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(347, 1, '2009-03-17 12:15:26', '2009-03-17 03:15:26', '', 'Landslide', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '346-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:15:26', '2009-03-17 03:15:26', '', 346, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/346-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(348, 1, '2009-05-22 00:00:37', '2009-05-21 15:00:37', 'Akiko tried to stay out of the conversations that followed, letting Akira take the limelight. He had a good reason to be there, and the mother even recognised him. They wanted to include her in their gratitude, but Akiko was still too shaken to handle that. Shaken, and worried. She couldn’t stop looking at the pile of dirt and rock that used to be a house, that used to be a home. Yes, everyone had got out safely, but only just. Even if Akiko could get to everyone Takenaka planned to curse, she didn’t think she’d be able to get everyone out. And then there was the fever; Takenaka might let people die of it now, and she had no way to stop that.\r\n\r\nShe wasn’t even sure how much longer this family, the Sugiwaras, would survive. Takenaka was targeting them, and he might not give up. Earthquakes, lightning, and plagues were enough to kill them if he wanted to. And Akiko was fairly sure that he did want to, now.\r\n\r\nHysterical expressions of relief and gratitude just scared Akiko even more right now, and she walked away from the knot of people, standing where she could see the ruins, catching occasional glimpses of kegare spirits crawling over them. Eventually, Akira came over to talk to her.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, are you all right? We were in time; we saved them.â€ He seemed very cheerful, but that just grated on Akiko.\r\n\r\n“<em>This</em> time.â€ She kept her voice low, not wanting anyone else to overhear. “What about the next curse? Or the fever? We haven’t solved the problem.â€\r\n\r\nAkira’s face fell in a moment, his colour draining, and Akiko regretted telling him. <em>The tatarigami is his father,</em> she reminded herself. <em>It’s even harder for him.</em>\r\n\r\n“You’re right. What do we do next?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko sighed, and shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. Revd Shiraishi said that she was going to look something up about tatarigami; maybe that will help.â€\r\n\r\n“So, back to the shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“I think that would be best.â€\r\n\r\nAkira nodded, and walked over to the Sugiyamas and their neighbours, to take their leave. Akiko saw several people look her way, sympathy on their faces, and briefly wondered exactly what Akira was telling them. Would they think she was unstable or something? She looked away, saw the kegare spirits on the ruins again, and worry and fear swept all other thoughts from her mind once more.\r\n\r\nShe said nothing in the car on the way back to the shrine, staring out of the window at the kegare that was still obvious to her, spirits crawling over many buildings, hovering like flies over a corpse.\r\n\r\nAs soon as they got back, she hurried up the steps to the shrine, and paused at the torii. There was no sign of kegare within; even under the grey sky the grass seemed to shine, as if washed clean. She put a hand on the torii, its cool stone comforting, and became acutely aware of how dirty she was.\r\n\r\nShe needed a bath.', 'Reflection', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'reflection', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:16:08', '2009-03-17 03:16:08', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=348', 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(349, 1, '2009-03-17 12:16:05', '2009-03-17 03:16:05', '', 'Reflection', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '348-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:16:05', '2009-03-17 03:16:05', '', 348, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/348-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(350, 1, '2009-05-23 00:00:19', '2009-05-22 15:00:19', 'Shiraishi was waiting for them when they arrived at the shrine house, and Akiko realised that she wouldn’t be able to have a bath immediately; there were more important things to discuss. The priest couldn’t miss the dirt on them, and her face was worried.\r\n\r\n“Everyone got out, but the house was destroyed.â€ Akiko told Shiraishi the essentials as quickly as possible, and the priest immediately looked relieved. “But we need to do something about the cause. We can’t just run about every time Mr…â€ She caught herself. “Every time there’s a curse. People will die.â€ Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“I have an idea. Come in, and I’ll explain.â€\r\n\r\nShe led them into the shrine office, where books were spread across the table, and pointed them to a couple of seats. Akiko was acutely conscious of the dirt she was getting on hers, but she tried to sit still and listen.\r\n\r\n“According to Akiko, Mr Takenaka was complaining about being ignored in her visions, and it sounds as though he was abandoned by his clients, right?â€ She turned to Akira, apparently waiting for confirmation, and he nodded.\r\n\r\n“So,â€ she continued, “if we look at past cases of angry ghosts, onryo, the normal response was to enshrine them, and perform ceremonies at the shrine. That generally calmed them down. The most famous example is Sugawara no Michizane.â€ She looked at them, apparently expecting recognition, but Akiko had no idea who she was talking about. She glanced at Akira, but he was equally blank. “Tenjin-sama? The kami of scholarship? Where all the exam candidates go in February?â€ Now Akiko knew what she meant; she’d gone to one of the shrines herself before her university entrance exams. She nodded, rubbing at a patch of dirt on the back of her hand, and saw Akira nod as well. Shiraishi continued.\r\n\r\n“Well, Sugawara no Michizane was a courtier a thousand years ago, exiled in a palace coup. He died in exile, and then cursed the capital. After he was enshrined, the cursing stopped, and now he’s become a positive kami.â€\r\n\r\n“Are you really suggesting enshrining my father?â€ Akira sounded incredulous, but Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“It worked in the past. Also, if he is angry at people ignoring him, it is a way to give him attention, so it seems to have a direct application to this case as well.â€\r\n\r\n“It just seems a bit…â€ Akira sounded very sceptical, and Akiko wasn’t entirely sure either. The grit inside her clothes was irritating her, and she shifted in place, trying to get comfortable.\r\n\r\n“There are over two and a half million Japanese war dead enshrined in Yasukuni. It’s really not that unusual.â€\r\n\r\n“Will it work?â€ That was Akiko’s main concern. She tried to brush some of the dust off her sleeves, but that was just making the room dirty, so she stopped.\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ The priest sounded very confident for a moment, but then she sighed, and shrugged. “I hope so, anyway. It’s the only thing I can find that used to work in these sorts of cases.â€\r\n\r\n“Then I think we should try it.â€ Akiko looked at Akira for support, and he nodded a little hesitantly.\r\n\r\n“I suppose there’s nothing to lose.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked back to the priest, suddenly acutely conscious that her face was dirty as well. She had to resist a strong urge to cover her face with her hands.\r\n\r\n“Right,â€ said Shiraishi. “We need something that was significant to Hideo as a goshintai, and something to put it in.â€\r\n\r\n“First, I need a bath.â€ Akiko couldn’t take it any longer; she had to get clean.', 'Angry Ghosts', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'angry-ghosts', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:16:56', '2009-03-17 03:16:56', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=350', 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(351, 1, '2009-03-17 12:16:49', '2009-03-17 03:16:49', '', 'Angry Ghosts', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '350-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:16:49', '2009-03-17 03:16:49', '', 350, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/350-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(352, 1, '2009-05-24 00:00:08', '2009-05-23 15:00:08', 'Akiko felt much better after the bath, better enough to wonder why it had been so important to her. She put a yukata on, and went looking for Shiraishi and Akira. She found the priest in the office, on the phone.\r\n\r\n“…I see. Thank you anyway.â€ Shiraishi put the phone down with sigh, and turned to look at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“Are you feeling better now?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Akiko paused for a moment, trying to analyse her reactions. “I really don’t know why I was so desperate for that bath.â€\r\n\r\n“Purity is important to the kami,â€ Shiraishi replied. “And that does include simply not being physically dirty. Anyway, it’s not as if there’s anything much you could have been doing instead.â€\r\n\r\n“No,â€ Akiko agreed. “How is it progressing?â€ Shiraishi threw her hands up, frustration suddenly clear on her face.\r\n\r\n“We should really use a small stone hokora for this, but I can’t find anywhere local that has one. A couple of places said that they had stopped doing Shinto-related things altogether. The others were even less willing to talk.â€ She shook her head, clearly puzzled. “We’re offering a significant amount of money; it’s very strange. They don’t even offer to make one.â€\r\n\r\n“We don’t have time to wait for that!â€ Akiko felt panic rising at the very thought.\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know, I know. But they don’t even offer. And I can hardly start by saying that I need one urgently, can I?â€ Akiko calmed down a bit, acknowledging the priest’s logic.\r\n\r\n“Where’s Akira?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s gone to get something suitable for use as a goshintai. Hideo had a Buddhist funeral, of course, so we can’t use any of the funeral things. Still, he was confident that he’d be able to find something.â€\r\n\r\n“What are we going to do about the shrine for him, though?â€ Shiraishi pulled a face.\r\n\r\n“I think we’re going to have to use a miyagata for a kamidana.â€\r\n\r\n“A what?â€ Shiraishi rolled her eyes.\r\n\r\n“You know what a kamidana is, at least?â€\r\n\r\n“Um, the place of the kami in a house, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. There’s one in the reception room; haven’t you noticed?â€ Akiko shook her head, she hadn’t. “Hmm. Anyway, the miyagata is the thing on a kamidana that looks like a shrine building.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, right. I think I’ve seen those.â€\r\n\r\n“I just hope it can survive being outside long enough for us to find a stone one.â€\r\n\r\n“Outside? Does it have to be?â€ Shiraishi stared at her for a moment.\r\n\r\n“You want to invite a tatarigami into our house?â€ Akiko thought for a moment, and then shook her head. Put like that, it didn’t sound like a good idea. “And anyway, a shrine has to be resting on the earth and under the sky. We’ll just have to hope.â€\r\n\r\n“So, when will we do the ceremony?â€\r\n\r\n“As soon as Akira gets back. So I need to take a bath as well; could you go and get a miyagata while I do that? It’s not far to the shop.â€\r\n\r\nWhen Akiko got back, getting out of the taxi and starting to struggle up the steps with the miyagata’s box, Akira was already there. He came down to help her, and Akiko explained the plans. Shiraishi, in full vestments, came out of the shrine house to meet them.\r\n\r\n“Oh, good. You have something suitable?â€ That to Akira, who nodded. “Right, bring them round here.â€ The priest led the way round the side of the house, to a spot just inside the woodland. “I decided it would be best to put it somewhere with a bit of shelter,â€ she explained.\r\n\r\nThey unpacked the miyagata, and set it on the ground where Shiraishi indicated. The priest took the front off, then took a small brocade bag from Akira. She looked at him quizzically.\r\n\r\n“His seal,â€ he explained. “He used it for everything, business and personal.â€ The priest smiled.\r\n\r\n“That’s perfect. Excellent choice.â€ She put it inside the miyagata, then replaced the front, carefully opening the doors.\r\n\r\n“Right, we should get started.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi had prepared all the ritual tools, and some straw mats for them to sit on. As she spoke the words of the purifying prayer, Akiko felt briefly dizzy, as dancing lights gathered on the ohnusa again. She glanced around, and half-failed to suppress a gasp.\r\n\r\nTamao had left the shrine, and was sliding across the grass towards them. As she watched, the snake came in among the trees, and slid behind the tiny shrine, settling behind it, looking out beyond them, his eyes shining gold in the shade of the trees.\r\n\r\nAkiko suddenly felt a lot calmer. Tamao was there to protect them, she was sure of that. In case something went wrong. She glanced at Akira and Shiraishi, but neither of them seemed to have noticed anything. Not that Akiko was surprised by that.\r\n\r\nShiraishi waved the ohnusa to purify the shrine and them, and then returned to kneel in front of it, taking a folded piece of paper from the breast of her vestments and carefully unfolding it.\r\n\r\n“Kakemakumo kashikoki…â€ Akiko couldn’t follow the words, but she could feel something changing in the air around her, and glanced round.\r\n\r\nHideo Takenaka was standing framed by the torii, still outside the shrine precincts, but looking much calmer than before. As the norito continued, Akiko saw the coloured clouds around him thin out, ceasing to swirl as they vanished. His appearance gradually reverted to human, to the appearance of the man she had met in the shrine.\r\n\r\nThe priest stopped reading, but Akiko couldn’t take her eyes off Takenaka. He seemed to be waiting for something.\r\n\r\nShiraishi started moaning, a single, deliberate note.\r\n\r\n“Ohhhhh.â€\r\n\r\nAs the sound started, Takenaka started walking forward, crossing the shrine precincts towards them, but at the same time somehow not there. He paused in front of the miyagata, looking at Tamao, and bowed. Shiraishi was still there, kneeling and continuing to make that sound, but although Takenaka had to be in the same place as her, somehow he wasn’t. Akiko started to feel slightly ill, as if she were dizzy, and quickly put her hands to the ground to steady herself.\r\n\r\nThen Shiraishi fell silent, and in that moment Takenaka vanished. Tamao relaxed, and started sliding round them, apparently returning to the shrine. Shiraishi got up, and picked up a stand carrying standard offerings, which she placed in front of the shrine.\r\n\r\nThere was nothing to see, but Akiko suddenly felt all her tension leave her. This was right; somehow she knew it. As Shiraishi carefully closed the doors to the miyagata, Akiko was confident that the problem had been solved.\r\n\r\n<em>On to <a href="http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/category/04-commitment/">Part 4: Commitment</a>.</em>', 'Enshrined', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'enshrined', '', '', '2009-06-01 11:29:14', '2009-06-01 02:29:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=352', 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(353, 1, '2009-03-17 12:17:23', '2009-03-17 03:17:23', '', 'Enshrined', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '352-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:17:23', '2009-03-17 03:17:23', '', 352, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/352-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(354, 1, '2009-05-25 00:00:40', '2009-05-24 15:00:40', 'Making offerings at Takenaka’s small shrine became a part of the daily routine, as they waited to see whether the curses would stop. After two nights with no dreams of him, Akiko became more confident that the enshrinement had worked. News of the fever continued, but now there were fewer new cases and more people being released from hospital. After a few days the council lifted its recommendation to avoid travel, but the number of cases continued to decline.\r\n\r\nAkira came to the shrine most days, keeping them up to date on his progress with the business as well as making offerings to his father.\r\n\r\n“Mr Sugiwara has been in touch; he’s hired us for a building project.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s great!â€ Akiko was really pleased to hear it; Akira’s answering smile, however, was a bit weak.\r\n\r\n“It’s not a big job, and won’t last long. But it is a job; it breaks the drought. And the fever seems to be finishing.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes; that’s really good news.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm. I guess the ceremony worked.â€ Akira’s lack of enthusiasm puzzled Akiko, and it was only after he had gone that she had an idea of the cause. The fact that the fever broke after the ceremony almost proved that Hideo Takenaka had been causing it; accepting that your father had become a tatarigami was the sort of thing Akiko could see being difficult.\r\n\r\nAkiko’s miko training continued, with Shiraishi now devoting a bit more time to having Akiko read introductory texts on Shinto, as well as practising the ritual motions. Akiko still found it all difficult, and hard to connect to the vision that had started it all, so when she had free time she spent it outside the shrine, just walking around the area.\r\n\r\nEvery time, she came up with another excuse for why she had to go out, even as she looked around, all her senses alert for any sign of kegare, or one of the warped spirits.\r\n\r\nFor a few days she saw nothing out of the ordinary, just mundane litter and occasional patches of graffiti, and she started to hope that enshrining Takenaka had solved that problem, as well. But then, one overcast, gloomy afternoon, she tripped over something, grazing her hands and knees as she fell. She felt the first drops of rain before she could get up, and winced slightly as she put her weight on her right leg.\r\n\r\nAnd then her mouth went dry, her heart pounding, as she looked around.\r\n\r\nKegare lay over almost all the houses, like some mould or creeping vine, mostly dark in colour but sometimes a dead white, pulsing with an unwholesome life, one part bursting in a cloud of spores that moved purposefully through the air. Creatures prowled among it, cats with too many limbs, twisted crows flying from one roof to the next, worms spilling out of cracks in the pavement.\r\n\r\nFor now, they seemed to be ignoring her. Akiko turned, and, walking as quickly as she dared, headed back to the shrine. She felt the eyes of a couple of spirits light on her, a sense of slime dripping down her body, or a sudden shortness of breath.\r\n\r\nIt was only when she was back in the shrine grounds, away from their gaze, that she realised her cell phone was ringing.', 'The Fever Breaks', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-fever-breaks', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:53:36', '2009-03-19 03:53:36', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=354', 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(355, 1, '2009-03-19 12:53:23', '2009-03-19 03:53:23', '', 'The Fever Breaks', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '354-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:53:23', '2009-03-19 03:53:23', '', 354, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/354-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(356, 1, '2009-05-26 00:00:42', '2009-05-25 15:00:42', '“Akiko? It’s Satomi.â€\r\n\r\n“Satomi?â€ Akiko was surprised. Why would Satomi be calling her?\r\n\r\n“How are you doing?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, OK. How are you?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m fine, thanks.â€ There was a pause. “Look, this is a little awkward. Your work uniform still belongs to the company, and Mr Kanayama has started making noises about wanting it back.â€ Akiko pulled a face. That was true. She didn’t want to go back to the office, though. “I don’t suppose you want to go back to the office, though.â€ Satomi had read her mind.\r\n\r\n“No, not really.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm. Anyway, I came over to your flat to pick them up, but you’re not here. The tenant knows nothing about you.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh.â€ She went to the flat? Akiko was surprised. “No, I’m…â€ For a moment, Akiko didn’t want to say where she was, worried about what Satomi would think. Then she decided she was being silly. Satomi already knew she wasn’t in the flat. “I’m living at Tamao Shrine at the moment; do you know where that is?â€\r\n\r\n“At the shrine? Really?â€ Satomi sounded surprised, but not, as far as Akiko could tell, shocked. “Yes, of course I know where that is. Is it convenient if I come over now?â€\r\n\r\n“I suppose so.