Mr Ito. And it wouldn’t hurt to call other people as well. They might also want to help the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“We’d need about a million yen per person,â€ Shiraishi said. For a moment, Akiko was shocked. Only twenty people?â€\r\n\r\n“There must be more people than that with some connection to the shrine. And,â€ inspiration struck, “we don’t need gifts from them. Loans are fine. We just need to pay Wakabayashi off; paying them off later is not a problem.â€\r\n\r\n“Without a shrine building? We can’t rebuild without the money.â€\r\n\r\n“Let’s save the grounds first!â€ Akiko realised that she was shouting, and quickly calmed herself down. “I’m sorry. I’m just a bit stressed after seeing the kami. Tamao knocked a tree over in the precincts, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“I thought that was the wind?â€ Shiraishi asked. Akiko shook her head. “Well,â€ the priest continued, “it sounds like we can’t rely on much help from Tamao; he’s just making things worse.â€ She paused, but Akiko said nothing and waited for her to go on. “So we have to do it ourselves.â€ She pushed her hands down on the table and stood up. “I’ll make a list and start calling round the ujiko. You can… er…â€\r\n\r\n“I think I should clean the precincts after the wind and rain. Tamao might cause even more damage if the shrine is a mess.â€ Shiraishi looked at her for a while, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“That might be best. I can’t think of anything you could do to get the money, in any case.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko stood up, and had already left the room when the priest called after her.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Akiko. Wear your miko vestments.â€\r\n\r\n“What? Why?â€ Akiko was puzzled. It was hardly a ceremony.\r\n\r\n“It makes the shrine look more active. And, come to think of it, makes it clear that it’s a shrine. We don’t want people to think we’ve already closed.â€\r\n\r\nThat did make sense, so Akiko nodded in agreement and went to get changed.\r\n\r\nThe storm had already passed by the time Akiko was changed, and she concluded that Tamao had got over his temper tantrum. It was almost dark, however, and Akiko soon realised that she couldn’t clean effectively that night. She paid her respects to the site of the shrine, and the iwakura, and then went back inside.\r\n\r\nShe was up early the next morning, in her vestments again, and out to start properly on the cleaning. The precincts were a mess, with leaves and twigs everywhere, not to mention mud from the rain, and the fallen tree in the wood. She had a quick look at that before she started, but it didn’t look dangerous, and it did look far too big for her to do anything about, so she left it to concentrate on the things she could do.\r\n\r\nShe had cleared the largest branches away, stacking them by the shrine house until she could talk to Shiraishi and decide what to do with them, and had just got the broom out when she heard a commotion from the bottom of the stairs.\r\n\r\n<em>The protesters again, </em>she thought, and, with a sigh, went to see what was going on.\r\n\r\nIt was the protesters, blocking the way of another older man whom Akiko had not seen before. He was wearing traditional Japanese dress, a haori and hakama, which surprised Akiko. She had never seen a man wearing it anywhere but a wedding. She hurried down the steps, glancing at the protesters. She had seen them before, but Mrs Watanabe wasn’t there, and nor was Mr Akiyama. By the time she reached the bottom of the steps, she was fairly confident that she could deal with it.\r\n\r\n“What is the problem?â€ she asked.\r\n\r\n“I would like to enter the shrine and have a norito said, but these… people,â€ the man indicated the protesters, his voice heavy with contempt, “do not want to let me past.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko bowed to him, trying to remember everything she had been taught about manners. There was something about his bearing that said that he would notice, and remember, any lapse.\r\n\r\n“We would be pleased to perform the ceremony for you.â€ She turned to the protesters, and one of them spoke before she could.\r\n\r\n“Why bother? It’s not like there’s going to be a shrine here next week.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko clenched her fists and her jaw, trying to keep control. She wanted to see how the man reacted to that, but she didn’t want to be obvious about it. Forcing herself to relax, she did her best to keep her voice level as she replied.\r\n\r\n“There is a shrine here now, and this gentleman would like to have a norito said. Are you going to obstruct him as he goes about his lawful business?â€\r\n\r\nThe protester held her gaze, defiantly, for a moment, before dropping his eyes and shaking his head.\r\n\r\n“Good,â€ Akiko said, and then turned back to the man. “This way, please.â€ They started climbing the steps, and Akiko felt the need to explain to him. “I’m afraid that the shrine currently lacks a honden or a haiden…â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, the fire. I heard.â€\r\n\r\n“So the norito will have to be offered at a himorogi.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, that is fine. I understand the necessity.â€\r\n\r\nHe waited outside while Akiko fetched Shiraishi from the office. When they came out, the man and the priest both bowed.\r\n\r\n“My name is Fujimura,â€ he said. “Pleased to meet you.â€\r\n\r\n“I am Shiraishi, the chief priest of this shrine. Pleased to meet you.â€\r\n\r\n<em>He’s not an ujiko, then.</em> Akiko was surprised. Why was he there, in that case?\r\n\r\n“I should like to have a norito offered.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course. What kind?â€\r\n\r\n“I should like you to pray for the health and prosperity of their majesties the Emperor and Empress, and for the peace and prosperity of the Japanese nation.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course. Please come inside; I will get changed.â€ Shiraishi showed him to the reception room, then pulled Akiko aside in the corridor.\r\n\r\n“Get him tea and Japanese sweets, as quickly as you can.â€\r\n\r\n“Who is he?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t know, so he may become a new supporter for the shrine. Hurry.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko got the tea and took it through, bowing as she set it on the table. Mr Fujimura bowed his head back, in acknowledgement, but said nothing to her. Akiko felt slightly awkward, and withdrew to wait in the corridor.\r\n\r\nThe norito was offered without any problems, or direct intervention from the kami. As they were starting, Akiko tried to switch to seeing kegare, to see whether Mr Fujimura was polluted, but she couldn’t quite get it, and then Shiraishi did the initial purification, which would cleanse him anyway, so she stopped bothering. One of the protesters did come up to the precincts, but he didn’t interfere with the ceremony.\r\n\r\nAfterwards, Mr Fujimura thanked them, and handed over a box, wrapped in a square of silk, as his offering. Shiraishi accepted it gratefully, and Akiko escorted him to the top of the stairs. He turned to bow to the shrine, but then did not look back as he swept passed the protesters.\r\n\r\nAkiko returned to the office to find Shiraishi unwrapping the offering. The priest looked up as she entered.\r\n\r\n“I wonder what this is. Actual rice? Or maybe silk cloth? That would be very traditional, and he did look the traditional type.â€\r\n\r\nInside the cloth was a lacquer box, simple but apparently well made. Shiraishi whistled softly.\r\n\r\n“This is nice,â€ she said. Carefully, she lifted the lid from it, and she and Akiko both gasped.\r\n\r\nThe box was full of ten-thousand-yen notes.', 'Seeking Support', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '466-revision-3', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:05:14', '2009-04-23 02:05:14', '', 466, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/466-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(727, 1, '2009-04-23 11:07:10', '2009-04-23 02:07:10', 'They returned from the bank in a good mood. Wakabayashi had been noticeably sour as he accepted the money, and acknowledged that the loan had been cleared. Even the protesters gathered at the foot of the steps couldn’t dampen their mood.\r\n\r\n“I hope you’re ready for the long haul,â€ Shiraishi said to them, as they passed.\r\n\r\n“What are you talking about? You’ll be out in a week.â€\r\n\r\n“Not any more. The shrine isn’t going anywhere. <em>You</em> might as well give up. Excuse me.â€ The priest hurried up the steps before the protesters could say any more, but she was grinning when they reached the top.\r\n\r\n“Oh, that felt good. To actually have something to say to them!â€ Akiko smiled back. A victory was good, even one like this. The empty space in the shrine grounds reminded Akiko that they no longer had the money to rebuild, and they certainly won’t going to borrow again.\r\n\r\nBack inside the house, Akiko suddenly remembered the other part of Hideo Takenaka’s message. They had acted on the message about the shrine; it was time for her to pass on his message to Akira.\r\n\r\nShe sat with the phone in her hand for at least ten minutes before she got up the nerve to call, and even then she only managed to ask him to come to the shrine. <em>Better to do it face-to-face,</em> she told herself.\r\n\r\nIt was no better when Akira arrived at the shrine, however.\r\n\r\n“What did you want to talk to me about?â€ Akiko wasn’t at all sure how to answer that question.\r\n\r\n“Let’s go to see your father’s shrine.â€ It seemed like an appropriate place for the conversation, and it bought Akiko a bit more time. Not that she really had any use for it, she realised. She had spent hours trying to think of a good way to start the conversation, without any luck, and she was hardly likely to get inspiration in the couple of minutes it took to walk to the small shrine. Akira paid his respects, giving her another few seconds, but then she couldn’t put it off any longer. Akira was looking at her, a question clear on his face, although he said nothing.\r\n\r\n“Ah, Mr Takenaka, you know that I sometimes see the kami.â€\r\n\r\n“I… well, you saw my father during the fever. Yes.â€ He looked nervous now, almost as nervous as Akiko felt.\r\n\r\n“Yes. Yes, well. I… I saw him again. Yesterday.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh?â€ Akiko had no idea how to read Akira’s tone at that point, so she just pressed on.\r\n\r\n“He said to give you two messages.â€\r\n\r\n“Two? Well?â€\r\n\r\n“One was the password for the encrypted directory. It’s “obviouslyâ€, in English.â€\r\n\r\n“The encrypted… Oh. Oh, I see.â€\r\n\r\n“There is an encrypted directory, then?â€\r\n\r\nAkira nodded, apparently lost in thought for a moment.\r\n\r\n“Yes, there is, on his personal computer. I’ve been wondering what was in it.â€ He shook his head, and looked back at Akiko. “You said there were two messages?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ The second one was even more awkward, now that she came to say it. “He said… He said to tell you…â€ She took a deep breath. How could she say this in an appropriate way? She had to just say it.\r\n\r\n“He said he was proud of you for continuing the company.â€\r\n\r\n“Re… really?â€ Akira sounded like he couldn’t quite believe it. “He said he was proud of me?â€ Akiko nodded, and Akira looked away, staring at the shrine.\r\n\r\nIt was a few moments before she realised he was crying.', 'Messenger', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '473-revision-2', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:07:10', '2009-04-23 02:07:10', '', 473, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/473-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(728, 1, '2009-04-23 11:08:27', '2009-04-23 02:08:27', 'Akiko stood in the doorway for a while longer, trying to work out why Satomi had visited the shrine. It was almost as if she was just keeping an eye on Akiko, making sure she was all right, but that didn’t make sense; why would Akiko be doing that? For a moment, she worried that Satomi might be part of the group conspiring against the shrine, but that made even less sense. They had protesters around the shrine all the time; Satomi wasn’t learning anything that they didn’t already know.\r\n\r\nThinking about the protesters reminded Akiko that she hadn’t checked the precincts for a while, so she stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her, and started on a circuit of the grounds. There didn’t seem to be anyone inside, although, when she glanced down the steps, she could see them gathered at the bottom, chatting among themselves.\r\n\r\n<em>They’re certainly dedicated,</em> she conceded, and she wondered again just how much some of them knew.\r\n\r\nThe weather was fairly good, with plenty of blue sky visible between the clouds, so Akiko decided to have a look round the shrine woods, as well. So far, the protesters had not gone in there, as far as she knew, but it was something to keep an eye on.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, she couldn’t see in the gloom under the trees, but her eyes quickly adjusted, picking out the undergrowth and low branches, and the patches of dancing sunlight that made it through the many layers of leaves. Twigs and leaves, fallen in the windstorm, crunched under her feet as she made her way between the tree trunks, and birds sang above her, their sweet notes backed by the rustling of leaves.\r\n\r\nOn impulse, Akiko changed her course, walking towards the sacred tree. She was there quicker than she had expected, the white paper of the shide almost glowing as motes of sunlight flickered over it. She put her hands on the rough bark, enjoying the comforting warmth and solidity of the tree’s trunk, pressing her cheek against it, her eyes closed, leaning on the tree and letting it support her.\r\n\r\nHer awareness of the cloth between her and the tree gradually strengthened, until she pushed off from it, opening her eyes and looking at it thoughtfully.\r\n\r\n“Not today,â€ she said, and then blushed as she realised that she was seriously considering hugging it naked, or at least much less dressed.\r\n\r\n<em>But maybe it’s important,</em> a part of her mind told her.\r\n\r\n“Not today,â€ she repeated, and then bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once. Was the tree a kami, or the home of a kami? And did it matter?\r\n\r\nMuch calmer and refreshed, but still thoughtful, Akiko made her way out of the wood.\r\n\r\nThe sun shone from a clear sky, and the copper roof of the shrine glowed as if it were on fire. Akiko stopped at the edge of the wood, her breath snatched away by the beauty of the scene.\r\n\r\nAnd then Tamao slid into view from the other side of the shrine building.', 'Shrine Grounds', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '477-revision-2', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:08:27', '2009-04-23 02:08:27', '', 477, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/477-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(729, 1, '2009-07-17 09:17:01', '2009-07-17 00:17:01', 'Akiko stood in the doorway for a while longer, trying to work out why Satomi had visited the shrine. It was almost as if she was just keeping an eye on Akiko, making sure she was all right, but that didn’t make sense; why would Satomi be doing that? For a moment, she worried that Satomi might be part of the group conspiring against the shrine, but that made even less sense. They had protesters around the shrine all the time; Satomi wasn’t learning anything that they didn’t already know.\n\nThinking about the protesters reminded Akiko that she hadn’t checked the precincts for a while, so she stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her, and started on a circuit of the grounds. There didn’t seem to be anyone inside, although, when she glanced down the steps, she could see them gathered at the bottom, chatting among themselves.\n\n<em>They’re certainly dedicated,</em> she conceded, and she wondered again just how much some of them knew.\n\nThe weather was fairly good, with plenty of blue sky visible between the clouds, so Akiko decided to have a look round the shrine woods, as well. So far, the protesters had not gone in there, as far as she knew, but it was something to keep an eye on.\n\nFor a moment, she couldn’t see in the gloom under the trees, but her eyes quickly adjusted, picking out the undergrowth and low branches, and the patches of dancing sunlight that made it through the many layers of leaves. Twigs and leaves, fallen in the windstorm, crunched under her feet as she made her way between the tree trunks, and birds sang above her, their sweet notes backed by the rustling of leaves.\n\nOn impulse, Akiko changed her course, walking towards the sacred tree. She was there quicker than she had expected, the white paper of the shide almost glowing as motes of sunlight flickered over it. She put her hands on the rough bark, enjoying the comforting warmth and solidity of the tree’s trunk, pressing her cheek against it, her eyes closed, leaning on the tree and letting it support her.\n\nHer awareness of the cloth between her and the tree gradually strengthened, until she pushed off from it, opening her eyes and looking at it thoughtfully.\n\n“Not today,â€ she said, and then blushed as she realised that she was seriously considering hugging it naked, or at least much less dressed.\n\n<em>But maybe it’s important,</em> a part of her mind told her.\n\n“Not today,â€ she repeated, and then bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once. Was the tree a kami, or the home of a kami? And did it matter?\n\nMuch calmer and refreshed, but still thoughtful, Akiko made her way out of the wood.\n\nThe sun shone from a clear sky, and the copper roof of the shrine glowed as if it were on fire. Akiko stopped at the edge of the wood, her breath snatched away by the beauty of the scene.\n\nAnd then Tamao slid into view from the other side of the shrine building.', 'Shrine Grounds', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '477-autosave', '', '', '2009-07-17 09:17:01', '2009-07-17 00:17:01', '', 477, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/17/477-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(730, 1, '2009-07-07 09:16:02', '2009-07-07 00:16:02', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In moments Akiko was high above the shrine, the green of its mountain standing out against the sea of clouds, the roof of the shrine shining like a beacon. Then the wind dropped her, and she screamed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It caught her again while she was still far above the mountain peak, tossing her up again, and then flinging her sideways. She tumbled upside-down, and the wind blew from above, tangling her vestments around her head, leaving her blind as her stomach lurched at the sickening downwards plunge.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao!â€ she screamed, grabbing at the heavy material and trying to get it out of her face. She tumbled again, and now the wind was lifting her once more, while pressing her vestments closer around her upper body, twisting her around so that they gradually became more tangled around her, while the cold air bit into her exposed legs. Desperately, she grabbed at the cloth, trying to pull it away from her face at least, but now the wind was rolling her through the air, and she was getting dizzy, nausea rising in her stomach. The thought of actually vomiting while her face was covered in cloth made her panic even more, and she pushed harder at the fabric. It was no good; the cloth was too heavy, the wind too strong. She continued to lurch through the air, the motion getting ever more violent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tumbled round in the air, and for a moment the wind was no longer pressing her clothes against her face. She pushed them out and away, gasping for breath as cool air flooded into her mouth, and her vision cleared.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was still suspended in whiteness, with nothing visible in any direction. As she fell once more, her stomach rising into her throat, she realised that she felt wet, that she must be inside a cloud. Then the wind spun her round, whipping her skirts back up around her face and twisting.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Somehow, the cloth was around her neck, twisting, tightening, and she couldn’t breathe. Desperately, she tried to get her hands inside the folds, pull at the material, but she could only just get it loose, and as she spun the motion threatened to wrap it tighter once more.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tried to cry out to Tamao for help, but she couldn’t get the words out, and for a moment she remembered the calm she felt when touching the sacred tree. That was what she needed now. As she thought that, she felt something whip against her foot as she spun round once more. Something like a twig. Blindly, she reached out, feeling bark, and closed her hands, grabbing and holding on.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The bark was rough, its texture calming her as it pressed against her skin, soothing her, settling her stomach. She could feel the tree accepting her panicked breathing, her racing heartbeat, and drawing the fear from her as she pressed herself closer to it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her legs were pressed against the bark of the tree, but her vestments were still wrapped around her upper body, separating her from the tree, cutting her off…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I just want to get down,â€ she said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Instantly, the feeling vanished, and she found her clothes shifting, falling back towards a more normal position now that she wasn’t being tossed by the wind. Shifting her grip on the branches, she was able to settle them in something like the normal position, and see an easy route for climbing down. <em>Was that an answer?</em> she wondered, as she started to descend.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As reached the foot of the tree, she marvelled at how clean the vestments were. Even cleaner than the had been when she put them on, if anything; no sign that she’d been climbing a tree in them. She looked up at the tree, and knelt, performing the obeisance while kneeling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ she said, with as much feeling, and respect, as she could manage.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She hurried back to the shrine house, bowing quickly to the iwakura as she passed, thinking about what had happened. It seemed likely that the aramitama had seized her when she mentioned it, and then the tree had rescued her. From somewhere. Although you could argue that she had never left the tree. Shaking her head, she decided to talk to Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest was in the office, just finishing a phone call, and she looked round as Akiko came in. She didn’t look very happy, but Akiko had to tell her what had happened.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, I just saw Tamao again. He told me that we had to purify the area.â€ Something struck her. “He called you Spirit Child; is your given name Tamako?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, Reiko. Look, could you start from the beginning? I can’t follow what you’re saying.â€ Akiko took a deep breath, and nodded. A bit more context would make it easier to understand.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I decided to check the shrine grounds, to make sure there were no protesters around, and I walked as far as the sacred tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sacred tree?â€ Shiraishi looked puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I don’t know what it’s called. The big one with the shimenawa and shide around it, towards the back of the shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi still looked puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we have a god tree at this shrine. Just the iwakura, and, normally, the honden.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Now Akiko was puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But the shimenawa has fresh shide on it all the time. You must be changing them at least once a week.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s not me. I think you’d better show me this tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, yes.â€ Akiko led the way out of the house and back to the woods.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s somewhere around here, just a moment,â€ she said, as she tried to get her bearings. She realised that, although she knew where the tree was, she didn’t know a particular way to get there. “Ah, through here, I think.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She led the priest through the trunks, and out into the space around the trunk. The tree soared above them, its leaves whispering in the breeze, patches of sunlight catching the white of the shimenawa. Akiko looked at the priest.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi had stopped at the edge of the space, and was staring at the tree, awe on her face. She took a tentative step forward, then another, then another, until she was standing next to the tree. She started to raise her hands, then dropped them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK. You can touch it.â€ Akiko couldn’t understand Shiraishi’s reaction, but she understood what the priest was feeling when she touched the tree, then embraced it. And, when she blushed and quickly stepped back, Akiko thought she understood that, as well.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked up at the tree, then performed the standard obeisance before turning back to Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, this tree.â€ She stopped, and a look of wondering incomprehension passed over her face. “This tree wasn’t here before.â€</p>', 'Wind in the Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '481-revision-3', '', '', '2009-07-07 09:16:02', '2009-07-07 00:16:02', '', 481, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/07/481-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(731, 1, '2009-07-19 07:46:55', '2009-07-18 22:46:55', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In moments Akiko was high above the shrine, the green of its mountain standing out against the sea of clouds, the roof of the shrine shining like a beacon. Then the wind dropped her, and she screamed.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It caught her again while she was still far above the mountain peak, tossing her up again, and then flinging her sideways. She tumbled upside-down, and the wind blew from above, tangling her vestments around her head, leaving her blind as her stomach lurched at the sickening downwards plunge.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao!â€ she screamed, grabbing at the heavy material and trying to get it out of her face. She tumbled again, and now the wind was lifting her once more, while pressing her vestments closer around her upper body, twisting her around so that they gradually became more tangled around her, while the cold air bit into her exposed legs. Desperately, she grabbed at the cloth, trying to pull it away from her face at least, but now the wind was rolling her through the air, and she was getting dizzy, nausea rising in her stomach. The thought of actually vomiting while her face was covered in cloth made her panic even more, and she pushed harder at the fabric. It was no good; the cloth was too heavy, the wind too strong. She continued to lurch through the air, the motion getting ever more violent.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tumbled round in the air, and for a moment the wind was no longer pressing her clothes against her face. She pushed them out and away, gasping for breath as cool air flooded into her mouth, and her vision cleared.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was still suspended in whiteness, with nothing visible in any direction. As she fell once more, her stomach rising into her throat, she realised that she felt wet, that she must be inside a cloud. Then the wind spun her round, whipping her skirts back up around her face and twisting.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Somehow, the cloth was around her neck, twisting, tightening, and she couldn’t breathe. Desperately, she tried to get her hands inside the folds, pull at the material, but she could only just get it loose, and as she spun the motion threatened to wrap it tighter once more.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tried to cry out to Tamao for help, but she couldn’t get the words out, and for a moment she remembered the calm she felt when touching the sacred tree. That was what she needed now. As she thought that, she felt something whip against her foot as she spun round once more. Something like a twig. Blindly, she reached out, feeling bark, and closed her hands, grabbing and holding on.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The bark was rough, its texture calming her as it pressed against her skin, soothing her, settling her stomach. She could feel the tree accepting her panicked breathing, her racing heartbeat, and drawing the fear from her as she pressed herself closer to it.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her legs were pressed against the bark of the tree, but her vestments were still wrapped around her upper body, separating her from the tree, cutting her off…</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I just want to get down,â€ she said.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Instantly, the feeling vanished, and she found her clothes shifting, falling back towards a more normal position now that she wasn’t being tossed by the wind. Shifting her grip on the branches, she was able to settle them in something like the normal position, and see an easy route for climbing down. <em>Was that an answer?</em> she wondered, as she started to descend.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As reached the foot of the tree, she marvelled at how clean the vestments were. Even cleaner than they had been when she put them on, if anything; no sign that she’d been climbing a tree in them. She looked up at the tree, and knelt, performing the obeisance while kneeling.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ she said, with as much feeling, and respect, as she could manage.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She hurried back to the shrine house, bowing quickly to the iwakura as she passed, thinking about what had happened. It seemed likely that the aramitama had seized her when she mentioned it, and then the tree had rescued her. From somewhere. Although you could argue that she had never left the tree. Shaking her head, she decided to talk to Shiraishi.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest was in the office, just finishing a phone call, and she looked round as Akiko came in. She didn’t look very happy, but Akiko had to tell her what had happened.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, I just saw Tamao again. He told me that we had to purify the area.â€ Something struck her. “He called you Spirit Child; is your given name Tamako?â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, Reiko. Look, could you start from the beginning? I can’t follow what you’re saying.â€ Akiko took a deep breath, and nodded. A bit more context would make it easier to understand.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I decided to check the shrine grounds, to make sure there were no protesters around, and I walked as far as the sacred tree.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sacred tree?â€ Shiraishi looked puzzled.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I don’t know what it’s called. The big one with the shimenawa and shide around it, towards the back of the shrine.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi still looked puzzled.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we have a god tree at this shrine. Just the iwakura, and, normally, the honden.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Now Akiko was puzzled.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But the shimenawa has fresh shide on it all the time. You must be changing them at least once a week.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s not me. I think you’d better show me this tree.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, yes.â€ Akiko led the way out of the house and back to the woods.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s somewhere around here, just a moment,â€ she said, as she tried to get her bearings. She realised that, although she knew where the tree was, she didn’t know a particular way to get there. “Ah, through here, I think.â€</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She led the priest through the trunks, and out into the space around the trunk. The tree soared above them, its leaves whispering in the breeze, patches of sunlight catching the white of the shimenawa. Akiko looked at the priest.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi had stopped at the edge of the space, and was staring at the tree, awe on her face. She took a tentative step forward, then another, then another, until she was standing next to the tree. She started to raise her hands, then dropped them.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK. You can touch it.â€ Akiko couldn’t understand Shiraishi’s reaction, but she understood what the priest was feeling when she touched the tree, then embraced it. And, when she blushed and quickly stepped back, Akiko thought she understood that, as well.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked up at the tree, then performed the standard obeisance before turning back to Akiko.</p>\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, this tree.â€ She stopped, and a look of wondering incomprehension passed over her face. “This tree wasn’t here before.â€</p>', 'Wind in the Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '481-autosave', '', '', '2009-07-19 07:46:55', '2009-07-18 22:46:55', '', 481, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/19/481-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(732, 1, '2009-07-19 07:45:49', '2009-07-18 22:45:49', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In moments Akiko was high above the shrine, the green of its mountain standing out against the sea of clouds, the roof of the shrine shining like a beacon. Then the wind dropped her, and she screamed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It caught her again while she was still far above the mountain peak, tossing her up again, and then flinging her sideways. She tumbled upside-down, and the wind blew from above, tangling her vestments around her head, leaving her blind as her stomach lurched at the sickening downwards plunge.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao!â€ she screamed, grabbing at the heavy material and trying to get it out of her face. She tumbled again, and now the wind was lifting her once more, while pressing her vestments closer around her upper body, twisting her around so that they gradually became more tangled around her, while the cold air bit into her exposed legs. Desperately, she grabbed at the cloth, trying to pull it away from her face at least, but now the wind was rolling her through the air, and she was getting dizzy, nausea rising in her stomach. The thought of actually vomiting while her face was covered in cloth made her panic even more, and she pushed harder at the fabric. It was no good; the cloth was too heavy, the wind too strong. She continued to lurch through the air, the motion getting ever more violent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tumbled round in the air, and for a moment the wind was no longer pressing her clothes against her face. She pushed them out and away, gasping for breath as cool air flooded into her mouth, and her vision cleared.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was still suspended in whiteness, with nothing visible in any direction. As she fell once more, her stomach rising into her throat, she realised that she felt wet, that she must be inside a cloud. Then the wind spun her round, whipping her skirts back up around her face and twisting.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Somehow, the cloth was around her neck, twisting, tightening, and she couldn’t breathe. Desperately, she tried to get her hands inside the folds, pull at the material, but she could only just get it loose, and as she spun the motion threatened to wrap it tighter once more.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She tried to cry out to Tamao for help, but she couldn’t get the words out, and for a moment she remembered the calm she felt when touching the sacred tree. That was what she needed now. As she thought that, she felt something whip against her foot as she spun round once more. Something like a twig. Blindly, she reached out, feeling bark, and closed her hands, grabbing and holding on.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The bark was rough, its texture calming her as it pressed against her skin, soothing her, settling her stomach. She could feel the tree accepting her panicked breathing, her racing heartbeat, and drawing the fear from her as she pressed herself closer to it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her legs were pressed against the bark of the tree, but her vestments were still wrapped around her upper body, separating her from the tree, cutting her off…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I just want to get down,â€ she said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Instantly, the feeling vanished, and she found her clothes shifting, falling back towards a more normal position now that she wasn’t being tossed by the wind. Shifting her grip on the branches, she was able to settle them in something like the normal position, and see an easy route for climbing down. <em>Was that an answer?</em> she wondered, as she started to descend.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As reached the foot of the tree, she marvelled at how clean the vestments were. Even cleaner than they had been when she put them on, if anything; no sign that she’d been climbing a tree in them. She looked up at the tree, and knelt, performing the obeisance while kneeling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ she said, with as much feeling, and respect, as she could manage.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She hurried back to the shrine house, bowing quickly to the iwakura as she passed, thinking about what had happened. It seemed likely that the aramitama had seized her when she mentioned it, and then the tree had rescued her. From somewhere. Although you could argue that she had never left the tree. Shaking her head, she decided to talk to Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest was in the office, just finishing a phone call, and she looked round as Akiko came in. She didn’t look very happy, but Akiko had to tell her what had happened.