â€\r\n\r\n“OK. See you in a little while.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko put the phone away, wondering why Satomi was taking so much trouble, and was about to go into the house when she became aware of someone approaching.\r\n\r\n“Ah, Ms Tanahata. Is the priest around?â€ It was Mr Wakabayashi. Akiko could see the kegare gathered around him like smoke, the light of smouldering embers twinkling in the depths of his jacket.\r\n\r\n“I’m not…â€ she began, but Shiraishi saved her the trouble by appearing from the office.\r\n\r\n“I’m here, Wakabayashi. What do you want?â€ The priest wasn’t even trying to sound polite.\r\n\r\n“I thought I’d renew my offer. I’m even willing to add another 5% to the price. What do you say? I’m sure there are much better things for you, for both of you, to do with your lives than look after a failing shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“It’s not failing.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh? Plenty of ujiko, then?â€ Akiko winced, and looked away. The smoke from Wakabayashi’s jacket was drifting in the direction of the shrine building, and the clouds overhead were thickening ominously. Akiko stepped back, to bring herself under the eaves of the house, before Tamao rained his displeasure again.\r\n\r\n“<em>That</em> is none of your business. We have the kami to serve, and that’s enough.â€\r\n\r\n<em>It certainly is, </em>thought Akiko, glancing again at the shrine building as the first drops of rain began to fall.\r\n\r\n“You are sure I can’t tempt you to abandon this pointless task?â€\r\n\r\n“<em>Pointless?</em>â€ Shiraishi sounded really angry now. “<em>You</em> might not be able to see any point in serving the kami, but I assure you that the point is perfectly clear to <em>us.</em> Now, I’ve told you many times that I will not sell. Get off the shrine property before I call the police.â€\r\n\r\nIt had started raining as Shiraishi spoke, and Wakabayashi shrugged as he put up his umbrella.\r\n\r\n“It’s your loss, Revd Shiraishi. You will wish you had taken my offer, I can assure you of that.â€\r\n\r\n“Get out, and stop threatening me!â€ Wakabayashi did not respond, just bowing and walking out of the shrine, passing Satomi on her way in.', 'Final Offer', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'final-offer', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:54:14', '2009-03-19 03:54:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=356', 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(357, 1, '2009-03-19 12:54:08', '2009-03-19 03:54:08', '', 'Final Offer', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '356-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:54:08', '2009-03-19 03:54:08', '', 356, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/356-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(358, 1, '2009-05-27 00:00:21', '2009-05-26 15:00:21', '“Can I help you?â€ Shiraishi asked, before Akiko could say anything.\r\n\r\n“She’s here to see me, Revd Shiraishi. She was one of my work colleagues.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, well, in that case come inside, out of the rain. If you’ll excuse me…â€ Shiraishi was obviously still fuming, and didn’t wait for either of them to respond before returning to the office.\r\n\r\n“Mr Wakabayashi? What was he doing here?â€ Akiko was about to explain, but she suddenly realised that it wasn’t really something to tell just anyone.\r\n\r\n“Is it really that strange? Do come in.â€ Satomi stepped into the entrance hall, but returned to the issue as she was taking her shoes off.\r\n\r\n“Well, Mr Wakabayashi’s opinions of Shinto are fairly well known. It’s not somewhere I’d have expected to find <em>him.</em>â€ She looked at Akiko, obviously waiting for her to elaborate. Akiko was about to, wondering what Satomi knew, but, once again, something held her back.\r\n\r\n“Hmm, well. My uniforms are in my room; come through.â€ She led Satomi back through the house, to her room. Satomi looked around while Akiko got the clothes out of the closet.\r\n\r\n“This is your room? Wow.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ Akiko’s feeling of embarrassment increased with every moment Satomi was there. Satomi knew her from when she still had a normal life, after all, so what must she be thinking now?\r\n\r\n“So, what are you doing here?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko had to admit that it was a really natural question, but she wished Satomi hadn’t asked it. She didn’t want to admit to training to be a miko, but she could hardly claim to be working at any other job. Not without making it much harder to explain why she was at the shrine. And as for mentioning Tamao’s appearances, or Takenaka’s curse…\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, what did you ask?â€ Akiko played for time as she fished the last bit of uniform out.\r\n\r\n“What are you doing here?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, I’m training to be a miko.â€ That, Akiko decided, was the least worst option.\r\n\r\n“Really?â€ Satomi sounded surprised. “I thought…â€\r\n\r\n“Miko don’t have to be virgins,â€ Akiko cut in.\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know that.â€ Satomi blushed and giggled a little. “No, I was going to say that I thought miko were normally younger, early twenties.â€\r\n\r\n“Not always.â€ Akiko knew she was being short, but why did Satomi have to bring her age up?\r\n\r\n“Wow. You’re really lucky, Akiko.â€\r\n\r\n“Lucky?â€ Akiko couldn’t keep the surprise and incredulity out of her voice. That was the last thing she’d expected Satomi to say.\r\n\r\n“You don’t think so? You’re living in a shrine, training to be a miko. How is that not better than being an office worker? If I thought my father would allow it, I might even be tempted to join you.â€\r\n\r\n“You’re not serious.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, OK. I wouldn’t have the patience to learn the ritual moves. That’s why I never made any progress in traditional dance.â€ Akiko found herself nodding, before it suddenly struck her that Satomi seemed to know an awful lot about miko. She was trying to think of a way to ask about it tactfully, but Satomi didn’t stop. “But it’s still much more interesting than an office job. And such a nice place to live! Really, I’m quite envious.â€ Satomi smiled as she said it, removing any barb. Akiko handed over the uniforms, confused, and not at all sure what she should say. Satomi looked through them quickly.\r\n\r\n“Yes, this is everything, thanks. Well, now I know where to find you, I’ll drop by again. I might even want a ceremony done.â€\r\n\r\n“Er, yes, of course, that would be fine.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko saw Satomi off, watching her wave from the torii and then vanish down the steps.\r\n\r\nLucky?', 'Lucky', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'lucky', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:54:49', '2009-03-19 03:54:49', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=358', 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(359, 1, '2009-03-19 12:54:43', '2009-03-19 03:54:43', '', 'Lucky', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '358-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:54:43', '2009-03-19 03:54:43', '', 358, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/358-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(360, 1, '2009-05-28 00:00:56', '2009-05-27 15:00:56', 'Akiko stood in front of the shrine in her miko’s vestments, the night air chill around her. The steady golden light of Tamao’s eyes spilled out, illuminating the precincts. For some reason, Akiko was tense, and she looked around, searching for any cause.\r\n\r\nLooking behind her, she saw it. A kegare-spirit, like a giant lizard, larger even than a crocodile, its black and oozing tongue lolling from its mouth as steaming saliva dripped from its jaws to hiss on the ground. Akiko clutched the bells, waiting to see what it would do.\r\n\r\nIt sprang, straight through the torii, its fangs rushing towards her face.\r\n\r\nAkiko sat bolt upright on her futon, swallowing her scream before she could waken Shiraishi. <em>A dream.</em> She remained sitting while her breathing calmed down, but she was still keyed up, almost as nervous as she had been in the dream. Sighing, she grabbed a yukata and went out, across the pond and through the gate into the precincts, quickly purifying herself as she entered.\r\n\r\nThe night was overcast, but the shrine lights were still on, so she had enough light to look around. Everything seemed to be in order; certainly there were no giant lizards, and she could see no other signs of kegare. She heard something from near the entrance, and looked over, but couldn’t see anything there, either. She walked over to the torii, but could see nothing in the gloom that covered the steps. Certainly, there didn’t seem to be anyone there. Sighing, she walked all the way round the precincts, finding nothing out of place, and then returned to bed.\r\n\r\nThe shrine woodland was on fire, the flame front advancing towards the shrine as Akiko watched. She ran out with a hose, desperately spraying water on the fire, but it was relentless, leaping across the precincts to seize on the roof of the shrine.\r\n\r\nAkiko’s eyes opened and she stared at the ceiling. She was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and very awake. <em>Not again,</em> she thought. <em>I thought last night was enough.</em> She considered trying to get back to sleep, but she was too keyed up, and in any case she could recognise the signs of Tamao wanting her to do something. Forcing herself not to mutter complaints under her breath, because the kami would almost certainly hear, she got up and put her yukata on before going out to check on the shrine.\r\n\r\nEverything looked fine. This time, though, unlike the previous day, she looked more closely. Maybe there was something she had missed, and that was why Tamao had woken her up two nights in succession. She walked all round the shrine building, peering under the veranda, but could see nothing in the dark. Quickly, she went back inside and came back out with her torch. Even shining that under the platform, she could see nothing that wasn’t supposed to be there.\r\n\r\nShe went round the back of the shrine, and played the light over the rocks of the iwakura. They simply sat there, no signs of litter, damage, or pulsing red lights within them. She swept the light round the precincts once more, but there was nothing to see.\r\n\r\nShaking her head, she headed back to bed once more.', 'Restless Nights', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'restless-nights', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:55:25', '2009-03-19 03:55:25', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=360', 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(361, 1, '2009-03-19 12:55:19', '2009-03-19 03:55:19', '', 'Restless Nights', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '360-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:55:19', '2009-03-19 03:55:19', '', 360, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/360-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(362, 1, '2009-05-29 00:00:31', '2009-05-28 15:00:31', 'Akiko sat on the roof of the shrine, the metal cool against her bare feet. The wind gusted a bit, blowing her yukata around and blowing up, cold under the skirts. She pushed them down with her hands, and looked around at the trees, waving in the breeze, almost as if they were trying to warn her of something.\r\n\r\nThe roof was getting warm under her, and there was a smell of burning. The first tendrils of smoke appeared around her, followed by tongues of flame licking up around the edges of the roof. Akiko sprang to her feet, hopping from one foot to the other as the metal roof became hot, and then started to shift. She ran to the edge, but the flames from the shrine were already a blazing wall around it, the heat pouring off them in waves, driving her back, up the roof, to the ridge pole. Balanced precariously on it, she felt it start to shift under her weight as the flames undermined its structure. A lurch, a crack, and flames roared up through the roof in front of her.\r\n\r\nAkiko woke with a gasp, sitting up in bed, clutching the futon to her chest, drenched in sweat. She put her hands on the floor for support, breathing heavily, and looked around the room. The clock said two am.\r\n\r\n<em>Not again!</em> she thought. <em>That’s three nights running.</em> She thought about getting up to see what Tamao wanted, but knew she would find nothing, just like the previous two days.\r\n\r\n<em>I’m going back to sleep, Tamao, </em>she thought. <em>I can’t go out to the shrine building every night. I need sleep. Leave me alone.</em>\r\n\r\nShe lay down again, but sleep wouldn’t come. She couldn’t even manage to keep her eyes closed; they kept coming open of their own accord, staring at the ceiling. Akiko tossed and turned in bed, trying to find a comfortable position, somewhere to relax and get to sleep, but nowhere was right. Something dug into her hip, and then when she moved there was nowhere comfortable to put her arm. Sitting up again, she shook the pillow vigourously, then lay down.\r\n\r\nIt had no effect.\r\n\r\nSitting up again, Akiko decided to go and get a drink of water. <em>Maybe getting up and lying down again will settle me,</em> she thought. The hallway was dark, as were the shrine precincts beyond the frosted doors, but Akiko made her way to the kitchen and got her glass of water.\r\n\r\nWhile she was drinking it, it struck her that she should have been able to see the shrine’s external lights through the front door; they were left on all night. Putting the glass on the table, she went back to the hall. There was light visible through the door, and she was about to go back into the kitchen when she realised that the light was orange, and flickering.\r\n\r\nThe only window in the shrine house that overlooked the shrine building was in the office, and Akiko ran there to look out.\r\n\r\nThe shrine was on fire.', 'Crying Wolf', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'crying-wolf', '', '', '2009-05-29 18:20:21', '2009-05-29 09:20:21', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=362', 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(363, 1, '2009-03-19 12:55:58', '2009-03-19 03:55:58', '', 'Crying Wolf', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '362-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:55:58', '2009-03-19 03:55:58', '', 362, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/362-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(364, 1, '2009-05-30 00:00:09', '2009-05-29 15:00:09', '“Revd Shiraishi! The shrine’s on fire! The shrine’s on fire!â€ Akiko yelled at the top of her voice as she dialled 119 for the fire brigade. By the time she had finished giving them the details, Shiraishi was beside her.\r\n\r\n“The goshintai!â€ she said. “We have to get it out!â€\r\n\r\nAkiko turned to look at her, but the priest had already grabbed the shrine keys and was running from the office. Her heart suddenly pounding even more, Akiko ran to follow her.\r\n\r\nTamao was still in the shrine.\r\n\r\nOutside the scent of burning wood was heavy on the air, but the flames were still confined to one side of the shrine. Shiraishi ran across to the other side, keeping as far away as possible as she climbed the steps, Akiko just behind her. The priest’s hands shook as she opened the door, and it took her two attempts to get the lock undone, before thrusting the door aside.\r\n\r\nThe shrine was filling with smoke, and as Akiko coughed, her eyes starting to water, she thought she could see things crawling in it, spiders and lizards of ash and embers clinging to the ceiling. She remembered something she had read about fires, dropped to a crouch, where the air was clearer.\r\n\r\nShiraishi had quickly climbed the inner steps, and was wrestling with the lock on the inner door when Akiko arrived. The large metal padlock was purely ceremonial, and needed no key, but Akiko could see that the priest was holding it wrong. She reached out, sucking in her breath as she touched the hot metal, and helped the priest to open it. Together, they pulled the doors open, and Shiraishi pushed the interior bamboo blind aside.\r\n\r\nThe only light came from the flames along one wall, revealing brocade curtains hanging from a square frame in the middle of the room. The flames were still confined to one edge of the room, but they were spreading; Akiko turned away from them to concentrate on following Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nWithin the curtains, on a raised platform of tatami mats and woven cloths, sat a large box. Shiraishi threw it open as she reached it, and started pulling on something within. Akiko came up beside her, and saw something wrapped in cloth inside. They pulled it out, but it was still too heavy to carry out. Together, they tore the cloth off, revealing another box. Shiraishi opened this one as well, and grabbed a brocade bag. She opened it, looking inside, and Akiko caught a flash of reflected, refracted light from a jewel. The priest looked at her and nodded, and together they turned away, running back out.\r\n\r\nThere were more creatures crawling around the worship hall now, glowing embers starting fires in their wake. Akiko was ahead of Shiraishi as they ran out of the door and down the steps, and then further down the path, to get clear of the flames.\r\n\r\nBreathing heavily, they turned back to look at the shrine building, the flames spreading.\r\n\r\nAkiko saw Tamao, still within the building, flinching as the flames approached him.', 'Burning Shrine', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'burning-shrine-2', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:56:34', '2009-03-19 03:56:34', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=364', 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(365, 1, '2009-03-19 12:56:16', '2009-03-19 03:56:16', '', 'Burning Shrine', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '364-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:56:16', '2009-03-19 03:56:16', '', 364, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/364-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(366, 1, '2009-05-31 00:00:45', '2009-05-30 15:00:45', 'Akiko was running back towards the shrine before she could think about it. She heard Shiraishi’s shocked yell from behind her as she leapt up the steps and back through the doors.\r\n\r\nThe flames had taken over the right-hand side of the worship hall now, the soot-and-ember creatures fleeing in front of them to scuttle over the remaining area, scorching the floor and walls, making the seats smoulder, threatening to burst into flame at any moment. Akiko stopped in the middle of the room, looking around desperately. Why was she here? What was she looking for? She flinched from the heat, drawing back, starting back as something ran over her feet, burning pinpricks. She looked over at the flames, and saw birds of fire within them, calling to one another as they cavorted wildly in the inferno.\r\n\r\nShe looked around again, and caught sight of Tamao ahead of her, in the inner shrine. She tried to take a deep breath as she sprang forward, but it just left her coughing and spluttering as smoke seared the back of her throat. Dropping to the ground, she almost crawled up the steps, the floor hot under her hands, almost burning. Flames licked close to the edge of her yukata, and she yanked it back as she passed through the door.\r\n\r\nAs she entered the inner shrine, the flames reached the platform, and the curtains ignited as one, a box of flames driving her back, hurting her eyes. Tamao was not, however, within the flames; he was coiled against the wall, on the opposite side from the flames.\r\n\r\nAkiko ran towards him, desperate to put some distance between herself and the flames, the heat already painful. Her eyes were filled with tears, sore from smoke and heat, and every breath rasped in her lungs.\r\n\r\nAs she reached the spot and reached out, the kami vanished from in front of her. Shocked, Akiko lost her balance and stumbled forward, crashing into the wall. She screamed as the hot wood, already charring, burned her skin, and fell to the floor.\r\n\r\nA smouldering box fell from the wall, landing in front of her, cracking from the impact. Within it was a rotten bundle of cloth, the signs of insect damage clear. As the flames drew closer, Akiko reached out for it, pushing the folds of fabric away until her fingers touched something hard, smooth.\r\n\r\nCool.\r\n\r\nThe fire ceased to burn her. The air tasted cool and fresh in her mouth, and she coughed up black phlegm with the last of the ash. Around her, the fire still raged, drawing closer, but even its roar seemed somehow distant. Carefully, she brushed away the last of the cloth and lifted the object out.\r\n\r\nIt was a mask. Carved of wood, unpainted, apparently unstained, showing a calm human face, eyes open and empty. The mask was a whole face, but it had no hair, and Akiko could not tell whether it was supposed to be male or female. The calm expression spoke of knowledge, of secrets, of enlightenment.