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, I just saw Tamao again. He told me that we had to purify the area.â€ Something struck her. “He called you Spirit Child; is your given name Tamako?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, Reiko. Look, could you start from the beginning? I can’t follow what you’re saying.â€ Akiko took a deep breath, and nodded. A bit more context would make it easier to understand.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I decided to check the shrine grounds, to make sure there were no protesters around, and I walked as far as the sacred tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sacred tree?â€ Shiraishi looked puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I don’t know what it’s called. The big one with the shimenawa and shide around it, towards the back of the shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi still looked puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we have a god tree at this shrine. Just the iwakura, and, normally, the honden.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Now Akiko was puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But the shimenawa has fresh shide on it all the time. You must be changing them at least once a week.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s not me. I think you’d better show me this tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, yes.â€ Akiko led the way out of the house and back to the woods.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s somewhere around here, just a moment,â€ she said, as she tried to get her bearings. She realised that, although she knew where the tree was, she didn’t know a particular way to get there. “Ah, through here, I think.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She led the priest through the trunks, and out into the space around the trunk. The tree soared above them, its leaves whispering in the breeze, patches of sunlight catching the white of the shimenawa. Akiko looked at the priest.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi had stopped at the edge of the space, and was staring at the tree, awe on her face. She took a tentative step forward, then another, then another, until she was standing next to the tree. She started to raise her hands, then dropped them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK. You can touch it.â€ Akiko couldn’t understand Shiraishi’s reaction, but she understood what the priest was feeling when she touched the tree, then embraced it. And, when she blushed and quickly stepped back, Akiko thought she understood that, as well.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked up at the tree, then performed the standard obeisance before turning back to Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, this tree.â€ She stopped, and a look of wondering incomprehension passed over her face. “This tree wasn’t here before.â€</p>', 'Wind in the Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '481-revision-4', '', '', '2009-07-19 07:45:49', '2009-07-18 22:45:49', '', 481, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/19/481-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(733, 1, '2009-07-07 09:16:42', '2009-07-07 00:16:42', '“What do you mean, wasn’t here?â€ The question sounded stupid to Akiko even as she said it; it wasn’t exactly an unclear statement.\r\n\r\n“I grew up here. I played in the woods. I worked in them when I was older. This tree,â€ she turned to look at the tree again, almost as if she wasn’t sure that it would still be there, “wasn’t here.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked at the tree. It was huge, hundreds of years old. Well, far older than Shiraishi, anyway. She didn’t understand, but this time she kept her mouth shut, rather than say something fatuous. The priest turned back to her.\r\n\r\n“So, you started here.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ The rest of what had happened was also important. “And when I went back to the main precincts, I was, I don’t know, in a different version of the shrine. It still had a honden, a simple shinmeizukuri building.â€\r\n\r\n“Let’s go and see.â€ The tension was obvious in Shiraishi’s voice, but Akiko couldn’t tell whether it was excitement or worry. They walked through the wood, the priest glancing back until the tree was out of sight, and then out into the clearing.\r\n\r\nThere was no honden; just the iwakura, the empty space, and, beyond that, the shrine house. Shiraishi sighed.\r\n\r\n“Oh well. So, what happened then?â€\r\n\r\n“I saw Tamao and Hideo Takenaka. They led me to the entrance, which was on a mountain high over the city, and had me look down. I could see the kegare all across the city, like a net, with some places swarming with corrupt spirits. And then Tamao told me to that we had to cleanse it. He called you Spirit Child. He said that he wasn’t strong enough to cleanse it himself at the moment. Then a strong wind picked me up, and dropped me back in the tree.â€\r\n\r\n“Tamao said that he wasn’t strong enough?â€\r\n\r\n“He said that the kami draw strength from people’s respect.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“That’s a phrase from the opening of a famous Kamakura period law. It’s true, then.â€ The priest’s voice was strained again.\r\n\r\n“Do you think that the lack of worshippers has weakened Tamao?â€ This time, Shiraishi just nodded, her hands clenched by her side. Akiko looked at her more closely; she seemed to be swallowing and blinking a lot.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, are you all right?â€\r\n\r\n“I didn’t know!â€ It was a wail. “I thought they were just traditional ceremonies! I didn’t know it was all real!â€\r\n\r\n“Isn’t it good that they’re real?â€\r\n\r\nThe priest rounded on her.\r\n\r\n“Good? I don’t understand what’s going on, or what to do. My training covered where to kneel while doing the Great Festival, not how to deal with spirits of corruption trying to destroy the city. I could just about cope with developers trying to get their hands on the shrine land; with this as well…â€ She came to a stop, drawing a deep breath. “No, I don’t think it’s good.â€ She paused.\r\n\r\n“But we have to deal with it.â€\r\n\r\n“So, what do we do?â€ Akiko asked.\r\n\r\nShiraishi turned to look out towards the city.\r\n\r\n“You said that the harae ceremony removed the kegare, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€\r\n\r\n“Then that’s something we know how to do. We should find the concentrations of pollution you saw, and purify them. Hunt down these corrupt spirits and drive them out.â€\r\n\r\nRelief swept through Akiko’s body; finally someone was helping her to deal with the problems. She looked out of the shrine as well. They would cleanse the pollution together.', 'Strategic Discussion', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '489-revision-3', '', '', '2009-07-07 09:16:42', '2009-07-07 00:16:42', '', 489, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/07/489-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(734, 1, '2009-04-29 11:36:07', '2009-04-29 02:36:07', 'Sitting next to Akira in his car, Akiko looked out of the windows as he drove around, keeping her awareness on the kegare. Akira seemed remarkably resigned to strange requests, but after she had discovered that she couldn’t walk around without bumping into things while looking for kegare she had had to ask for someone to drive her — and Akira was the only person she had thought might actually agree.\r\n\r\nAkiko could see some kegare on all the houses they passed, crawling over some like vines, settling on others like mould, drifting around still others like smoke. She wondered whether the appearance of the kegare meant anything, or whether it was just random.\r\n\r\n“Stop!â€ she said, and Akira brought the car quickly to a halt. The house on the corner was almost hidden in black fronds, cascading from the walls and roof. As she looked, it seemed to move within the kegare, as if shifting in place, and a cloud of brown spores rose from it. “This one is heavy with kegare.â€\r\n\r\nAkira leaned over, and looked out of the window.\r\n\r\n“Hmm. So, what do we do? Just walk up and say “your house is…â€ Hang on.â€ He leaned over the satnav on the dashboard, checking where they were and then looking back at the house. “Actually, we can just walk up. I know these people.â€\r\n\r\n“Really?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. The Tanakas. I was friends with their son at high school. He’s at university in Kyoto now, but I know them all. Come on.â€ Akira got out of the car, and Akiko quickly followed him, hoping that this really was a piece of good luck.\r\n\r\nAkiko let her vision return to normal as they walked up to the house, to avoid bumping into anything. Without the overlay, it looked like a perfectly ordinary house, maybe a little old, but still in good shape, and well cared for. Akira rang the bell, and they waited.\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€ A woman opened the door, and then, almost immediately. “Akira! It’s been ages. Come in! Oh, and your friend, too. What brings you here?â€ She looked really pleased to see him, and Akiko relaxed a bit.\r\n\r\nInside the house, sitting at the dining room table, Akiko shifted her vision back. Everything was now covered with a layer of mould, and every movement stirred up a cloud of spores, which obscured her vision and made her cough, an acrid taste in the back of her throat.\r\n\r\nA figure entered the room, swathed in dark strands of webbing, with malformed spiders in dozens of unhealthy colours scuttling here and there across it, disappearing into the folds only to reappear at the other side. The surface of the webs heaved and shook, as if ten thousand maggots waited inside. Akiko suppressed the urge to scream, and desperately tried to switch back to normal vision.\r\n\r\n“Lovely to see you Akira,â€ an old woman said. “I won’t come any closer; I have a bit of a cold.â€ As she finished, Akiko found that she could no longer see the kegare, and could see the woman, a white mask over her mouth and nose, leaning on the kitchen counter.\r\n\r\nAkiko looked at Akira, and nodded. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before starting.\r\n\r\n“This is going to sound really strange, but…â€', 'Friendly Ground', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '491-revision-2', '', '', '2009-04-29 11:36:07', '2009-04-29 02:36:07', '', 491, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/29/491-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(735, 1, '2009-07-21 10:23:38', '2009-07-21 01:23:38', 'Sitting next to Akira in his car, Akiko looked out of the windows as he drove around, keeping her awareness on the kegare. Akira seemed remarkably resigned to strange requests, but after she had discovered that she couldn’t walk around without bumping into things while looking for kegare she had had to ask for someone to drive her — and Akira was the only person she had thought might actually agree.\n\nAkiko could see some kegare on all the houses they passed, crawling over some like vines, settling on others like mould, drifting around still others like smoke. She wondered whether the appearance of the kegare meant anything, or whether it was just random.\n\n“Stop!â€ she said, and Akira brought the car quickly to a halt. The house on the corner was almost hidden in black fronds, cascading from the walls and roof. As she looked, it seemed to move within the kegare, as if shifting in place, and a cloud of brown spores rose from it. “This one is heavy with kegare.â€\n\nAkira leaned over, and looked out of the window.\n\n“Hmm. So, what do we do? Just walk up and say “your house is…â€ Hang on.â€ He leaned over the satnav on the dashboard, checking where they were and then looking back at the house. “Actually, we can just walk up. I know these people.â€\n\n“Really?â€\n\n“Yes. The Tanakas. I was friends with their son at high school. He’s at university in Kyoto now, but I know them all. Come on.â€ Akira got out of the car, and Akiko quickly followed him, hoping that this really was a piece of good luck.\n\nAkiko let her vision return to normal as they walked up to the house, to avoid bumping into anything. Without the overlay, it looked like a perfectly ordinary house, maybe a little old, but still in good shape, and well cared for. Akira rang the bell, and they waited.\n\n“Yes?â€ A woman opened the door, and then, almost immediately, smiled. “Akira! It’s been ages. Come in! Oh, and your friend, too. What brings you here?â€ She looked really pleased to see him, and Akiko relaxed a bit.\n\nInside the house, sitting at the dining room table, Akiko shifted her vision back. Everything was now covered with a layer of mould, and every movement stirred up a cloud of spores, which obscured her vision and made her cough, an acrid taste in the back of her throat.\n\nA figure entered the room, swathed in dark strands of webbing, with malformed spiders in dozens of unhealthy colours scuttling here and there across it, disappearing into the folds only to reappear at the other side. The surface of the webs heaved and shook, as if ten thousand maggots waited inside. Akiko suppressed the urge to scream, and desperately tried to switch back to normal vision.\n\n“Lovely to see you Akira,â€ an old woman said. “I won’t come any closer; I have a bit of a cold.â€ As she finished, Akiko found that she could no longer see the kegare, and could see the woman, a white mask over her mouth and nose, leaning on the kitchen counter.\n\nAkiko looked at Akira, and nodded. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before starting.\n\n“This is going to sound really strange, but…â€', 'Friendly Ground', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '491-autosave', '', '', '2009-07-21 10:23:38', '2009-07-21 01:23:38', '', 491, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/21/491-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(736, 1, '2009-10-19 00:00:54', '2009-10-18 15:00:54', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi and Kazumi both seemed frozen in place, staring at Akiko and the pool. Akiko looked at them both, and then glanced behind her. The pool was filled by a spring that burst from the heart of the iwakura, and above the water Akiko could see a tongue of fire, dancing within the stones.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She looked back at the other women just as Shiraishi visibly shook herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Later,â€ she said, in a quiet voice. Akiko didn’t need to ask what she meant. “Leave the curtains. We’ll perform the final ceremonies in front of them.â€ Akiko nodded in agreement and, a few moments later, so did Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi held one of the curtains aside as they filed out, and there was a quiet murmur from the crowd. Akiko couldn’t quite read the mood; certainly not hostile, but somehow on edge, she thought. They lined up in front of the curtains and bowed once to the iwakura, before turning to face the attendees.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The wild festival of Tamao Shrine has safely concluded,â€ Shiraishi announced, and a spontaneous cheer went up from the crowd. Akiko looked at Shiraishi in shock, but the priest was equally surprised. Indeed, when she looked back, many of those who had cheered also looked a bit surprised, as if they didn’t know what had come over them. Still, they also looked cheerful, and people soon returned to the food stalls, or to chatting in small groups. Akiko stood still, searching the precincts until she found Satomi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Satomi!â€ she called, as she walked over. “Thank you for coming.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh!â€ Satomi seemed, somehow, a bit surprised to see her. “Yes.â€ She suddenly grinned. “I still can’t believe you actually wore that outfit.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko smiled back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It was very cool. You should try it next time.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I think I will. When do you think the next time will be?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er…â€ Akiko was a little taken aback. “We’re not sure. It isn’t a regular festival.â€ She paused a moment. “Do you really want to help carry the mikoshi?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, why not? It did look like fun. And…â€ Her voice trailed off, and she blushed, looking away from Akiko, towards the curtains. “And I feel so much better now, better than I’ve felt for weeks.â€ She looked back to Akiko. “Maybe there’s something to these festivals after all.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you.â€ Akiko didn’t know what else to say, and Satomi just nodded. Then she smiled again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, do you still doubt that you are lucky?â€ Akiko couldn’t suppress a laugh.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. No, not any more. Well, excuse me. I should talk to some other people.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I bet they’d rather talk to you in the mikoshi outfit.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not an option,â€ Akiko said, laughing, as she felt her face turn red.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Unfortunately, it seemed to be a common thread in the comments people made to her as she circulated. No-one was actually crude, but just about everyone seemed to feel the need to compliment her on how much the mikoshi outfit had suited her. Fortunately, people also felt the need to say how much they’d enjoyed the festival, and more than a few also mentioned feeling a lot better after the festival. Her feelings a complicated mixture of embarrassment, pleasure, and relief, Akiko managed to speak to most of the attendees before they left, leaving her tired, but rather more optimistic than she had been.</p>', 'Closing Ceremonies', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'closing-ceremonies', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:52:36', '2009-07-24 03:52:36', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=736', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(737, 1, '2009-07-24 12:52:29', '2009-07-24 03:52:29', '', 'Closing Ceremonies', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '736-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:52:29', '2009-07-24 03:52:29', '', 736, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/736-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(738, 1, '2009-10-20 00:00:47', '2009-10-19 15:00:47', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was nearly midnight when the last people left the precincts, and Shiraishi, Akiko, and Kazumi could start taking down the curtains.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is going to take some explaining,â€ Shiraishi said, pointing at the pool. Akiko nodded, and then looked at the iwakura, where the flame was still dancing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can you see the flame in the iwakura?â€ she asked. Shiraishi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just the pool.â€ Kazumi was crouched down beside it, testing the water with her hand. She looked up with a broad smile on her face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s a hot spring! Feels great.â€ She looked around. “Hey, there’s no-one here. I’d really enjoy a bath…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can have one <em>inside,</em>â€ Shiraishi said, sternly. Kazumi pouted for a moment, but she stood up. “And, actually, we should talk about what happened.â€ The priest turned back to Akiko. “You vanished while you were dancing. Then there was a small earthquake, and the spring started flowing from the iwakura. It looked like the bottom of the pool sank as the water flowed into it, and then you appeared under the water, walking out of the pool dry. Did I miss anything?â€ The question was directed at Kazumi, and the girl shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s what I remember,â€ she said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, Akiko, what did you see?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko initially intended to give a brief explanation, but Shiraishi and Kazumi both asked lots of questions, and it was soon apparent that she would have to go into all the details, so she suggested that they finish the discussion inside, sitting down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They gathered in the kitchen, still in vestments, and Shiraishi got drinks as Akiko finished her account.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think the fire would really have hurt them?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied. “I think it would have killed them. The Aramitama was <em>furious</em> at the pollution they had brought into the shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you stopped it,â€ Shiraishi said. Akiko nodded, shuddering slightly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t want to have to do that too often; it’s very painful. But maybe now the shrine is clear things will start to get better.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are sure it was fully purified?â€ The priest sounded concerned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh yes. There’s no way any kegare survived that. Of course,â€ Akiko continued, reflectively, “we’ll have to see how things are in the morning. I hope it lasts.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hope the hot spring lasts,â€ Kazumi said. “And the enthusiasm. You were talking to people afterwards, right?â€ The girl was grinning, and Akiko smiled back, glancing at Shiraishi. The priest was also smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t just talk to people,â€ she said. “I collected donations.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really? That’s great!â€ Akiko said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Almost a million yen.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey, we should have the festival every week!â€ Kazumi said, her eyes bright. Akiko and Shiraishi both laughed, and she pouted at them. “What?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think we’d collect that much every week,â€ Akiko said. Kazumi frowned, and then sighed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I suppose you’re right.â€ She brightened again. “Still, it’s really good!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is,â€ Shiraishi agreed, “and I spoke to several ujiko; they want to start having meetings again, and Noriko has expressed an interest in supporting the shrine more formally.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko realised she was grinning like an idiot, but she couldn’t stop.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Everything seems to be going right for once, doesn’t it?â€</p>', 'Recap', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'recap', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:53:24', '2009-07-24 03:53:24', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=738', 0, 'post', '', 7);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(740, 1, '2009-10-21 00:00:38', '2009-10-20 15:00:38', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’d still like a bath,â€ Kazumi said after a moment. “I don’t suppose I could stay here tonight?â€ Shiraishi looked at her, apparently considering, and then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need to call home first, but it is rather late.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, my mother won’t mind…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe not, but you need to call.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK, OK.â€ Kazumi went over to her bags and started rummaging through for her cell phone, which reminded Akiko of just how long it was since she had called her mother. She checked the time; her mother would still be up. For a moment, she thought about leaving it, but no, she felt better than she had for ages. This was the best time to do it. Excusing herself, she went to her room, and made the call before she could change her mind.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko?â€ Her mother didn’t pretend not to know who it was this time. “Is anything wrong?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, no. No, we just had a night festival at the shrine, and I realised it was a long time since I’d called you. You were still up, right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course. Still a night owl.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They both fell silent, and Akiko started to feel uncomfortable as the pause got longer. What, exactly, had she planned to say?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, Akiko.â€ Her mother broke the silence in the end.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m, er, sorry about, well, shouting at you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ Akiko didn’t know what to say. Her mother had never apologised before.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your father reminded me that I’d had you by the time I was your age. You’re not a child any more. I…â€ Akiko heard her mother take a deep breath. “I shouldn’t treat you like one.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er… Thank you.â€ <em>This is good</em>, Akiko told herself, but she still had no idea how to respond.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, from now on, I will just give you advice, not instructions. I’m not going to try to organise any more miai without your approval.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Great, thank you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, are you still working at that shrine?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, mother. I said we had a night festival, remember?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, yes, right. Mm. Are you sure it’s the right job for you? I mean, it doesn’t have much of a future.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is the right job for me. At least at the moment.â€ Even as she said it, Akiko realised that she did need to think about the future. Was she going to serve at a shrine for ever?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And what about a husband, and family? They are important, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not right now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. I do think you should be thinking about it seriously, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I am thinking about it. And it’s not what I want to do right now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I see. Well. Well, thank you for the call.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s OK. Bye.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bye.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko put the phone down to charge, and went back to the sitting room, where Shiraishi was sorting out the donations, still smiling. She looked up as Akiko came in, her face quizzical.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You look puzzled.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I just had a strange conversation with my mother…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not a fight?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No… I think it’s better, but…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi’s eyes suddenly went wide, and she let out a strangled squeal. With a surge of panic, Akiko looked behind her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then relaxed. It was just Kazumi, completely naked and drying her hair with a towel.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi! Put something <em>on!â€</em> Akiko said, trying to keep her face stern.</p>', 'Family Ties', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'family-ties', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:54:15', '2009-07-24 03:54:15', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=740', 0, 'post', '', 5);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(741, 1, '2009-07-24 12:54:05', '2009-07-24 03:54:05', '', 'Family Ties', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '740-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:54:05', '2009-07-24 03:54:05', '', 740, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/740-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(742, 1, '2009-10-22 00:00:23', '2009-10-21 15:00:23', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko woke while it was still dark, feeling refreshed and full of energy. She lay still for a while, to see whether she would get back to sleep, but it soon became clear that she was thoroughly awake. She grabbed her yukata, but then ran to the bathroom without bothering to put it on. <em>Kazumi’s a bad influence,</em> she thought to herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was washed and dressed in her vestments by the time the eastern horizon was starting to brighten, and she went out into the shrine grounds to see the dawn. She purified herself at the water basin by the entrance from the house’s garden, and then switched her vision to look for kegare.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was none. Everywhere she could see was clean, pulsing with life. There were small spirits everywhere, more than she had seen for a long time, but they all looked healthy. Within the iwakura, the flame still danced, casting flashes of brightness into the twilight, while the hot spring continued to pour from within the stones, laughing as it cascaded into the pool.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You too, huh?â€ Akiko looked round sharply; she hadn’t heard Kazumi come up behind her. The girl was in her vestments as well, and completely clear of kegare. “I don’t normally wake up this early, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Neither do we.â€ It was Shiraishi, coming through the gate from the garden, robed and carrying the ritual equipment. “Akiko, could you get the offerings? They’re just inside the front door.â€ Akiko hurried to get them, joining the other two in front of the pool as they finished setting up the tables. Shiraishi was looking east, and suddenly she nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should start the ceremony now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They all performed the morning ceremonies, closing them, as usual, with a single bow. As they sat up, the surface of the pool suddenly became very calm, even though the water was still pouring into it, and stones and trees, illuminated by the first rays of the rising sun, were reflected in it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Tamao’s head rose from the water without so much as a ripple, and they all bowed again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Spirit Child, Bright Child, Beautiful Harmony. You have all done well. I am strong again, strong enough to keep the corruption from the shrine. But the pollution is strong as well. You must take this strength to the corruption, you must take it out of the shrine to cleanse the area.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We are no longer losing, but we have not yet won.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Tamao sank back beneath the surface, which immediately began to churn again from the water flowing into it, red, green, purple, gold and silver flashing on the surface for a few moments, before being replaced by the sparkle of the rising sun.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There was silence for a moment, then Shiraishi turned to Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you still want to bathe in that pool?â€ She sounded a little amused.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, <em>yesâ€</em> Kazumi’s answer was barely breathed, but there was so much sincerity, so much longing in it that Shiraishi suddenly looked embarrassed. The girl didn’t move, though, and after a moment she spoke again. “But I daren’t.â€ Another brief pause. “And my school uniform is at home! Ah! I’m going to be late!â€ She sprang up and ran into the house. Shiraishi and Akiko looked at each other for a moment, and then started laughing.</p>', 'Taking Stock', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'taking-stock', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:54:57', '2009-07-24 03:54:57', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=742', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(743, 1, '2009-07-24 12:54:49', '2009-07-24 03:54:49', '', 'Taking Stock', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '742-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:54:49', '2009-07-24 03:54:49', '', 742, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/742-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(744, 1, '2009-10-23 00:00:06', '2009-10-22 15:00:06', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stood up, still chuckling, and glanced around the shrine precincts.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m just going to have a look around,â€ she said to Shiraishi, and the priest nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Let me know how things look,â€ she replied, as she started gathering up the ritual equipment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Looking for kegare, Akiko still couldn’t see any within the shrine. It really did seem to be completely purified, and nothing had crept in during the night. As she approached the boundary of the precincts, she realised why. There was a curtain of light around the shrine, mainly gold and silver with purple, red, and green highlights flickering through it. It kept flaring more brightly in different places, apparently at random, and Akiko guessed that that marked the spots where kegare was trying to get through. She could not, however, see much beyond the curtain; nor, when she looked up, could she see how high it went.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi came charging past, shouting her goodbyes as she ran down the steps. The curtain of light flexed and rippled as she ran through, almost like the surface of a pool of water, but it didn’t break. Akiko took another look around the open area, and nodded to herself. This part, at least, was clear, and it was still early; she had time to look at the woodland before anyone was likely to come to the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was suddenly cool when she stepped into the shadow of the trees, the air fresher than outside, with a gentle breeze teasing the leaves. The sounds of the city vanished completely, replaced by the singing of cicadas and the cries of birds. The low sunlight lanced through between the trunks of the trees, coating some in burning gold and scattering off tiny things dancing in the air. It was a moment before Akiko realised that they were spirits, not dust, and that they really were dancing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She walked through the woodland, passed the kami-tree, which pulsed, visibly, as she watched, lightning scattering up and down the trunk while drops of light fell from the branches. As she stepped closer, the tree calmed down, and she could feel it calling out to her, inviting her to embrace it. She laid her hand on the bark, and felt both its calming influence and an insistent plea to get closer. Shaking her head gently, she stepped back, and returned to the open area.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Standing at the top of the steps, she looked at the curtain of light and gathered her courage. She had to look at what was outside. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through, and out.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The heat and humidity hit her like a wall, pressing down on her, instantly coating her in sweat. The noise of cars and arguments filled her ears, along with the smell of petrol, chemicals, rotten food… Here, too, there were spirits, but they were dark, twisted things. A layer of light danced over Akiko’s hands, and she saw the kegare burning away as it touched it, leaving the light slightly weaker.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She descended a few more steps, and looked out at the city, her heart suddenly leaping into her throat.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A greasy, brown-black cloud hung over the houses, and thin tendrils, tentacles of smoke, rose to meet it in a few places. The bottom of the cloud was constantly churning, and kegare spirits dived out of it, disappearing among the houses. She looked up and behind her, at the where the cloud met the curtain of light, and saw the curtain flare every time the cloud touched it, burning the pollution away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She looked down again, as a small group of protesters came into view.</p>', 'Returning Trouble', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'returning-trouble', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:55:39', '2009-07-24 03:55:39', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=744', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(745, 1, '2009-07-24 12:55:33', '2009-07-24 03:55:33', '', 'Returning Trouble', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '744-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:55:33', '2009-07-24 03:55:33', '', 744, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/744-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(746, 1, '2009-10-24 00:00:48', '2009-10-23 15:00:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The protesters, led by Mrs Watanabe, were heavily laden with kegare, with spirits riding them, pulling at their limbs so that they stumbled. One protester carried something that looked like a giant maggot, and Akiko realised that it seemed to be chewing on the back of his head. Her gorge rising, Akiko forced her awareness back to the normal world.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The protesters approached the bottom of the steps, and looked up at her. Akiko could see the weariness on their faces, and noticed that several had brought folding chairs. For a moment, Mrs Watanabe seemed to want to lead them in a chant, but as she looked round at their listless faces Akiko could see the enthusiasm drain from her face as well. She looked back at Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We aren’t going to give up, you know.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The police said you had to stay away.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They said we had to stay away from the festival, and we did. But I heard about what you were wearing. You should be ashamed of yourselves. What kind of example are you setting?â€ The criticism was lacking some of the passion of Mrs Watanabe’s previous rants, and even she seemed to sense it, falling awkwardly silent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If you cause any trouble for people trying to get in, we will call the police again,â€ Akiko warned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Don’t worry,â€ a new voice said, “we’ll keep an eye on them.â€ Akiko looked round, to see a group of half a dozen of Mr Fujimura’s men arriving. She was shocked, and just stared at them for a few moments. She really hadn’t expected them to be back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The guards seemed much more energetic than the protesters, so Akiko risked a quick look at the kegare, enough to confirm that they had much less.