\r\n\r\nWith a groan and screech, one corner of the inner shrine collapsed, the flames leaping up into the gap as air rushed in. Knocked from her reverie, Akiko grabbed the mask to her chest and turned to run from the shrine.\r\n\r\nThe way ahead was blocked by a wall of fire, the floor itself burning, the flames spreading towards her. For a moment, Akiko panicked.\r\n\r\nAnd then realised that the flames only felt pleasantly warm, even this close. She ran forwards, and it got no hotter, but the burning floor was slippery under foot with ash, and she stumbled, falling into the fire, sprawling forward, the mask slipping from her grasp.\r\n\r\nThe agony was unbearable as the heat of the flames came back, devouring her body. She stretched a hand out.\r\n\r\nThe pain vanished as if doused by cool water as her finger touched the mask again. She edged forward, drawing herself up, careful not to lose contact with the mask, gathering it into her arms as she stood up within the fire. She could see almost nothing through the light, but she knew which way to go. Slowly, testing her footing with every step, she walked towards the exit.\r\n\r\nThe worship hall was now filled with fire, the burning birds still flying through the flames, and when they came close Akiko could see the charred feathers and flesh from which the fires sprang. They dived close to her, but backed off, hissing and crackling their frustration, before they could touch her. Trying to keep her breathing calm, Akiko ignored them and continued walking forward, feeling the remains of the seats under her feet, feeling the very floor of the shrine weakening. She heard the protesting groans of another part of the structure, and risked picking the pace up a little more, not at all confident that she would be protected from parts of the shrine falling on her head.\r\n\r\nThe entrance to the shrine was just ahead of her, but her way was blocked. It looked like a giant lizard, its cracked and blackened flesh burning as she watched, burning away but never consumed, as smoke poured from its mouth between metal teeth that glowed red hot. It hissed at her, spraying glowing embers at her, but they bounced off her skin like a handful of gravel.\r\n\r\nNo heat, but solid.\r\n\r\nAkiko edged towards it, as she heard the roar of part of the shrine collapsing behind her, and then tried to get round it. The creature, however, kept its eyes fixed on her, moving to block her escape route. Akiko tried shouting at it, but her voice was lost in the hungry clamour of the fire. And the creature was unimpressed.\r\n\r\nTamao sprang from behind her, crashing into the lizard in a great cloud of steam and a hiss like a myriad angry snakes. The kami’s mass was enough to knock the lizard through the wall, making the exit even wider and clearing Akiko’s way. She walked through as quickly as she dared, then leapt off the veranda onto the grass, running away from the shrine towards Shiraishi. As she drew away from the fire, she could hear the sirens of the approaching fire engines, and see the shock on Shiraishi’s face.\r\n\r\nAnd she realised that she was naked, her clothes burned away from her, but her skin, illuminated by the destruction of the shrine, was completely unmarked.', 'Clothed in Fire', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'clothed-in-fire', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:57:21', '2009-03-19 03:57:21', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=366', 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(367, 1, '2009-03-19 12:57:02', '2009-03-19 03:57:02', '', 'Clothed in Fire', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '366-revision', '', '', '2009-03-19 12:57:02', '2009-03-19 03:57:02', '', 366, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/19/366-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(368, 1, '2009-02-03 13:18:38', '2009-02-03 04:18:38', 'Akiko reached the shrine precincts without any trouble, and the threatening clouds did not open up to actual rain along the way. At the bottom of the steps, however, she paused, looking up them at the torii. Something was strange about they way she felt, and it took a moment for her to work out what it was.\r\n\r\nShe wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t nervous. She wasn’t even angry. What she was feeling was <em>anticipation.</em> That made no sense. She was almost convinced that Tamao was persecuting her; why should she feel as though she wanted to be here?\r\n\r\nUnder the grey clouds, the steps up through the bank were dark, and Akiko’s footfalls sounded very loud in her ears. Looking up, the area beyond the torii seemed very bright despite the cloudy day, but when she reached the top, bowing her head to enter, there was nothing unusual to see. The ground was still damp from the rain, and she had to fight down a brief urge to hunt for litter.\r\n\r\nShe had already purified herself at the basin before she realised what she was doing, and remembered that she had planned to go straight to the house and just give the coat back. <em>At this point,</em> she thought, <em>I might as well pay my respects first.</em> She walked over to the shrine, climbing the slick wooden steps, and rang the bell, without throwing any money in, before bowing, clapping, and bowing again. She stood quietly for a few moments, letting her eyes adjust to the gloom within the shrine, wondering whether she would see the snake.\r\n\r\nShe felt that she didn’t mind either way. It was just relaxing to be back at the shrine, back where she didn’t need to worry.\r\n\r\nIt was some time after that thought crossed her mind before she realised how strange it was. Why did she not have to worry here? When she thought back to the things she had seen, or the time she had woken up here in her nightwear, worrying seemed like the most sensible reaction. And, she had to remind herself, the kami had cursed her and ruined her life. <em>Why do I have to remind myself of that?</em> she asked herself.\r\n\r\nNone of it broke the mood. She was still calmly considering the problem of why she was so calm, standing, completely relaxed, under the eaves of the shrine, watching the flames flicker and dance in the two lanterns at the rear of the hall, light reflecting off the metal fittings on the inner doors, closed today, hiding the blind.\r\n\r\nAkiko shook herself out of her reverie. She was here to return the coat, and it wouldn’t do to forget. Bowing once more, to take her leave, she went down from the shrine and across to the house, ringing the bell. Shiraishi soon came, and looked surprised to see her.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Ms Tanahata.â€\r\n\r\n“I brought your coat back. Thank you.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh. Oh yes, of course. Thank you. I hope you are all right now.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, thank you.â€ An easy social lie, but it was somehow bitter on her tongue.\r\n\r\n“Well… Oh.â€ Shiraishi was looking over Akiko’s shoulder, and she looked back as well, to see a young man standing there, smiling shyly, Takenaka’s son, what was his name? Oh yes, Akira.\r\n\r\n“Good morning Ms Tanahata, Revd Shiraishi.â€', 'Return to the Shrine', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '190-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-03 13:18:38', '2009-02-03 04:18:38', '', 190, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/03/190-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(369, 1, '2009-06-01 00:00:13', '2009-05-31 15:00:13', 'Akiko retained just enough sense of dignity not to squeal in embarrassment, but she could feel herself blushing all over as she bolted into the house, still clutching the mask. Back in her room, the door closed, she collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily. The wood of the mask was smooth and cool against her chest, and she could hear the wail of the sirens as the fire engines arrived, then the shouts and running footsteps of the fire-fighters.\r\n\r\nGradually, her mind began forming coherent thoughts again, and her breathing slowed to normal. The smell of smoke, and the acrid stench of burned plastic, filled the air, and Akiko realised that she should go back, check the situation. And she should get dressed, because if the fire spread to the house, she didn’t want to be evacuated naked.\r\n\r\nBut she didn’t want to let go of the mask. Even though she knew she wasn’t in a fire now, as she put it on the table memories of the burning pain swept back, and she found herself trembling, fingers resting on the mask’s surface, fighting to let go.\r\n\r\nWith an effort of will, she lifted her fingers a fraction above the mask, ready to press them down again if necessary. There was no pain, no burning, just a strange sense of regret. Letting her breath out, Akiko sprang up and started pulling clothes on as quickly as she could.\r\n\r\nThe fire-fighters were still trying to bring the blaze under control when she got out to join Shiraishi. They had pulled hoses up the steps and were starting to douse it, but it was obvious that there was going to be nothing left. The priest was simply staring at the ruins, unmoving, not even reacting when Akiko came up beside her.\r\n\r\nAs the flames died down, one of the fire-fighters approached them.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata?â€ he asked, looking between them.\r\n\r\n“That’s me,â€ Akiko replied.\r\n\r\n“Thank you for the call. Do you have any idea of the cause of the fire?â€ Akiko shook her head, and the fire-fighter frowned, glancing over at the blackened ashes that were all that remained of the shrine buildings.\r\n\r\n“No candles or lamps inside?â€\r\n\r\n“Only electric ones, and they were turned off for the night.â€\r\n\r\n“There’ll have to be an investigation, of course. We can’t rule out arson.â€\r\n\r\n<em>No,</em> Akiko suddenly thought, <em>we can’t.</em> She remembered the kegare gathered around Wakabayashi, the smoke and smouldering fire, and his near-threats over what would happen if they didn’t sell out. She looked at Shiraishi, but the priest showed no signs of wanting to respond. <em>We can tell them later,</em> she decided, and just nodded to the fire-fighter.\r\n\r\nHe asked her a few more questions, which she answered as best she could, and then turned to Shiraishi. The priest answered almost entirely in monosyllables, and fortunately chose not to mention Akiko’s plunge into the flames. The fire-fighters put tape up around the ruins and left, leaving Akiko and Shiraishi standing by the house, looking at the thin smoke rising from the ashes in the light of dawn, as it began to rain.', 'Fire-fighters', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'fire-fighters', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:25:05', '2009-03-24 03:25:05', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=369', 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(370, 1, '2009-03-24 12:24:53', '2009-03-24 03:24:53', '', 'Fire-fighters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '369-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:24:53', '2009-03-24 03:24:53', '', 369, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/369-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(371, 1, '2009-06-02 00:00:20', '2009-06-01 15:00:20', '“Revd Shiraishi, we should go inside.â€\r\n\r\nThe priest did not respond, the brocade bag holding the go-shintai still clutched by her side, ash and smoke still marking her face and clothes.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi?â€ Akiko was starting to get worried. The priest shuddered, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“Inside. Yes.â€ She turned round and walked back into the house, heading for the kitchen, Akiko behind her. As soon as she got into the kitchen, she went to the sake cupboard, and took out a large bottle and a glass, before sitting at the table and opening the cap. Akiko started to reach out to stop her, but faltered. What could she say? Instead, she took a seat across the table from Shiraishi, hoping to provide some moral support at least.\r\n\r\nShiraishi poured herself a glass in silence, and drank it at one gulp. A second glass followed, drunk a little more slowly. The brocade bag was on the table between them, and Akiko saw an opportunity to start a discussion.\r\n\r\n“Can I see the go-shintai?â€ She expected a refusal, but at least it would start them talking about what happened.\r\n\r\n“Sure, go ahead. What difference can it make?â€\r\n\r\nFor a moment, Akiko wasn’t sure whether to take advantage of the permission, but it was an opportunity she might not have again. She reached out for the bag.\r\n\r\nThere was a snake on top of it, scales flashing in red, green, and purple, sliver and gold lines marking their edges as its eyes flashed at her and it reared up and hissed.\r\n\r\nAkiko snatched her hand back, and the vision passed.\r\n\r\n“Er, maybe I’d better not.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi knocked back another glass of sake and shrugged.\r\n\r\n“Suit yourself.â€\r\n\r\n“But at least we got it out of the shrine.â€ The priest put her glass down, and looked at Akiko as if examining her. For a moment, Akiko had the distinct impression that Shiraishi was undressing her in her mind, and she shifted uncomfortably. The priest blinked, and the moment passed.\r\n\r\n“How did you…â€ she began, and then shook her head. “You don’t know, do you.â€\r\n\r\n“No.â€ It was obvious what she was referring to.\r\n\r\n“Why?â€\r\n\r\n“I saw Tamao still inside the shrine. I had to go and rescue him. It…â€ Akiko suddenly remembered, and gasped. “It was like some dreams I had, before.â€\r\n\r\n“Hmph.â€ Shiraishi poured herself another glass, and was about to take another drink when she caught Akiko’s eye, and put it back on the table. “So you didn’t burn.â€\r\n\r\n“No. As long as I was holding the mask, I didn’t burn.â€ The priest nodded, but she was looking at Akiko strangely again. Akiko started to feel uncomfortable, and looked away.\r\n\r\n“Anyway,â€ she began, while trying to think of something to say. “Anyway, we saved the go-shintai, so we can rebuild the shrine, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Huh.â€ Shiraishi snorted, a sceptical noise, and when Akiko looked back she was drinking the sake. This time she met Akiko’s eyes with a certain defiance.\r\n\r\n“I’ve barely been able to meet expenses. I’ve not been able to pay insurance premiums as well.â€ It took a few moments for Akiko to realise exactly what the priest was saying.\r\n\r\n“The shrine wasn’t insured?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“We can’t rebuild. It’s over.â€', 'Insurance', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'insurance', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:25:42', '2009-03-24 03:25:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=371', 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(372, 1, '2009-03-24 12:25:37', '2009-03-24 03:25:37', '', 'Insurance', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '371-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:25:37', '2009-03-24 03:25:37', '', 371, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/371-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(373, 1, '2009-06-03 00:00:49', '2009-06-02 15:00:49', 'Akiko spent the rest of the day fielding enquiries from the press, dealing with the investigator sent by the police, and generally keeping the outside world away from Shiraishi, who quickly became very drunk, and fell asleep slumped over the kitchen table. Akiko checked on her every so often, but she was snoring loudly enough to put any worries about her immediate state of health to rest.\r\n\r\nShe did carefully pick up the bag containing the go-shintai, feeling something hard and heavy inside, certainly like a necklace, and put it on the kamidana in the living room. The thought of the priest throwing up on it made her go cold with horror.\r\n\r\nAkiko thought about calling someone, but she couldn’t think of anyone suitable. She certainly couldn’t tell her mother. She hadn’t even said that she was at the shrine; how could she start from “the shrine burned downâ€? And then there was the problem with Wakabayashi. The more Akiko thought about it, the more sure she was that he was behind the fire, but she couldn’t tell anyone before she spoke to the priest. After all, her visions of his kegare were not the sort of thing that the police would take seriously as evidence.\r\n\r\nEffectively alone, she started to wonder about what she was doing there. Now that the shrine was gone, shouldn’t she be looking for another job? It wasn’t as if she owed Tamao anything, and Shiraishi would probably be glad to have her off her hands.\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, would Tamao let her go?\r\n\r\nShe still hadn’t reached a conclusion by the time night fell. She got Shiraishi to her bed, and then went to take a bath. It was only as she washed herself that she realised she still smelled of smoke, and she scrubbed vigourously at her skin and hair in an attempt to get rid of it.\r\n\r\nFinally satisfied, she got into the enormous bath, and sank gratefully into the warm water, sighing as it soothed and relaxed her body. She could see the shrine woodland in the light spilling from the window, but only the first few trees were visible.\r\n\r\n<em>What do I do now?</em>\r\n\r\nThe question wasn’t going away, and she still had no answer.\r\n\r\nOn a sudden impulse she got out of the bath, drying off quickly and pulling a yukata on. She went out through the windows of her room, crossing the bridge over the pond and purifying herself, again, at the entrance to the precincts. The shrine lights were off, but there was just enough light for her to see, and find her way.\r\n\r\nFirst, she went to the ashes of the shrine. They seemed even blacker in the night, dead and inert, with a few bits of metal scattered among them. Behind them, however, the stones of the iwakura still stood, dark shadows in the night.\r\n\r\nAkiko walked round to the stones, which seemed to shift as she approached. She thought she heard them grinding against each other, but she didn’t feel an earthquake.\r\n\r\nThe wind caught her by surprise, blasting from beyond the stones, blowing up from below, catching her yukata and flicking it up around her. As she fought it down with her hands, she caught sight of a red light within the stones, pulsing in the gap between them.\r\n\r\nIt was pulsing in time with her heart.\r\n\r\n<em>I can’t leave,</em> she realised. <em>Even though I don’t understand it, I have to be here.</em>\r\n\r\nThe wind got even stronger, but now it was surrounding and supporting her, almost in an embrace.', 'Decision', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'decision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:26:21', '2009-03-24 03:26:21', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=373', 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(374, 1, '2009-03-24 12:26:12', '2009-03-24 03:26:12', '', 'Decision', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '373-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:26:12', '2009-03-24 03:26:12', '', 373, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/373-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(375, 1, '2009-06-04 00:00:27', '2009-06-03 15:00:27', 'Shiraishi spent the next day in her room, refusing to come out, refusing even to see Akiko when she brought food, although she did eat the dinner. There was a call from Akira Takenaka, apologising for being out of town on a job and promising to come and see them as soon as he came back. That reminded Akiko about Hideo Takenaka, and she performed the ceremonies and offerings at his shrine as best she could. That, in turn, made her think of the current location of Tamao’s go-shintai, and she made offerings there as well.\r\n\r\nThe next day, Shiraishi emerged from her room and took a bath, but carefully avoided Akiko, who let her have her privacy. She still wasn’t sure what to say, even though she’d made her decision. She didn’t understand her own reasons, so how could she explain them to anyone else?\r\n\r\nThe following evening there was a visitor at the shrine. Akiko was a bit surprised, because she thought she’d talked to all the press and police officers now, but she went to see who it was.\r\n\r\nIt was an older man, but not someone she recognised.\r\n\r\n“Can I help you?â€\r\n\r\n“Are you Revd Shiraishi?â€ He looked a bit surprised.\r\n\r\n“Oh, no. I’m afraid she’s a bit busy at the moment. Who should I say came to see her?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m Masayuki Akiyama, the headmaster of Tamao Elementary School.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you for coming.â€ Akiko bowed again. That was the local public elementary school; it had no direct connection to the shrine, but the shrine and immediate area had the same name.\r\n\r\n“I really think it would be a good idea for me to speak to Revd Shiraishi. It won’t take long.