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We would like to have a harae before we start, however. Would that be possible?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll have to ask the chief priest. Please wait a moment.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They came back?â€ Shiraishi sounded as surprised as Akiko. “Well, send them away.â€ Akiko nodded, and was already turning when Shiraishi changed her mind. “No, wait. You said that the protesters were back as well, right? As long as they behave, it can’t hurt to have them around. I don’t trust the protesters not to make trouble; the guards should listen to us.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But will they?â€ Akiko was still unsure.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If they don’t, we can call the police,â€ Shiraishi replied. “I really didn’t think Mr Fujimura would send them again, not after the festival.â€ Akiko shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t, either. But here they are.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. I’ll get ready to perform the harae. Invite them up.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When Akiko descended the steps once more, she found the protesters and guards staring sullenly at each other, but saying nothing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We will perform the harae,â€ she said, beckoning to the guards. Then, on a sudden impulse, she turned to the protesters. “You may also participate, if you wish.â€ The guards looked shocked, but not nearly as shocked as the protesters.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Mrs Watanabe almost screeched the word. “How dare you! We are not such hypocrites.â€ She seemed to run out of steam almost immediately, though, and the other protesters said nothing, just glaring at Akiko and the guards. Akiko shrugged, and led the guards up the steps.</p>', 'Reinforcements', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'reinforcements', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:56:20', '2009-07-24 03:56:20', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=746', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(747, 1, '2009-07-24 12:56:14', '2009-07-24 03:56:14', '', 'Reinforcements', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '746-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:56:14', '2009-07-24 03:56:14', '', 746, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/746-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(748, 1, '2009-10-25 00:00:32', '2009-10-24 15:00:32', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is there any way to drive up to the top?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko shook her head, trying to ignore the protesters, who were chanting louder than ever now that they could see the television van. It had seemed like a good idea when Shiraishi mentioned it; use the appearance of the pool to get some more publicity for the shrine. Now, Akiko was not so sure. The protesters were trying to capitalise on it, and when Akiko looked at the kegare on the television crew, she wasn’t at all sure about letting them in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Spirits like winged spiders crawled all over them, jumping from one to another, disappearing inside the camera, picking at the blouse of the young reporter, tangling in her hair. The cameraman was bound in threads that covered his eyes, clusters of the spider-things gathering over his eyes, legs reaching out, stretching and waving.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m afraid you’ll have to carry it up,â€ she said, and the cameraman sighed, nodding as he shouldered the burden. The reporter glanced at the protesters, and Akiko was suddenly glad that there were only four of them, and that the guards had agreed to wait inside the house.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do they do that a lot?â€ the reporter asked. Akiko sighed and rolled her eyes, provoking a brief smile. “That often?â€ She looked over again. “Not enough of them to be news, though.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they started climbing the steps the cameraman muttered something about  background noise under his breath, and the reporter whispered something back, something Akiko couldn’t catch at all. In any case, she was concentrating on the kegare. The spirits were getting more agitated as they approached the wall of light, running to hide within the reporter’s clothes, or the body of the camera.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They passed through the light, into the shrine, and in a flare of light all the surface kegare was burned away. Akiko realised she was holding her breath, breath that she let out in disappointment as the spider-spirits began cautiously emerging, legs waving as if testing the air.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Harae!â€ Akiko whispered, urgently, as she came up alongside the priest. Shiraishi looked at her, slightly surprised, then nodded in understanding, before greeting the news team.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Welcome to Tamao Shrine. Thank you for coming.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, thank you. Good local interest stories are always welcome,â€ the reporter replied, as the cameraman looked around the precincts. “Is that the pool?â€ she continued, pointing over towards the iwakura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi replied. “How do you want to do this?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, we’d like to film something more than a talking head. And a pool of water is also not exactly riveting television. Although the spring is quite pretty.â€ She paused for a moment. “This <em>is</em> the shrine that burned down, isn’t it. I thought so. Should we mention that, as well?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That would be helpful; we need to collect money to rebuild.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The reporter smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The spring was a stroke of luck, then. So, any suggestions?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae harae harae</em> Akiko thought furiously, hoping that she’d somehow developed psychic abilities.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Shiraishi said, “I could perform a short purification ceremony and you could film that. Thanks to the fire, there’s no other evidence that this is a shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Revd Shiraishi, that was very slick,</em> Akiko thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, that’s a good idea. Would that be near the pool?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest nodded, and the reporter quickly looked at the cameraman, who nodded back, and started setting up the camera.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right, and after that, we could interview you.â€ She paused and frowned slightly. “But the pool and the rocks would be a bit boring as background.â€ She looked around, and then smiled as she saw Akiko. “Aha! Could you be in the pool while we do the interview? Half out of the water?â€ Akiko could feel herself going bright red, and the reporter hurried on. “Oh, with your back to us, of course. This would be going out on local news.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, sorry.â€ Shiraishi answered for her. “This is a shrine, not a hot spring spa.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, good point.â€ The reporter looked a bit disappointed, and then looked around again. “It’s still a bit static…â€ she said, at least half to herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I could dance,â€ Akiko found herself saying. <em>Why did I say that?</em> She didn’t feel possessed, but she had to fight an urge to shoot a suspicious glance at the iwakura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, kagura!â€ the reporter said. “Yes, that’s an excellent idea. Can you dance near the pool, so that we have you in the background while Revd Shiraishi is talking?â€ Akiko nodded, and Shiraishi smiled encouragingly at her. Akiko bowed her head, and risked a quick glance at the stones.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The flame inside was burning brighter than ever, flaring and dancing, turning the inside of the stones red hot, but there was no particular sign of awareness. Surreptitiously, she looked back at the others; they really didn’t seem to be able to see the flame, even though Akiko was no longer looking at the kegare.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you ready?â€ the reporter asked, getting a grunt from the cameraman.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I keep getting glare from something…â€ he said, as he fiddled with the angle of the camera. Akiko glanced back, willing the flame to settle down. As she looked, it did die down, and Akiko somehow felt that it was chastened. “Oh, OK now,â€ the cameraman said, leaving Akiko wondering just what had happened.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The harae cleansed the news team, and Akiko began her dance in front of the pool, as Shiraishi started explaining about it, and about the fire at the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Don’t possess me,</em> she thought to herself. <em>And don’t snatch me off to some other world. Just let me be a bit of background colour.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The surface of the pool went very still, even though the water from the spring was still pouring into it. Every time the dance turned her towards it, Akiko could see the reflection of the iwakura in it, flames engulfing the stones and towering over them. The third time she turned, she saw Tamao in the reflection, coiled around the flames, the light refracting through his scales in a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko could have sworn he looked amused.</p>', 'Flaunt It', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'flaunt-it', '', '', '2009-10-26 06:48:55', '2009-10-25 21:48:55', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=748', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(749, 1, '2009-07-24 12:57:00', '2009-07-24 03:57:00', '', 'Flaunt It', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '748-revision', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:57:00', '2009-07-24 03:57:00', '', 748, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/748-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(760, 1, '2009-08-04 14:30:53', '2009-08-04 05:30:53', 'I had another look at <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/">Web Fiction Guide</a> today, and saw that two more people had written <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">positive reviews of Tamao</a>. Thank you both.\r\n\r\nBoth of the more recent reviews also included negative points. One comments that the pacing sometimes seems off, with six or seven installments for something that only needed two or three. Well, all I can say is that the 7x7x7 structure seemed like a good idea at the time… It has made pacing more difficult, and although I think I''ve got a bit better at it, if Tamao continues I''ll be removing that particular straitjacket. The other said that it would be even better when polished, which is plausible, given that this is a first draft; there are perhaps four installments that have reached two drafts. It''s not paying well enough for revisions.\r\n\r\nBut they did raise an interesting question, to which I don''t know the answer. What do you, the readers, like about Tamao, and what would you like to see more of?\r\n\r\nI''m not phrasing the question like that because I can''t cope with criticism. I can cope; the comments interface has a delete button. However, I think it might be easier to act on positive requests, if the story continues. Bear in mind that I have a buffer of about three months, so you won''t see anything for a while, and I don''t promise to do what anyone asks. But I am interested to hear what you have to say. I am writing this to be read, after all.\r\n\r\nYou can be critical if you really want…\r\n\r\nTo leave comments on this post, if you''re only seeing it in the sidebar, click on the post title to get it in its own window.\r\n\r\nThanks.', 'What Do You Like?', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'what-do-you-like', '', '', '2009-08-04 14:30:53', '2009-08-04 05:30:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=760', 0, 'post', '', 8);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(750, 1, '2009-07-26 16:30:15', '2009-07-26 07:30:15', 'Some people may be wondering about ways they can get more people reading this story, so that they get more of it. One possibility is to <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">review it on Web Fiction Guide</a>. I got a few links through from there just on the basis of the short editorial review, and when I went to check the link today I found that someone else had reviewed it. (I know who it is, but it''s not the user name used for comments here, so I won''t say. But thanks.) Checking my stats, that produced a bit of a bump in clicks through from the site, so more reviews (assuming they''re good...) should be even more help.', 'Reviewing', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'reviewing', '', '', '2009-07-26 16:30:15', '2009-07-26 07:30:15', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=750', 0, 'post', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(751, 1, '2009-07-26 16:29:18', '2009-07-26 07:29:18', 'Some people may be wondering about ways they can get more people reading this story, so that they get more of it. One possibility is to <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">review it on Web Fiction Guide</a>. I got a few links through from there just on the basis of the short editorial review, and when I went to check the link today I found that someone else had reviewed it. (I know who it is, but it''s not the user name used for comments here, so I won''t say. But thanks.) Checking my stats, that produced a bit of a bump in clicks through from the site, so more reviews (assuming they''re good...) should be even more help.', 'Reviewing', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '750-revision', '', '', '2009-07-26 16:29:18', '2009-07-26 07:29:18', '', 750, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/26/750-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(752, 1, '2009-07-26 16:31:21', '2009-07-26 07:31:21', 'Some people may be wondering about ways they can get more people reading this story, so that they get more of it. One possibility is to <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">review it on Web Fiction Guide</a>. I got a few links through from there just on the basis of the short editorial review, and when I went to check the link today I found that someone else had reviewed it. (I know who it is, but it''s not the user name used for comments here, so I won''t say. But thanks.) Checking my stats, that produced a bit of a bump in clicks through from the site, so more reviews (assuming they''re good...) should be even more help.', 'Reviewing', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '750-autosave', '', '', '2009-07-26 16:31:21', '2009-07-26 07:31:21', '', 750, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/26/750-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(753, 1, '2009-07-14 12:10:49', '2009-07-14 03:10:49', 'That was the pressing question. Akiko sat down across from Shiraishi, and tried to be as positive as possible.\r\n\r\n“Well, we could call the ujiko. I’m sure Akira would help, and Mr Ito. And it wouldn’t hurt to call other people as well. They might also want to help the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“We’d need about a million yen per person,â€ Shiraishi said. For a moment, Akiko was shocked. Only twenty people?\r\n\r\n“There must be more people than that with some connection to the shrine. And,â€ inspiration struck, “we don’t need gifts from them. Loans are fine. We just need to pay Wakabayashi off; paying them off later is not a problem.â€\r\n\r\n“Without a shrine building? We can’t rebuild without the money.â€\r\n\r\n“Let’s save the grounds first!â€ Akiko realised that she was shouting, and quickly calmed herself down. “I’m sorry. I’m just a bit stressed after seeing the kami. Tamao knocked a tree over in the precincts, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“I thought that was the wind?â€ Shiraishi asked. Akiko shook her head. “Well,â€ the priest continued, “it sounds like we can’t rely on much help from Tamao; he’s just making things worse.â€ She paused, but Akiko said nothing and waited for her to go on. “So we have to do it ourselves.â€ She pushed her hands down on the table and stood up. “I’ll make a list and start calling round the ujiko. You can… er…â€\r\n\r\n“I think I should clean the precincts after the wind and rain. Tamao might cause even more damage if the shrine is a mess.â€ Shiraishi looked at her for a while, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“That might be best. I can’t think of anything you could do to get the money, in any case.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko stood up, and had already left the room when the priest called after her.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Akiko. Wear your miko vestments.â€\r\n\r\n“What? Why?â€ Akiko was puzzled. It was hardly a ceremony.\r\n\r\n“It makes the shrine look more active. And, come to think of it, makes it clear that it’s a shrine. We don’t want people to think we’ve already closed.â€\r\n\r\nThat did make sense, so Akiko nodded in agreement and went to get changed.\r\n\r\nThe storm had already passed by the time Akiko was changed, and she concluded that Tamao had got over his temper tantrum. It was almost dark, however, and Akiko soon realised that she couldn’t clean effectively that night. She paid her respects to the site of the shrine, and the iwakura, and then went back inside.\r\n\r\nShe was up early the next morning, in her vestments again, and out to start properly on the cleaning. The precincts were a mess, with leaves and twigs everywhere, not to mention mud from the rain, and the fallen tree in the wood. She had a quick look at that before she started, but it didn’t look dangerous, and it did look far too big for her to do anything about, so she left it to concentrate on the things she could do.\r\n\r\nShe had cleared the largest branches away, stacking them by the shrine house until she could talk to Shiraishi and decide what to do with them, and had just got the broom out when she heard a commotion from the bottom of the stairs.\r\n\r\n<em>The protesters again, </em>she thought, and, with a sigh, went to see what was going on.\r\n\r\nIt was the protesters, blocking the way of another older man whom Akiko had not seen before. He was wearing traditional Japanese dress, a haori and hakama, which surprised Akiko. She had never seen a man wearing it anywhere but a wedding. She hurried down the steps, glancing at the protesters. She had seen them before, but Mrs Watanabe wasn’t there, and nor was Mr Akiyama. By the time she reached the bottom of the steps, she was fairly confident that she could deal with it.\r\n\r\n“What is the problem?â€ she asked.\r\n\r\n“I would like to enter the shrine and have a norito said, but these… people,â€ the man indicated the protesters, his voice heavy with contempt, “do not want to let me past.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko bowed to him, trying to remember everything she had been taught about manners. There was something about his bearing that said that he would notice, and remember, any lapse.\r\n\r\n“We would be pleased to perform the ceremony for you.â€ She turned to the protesters, and one of them spoke before she could.\r\n\r\n“Why bother? It’s not like there’s going to be a shrine here next week.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko clenched her fists and her jaw, trying to keep control. She wanted to see how the man reacted to that, but she didn’t want to be obvious about it. Forcing herself to relax, she did her best to keep her voice level as she replied.\r\n\r\n“There is a shrine here now, and this gentleman would like to have a norito said. Are you going to obstruct him as he goes about his lawful business?â€\r\n\r\nThe protester held her gaze, defiantly, for a moment, before dropping his eyes and shaking his head.\r\n\r\n“Good,â€ Akiko said, and then turned back to the man. “This way, please.â€ They started climbing the steps, and Akiko felt the need to explain to him. “I’m afraid that the shrine currently lacks a honden or a haiden…â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, the fire. I heard.â€\r\n\r\n“So the norito will have to be offered at a himorogi.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, that is fine. I understand the necessity.â€\r\n\r\nHe waited outside while Akiko fetched Shiraishi from the office. When they came out, the man and the priest both bowed.\r\n\r\n“My name is Fujimura,â€ he said. “Pleased to meet you.â€\r\n\r\n“I am Shiraishi, the chief priest of this shrine. Pleased to meet you.â€\r\n\r\n<em>He’s not an ujiko, then.</em> Akiko was surprised. Why was he there, in that case?\r\n\r\n“I should like to have a norito offered.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course. What kind?â€\r\n\r\n“I should like you to pray for the health and prosperity of their majesties the Emperor and Empress, and for the peace and prosperity of the Japanese nation.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course. Please come inside; I will get changed.â€ Shiraishi showed him to the reception room, then pulled Akiko aside in the corridor.\r\n\r\n“Get him tea and Japanese sweets, as quickly as you can.â€\r\n\r\n“Who is he?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t know, so he may become a new supporter for the shrine. Hurry.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko got the tea and took it through, bowing as she set it on the table. Mr Fujimura bowed his head back, in acknowledgement, but said nothing to her. Akiko felt slightly awkward, and withdrew to wait in the corridor.\r\n\r\nThe norito was offered without any problems, or direct intervention from the kami. As they were starting, Akiko tried to switch to seeing kegare, to see whether Mr Fujimura was polluted, but she couldn’t quite get it, and then Shiraishi did the initial purification, which would cleanse him anyway, so she stopped bothering. One of the protesters did come up to the precincts, but he didn’t interfere with the ceremony.\r\n\r\nAfterwards, Mr Fujimura thanked them, and handed over a box, wrapped in a square of silk, as his offering. Shiraishi accepted it gratefully, and Akiko escorted him to the top of the stairs. He turned to bow to the shrine, but then did not look back as he swept past the protesters.\r\n\r\nAkiko returned to the office to find Shiraishi unwrapping the offering. The priest looked up as she entered.\r\n\r\n“I wonder what this is. Actual rice? Or maybe silk cloth? That would be very traditional, and he did look the traditional type.â€\r\n\r\nInside the cloth was a lacquer box, simple but apparently well made. Shiraishi whistled softly.\r\n\r\n“This is nice,â€ she said. Carefully, she lifted the lid from it, and she and Akiko both gasped.\r\n\r\nThe box was full of ten-thousand-yen notes.', 'Seeking Support', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '466-revision-4', '', '', '2009-07-14 12:10:49', '2009-07-14 03:10:49', '', 466, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/14/466-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(754, 1, '2008-12-25 08:10:28', '2008-12-24 23:10:28', '“Lunch, Akiko?â€ Satomi asked. “We’re going to Earl today.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko smiled, as she desperately calculated how to afford lunch there, especially as Naoyuki was away. Before she could answer, however, her cellphone started ringing, and she glanced at who it was.\r\n\r\n“Oh, this is my mother. I’d better take it; lunch tomorrow?â€ She was already opening the phone, and Satomi just smiled and waved as she left.\r\n\r\n“Hi Mum. What is it?â€\r\n\r\n“Is that any way to speak to your mother? Aren’t you pleased to hear from me.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m at work, Mum.â€\r\n\r\n“But it’s your lunch break, right? You told me this was your lunch break.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, it is. Sorry, I just thought you must have something particular to talk about if you were calling me during the day.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, I don’t want to call in the evening. I might disturb you while you’re with Mr Fujita.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, OK,â€ sighed Akiko, defeated. “So, just a chat, then?â€\r\n\r\n“I just want to know how you are. I’m your mother, and I worry. Work going well?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it?â€\r\n\r\n“Not ill?â€\r\n\r\n<em>Apart from hallucinating a snake, I’m fine, </em>Akiko thought, but she only said the last part.\r\n\r\n“I’m fine, Mum. How are you and Dad?â€\r\n\r\n“We’re as well as can be expected.â€\r\n\r\n“And Shoji?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s doing really well; he’s been given responsibility for another client, all by himself. We expect that he’ll be promoted soon.â€\r\n\r\n“He deserves it.â€ Her brother had always been the hard worker in the family.\r\n\r\n“So, how are things with that nice Mr Fujita?â€\r\n\r\n“Mum…â€ Her mother asked about him every time, and refused to use his given name. “Fine.â€\r\n\r\n“When will he be coming to see us?â€\r\n\r\n“You could invite him, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, that wouldn’t be proper. He should come first, to ask.â€\r\n\r\n“Mother, are you talking about us getting married again?â€\r\n\r\n“You’re not getting any younger, Akiko. You’re already twenty six, and it’s time for you to be getting married and starting a family. Why wouldn’t you want to marry him?â€\r\n\r\n“It’s not that…â€\r\n\r\n“Of course not. He graduated from Tokyo University and he’s working at Mitsui; that’s almost as good as working for the government. Maybe even better these days; the civil service isn’t what it used to be, what with all these scandals. And he’s good looking.â€ Her mother chuckled as she said that, and Akiko blushed.\r\n\r\n“Mum, please.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, he is. Anyway, are you saying that he’s not going to marry you? You’re too old to be having casual boyfriends now, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“No, Mum, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we haven’t really talked about it yet.â€\r\n\r\n“Hmph. Maybe you should start dropping hints. Leave copies of Zexy lying around, for example.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh yes, that would be really subtle. ‘I just happen to be reading this magazine all about weddings, Naoyuki.’â€\r\n\r\n“It was just a suggestion.â€ Her mother sounded a bit offended, and Akiko quickly apologised.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry. I just don’t think that would work.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, you know him best. I’m sure you can think of a good plan. Anyway, I’m off out for lunch as well, so I’d best let you go. Speak to you again soon.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, Mum. Bye.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko remained seated at her desk for a few moments after hanging up the phone. She hoped Naoyuki was planning to marry her; her mother was right about the time she didn’t have. Glancing at the clock, she sprang up. <em>Talking of time I don’t have…</em> She snatched up her bag and ran out to grab some sandwiches.', 'Phone Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '33-revision-2', '', '', '2008-12-25 08:10:28', '2008-12-24 23:10:28', '', 33, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2008/12/25/33-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(755, 1, '2009-07-26 17:31:27', '2009-07-26 08:31:27', '“Lunch, Akiko?â€ Satomi asked. “We’re going to Earl today.â€\n\nAkiko smiled, as she desperately calculated how to afford lunch there, especially as Naoyuki was away. Before she could answer, however, her cellphone started ringing, and she glanced at who it was.\n\n“Oh, this is my mother. I’d better take it; lunch tomorrow?â€ She was already opening the phone, and Satomi just smiled and waved as she left.\n\n“Hi Mum. What is it?â€\n\n“Is that any way to speak to your mother? Aren’t you pleased to hear from me.â€\n\n“I’m at work, Mum.â€\n\n“But it’s your lunch break, right? You told me this was your lunch break.â€\n\n“Yes, it is. Sorry, I just thought you must have something particular to talk about if you were calling me during the day.â€\n\n“Oh, I don’t want to call in the evening. I might disturb you while you’re with Mr Watanabe.â€\n\n“Yes, OK,â€ sighed Akiko, defeated. “So, just a chat, then?â€\n\n“I just want to know how you are. I’m your mother, and I worry. Work going well?â€\n\n“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it?â€\n\n“Not ill?â€\n\n<em>Apart from hallucinating a snake, I’m fine, </em>Akiko thought, but she only said the last part.\n\n“I’m fine, Mum. How are you and Dad?â€\n\n“We’re as well as can be expected.â€\n\n“And Shoji?â€\n\n“He’s doing really well; he’s been given responsibility for another client, all by himself. We expect that he’ll be promoted soon.â€\n\n“He deserves it.â€ Her brother had always been the hard worker in the family.\n\n“So, how are things with that nice Mr Watanabe?â€\n\n“Mum…â€ Her mother asked about him every time, and refused to use his given name. “Fine.â€\n\n“When will he be coming to see us?â€\n\n“You could invite him, you know.â€\n\n“Oh, that wouldn’t be proper. He should come first, to ask.â€\n\n“Mother, are you talking about us getting married again?â€\n\n“You’re not getting any younger, Akiko. You’re already twenty six, and it’s time for you to be getting married and starting a family. Why wouldn’t you want to marry him?â€\n\n“It’s not that…â€\n\n“Of course not. He graduated from Tokyo University and he’s working at Mitsui; that’s almost as good as working for the government. Maybe even better these days; the civil service isn’t what it used to be, what with all these scandals. And he’s good looking.â€ Her mother chuckled as she said that, and Akiko blushed.\n\n“Mum, please.â€\n\n“Well, he is. Anyway, are you saying that he’s not going to marry you? You’re too old to be having casual boyfriends now, you know.â€\n\n“No, Mum, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we haven’t really talked about it yet.â€\n\n“Hmph. Maybe you should start dropping hints. Leave copies of Zexy lying around, for example.â€\n\n“Oh yes, that would be really subtle. ‘I just happen to be reading this magazine all about weddings, Naoyuki.’â€\n\n“It was just a suggestion.â€ Her mother sounded a bit offended, and Akiko quickly apologised.\n\n“I’m sorry. I just don’t think that would work.â€\n\n“Well, you know him best. I’m sure you can think of a good plan. Anyway, I’m off out for lunch as well, so I’d best let you go. Speak to you again soon.â€\n\n“Yes, Mum. Bye.â€\n\nAkiko remained seated at her desk for a few moments after hanging up the phone. She hoped Naoyuki was planning to marry her; her mother was right about the time she didn’t have. Glancing at the clock, she sprang up. <em>Talking of time I don’t have…</em> She snatched up her bag and ran out to grab some sandwiches.', 'Phone Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '33-autosave', '', '', '2009-07-26 17:31:27', '2009-07-26 08:31:27', '', 33, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/26/33-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(756, 1, '2009-05-06 10:01:55', '2009-05-06 01:01:55', 'Akiko sat in the shrine office, looking out at the precincts, trying to keep her eyes open. The harae had left her drained, even though Shiraishi’s giggles had infected her in the car. Thinking about it now, she found herself smiling a little; it was true that the whole situation had been more than a little ridiculous. Then she yawned again, and shook herself. This was no good; she couldn’t afford to actually fall asleep. She peered out again. The sky was overcast, but it didn’t seem to be raining. Going out was a sensible possibility, then.\r\n\r\nThe warmth of the night surprised Akiko, reminding her that summer was approaching, and she still didn’t need a coat. The air was still and rather heavy, close, with a promise of rain, and the only sounds were those of distant cars and Akiko’s own footsteps. Akiko bowed to the iwakura, but it was just a group of stones tonight.\r\n\r\nThen she caught site of a light among the trees, not very bright, but moving, as if carried. Sighing, she checked that she was carrying her cellphone, and headed into the woods to see who it was.\r\n\r\nIt was only when she was surrounded by the shadows of the trees that she started to get worried. If it was one of the protesters, that was no problem. They would go away when she asked. But if it wasn’t? If it was someone else? She took her cellphone out, opening it ready to call the police, as she made her way towards the flickering light. She stepped round a trunk, and found herself in the clearing around the sacred tree.\r\n\r\nAnother miko stood beside it, reaching up to fix a new shide to the shimenawa. Her lamp stood on the ground behind her, her shadow huge and dancing against the tree in its flickering light. Akiko froze, and the other miko turned to look at her.\r\n\r\n“Good evening.â€\r\n\r\nThere was something strange about her pronunciation, an accent that Akiko couldn’t place. Akiko took a cautious step forwards, and switched her vision to see the spirits.\r\n\r\nThe tree dominated the scene, seizing her attention immediately, every detail of the bark clear. Smaller spirits, birds and insects, gathered on its branches, healthy and clean. Akiko forced herself to look down and at the miko. She looked human; completely free of kegare, but just human. Akiko’s eyes were drawn back towards the tree, and she switched her vision back to normal so that she could concentrate.\r\n\r\n“Good evening,â€ she replied, still a little hesitant.\r\n\r\n“Have you come to tend to the tree?â€ There was something very strange about the other miko’s accent, and about the way she talked, and something about her face wasn’t quite right. Akiko took another couple of steps forward.\r\n\r\n“No. I was watching the shrine, and I saw your light.â€ Akiko was thinking as fast as she could. The miko was obviously changing the shide on the shimenawa, and someone had been doing that all the time, someone who wasn’t Akiko or Shiraishi. Thus, it seemed likely that it had always been her. But who was she? And where had she come from?\r\n\r\n“Oh, I see.â€ Akiko thought she detected a questioning tone in the miko’s response, and took another step forward, as the miko took a step towards her.\r\n\r\nAnd then her frustration with all the mysteries she had faced suddenly boiled over, and she couldn’t suppress the question.\r\n\r\n“Who <em>are</em> you?â€', 'Under the Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '525-revision-2', '', '', '2009-05-06 10:01:55', '2009-05-06 01:01:55', '', 525, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/05/06/525-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(757, 1, '2009-08-04 09:14:59', '2009-08-04 00:14:59', 'Akiko sat in the shrine office, looking out at the precincts, trying to keep her eyes open. The harae had left her drained, even though Shiraishi’s giggles had infected her in the car. Thinking about it now, she found herself smiling a little; it was true that the whole situation had been more than a little ridiculous. Then she yawned again, and shook herself. This was no good; she couldn’t afford to actually fall asleep. She peered out again. The sky was overcast, but it didn’t seem to be raining. Going out was a sensible possibility, then.\n\nThe warmth of the night surprised Akiko, reminding her that summer was approaching, and she still didn’t need a coat. The air was still and rather heavy, close, with a promise of rain, and the only sounds were those of distant cars and Akiko’s own footsteps. Akiko bowed to the iwakura, but it was just a group of stones tonight.\n\nThen she caught sight of a light among the trees, not very bright, but moving, as if carried. Sighing, she checked that she was carrying her cellphone, and headed into the woods to see who it was.\n\nIt was only when she was surrounded by the shadows of the trees that she started to get worried. If it was one of the protesters, that was no problem. They would go away when she asked. But if it wasn’t? If it was someone else? She took her cellphone out, opening it ready to call the police, as she made her way towards the flickering light. She stepped round a trunk, and found herself in the clearing around the sacred tree.\n\nAnother miko stood beside it, reaching up to fix a new shide to the shimenawa. Her lamp stood on the ground behind her, her shadow huge and dancing against the tree in its flickering light. Akiko froze, and the other miko turned to look at her.\n\n“Good evening.â€\n\nThere was something strange about her pronunciation, an accent that Akiko couldn’t place. Akiko took a cautious step forwards, and switched her vision to see the spirits.\n\nThe tree dominated the scene, seizing her attention immediately, every detail of the bark clear. Smaller spirits, birds and insects, gathered on its branches, healthy and clean. Akiko forced herself to look down and at the miko. She looked human; completely free of kegare, but just human. Akiko’s eyes were drawn back towards the tree, and she switched her vision back to normal so that she could concentrate.\n\n“Good evening,â€ she replied, still a little hesitant.\n\n“Have you come to tend to the tree?â€ There was something very strange about the other miko’s accent, and about the way she talked, and something about her face wasn’t quite right. Akiko took another couple of steps forward.\n\n“No. I was watching the shrine, and I saw your light.â€ Akiko was thinking as fast as she could. The miko was obviously changing the shide on the shimenawa, and someone had been doing that all the time, someone who wasn’t Akiko or Shiraishi. Thus, it seemed likely that it had always been her. But who was she? And where had she come from?\n\n“Oh, I see.â€ Akiko thought she detected a questioning tone in the miko’s response, and took another step forward, as the miko took a step towards her.\n\nAnd then her frustration with all the mysteries she had faced suddenly boiled over, and she couldn’t suppress the question.\n\n“Who <em>are</em> you?â€', 'Under the Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '525-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-04 09:14:59', '2009-08-04 00:14:59', '', 525, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/04/525-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(758, 1, '2009-04-30 21:22:30', '2009-04-30 12:22:30', 'There were no protesters waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Akiko got back for the shrine, and for a moment hope flared; maybe they had given up? Realism soon took over, however, and she hurried up the steps, hoping that they hadn’t caused any damage already.\r\n\r\nHer heart sank as she reached the top. There were half a dozen of the protesters, including Mrs Watanabe, gathered under a large banner, two of them holding up the poles.\r\n\r\n“Shinto Equals Fascism\r\n\r\n“Just Say No!â€\r\n\r\nWhile Akiko was hurrying over to confront them, Mrs Watanabe noticed her and strode out to meet her.\r\n\r\n“You show your true colours now!â€ she said, pointing at the Japanese flag hanging limply in the still air. “We cannot allow this kind of thing to continue.â€\r\n\r\n“It’s a Japanese flag, and we’re in Japan. Hardly fascism.â€\r\n\r\nMrs Watanabe looked Akiko up and down, contempt on her face.\r\n\r\n“You’re too young to remember the Pacific War. You don’t know the damage Shinto did to Japan, and to the rest of Asia.â€\r\n\r\n“You aren’t old enough to remember it either,â€ Akiko shot back. Mrs Watanabe was old enough to be her mother, but not her grandmother.\r\n\r\n“My parents remembered it. I know what Shinto told people to do. I know what damage it did.â€ She sounded really angry, but Akiko wasn’t about to give ground.\r\n\r\n“That was seventy years ago. Shinto isn’t the same now.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh? Then why do you have the flag?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko didn’t have a quick answer to that question, and Mrs Watanabe smiled, apparently sensing victory.\r\n\r\n“And if Shinto isn’t about loyalty to the Emperor and conquering in the name of Imperial Japan, what <em>is </em>it about?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko did have an answer to that, at least the beginnings of one, but she couldn’t use it. Mrs Watanabe certainly wasn’t going to believe in kegare, and the need to purify it.\r\n\r\n“In any case,â€ she said, at last, “we are not fascists, so take that banner down and get it out of the shrine grounds.â€ As she said this, Shiraishi came running out of the shrine house, looking flushed and nearly as angry as Mrs Watanabe.\r\n\r\n“Get that banner, and yourselves, out of the shrine!â€ she yelled, coming to a stop in front of Mrs Watanabe and sweeping her gaze over the other protesters.\r\n\r\n“No.â€ Mrs Watanabe wasn’t budging this time. “Shinto brings nothing but trouble. It nearly destroyed Japan. It destroys families. I’m not going to let you continue promoting it here.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko took a step back, astonished by the venom in Mrs Watanabe’s condemnation. She’d never met anyone who thought like that; most people barely thought about Shinto at all, but went along to shrines at New Year. Why was she so hostile?\r\n\r\n“This is private property! Get off now before I call the police!â€ Shiraishi was really angry, and shouting back. The other protesters, Akiko noticed, were looking a bit uncomfortable, but Mrs Watanabe still wasn’t moving.\r\n\r\nThen Akiko heard running footsteps, coming up the into the shrine, and looked round to see Mr Akiyama, breathing hard, hurry into the grounds.\r\n\r\n“Mrs Watanabe! Please!â€ he called out. “Remember what we discussed. We have to stay within the law. Now, come on, let’s get off the shrine property, as the priest asked.â€ He turned to Shiraishi, and bowed deeply. “I am really very sorry, Revd Shiraishi. Mrs Watanabe just got carried away. We will leave the grounds now.â€ The other protesters were already on their way to the steps, and although Mrs Watanabe looked for a moment as though she would protest again, she didn’t, just giving Akiko and Shiraishi angry looks before walking off. Mr Akiyama bowed to them once more from the top of the stairs, and then they were gone.', 'Trespassing Protesters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '509-revision-2', '', '', '2009-04-30 21:22:30', '2009-04-30 12:22:30', '', 509, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/30/509-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(759, 1, '2009-07-24 12:57:05', '2009-07-24 03:57:05', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they reached the top of the steps, several of the guards gasped.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That wasn’t there before!â€ one of them said, and they looked towards Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, the pool? No.â€ For a moment, it seemed that she didn’t know what to say next. “It, er, appeared during the wild festival.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is it a natural pool?â€ another guard asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It certainly seems to be. A natural hot spring.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wow. That has to be a sign of the favour of the kami,â€ the first one said, and the others nodded in agreement.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When the harae was over, and the guards had gone back down the steps, Shiraishi turned to Akiko, her eyes shining.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We can use this!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry?â€ Akiko was completely lost.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The hot spring!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You want to open a hot spring resort?â€ Akiko was getting more confused by the moment, and Shiraishi seemed to realised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, of course not. This is a shrine, after all. No, I meant we can use it to publicise the shrine. How often do new hot springs appear in Kawasaki, after all?â€ Akiko couldn’t think of any other examples, so she just shrugged. Shiraishi nodded excitedly. “That’s right. It’s really unusual. Just the sort of story that local news organisations like to cover, and that people might stop by to see for themselves. I think I should make some phone calls.â€ The priest turned and hurried into the house, going into the office where she sat down with the phone.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko, left standing in the precincts, wasn’t entirely sure what to think. Yes, it was a reasonable sort of thing to publicise. And more people coming to the shrine was basically a good thing. But was it quite right? They wouldn’t be coming for the kami, after all.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She still hadn’t reached a conclusion when Shiraishi came back out, beaming, and announced that the newspapers and a couple of TV stations were going to send reporters round.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Then an expression of panic passed over the priest’s face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We need to tidy up!â€ Akiko looked round; the shrine was pretty clean and tidy, really, but she could see what the priest meant; fallen twigs, one or two pieces of litter — a bit of evidence of the aftermath of the festival.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Then let’s get started,â€ she said. “Cleaning the shrine is something I’ve had lots of practice at.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It didn’t take long to get the shrine to a state that Akiko thought was properly clean; the sort of condition where Tamao had stopped bothering her, back when he was demanding that she clean up. But Shiraishi still wasn’t satisfied, and was still bustling about when the first reporter arrived.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They served him tea, answering most of his questions in the reception room, and then going out so that he could take photographs of the iwakura and the pool. That was when he asked about the missing shrine building, and Shiraishi quickly explained about the fire, and mentioned that they were collecting for rebuilding. Akiko was nervous and on edge the whole time, and it was only when the reporter was leaving that she suddenly thought to check him for kegare.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was heavy about him, a cloud of dust that rose from his clothes and hair, turning the air black and gritty. His footprints were filled with it, but within the shrine they were quickly dispersed by a wind that the grass didn’t feel, leaving the shrine pure again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, we have to…â€ Akiko began.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Excuse me?â€ She turned at the interruption to see a TV crew. This time she looked first. Spirits like winged spiders crawled all over them, jumping from one to another, disappearing inside the camera, picking at the blouse of the young reporter.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Harae!â€ Akiko whispered, urgently. Shiraishi looked at her, slightly surprised, then nodded in understanding, before going over to welcome them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Welcome to Tamao Shrine. Thank you for coming.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, thank you. Is that the pool?â€ the reporter asked, while her two technical staff looked around the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi replied. “How do you want to do this?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should talk through it first; we need to film something for the report.â€ She paused for a moment. “This <em>is</em> the shrine that burned down, isn’t it. I thought so. Should we mention that, as well?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That would be helpful; we need to collect money to rebuild.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The reporter smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s always good if you get something out of it as well. So, what should we do?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Harae harae harae</em> Akiko thought furiously, hoping that she’d somehow developed psychic abilities.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Shiraishi said, “I could perform a short purification ceremony and you could film that. Thanks to the fire, there’s no other evidence that this is a shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Revd Shiraishi, that was very slick,</em> Akiko thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, that’s a good idea. Would that be near the pool?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest nodded, and the reporter quickly looked at the other two staff, who nodded back, and started setting up the camera.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right, and after that, we could interview you.â€ She paused and frowned slightly. “But the pool and the rocks would be a bit boring as background.â€ She looked around, and then smiled as she saw Akiko. “Aha! Could you be in the pool while we do the interview? Half out of the water?â€ Akiko could feel herself going bright red, and the reporter hurried on. “Oh, with your back to us, of course. This would be going out on local news.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, sorry.â€ Shiraishi answered for her. “This is a shrine, not a hot spring spa.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, good point.â€ The reporter looked a bit disappointed, and then looked around again. “It’s still a bit static…â€ she said, at least half to herself. “Oh, I know. You mentioned that it appeared during a festival. Do you have any footage of the festival we could use?â€ Akiko could feel herself blushing again, instantly guessing which footage they would choose, but Shiraishi was already offering to ring round the people who attended the shrine to see if anyone had any good film.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>It’s just another sacrifice for the shrine,</em> she told herself, and went to help Shiraishi set up for the purification.</p>', 'Flaunt It', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '748-revision-2', '', '', '2009-07-24 12:57:05', '2009-07-24 03:57:05', '', 748, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/07/24/748-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(761, 1, '2009-08-04 14:30:00', '2009-08-04 05:30:00', 'I had another look at <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/">Web Fiction Guide</a> today, and saw that two more people had written <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">positive reviews of Tamao</a>. Thank you both.\n\nBoth of the more recent reviews also included negative points. One comments that the pacing sometimes seems off, with six or seven installments for something that only needed two or three. Well, all I can say is that the 7x7x7 structure seemed like a good idea at the time… It has made pacing more difficult, and although I think I''ve got a bit better at it, if Tamao continues I''ll be removing that particular straitjacket. The other said that it would be even better when polished, which is plausible, given that this is a first draft; there are perhaps four installments that have reached two drafts. It''s not paying well enough for revisions.\n\nBut they did raise an interesting question, to which I don''t know the answer. What do you, the readers, like about Tamao, and what would you like to see more of?\n\nI''m not phrasing the question like that because I can''t cope with criticism. I can cope; the comments interface has a delete button. However, I think it , if the story continues. Bear in mind that I have a buffer of about three months, so you won''t see anything for a while, and I don''t promise to do what anyone asks. But I am interested to hear what you have to say.\n\nYou can be critical if you really want…\n\nTo leave comments on this post, if it''s in the sidebar, click on the post title to get it in its own window.\n\nThanks.', 'What Do You Like?', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '760-revision', '', '', '2009-08-04 14:30:00', '2009-08-04 05:30:00', '', 760, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/04/760-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(762, 1, '2009-08-04 14:32:00', '2009-08-04 05:32:00', 'I had another look at <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/">Web Fiction Guide</a> today, and saw that two more people had written <a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/tamao/">positive reviews of Tamao</a>. Thank you both.\n\nBoth of the more recent reviews also included negative points. One comments that the pacing sometimes seems off, with six or seven installments for something that only needed two or three. Well, all I can say is that the 7x7x7 structure seemed like a good idea at the time… It has made pacing more difficult, and although I think I''ve got a bit better at it, if Tamao continues I''ll be removing that particular straitjacket. The other said that it would be even better when polished, which is plausible, given that this is a first draft; there are perhaps four installments that have reached two drafts. It''s not paying well enough for revisions.\n\nBut they did raise an interesting question, to which I don''t know the answer. What do you, the readers, like about Tamao, and what would you like to see more of?\n\nI''m not phrasing the question like that because I can''t cope with criticism. I can cope; the comments interface has a delete button. However, I think it might be easier to act on positive requests, if the story continues. Bear in mind that I have a buffer of about three months, so you won''t see anything for a while, and I don''t promise to do what anyone asks. But I am interested to hear what you have to say. I am writing this to be read, after all.\n\nYou can be critical if you really want…\n\nTo leave comments on this post, if you''re only seeing it in the sidebar, click on the post title to get it in its own window.\n\nThanks.', 'What Do You Like?', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '760-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-04 14:32:00', '2009-08-04 05:32:00', '', 760, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/04/760-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(763, 1, '2009-05-06 10:03:55', '2009-05-06 01:03:55', 'Akiko picked her way through the trees, lighting her way with a torch. The rain had stopped, but she could still hear water dripping from the leaves around her, and her feet were wet from the undergrowth. She reached the sacred tree, the beam of the torch picking out the shimenawa tied around it, but there was no-one else there. She walked round once, checking the whole clearing, but she was definitely alone.\r\n\r\nShe started to worry that Yoshiko wouldn’t come, and worry about what that would mean, but as she reached out a hand and laid it on the trunk of the tree all her concerns drained away. All she needed to do was wait.\r\n\r\nAs she thought that, Yoshiko stepped into the clearing, carrying a lamp and a bundle wrapped up in a cloth. Akiko noticed that Yoshiko’s clothes were completely dry, but she did not comment, simply bowing in greeting, a bow that Yoshiko returned.\r\n\r\n“Under the circumstances,â€ Yoshiko began, “I think we should start with the dances.â€ Akiko just nodded; she had little choice but to trust her teacher. Yoshiko put the cloth bundle down under the tree and unwrapped it, taking out something that tinkled as she lifted it, and gleamed in the light.\r\n\r\n“This is a kagurasuzu,â€ she said, showing it to Akiko. “Have you used one yet?â€ Akiko looked at it, and it did look a little familiar. A conical metal frame was mounted on a short handle, with several small bells hung from the frame. Five long strips of material, purple, green, red, white, and yellow, were attached to the bottom of the handle. As she looked, Akiko remembered where she had seen it before; in the dream when she had first worn miko’s vestments.\r\n\r\n“Er, not really,â€ she replied. Using it in a dream probably didn’t count. Yoshiko nodded, but didn’t look surprised.\r\n\r\n“Watch me first.â€ She took a few steps backwards, and then bowed to the tree, sweeping the kagurasuzu up over her head as she straightened, the sound of bells filling the clearing.\r\n\r\nYoshiko started to dance, slowly a first, sweeping the bells gracefully through the air while supporting the cloth with her other hand. Her movements got steadily faster, as she spun, running round the tree, swinging the kagurasuzu high and low, quickly enough that the motion was enough to keep the streamers in the air. She passed once around the tree, and slowed down, coming to a graceful stop as she sank to her knees, the kagurasuzu held in front of her chest in both hands, the cloth piled in her lap.\r\n\r\nShe bowed her head once, and stood up, turning to look at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“That’s what you’re aiming for.â€\r\n\r\n“I can’t do that!â€ Akiko protested. <em>At least not while I’m in control of my own body,</em> she amended silently.\r\n\r\n“Not yet. That’s why you need to practice. And that’s why I want to start with the dances; you need the most practice for these. Here, take the kagurasuzu.â€ Yoshiko held it out, and Akiko took it carefully. It was a little heavier than she expected, and the cloth streamers were long.\r\n\r\n“Now, hold it up,â€ Yoshiko continued, “and support the streamers… No. Like this.â€ She reached out and adjusted Akiko’s hand, and the lesson began.', 'Dance Lessons', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '531-revision-2', '', '', '2009-05-06 10:03:55', '2009-05-06 01:03:55', '', 531, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/05/06/531-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(764, 1, '2009-08-06 20:51:52', '2009-08-06 11:51:52', 'Akiko picked her way through the trees, lighting her way with a torch. The rain had stopped, but she could still hear water dripping from the leaves around her, and her feet were wet from the undergrowth. She reached the sacred tree, the beam of the torch picking out the shimenawa tied around it, but there was no-one else there. She walked round once, checking the whole clearing, but she was definitely alone.\n\nShe started to worry that Yoshiko wouldn’t come, and worry about what that would mean, but as she reached out a hand and laid it on the trunk of the tree all her concerns drained away. All she needed to do was wait.\n\nAs she thought that, Yoshiko stepped into the clearing, carrying a lamp and a bundle wrapped up in a cloth. Akiko noticed that Yoshiko’s clothes were completely dry, but she did not comment, simply bowing in greeting, a bow that Yoshiko returned.\n\n“Under the circumstances,â€ Yoshiko began, “I think we should start with the dances.â€ Akiko just nodded; she had little choice but to trust her teacher. Yoshiko put the cloth bundle down under the tree and unwrapped it, taking out something that tinkled as she lifted it, and gleamed in the light.\n\n“This is a kagurasuzu,â€ she said, showing it to Akiko. “Have you used one yet?â€ Akiko looked at it, and it did look a little familiar. A conical metal frame was mounted on a short handle, with several small bells hung from the frame. Five long strips of material, purple, green, red, white, and yellow, were attached to the bottom of the handle. As she looked, Akiko remembered where she had seen it before; in the dream when she had first worn miko’s vestments.\n\n“Er, not really,â€ she replied. Using it in a dream probably didn’t count. Yoshiko nodded, but didn’t look surprised.\n\n“Watch me first.â€ She took a few steps backwards, and then bowed to the tree, sweeping the kagurasuzu up over her head as she straightened, the sound of bells filling the clearing.\n\nYoshiko started to dance, slowly at first, sweeping the bells gracefully through the air while supporting the cloth with her other hand. Her movements got steadily faster, as she spun, running round the tree, swinging the kagurasuzu high and low, quickly enough that the motion was enough to keep the streamers in the air. She passed once around the tree, and slowed down, coming to a graceful stop as she sank to her knees, the kagurasuzu held in front of her chest in both hands, the cloth piled in her lap.\n\nShe bowed her head once, and stood up, turning to look at Akiko.\n\n“That’s what you’re aiming for.â€\n\n“I can’t do that!â€ Akiko protested. <em>At least not while I’m in control of my own body,</em> she amended silently.\n\n“Not yet. That’s why you need to practice. And that’s why I want to start with the dances; you need the most practice for these. Here, take the kagurasuzu.â€ Yoshiko held it out, and Akiko took it carefully. It was a little heavier than she expected, and the cloth streamers were long.\n\n“Now, hold it up,â€ Yoshiko continued, “and support the streamers… No. Like this.â€ She reached out and adjusted Akiko’s hand, and the lesson began.', 'Dance Lessons', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '531-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-06 20:51:52', '2009-08-06 11:51:52', '', 531, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/06/531-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(766, 1, '2009-08-08 09:00:50', '2009-08-08 00:00:50', 'After showering and dressing, Akiko found Shiraishi dozing in the office, and told her about the dream. Outside, the rain was stopping, and the stones of the iwakura sparkled as the light of the morning sun played over them. Shiraishi, looking out at the precincts, nodded as Akiko finished her account.\n\n“It does sound fairly clear, doesn’t it. We’ll have to see when Akira can come to mind the shrine; I’ll give him a call. And then we should do the tsukinamisai.â€\n\n“The what?â€ Akiko was a bit surprised at just how matter-of-fact Shiraishi was, but she supposed that it wasn’t really surprising anymore.\n\n“Tsukinamisai. Come on, you must have read about that. Monthly festival? And it’s the first today.â€\n\n“Oh. Yes. Yes, right.â€ Now that Shiraishi mentioned it, Akiko realised that she had read about it, but she’d completely lost track of the date. Was it really the first already?\n\n“Well, we need the himorogi for it, so can you get that ready while I call Akira?â€\n\nAkiko had just finished setting the himorogi up in its usual place, on the site of the old shrine building, when Shiraishi came out of the house carrying the other equipment.\n\n“He said he can come this afternoon, but not tonight. I said that would be fine.â€\n\nAfternoon. That meant that they would have to do the ceremony in daylight. For a moment, Akiko was worried that people would see them, and then scolded herself for being silly. It wasn’t as if people hadn’t seen her performing ceremonies quite often enough. And they would be in a public place.\n\n“And,â€ the priest continued, “I brought this.â€ She held out a kagurasuzu, and Akiko took it off her.\n\n“I can’t do the dances yet, you know.â€\n\n“I know, but you can shake it. Do it at the very beginning and very end of the norito.â€ Akiko looked at the bells, and then back at Shiraishi. Her puzzlement must have been obvious, because the priest explained. “The bells get the kami’s attention and calm him down, at the same time. It’s an important part of the ceremony.â€ Akiko nodded her understanding, and took her place. The ground was still wet, but the sky was rapidly clearing, a light breeze leaving the air fresh, more like spring than early summer.\n\nAs Shiraishi took her place, Akiko heard the sonorous beat of a Japanese drum, its pace increasing, and she looked around. The shrine’s taiko had been destroyed in the fire, and she couldn’t see anything. Maybe Shiraishi has bought a recording, she thought.\n\nShiraishi read the norito, Akiko shaking the bells as instructed, and then paused. Akiko heard a taiko beating somewhere, in a rhythm she knew, the rhythm that Yoshiko beat out for dance practice under the tree. A flute joined it, swooping over the top, and the moves of the dance came up in Akiko’s mind.\n\nAnd then she was rising from her place, raising the kagurasuzu, and dancing, the sweeping moves coming easily, fluidly, as she crossed the space in front of the himorogi, paused, raised the kagurasuzu, turned on the spot to bow towards the kami, moved back again.\n\nAkiko realised that she was not entirely in control of her own movement, but she could hear and feel the drum beat, and she let it guide her through the short dance until she sank back into her place, kagurasuzu held in front of her, eyes down.', 'Drum', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '535-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-08 09:00:50', '2009-08-08 00:00:50', '', 535, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/08/535-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(765, 1, '2009-05-06 10:05:09', '2009-05-06 01:05:09', 'After showering and dressing, Akiko found Shiraishi dozing in the office, and told her about the dream. Outside, the rain was stopping, and the stones of the iwakura sparkled as the light of the morning sun played over them. Shiraishi, looking out at the precincts, nodded as Akiko finished her account.\r\n\r\n“It does sound fairly clear, doesn’t it. We’ll have to see when Akira can come to mind the shrine; I’ll give him a call. And then we should do the tsukinamisai.â€\r\n\r\n“The what?â€ Akiko was a bit surprised at just how matter-of-fact Shiraishi was, but she supposed that it wasn’t really surprising anymore.\r\n\r\n“Tsukinamisai. Come on, you must have read about that. Monthly festival? And it’s the first today.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh. Yes. Yes, right.â€ Now that Shiraishi mentioned it, Akiko realised that she had read about it, but she’d completely lost track of the date. Was it really the first already?\r\n\r\n“Well, we need the himorogi for it, so can you get that ready while I call Akira?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko had just finished setting the himorogi up in its usual place, on the site of the old shrine building, when Shiraishi came out of the house carrying the other equipment.\r\n\r\n“He said he can come this afternoon, but not tonight. I said that would be fine.â€\r\n\r\nAfternoon. That meant that they would have to do the ceremony in daylight. For a moment, Akiko was worried that people would see them, and then to scolded herself for being silly. It wasn’t as if people hadn’t seen her performing ceremonies quite often enough. And they would be in a public place.\r\n\r\n“And,â€ the priest continued, “I brought this.â€ She held out a kagurasuzu, and Akiko took it off her.\r\n\r\n“I can’t do the dances yet, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“I know, but you can shake it. Do it at the very beginning and very end of the norito.â€ Akiko looked at the bells, and then back at Shiraishi. Her puzzlement must have been obvious, because the priest explained. “The bells get the kami’s attention and calm him down, at the same time. It’s an important part of the ceremony.â€ Akiko nodded her understanding, and took her place. The ground was still wet, but the sky was rapidly clearing, a light breeze leaving the air fresh, more like spring than early summer.\r\n\r\nAs Shiraishi took her place, Akiko heard the sonorous beat of a Japanese drum, its pace increasing, and she looked around. The shrine’s taiko had been destroyed in the fire, and she couldn’t see anything. Maybe Shiraishi has bought a recording, she thought.\r\n\r\nShiraishi read the norito, Akiko shaking the bells as instructed, and then paused. Akiko heard a taiko beating somewhere, in a rhythm she knew, the rhythm that Yoshiko beat out for dance practice under the tree. A flute joined it, swooping over the top, and the moves of the dance came up in Akiko’s mind.\r\n\r\nAnd then she was rising from her place, raising the kagurasuzu, and dancing, the sweeping moves coming easily, fluidly, as she crossed the space in front of the himorogi, paused, raised the kagurasuzu, turned on the spot to bow towards the kami, moved back again.\r\n\r\nAkiko realised that she was not entirely in control of her own movement, but she could hear and feel the drum beat, and she let it guide her through the short dance until she sank back into her place, kagurasuzu held in front of her, eyes down.', 'Drum', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '535-revision-2', '', '', '2009-05-06 10:05:09', '2009-05-06 01:05:09', '', 535, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/05/06/535-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(767, 1, '2009-10-26 00:00:15', '2009-10-25 15:00:15', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was the last,â€ Shiraishi said, as a journalist made his way down the steps. “Now I guess we just wait to see whether it works.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The television crew hadn’t been the only journalists to visit the shrine that day, but they were the most noticeable; the others were all from newspapers and websites, and needed no more than an interview and a few photographs. They had all seemed willing to ignore the protesters, which Akiko suspected was a good thing; no point in giving anyone ideas. For all that, it had taken a whole day, and she was glad that it was finally over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do we let the guards out again now?â€ she asked, half smiling. Shiraishi smiled properly in response.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They seem to prefer it inside. But yes, I suppose we should. I’ll go and tell them.â€ As the priest returned to the house, Akiko looked back at the iwakura. She could still see the flame in the stones, even though no-one else seemed to. What did that mean?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I feel <em>dreadful.</em>â€ Kazumi, breathing hard at the top of the steps. “Absolutely <em>crap.</em> I can’t remember school ever being quite so soul-destroying. Zombies, all of them. Or hollow corpses with perverted tentacle monsters hiding inside.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko had turned, and was about to greet Kazumi when the last sentence brought her up short. But Kazumi had also stopped speaking, and Akiko managed to collect her wits.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Good evening.â€ As she spoke, she switched her vision to look at the kegare, and her breath caught in her throat.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was totally hidden, wrapped in what looked like an enormously long scarf, old wool stained with mould and mildew, heavy with the damp and musty smell of years of neglect and decay. Something moved within the weave, something writhing, probably maggots. Even as she watched, things began emerging from the wool, things with too many legs, the wrong number of legs. Things that had hidden from the barrier of light.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll get Revd Shiraishi,â€ she said. “We’ll do you a harae.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The scarf fell away as the priest shook the ohnusa, crumbling into a cloud of dust that was swept away by the breeze. Kazumi breathed a deep sigh of relief.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s <em>so</em> much better. I’ll go and get changed.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi decided to go home a bit early, still feeling the lack of sleep, and the festival seemed to have caught up with Akiko and Shiraishi as well; at any rate, Akiko went to bed early, and it was well after dawn when she finally woke up, woken by the doorbell.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi didn’t look much more awake when they met at the door, and they were both relieved to see that it was only Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I feel dreadful,â€ was her opening gambit. “Any chance of a harae?â€ Akiko quickly switched her vision over, and had to clench her jaw as she felt her stomach heave.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was covered in open sores, sores that had eaten away half of her face, and much of the flesh of her arms and legs. Her school uniform was untouched, clean and well-pressed, but the body within it looked like it should be dead, and smelled like it already was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked away, in time to see Noriko enter the shrine grounds, two giant centipedes, one glistening green, the other blue, wrapped around her, their legs digging into her kimono, their mandibles waving in the air as they passed through the barrier of light.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Harae. Now,â€ was all Akiko could say.</p>', 'Evening and Morning', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'evening-and-morning', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:11:12', '2009-08-14 04:11:12', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=767', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(768, 1, '2009-08-14 13:10:48', '2009-08-14 04:10:48', '', 'Evening and Morning', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '767-revision', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:10:48', '2009-08-14 04:10:48', '', 767, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/14/767-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(769, 1, '2009-10-27 00:00:25', '2009-10-26 15:00:25', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The harae had barely finished when Shiraishi remembered that the news segment was being broadcast that morning, and they all rushed inside to watch the television. It had already started, but they caught the end of the ceremony, and the interview. Shiraishi smiled, looking pleased, and Akiko agreed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is so <em>cool.</em> Why didn’t you call me?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You were in school, Kazumi.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmf,â€ she pouted, and then sprang up. “And I’ll be late! Thanks for the harae!â€ She ran out of the house, stopping the conversation for a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Noriko broke the silence, “it certainly won’t hurt. Do you think many people will come?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have no idea,â€ Shiraishi replied.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The first people came within half an hour, while Shiraishi and Akiko were talking about how they could take the power of the kami out to the kegare, as Tamao had commanded. They wanted to talk about the pool, of course, which interrupted the discussion.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">By eleven, it had become a steady stream, most of whom were making small gifts. The traditional five yen was a popular option, and Akiko worked out that if the entire population of Kawasaki came about fifty times each, they might raise enough to rebuild the shrine. She mentioned that to Shiraishi, but the priest wasn’t worried.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They’ve remembered about the shrine, so some will come for ceremonies, or make other donations,â€ she said. “And five yen is still five yen.â€ There was a splashing sound in the background, and they glanced over, sighing. “Well, if they would just refrain from throwing it into the water. You tell them, Akiko. I’m going to make a sign.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko went over to explain to the latest visitors that they weren’t supposed to throw the money into the pool, and they were very apologetic, asking several questions about where the water was coming from. As she pointed out the spring within the iwakura, Akiko was very conscious of the flame she could see above it. <em>Why can I see that all the time? And why can’t anyone else?</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The first person to try to get into the pool was an older man, around mid-morning. Akiko spotted him before he could take off too many clothes, and she hurried over to explain why he couldn’t. She risked a quick glance at his kegare, and the worms crawling over his skin were just one more reason why he had to stay out of the water.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The visitors were all, Akiko realised, bringing their pollution with them, but none of it was affecting the shrine; the grounds stayed utterly clear, even when a drunken group of young men who were positively laden down with it came in. They also looked like they were about to get in the pool, and Akiko had to call the guards up before they could be persuaded not to. For the first time, Akiko found herself simply grateful that the guards were there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The man from the council came around midday, explaining that he’d come over in his lunch break to see the spring. He peered into the iwakura, tasted the water, and then looked up at them, clearly surprised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I really think this is a natural spring. We’ll need to run some tests and get the paperwork sorted out, but…â€ He looked back at the water, and smiled. “I didn’t think I’d get the chance to deal with a new one.â€</p>', 'Tourists', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'tourists', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:12:00', '2009-08-14 04:12:00', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=769', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(770, 1, '2009-08-14 13:11:54', '2009-08-14 04:11:54', '', 'Tourists', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '769-revision', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:11:54', '2009-08-14 04:11:54', '', 769, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/14/769-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(771, 1, '2009-10-28 00:00:21', '2009-10-27 15:00:21', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hello, Tamao Shrine. How can I help you?