â€\r\n\r\n“As I said, I’m afraid…â€\r\n\r\n“It’s all right, Ms Tanahata. I’ll speak to him.â€ Akiko looked round to see Shiraishi approaching up the corridor, looking calm and smartly dressed. “How can I help you, Mr Akiyama?â€\r\n\r\n“I see that the reports of the fire were true.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m afraid that they were, yes.â€\r\n\r\n“Have you considered leaving the shrine now?â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€ Shiraishi sounded simply surprised.\r\n\r\n“Well, now that the buildings have been destroyed, it’s hardly worth continuing to cling to an outmoded superstition, is it? This land must be quite valuable, so I’m sure you could do something else.â€\r\n\r\n“Are you suggesting that I abandon the shrine?â€ Akiko was as incredulous as Shiraishi sounded. How could anyone think that this was a good time to make that sort of suggestion?\r\n\r\n“Yes. I think it would be better for the area if there were no longer such an establishment, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. Don’t you agree?â€\r\n\r\n“No, I do not.â€ Akiko could tell Shiraishi was angry. “We take care of the kami, and that is very important for the health of the area.â€ Mr Akiyama shook his head dismissively.\r\n\r\n“That’s just superstition. Superstition irretrievably tainted with militarism and imperialism, I might add. Really, I’d expect an intelligent woman like you to be better able to move with the times.â€\r\n\r\n“You are just ignorant. The kami must be served.â€ Mr Akiyama flushed then, apparently getting angry.\r\n\r\n“Well, then. You haven’t heard the last of this. This area does not need your influence.â€\r\n\r\nWithout saying any farewell, he turned on his heel and marched from the grounds.', 'Strategic Suggestion', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'strategic-suggestion', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:26:56', '2009-03-24 03:26:56', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=375', 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(376, 1, '2009-03-24 12:26:53', '2009-03-24 03:26:53', '', 'Strategic Suggestion', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '375-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:26:53', '2009-03-24 03:26:53', '', 375, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/375-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(377, 1, '2009-06-05 00:00:08', '2009-06-04 15:00:08', 'As soon as he was gone, Shiraishi turned to Akiko, her eyes flashing.\r\n\r\n“The nerve of the man! It’s almost as bad as Wakabayashi.â€ Her eyes narrowed. “I wonder which of them burned the shrine down?â€ Akiko was somewhat relieved to see that the priest had also put the pieces together in that way, but hearing someone else say it made her realise how weak her actual evidence was.\r\n\r\n“We don’t <em>know</em> that.â€\r\n\r\n“Hah.â€ Shiraishi snorted in derision, but then nodded. “You’re right. We don’t know.â€ Then she sighed. “And it doesn’t really matter. Even if they went to prison, it wouldn’t produce any money for us.â€ She stepped down into the entrance hall, into a pair of sandals, and went to the door. Akiko quickly followed her outside, where she was staring at the ruins in the fading light. Every breath of wind stirred up clouds of black ash, making the smell of burning strong again.\r\n\r\n“We have to rebuild.â€ It was a statement. “Even if there are only two of us, we have to rebuild.â€\r\n\r\n“Akira Takenaka called; he said he would come to visit when he was back in the area.â€\r\n\r\n“Two of us with at least some support.â€ The priest actually managed a smile. “We can do it. Right?â€ Akiko suddenly realised that Shiraishi wasn’t anything like as confident as she was trying to sound.\r\n\r\n“Right.â€ Akiko wasn’t as confident as she tried to sound, either, but she’d decided now. They had to try to rebuild.\r\n\r\n“We could appeal to the ujiko, but that would take months, years even. We can’t leave Tamao on the kamidana for that long.\r\n\r\n“I have to borrow the money.â€\r\n\r\nThe conclusion was easily reached, and when Akiko and Shiraishi looked at the shrine’s accounts it looked as though they should be able to do it. If they took income over a long enough period, it was quite respectable, and there were no loans already, so they could secure the loan on the land. Akiko was briefly shocked when Shiraishi casually mentioned that they would need to borrow about a hundred million yen, but when the priest broke it down it suddenly sounded more reasonable. True, you could build a house that size for about twenty million, but a shrine was a rather more expensive undertaking.\r\n\r\nAkiko was, therefore, quite optimistic when Shiraishi went out to visit banks. When she got back with nothing to report but refusals, it was disheartening, but there were still places to try, and Akira visited the shrine to offer support, and some money. Akiko almost wanted to refuse it, but she had to admit that the shrine needed it about as badly as his company did.\r\n\r\nIt took several days for Shiraishi to find somewhere willing to make the loan on reasonable terms, but while she was searching she was also carrying out the ceremonies and continuing Akiko’s training as a miko.\r\n\r\nFor her part, Akiko had no strange dreams, and no visions. Maybe, she thought, the threat to the shrine building had been everything that Tamao was worried about.', 'Loan', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'loan', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:27:33', '2009-03-24 03:27:33', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=377', 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(378, 1, '2009-03-24 12:27:29', '2009-03-24 03:27:29', '', 'Loan', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '377-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:27:29', '2009-03-24 03:27:29', '', 377, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/377-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(379, 1, '2009-06-06 00:00:43', '2009-06-05 15:00:43', 'The following day, when Akiko came back from shopping, there was someone standing at the bottom of the steps to the shrine, carrying a sign. As she got a bit closer, Akiko realised, with a shock, that it was Naoyuki. She could see the sign, as well.\r\n\r\n“No Militarism, No Imperialism, No Shintoâ€\r\n\r\nSteeling herself for a confrontation, she walked up to the entrance. Naoyuki moved to block the steps, holding the sign up.\r\n\r\n“Don’t support the shrine!â€ he said. Akiko could tell he was pretending not to recognise her, but he wasn’t doing it very convincingly.\r\n\r\n“Naoyuki, get out of the way.â€\r\n\r\n“You should reconsider your support for this superstition. It’s not even harmless; it caused the Pacific War.â€\r\n\r\n“I thought it was the decision to bomb Pearl Harbour that caused that? Or the decision to invade China?â€\r\n\r\n“But it was Shinto that supported those decisions.â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t remember that. Now get out of my way.â€\r\n\r\n“No.â€ Naoyuki was defiant. “I tried to warn you about this. You can’t deny that. I told you that you shouldn’t be associated with shrines; look at their history. Well, you wouldn’t listen, so now I have no sympathy for you. Whatever happens to you is your own fault.â€\r\n\r\n“Naoyuki Watanabe, are you threatening me?â€ Akiko was shocked, and a bit angry. Naoyuki, however, flinched back visibly when she said that, blushing and shaking his head.\r\n\r\n“No, no of course not. I’m warning you.â€\r\n\r\n“What’s the difference?â€ Now it was Naoyuki’s turn to look surprised.\r\n\r\n“I’m not the one who will cause you the problems.â€\r\n\r\n“Who, then? Your friends?â€\r\n\r\n“No!â€\r\n\r\n“The kami?â€\r\n\r\n“Don’t be silly. The kami don’t exist.â€ Akiko smiled wryly. He might even have had a point if he had said the kami, but then it would hardly be a foolish superstition.\r\n\r\n“So who?â€\r\n\r\n“Look, I’m just warning you.â€ Naoyuki looked rather confused and flustered now, as if he had realised that his claims didn’t entirely make sense.\r\n\r\n“Fine. I’m warned. Now are you going to get out of my way?â€ Akiko felt that it was getting darker, and glanced up. Black clouds were indeed thickening overhead. She looked back at Naoyuki, who was looking around, but still hadn’t moved. “Well?â€\r\n\r\n“You should get out of the shrine, you know. It’s not good for you.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, since when were you so concerned about me? You only ever wanted to get me naked. And then what about that little girl you were with the other week?â€ He looked confused. “The high school girl. I saw you going into a love hotel.â€\r\n\r\nHe went bright red, and looked down.\r\n\r\n“She…â€ He broke off, obviously unable to think of any defence.\r\n\r\n“Right. Well, I don’t know why you are trying to keep me out of the shrine, <em>my home,</em> but if you don’t get out of my way <em>right now</em>, I’m going to call the police and suggest that you might have had something to do with the fire.â€\r\n\r\nHe looked up in shock.\r\n\r\n“That was deliberate?â€ His surprise sounded genuine enough to Akiko, but he still hadn’t moved, and the first drops of rain were falling.\r\n\r\n“<em>Move,</em> Naoyuki!â€\r\n\r\nAnd, finally, he stepped aside, watching her as she climbed the steps.\r\n\r\n<em>Probably trying to see up my skirt,</em> Akiko thought.', 'Naoyuki', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'naoyuki', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:28:05', '2009-03-24 03:28:05', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=379', 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(380, 1, '2009-03-24 12:27:57', '2009-03-24 03:27:57', '', 'Naoyuki', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '379-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:27:57', '2009-03-24 03:27:57', '', 379, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/379-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(381, 1, '2009-06-07 00:00:13', '2009-06-06 15:00:13', 'It was already raining quite heavily when Akiko reached the house.\r\n\r\n“I’m back!â€\r\n\r\n“Welcome back! Did you see the welcoming committee?â€ The priest’s voice came from the office.\r\n\r\n“All one of him?â€\r\n\r\n“Only one? There were three when I went out. The weather must have put them off.â€ Akiko looked out of the kitchen windows as she put the shopping away; the rain had got very heavy, and as she looked away she heard the first clap of thunder.\r\n\r\n“Wise decision.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko went back to her room, where the rain pounded on the windows, driven by the strong wind as she read the latest book Shiraishi had made part of her training.\r\n\r\nThe thunder and lightning didn’t let up, and the drumming of the rain got louder. Akiko looked out, and the water coming off the roof on the edge of the veranda was a waterfall, a grey curtain hiding the garden.\r\n\r\nThere was a knock on the door, and Shiraishi pushed the panel open.\r\n\r\n“I need to check the precincts. Could you come and help?â€ Akiko looked out of the window and grimaced, but she could see the need. Sighing, she nodded, and got up.\r\n\r\nThe first thing that struck her when the opened the door was the heat. It was almost like a sauna, and she could feel herself sweating under the waterproof. And the rain, the rain was warm as it fell on her. She could feel it on her hands. She glanced at Shiraishi; the priest was also holding her hand out, looking puzzled.\r\n\r\n“It’s warm.â€ Akiko broke the silence, and the priest nodded. “That’s not right.â€ The priest nodded again. Akiko glanced round the precincts.\r\n\r\nWithin the iwakura, a red light shone, pulsing brightly, waves of heat coming off it with every pulse.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, can you see that?â€ Akiko pointed.\r\n\r\n“The iwakura?â€\r\n\r\n“No, within the stones. Between them, in the middle.â€ The priest peered in that direction, which was already Akiko’s answer. No need to peer if you could see it.\r\n\r\n“No, nothing.â€\r\n\r\n“Hm. Maybe just my imagination, then.â€ Akiko decided not to say that she could still see the light.\r\n\r\nThey started checking the precincts, and Akiko was soon soaked with sweat from the inside out, and rainwater from the outside in. At least it wasn’t cold and clammy, but her wet clothes were very uncomfortable. Shiraishi seemed to be equally ill-at-ease.\r\n\r\nThe garden pond was overflowing, and there were ponds and small rivers forming all over the grounds, the water flowing out and down the steps in a small river. However, there didn’t seem to be any risk of anything being carried away, although they moved a few things to higher locations.\r\n\r\n“We should check the woodland.â€ Shiraishi had to shout to be heard over the roar of the rain, which had got even heavier. Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“Lightning. Too dangerous.â€ Shiraishi frowned, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“Back inside.â€\r\n\r\nAs Akiko followed her, her foot slipped into one of the small streams, and then got stuck in the bottom. Frowning, she tried to pull it out, only to feel her shoe come loose. For a moment, she tried to balance on one leg, but she realised that her sock was already soaked, and put her foot back down, reaching into the water to pull her shoe out. It was still stuck, and, glancing at Shiraishi, who was just going in through the door, she gave it a sharp tug.\r\n\r\nIt came up easily, and Akiko overbalanced, falling backwards, right into the river behind her.\r\n\r\nShe plunged into the water, sinking as the weight of her sodden clothes pulled her down.\r\n\r\n<em>This isn’t right,</em> she thought. <em>It can’t have this much depth.</em> She reached down for the bottom, but there was nothing there, just more water, and now the surface seemed to be a long way above her, and she couldn’t breathe.\r\n\r\nFighting panic, she tried to swim up, but her clothes pulled her down. As she remembered what she’d learned as a child and started trying to get her other shoe off, she was suddenly grabbed by a current and swept up to the surface.\r\n\r\nGasping for breath, she looked around, and nearly panicked again. She wasn’t in the shrine precincts anymore. Instead, she was being carried along one of the nearby streets, riding the wave at the front of a flash flood.\r\n\r\nAs the water smashed into walls and cars, sweeping them aside, shattering windows, Akiko saw kegare growing. It was as if every point of damage were a seed, from which black tendrils and rotten blossoms grew with frightening speed. She twisted round to look behind her, at the kegare covering the houses, wrapping round them and snatching at the people who came running out, pulling them over into the water. Akiko saw some of them come up, bruised, bloodied, and surrounded by flies of pollution that buzzed loudly enough to be heard over the rain and the flood.\r\n\r\nAnd Akiko saw other things moving in the kegare, larger spirits, like sodden corpses, bloated with gases. They pushed people over, then seemed to press them into the water. Akiko tried to cry out a warning, but the water swept her further on.\r\n\r\nThe wave seemed to get bigger as it went forward, lifting Akiko up to the height of the roofs of the houses, and then beyond. Looking down, she could see the buildings crushed by the weight of water, smashed to fragments, and she could see people within them.\r\n\r\nThe wall of water swept down to the Tama river, and crashed into it, smashing the bridge, and as the wave collapsed Akiko glanced back to see the whole of the Kawasaki side of the river knocked flat by the water. And then she was plunged under the surface again.\r\n\r\nAnd pushed herself up, spluttering, in the grounds of the shrine.\r\n\r\n“…Flood warning. Move to higher ground.â€ The city’s disaster announcement service could be heard over the noise of the storm. Akiko stood up, and, although the river flowing out of the shrine buffeted her hard, made her way to the house. As she reached the door, she glanced over at the iwakura.\r\n\r\nThe light still pulsed within it, and Akiko thought she felt anger coming off it with the heat.', 'Flood', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'flood', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:28:40', '2009-03-24 03:28:40', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=381', 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(382, 1, '2009-03-24 12:28:21', '2009-03-24 03:28:21', '', 'Flood', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '381-revision', '', '', '2009-03-24 12:28:21', '2009-03-24 03:28:21', '', 381, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/24/381-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(383, 1, '2009-06-08 00:00:08', '2009-06-07 15:00:08', 'The rain continued into the night, its roar making sleep impossible. Akiko sat on her futon, watching it fall, while she thought about what had happened. She found it impossible to escape the conclusion that Tamao, or at least Tamao’s aramitama, was causing the flood, and was doing it because it was angry. But what was it angry about? The problem wasn’t so much that she couldn’t think of anything as that there were too many options. Certainly, the burning of the shrine was a possibility, but the kegare Akiko had seen across the city was another, as was the presence of protesters just outside the shrine precincts. What sort of things bothered kami? She had to admit that she didn’t know. Nor, she suspected, did Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nThe storm finally eased off around midnight, and Akiko managed to get some sleep. She dreamed of rivers in flood, and waterfalls, and maelstroms in the ocean.\r\n\r\nThe next day dawned bright and clear, the sky sparkling as if washed, the leaves on the trees sparkling with droplets of rain that had yet to evaporate. Akiko pushed her window open, expecting the air to be clean and refreshing, and coughed as the smell hit her. Obviously, the flood had not carried everything all the way to sea. Quickly, she closed the window again, and got dressed in old clothes.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was dressed similarly, and no discussion was needed before they got ready to clean the precincts. The shrine house was, fortunately, fine, as the water had all flowed out of the shrine and not got high enough to come in, but there was mud everywhere on the path, mud mixed with ashes, and the ashes from the burned shrine had been spread around by the water. Shiraishi stood at the door to the house and surveyed the damage, frowning.\r\n\r\n“We’re going to have to pick up a lot of this piece by piece.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko had to agree with her; the ashes were too spread out across the grass to sweep up now.\r\n\r\n“Well, we’d better get started, then.â€ She reached for a pair of gloves, but Shiraishi reached out to stop her.\r\n\r\n“You do the path first. That can be swept. We need to keep the shrine accessible.â€ Without thinking, Akiko glanced towards the space where the shrine used to stand, and realised that Shiraishi had done the same. “We <em>do</em> need to keep it accessible. The building was never the main point.â€ The priest was clearly trying to convince herself as much as Akiko, so Akiko said nothing, just nodding and fetching a broom.\r\n\r\nAs she swept, Akiko kept catching glimpses of things off to one side, almost behind her, right on the edge of her vision, but when she turned to look, there was nothing there. The ash and mud were stuck to the stones of the path, so the sweeping took longer than Akiko had expected, and the things kept dodging out of her sight while she did it. By the time she was finished, she was very nervous and tense.\r\n\r\nNot being able to see anything definite was bad enough, but the glimpses she did catch reminded her of the kegare spirits she had seen throughout the city, but not within the shrine grounds since the purification after Takenaka’s death. If they were back inside the shrine, that was bad, surely, and another reason for Tamao to be angry.\r\n\r\nWhen Shiraishi called a lunch break, Akiko knew what she wanted to do.', 'Clean-up', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'clean-up', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:36:13', '2009-04-01 02:36:13', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=383', 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(384, 1, '2009-04-01 11:31:20', '2009-04-01 02:31:20', 'The rain continued into the night, its roar making sleep impossible. Akiko sat on her futon, watching it fall, while she thought about what had happened. She found it impossible to escape the conclusion that Tamao, or at least Tamao’s aramitama, was causing the flood, and was doing it because it was angry. But what was it angry about? The problem wasn’t so much that she couldn’t think of anything as that there were too many options. Certainly, the burning of the shrine was a possibility, but the kegare Akiko had seen across the city was another, as was the presence of protesters just outside the shrine precincts. What sort of things bothered kami? She had to admit that she didn’t know. Nor, she suspected, did Shiraishi.