â€ Akiko was leaning through the window of the shrine office to answer the phone, twisting round to keep an eye on the harae Shiraishi was performing in front of the iwakura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I was wondering whether you could come and perform a purification at our home,â€ the caller asked. “We are all feeling very run-down, and have had bad luck recently.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the schedule, written on a large pad next to the phone, and frowned. That evening was already fully booked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m afraid we won’t be able to do it today,â€ she began.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why not?â€ The caller sounded both annoyed and worried.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve already had as many requests as we can do in one evening.â€ Quickly flipping the page over, she went on before he could say anything. “We could come tomorrow evening, however. Would that be convenient?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I could call another shrine,â€ he said, a little sullenly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You could, certainly.â€ Years of experience in an office helped Akiko keep her voice calm and polite, even as she worried about whether other shrines could clear the pollution. Presumably, she thought, but she didn’t <em>know.</em> There was a pause.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I suppose tomorrow evening will be OK.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. Could you tell me your name and address?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As the conversation ended, Shiraishi was just finishing the harae, and another small group had entered the shrine. They looked like a family, and for a moment they seemed to be clear of kegare. Then Akiko heard a dreadful baying from beyond the curtain of light, a noise to which no-one else reacted, and a pack of mangy dogs, their jaws foaming and eyes wild, sprang through to mill around the family, nipping at them, leaping onto their backs, and winding round their legs.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Suppressing her nervousness, Akiko walked over to them. The dogs formed a ring with their eyes fixed on Akiko, growling in a tone that set her teeth on edge. Akiko had to fight to keep from gagging at the stench that came off them, from the sores and pus matting their fur, and the gangrenous wounds that marked their bodies.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How can I help you?â€ she asked as she drew close, the dogs backing off, but never taking their eyes off her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We would like a purification, if possible. Things just haven’t been going right lately.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>No, I don’t imagine they have,</em> Akiko thought, forcing herself not to glance down at the dogs.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course. If you’d like to come inside and wait, we will perform the ceremony as soon as possible. I’m afraid that there are already people waiting, so it might be about half an hour.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ The man looked nonplussed for a moment, and glanced at the woman who was, presumably, his wife. She nodded, and he looked back to Akiko. “Yes, that’s fine. Er, I’ll need to quickly call the office. You go ahead.â€ He had turned back to his wife now, and as he walked back towards the entrance to the shrine, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, two of the dogs trailed him. Akiko led the family to the waiting room, and then went back to the entrance, to wait for the man.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They weren’t going to get out to purify the area if this kept up.</p>', 'Calls for Help', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'calls-for-help', '', '', '2009-10-29 08:52:11', '2009-10-28 23:52:11', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=771', 0, 'post', '', 4);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(772, 1, '2009-08-14 13:12:42', '2009-08-14 04:12:42', '', 'Calls for Help', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '771-revision', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:12:42', '2009-08-14 04:12:42', '', 771, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/14/771-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(773, 1, '2009-10-29 00:00:58', '2009-10-28 15:00:58', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As the afternoon drew on, the number of visitors dropped off a little, giving Akiko and Shiraishi time to talk.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We need someone else to watch the shrine,â€ Akiko said, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We could call…â€ she began, and then fell silent. Akiko blushed slightly; she knew what Shiraishi had been about to say. The priest seemed to have noticed what was going on.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sure Akira is busy with his job at the moment,â€ she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s not fair to impose on him.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Shiraishi agreed. “In any case, I think what we really need is another priest. I can’t keep up with demand.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And we still haven’t been out to purify the area,â€ Akiko noted. Shiraishi pulled a face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. And Tamao…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Harae! Harae now, please!â€ Kazumi’s voice sounded truly pained, as if she was dying of thirst, and Akiko and Shiraishi both suppressed smiles as they turned to look at her, leaning theatrically on the wall of the shrine house. “I’m dying here!â€ Still fighting the smile, Akiko switched her vision.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The rats swarming over the girl’s body were gnawing at her stomach, and blood was already running down her legs, soaking the sweat pants and dripping onto the ground, where it boiled and vanished. One rat turned towards Akiko and screeched, before disappearing under Kazumi’s blouse, another red stain spreading across the white.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, of course. Right away.â€ Akiko knew she had gone white, and Shiraishi obviously heard the strain in her voice, because she looked at her in shock, and then just nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This way, Kazumi.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The harae worked, the rats disappearing as the wounds to Kazumi’s stomach healed, and the girl breathed a sigh of relief.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s <em>so</em> much better.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where have you <em>been?â€</em> Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Huh? School. Like, where else would I go?â€ Kazumi looked genuinely surprised. “Why?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Which school is yours?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Goshozuka High. Don’t you recognise the uniform?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t have a sailor suit fetish,â€ Akiko said, forcing a grin.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, of course, sorry. You’re into miko! I’d better go change!â€ Kazumi was grinning broadly, and Akiko felt herself blush. “Ha!â€ Kazumi’s laugh was triumphant, and Akiko realised that she’d been teased again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We need to go out…â€ Shiraishi called.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi called back from inside the house. “Can’t hear you.â€ Akiko rolled her eyes, and hurried into the house. She glanced into the room they used for changing, but Kazumi wasn’t there.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where are you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Bathroom.â€ Kazumi popped out of the door, naked apart from her knickers, and Akiko quickly shooed her back into the changing area.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We have to go and perform some purifications, so you’ll be watching the shrine by yourself. Is that OK?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, just me, the giant snake, and the aramitama?â€ She paused in the entrance to the bathroom and grinned again. “We’ll be fine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She pulled the door shut behind her, and Akiko heard a shower start. For a moment she couldn’t work out what was odd about Kazumi’s response, and then it hit her. The girl was thinking of the kami as an ally, not part of the problem. <em>It must be nice to be so trusting,</em> she thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The door opened again, revealing a wet Kazumi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can come in and watch if you like.â€ Akiko felt herself blushing furiously, and shook her head. Kazumi just convulsed in laughter again, and started to close the door, before pulling it open again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, could I stay here tonight? I really feel a lot better in the shrine. Just ask Revd Shiraishi for me, OK?â€ She closed the door before Akiko could say anything, and moments later the shower started running again.</p>', 'Evening Harae', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'evening-harae', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:13:36', '2009-08-14 04:13:36', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=773', 0, 'post', '', 3);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(775, 1, '2009-10-30 00:00:48', '2009-10-29 15:00:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi had said yes, so they put Kazumi up in one of the spare rooms, putting a futon down for her. Akiko waited, still in her vestments, until she couldn’t hear anything from Kazumi’s room, and then left her room quietly, through the windows.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was dark in the shrine precincts, but Akiko waited until she was away from the house before turning her torch on. The air was very still, heavy with the warmth and humidity of the day, and Akiko was soon sweating. There were a few noises of animals and insects around her, and then something that sounded a bit like footsteps behind her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She swung round, playing the torch’s beam over the area behind her, but she couldn’t see anything. She thought she saw some movement at the edge of the woodland, but when she trained the torch on that spot, there was nothing. She stood for a moment, considering, and then quickly switched her vision over to look for kegare. If it was someone from outside the shrine, she reasoned, she should be able to see their pollution.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The light from the barrier washed over the precincts, rendering Akiko’s torch unnecessary. Feeling slightly foolish, she switched it off, and searched for any sign of pollution. There was none, just small spirits playing in the air, a cloud of moth-spirits, in particular, dancing by the woods, the white and silver of their wings drawing sparkling patterns. Akiko smiled, and turned back. There didn’t seem to be anyone, and if there was, it was Shiraishi or Kazumi, she decided, and it wouldn’t be a disaster if they did follow her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Once she entered the woodland, the light from the barrier got fainter, so she turned the torch back on, keeping it on the ground so that she could be sure of her footing. There was a hum at the edge of hearing, and as she concentrated on it she thought she caught the sound of laughter. Looking around, she realised that it must be the voices of the small spirits she could see playing in the trees, some watching her, others apparently uninterested in the miko walking through their territory. Akiko bowed slightly to a spirit, shaped like a raven, watching her from one branch, and was a bit surprised when it gravely bowed back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The area around the tree was quiet, the tree itself an overwhelming presence, so strong that Akiko had to change her vision back to normal. She walked over to put the torch down, and rest her hands on the ancient trunk. As ever, calm flowed into her, along with an urge to embrace it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tree hugging?â€ Kazumi’s voice was amused, and Akiko spun round to see the girl standing at the edge of the clearing, dressed in a yukata.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You followed me!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I wondered where you were off to in full vestments in the middle of the night. Is this a sacred tree?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sighed. Not a disaster, but possibly a bit inconvenient.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, it is.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ooh.â€ Kazumi stepped up to it, and laid her hands gently on the trunk. “Oh!â€ she said, sounding surprised. “It… talks to you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko said. <em>Maybe it’s as well to introduce her to the tree,</em> she thought. “We think the tree is some sort of kami.â€ Kazumi was embracing the tree now, pressing her body and her cheek against it. She nodded vaguely, then took a step back, away from Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She undid her belt and shrugged off her yukata in one fluid moment, and Akiko barely had time to register that she was naked underneath before she stepped forward, out of her sandals, and embraced the tree again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And vanished.</p>', 'Followed', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'followed', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:14:18', '2009-08-14 04:14:18', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=775', 0, 'post', '', 5);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(777, 1, '2009-10-31 00:00:34', '2009-10-30 15:00:34', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stared at the tree in shock, her mind racing.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi!â€ she shouted, but there was no reply, and she hadn’t really been expecting one.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Good evening. Who is Kazumi?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko turned round to face Yoshiko, and bowed her own greeting.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi is another miko at the shrine.â€ Yoshiko looked around.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Has she run off?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not exactly.â€ Akiko paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, and then pointed at the discarded yukata. “She touched the tree, and it seems that it made the same suggestion to her that it always does. But she actually did it, and then she disappeared.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko looked a bit confused for a moment, glancing between the yukata and the tree, and then her eyes widened.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You mean she embraced the tree naked? And disappeared?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Hesitantly, Yoshiko took a couple of steps forward, and placed one hand lightly on the bark.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It feels the same as ever,â€ she said, as she lifted her hand off. Akiko tried it, and all her worries drained away into the rough warmth of the bark. She lifted her hand off again, and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But what do we do?â€ Yoshiko frowned at the question, and looked back at the tree.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It doesn’t look any different,â€ she said. Akiko quickly changed her vision so that she could see the spirits, and it was true; the tree was unchanged. It still seemed to tower into the sky, looming over the trees around them, the power of life flowing through it like a great river. Akiko started to feel dizzy, and shifted her vision back. Yoshiko flashed her a quick smile.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can’t look at it truly for long, can you? Too much power.â€ Akiko nodded, suddenly realising that Yoshiko could look for the spirits as well. <em>Of course,</em> she told herself. <em>That shouldn’t be surprising.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We could ask Tamao,â€ Akiko suggested. Yoshiko thought for a moment, and then nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We can try, anyway.â€ She looked around. “I suppose we had best head for the sanctuary. Ah, that way?â€ She pointed through the trees, and Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It got lighter as they made their way through the trees, until it was full daylight when they emerged into the open. The copper roof of the shrine sanctuary shone in the sunlight, the white wood glowing with a more welcoming warmth. Akiko and Yoshiko glanced at each other, and then slowly made their way round to the front, kneeling before the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Good Child, Bright Child.â€ Even as she bowed to the ground, Akiko thought <em>Tamao sounds surprised. Why does he sound surprised?</em> Akiko and Yoshiko clapped together, twice, then bowed once more.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How are you here together?â€ Akiko had to fight to keep her face calm. “Good Child, how can you be here now?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Lord Tamao,â€ Yoshiko said, “we came from the kami tree.â€ The snake reared up, light flashing from its scales and lightning dancing around its lips.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. Yes.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Lord Tamao,â€ Akiko said, “Beautiful Harmony has disappeared. She embraced the kami tree, and vanished.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She embraced it naked?â€ Tamao seemed amused, but Akiko couldn’t work out how she knew. “Well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What should we do?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The snake looked at them quizzically for a moment, its golden eyes unblinking.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Follow her, of course. Bring her back.â€</p>', 'Missing Miko', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'missing-miko', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:15:07', '2009-08-14 04:15:07', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=777', 0, 'post', '', 9);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(778, 1, '2009-08-14 13:14:58', '2009-08-14 04:14:58', '', 'Missing Miko', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '777-revision', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:14:58', '2009-08-14 04:14:58', '', 777, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/14/777-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(779, 1, '2009-11-01 00:00:19', '2009-10-31 15:00:19', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they bowed once more, Tamao retreated back into the sanctuary, leaving them alone. They stood, and starting walking back to the tree, in silence at first.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was…â€ Akiko wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to say. <em>“How can you be here now?â€</em> she remembered, and now that she thought about it, that fitted with other things she knew about Yoshiko. But she couldn’t ask about that. “Unusually direct,â€ she finished.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded, and suddenly smiled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. A straightforward instruction from Tamao. Not <em>quite</em> a first, but still.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why is he so indirect?â€ It had been bothering Akiko for a while, but there weren’t many people she could ask.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t think he means to be,â€ Yoshiko said. “I think he just doesn’t understand the way we think.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, yes,â€ Akiko replied, remembering when she, Shiraishi, and Kazumi had all seen the kami. “He said something like that to us.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€ Yoshiko looked at her, and then suddenly pulled a face. “Actually, I was rather hoping it was deliberate.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Because then there’d be a chance of getting him to stop.â€ Akiko tried to fight down the giggles that provoked, but when she realised that Yoshiko was also trying to stay serious, she gave up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Both miko were still laughing when they returned to the tree, Kazumi’s yukata lying at its base. They stopped abruptly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It was a very straightforward instruction,â€ Yoshiko said, looking at Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied, glancing at Yoshiko, and then back at the tree. “I suppose there’s only one way to do this.â€ She looked back at Yoshiko, who took a deep breath and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Neither of them moved.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi just got undressed?â€ Yoshiko sounded a bit sceptical.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi really doesn’t seem to care about that sort of thing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood there for a bit longer, and Akiko suddenly shook herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is ridiculous. Tamao is obviously right.â€ She reached for the belt of her hakama, and started to undo it. As she did, Yoshiko also seemed released from the trance, and began to undress.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When they were both naked, they stepped up to the tree, Akiko keeping her eyes fixed on the trunk.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready?â€ she asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready,â€ Yoshiko replied. Together, they stepped forward, reaching out, touching the bark, pressing their bodies against it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood, side by side, breathing hard, at the foot of a great tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves above them, while the roots were rough and warm under their bare feet. Akiko felt as though she had just dived through icy water, or perhaps fallen from a great height, or, no, maybe it was more like running through fire. She looked at Yoshiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you OK?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The other miko nodded, looking around.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where are we?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was a good question. They were surrounded by trees, all as ancient and tall as the kami tree, their branches meeting overhead in a canopy of leaves, their roots stretching out to cover the ground. A gentle breeze blew, caressing Akiko’s skin, pleasantly warm.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko switched her vision over, and gasped.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The trees were all huge, throbbing with life, each leaf pulsing with energy, even a leaf was overwhelming.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko switched her vision back, breathing hard, and realised that Yoshiko was doing the same.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did you look?â€ she asked, and the other miko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So much… power. Energy. Life.â€ Akiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think this is where the kami tree came from?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe. Or maybe this is the kami.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This forest?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why not?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko couldn’t answer that, so she just nodded, as she looked round again. She felt, not calm, exactly, but not worried. Exalted, maybe.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should look for…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I thought I heard voices.â€ It was Kazumi, above them. Akiko looked up into the tree, to see the girl among the branches. She swung nimbly down, landing in front of them, on the uneven roots, without even stumbling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Isn’t this place great?â€ Kazumi’s eyes were shining. “I mean, did you see that? I just swung out of the tree!â€ Akiko wasn’t sure what she meant, and Kazumi seemed to pick up on her puzzlement. “I’m not a gymnast,â€ she explained. “I can’t normally do that. Go on, you try.â€ Akiko looked up at the tree. It seemed a long way up, certainly further than she thought she could jump. “Look, just jump for the lower branches. Like this.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi crouched, and sprang. Her hands closed around a branch, and she swung herself round it and up, releasing her grip at just the right time to land sitting on it. Akiko just stared at her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I can’t do that!â€ Yoshiko was nodding beside her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me neither. Where did you learn it?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Here,â€ Kazumi replied. “Look, just try it. Come on, Akiko.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko squinted up into the tree, choosing a branch she thought she would be able to sit on. <em>Well, maybe I can do it here,</em> she thought, before crouching.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Her legs seemed stronger than normal, and her hands closed around the branch easily, instinctively. She swung her legs forward without thinking, pivoting up and around, releasing the branch as she tumbled over in the air, and then grabbing it again as she came to rest on top of it, the texture of the bark against her skin sending shivers through her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Moments later, Yoshiko was sitting on a third branch, a look of wonder on her face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. I’m Kazumi Miura, a miko at Tamao Shrine. Pleased to meet you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m Yoshiko. I’m also a miko at Tamao Shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Akiko cut Kazumi off.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We aren’t asking those questions.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Akiko cut her off again. “We have enough to worry about. Yoshiko has been teaching me miko dances for quite a while now; she taught me the secret ceremony for the wild festival.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh. Can you teach me, too?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko grinned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ooh, what happened to your teeth?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I blackened them,â€ Yoshiko replied.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But only women hundreds of…â€ Kazumi trailed off. “Right, we aren’t asking those questions.â€ She looked around for a moment. “I suppose we’d better get out of the tree if we’re going to have a dance lesson.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko got to her feet, balancing on the branch, swinging her arms.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmm, yes. The other branches would get in the way.â€ She pushed up, jumping off the branch and plummeting to the ground. Akiko looked down, to see her standing calmly under the tree. “On the ground, please.â€ Kazumi swung down round her branch, spinning in the air to land on her feet, and Akiko grinned, shaking her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>That girl is a real show-off.</em></p>', 'Kami Forest', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'kami-forest', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:15:47', '2009-08-14 04:15:47', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=779', 0, 'post', '', 3);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(780, 1, '2009-08-14 13:15:29', '2009-08-14 04:15:29', '', 'Kami Forest', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '779-revision', '', '', '2009-08-14 13:15:29', '2009-08-14 04:15:29', '', 779, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/14/779-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(781, 1, '2009-05-12 13:01:09', '2009-05-12 04:01:09', 'Akiko hadn’t realised just how public the location was until they started getting ready to perform the purification. They could stand a little way back from the road, off the pavement, but people walking past could clearly see them, and more than a few drivers slowed, their curiosity piqued. Even before they had actually started, they had gathered a curious audience, and Akiko could hear them discussing what might be happening, even though she couldn’t follow any individual conversations in detail.\r\n\r\nShe looked at Shiraishi, and the priest frowned briefly.\r\n\r\n“Nothing for it, I suppose. We’ll just have to rely on good manners to keep them from interfering,â€ she said, keeping her voice low. “Let’s get it done and get back to the shrine.â€ Akiko nodded in response, and, as Shiraishi composed herself to start the purification, she raised the kagurasuzu in both hands, holding it in front of her chest, and switched her vision to watch the kegare.\r\n\r\nThe worms reacted as soon as Shiraishi started to recite the norito, one swinging down, aiming at the priest. Akiko stepped forward and swept the kagurasuzu through the air, and it twisted back in the air, spraying hissing slime that vanished before it could reach them. Another worm dropped to the ground, and then reared up over them, and Akiko stepped between the priest and the creature, driving it back.\r\n\r\n“Don’t give up the day job, love!â€\r\n\r\nThe comment shocked Akiko out of her concentration, and she lost sight of the spirits. Behind her, there was a ripple of laughter from the crowd. And then Shiraishi stumbled in her recitation, and gasped.\r\n\r\nAkiko focussed again, and could see a worm wrapping itself around the priest, blindly probing at her robes, still held off by the faint light around her. Akiko thrust the kagurasuzu at its front, and it recoiled, losing its grip and falling off. Shiraishi picked up the norito again, and now Akiko could see light within the ohnusa.\r\n\r\n“Stop it!â€ This time, Akiko managed to hold her concentration, as she spun round to drive back two worms approaching them from behind. But other people from the crowd took up the idea.\r\n\r\n“Go practise your superstition elsewhere!â€\r\n\r\n“We don’t need this sort of display in a pubic place!â€\r\n\r\n“What do you think you are up to?â€\r\n\r\n“Disgusting. Isn’t there a law about forcing religion on people?â€\r\n\r\nThe worms were dropping more quickly now, but the growing light within the ohnusa was apparently making them nervous, and they hung back long enough for Akiko to get to them and drive them away with the kagurasuzu. There were still enough of them to keep her running, and it was relief that she head Shiraishi intone the final words of the prayer.\r\n\r\nAkiko turned to look at the priest as she raised the ohnusa, light streaming from the strips of paper, and swung it. Waves of light flowed off it, dissolving the spirits on the ground, washing around the crowd and the bases of the columns, as the worms desperately climbed higher. Shiraishi swung it again, and the light rose higher, catching more of the worms. On the third swing, there was an explosion of light, scouring the underside of the road, momentarily dazzling Akiko. As her vision returned, she could see no spirits, but there was still a faint glow around the priest. Smiling, she nodded in response to Shiraishi’s questioning look, and they turned towards their car.\r\n\r\nThe heckling crowd was already beginning to disperse, and Akiko recognised one of them as a protester from the shrine. He stared at them for a moment, then shook his head in apparent disgust and turned away.\r\n\r\nOne of the spectators, however, was standing perfectly still, looking up at the underside of the road. Akiko glanced round, but she could see nothing where she was looking. Slightly puzzled, she got into the car next to Shiraishi, suddenly realising just how tired she was.\r\n\r\n“Let’s go home.â€', 'Audience Response', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '553-revision-2', '', '', '2009-05-12 13:01:09', '2009-05-12 04:01:09', '', 553, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/05/12/553-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(782, 1, '2009-08-20 09:43:34', '2009-08-20 00:43:34', 'Back at the car, out of breath, Akiko stopped, listening for sounds of pursuit. Shiraishi was already getting in the car, but she paused when she noticed that Akiko wasn’t.\n\n“Akiko, what is it?â€\n\n“I still want to try to purify the factory.â€ Her headache had receded to a dull ache once they left the premises, but her stomach was still unsettled, and her skin was still crawling at the remembered touch of corruption. She couldn’t drive the image of the corruption hanging over the factory from her mind; leaving it in that state was not an option.\n\n“We can’t go back in!â€ Shiraishi sounded seriously worried, even scared, and Akiko had to agree. The kegare spirits had attacked them.\n\n“No. Maybe we can purify it from outside, though. If we stand close to the entrance.â€\n\n“Hm. Maybe. The security guard won’t like it.â€\n\n“Can he do anything if we don’t go in?â€ Shiraishi suddenly grinned.\n\n“Well, we can’t do anything about the protesters, so probably not.â€ Her face turned serious again. “You think this needs to be done?â€\n\nAkiko took a deep breath, and nodded, gently, her head throbbing in protest.\n\n“Right. Let’s get it done, then.â€\n\nShiraishi led the way back to the front of the factory. The guard had returned, and looked at them suspiciously, but when they stayed on the road, he didn’t say anything. Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and switched her vision back to looking at the kegare, so that she could see any hostile spirits. She nodded at Shiraishi, who began the norito.\n\n“Hey, what are you doing?â€ The guard advanced towards them, the threads tying him back to the factory stretching, maggots crawling down them towards him. But no spirits came close, and Akiko ignored him.\n\n“Stop that! You can’t do that here!â€ The guard was getting quite agitated, as were the spirits behind him. The scuttling things appeared from within the webbing once more, scurrying to the edge of the factory’s land, then stopping, rearing up and waving dozens of spindly legs in the air. Akiko risked a glance back, at the light building up within the ohnusa. Maybe that was keeping them back? She turned her attention back to the creatures and swept the kagurasuzu across, but they still hadn’t crossed the boundary.\n\n“Go away, or I’ll call the police!â€ The guard was also staying within the factory grounds, and Shiraishi continued reciting the norito, ignoring him. Akiko could see her shadow now, cast by the light from the ohnusa, and the creatures were hiding in it. There was a hissing sound, accompanied by a sweet smell of rot, and suddenly the things scattered, vanishing back behind the webbing.\n\nThe webbing itself was heaving now, as if something enormous within was trying to break free. Akiko couldn’t see any details, but she raised the kagurasuzu, and glanced back nervously at Shiraishi. <em>Nearly finished,</em> she thought.\n\nA few strands of the webbing over the factory snapped from the motion, and the grubs started tumbling from them to the ground, where they tried to shuffle out of the way. The whole mass heaved again.\n\n“Right, I’m calling the police.â€\n\nShiraishi finished the norito, and swung the ohnusa. Waves of light flowed around Akiko and into the factory, the grubs vanishing like smoke as it touched them, the threads snapping and springing back. Akiko caught sight of a shape within the threads, enormous, trying to raise a heavy head, and then the light caught it, as well.\n\nThe sound, a roaring scream that shook her bones and stabbed into her ears, drove Akiko to her knees. She dropped the kagurasuzu and clamped her hands over her ears, but it made no difference. She forced herself to look up, as the light whittled away at the kegare spirit, slowly destroying it. The noise weakened and then stopped as the shape collapsed back into the factory and vanished.\n\nAkiko got to her feet, a little unsteadily, and looked at the factory. There were still a few fragments of kegare, but nothing more serious than any of the surrounding buildings. She turned to Shiraishi and nodded.\n\n“Wait! Where are you going?â€ the guard called after them. Akiko guessed that he really had called the police.', 'On the Outside, Looking In', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '582-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-20 09:43:34', '2009-08-20 00:43:34', '', 582, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/20/582-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(783, 1, '2009-06-05 14:48:32', '2009-06-05 05:48:32', 'Back at the car, out of breath, Akiko stopped, listening for sounds of pursuit. Shiraishi was already getting in the car, but she paused when she noticed that Akiko wasn’t.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, what is it?â€\r\n\r\n“I still want to try to purify the factory.â€ Her headache had receded to a dull ache once they left the premises, but her stomach was still unsettled, and her skin was still crawling at the remembered touch of corruption. She couldn’t drive the image of the corruption hanging over the factory from her mind; leaving it in that state was not an option.\r\n\r\n“We can’t go back in!â€ Shiraishi sounded seriously worried, even scared, and Akiko had to agree. The kegare spirits had attacked them.\r\n\r\n“No. Maybe we can purify it from outside, though. If we stand close to the entrance.â€\r\n\r\n“Hm. Maybe. The security guard won’t like it.â€\r\n\r\n“Can he do anything if we don’t go in?â€ Shiraishi suddenly grinned.\r\n\r\n“Well, we can’t do anything about the protesters, so probably not.â€ Her face turned serious again. “You think this needs to be done?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko took a deep breath, and nodded, gently, her head throbbing in protest.\r\n\r\n“Right. Let’s get it done, then.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi led the way back to the front of the factory. The guard had returned, and looked at them suspiciously, but when they stayed on the road, he didn’t say anything. Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and switched her vision back to looking at the kegare, so that she could see any hostile spirits. She nodded at Shiraishi, who began the norito.\r\n\r\n“Hey, what are you doing?