\n\nThe storm finally eased off around midnight, and Akiko managed to get some sleep. She dreamed of rivers in flood, and waterfalls, and maelstroms in the ocean.\n\nThe next day dawned bright and clear, the sky sparkling as if washed, the leaves on the trees sparkling with droplets of rain that had yet to evaporate. Akiko pushed her window open, expecting the air to be clean and refreshing, and coughed as the smell hit her. Obviously, the flood had not carried everything all the way to sea. Quickly, she closed the window again, and got dressed in old clothes.\n\nShiraishi was dressed similarly, and no discussion was needed before they got ready to clean the precincts. The shrine house was, fortunately, fine, as the water had all flowed out of the shrine and not got high enough to come in, but there was mud everywhere on the path, mud mixed with ashes, and the ashes from the burned shrine had been spread around by the water. Shiraishi stood at the door to the house and surveyed the damage, frowning.\n\n“We’re going to have to pick up a lot of this piece by piece.â€\n\nAkiko had to agree with her; the ashes were too spread out across the grass to sweep up now.\n\n“Well, we’d better get started, then.â€ She reached for a pair of gloves, but Shiraishi reached out to stop her.\n\n“You do the path first. That can be swept. We need to keep the shrine accessible.â€ Without thinking, Akiko glanced towards the space where the shrine used to stand, and realised that Shiraishi had done the same. “We <em>do</em> need to keep it accessible. The building was never the main point.â€ The priest was clearly trying to convince herself as much as Akiko, so Akiko said nothing, just nodding and fetching a broom.\n\nAs she swept, Akiko kept catching glimpses of things off to one side, almost behind her, right on the edge of her vision, but when she turned to look, there was nothing there. The ash and mud were stuck to the stones of the path, so the sweeping took longer than Akiko had expected, and the things kept dodging out of her sight while she did it. By the time she was finished, she was very nervous and tense.\n\nNot being able to see anything definite was bad enough, but the glimpses she did catch reminded her of the kegare spirits she had seen throughout the city, but not within the shrine grounds since the purification after Takenaka’s death. If they were back inside the shrine, that was bad, surely, and another reason for Tamao to be angry.\n\nWhen Shiraishi called a lunch break, Akiko knew what she wanted to do.', 'Clean-up', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '383-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:31:20', '2009-04-01 02:31:20', '', 383, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/383-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(385, 1, '2009-06-09 00:00:19', '2009-06-08 15:00:19', '“I just need to go and look at the city.â€\r\n\r\n“What? Why?â€ Shiraishi didn’t sound critical, just curious.\r\n\r\n“I need to see what sort of damage there is.â€ Shiraishi still looked puzzled. “Whether it’s all, ah, physical.â€ Understanding appeared on the priest’s face, and she nodded.\r\n\r\n“Yes, I suppose we do need to know about that. Don’t be too long, though. There’s still a lot of cleaning to be done.â€\r\n\r\n“I can see.â€ Something flickered at the edge of her vision, and Akiko whipped her head round to look. Nothing but ashes, scattered at the base of the purification basin.\r\n\r\n“Is there…?â€ The priest’s voice was uncertain, nervousness, scepticism, and simple concern all possible interpretations. Akiko shrugged.\r\n\r\n“Maybe I’m just jumpy and imagining things.â€ Akiko knew that she didn’t sound convincing, and Shiraishi didn’t look convinced. As she turned away, however, Akiko reflected that the priest seemed to believe her now.\r\n\r\n<em>Coming unharmed out of a burning building could have that effect,</em> she reminded herself. The mask was sitting on the kamidana now, along with the go-shintai. Akiko had no intention of testing it with fire again, and it had shown no signs of any other remarkable properties. And as for wearing it; neither she nor Shiraishi had thought that was a good idea.\r\n\r\nThe steps up to the torii were slippery with mud and ash, and Akiko made a mental note to clean them when she got back. She made her way carefully to the bottom, and looked around.\r\n\r\nThe signs of the flood were everywhere, most notably in the water line that came up buildings, but also in the debris that had built up against walls, electricity poles, and other obstacles. There was nothing but physical damage to see, however, at least at the moment, so Akiko set off to walk down the hill.\r\n\r\nAs soon as she was moving again she started to catch glimpses of motion out of the corners of her eyes. As before, when she turned to look there was nothing there, or just a cat, or someone hanging out water-damaged goods to dry.\r\n\r\nBy the time Akiko reached the bottom of the hill, the damage around her was more serious. Cars had been washed into walls, damaging both, and balconies and tiny gardens alike were filled with sodden property as people tried to rescue their possessions. The water line was half way up the ground floor now, and obviously dead televisions sat outside a number of houses. The flickers at the edge of her vision were almost constant now, and Akiko had given up trying to see what they were. At the bottom of the hill she looked up and down the valley, seeing even more evidence of damage. The city was not as devastated as it had been in her vision, but it had certainly suffered.\r\n\r\nAkiko turned to go back to the shrine, and caught her breath.\r\n\r\nShe could see them now, crawling over the buildings, leaping from the roofs of damaged cars to the street, slithering out of the backs of waterlogged televisions, or writhing within dripping futons. Spirits of kegare were everywhere, spidery lines of decay spread across all the areas of water damage, and up towards parts of buildings that hadn’t been touched directly. One spirit, like a malformed frog, turned to look at Akiko, and she suddenly felt wet and clammy, coughing and gasping for breath.\r\n\r\nShe ran back up the hill to the shrine.', 'Kegare', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'kegare', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:36:51', '2009-04-01 02:36:51', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=385', 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(386, 1, '2009-04-01 11:36:43', '2009-04-01 02:36:43', '', 'Kegare', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '385-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:36:43', '2009-04-01 02:36:43', '', 385, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/385-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(387, 1, '2009-06-10 00:00:58', '2009-06-09 15:00:58', 'Akiko was halfway up the steps when she heard a voice call her from behind.\r\n\r\n“Akiko!â€ She stopped, and looked down, waiting until Satomi came into sight to reply.\r\n\r\n“Satomi! What is it?â€\r\n\r\n“I was just going to ask you. Why were you running?â€\r\n\r\n“I, er…â€ <em>I was scared of the spirits of decay.</em> “I needed to get back to get on with the cleaning.â€ <em>Also true.</em> “What about you?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, I heard about the fire on the news, and the company sent me over this way, so I thought I’d drop by and see how you were.â€ Satomi had come up the steps, and had reached Akiko. Together, they continued to the top.\r\n\r\n“Well, as you can see I’m fine. The fire was quite destructive, though.â€ Akiko heard Satomi gasp as they reached the top.\r\n\r\n“It’s completely gone.â€ Akiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“Utterly destroyed.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s dreadful. What are you going to do?â€\r\n\r\n“Rebuild it. Well, Revd Shiraishi is going to hire people to rebuild it. I’m just going to help keep the shrine running, I think.â€\r\n\r\n“Good luck!â€ That reminded Akiko of what Satomi had said the last time she was here.\r\n\r\n“Do you still think I’m lucky?â€ She smiled wryly.\r\n\r\n“Oh, yes. You don’t? You weren’t injured in the fire, were you? Think about how much worse it could have been!â€\r\n\r\n“Well, yes. I suppose there is that.â€\r\n\r\n“Although the fire was bad luck over all, obviously. The shrine wasn’t lucky, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t be.â€\r\n\r\n“Hmm.â€ Akiko had to admit that Satomi had a point. She wasn’t at all sure that the shrine fire would have any direct bad effects on her.\r\n\r\n“Anyway, I’d better get back to work. They’ll notice if I stand around here chatting. See you soon!â€\r\n\r\n“See you.â€ Akiko waved Satomi off, thinking about luck, and something moved at the edge of her vision. She spun round, but there was nothing to see. Her mood turning grim, she hurried into the house.\r\n\r\n“Welcome back. I started eating without you; sorry.â€ Shiraishi was seated at the kitchen table, and already eating lunch. Akiko’s was set out, ready.\r\n\r\n“That’s fine. Thanks for preparing it.â€\r\n\r\n“No problem.â€ She paused for a moment. “So, what did you see?â€ Akiko grimaced, and toyed with her food for a moment, not hungry.\r\n\r\n“Kegare. Everywhere the flood touched, kegare, with spirits of kegare crawling over the walls and buildings. And it was a big flood, even up near the top of the hill.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, I suppose kegare goes with damage, so that makes sense.â€\r\n\r\n“Does it cause damage? Or does damage cause kegare?â€\r\n\r\n“Both, I think. Certainly, damage is a form of impurity.â€ Akiko frowned.\r\n\r\n“But I thought the kami didn’t like impurity? That you had to purify the kegare before any ceremony?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, of course. Why?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah.â€ For a moment, Akiko didn’t want to say, but she berated herself silently for being an idiot. Shiraishi wasn’t going to accuse her of anything now.\r\n\r\n“I… I think the kami caused the flood.â€\r\n\r\n“What? Why?â€\r\n\r\n“I think he’s angry about something. But why would he cause a flood that just created more kegare?â€', 'Satomi', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'satomi', '', '', '2009-06-10 18:52:03', '2009-06-10 09:52:03', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=387', 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(388, 1, '2009-04-01 11:37:21', '2009-04-01 02:37:21', '', 'Satomi', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '387-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:37:21', '2009-04-01 02:37:21', '', 387, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/387-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(389, 1, '2009-06-11 00:00:42', '2009-06-10 15:00:42', 'Neither Akiko nor Shiraishi could come up with an answer to that question, and none presented itself over the next few days, either. The protesters gathered again at the bottom of the steps, and Naoyuki was with them occasionally, pointedly ignoring Akiko as far as he could. By the time the flood damage was cleaned up, Shiraishi had managed to find a shrine carpenter who was willing to work on the new building, and had made an appointment for him to come and see the site and discuss plans.\r\n\r\nAkiko was still worried about kegare; there were still things moving in the shrine, just at the edge of her vision, and she hadn’t seen Tamao in some time. She remembered the visions of him decaying, and worried about them coming true just as the ones of the burning shrine had.\r\n\r\nOccasionally, it occurred to her to wonder why she was worried. It was still difficult to think of anything that Tamao had actually done for her. On the other hand, the kegare spirits certainly seemed to be worse. Akiko had the nagging feeling that she was missing a connection somewhere.\r\n\r\nThe carpenter came on the agreed day, and sucked in his breath when he saw the damage.\r\n\r\n“That was quite a fire, reverend. You were lucky to save the go-shintai.â€ Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“We were. It was fortunate that Ms Tanahata woke up just as the fire was starting; we managed to get the go-shintai out before it really took hold.â€ Shiraishi didn’t mention the mask, and Akiko thought that wise.\r\n\r\n“Well, the first thing you’ll have to do is get that whole area properly cleared. We’ll have to start from scratch, so you need to get the foundations up as well.â€ Shiraishi frowned.\r\n\r\n“That sounds expensive.â€ The carpenter spread his hands, and shook his head.\r\n\r\n“Not too much. And there’s no getting around it, I’m afraid.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah, well,â€ Shiraishi sighed. “If it’s necessary, it’s necessary. Now, shall we discuss the design?â€\r\n\r\n“Of course. Let’s go into the office, so that we can see the site.â€ Shiraishi nodded, and led the way, glancing back over her shoulder.\r\n\r\n“Come along, Akiko.â€\r\n\r\nIn the office, Akiko felt completely surplus to requirements. Shiraishi and the carpenter talked about shinmeizukuri, taishazukuri, nagarezukuri, and other names of styles that were vaguely familiar from Akiko’s reading. She thought the old one had been nagarezukuri, and Shiraishi confirmed that, asking for the same style again. The carpenter quickly sketched some designs, and as Akiko watched the discussion it became clear that Shiraishi was planning to build a slightly larger shrine building.\r\n\r\n“We need space for kagura, and for the offerings. We’ve got a miko now, so there will be dance, and someone to help with bringing the offerings to the kami.â€ She glanced up at Akiko, smiling, and Akiko smiled back. She was lost already. Kagura was sacred dance, and miko did that, but she’d not been taught any dances. And anyway, the thought of her dancing was absurd.\r\n\r\nThe sketches took shape, and Shiraishi and the carpenter started talking about money. Hearing the numbers he was mentioning, Akiko started to wonder whether a hundred million yen would be enough.', 'Architect', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'architect', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:38:17', '2009-04-01 02:38:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=389', 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(390, 1, '2009-04-01 11:37:58', '2009-04-01 02:37:58', '', 'Architect', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '389-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:37:58', '2009-04-01 02:37:58', '', 389, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/389-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(391, 1, '2009-06-12 00:00:23', '2009-06-11 15:00:23', '“Revd Shiraishi, you have to close the shrine grounds.â€ Akiko was getting very frustrated, but Shiraishi just frowned and shook her head.\r\n\r\n“They want us to close. It would be an admission of defeat.â€\r\n\r\n“<em>Temporarily.</em> Just until the clearance is finished.â€ She looked out at the precincts, where protesters were milling about, getting in the way as the workmen tried to cart the rubble away from the ruins of the shrine. She couldn’t see Naoyuki at the moment, but she could see Mr Akiyama, the local headmaster, who appeared to be the ring-leader.\r\n\r\n“We can just ask them to move.â€\r\n\r\n“I’ve been doing that for the last few days. Any one of them moves out of the way when asked, but someone you haven’t asked then gets in the way, and you have to ask them, as well. The workmen keep threatening to give up until the protesters go away.\r\n\r\n“You <em>know</em> this. You’ve been doing it as well.â€ Akiko realised that she was almost shouting, and took a deep breath to get herself under control. The protesters’ strategy was proving remarkably effective; they were always polite, and never resisted requests to get out of the way, but there were enough of them to make it difficult to clear the area. They’d had to set barriers up round the ruins after the first day, because protesters kept wandering in. Of course, they left as soon as they were told it was dangerous, but nothing got done that day. Nor the following day, because it took a long time to get the barriers set up with the protesters on the outside. Now they just got in the way of workmen leaving with rubbish, slowing things down even more. The cost of clearing the site was already well over twice the estimate, and the job was barely begun. Thinking about it made Akiko even more frustrated.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, <em>there is no choice</em>. They are trying to make it take so long that we can’t afford to finish rebuilding the shrine. We have to close the precincts while we get the area cleared, at least.â€ Akiko was almost shouting again, and caught herself. It was only then that she noticed the tears standing in Shiraishi’s eyes. “What?â€\r\n\r\n“The shrine never closes. People should always be able to come to pay their respects to the kami.â€\r\n\r\n“But we have to rebuild the shrine buildings! We…â€ Akiko fell silent as Shiraishi just shook her head again. Akiko found herself biting her lip in frustration. There must be some way to get around the problem?\r\n\r\n“All right, how about this. We get the workmen to gather as much rubbish as they can move in one trip, then clear the shrine temporarily, just while they move it out. Then people can come back in.â€ Shiraishi seemed about to object, so Akiko hurried on. “It’s not closing the shrine. It’s just asking people to go out for a while. They can come back in almost immediately afterwards. That’s all right, surely?â€\r\n\r\nThe priest sucked in a deep breath, looking at Akiko and then turning to look out of the window. Finally, she nodded.\r\n\r\n“Yes, that’s all right. Let’s do it that way.â€', 'Protesters', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'protesters', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:38:59', '2009-04-01 02:38:59', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=391', 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(392, 1, '2009-04-01 11:38:44', '2009-04-01 02:38:44', '', 'Protesters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '391-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:38:44', '2009-04-01 02:38:44', '', 391, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/391-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(393, 1, '2009-06-13 00:00:06', '2009-06-12 15:00:06', 'Akiko stood beside the exit from the area being cleared, watching the rubbish pile up. Around her she knew that the protesters were milling around the shrine grounds, making sure that they were spread out so that it would take time for them all to get down the steps. Today they’d managed to bring along someone’s grandmother; it took her a very long time to get up and down the steps, but they could hardly hurry her along. The new pattern had sped things up, but the work was still going slowly.\r\n\r\nAkiko had to admit to a sneaking admiration for the protesters. They were making a complete nuisance of themselves without doing anything that Shiraishi could easily complain to the police about. Akiko suspected that there probably were laws against this sort of activity, but when she suggested it, Shiraishi had expressed scepticism over the prospect of getting anything done in a reasonable length of time, and Akiko had to agree.\r\n\r\nSighing, she risked a quick glance around. Naoyuki didn’t seem to be around at the moment, but Mr Akiyama had just arrived. The rubbish was building up, and it was almost time to clear them all again.\r\n\r\nSuddenly, Akiko felt a surge of rage. For a moment, it shocked her by its intensity, but then she realised that it wasn’t <em>her</em> anger. Tamao. She could see the kami coiled in the earth, his head resting under the site of the shrine building, weighed down by the rubble, his body twisting out and around, lying within the ground of the shrine precincts, under the lawn. His eyes burned with golden light, while lightning danced around his mouth.\r\n\r\nTamao moved, flexing his whole body, swinging his head around to face Akiko as the rest of him surged through the earth, rippling. His head broke the surface.\r\n\r\nThe tremor scattered the rubble, and Akiko fell to her knees. Around her, she could hear the concerned shouts of the protesters, and the workmen.\r\n\r\nTamao shook his head and tail, and the earth shook again, more strongly. There was a crash from somewhere inside the house, and then a louder clatter, stone on stone.\r\n\r\nAkiko swung her head to look behind her, where the torii had fallen outwards, shattering on the steps and scattering rubble down them. She looked back, but Tamao had already vanished.\r\n\r\n<em>That didn’t help!