â€ The guard advanced towards them, the threads tying him back to the factory stretching, maggots crawling down them towards him. But no spirits came close, and Akiko ignored him.\r\n\r\n“Stop that! You can’t do that here!â€ The guard was getting quite agitated, as were the spirits behind him. The scuttling things appeared from within the webbing once more, scurrying to the edge of the factory’s land, then stopping, rearing up and waving dozens of spindly legs in the air. Akiko risked a glance back, at the light building up within the ohnusa. Maybe that was keeping them back? She turned her attention back to the creatures and swept the kagurasuzu across, but they still hadn’t crossed the boundary.\r\n\r\n“Go away, or I’ll call the police!â€ The guard was also staying within the factory grounds, and Shiraishi continued reciting the norito, ignoring him. Akiko could see her shadow now, cast by the light from the ohnusa, and the creatures were hiding in it. There was a hissing sound, accompanied by a sweet smell of rot, and suddenly the things scattered, vanishing back behind the webbing.\r\n\r\nThe webbing itself was heaving now, as if something enormous within was trying to break free. Akiko couldn’t see any details, but she raised the kagurasuzu, and glanced back nervously at Shiraishi. <em>Nearly finished,</em> she thought.\r\n\r\nA few strands of the webbing over the factor snapped from the motion, and the grubs started tumbling from it to the ground, where they tried to shuffle out of the way. The whole mass heaved again.\r\n\r\n“Right, I’m calling the police.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi finished the norito, and swung the ohnusa. Waves of light flowed around Akiko and into the factory, the grubs vanishing like smoke as it touched them, the threads snapping and springing back. Akiko caught sight of a shape within the threads, enormous, trying to raise a heavy head, and then the light caught it, as well.\r\n\r\nThe sound, a roaring scream that shook her bones and stabbed into her ears, drove Akiko to her knees. She dropped the kagurasuzu and clamped her hands over her ears, but it made no difference. She forced herself to look up, as the light whittled away at the kegare spirit, slowly destroying it. The noise weakened and then stopped as the shape collapsed back into the factory and vanished.\r\n\r\nAkiko got to her feet, a little unsteadily, and looked at the factory. There were still a few fragments of kegare, but nothing more serious than any of the surrounding buildings. She turned to Shiraishi and nodded.\r\n\r\n“Wait! Where are you going?â€ the guard called after them. Akiko guessed that he really had called the police.', 'On the Outside, Looking In', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '582-revision-2', '', '', '2009-06-05 14:48:32', '2009-06-05 05:48:32', '', 582, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/06/05/582-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(784, 1, '2009-06-05 14:49:09', '2009-06-05 05:49:09', '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.\r\n\r\nShe 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?\r\n\r\nWere they really trying to hold back the tide with a bucket?\r\n\r\nThey 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.\r\n\r\nAkiko followed her to the base of the steps.\r\n\r\nThe 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.\r\n\r\n“Excuse us.â€ Shiraishi sounded irritated, but she wasn’t shouting.\r\n\r\nThe protesters still didn’t move. A couple of them shifted and looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable, but they didn’t break ranks.\r\n\r\n“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.\r\n\r\n“You cannot keep us out of our home!â€ Shiraishi had raised her voice by the end of the sentence.\r\n\r\n“Let us through!â€ Akiko couldn’t let the priest fight alone any more.\r\n\r\nOne of the other protesters plucked at Mrs Watanabe’s sleeve, but she shook him off without looking away from Shiraishi.\r\n\r\n“It is illegal to keep us out of our home. We’ll call the police.â€\r\n\r\nMrs Watanabe finally broke her silence.\r\n\r\n“Yes, that’s typical of Shinto. Bring the power of the state down on those who disagree with you. Violence and bullying, that’s they only way you and your kami know to deal with the world.â€\r\n\r\n“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€\r\n\r\n“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€\r\n\r\nAkiko 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.\r\n\r\n“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€\r\n\r\nMrs 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.\r\n\r\n“Curse her?â€ Akiko asked, as they reached the house.\r\n\r\nShiraishi went bright red and looked down.\r\n\r\n“I thought, ‘if they want to be bullied…’ It wasn’t a very good idea, really.â€\r\n\r\n“It worked, though,â€ Akiko noted.\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Shiraishi looked up. “Yes, it did. I wonder why?â€', 'Welcoming Committee', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '584-revision-2', '', '', '2009-06-05 14:49:09', '2009-06-05 05:49:09', '', 584, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/06/05/584-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(785, 1, '2009-08-21 10:22:19', '2009-08-21 01:22:19', '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.\n\nShe 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?\n\nWere they really trying to hold back the tide with a bucket?\n\nThey 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.\n\nAkiko followed her to the base of the steps.\n\nThe 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.\n\n“Excuse us.â€ Shiraishi sounded irritated, but she wasn’t shouting.\n\nThe protesters still didn’t move. A couple of them shifted and looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable, but they didn’t break ranks.\n\n“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.\n\n“You cannot keep us out of our home!â€ Shiraishi had raised her voice by the end of the sentence.\n\n“Let us through!â€ Akiko couldn’t let the priest fight alone any more.\n\nOne of the other protesters plucked at Mrs Watanabe’s sleeve, but she shook him off without looking away from Shiraishi.\n\n“It is illegal to keep us out of our home. We’ll call the police.â€\n\nMrs Watanabe finally broke her silence.\n\n“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€\n\n“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€\n\n“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€\n\nAkiko 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.\n\n“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€\n\nMrs 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.\n\n“Curse her?â€ Akiko asked, as they reached the house.\n\nShiraishi went bright red and looked down.\n\n“I thought, ‘if they want to be bullied…’ It wasn’t a very good idea, really.â€\n\n“It worked, though,â€ Akiko noted.\n\n“Yes.â€ Shiraishi looked up. “Yes, it did. I wonder why?â€', 'Welcoming Committee', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '584-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-21 10:22:19', '2009-08-21 01:22:19', '', 584, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/21/584-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(786, 1, '2009-11-02 00:00:53', '2009-11-01 15:00:53', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think you should teach Kazumi,â€ Yoshiko said, as they sat in the tree again after the lesson. Akiko was shocked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think I can?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’ve made a lot of progress, so it’s rather hard to teach you and Kazumi together.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmph.â€ Kazumi stuck her tongue out at them. “Are you saying I can’t dance?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m just saying you need more lessons. Akiko has been practising for some time, after all.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, as long was we can practise here,â€ Kazumi said, “I don’t mind.â€ But Yoshiko shook her head again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You need to practise in vestments, and with the kagurasuzu. I don’t think we can bring those here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Talking of that,â€ Akiko said, “we should be getting back. It must be getting late.â€ She looked around. “How, exactly, do we get back?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The same way we came in?â€ Yoshiko suggested. Akiko thought for a moment, and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It sounds sensible; certainly worth a try.â€ She dropped out of the tree, followed by the other two, and stepped up to the trunk, wrapping her arms around it and pressing her body against it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">This time, the shock left her gagging and retching, doubled over at the base of the tree as her stomach heaved. She didn’t even want to think about what it felt like.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, <em>crap.</em>â€ It was Kazumi. “Wrong tree.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked up, and saw that she was right. They were all there, all naked, and not in the shrine grounds. Akiko hugged her legs to her chest, trying to cover up as much as possible; Yoshiko was pressed back against the tree, but not vanishing. After a moment, she also dropped to a crouch.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What <em>is </em>this place?â€ she asked, her eyes wide as she looked around.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko had been wondering the same thing, but as she recovered from the shock she realised that it looked familiar.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A park, I think.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes…â€ Kazumi had stood up, covering herself with her hands, and then crouched down again. “I know where we are.â€ Akiko quickly switched her vision to kegare; the surroundings were heavy with it, and she saw a spirit moving, a spirit with many insectile legs and a bird’s skull for a head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So do I,â€ she said, fear clutching at her. “I don’t think this is a good place to be naked.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ Kazumi agreed, looking around.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko was still staring around her, saying nothing, curled into a ball with her back against the tree. Akiko wanted to say something to calm her down, but she hardly felt calm herself.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, good,â€ Kazumi said. “Wait here.â€ Still crouched down, she ran to a rubbish bin, and hid behind it, while apparently calling out to someone. She stood out against the kegare, her body almost — no, actually — glowing. The spirit was a bit smaller than Akiko remembered, but she hoped it wouldn’t bear a grudge.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">One of the prostitutes came over to Kazumi, and Akiko could hear her laugh, and even caught a bit of Kazumi’s outraged protest. The prostitute went away again, and then came back and handed a bundle over to Kazumi. The girl scuttled back over to them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Here, coats. Put them on and do them up; no-one will notice.â€ She handed them out; Yoshiko looked at hers for a moment, as if puzzled, and then started pulling it on. Akiko did the same with hers. It was light, and only came part way down her thighs, but it was opaque, and she felt a lot better as soon as she was dressed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We should get back to the shrine,â€ Kazumi said, and Akiko had to agree.</p>', 'Wrong Turn', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'wrong-turn', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:11:42', '2009-08-21 04:11:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=786', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(787, 1, '2009-08-21 13:11:26', '2009-08-21 04:11:26', '', 'Wrong Turn', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '786-revision', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:11:26', '2009-08-21 04:11:26', '', 786, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/21/786-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(788, 1, '2009-11-03 00:00:48', '2009-11-02 15:00:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As they walked through Kawasaki, Akiko was acutely conscious that she was wearing nothing under the coat, and had to resist the temptation to keep a death-grip on the hem.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No-one will notice if you just walk naturally,â€ Kazumi had said. “Try to forget about what you aren’t wearing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you do this a lot?â€ Akiko had asked, but Kazumi hadn’t answered. Still, she tried to follow the advice, but it was difficult.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Yoshiko, however, seemed to be having a different problem. She kept flinching away from things around her, from almost everything in fact, and Akiko realised that she was on the verge of panic.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yoshiko?â€ she asked, putting her hand on the other miko’s arm.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What… where… what is this place?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is Kawasaki.â€ Yoshiko shook her head violently, and Akiko quickly amended her statement. “This is <em>our</em> Kawasaki. Come on. The shrine isn’t far.â€ Yoshiko just stood there, apparently frozen, so Akiko put an arm around her shoulders, and started guiding her forwards. She realised that the woman was shaking, trembling, and found herself almost supporting her as they walked forward. After a few moments, Kazumi came to join her on the other side, putting Yoshiko’s arm over her shoulders and gripping the miko round the waist.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I guess this wasn’t the best way to find out where we were from, was it,â€ she said. Yoshiko actually managed the ghost of a smile as she shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then a car went past, and Yoshiko screamed, pressing herself against the wall of the nearest house, breathing heavily as Akiko and Kazumi tried to calm her down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry,â€ she said, at last. “But what was that? Some sort of demon-spirit?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, no. That was just a car…â€ Kazumi said. “They don’t have them where you come from. No. Of course not.â€ It was just a statement, but she looked at Akiko, obviously seeking confirmation of some sort, and Akiko nodded. It really looked as though Yoshiko was from the past. Somehow.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s all right, Yoshiko. It’s safe. Come on, the shrine isn’t far now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">When the shrine, with protesters and guards gathered at the base of the steps came into view, Akiko realised that she had been so concerned with Yoshiko that she had almost forgotten about her state of dress. Looking at the steps, however, forcibly reminded her. Kazumi glanced across and grimaced, suggesting that she’d had the same thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The shrine!â€ Yoshiko, however, sounded relieved. “That is the shrine! Who are those people?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Half of them are protesting against Shinto, and the other half are making sure they don’t damage the shrine. So, what do we do?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the situation for a moment. The steps were dark, and the guards would recognise them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We just go in,â€ she said. “If we don’t give them any reason to be suspicious, they won’t notice. Can you walk by yourself?â€ This last was to Yoshiko, who nodded, straightening herself up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry. Yes. I’m feeling a lot better now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Everyone turned to look at them as they approached, but the guards did quickly recognise them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, Ms Tanahata, Ms Miura. We didn’t notice you go out. Welcome back.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ Akiko said, and led the way up the steps, forcing herself not to run. <em>Slow and steady. Keep it steady and the coat will stay hanging down.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Once they made it into the shrine grounds, however, she did run, racing across the open area and into the forest, heading straight for the kami tree. Yoshiko and Kazumi weren’t far behind her. It was only when they reached the tree, their clothes still neatly piled at the bottom, that Akiko realised Kazumi was laughing.</p>', 'Morning Road', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'morning-road', '', '', '2009-11-04 07:26:10', '2009-11-03 22:26:10', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=788', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(789, 1, '2009-08-21 13:12:10', '2009-08-21 04:12:10', '', 'Morning Road', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '788-revision', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:12:10', '2009-08-21 04:12:10', '', 788, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/21/788-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(790, 1, '2009-11-04 00:00:40', '2009-11-03 15:00:40', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was dressed in moments, but it took Yoshiko and Akiko a bit longer to get back into their vestments. As soon as they were dressed, Yoshiko bowed to the other two.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think I can get back from here,â€ she said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But…â€ Kazumi was obviously about to ask a question, and Yoshiko shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not tonight. I need to think, first. Please excuse me.â€ Without waiting for a response, she picked up her lamp and disappeared into the trees.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If we followed her, do you think…â€ Kazumi began.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Quite possibly,â€ Akiko cut her off. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea. We might not be able to get straight back. Again.â€ Kazumi looked disappointed for a moment, and then nodded, gathering up the coats.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yeah, OK. Enough excitement for one night.â€ Akiko looked at the coats, and her eyes narrowed as she thought about it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi…â€ She paused. Better to have the whole conversation once, with Shiraishi. “We need to talk to Revd Shiraishi.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi looked at her, and pulled a face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I suppose we do.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The night was already brightening, and when they got back to the house Shiraishi was up, preparing for the morning rituals. She was a bit surprised to see them coming in, but that made it easy for Akiko to explain that they needed to talk.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi knew not to ask too many questions while Akiko told her what had happened, although she did blush deeply when Akiko described how to get inside the kami tree. When Akiko had finished, the priest looked at the table for a few moments, glancing up at both of them from time to time, then took a deep breath.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is…â€ She stopped, and shook her head. “Kazumi, did Akiko miss anything?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No…â€ the girl said slowly, shaking her head. “Think she got the lot.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi nodded, and looked down again. “So, where did you go?â€ She asked the question quietly, without looking up, and Akiko got the impression she wasn’t really asking them. “And…â€ The priest stopped, and visibly shook herself, before looking up at them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t understand any of this.â€ She grinned, suddenly. “And I don’t suppose that surprises either of you. So I don’t imagine you can answer most of my questions. Where were you? Who is Yoshiko? Why doesn’t Tamao know what’s going on? What’s the connection to the tree in the park?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko just shook her head as Shiraishi listed the questions, not even pausing between them. The priest nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I do have a couple of questions I think you will be able to answer, though. First, er, aren’t you tired?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Akiko was a bit surprised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“From your story, you haven’t slept all night, and you spent most of the time practising kagura in the forest, when you weren’t jumping in and out of trees. Shouldn’t you be tired?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I…â€ Akiko didn’t know what to say, and glanced at Kazumi, who looked equally nonplussed. “Actually,â€ she said, looking back at Shiraishi, “I feel great. Full of energy. Completely rested.â€ She glanced across at Kazumi, who nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me too. Ready for anything.â€ The girl paused. “That <em>is</em> really odd, isn’t it?â€ Akiko nodded, and looked back at the priest, who was looking at them both thoughtfully.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ she said. “It is odd. But maybe…â€ She paused for a minute, then shook her head. “I need to think about it a bit more. OK, second question. Kazumi, about those coats…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi suddenly sprang to her feet.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have to take them back before school! I’ve got to go!â€ She rushed out of the room, and Shiraishi sighed, shaking her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I’ll try again this evening.â€</p>', 'Explanations', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'explanations', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:13:19', '2009-08-21 04:13:19', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=790', 0, 'post', '', 7);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(792, 1, '2009-11-05 00:00:35', '2009-11-04 15:00:35', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stood quietly at the back of the room, feeling rather awkward. It wasn’t just that Akira was there, pointedly not looking in her direction, although that was, she had to admit to herself, certainly part of it. It wasn’t even that she had been stuck in the shrine all morning, unable to even look for somewhere to purify. No, she realised that, suddenly, she didn’t feel like she belonged at the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The ujiko had, as promised at the festival, come to the shrine for a lunchtime meeting. Most of them had clearly known Shiraishi for years, and even the exceptions, like Noriko and Mr Tanaka, knew other people. Akiko had only met any of these people as a miko. They weren’t her friends; she couldn’t chat to any of them. The big exception, of course, had been Akira, but… She looked over at him as the meeting started, and made herself think about the problem.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Why was it a problem? So he fancied her. It wasn’t like <em>that</em> was a new experience for her. And he wasn’t a creepy stalker type. Far from it; she liked Akira. Was that the problem? She just wanted to be friends, and his desires complicated it?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi called the meeting to order, and the ujiko started discussing what to do for the shrine. Shiraishi began by explaining the situation with the buildings, and the amounts of money involved made a lot of the ujiko gasp. It was all old news to Akiko, however, so she went back to her own problem.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Was it that she had no romantic interest in Akira? She pondered the issue, looking at him. He was kind of cute, she had to admit. Younger than her, true, but not by so much, and couples with older women were much more common now. And he was president of his own company. <em>That’d make mother happy,</em> she thought, wryly. OK, so there was nothing actually <em>wrong</em> with him. But could she imagine having sex with him?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The discussion had moved on to the tsukinamisai, and the ujiko were promising to support it. Fortunately, this didn’t need much of Akiko’s attention, because it turned out that yes, she could in fact imagine sleeping with Akira, in quite surprising detail.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Am I worried about his father cursing me?</em> she wondered. <em>No, not really. So why, then?</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The final topic for discussion was setting up a rota to keep an eye on the shrine, so that Shiraishi and Akiko could go out to purify homes, and the surrounding area, without leaving the shrine unsupervised. Akiko had to contribute to this bit, explaining a little about the need for purification and her role in the ceremonies, while trying not to say too much that sounded weird and off-putting. She wasn’t sure just how many of the ujiko were ready to hear about the spirits.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As she explained, the answer to her own problem became clear.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>I can’t start a relationship while I’m fighting evil spirits. I have to concentrate on that first. And it’s not fair to ask Akira to wait.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She looked at Akira again, and he glanced in her direction, smiling as their eyes met, before he blushed and looked down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Oh, but it is a shame…</em></p>', 'Ujiko Council', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'ujiko-council', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:13:57', '2009-08-21 04:13:57', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=792', 0, 'post', '', 5);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(794, 1, '2009-11-06 00:00:06', '2009-11-05 15:00:06', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey, you! Show some respect! This is a shrine, not a park.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko glanced over her shoulder to see one of the guards bearing down on a group of young women who had been giggling together, taking photos in front of the hot spring on their cell phones. Now, however, they were looking confused, and a little worried.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t suppose you even purified yourselves, much less paid your respects to the kami.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stifled a sigh and turned back to the people she’d been talking to.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Please excuse me.â€ They nodded, the problem being as obvious to them as to her, and she left them to hurry over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Get over to the water basin and purify yourselves. Go on, now.â€ The guard wasn’t exactly shouting, but he was talking as if they were naughty children.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. I’ll deal with it now,â€ Akiko said as she came up to the women, trying to put as much authority as she could into the glare she shot at the guard. He stopped short, then nodded curtly and strode off back to the entrance. Akiko breathed a sigh of relief, and turned back to the women. What was she going to say? The guard hadn’t actually been wrong in what he said, after all.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sorry,â€ she started. “He means well, but he does need to work on his attitude to visitors.â€ She smiled and bowed a little as she spoke, and as she straightened up, the women looked rather more relaxed. “Would you like me to show you how to do the purification?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They glanced at each other; clearly they hadn’t actually been thinking about the shrine as a religious site. Then one nodded, and the others joined her. Akiko led them over to the water basin, and showed them how to pour the water over their hands. She was reminded of when Shiraishi had had to show her; it seemed a very long time ago, now.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The women paid their respects, then got Akiko to take a picture of all of them in front of the pool before leaving the shrine, giggling among themselves again. Thinking about the guard’s actions, Akiko looked around for Shiraishi, and had just found her, talking to some more visitors, when there was a shout from the steps.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are <em>not</em> going in!â€ Akiko closed her eyes for a moment as she sighed, and then turned to hurry to the steps, Shiraishi just behind her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The guards had formed a human wall across the steps, easy enough to do, blocking a man whom Akiko recognised as one of the more frequent protesters. She looked around for Mrs Watanabe, wondering what sort of trouble she was trying to stir up this time, but there was no sign of her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Look, let me pass. I’m not going to cause trouble.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Too right you’re not. You’re staying out here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The man caught sight of Akiko and Shiraishi, and bowed to them. Before Akiko could recover from that shock, he addressed the priest.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, could I ask you for a purification ceremony?â€</p>', 'Bullies', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'bullies', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:14:28', '2009-08-21 04:14:28', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=794', 0, 'post', '', 2);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(796, 1, '2009-11-07 00:00:38', '2009-11-06 15:00:38', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Even though one of the ujiko had turned up in the late afternoon, Akiko and Shiraishi had still not been able to get out of the shrine before Kazumi turned up; there were just too many visitors demanding their attention, or asking for purification ceremonies at the shrine. The former protester had been heavy with kegare, and had actually made a larger-than-normal offering after the harae, possibly out of guilt, and he wasn’t the only one. Turning them away seemed wrong; as Shiraishi had said, they really needed another priest.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi’s kegare appeared as cockroaches tonight, covering her in a solid mat, shifting over each other in a constant clicking and skittering, never for a moment revealing so much as a glimpse of the girl beneath. The harae quickly dispersed them however, and Kazumi, looking cheerful again, went into the house to shower and change.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata! Revd Shiraishi! I think you should come here!â€ Kazumi was calling from the bathroom, and sounded quite alarmed. Akiko called Shiraishi over — the priest had been on the other side of the grounds, out of earshot — and they went in to see what it was.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was standing in the changing area, clutching the knot of the towel wrapped around her body, and staring at the mirror. She glanced at them as they appeared in the doorway, and then nodded at the mirror.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The mirror reflected a forest under a stormy sky, lightning flickering at the base of the clouds. Tamao dominated the centre of the image, his gem-like scales sparkling as they caught and refracted the lightning. Akiko quickly stepped into the room, turning to face Tamao and bowing deeply, and, moments later, Shiraishi did the same.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Spirit Child, I told you to purify the area, did I not? The kegare is growing in strength. You must not neglect it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi bowed deeply again, and Akiko quickly followed suit.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Take the power you have raised, and cleanse my lands,â€ the kami commanded, and for a moment Akiko felt that she was standing outside, the scent of pine heavy on air that held the promise of a storm. There was a flash of lightning and a deafening crash of thunder, and they were standing in the changing area, looking at their own reflections.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I guess we’d better <em>make </em>time to get out,â€ Akiko remarked, before realising that Shiraishi and Kazumi still hadn’t moved. Kazumi’s knuckles were white where she was gripping her towel. “Er, are you all right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, Tamao just appeared in the mirror.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes… Oh. Ah, yes. Sorry. He used to do that to me all the time, before I moved to the shrine,â€ Akiko quickly explained. “Sorry, I forgot that you weren’t used to it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Used to it?â€ The scepticism was clear in Kazumi’s voice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You can get used to anything,â€ Akiko said, smiling.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi seemed to have come out of a trance. “Kazumi, get dressed, and then come to the meeting room. We have to talk before we do anything else.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What…â€ Kazumi began, but then she sighed. “Yes, all right.â€ She unwrapped the towel and began dressing, and Shiraishi, who had flushed bright red, grabbed Akiko’s wrist and almost dragged her out of the changing area.</p>', 'Divine Admonition', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'divine-admonition', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:15:25', '2009-08-21 04:15:25', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=796', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(798, 1, '2009-11-08 00:00:37', '2009-11-07 15:00:37', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, Kazumi, from whom did you borrow the coats?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ Kazumi blushed furiously, and looked down at the table. Shiraishi just waited, holding up a hand when Akiko started to speak. After what seemed a very long time, but probably wasn’t even a minute, Kazumi took a deep breath and looked up.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I…â€ She broke off again, and looked back down at the table. “A… friend.â€ There was a long pause, and this time Shiraishi did break the silence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve been to that park before. The women there are almost all prostitutes.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So my friend is a prostitute. Anything wrong with that?â€ Kazumi looked up, trying to look defiant, but Akiko could see the tears in her eyes, and the girl didn’t actually make eye contact with either of them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you remember when we saw Tamao in the shrine, not just now?â€ Shiraishi asked, and Akiko was momentarily thrown. Why was she bringing that up? “He said everything was purified. So, no matter what it was, it’s gone. It won’t make any difference.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s easy to say!â€ Kazumi was almost crying.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I’m very good at identifying faces,â€ the priest added, “even if people change their hairstyle and make-up radically.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi swallowed hard.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You knew?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A bit. Do you want to tell me more?â€ Akiko suddenly put the pieces together, and looked at Kazumi in shock. “Ah,â€ Shiraishi said. “It looks like Akiko isn’t quite as quick on the uptake.â€ Kazumi made a strange, strangled noise, and it was a couple of moments before Akiko realised she was laughing, and almost crying at the same time.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“OK,â€ Kazumi said. “I should tell you the important bits.â€ She took a deep breath.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I signed up on one of those dating phone sites in my last year of junior high. I… I used to let the men take my clothes off. It was no big deal.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’ve noticed,â€ Shiraishi interjected, and Kazumi laughed again, although her heart wasn’t in it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Anyway, I made quite a lot of money, but the men kept offering me more if I’d do sexual things. That’s… a bit different. Then one guy offered me 50,000 yen just to touch his prick. Just to touch it. I decided I could do that.â€ She grimaced. “He came all over my hand. I think I spent three hours washing it.â€ She sighed, looking down again. “But then, I’d done it. I told myself it was a lot of money for not very much effort, and did it again. And, slowly…â€ She trailed off.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We don’t need to know the details,â€ Shiraishi said, and Kazumi nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. Well, obviously it was a stupid thing to do. I was trying to prove to myself that I wasn’t bothered. Just like a body, right? Everyone has a naked body under their clothes. Everyone has sex. Or wants to. No big deal, nothing wrong with it. That was what I was telling myself. So I made myself up like the other tarts in the park, and went to join them. Selling your body to men in parks is like selling hamburgers, right? And at least you aren’t a slave to a corporation.â€ Kazumi shook her head, even as she said it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Anyway, the woman I borrowed the coats off saw that I was new, and helped me out.â€ Kazumi grinned suddenly, and it looked genuine. “And in her case, I really <em>don’t</em> care that it was mainly because she wanted to get into my knickers.â€ Her face was suddenly serious again. “Of course, I did actually care about the rest of it. I felt dirty.â€ She paused, looking down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Used?â€ Shiraishi suggested, but Kazumi shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. Not used. Actually,â€ she drew a deep, shuddering breath, “that made it worse.â€ She looked up again. “I couldn’t really blame anyone else. It was just me. But I couldn’t stop. That would mean admitting that I had made a really, really big mistake.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And then… And then you came to the park. You did the ceremony and, well, I <em>felt</em> something.â€ She smiled wryly. “Actually, I suppose that’s not really surprising. Anyway, I felt clean, somehow. It was, like, the mistake was part of the past. I wasn’t carrying it anymore. And I realised that I could, in fact, just stop.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So I did. I walked straight home, cut off my hair, cleaned off my make up, changed my clothes. Stopped going to the park. Cancelled my registrations on the dating sites.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was looking at them now, although there were still tears in her eyes, and tracks on her face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I worked out you must be from a shrine, so I went round the local shrines looking for you, and found you here. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, really, but that ceremony had made a big impression on me.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The clean feeling went away, which is also not really surprising, and so I came back and asked for the purification ceremony. It worked again, of course, which is why I kept coming back; I really do feel a lot better in the shrine.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She stopped, and after a while Shiraishi broke the silence.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And…?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi sighed, and fiddled with the belt on her miko’s hakama.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And I still don’t know. Now I’ve seen the kami, I can hardly walk away. I mean, I <em>know.</em>â€ She looked up, her face really earnest. “The kami are real. Kegare is real, and dangerous. Some trees are paths to another world. How could I walk away from that? But I’m not a priest like you. I can’t see the kegare like Akiko. So I don’t know what I’m doing here.â€ She pulled a face. “Hanging around the kami in the hopes of something happening, I guess.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well,â€ Shiraishi said, “it’s almost certain that things are going to happen. I…â€ Shiraishi swallowed hard, and Akiko could swear she was blushing. “We’ll wait and see,â€ she said, finally.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi nodded, her eyes on the priest, before she looked at Akiko, and raised her eyebrows quizzically. Akiko might have been slow on the uptake before, but she knew what this meant.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s OK.â€ Her voice wasn’t very steady as she said it, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “It’s OK. The past is the past. Tamao said it was all purified, so it is.â€ She nodded, firmly, and Kazumi broke out in a genuine smile, the tears leaking out of her eyes.</p>', 'History', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'history', '', '', '2009-11-09 07:11:43', '2009-11-08 22:11:43', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=798', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(799, 1, '2009-08-21 13:15:53', '2009-08-21 04:15:53', '', 'History', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '798-revision', '', '', '2009-08-21 13:15:53', '2009-08-21 04:15:53', '', 798, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/21/798-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(800, 1, '2009-11-09 00:00:42', '2009-11-08 15:00:42', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko went back to the kami tree that night, after Kazumi had gone home, and waited under its branches, leaning against the trunk, her cheek pressed against the bark. The tree was encouraging her to pass through to the forest again, but Akiko wasn’t even tempted. She didn’t want to be naked and alone in that park.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">As she thought that, the tree suggested that she could come back out in the shrine grounds as well, but Akiko shook her head. Not alone.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi had been right. It was a lot easier to say that it made no difference than to mean it. Akiko had been telling herself that Kazumi hadn’t changed, but she’d been unable to avoid a change in attitude. Knowing that… Knowing what Kazumi had done, Akiko found herself wondering whether she should even be at the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Tamao accepted her,</em> Akiko reminded herself, yet again. <em>We all do stupid things when we’re teenagers.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Yes, but you were never a prostitute,</em> a voice whispered treacherously at the back of her mind.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>She lied to us, keeping it secret.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Yes, and that was a good idea, given how you’ve reacted.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko stood up and stepped away from the tree, shaking her head. It didn’t look like Yoshiko was coming tonight; the other miko clearly also needed a bit more time to think. And that was probably a good thing; Akiko wasn’t sure she could handle any more major revelations today. She returned to the house, but sleep was a long time in coming.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Despite that, she woke at dawn, and knew immediately that she wouldn’t be able to sleep again. Shiraishi got up soon afterwards, and they were getting ready to perform the morning rituals when Kazumi arrived. She looked really tired, as if she hadn’t slept for several days, and her school uniform looked like she had thrown it on in the dark.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I feel crap,â€ she said, after a moment. “I feel like I lost a week’s sleep in one night. Any chance of a harae?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi glanced at Akiko, but Akiko really didn’t want to face Kazumi’s kegare right now, so she just shrugged.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We don’t really need to confirm it now, do we?â€ she asked, and Shiraishi, pursing her lips, shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I suppose not. OK, let’s get you purified, and then you can help with the morning rituals.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thanks…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko watched Kazumi carefully as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa over her, and was sure that she got visibly less tired every time the wand passed. At the end, she looked, well, just a bit tired.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, that’s better,â€ Kazumi said, standing up and stretching. Then she suddenly went very quiet, looking at the ground.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er,â€ she began, and then paused. “It’s the kegare, isn’t it? That’s what makes me tired and ill?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi replied. “I’m sure it is.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Then could I stay at the shrine? Please? There’s no kegare here, and I feel so much better. My mother won’t mind; she’s been hassling me to move out and fend for myself anyway. I promise to be no trouble.â€ It all tumbled out at once, as if Kazumi were afraid that, if she paused, it would just give Shiraishi time to refuse.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest looked at her for a long moment, while Kazumi stared at her feet.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“All right,â€ she said, finally. “At least until the kegare is purified.â€</p>', 'The Morning Feeling', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-morning-feeling', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:14:21', '2009-08-22 10:14:21', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=800', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(801, 1, '2009-08-22 19:14:03', '2009-08-22 10:14:03', '', 'The Morning Feeling', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '800-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:14:03', '2009-08-22 10:14:03', '', 800, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/800-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(802, 1, '2009-11-10 00:00:26', '2009-11-09 15:00:26', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about Kazumi staying, and annoyed with herself for not being sure, but Shiraishi’s last comment bothered her even more. They had to do something about the kegare. In particular, they had to get out of the shrine, and try to purify the area. Even ignoring the divine command, it was obviously necessary.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Still not sure what to make of Kazumi’s revelation?â€ Shiraishi asked, gently.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? Oh, yes. Well, I mean…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest smiled briefly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“People do stupid things. Teenagers in particular. With sex, in particular.â€ She shrugged. “She didn’t hurt anyone except herself, and she’s been purified now.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, I know, but…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you never really imagined living with a former prostitute?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, no!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t suppose you ever really imagined serving a kami in the form of a giant snake in a battle with encroaching pollution, either. Life is rather unpredictable.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s a good point. Revd Shiraishi, about the pollution. I think we have to get out today, and…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Suddenly, they heard raised voices from the bottom of the steps, and Akiko cut herself off in mid-speech, looking at Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think they do it deliberately?â€ she asked. “Do you think the protesters are making sure that we can’t go out and do the purifications?â€ Even as she asked it, she realised that it might be true. From the shocked look on Shiraishi’s face, the possibility that it might be a plan had not occurred to her before.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I… I hope not.â€ The shouting was still continuing. “But we have to go and see what the problem is, in any case.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">From the top of the steps they could make out some voices, including Mrs Watanabe’s, and Akiko realised that none of the guards seemed to be involved.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He was a traitor and an idiot!â€ That was Mrs Watanabe. Naoyuki was standing behind her, and they were facing another group of protesters Akiko recognised.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He looks a lot better, though. And his wife’s cough got better.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Coincidence!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe. Everyone else coming for purification says it makes them feel better, though.â€ That was a different protester.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course they do.â€ Akiko was surprised to see Mr Akiyama was there; it seemed a long time since he had come in person. “They have a vested interest in their superstition being believed to be effective. They’re hardly neutral witnesses.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What? They look better to me, too.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’d go into this, this <em>fascist</em> place just to feel better?â€ Mrs Watanabe was having some trouble talking coherently.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They don’t look very fascist to me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Watanabe pointed silently at the guards.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>You have a point,</em> Akiko conceded, and suddenly remembered the little girl. <em>You have several points. But you are wrong in the end.</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, <em>they’re</em> fascist. But the priest and miko don’t like them much either. Can’t you tell? They’re just worried about what us protesters are going to do next.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And they’re cute.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s not a good reason!â€ Mrs Watanabe practically exploded, but everyone else was trying to suppress giggles, and most of the tension had gone. Akiko felt herself blushing, and a glance confirmed that Shiraishi was as well. The man who had spoken glanced up at them and winked, and Akiko tried to make her face as stern as possible.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“In any case,â€ he continued, turning back to Mrs Watanabe, “we aren’t going to join in the protest any more.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Cowards!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m not saying I’ll go and get purified; it’s a very expensive way to get quality time with cute women in miko costumes.â€ Now Akiko was blushing furiously, and trying very hard not to connect the comment with Kazumi. “But lots of people seem to be finding it useful. I don’t think this is something we should oppose.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re going home.â€</p>', 'Dissension', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'dissension', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:15:01', '2009-08-22 10:15:01', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=802', 0, 'post', '', 3);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(803, 1, '2009-08-22 19:14:50', '2009-08-22 10:14:50', '', 'Dissension', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '802-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:14:50', '2009-08-22 10:14:50', '', 802, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/802-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(804, 1, '2009-11-11 00:00:09', '2009-11-10 15:00:09', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The former protesters did leave, then, although Mrs Watanabe shouted a few choice insults after them as Naoyuki and Mr Akiyama tried to calm her down.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, maybe not a plan, then,â€ Shiraishi commented.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No…â€ Akiko agreed. They turned, and started climbing the steps again. “But… cute?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, you are,â€ Shiraishi replied.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Cute?â€ Akiko tried to keep her voice down. “I was hoping for “elegantly beautifulâ€. <em>Kazumi</em> is cute.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mm.â€ Shiraishi muttered something Akiko couldn’t quite catch.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, nothing.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, I think he said you were cute as well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The priest suddenly stopped, looking at Akiko, her face incredulous.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I really don’t think…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Why don’t you lot go home, too?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi’s face fell.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very perceptive man, that. Spotted the fascists as well as the cute miko,â€ she said, quietly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yeah, take your disrespect away, and stop bothering honest Japanese citizens who still know to respect the kami.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko wasn’t about to say it, but she nodded, and they turned back to deal with the new crisis.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We are exercising our democratic rights! Japan is not a medieval dictatorship anymore. The emperor is no longer a god.â€ Mr Akiyama was confronting them, but keeping at least as much of an eye on Mrs Watanabe as on the guards.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can we please…â€ Shiraishi began, but the guard interrupted.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The occupying army made him say that. The emperor is just as much a kami now as he has ever been.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course, that’s true,â€ Mr Akiyama said, puzzling Akiko for a moment, and the guard for slightly longer.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But… you said…â€ Mr Akiyama smiled as the guard floundered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The ancient customs of Japan are as good for the country now as they were three thousand years ago,â€ Mr Akiyama continued, “and the guidance and wisdom of the kami as valuable as ever. That is why we are protesting.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But… shouldn’t you be on our side?â€ The guard sounded genuinely confused, and Akiko had to feel a bit sorry for him.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You <em>stupid</em> man. The emperor has <em>never</em> been a kami and the ancient customs of Japan were as cruel and oppressive then as they are now. As for the kami, well, <em>I</em> certainly wouldn’t take advice from bloodthirsty bullies.â€ Mrs Watanabe was sneering at them, quite obviously.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, yes…â€ Shiraishi tried to interrupt again, her tone worried, but it was too late.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What did you say about the kami?â€ the guard roared. “How <em>dare</em> you, you stupid old woman.â€ He ran down the steps towards her, and Naoyuki quickly stepped in front of his mother.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The guard punched him in the stomach, and then kicked at him as he doubled over, sending him sprawling onto the floor. Mr Akiyama took several hasty steps backwards, but Mrs Watanabe swung a fist at the guard, missing as he dodged out of the way.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Stop this right now!â€ Shiraishi yelled. “I’ll call the police!â€ The guard, who had raised his fist, seemed to suddenly realise what he was doing, and lowered it again, looking slightly sheepish. Naoyuki got to his feet, cradling his stomach but not looking too badly injured.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Now, all of you,â€ the priest continued, “get out of here! Just… just go home.â€ The guards didn’t even look at her as they made their way down the steps, but although Mrs Watanabe looked about to protest, Naoyuki took her arm, speaking to her quietly, and firmly guided her away. Mr Akiyama paused for a moment, looking like he was about to say something, but then left without a word.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Shiraishi were left alone on the steps.</p>', 'Contention', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'contention', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:15:38', '2009-08-22 10:15:38', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=804', 0, 'post', '', 8);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(805, 1, '2009-08-22 19:15:32', '2009-08-22 10:15:32', '', 'Contention', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '804-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:15:32', '2009-08-22 10:15:32', '', 804, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/804-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(806, 1, '2009-11-12 00:00:46', '2009-11-11 15:00:46', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I need to talk to that man. This has gone too far. Again.â€ Shiraishi was half talking to herself, but Akiko had to agree. Especially now that most of the protesters seemed to have given up. Shiraishi went straight into the office, but people were arriving to look at the pool, so Akiko waited outside.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">A couple of minutes later Shiraishi came back out of the office, her face stormy.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He said he would come here to talk to me. Why can’t he just take no for an answer?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So we can’t go out until he’s been?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ Shiraishi looked even more irritated for a moment, and then sighed. “No. We have to wait for the ujiko anyway; the rota doesn’t start until eleven. I think he’ll be here before that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In the event, Mr Fujimura arrived less than half an hour later, bowing formally as he entered the shrine. Akiko couldn’t resist checking him for kegare, but, as usual, he was completely clean, at least after passing through the barrier around the shrine grounds.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Before we talk, can I request a ceremony?â€ he said, after the initial greetings. “I would like to pray for the health and prosperity of our Imperial family.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment, Akiko thought Shiraishi would refuse, but finally she nodded curtly, and went to get ready.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">After the ceremony they sat in the meeting room, the green tea untouched in front of them.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mr Fujimura, I am serious. I want you to keep your men away from this shrine. They cause more trouble than they prevent.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, you do not know that. There is no way to know what would have happened had they not been there.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The protesters would have ranted, and probably given up at this point. Maybe even earlier, if they hadn’t been looking at guards who looked like comic-book fascists.â€ Mr Fujimura stiffened at that, and Akiko thought Shiraishi blushed briefly, although the priest did not look away.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I cannot be responsible for people’s misinterpretations…â€ Mr Fujimura began, but Shiraishi interrupted him.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Misinterpretation or not, it is causing problems. But the main problem is their tendency to solve problems with violence.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The protesters insulted the emperor.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They have the legal right to insult the emperor. They also have the legal right not to be assaulted.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I will speak to them.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. You will stop them from coming.â€ Mr Fujimura stiffened again, clearly unhappy with the way Shiraishi was talking to him. Akiko was getting a bit nervous, as well. They really didn’t want him as an enemy. “You said that you would stop them doing it again. They did it again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Now I do not want them coming here.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura was silent for a long time, looking at Shiraishi, and then at Akiko. His gaze made her feel uncomfortable, like she had felt at school when asked where her homework was. She tried to shake off the impression, but it just got stronger.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Finally, he looked back at Shiraishi, and nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very well. I cannot send them here without your consent.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I do not think it is wise. Those protesters are far from the only threat to your shrine, you know. There are forces opposing those of us who still properly serve the kami.â€ He emphasised the last sentence, and once again Akiko found herself wondering just how much he knew. “If you decide that you need protection again, you know how to contact me. Now, please excuse me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">He bowed, then got to his feet and left, as Akiko and Shiraishi scrambled to see him off properly.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They stood at the top of the stairs for some time after he had left, lost in thought.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>What does he know?</em></p>', 'Refusal', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'refusal', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:16:14', '2009-08-22 10:16:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=806', 0, 'post', '', 1);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(807, 1, '2009-08-22 19:16:09', '2009-08-22 10:16:09', '', 'Refusal', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '806-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:16:09', '2009-08-22 10:16:09', '', 806, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/806-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(808, 1, '2009-11-13 00:00:27', '2009-11-12 15:00:27', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I can’t see anything,â€ Akiko said, looking out of the car’s window in despair. “Just… fog. No, dust. Ash. Clouds of it, swirling right up to the windows. Black and brown, rotten. Stinking.â€ She stopped herself. “Sorry. You don’t need the details. The kegare has got a lot heavier since I last checked.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi pulled over to the side of the road, and Akiko let her vision revert to normal. The houses suddenly sprang into view around her, looking, at first glance, to be in good shape. But Akiko soon noticed the litter, the minor damage, the bits of vandalism, the dying plants in pots and window-boxes… The effects were more subtle here, but they were still real.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Didn’t you notice it around the shrine?â€ the priest asked. Akiko shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s not this heavy round the shrine. Maybe the barrier around the shrine grounds purifies the surrounding area a bit. Anyway,â€ she went on, “if Kazumi’s been sleeping in this, it’s hardly surprising she wakes up feeling dreadful.â€ She paused, and then smiled wryly. “I don’t suppose we can evacuate the ujiko to the shrine grounds.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked at her sharply, and then shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It wouldn’t really be practical. We need to solve the problem at its source.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded. That was true, but where was the source?</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So what do we do?â€ the priest asked. “Just purify some random place?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, we could…â€ Akiko said, thinking about it. “But I don’t think that would be very effective. We need to find somewhere that’s more polluted than average. If there are any such places left.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But how do we find them, if you can’t see?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is a problem,â€ Akiko admitted. “Where is the kegare likely to be heavy?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, places associated with pollution. Rubbish dumps. Places associated with sickness and death, as well.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, hospitals and old folks’ homes. What about the park?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was a different…â€ But mentioning the park had reminded Akiko of something.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi’s school!â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“When Kazumi comes to the shrine after school, she always has really heavy, really nasty kegare. She might have picked it up at school. And given that it’s presumably full of teenagers, it would be a good place to purify if it is that polluted.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you know which school she’s at?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll ask her.â€ Akiko pulled her cell phone out and started on a text message.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She might be in a lesson,â€ Shiraishi warned.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you really think that would stop her answering?â€ Akiko asked, and, after a moment, Shiraishi grinned and shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Whether Kazumi used her phone in lessons or not, the answer came back almost immediately, and they drove over to the school, parking a short distance away and walking over. When they stood at the entrance, Akiko switched her vision over.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">For a moment she could only see the clouds of fog and ash, writhing around them, flinching away from the thin layer of light that covered their bodies. <em>The power of the shrine,</em> Akiko thought. On impulse, she raised the kagurasuzu in front of her, and brought it down hard.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The fog rolled back, revealing the school.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And the things crawling over it. They were large, lizards with the legs of centipedes, giant spiders in school uniform, cockroaches with human arms instead of legs, and something like a rat with spines, small white things hanging from the spines. Beyond them, the whole surface of the school heaved in browns and yellows, the colours of vomit and excrement, shifting as millions of creatures too small to distinguish swarmed over it.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This is a good place,â€ Akiko said, swallowing hard.</p>', 'Scouting', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'scouting', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:16:53', '2009-08-22 10:16:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=808', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(809, 1, '2009-08-22 19:16:44', '2009-08-22 10:16:44', '', 'Scouting', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '808-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:16:44', '2009-08-22 10:16:44', '', 808, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/808-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(810, 1, '2009-11-14 00:00:03', '2009-11-13 15:00:03', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">It was obvious that they couldn’t perform harae on a school during the day; someone would interfere. Back at the shrine, there were several people waiting for purification, and they barely had any time free before Kazumi got back from school. As usual, she was heavy with kegare, and after harae she went to get changed.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, my school’s a festering pit of corruption,â€ she said when she came out, “but how’s the kegare?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko managed a smile, even as she shook her head.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Festering pit of corruption is about right,â€ she said.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, do you think I should stay away?â€ She sounded rather hopeful, and this time Akiko had to grin.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re going to purify it tonight, so you’ll be OK to go back tomorrow.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ Kazumi pouted for a moment, and then shrugged. “Hey, can I go with you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“To purify it? We were hoping you would watch the shrine.â€ Kazumi pulled a face.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can’t Tamao do that?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao isn’t very good at calling the police if vandals come. He just causes earthquakes,â€ Akiko said, and Kazumi started pouting again.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, go on. I want to see.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There’s not a lot <em>to</em> see,â€ Shiraishi said. “Just me doing a harae. Akiko gets a rather better show, but for the rest of us it’s really nothing special.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You really don’t want to see what I see,â€ Akiko said. “Trust me.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ohhh, all right.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, Kazumi,â€ Shiraishi said, “if you’re staying the night, don’t you need some pyjamas?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You wear things to sleep?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi blushed, and pressed on.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Clean underwear?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I’ll just not wear any…â€ Akiko felt herself go red, even as she saw Shiraishi do the same, and Kazumi doubled over in laughter. “I have some in my bag,â€ she said when she recovered. “Honestly, you two are far too easy to tease. Like I’d ever go to school without wearing underwear again,â€ she said as she got up and hurried off to supervise the shrine.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was a joke too, right?â€ Akiko said, looking at Shiraishi.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m sure it was. Had to be, right?â€ The priest didn’t sound completely sure, and then she shook her head violently. “She’s right. We are far too easy to tease. Come on, let’s get ready for the harae.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The school was quiet when they arrived, and they soon found a quiet back road running along one side of it, where they could perform the ceremony with little risk of being interrupted. Akiko lifted the kagurasuzu, and switched her vision over. The fog still swirled around them, carrying the unmistakable stench of sewage, but she was confident that wouldn’t last long. Indeed, as Shiraishi started to intone the norito it drew back, and as the light built within the ohnusa they found themselves in the centre of a clear area, expanding rapidly as the fog drew back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko kept alert, looking in all directions for any spirits that might try to stop them, but there was nothing. Had the festival made their harae that much stronger? Shiraishi picked up the ohnusa, and swung it. Light spilled from it, as ever, driving the fog back, all the way to the school. She swung it again, and the fog was swept over the school, revealing the kegare spirits clinging to it. Their eyes were all fixed on Akiko and Shiraishi, but they didn’t move.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Again!â€ Akiko muttered.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">But as Shiraishi swung the ohnusa for the last time, the spirits screamed and leapt from the building.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Towards them.</p>', 'Harae', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'harae-4', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:17:34', '2009-08-22 10:17:34', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=810', 0, 'post', '', 2);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(811, 1, '2009-08-22 19:17:11', '2009-08-22 10:17:11', '', 'Harae', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '810-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:17:11', '2009-08-22 10:17:11', '', 810, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/810-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(812, 1, '2009-11-15 00:00:46', '2009-11-14 15:00:46', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko raised the kagurasuzu and stepped forward.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“They’re…â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She was cut off by Shiraishi’s scream, and she looked round to see the priest stepping back, her face white. It only took a moment for her to work out that, for some reason, the priest could see these spirits.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, continue the harae. This is fairly normal.â€ She didn’t even try to keep the urgency out of her voice; the spirits were nearly on them, and she raised the kagurasuzu, trying to judge which would be there first.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“N… normal?â€ Shiraishi stammered out, but Akiko had no time to look back, as she swept the kagurasuzu to her left, the tinkling of the bells momentarily drowning out the sound of the spirits as one of the giant spiders fell back, shrieking.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The harae!â€ Akiko shouted, as she spun round to the right, thrusting the kagurasuzu out to block the path of the rat-thing. It was the size of a bus, and she could see what was on its spikes now: girls’ knickers. It veered off to one side, away from them, but she had no time to watch it, because she felt the ground shake. A cockroach was right in front of her, its mandibles over her head, the arms it had for legs splayed out on the ground, fingers grasping at the tarmac. With a shout, she thrust the kagurasuzu straight up, and with a loud hissing the spirit fell back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Behind her, she could hear Shiraishi intoning the norito again, and she could see the purifying light flowing from the ohnusa. The spirits retreated slightly, and Akiko took a step back to stand beside the priest. Shiraishi was breathing hard, her face white and her eyes wild.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Told you you didn’t want to see,</em> Akiko thought, but this wasn’t the time to say it. She held the kagurasuzu ready as Shiraishi lifted the ohnusa, sweeping it through the air.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The light flowed out, and as it washed over the spirits they flinched back, hissing and shrieking, black smoke pouring from them as if blown by a strong wind.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">And then, as Shiraishi paused before swinging the ohnusa again, they all moved in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s stomach lurched. That wasn’t supposed to happen. They weren’t supposed to fight back against the harae. Shiraishi swung the ohnusa again, and although they screamed in pain, this time the spirits didn’t fall back at all. Akiko glanced around them. They were already surrounded. But if the spirits didn’t fall back this time, they’d have to try to get away. She peered at the spirits blocking the way to the car, one of the lizard-centipedes and a spider-thing, and hefted the kagurasuzu.  Shiraishi swept the ohnusa across again, and the spirits screamed as the light washed over them. Screamed, but did not move.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko grabbed Shiraishi’s arm.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Run!â€ she shouted, as she dragged the priest towards the spirits. They were still distracted by the light, and Akiko swung the kagurasuzu around her, leaving them too confused to do anything as the two of them ran beneath the creatures. “To the car! Quickly!â€ Shiraishi said nothing, but she was running herself now, keeping up with Akiko, and the screams behind them sounded more like screams of rage.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They rounded the corner and saw the car. And the spider-spirit poised over it. It had the face of a girl, heavily made up with bleached hair, but when it grinned at them its teeth were needles, needles in syringes. It raised one leg, and brought it crashing down through the bonnet of the car.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">With a roar, the car burst into flames, the kegare spirit still grinning in the middle of the inferno, unaffected by the heat that Akiko could feel even at that distance.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Back to the shrine!â€ Akiko said. “Come on, we can make it.