</em> she thought, the anger she felt this time definitely her own, and directed at Tamao. She got to her feet, and saw that a few other people had also lost their balance and fallen. Looking around, however, she couldn’t see anyone trapped, or seriously injured. She hurried over to the entrance, and looked at the shattered stone on the steps. It was still just about possible to get up and down, but not while carrying a load of rubbish from the burned shrine. The only good thing, however, was that there was no-one lying on the steps; no-one was injured.\r\n\r\nShiraishi came out of the house, and Akiko hurried over to her.\r\n\r\n“Is everything all right inside?â€\r\n\r\n“A plate fell off a shelf; that seems to be all.â€\r\n\r\n“It was…â€ Akiko cut herself off as she noticed someone approaching. She turned to face Mr Akiyama, who was followed by a number of the protesters.', 'Earthquake', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'earthquake-3', '', '', '2009-06-16 09:40:40', '2009-06-16 00:40:40', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=393', 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(394, 1, '2009-04-01 11:39:26', '2009-04-01 02:39:26', '', 'Earthquake', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '393-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:39:26', '2009-04-01 02:39:26', '', 393, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/393-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(395, 1, '2009-06-14 00:00:45', '2009-06-13 15:00:45', '“Revd Shiraishi, I hope you weren’t injured in the earthquake.â€ To Akiko, Mr Akiyama even sounded genuinely concerned.\r\n\r\n“No.â€ Shiraishi, on the other hand, definitely sounded hostile, although that was hardly surprising.\r\n\r\n“I’m very glad to hear that. Surely this further damage will convince you that you should just give up propagating these outmoded superstitions. Even the torii has collapsed now.â€ Akiko sucked her breath in sharply. She really didn’t understand Mr Akiyama. He seemed polite and intelligent, but his approach to Shiraishi was hardly calculated to be persuasive. Akiko glanced at the priest, who was clearly making an effort to keep herself under control.\r\n\r\n“I am not going to abandon the shrine, the kami.â€ Shiraishi paused, and sucked in a deep breath. “You will not convince me to leave, and Wakabayashi will not drive me out. This is my duty.â€\r\n\r\n“It is foolish to be bound by the past when it has no meaning. Just because your ancestors supported the militaristic fascism of Imperial Japan doesn’t mean that you have to play a role in such a structure.â€\r\n\r\n“There is nothing…â€ Shiraishi was shouting, and she caught herself, taking several breaths to calm down. “There is nothing fascist about Shinto now, nor was there before State Shinto.â€\r\n\r\n“Was there really anything we can call Shinto before State Shinto?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. I have made my decision, Mr Akiyama.â€\r\n\r\n“You surely can’t actually believe in the kami? When they can’t even protect their own shrines from earthquakes?â€\r\n\r\n“The earthquake was because the kami was angry!â€ The words escaped Akiko’s lips before she could think about them deeply; if these people kept provoking Tamao, who knew what might happen? In the end, there had been no deaths in the flood, but it was a close thing. Next time, it could be worse.\r\n\r\nMr Akiyama had turned to her, his face amused and condescending. She could tell he didn’t believe her.\r\n\r\n“Tamao is angry, angry at the destruction of his shrine, and at your interference. That’s why he caused the earthquake.â€\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata, please be serious. Earthquakes are caused by the shifting of the plates of the earth’s crust, not by kami getting annoyed. No-one believes that sort of mumbo-jumbo anymore.â€\r\n\r\n“The kami can cause earthquakes. And storms. And floods. And diseases. When they are angry, people suffer. Why are you provoking them?â€\r\n\r\nMr Akiyama laughed.\r\n\r\n“I know the legends, Ms Tanahata. But that’s all they are, you know, legends. The Japanese archipelago is the result of geological processes and vulcanism, not something that Izanami gave birth to. The legends are just wrong.â€\r\n\r\n“You can’t deny that the flood and the earthquake happened after the shrine was burned down.â€\r\n\r\n“Coincidence. And, in any case, why would the kami cause an earthquake that destroyed his own torii? That doesn’t make any sense. The kami would have to be both vicious and stupid, and in that case worshipping them is hardly reasonable, now is it?â€ He was smiling as he finished, and talking as if Akiko were a rather slow ten-year-old. She was about to retort, when she realised that the people standing behind Mr Akiyama had started laughing. The conversation replayed in her mind, and she suddenly imagined herself hearing it a few weeks ago. They were right; she sounded ridiculous.\r\n\r\nShe felt herself blushing furiously as tears pricked at her eyes, and she looked down, fighting an urge to turn and run into the house. <em>No, that will only make you look even more foolish,</em> she lectured herself.\r\n\r\n“Well, Reverend, I really do hope that you will reconsider. I am thinking mainly of the children of the area, you know. They deserve to be free of this sort of superstition.â€\r\n\r\n“Get out. Just get out of the shrine. Now.â€ Shiraishi was spitting the words out, her voice shaking slightly. Akiko risked a glance up, to see Mr Akiyama bow and take his leave. Of course. They always complied with direct requests to leave the property. The other protesters returned to wandering around the precincts, and Akiko did go into the house, mortified at the spectacle she had made of herself.\r\n\r\nShiraishi found her a few minutes later, sitting in her room, leaning on the table, and gazing blankly out at the garden.\r\n\r\n“Akiko? Are you all right?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko made a non-commital gesture, but didn’t look at the priest. Shiraishi was quiet for a few moments, apparently waiting for a response, but Akiko wasn’t about to say any more and make herself look even more foolish.\r\n\r\n“What you said about the earthquake — do you really think it was Tamao?â€\r\n\r\nThis time, Akiko did turn to look at her.\r\n\r\n“I saw him, Revd Shiraishi. I saw him in the ground. He was angry, he shook himself, and there was an earthquake. I’m as sure that he caused the earthquake as I am that Mr Akiyama is leading the protesters.â€\r\n\r\nThe priest sat down heavily, her expression unreadable, too many emotions fighting for control of her face.\r\n\r\n“So he did collapse the torii. That will cost us a lot more money, you know.â€ She paused. “Why?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s angry.â€\r\n\r\n“About the protesters?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Akiko stopped. Was she sure about that? Tamao hadn’t been very clear about the details of his feelings. “Well, I suppose he must be. But I think he was already angry before.â€\r\n\r\n“Could he… Could he have been responsible for burning down the shrine?â€ Akiko looked at Shiraishi, shocked. How could she think such a thing? But then, it didn’t seem to be impossible. Could that actually have been the kami’s doing?\r\n\r\n“I don’t think so,â€ Akiko concluded. “I think he sent me dreams to stop the burning of the shrine, or at least to rescue things from it. So, no, I think that was someone else, and I think it’s one of the things he’s angry about.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi nodded, and looked somewhat relieved.\r\n\r\n“But the flood? You think that was him?â€ Akiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“Just like the fever was Hideo Takenaka.â€\r\n\r\n“Is Mr Akiyama right? Are the kami stupid and vicious?â€ Akiko caught her breath. How could Shiraishi risk saying that here? Tamao might hear!\r\n\r\n“No, not stupid and vicious. Although Tamao might not be thinking straight at the moment.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, the kami are angry.â€', 'The Kami Are Angry', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-kami-are-angry', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:40:25', '2009-04-01 02:40:25', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=395', 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(396, 1, '2009-04-01 11:40:06', '2009-04-01 02:40:06', '', 'The Kami Are Angry', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '395-revision', '', '', '2009-04-01 11:40:06', '2009-04-01 02:40:06', '', 395, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/01/395-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(397, 1, '2009-06-15 00:00:22', '2009-06-14 15:00:22', 'Akiko woke before dawn. As she lay in her futon, staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t put her finger on any reason why she should be awake, but awake she was, with no hint that she could get back to sleep. The sky was beginning to brighten, its light spreading above her. She glanced around the room; everything looked normal. Sighing, she sat up, grabbing the yukata and pulling it on as she stood up. Carefully opening the window, she stepped out onto the veranda and then down into the garden, crossing the bridge to purify herself at the water basin before going on into the shrine precincts.\r\n\r\nAs she stepped through the gate, the sunlight reflected off the burnished copper roof of the shrine was dazzling, and she had to shade her eyes. Her heart seemed to leap into her mouth, and she quickly looked around. There was a white stone path under her feet, and a gleaming white torii just behind her. The unpainted wood of the shrine building in front of her glowed warmly in the dawn sunlight.\r\n\r\nThere was no sign of the house.\r\n\r\nShe glanced back, at the steps descending through the forest into the clouds below, and put one hand on the torii to steady herself as she took deep breaths to calm down.\r\n\r\n<em>It’s just Tamao wanting to see me,</em> she thought. <em>Nothing to worry about.</em>\r\n\r\nAs if answering her thoughts, possibly actually answering her thoughts, the doors of the shrine swung open, golden light spilling out from within and competing with the sunlight. The air got warmer, and then hot, and Akiko found herself starting to sweat even in nothing but the yukata. The light was bright enough to hurt her eyes, forcing her to squint.\r\n\r\nExcept when she was looking directly into the shrine, she found. She took a step forward, and a lancing pain shot up her leg as she brought her foot down. <em>Sandals,</em> she thought, stepping out of them and leaving them by the torii. The stones of the path were warm underfoot, almost hot enough to hurt, and she walked quickly towards the shrine. The air was still and silent, and her footfalls, even barefoot, sounded loud in the morning. As she started climbing the steps, she could smell the wood, as fresh as if it had just been cut.\r\n\r\nOn the shrine veranda, she grabbed the rope and rang the bell, its peal ringing clear and bright, the light from within the shrine shivering and shattering at the sound, dissolving in fragments that seemed to burn around her.\r\n\r\nTamao was just within the doors, his head rearing up, eyes fixed on her.\r\n\r\nAkiko dropped to her knees without thinking, bowing her face twice to the floor, clapping twice, and then bowing once more. Slowly, she looked up. The gems of his scales flashed in the sunlight, or glittered in the gloom, red like fire. Lightning danced around his mouth, lancing out as he opened it, revealing curved teeth the size of Akiko’s hand.\r\n\r\nTamao lowered his face towards hers, and Akiko could feel the anger coming off it. An image of Kawasaki rose in her mind, and the buildings swayed and fell in a great earthquake.\r\n\r\nSwiftly, Tamao pulled back, the doors of the shrine slamming shut in front of Akiko with a blast of air that pushed her back, rolling her down the steps of the shrine.\r\n\r\nShe crashed onto the path in the gloom, the impact knocking the breath from her body. The shrine building was gone; she was lying at the end of the path, and could see the iwakura in front of her. She was barefoot, in her yukata, and the stones of the path were chill under her feet as she walked to the top of the stairs. The sandals were there.\r\n\r\nStepping into them she shivered, as chill sweat stuck her yukata to her skin.', 'Warning', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'warning-2', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:19:03', '2009-04-02 04:19:03', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=397', 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(398, 1, '2009-04-02 13:18:53', '2009-04-02 04:18:53', '', 'Warning', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '397-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:18:53', '2009-04-02 04:18:53', '', 397, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/397-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(399, 1, '2009-06-16 00:00:14', '2009-06-15 15:00:14', '“I think he was threatening to destroy Kawasaki.â€ Akiko finished telling Shiraishi about her vision. The priest looked worried, drumming her fingers on the table.\r\n\r\n“Do you think he means it?â€\r\n\r\n“I imagine so. He seemed very angry.â€\r\n\r\n“Do you think he can?â€\r\n\r\nThat was a very good question. Akiko thought for a moment.\r\n\r\n“Well, if he causes a storm, flood, and earthquake all together, he can certainly do a lot of damage. Maybe not destroy the city, but I’m sure he can kill a lot of people.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi dropped her head into her hands.\r\n\r\n“What are we doing?â€ She didn’t look up as she spoke, and Akiko couldn’t interpret her tone.\r\n\r\n“What do you mean?â€\r\n\r\n“Why are we still serving at a shrine?â€ The priest did look up now, and Akiko could see tears on her face. “I re-read some of the legends. Kami hiding in toilets to rape women. Kami making volcanos erupt. Kami causing famine, or plague, or typhoons. Mr Akiyama was right.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t deny what the priest was saying, but, on the other hand, she knew she really didn’t have any choice but to serve at the shrine. Tamao wouldn’t let her do anything else.\r\n\r\n“Maybe we should just give up.â€ The priest hid her face in her hands again, and Akiko sat, stunned, for several moments.\r\n\r\n“We… we can’t give up,â€ she said, finally. “If we do nothing, Tamao will do whatever he is threatening to do to the city. People will die.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi looked up again, and sniffed, wiping tears from her face.\r\n\r\n“Yes. You’re right. We have to do something. What?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko blinked, her mind going blank for a moment.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know,â€ she finally answered. “What did priests used to do with violent kami?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, enshrined them, like we did with Hideo Takenaka. But we can’t rebuild Tamao’s shrine that quickly. That’s probably why he’s angry. I suppose.â€\r\n\r\n“Isn’t there anything else?â€\r\n\r\nThe priest looked blank for a moment.\r\n\r\n“Festivals, but none of them are due. Jichinsai.â€\r\n\r\n“Jichinsai?â€ Akiko asked.\r\n\r\n“A ceremony to placate the…â€ Shiraishi paused. “Spirits of the area before building a house,â€ she finished. “That’s it. We can perform a ceremony to calm Tamao’s spirit. Tamashi shizume. Some of the oldest ceremonies were for that.â€\r\n\r\n“So, you know how to do it?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, it’s not that common these days. Jinja Honcho don’t emphasise it; it isn’t a standard ceremony. But I’m sure I can put one together. The elements aren’t that obscure.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“That sounds like a good idea. We can at least get a bit more time.â€\r\n\r\n“And, Akiko, I think it’s time to formally make you a miko.â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€ Akiko was surprised.\r\n\r\n“Oh, there are still things for you to learn, but you’ve learned enough to help at ceremonies. Since Tamao seems to have been very keen for you to become a miko, formally making you one might also help to calm him.â€\r\n\r\n“Er, yes.â€ Akiko realised that she still hadn’t really been thinking of herself as a miko. If she let Shiraishi incorporate it in the ceremony, she’d be committed.\r\n\r\n“That’s… a good idea,â€ Akiko said. Did she have a choice?', 'Buying Time', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'buying-time', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:19:54', '2009-04-02 04:19:54', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=399', 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(400, 1, '2009-04-02 13:19:42', '2009-04-02 04:19:42', '', 'Buying Time', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '399-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:19:42', '2009-04-02 04:19:42', '', 399, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/399-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(401, 1, '2009-06-17 00:00:01', '2009-06-16 15:00:01', '“Of course, normally we’d do the ceremony in the shrine.â€ Shiraishi pulled a face as she said it.\r\n\r\n“We could do it in front of the kamidana,â€ Akiko suggested. “That’s where the go-shintai is at the moment.â€ Shiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“It’s a reasonable temporary location, but we can’t do this ceremony inside the house. We need to be careful about purity, and about inviting angry kami into the place where we live.â€\r\n\r\n“But there’s nowhere else.â€\r\n\r\n“We can do it on the shrine grounds, I think. Maybe on the location of the shrine. Let’s go and look.â€ Shiraishi sprang to her feet, and Akiko stood up to follow her, thinking that the priest seemed much more positive than she had even a few minutes ago. Mind you, she had to admit that she felt a lot better now that they had something to try, something that might make a difference.\r\n\r\nThe shrine grounds were quiet. The ruins of the old shrine building had been cleared away, leaving a bare path of disturbed earth. The roofing copper had, in the end, been sold for scrap; none of it was reusable as it was, to the shrine carpenter’s surprise. Shiraishi had ordered the first materials for the new building, as the designs got close to being finalised, but nothing had been delivered yet. As a result, there was nothing going on in the shrine precincts, and so the protesters were spending their time at the bottom of the steps, trying to discourage people from coming in.\r\n\r\nSuccessfully, Akiko had to admit.\r\n\r\nShiraishi walked over to the bare earth, and nodded, looking around. She gestured at the iwakura and turned to Akiko.\r\n\r\n“We can do the ceremony here, with the iwakura beyond the himorogi.â€\r\n\r\n“Himorogi?â€ Akiko asked, as she walked over.\r\n\r\n“Um, temporary shrine, I guess. It’s a sakaki branch with shide on, on a platform, surrounded by shimenawa.â€ Those were words Akiko knew now. Sakaki was the broad-leaf evergreen used a lot in Shinto ceremonies, shide were the pieces of white paper folded into lightning-shaped strips, like on the ohnusa, and the shimenawa were the rice-straw ropes with shide on, marking the edge of sacred areas.\r\n\r\n“Oh, right. Yes, that was in one of the books.â€ Akiko remembered the picture.\r\n\r\n“Yes, they’re normally used for jichinsai, so I have all the necessary bits. We can put the go-shintai on the platform with the sakaki branch. I think about here would be good; what do you think?â€ The priest was indicating a spot that would have been near the centre of the shrine building.\r\n\r\n“Maybe a bit closer to the iwakura? Where the inner shrine used to be?â€ Shiraishi thought for a moment, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“Himorogi here, and ceremony in this area, then?â€ Before she could reply, Akiko heard arguing voices coming up the stairs and turned to look. She quickly recognised one of the voices as Akira Takenaka.\r\n\r\n“Look, I just want to pay my respects. Please leave me alone.â€\r\n\r\n“There isn’t even a shrine building.â€\r\n\r\n“I know.â€\r\n\r\nAkira came into view, pursued by a middle-aged woman who looked vaguely familiar. She spotted Akiko and Shiraishi, and glared at them, but she fell silent. As soon as Akira had entered the precincts, she stepped round him, ostentatiously wandering around.\r\n\r\nAkira looked at them both, and bowed.\r\n\r\n“I’m here to help.â€', 'Preparation', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'preparation', '', '', '2009-06-17 18:49:46', '2009-06-17 09:49:46', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=401', 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(402, 1, '2009-04-02 13:20:35', '2009-04-02 04:20:35', '', 'Preparation', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '401-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:20:35', '2009-04-02 04:20:35', '', 401, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/401-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(403, 1, '2009-06-18 00:00:49', '2009-06-17 15:00:49', '“Thank you. With what?â€ Shiraishi sounded grateful, but a little puzzled. Akira blushed, and shrugged.\r\n\r\n“Anything, really. I was feeling guilty about not coming after all the trouble my family have caused you.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi shook her head vigourously.\r\n\r\n“Don’t think like that. Anyway, we should pay our respects.â€ She didn’t need to say who to, but just led the way to Hideo Takenaka’s small shrine. Akiko and Shiraishi stepped back to give Akira some space, but the protester came over, and, apologising for getting in the way, walked between Akira and the shrine, and then went round behind it, bending over it to inspect the construction. Akiko started to feel annoyed, and she could see Shiraishi pressing her lips tightly together, obviously trying to avoid saying anything that would cause more problems.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, would you excuse us for a moment?â€ Akira sounded tired, more than anything else. The protester looked up.\r\n\r\n“Oh, please go ahead. Don’t mind me.â€\r\n\r\n“I’d like a bit of privacy.â€\r\n\r\n“This isn’t your private shrine, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“Please leave.â€ Shiraishi was, just barely, polite, but her tone was very final.\r\n\r\n“Oh, of course, Reverend.â€ The protester left immediately, heading straight for the exit.\r\n\r\n“We have a couple of minutes before someone else can get here; go ahead, Akira.â€\r\n\r\nAs Akira paid his respects to his father, Akiko looked round at the entrance. Sure enough, another protester emerged into the shrine grounds, and was making his way over as Akira rose from his final bow. Shiraishi beckoned, and they hurried into the shrine house, avoiding any contact.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry about them, Akira.â€\r\n\r\n“Can’t you do something about them? Call the police?â€ Shiraishi shrugged.\r\n\r\n“They always go when we ask them to, they are always polite, and they don’t damage anything.â€\r\n\r\n“But isn’t it harassment?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, probably. But I expect they’ll get bored before we could get anything out of the courts. And the police are hardly going to arrest all of them to stop them interfering, are they.â€ Shiraishi sounded completely resigned, even hopeless.\r\n\r\n“I suppose so. Anyway, is there anything I can do to help?â€ Akira glanced between Shiraishi and Akiko as he asked. The priest considered the offer for a few moments, and then shook her head.\r\n\r\n“Not right now, thank you. Once we start work on rebuilding, however, we might ask again. Since you’re here, though, would you like some tea?â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you, but no. I should be getting back to the office. We’re actually quite busy, now.â€ He bowed again, and left. Akiko went to see him to the exit. She felt that she should ask how he was, but she couldn’t think of any way to phrase it. Surely there should  be more reaction to what had happened with his father? But then, why would he show it to her? In the end, she accompanied him in silence, and felt awkward as she saw him off.\r\n\r\nLooking back at the shrine, she saw the protesters still wandering around, two of them now, and frowned as she walked back to the house.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi,â€ she said as she got back in, “can we do the tamashi shizume while the protesters are there?â€ The priest looked at her sharply, and then went to look at the precincts.\r\n\r\n“No,â€ she said, frowning, “I don’t think we can.â€ She paused. “We’ll do it tonight, after midnight. They’ve usually gone home by then. And that gives me time to prepare.â€', 'Dodging Protesters', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'dodging-protesters', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:21:26', '2009-04-02 04:21:26', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=403', 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(404, 1, '2009-04-02 13:21:15', '2009-04-02 04:21:15', '', 'Dodging Protesters', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '403-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:21:15', '2009-04-02 04:21:15', '', 403, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/403-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(405, 1, '2009-06-19 00:00:32', '2009-06-18 15:00:32', 'Akiko knelt on the floor of her room in her underwear, looking at the miko’s vestments laid out before her. She had practised, of course, but she had borrowed Shiraishi’s priest’s vestments for that, because the types of clothing were the same, even if the colours, and size, were a little different.\r\n\r\nNow, looking at the white kimono and red hakama, she found herself intensely nervous. Shiraishi had bought them for her use, and produced them a few hours ago, telling her to have a proper bath and then get changed for the ceremony. She had laid them out then, but had avoided thinking about what they meant until she had finished her bath. But there was no running away from it now.\r\n\r\nShe didn’t even dare to touch them. That would be to acknowledge the decision. Naoyuki and Akiyama’s criticisms came back to her. What would people think of her? True, she knew that it wasn’t just superstition, and she’d been living at the shrine, but publicly declaring herself a miko; that was different. That was rather final. Did she really want to make such a statement?\r\n\r\n<em>If you don’t, why have you been at the shrine all this time, taking all the training?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Because I couldn’t do anything else,</em> she admitted to herself. She had let Tamao drive her to this situation. <em>Well,</em> she corrected herself, <em>not exactly “letâ€.</em> But still, it really hadn’t been her decision. Oh, granted she had chosen to live in the shrine house, but it was that or the street. And she’d taken the training, but, again, the choice was being thrown out onto the street without a job. Tamao had seen to it that she couldn’t get any other work. She’d run into a burning shrine to get a mask out, but even that had been driven by Tamao and the moment.\r\n\r\nAnd then there was what Akiyama and Shiraishi had both said about the kami. They were violent, petty, and, it seemed, capable of doing stupid things in a fit of rage that only made their situation worse. Maybe it was OK to do things that stopped them from hurting you, but to serve them…\r\n\r\nAkiko shivered slightly, the air chill on her skin, but she still couldn’t make herself pick up the clothes. That would be a decision, she realised. She couldn’t put the vestments on and attend at the ceremony without deciding to serve at the shrine. No more excuses, after that.\r\n\r\nShe looked at her ordinary clothes, hanging in the closet. She could put them on, tell Shiraishi she couldn’t serve the kami, and find some other way to deal with the problems Tamao was causing. She could go back to a normal life. It was very tempting, and Akiko found that she couldn’t look away.\r\n\r\n<em>But if I don’t become a miko, how can we stop Tamao causing that earthquake? Or stop him pursuing me? Will he let me get a job?</em>\r\n\r\nShe looked back at the vestments, but she couldn’t make herself pick them up just to dodge Tamao’s harassment. That was what she had been doing ever since this started.\r\n\r\n<em>Someone has to do it. Someone has to deal with the problem.</em>\r\n\r\nSuddenly, Akiko felt calm. That was true. Someone had to deal with it, someone had to mediate between Tamao and the people of Kawasaki, someone had to deal with the kegare. And, for whatever reason, she seemed to be in the ideal position to do it.\r\n\r\nShe reached for the vestments.', 'Vestments', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'vestments', '', '', '2009-06-19 10:17:41', '2009-06-19 01:17:41', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=405', 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(406, 1, '2009-04-02 13:21:50', '2009-04-02 04:21:50', '', 'Vestments', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '405-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:21:50', '2009-04-02 04:21:50', '', 405, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/405-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(407, 1, '2009-06-20 00:00:10', '2009-06-19 15:00:10', 'Akiko’s nerves returned as soon as she stepped out of her room. She clasped her hands in front of her as she’d learned, and walked carefully to the front of the house, stepping down into the sandals Shiraishi had left in the entrance hall. From the door, she could see the priest finishing the preparations.\r\n\r\nFour braziers, burning wood, stood at the corners of a square, and the himorogi was set up in the bright area between them, the shide fluttering in the gentle breeze. The wind shifted, and Akiko could smell the smoke, burning pine. Smoke. It reminded her of why they had to do this ceremony, and, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady her nerves, she stepped out and walked over. The only sounds were the crackling of the flames and the quiet rustling as Shiraishi finished her preparations.\r\n\r\nThe priest heard her approaching, and looked round, immediately breaking into a warm smile.\r\n\r\n“The vestments suit you, Akiko.â€ Akiko smiled back, but she could feel that it was a bit lacking in enthusiasm. Shiraishi seemed to notice. “Well, anyway, kneel here.â€ She indicated a mat directly in front of the himorogi. Akiko stepped out of the sandals at the edge of the mat and knelt, settling herself.\r\n\r\nThe flickering light of the fires made the sakaki branch seem to shimmer, as the leaves shivered in the breeze. The light glittered on the brocade bag at its base, the bag containing the go-shintai. Beyond the himorogi, the firelight danced over the stones of the iwakura, making them look almost alive. Despite the warmth of the fires, Akiko shivered.\r\n\r\nNow that she had decided, she had to take responsibility for actually doing something. But what? What should she do?\r\n\r\n“Takamanoharanikamizumarimasu…â€ Shiraishi started the purification prayer, and Akiko bowed her head. After the ohnusa was waved over her, Shiraishi knelt in front of the himorogi, and called Tamao, her long, drawn out “ohâ€ eerily loud in the night.\r\n\r\n“Kakemakumokashikomi…â€ Akiko could pick out a few parts of the norito, as Shiraishi introduced her to Tamao, like he didn’t know her already, and said something Akiko didn’t quite catch about her suitability to be a miko. The priest asked Tamao to look favourably on his new miko, to bring her happiness, calm, and growth.\r\n\r\n<em>That would make a nice change,</em> Akiko thought, and then chastised herself for getting distracted.\r\n\r\nShiraishi picked a tamagushi, a small sakaki branch with shide attached, up from a table off to one side, and called Akiko forward to present it to the kami. Akiko stepped back into the sandals, and took the branch. Standing directly in front of the himorogi, she held it vertically up in front of her.\r\n\r\n“I will serve as a miko here, Tamao,â€ she murmured, quietly enough that, she hoped, Shiraishi could not hear. “I will stand between you and the people of Kawasaki, and, so far as it is in my power, neither you nor the kegare will harm them. This I swear.â€', 'Miko', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'miko', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:22:39', '2009-04-02 04:22:39', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=407', 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(408, 1, '2009-04-02 13:22:24', '2009-04-02 04:22:24', '', 'Miko', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '407-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:22:24', '2009-04-02 04:22:24', '', 407, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/407-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(409, 1, '2009-06-21 00:00:45', '2009-06-20 15:00:45', 'Akiko turned the tamagushi so that the stem was towards the himorogi, and placed it carefully on the table, before taking one step back, bowing twice, clapping twice, and bowing again. She felt surprisingly calm again, and glanced at Shiraishi, who nodded.\r\n\r\nAkiko walked over to the table at the side, bowing her head as she crossed in  front of the himorogi, and picked up the first offering tray, the one with rice on. She handed it to Shiraishi, who took it and placed it on the table in front of the himorogi. Between them, they put the rest of the offerings there, and then Akiko knelt again, on a mat off to one side, while Shiraishi started reading another norito, this one calling on Tamao to be calm and at peace.\r\n\r\nAs the words continued, Akiko found herself acutely aware of her surroundings. She could feel the uneven ground even through the tatami mat she was kneeling on, pressing into her knees. The heat from the fires fell on the skin of her face, making her cheeks flush red, and her vestments gradually became warmer against her skin. The wind in her hair seemed playful, scattering strands around so that they tickled her forehead, her cheeks, her nose.\r\n\r\nThe crackling of the fires seemed to fall into time with the cadences of the norito, and the scent of pine sap became stronger, combining with the smell of smoke. The sounds and smells of the city faded away entirely. Akiko glanced up, and the clear sky was studded with thousands of stars, the milky way stretched across it like a belt. She looked down again, at the dancing shadows within the rocks of the iwakura, and then at the shadows of the sakaki on the iwakura, playing across the go-shintai in its bag, making it look as if it was moving.\r\n\r\nThe mouth of the bag widened, and Tamao’s head, tiny, emerged, swaying in time to a rhythm that Akiko could not hear, but that the flames seemed to take up. He emerged entirely, coiling on the platform and raising his head, still swaying. Akiko could feel the rhythm now, beating gently in her blood, in her bones, making her spine tingle. Tamao looked at her.\r\n\r\nAnd leapt.\r\n\r\nThe snake came straight towards her face, and then vanished. Akiko could feel something warm and heavy around her neck, though, and the rhythm was stronger now, throbbing in her guts. She suddenly realised that she had begun swaying in time to it, and she tried to stop.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t.\r\n\r\n“…kashikomikashikomimomosu.â€ As Shiraishi finished the norito Akiko’s arms reached down, pressing against the floor as she bent down. There was a surge of panic as Akiko realised that she was not moving her own body.\r\n\r\nThen the rhythm washed through her, sweeping away all other thought, all other feelings, sweeping her up on to her feet, and then up further into the air, springing and spinning, dancing as the rhythm dictated. She could hear it now, the throb of great drums, the whisper of thousands of small bells, and then, over it all, the thin, pure note of a flute.\r\n\r\nShe was vaguely aware of leaping in front of Shiraishi and dancing before the himorogi, moving in ways that seemed natural, new, and long-practised, all at once. She spun to take the tamagushi back from the table, holding it up in one hand as she danced.\r\n\r\nHer feet pounded the ground, weaving their own rhythm in with that of the drums, and light flashed from her footsteps, brighter and brighter, competing with the firelight, the stars shining ever brighter overhead as she spun round the himorogi, touching the poles holding the shimenawa, shocks coursing up her arms as she did so, the tamagushi now trailing light behind it as she swept it around her, light that hung in the air, shifting, in ribbons, ribbons that became curtains, curtains that surrounded the himorogi, Akiko, and Shiraishi, marking the edge of the sacred space.\r\n\r\nAkiko moved even faster, her breathing still calm and unhurried as she swept the tamagushi through the air around the sakaki branch on the platform. It began to tremble and pulse, as if there was something within it, something trying to get out.\r\n\r\nA shout burst from her lips as she leapt into the air, spinning, her fingers scattering light as the flute swept ever higher. She landed on the other side of the himorogi and leapt again, spinning through the air to land behind Shiraishi, and then spring up again, to land on the other side, thrusting the tamagushi towards the iwakura. A flare of light from within the rocks answered, visible even through the curtains of light that still flickered around them.\r\n\r\nShe was singing, she realised. Singing words she did not know, to a tune she had never heard before that was somehow utterly familiar. The tempo of the song got faster and faster, its melody soaring and plunging, but Akiko’s voice never faltered. This was her role.\r\n\r\nShe stopped, abruptly, sinking to her knees between the himorogi and the iwakura, looking at the table. The exhilaration still coursed through her, but she was entirely still, even her breath bated as she waited. The sakaki branch was pulsing more strongly now, light burning within it as the ripples of the bright curtains fell into step.\r\n\r\nAn arrow of light swept up through the branch, shattering it  and the platform with a crack. In its place was Tamao, coiled within the shimenawa, his scales shining red, green, purple, gold and silver in the light from the curtains, his eyes shining still more brightly than the stars.\r\n\r\nAkiko fell forward, bowing her face to the ground once, twice. Sitting straight, she clapped. The first was a roll of thunder, the second the roar of an earthquake. She bowed once more, and straightened up to look Tamao straight in the eyes.\r\n\r\n<em>I am not afraid any more.</em>\r\n\r\n“Bright Child, hear and speak!â€\r\n\r\nTamao.', 'Tamashi Shizume', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'tamashi-shizume', '', '', '2009-06-21 16:33:14', '2009-06-21 07:33:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=409', 0, 'post', '', 7);
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(410, 1, '2009-04-02 13:22:57', '2009-04-02 04:22:57', '', 'Tamashi Shizume', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '409-revision', '', '', '2009-04-02 13:22:57', '2009-04-02 04:22:57', '', 409, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/02/409-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(411, 1, '2009-02-12 10:48:10', '2009-02-12 01:48:10', 'The bus moved off, past the accident, but there was still no sign of the spirit. Akiko sat down, heavily, and realised that her hands were trembling. She had thought she was afraid of the spirits before, but maybe not scared enough. She clasped her hands tightly, and tried desperately to calm down.\r\n\r\n<em>I have to be calm for the interview,</em> she told herself, sternly.\r\n\r\nWith a high-pitched whine and an grating thud, the bus came to a stop. Akiko looked up, but there was no bus stop, and no traffic lights. There were a couple more groans from the engine, and then the driver announced that the bus had broken down, apologising for the inconvenience.\r\n\r\nAkiko looked out of the window as it began to rain.\r\n\r\n<em>I don’t believe this, </em>she thought. Then, <em>No, I do believe it. He is not going to beat me.</em>\r\n\r\nStanding up, she pulled her umbrella out of her bag, and went to the exit.\r\n\r\n“Could you let me off? I need to get to an interview.â€ The driver nodded, and the door opened. <em>At least this bit is still working,</em> she thought, as she got off.\r\n\r\nThe rain was heavy, and the wind, gusting from all directions, kept trying to steal her umbrella. Fighting the wind, and trying to keep as dry as she could, Akiko starting walking as quickly as she could. She risked a quick glance at her watch; she might just make it.\r\n\r\nThe road was slippery with rain, and Akiko twice nearly lost her footing. There was a sound of sirens, not too far away, as the wind shifted to blow from directly ahead of her. It snatched her umbrella around, turning it inside out, but Akiko managed to get it facing back into the rain, and behind its shield she struggled forward. The wind wasn’t strong enough to actually hold her back, just enough to make it a bit difficult.\r\n\r\nAnd then, in a moment, it switched to blow just as strongly from behind. With a crack, her umbrella flipped inside-out, the ribs snapping as Akiko stumbled forward, nearly losing her balance, losing her grip on the umbrella, and steadying herself by grabbing a wall as the broken umbrella sailed into the distance, pulled up into the grey sky by the wind.\r\n\r\nThe rain kept falling, matting Akiko’s hair and running into her eyes.\r\n\r\n<em>You are not going to stop me, Tamao. I am going to this interview.</em>\r\n\r\nShe climbed the hill, working out what she was going to say, and wondering whether her dedication would count in her favour. She had to keep her head down, against the wind and rain, watching the ground in front of her lest she lose her footing, but she knew she was nearly there.\r\n\r\nLooking up, the first thing she saw was the tower of smoke, whipped around by the wind, ugly flames at its base, where fire engines clustered. She could just see a sign with the company name on it.\r\n\r\n<em>You win, dammit. You win.