â€ Shiraishi seemed to be frozen, so Akiko grabbed her arm again, and pulled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The light from the ohnusa was fading, and the fog drew back in around them. Akiko could see the grit within it, the ash, and now also see the insects flying in the midst of it, outsize jaws reaching for them, repelled by the faint glow that still clung to their bodies.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko couldn’t see where she was going. Couldn’t see where the spirits were. She listened for them, swinging the bells in the direction of anything that might be a threat, but then something grabbed at her shoulder.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Screaming, she slammed the kagurasuzu against it, and the giant hand drew back as she heard a hissing from overhead. Shiraishi took the lead, pulling her along, and Akiko realised that her sight was worse than useless. She switched back, and the fog vanished in a moment.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spirits didn’t.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Scrambling over houses and scuttling down alleys, they seemed to be trying to surround Akiko and Shiraishi, to hem them in.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Why can I still see them? </em>Akiko wondered. <em>Why can Shiraishi see them? Who else can see them?</em></p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The spirits were slower than Akiko had expected, covering remarkably little ground as they hunted, for all that they seemed to be moving quickly. In a straight race, Akiko and Shiraishi could keep ahead, but the spirits kept moving in from the side.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They turned a corner, and the spiny rat was blocking the street in front of them. Its eyes burned a deep blue, while sickly green slime leaked from its mouth. Within its jaws, dozens of cog wheels turned, grinding and squealing as it moved towards them, spines rising and falling in ripples across its back.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Shiraishi backed up, glancing behind them. The cockroaches were approaching that way, and there was no sign of the spiders or the lizards.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Something made Akiko glance up, and she pushed Shiraishi aside with a scream as a lizard crashed to the ground where they had been standing, its spiked insectile legs creating a network of tiny cracks on the surface of the road. Akiko swung the kagurasuzu against it, and its skin burst, oily smoke in a rainbow of colours pouring out, making her eyes water, driving her into a fit of coughing. Screaming and thrashing, the lizard creature collapsed into the road, and Shiraishi came running round to Akiko.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“For now…â€ she replied, looking at the spirits that were still approaching.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We’re nearly there.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko nodded. If they could get past the rat, they were practically at the shrine. Shiraishi raised the ohnusa.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Frontal attack?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko’s stomach flipped over again, but the cockroaches were gaining from behind. She nodded. They didn’t have a choice.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko took the right, Shiraishi the left, and both struck at the rat as they passed. Surprised, it reared up on its hind legs for a moment, opening a way through, and they darted round it. They heard its scream of rage, but they weren’t looking back now; they could see the steps to the shrine. They were on the steps, up the steps, standing on the lawn.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The barrier around the shrine appeared, a wall of golden flame leaping into life before them. Beyond it they could see the spirits as they gathered at the foot of the stairs, shrieking their disappointment before turning and disappearing back into the city.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko and Shiraishi collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.</p>', 'Overwhelming Force', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'overwhelming-force', '', '', '2009-11-18 07:30:24', '2009-11-17 22:30:24', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=812', 0, 'post', '', 5);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(813, 1, '2009-08-22 19:18:03', '2009-08-22 10:18:03', '', 'Overwhelming Force', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '812-revision', '', '', '2009-08-22 19:18:03', '2009-08-22 10:18:03', '', 812, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/22/812-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(814, 1, '2009-08-23 08:10:11', '2009-08-22 23:10:11', 'Akiko had been staring at the darkness beyond the bathroom window for some time before she realised it, and, shaking her head, she stood up, going over to the taps to splash cold water over her body. Gasping, and slightly more awake, she went out to the changing area, looking at herself in the mirror as she dried off.\n\nHer reflection was suddenly fully clothed in the vestments of a miko, a slender golden tiara with fresh flowers thrust through it on her head, a mirror on the centre, over her forehead. She wore a thin over-mantle over the kimono, its translucent material embroidered with dancing dragons. Behind her, she could see nothing but the clouds of a stormy sky, roiling and changing, with occasional flashes of lightning. The clouds and lightning drew together, taking the shape of dragons, dancing like the embroidered ones.\n\nThere was a change in the distance, a darkness in the sky, deeper than the clouds, and it came pouring forwards, consuming the dragons, tearing them apart in straggling lines of vapour, until the background was nothing but the deepest darkness.\n\nWhich fell like a curtain, leaving the mirror black.\n\nAkiko staggered back, and her reflection reappeared, with the changing area behind her. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she finished drying herself and dressing, keeping an eye on the mirror the whole time. It remained just a mirror.\n\nThe image of falling darkness preyed on her mind as she sat in the shrine office, looking out of the window but seeing nothing but her reflection. Were they really doing anything to deal with the pollution? Why was Mrs Watanabe so scared of the suggestion of a curse? What was going on with Kazumi? Had they really helped the situation with the pollution?\n\nAkiko stood up to snap herself out of her brooding. Maybe she could actually do something about one of the questions. She checked the time; just after eight. Still early, really. She took her cell phone out, and called Akira.\n\n“Hello? Ms Tanahata?â€\n\n“Yes, good evening. Is this a good time?â€\n\n“Yes, sure, no problem. What is it?â€\n\n“I was wondering if you could drive me round the area a bit. I want to look at the kegare. I want to see whether we’ve made any progress.â€\n\n“Oh, of course. When?â€\n\n“Er, could you do it now? Revd Shiraishi will want to go to bed early, because she has the morning watch, so I want to get back before she does.â€\n\n“Now?â€ He sounded a little surprised, but not upset. “Yes, yes. No problem. I’ll be there in a few minutes.â€\n\n“Thank you. See you soon, then.â€\n\n“See you soon.â€\n\nHe hung up, and Akiko went in search of the priest. Shiraishi was just finishing eating, and sighed when Akiko explained what she wanted to do. The priest looked tired, and Akiko suddenly realised that she had been hoping to get to bed very soon.\n\n“I’m sorry,â€ Akiko apologised, “I’ll get back as quickly as I can. But…â€\n\n“But you want to check.â€ The priest shook her head. “It’s fine. A good idea. I’ll cope. I don’t suppose Tamao has said anything useful?â€ Akiko also shook her head, and then quickly described the vision in the mirror. The priest looked irritated.\n\n“That’s hardly a useful vision, is it. If the kami are going to talk to you, they could at least tell us something useful in the process.â€ She sighed, obviously frustrated. “Well, tell me what you find.â€ The doorbell rang, and the priest stood, carrying her dishes over to the sink. “That’s probably Akira now. Stay safe.â€\n\n“Of course.â€ It was only after Akiko and Akira had set off in the car that she realised that the priest’s final warning may not have been entirely conventional.\n\n“Where to, then?â€ Akira asked.\n\n“Let’s start with the Tanakas’ house. Then there was a park, and an old folks’ home, the bridge, and the river. I want to see how much kegare there is now.â€\n\n“You’re the boss.â€\n\nThey drove in silence for a couple of minutes, before Akira cleared his throat, glancing quickly at Akiko.\n\n“What… What does kegare look like?â€ Akiko glanced over at him, not sure that that had been the question he originally wanted to ask.\n\n“Look like? To me? It… varies. Never good, though.â€\n\n“Yes, but, like what? You said something about a wall at the bridge.â€\n\n“Right. Well…â€ Akiko started describing some of the ways kegare had appeared.\n\n“Here we are.â€ Akira interrupted her as he pulled up near the Tanakas’ house. “Do you want to go in?â€ Akiko shook her head.\n\n“No, I want to check places as quickly as possible. One moment…â€ She switched her vision over, and sucked her breath in sharply.\n\nThe house was heavy with kegare again, looking like flaps of inflamed skin wrapped around it. This time, however, the pollution was no heavier than that of the houses around it, and Akiko glanced around, realising that they were near the centre of a concentration of the pollution. She switched her vision back, and shook her head.\n\n“What is it?â€ Akira asked.\n\n“Not good. Let’s look at the next place.â€\n\nThe park was as heavy with kegare as it had been, and still full of prostitutes and drug dealers. On the bright side, there was no sign of the greater spirit Akiko had seen before. The old folks’ home looked as if they had never done anything. The road was a little more encouraging. There was a great deal of scaffolding, and notice boards explaining the repair works, and, although the kegare had increased, it was nowhere near as bad as it had been.\n\nThe river, however, was the best case. There was almost no kegare to be seen, and looking into the water, Akiko could make out the shape of the river spirit within the current, the fire of its scales burning away any bits of pollution that tried to settle there.\n\n“This one was good?â€ Akira asked, as Akiko smiled.\n\n“Yes. The spirit of the river seems to be keeping it pure. She frowned again. “The other places were polluted again, though. The harae isn’t cleansing them permanently.â€ She pursed her lips, thinking for a moment, but nothing occurred to her. “Oh well, back to the shrine, I suppose.â€\n\n“Do you want to get a drink first? Or dinner?â€ Akira asked, but Akiko shook her head.\n\n“No, I promised Revd Shiraishi I’d get back as quickly as possible.â€ She looked back at the river, wondering how they could find spirits elsewhere.\n\n“Oh.â€ Akira sounded odd, and as Akiko glanced over it suddenly struck her that he’d asked her out for dinner.\n\n“Oh, thank you for the invitation. But I really did promise Revd Shiraishi. I’m sorry, but I can’t do it tonight.â€\n\n“Oh, that’s OK. I’d better get you back before your curfew, then.â€ He looked at her and grinned, and she smiled back.\n\n“I don’t have a curfew, Mr Takenaka.â€ Her mood suddenly turned serious again. “Just responsibilities…â€ she said, looking back out of the window at the city, smothered under the blanket of night.', 'Checking the Sites', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '588-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-23 08:10:11', '2009-08-22 23:10:11', '', 588, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/23/588-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(815, 1, '2009-06-05 14:50:54', '2009-06-05 05:50:54', 'Akiko had been staring at the darkness beyond the bathroom window for some time before she realised it, and, shaking her head, she stood up, going over to the taps to splash cold water over her body. Gasping, and slightly more awake, she went out to the changing area, looking at herself in the mirror as she dried off.\r\n\r\nHer reflection was suddenly fully clothed in the vestments of a miko, a slender golden tiara with fresh flowers thrust through it on her head, a mirror on the centre, over her forehead. She wore a thin over-mantle over the kimono, its translucent material embroidered with dancing dragons. Behind her, she could see nothing but the clouds of a stormy sky, roiling and changing, with occasional flashes of lightning. The clouds and lightning drew together, taking the shape of dragons, dancing like the embroidered ones.\r\n\r\nThere was a change in the distance, a darkness in the sky, deeper than the clouds, and it came pouring forwards, consuming the dragons, tearing them apart in straggling lines of vapour, until the background was nothing but the deepest darkness.\r\n\r\nWhich fell like a curtain, leaving the mirror black.\r\n\r\nAkiko staggered back, and her reflection reappeared, with the changing area behind her. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she finished drying herself and dressing, keeping an eye on the mirror the whole time. It remained just a mirror.\r\n\r\nThe image of falling darkness preyed on her mind as she sat in the shrine office, looking out of the window but seeing nothing but her reflection. Were they really doing anything to deal with the pollution? Why was Mrs Watanabe so scared of the suggestion of a curse? What was going on with Kazumi? Had they really helped the situation with the pollution?\r\n\r\nAkiko stood up to snap herself out of her brooding. Maybe she could actually do something about one of the questions. She checked the time; just after eight. Still early, really. She took her cell phone out, and called Akira.\r\n\r\n“Hello? Ms Tanahata?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, good evening. Is this a good time?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, sure, no problem. What is it?â€\r\n\r\n“I was wondering if you could drive me round the area a bit. I want to look at the kegare. I want to see whether we’ve made any progress.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, of course. When?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, could you do it now? Revd Shiraishi will want to go to bed early, because she has the morning watch, so I want to get back before she does.â€\r\n\r\n“Now?â€ He sounded a little surprised, but not upset. “Yes, yes. No problem. I’ll be there in a few minutes.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you. See you soon, then.â€\r\n\r\n“See you soon.â€\r\n\r\nHe hung up, and Akiko went in search of the priest. Shiraishi was just finishing eating, and sighed when Akiko explained what she wanted to do. The priest looked tired, and Akiko suddenly realised that she had been hoping to get to bed very soon.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry,â€ Akiko apologised, “I’ll get back as quickly as I can. But…â€\r\n\r\n“But you want to check.â€ The priest shook her head. “It’s fine. A good idea. I’ll cope. I don’t suppose Tamao has said anything useful?â€ Akiko also shook her head, and then quickly described the vision in the mirror. The priest looked irritated.\r\n\r\n“That’s hardly a useful vision, is it. If the kami are going to talk to you, they could at least tell us something useful in the process.â€ She sighed, obviously frustrated. “Well, tell me what you find.â€ The doorbell rang, and the priest stood, carrying her dishes over to the sink. “That’s probably Akira now. Stay safe.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course.â€ It was only after Akiko and Akira had set off in the car that she realised that the priest’s final warning may not have been entirely conventional.\r\n\r\n“Where to, then?â€ Akira asked.\r\n\r\n“Let’s start with the Tanakas’ house. Then there was a park, and an old folks’ home, the bridge, and the river. I want to see how much kegare there is now.â€\r\n\r\n“You’re the boss.â€\r\n\r\nThey drove in silence for a couple of minutes, before Akira cleared his throat, glancing quickly at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“What… What does kegare look like?â€ Akiko glanced over at him, not sure that that had been the question he originally wanted to ask.\r\n\r\n“Look like? To me? It… varies. Never good, though.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, but, like what? You said something about a wall at the bridge.â€\r\n\r\n“Right. Well…â€ Akiko started describing some of the ways kegare had appeared.\r\n\r\n“Here we are.â€ Akira interrupted her as he pulled up near the Tanakas’ house. “Do you want to go in?â€ Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, I want to check places as quickly as possible. One moment…â€ She switched her vision over, and sucked her breath in sharply.\r\n\r\nThe house was heavy with kegare again, looking like flaps of inflamed skin wrapped around it. This time, however, the pollution was no heavier than that of the houses around it, and Akiko glanced around, realising that they were near the centre of a concentration of the pollution. She switched her vision back, and shook her head.\r\n\r\n“What is it?â€ Akira asked.\r\n\r\n“Not good. Let’s look at the next place.â€\r\n\r\nThe park was as heavy with kegare as it had been, and still full of prostitutes and drug dealers. On the bright side, there was no sign of the greater spirit Akiko had seen before. The old folks’ home looked as if they had never done anything. The road was a little more encouraging. There was a great deal of scaffolding, and notice boards explaining the repair works, and, although the kegare had increased, it was nowhere near as bad as it had been.\r\n\r\nThe river, however, was the best case. There was almost no kegare to be seen, and looking into the water, Akiko could make out the shape of the river spirit within the current, the fire of its scales burning away any bits of pollution that tried to settle there.\r\n\r\n“This one was good?â€ Akira asked, as Akiko smiled.\r\n\r\n“Yes. The spirit of the river seems to be keeping it pure. She frowned again. “The other places were polluted again, though. The harae isn’t cleansing them permanently.â€ She pursed her lips, thinking for a moment, but nothing occurred to her. “Oh well, back to the shrine, I suppose.â€\r\n\r\n“Do you want to get a drink first? Or dinner?â€ Akira asked, but Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, I promised Revd Shiraishi I’d get back as quickly as possible.â€ She looked back at the river, wondering how they could find spirits elsewhere.\r\n\r\n“Oh.â€ Akira sounded odd, and as Akiko glanced over it suddenly struck her that he’d asked her out for dinner.\r\n\r\n“Oh, thank you for the invitation. But I really did promise Revd Shiraishi. I’m sorry, but I can’t do it tonight.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, that’s OK. I’d better get you back before your curfew, then.â€ He looked at her and grinned, and she smiled back.\r\n\r\n“I don’t have a curfew, Mr Takenaka.â€ Her mood suddenly turned serious again. “Just responsibilities…â€ she said, looking back out of the window at the city, smothered under the blanket of night.', 'Checking the Sites', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '588-revision-2', '', '', '2009-06-05 14:50:54', '2009-06-05 05:50:54', '', 588, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/06/05/588-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(817, 1, '2009-08-24 06:29:36', '2009-08-23 21:29:36', 'Akiko struggled to keep her eyes open during the early morning ceremonies around the shrine grounds, making offerings in front of the go-shintai, the iwakura, Mr Takenaka’s shrine, and the tree. When they had finished, she took a moment to lean on the tree, pressing her cheek against it as her tension drained away.\n\n“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi was shaking her shoulder gently, and Akiko opened her eyes, realising that she’d actually fallen asleep leaning on the tree. She blushed, and quickly apologised, but Shiraishi just looked concerned, and tired.\n\n“Are you all right?â€ she asked, and Akiko nodded. The priest looked a bit sceptical. “Are you sure? I’m not sure we can keep this schedule up. We need some help watching the shrine, so that we can get more sleep.â€\n\n“Help would certainly be nice,â€ Akiko agreed, as she gathered the mats and table, ready to carry them back to the shrine house. “But who can we ask? Akira would do it, but I don’t like to ask him all the time.â€\n\n“No, me neither.â€ The priest started walking back. “Maybe we should talk to Mr Ito, or some of the other ujiko.â€\n\n“Would they help? They don’t exactly come here much.â€\n\n“True.â€ Shiraishi sighed as she said it. “Things are a bit better than they were, well, when you first turned up. But not that much. Maybe…â€\n\nAs they came out of the woodland, Shiraishi fell silent. Akiko, just behind her, soon saw why. There were about a dozen people, all in Japanese clothing, gathered near the shrine house. There were a couple of women, but most were men, and Akiko instantly recognised Mr Fujimura at the head of the group. They quickly hurried over.\n\n“Mr Fujimura, so good of you to come. I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting,â€ Shiraishi said as she reached them. Mr Fujimura nodded.\n\n“That is quite all right, Revd Shiraishi. Please, put your ritual equipment away first. We are not in so much of a hurry.â€ He smiled slightly as he said that, but it didn’t look entirely natural to Akiko.\n\nPossibly Shiraishi had also not been completely convinced, because she had Akiko just stow the gear quickly in the office, so that they could go back out to the group.\n\n“What can we do for you, Mr Fujimura?â€\n\n“We have come for a ceremony,â€ he replied, looking round and gesturing at the people behind him, who all bowed. “We would like to ask the kami for harmony within the group and success in our endeavours. And, of course, we would like to pray for the health and prosperity of their Imperial Majesties, and the peace and prosperity of the country.â€\n\n“Of course,â€ Shiraishi said, bowing in return. “Would you like to come through to the waiting room while we prepare?â€\n\nAt the entrance to the room, Mr Fujimura paused, one of the women standing next to him.\n\n“Revd Shiraishi, this is Noriko Yamanaka. She lives quite near to the shrine.â€ The woman bowed deeply, and when she stood up she looked at Akiko as well as the priest.\n\n“I am Noriko Yamanaka. I’m very pleased to meet you, and I hope to be of service.â€ Akiko thought that she was perhaps in her late thirties, her hair carefully styled to suit her kimono, which looked very elegant, and expensive, to Akiko’s untutored eyes.\n\n“I am Reiko Shiraishi, chief priest of this shrine. I hope that I, too, can be of service. Please, make yourselves at home while I prepare for the ritual.â€\n\nAs Akiko hurried off to make the tea, it suddenly occurred to her that there were some similarities between her current job and the last one.', 'Group Kito', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '590-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-24 06:29:36', '2009-08-23 21:29:36', '', 590, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/24/590-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(816, 1, '2009-06-06 13:19:17', '2009-06-06 04:19:17', 'Akiko struggled to keep her eyes open during the early morning ceremonies around the shrine grounds, making offerings at in front of the go-shintai, the iwakura, Mr Takenaka’s shrine, and the tree. When they had finished, she took a moment to lean on the tree, pressing her cheek against it as her tension drained away.\r\n\r\n“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi was shaking her shoulder gently, and Akiko opened her eyes, realising that she’d actually fallen asleep leaning on the tree. She blushed, and quickly apologised, but Shiraishi just looked concerned, and tired.\r\n\r\n“Are you all right?â€ she asked, and Akiko nodded. The priest looked a bit sceptical. “Are you sure? I’m not sure we can keep this schedule up. We need some help watching the shrine, so that we can get more sleep.â€\r\n\r\n“Help would certainly be nice,â€ Akiko agreed, as she gathered the mats and table, ready to carry them back to the shrine house. “But who can we ask? Akira would do it, but I don’t like to ask him all the time.â€\r\n\r\n“No, me neither.â€ The priest started walking back. “Maybe we should talk to Mr Ito, or some of the other ujiko.â€\r\n\r\n“Would they help? They don’t exactly come here much.â€\r\n\r\n“True.â€ Shiraishi sighed as she said it. “Things are a bit better than they were, well, when you first turned up. But not that much. Maybe…â€\r\n\r\nAs they came out of the woodland, Shiraishi fell silent. Akiko, just behind her, soon saw why. There were about a dozen people, all in Japanese clothing, gathered near the shrine house. There were a couple of women, but most were men, and Akiko instantly recognised Mr Fujimura at the head of the group. They quickly hurried over.\r\n\r\n“Mr Fujimura, so good of you to come. I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting,â€ Shiraishi said as she reached them. Mr Fujimura nodded.\r\n\r\n“That is quite all right, Revd Shiraishi. Please, put your ritual equipment away first. We are not in so much of a hurry.â€ He smiled slightly as he said that, but it didn’t look entirely natural to Akiko.\r\n\r\nPossibly Shiraishi had also not been completely convinced, because she had Akiko just stow the gear quickly in the office, so that they could go back out to the group.\r\n\r\n“What can we do for you, Mr Fujimura?â€\r\n\r\n“We have come for a ceremony,â€ he replied, looking round and gesturing at the people behind him, who all bowed. “We would like to ask the kami for harmony within the group and success in our endeavours. And, of course, we would like to pray for the health and prosperity of their Imperial Majesties, and the peace and prosperity of the country.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course,â€ Shiraishi said, bowing in return. “Would you like to come through to the waiting room while we prepare?â€\r\n\r\nAt the entrance to the room, Mr Fujimura paused, one of the women standing next to him.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, this is Noriko Yamanaka. She lives quite near to the shrine.â€ The woman bowed deeply, and when she stood up she looked at Akiko as well as the priest.\r\n\r\n“I am Noriko Yamanaka. I’m very pleased to meet you, and I hope to be of service.â€ Akiko thought that she was perhaps in her late thirties, her hair carefully styled to suit her kimono, which looked very elegant, and expensive, to Akiko’s untutored eyes.\r\n\r\n“I am Reiko Shiraishi, chief priest of this shrine. I hope that I, too, can be of service. Please, make yourselves at home while I prepare for the ritual.â€\r\n\r\nAs Akiko hurried off to make the tea, it suddenly occurred to her that there were some similarities between her current job and the last one.', 'Group Kito', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '590-revision-2', '', '', '2009-06-06 13:19:17', '2009-06-06 04:19:17', '', 590, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/06/06/590-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(818, 1, '2009-06-06 13:20:03', '2009-06-06 04:20:03', 'After delivering the tea, Akiko went to find Shiraishi, and found her in the office, books open around her. The priest looked up as Akiko entered.\r\n\r\n“Oh, thank goodness. Akiko, could you get the himorogi and everything set up? I imagine they’ll all be able to cope with kneeling, and I think we just about have enough mats for them. I’ve got to write the norito.â€ She looked back at the books, and grimaced. “Well, patch together a decent one from various models.â€ She looked up again, and Akiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“Of course.â€\r\n\r\nThe sky was clearing slightly as Akiko started carrying the equipment out, but as she turned back to the shrine house after setting up the first load she saw one of the protesters standing at the top of the steps, where the torii ought to be. He caught her gaze for a moment, then turned and headed down. Akiko hurried back into the house, fighting a sense of foreboding.\r\n\r\nWhen she brought the next load out, a pile of small tatami mats, her worries were concerned; all the protesters had come up the steps, and were standing at the top. She noticed Mrs Watanabe, and, again, no sign of Mr Akiyama. For a moment, she wished she had his phone number, so that she could get him to come and keep the protesters under control, but then she realised that he would be in school. And, it struck her, Mrs Watanabe would also know that.\r\n\r\nShe tried to keep one eye on the protesters as she finished setting up the himorogi, the offering tables, and the seating, but they were doing nothing, merely standing quietly at the top of the steps, watching her. She noticed that most of them kept glancing at Mrs Watanabe, as if waiting for some sort of signal, and that just made her more worried.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was just finishing putting the norito together in the office, writing it out as quickly as she dared. Akiko quickly mentioned the presence of the protesters, and Shiraishi frowned, then shrugged.\r\n\r\n“There’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s get started.â€\r\n\r\nMr Fujimura led his group out of the house. Akiko tried to subtly watch his face as he saw the protesters, but if he reacted, he masked it well. She had a sudden idea, and switched her vision to look for kegare.\r\n\r\nMr Fujimura was almost completely clean. Akiko glanced back along his followers, as she found herself thinking of them, and saw that they were generally about as clean as he was. She glanced round at the protesters, who were much less pure, although the insects, rats, and fungi that clung to their bodies stayed close to them, as if scared of something.\r\n\r\nWhen Akiko looked back round to the iwakura, she could see what; there was a flame clearly visible inside the stones, and as they approached she could even feel the heat. As she knelt in her place, she felt as if the flame was watching her, the heat burning through her vestments. Quickly she switched her vision back to the normal world.\r\n\r\nThe group settled themselves, and Shiraishi, after looking round to make sure that everyone was ready, knelt in front of the ohnusa to begin the harae.\r\n\r\nAs soon as she began to speak, Mrs Watanabe began to chant, her words taken up by the rest of the protesters.\r\n\r\n“No to Shinto! No to Fascism! No to Imperialism!â€', 'Disruptive Protesters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '592-revision-2', '', '', '2009-06-06 13:20:03', '2009-06-06 04:20:03', '', 592, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/06/06/592-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(819, 1, '2009-08-25 06:26:39', '2009-08-24 21:26:39', 'After delivering the tea, Akiko went to find Shiraishi, and found her in the office, books open around her. The priest looked up as Akiko entered.\n\n“Oh, thank goodness. Akiko, could you get the himorogi and everything set up? I imagine they’ll all be able to cope with kneeling, and I think we just about have enough mats for them. I’ve got to write the norito.â€ She looked back at the books, and grimaced. “Well, patch together a decent one from various models.â€ She looked up again, and Akiko nodded.\n\n“Of course.â€\n\nThe sky was clearing slightly as Akiko started carrying the equipment out, but as she turned back to the shrine house after setting up the first load she saw one of the protesters standing at the top of the steps, where the torii ought to be. He caught her gaze for a moment, then turned and headed down. Akiko hurried back into the house, fighting a sense of foreboding.\n\nWhen she brought the next load out, a pile of small tatami mats, her worries were confirmed; all the protesters had come up the steps, and were standing at the top. She noticed Mrs Watanabe, and, again, no sign of Mr Akiyama. For a moment, she wished she had his phone number, so that she could get him to come and keep the protesters under control, but then she realised that he would be in school. And, it struck her, Mrs Watanabe would also know that.\n\nShe tried to keep one eye on the protesters as she finished setting up the himorogi, the offering tables, and the seating, but they were doing nothing, merely standing quietly at the top of the steps, watching her. She noticed that most of them kept glancing at Mrs Watanabe, as if waiting for some sort of signal, and that just made her more worried.\n\nShiraishi was just finishing putting the norito together in the office, writing it out as quickly as she dared. Akiko quickly mentioned the presence of the protesters, and Shiraishi frowned, then shrugged.\n\n“There’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s get started.â€\n\nMr Fujimura led his group out of the house. Akiko tried to subtly watch his face as he saw the protesters, but if he reacted, he masked it well. She had a sudden idea, and switched her vision to look for kegare.\n\nMr Fujimura was almost completely clean. Akiko glanced back along his followers, as she found herself thinking of them, and saw that they were generally about as clean as he was. She glanced round at the protesters, who were much less pure, although the insects, rats, and fungi that clung to their bodies stayed close to them, as if scared of something.\n\nWhen Akiko looked back round to the iwakura, she could see what; there was a flame clearly visible inside the stones, and as they approached she could even feel the heat. As she knelt in her place, she felt as if the flame was watching her, the heat burning through her vestments. Quickly she switched her vision back to the normal world.\n\nThe group settled themselves, and Shiraishi, after looking round to make sure that everyone was ready, knelt in front of the ohnusa to begin the harae.\n\nAs soon as she began to speak, Mrs Watanabe began to chant, her words taken up by the rest of the protesters.\n\n“No to Shinto! No to Fascism! No to Imperialism!â€', 'Disruptive Protesters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '592-autosave', '', '', '2009-08-25 06:26:39', '2009-08-24 21:26:39', '', 592, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/08/25/592-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
INSERT INTO `tamao_posts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_category`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES(820, 1, '2009-11-16 00:00:48', '2009-11-15 15:00:48', '<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Those were… the kegare?â€ Shiraishi said, while gasping for breath. Akiko just nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you all right?â€ Akiko turned to see Kazumi approaching from the shrine house, her face concerned. Something was strange, but she nodded again, and then it hit her.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, can you see the fire?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Fire?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko turned to look at the priest, who nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I see it. Kazumi, you can’t see a wall of fire around the shrine?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, no?â€ The girl looked really puzzled. “I’d hardly miss something like that.â€ The flames began to fade as she spoke, sinking back towards the ground, but the spirits on the other side were long gone. Her breathing finally returning to normal, Akiko stood up, and pointed at the iwakura.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Revd Shiraishi, can you see the flame in there?â€ The priest looked, and drew her breath in sharply.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Just over the spring. Kazumi?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Flame? No… Is this revenge for me teasing you?â€ She sounded suddenly suspicious. Akiko couldn’t help laughing, although it sounded a bit hollow in her ears.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. I wish it was.â€ Quickly, she explained what had happened, and Kazumi shuddered a little.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was my school? Maybe I’ll take tomorrow off.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think that’s a very good idea,â€ Shiraishi said. “I wouldn’t go back there until we can purify it.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But why couldn’t we?â€ Akiko asked.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah,â€ Shiraishi said, looking at the ground. “That is, unfortunately, a good question.â€ There was a pause, then the priest continued. “Tamao said that we had to use the increased strength of the kami against the kegare, right?â€ She looked at Akiko for confirmation, and Akiko nodded. That was certainly what she remembered. “So maybe we didn’t do that.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But what didn’t we do? I mean, we went, and we performed the harae.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And the spirits couldn’t even approach the shrine closely,â€ Shiraishi added, “so it seems that the increased power is effective.â€ She paused again. “Do you think the car really exploded?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi almost shouted the word, and then clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry,â€ she said, as she lowered her hand again. “Exploded?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi nodded, but Akiko was puzzled.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We saw it, I felt the heat. Didn’t you?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, but I also saw and felt the heat of the flames around the shrine, and Kazumi didn’t.â€ The priest looked towards Kazumi for confirmation, and she nodded.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No flames. Just you.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Right. And, Akiko, you saw an attacking spirit at the river when I only saw a flood, right?â€ Akiko nodded, understanding now what the priest meant.</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what we see when we’re seeing spirits isn’t necessarily what is really happening?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think so…â€ Shiraishi sounded uncertain. “I don’t believe kegare actually looks like a hedgehog. I think what we see is a concrete visualisation of an abstract existence. And I don’t think a visualisation could make my car blow up.â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko had to think for a moment to follow that, and even then she wasn’t sure exactly what Shiraishi’s theory meant. But still…</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But then the explosion would be a visualisation of something, right?â€</p>\r\n<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I didn’t say I’d drive the car. Anyway, maybe it’s just a burned-out shell at the moment. I’ll go to look in the morning.â€ She stretched, and yawned. “First, though, I’m going to get some sleep. Maybe Tamao will send me a useful dream.â€</p>', 'Licking the Wounds', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'licking-the-wounds', '', '', '2009-08-26 16:16:31', '2009-08-26 07:16:31', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=820', 0, 'post', '', 3);