</em>', 'Interview', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '225-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:48:10', '2009-02-12 01:48:10', '', 225, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/225-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(541, 1, '2009-04-13 06:58:07', '2009-04-12 21:58:07', 'Akiko stood there for a long time, wishing that she could sink into the ground and disappear. She really hadn’t intended for the priest to hear that rant. She hadn’t really wanted anyone apart from Tamao to hear it, in fact. And now that she thought about it, yelling at the kami may not have been the most intelligent thing to do. Although, what else could it really do to her?\r\n\r\nShiraishi was still waiting at the bottom of the steps, saying nothing but keeping her eyes on Akiko. Akiko forced herself to nod, not trusting herself to speak for the moment, and, after making a perfunctory bow to the shrine, came down to stand next to the priest.\r\n\r\n“I take it the interview didn’t go well?â€\r\n\r\n“There was no interview. The bus broke down, then there was a rainstorm, and by the time I got to the company, their building was on fire.â€ Akiko saw Shiraishi suppress a smile, and had to fight to keep a scowl off her face. It wasn’t funny!\r\n\r\n“I can see why you might feel cursed.â€ Akiko suddenly felt bad; she’d been accusing Shiraishi’s kami of cursing her.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to suggest that…â€ What? She had stood in front of the shrine and directly accused Tamao of cursing her. It wasn’t easy to get around that.\r\n\r\n“Oh, don’t worry about it. Curses from the kami are at least as common in the legends as blessings. Usually when they want something.â€\r\n\r\n“Like what?â€\r\n\r\n“A shrine. A particular priest. A festival. Those sorts of things.â€\r\n\r\n“So, you think Tamao wants something from me?â€\r\n\r\n“It seems likely. The kami don’t make people’s lives miserable for fun, at least not in the legends.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko wasn’t sure whether that was a relief or not. On the one hand, if she wasn’t just being tormented for the sake of it, she might be able to stop it. On the other…\r\n\r\n“<em>What</em> does he want from me?â€ The wind was picking up a bit, and it was cold. The first drops of rain began to fall, and Akiko shivered a little.\r\n\r\n“Let’s discuss that inside.â€ Shiraishi didn’t wait for Akiko to reply before hurrying into the house, but Akiko was not far behind; the rain was getting heavy. Shiraishi led her to the reception room, and then asked her to wait for a little while. Akiko sat on the floor, and looked out of the window, at the rain falling on the garden, churning the surface of the pond and dancing off the stone lantern in a cloud of spray. Very heavy, already.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was back very soon, with a hot water pot and a tray of things.\r\n\r\n“I thought you wouldn’t want to wait while I got the tea ready, so I’ll have to heat the water a bit here.â€ She put everything down, setting out more Japanese sweets, but Akiko wasn’t in a mood to eat.\r\n\r\n“What do you think Tamao wants from me?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah. Yes.â€ The priest looked down at her hands, which were clasped on the table in front of her.\r\n\r\n“You have an idea?â€\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ Akiko was getting frustrated.\r\n\r\n“Well, what is it?â€ <em>That was rude.</em> “I’m sorry, please tell me what you think.â€ Shiraishi took a deep breath, and looked up.\r\n\r\n“Think about what has happened. Tamao has driven you out of your job and your flat, and stopped you getting a new job.â€\r\n\r\n“And driven my boyfriend away.â€ The priest shook her head slightly.\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure about that. Your boyfriend seems to have had a problem with the shrine; Tamao didn’t do anything against him directly.â€ Akiko thought about that for a moment, and it was largely true. There was only that one time, in bed, when Tamao had done something directly to come between her and Naoyuki. She nodded.\r\n\r\n“Go on.â€\r\n\r\n“Tamao also drove you to come here, and clean up.â€ Akiko started to get a sense of where this was going, and nodded again.\r\n\r\n“So…?â€\r\n\r\n“I think he wants you to be here, at the shrine.â€ Shiraishi said it quickly, and then looked down. Akiko turned to look out of the window. It did make a lot of sense.\r\n\r\n“Doing what?â€ That was still a question.\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure. Being a miko, perhaps?â€\r\n\r\n“A miko? I’m not qualified.â€ Shiraishi looked surprised.\r\n\r\n“Not qualified? What do you mean?â€ Akiko felt herself blush.\r\n\r\n“I’m not… you know. I had a boyfriend.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi laughed.\r\n\r\n“Miko don’t have to be virgins.â€ Akiko felt her blush getting hotter. “I suppose you think that they don’t wear knickers, either?â€ Akiko said nothing, but her deepening blush gave her away. Shiraishi chuckled again. “You’ve been reading naughty manga, haven’t you?â€\r\n\r\n“No! Well, not really.â€ Shiraishi shook her head, waving her hand to move off the issue.\r\n\r\n“Anyway, you don’t have to be a virgin, and most miko wear knickers. In winter, they wear long, thermal underwear. Although… How old are you?â€\r\n\r\n“Twenty six, why?â€\r\n\r\n“Hmm, half my age.â€ Akiko was surprised. She had put Shiraishi in her late thirties, very early forties at most. “That’s actually a bit older than most miko; it’s normal to quite around twenty five. Still, not unheard of.â€\r\n\r\n“Great, too old for this as well.â€ This time Shiraishi blushed.\r\n\r\n“Oh, I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to come out like that. You’d be fine as a miko, really.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, but I’m not sure I want to be one.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure that Tamao really wants to offer you a choice.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko scowled, and looked out of the window again. Shiraishi was right about that. There was a pause, but Akiko had no intention of saying anything, and just waited for the priest to continue.\r\n\r\n“Actually, the shrine isn’t doing that well at the moment, so I wouldn’t be able to pay you much. However, there’s only me in the house, so there’s plenty of room. You could stay here, at least until we figure out what Tamao wants.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked back at the priest, surprised. It was a very generous offer.\r\n\r\n“Why? You hardly know me…â€ Shiraishi blushed again, and looked down.\r\n\r\n“I said I had chosen to believe you. If the kami is talking to you and driving you here, I can’t really object.â€ Akiko nodded slowly. She felt that she ought to turn the offer down, but…\r\n\r\nBut she didn’t have anywhere else to go. She thought about the shower room at the manga cafe, and compared it to the enormous bathroom in the shrine house in her mind.\r\n\r\n“What if I don’t want to be a miko?â€ Shiraishi shrugged.\r\n\r\n“That may not be what Tamao wants. I’m fairly sure he wants you here, but beyond that, it’s not clear to me.â€\r\n\r\n“So, it’s all right if I think for a while?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. What do you say?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked out of the window again. She was going to say yes, she knew it. How could she turn this offer down? She looked back at the priest.\r\n\r\n“Yes. Thank you very much.â€\r\n\r\nThe sun broke through the clouds, turning the rain to a curtain of shining silver outside the window.\r\n\r\n<em>On to <a href="http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/category/03-takenaka/">Part 3: Takenaka</a>.</em>', 'Coming Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '229-revision-3', '', '', '2009-04-13 06:58:07', '2009-04-12 21:58:07', '', 229, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/13/229-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(412, 1, '2009-04-08 12:05:56', '2009-04-08 03:05:56', 'Akiko stood there for a long time, wishing that she could sink into the ground and disappear. She really hadn’t intended for the priest to hear that rant. She hadn’t really wanted anyone apart from Tamao to hear it, in fact. And now that she thought about it, yelling at the kami may not have been the most intelligent thing to do. Although, what else could it really do to her?\n\nShiraishi was still waiting at the bottom of the steps, saying nothing but keeping her eyes on Akiko. Akiko forced herself to nod, not trusting herself to speak for the moment, and, after making a perfunctory bow to the shrine, came down to stand next to the priest.\n\n“I take it the interview didn’t go well?â€\n\n“There was no interview. The bus broke down, then there was a rainstorm, and by the time I got to the company, their building was on fire.â€ Akiko saw Shiraishi suppress a smile, and had to fight to keep a scowl off her face. It wasn’t funny!\n\n“I can see why you might feel cursed.â€ Akiko suddenly felt bad; she’d been accusing Shiraishi’s kami of cursing her.\n\n“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to suggest that…â€ What? She had stood in front of the shrine and directly accused Tamao of cursing her. It wasn’t easy to get around that.\n\n“Oh, don’t worry about it. Curses from the kami are at least as common in the legends as blessings. Usually when they want something.â€\n\n“Like what?â€\n\n“A shrine. A particular priest. A festival. Those sorts of things.â€\n\n“So, you think Tamao wants something from me?â€\n\n“It seems likely. The kami don’t make people’s lives miserable for fun, at least not in the legends.â€\n\nAkiko wasn’t sure whether that was a relief or not. On the one hand, if she wasn’t just being tormented for the sake of it, she might be able to stop it. On the other…\n\n“<em>What</em> does he want from me?â€ The wind was picking up a bit, and it was cold. The first drops of rain began to fall, and Akiko shivered a little.\n\n“Let’s discuss that inside.â€ Shiraishi didn’t wait for Akiko to reply before hurrying into the house, but Akiko was not far behind; the rain was getting heavy. Shiraishi led her to the reception room, and then asked her to wait for a little while. Akiko sat on the floor, and looked out of the window, at the rain falling on the garden, churning the surface of the pond and dancing off the stone lantern in a cloud of spray. Very heavy, already.\n\nShiraishi was back very soon, with a hot water pot and a tray of things.\n\n“I thought you wouldn’t want to wait while I got the tea ready, so I’ll have to heat the water a bit here.â€ She put everything down, setting out more Japanese sweets, but Akiko wasn’t in a mood to eat.\n\n“What do you think Tamao wants from me?â€\n\n“Ah. Yes.â€ The priest looked down at her hands, which were clasped on the table in front of her.\n\n“You have an idea?â€\n\n“Mm.â€ Akiko was getting frustrated.\n\n“Well, what is it?â€ <em>That was rude.</em> “I’m sorry, please tell me what you think.â€ Shiraishi took a deep breath, and looked up.\n\n“Think about what has happened. Tamao has driven you out of your job and your flat, and stopped you getting a new job.â€\n\n“And driven my boyfriend away.â€ The priest shook her head slightly.\n\n“I’m not sure about that. Your boyfriend seems to have had a problem with the shrine; Tamao didn’t do anything against him directly.â€ Akiko thought about that for a moment, and it was largely true. There was only that one time, in bed, when Tamao had done something directly to come between her and Naoyuki. She nodded.\n\n“Go on.â€\n\n“Tamao also drove you to come here, and clean up.â€ Akiko started to get a sense of where this was going, and nodded again.\n\n“So…?â€\n\n“I think he wants you to be here, at the shrine.â€ Shiraishi said it quickly, and then looked down. Akiko turned to look out of the window. It did make a lot of sense.\n\n“Doing what?â€ That was still a question.\n\n“I’m not sure. Being a miko, perhaps?â€\n\n“A miko? I’m not qualified.â€ Shiraishi looked surprised.\n\n“Not qualified? What do you mean?â€ Akiko felt herself blush.\n\n“I’m not… you know. I had a boyfriend.â€\n\nShiraishi laughed.\n\n“Miko don’t have to be virgins.â€ Akiko felt her blush getting hotter. “I suppose you think that they don’t wear knickers, either?â€ Akiko said nothing, but her deepening blush gave her away. Shiraishi chuckled again. “You’ve been reading naughty manga, haven’t you?â€\n\n“No! Well, not really.â€ Shiraishi shook her head, waving her hand to move off the issue.\n\n“Anyway, you don’t have to be a virgin, and most miko wear knickers. In winter, they wear long, thermal underwear. Although… How old are you?â€\n\n“Twenty six, why?â€\n\n“Hmm, half my age.â€ Akiko was surprised. She had put Shiraishi in her late thirties, very early forties at most. “That’s actually a bit older than most miko; it’s normal to quite around twenty five. Still, not unheard of.â€\n\n“Great, too old for this as well.â€ This time Shiraishi blushed.\n\n“Oh, I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to come out like that. You’d be fine as a miko, really.â€\n\n“Yes, but I’m not sure I want to be one.â€\n\n“I’m not sure that Tamao really wants to offer you a choice.â€\n\nAkiko scowled, and looked out of the window again. Shiraishi was right about that. There was a pause, but Akiko had no intention of saying anything, and just waited for the priest to continue.\n\n“Actually, the shrine isn’t doing that well at the moment, so I wouldn’t be able to pay you much. However, there’s only me in the house, so there’s plenty of room. You could stay here, at least until we figure out what Tamao wants.â€\n\nAkiko looked back at the priest, surprised. It was a very generous offer.\n\n“Why? You hardly know me…â€ Shiraishi blushed again, and looked down.\n\n“I said I had chosen to believe you. If the kami is talking to you and driving you here, I can’t really object.â€ Akiko nodded slowly. She felt that she ought to turn the offer down, but…\n\nBut she didn’t have anywhere else to go. She thought about the shower room at the manga cafe, and compared it to the enormous bathroom in the shrine house in her mind.\n\n“What if I don’t want to be a miko?â€ Shiraishi shrugged.\n\n“That may not be what Tamao wants. I’m fairly sure he wants you here, but beyond that, it’s not clear to me.â€\n\n“So, it’s all right if I think for a while?â€\n\n“Yes. What do you say?â€\n\nAkiko looked out of the window again. She was going to say yes, she knew it. How could she turn this offer down? She looked back at the priest.\n\n“Yes. Thank you very much.â€\n\nThe sun broke through the clouds, turning the rain to a curtain of shining silver outside the window.', 'Coming Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '229-autosave', '', '', '2009-04-08 12:05:56', '2009-04-08 03:05:56', '', 229, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/08/229-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(413, 1, '2009-02-17 16:51:12', '2009-02-17 07:51:12', 'After a quick shower, Akiko sorted out some more of her clothes, deciding what to wear. She hung her work uniform up, her heart sinking as she realised that she was going to have to return it at some point, but chose jeans and a sweat shirt, because she planned to spend the day collecting as much litter as she could from the woodland. The kami certainly didn’t seem to mind her doing that, and she wanted to take advantage of the good weather.\r\n\r\nShe passed Shiraishi in the entrance hall, and the priest mentioned breakfast, but Akiko wasn’t hungry. She just wanted to get outside and into the woods.\r\n\r\nOnce in the shadow of the trees, she started sobbing, and at first she could not understand why. Although her tears blurred her vision, she kept going deeper into the woods, trying to get far enough from the shrine buildings that no-one would notice. The sobs got stronger as she walked, until finally she could go no further, and sat down, leaning against a tree, and let herself cry, crying for everything that she had had, been, and hoped.\r\n\r\nAt length, her tears stopped, and she wiped her eyes, looking up at the leaves of the tree waving gently in the breeze as shards of sunlight scattered across them. Something white fluttered above her and, twisting round, she realised that there was a rope with white papers on it tied around the tree. She got to her feet, and slowly walked around it.\r\n\r\nThe twisted trunk had its own beauty, and as she touched the back she felt shivers run down her back. She was sure, then; she had seen this tree before, when cleaning the shrine in the rain. It smelled of sap and life, and its solidity, stretching up into the sky, was somehow reassuring. <em>Your problems are smaller than you think</em>, it seemed to be saying to her. <em>Every ending is also a beginning.</em>\r\n\r\nShe smiled to herself, a little wryly. <em>Very down-to-earth wisdom,</em> she thought. But still, not without elements of truth. She walked round the tree once more, tracing a line around the trunk with her fingertips, and found herself wanting to embrace it. She looked around, feeling slightly foolish. Why did she want to hug a tree? She did, though, and there didn’t seem to be anyone to notice. Biting her lip, she stepped back a bit, considering the best way to do it, then stretched out her arms and pressed herself against the bark.\r\n\r\nAll of her tension and worry disappeared, as if washed out of her. She pressed her cheek against the bark, rubbing against the wood, breathing the the smell of the tree in deeply, feeling every lump and whorl of the wood against her skin. For long moments there was nothing but the tree, but then she became acutely conscious of the fabric between her and it, cutting her off, isolating her.\r\n\r\nShe stepped back, and looked at the tree again. She was still calm, and it was with a slight smile that she said,\r\n\r\n“No <em>way</em> am I going to get naked to hug you.â€\r\n\r\nThen she realised that she was talking to a tree, and looked round to make sure no-one was there. She relaxed again on finding that she was alone, and, remembering her original intention, started looking for litter.', 'The Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '242-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:51:12', '2009-02-17 07:51:12', '', 242, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/242-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(414, 1, '2009-04-10 20:49:08', '2009-04-10 11:49:08', 'I''m trying to set up the blog to allow me to put short articles in the sidebar, where I can talk to my readers without messing up the flow of the story. This is, hopefully, the first such post, but all it says is that I''m trying to get it set up. If you can see this in the sidebar, and not in the main body, then it worked.', 'Side Blog', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'side-blog', '', '', '2009-04-10 20:49:08', '2009-04-10 11:49:08', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=414', 0, 'post', '', 10);
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(415, 1, '2009-04-10 20:48:39', '2009-04-10 11:48:39', 'I''m trying to set up the blog to allow me to put short articles in the sidebar, where I can talk to my readers without messing up the flow of the story. This is, hopefully, the first such post, but', 'Side Blog', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '414-revision', '', '', '2009-04-10 20:48:39', '2009-04-10 11:48:39', '', 414, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/10/414-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(416, 1, '2009-04-10 20:50:12', '2009-04-10 11:50:12', 'I''m trying to set up the blog to allow me to put short articles in the sidebar, where I can talk to my readers without messing up the flow of the story. This is, hopefully, the first such post, but all it says is that I''m trying to get it set up. If you can see this in the sidebar, and not in the main body, then it worked.', 'Side Blog', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '414-autosave', '', '', '2009-04-10 20:50:12', '2009-04-10 11:50:12', '', 414, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/10/414-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(417, 1, '2009-06-22 00:00:02', '2009-06-21 15:00:02', '“I am Tamao, kami of this place. I protect you and ensure your prosperity.â€\r\n\r\nTamao’s eyes were enthralling, lightning dancing across his lips as he spoke. There seemed to be lights within the jewels of his skin, flickering as he moved, reflecting from the gold and silver running between. His gaze never left Akiko’s face, but his body shifted constantly.\r\n\r\n“There is great pollution within my domain. It must be purified.â€\r\n\r\nThe movements of Tamao’s body answered to a rhythm that Akiko could still feel pulsing in her veins and resonating in her bones. She was still, now, but even the ground under her was responding to it, the earth shifting, the grains sliding over each other beneath her in a dance she could feel even through her vestments.\r\n\r\n“People have chosen to oppose me. They hate me and seek to drive me out.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko could see Shiraishi beyond Tamao. The priest was kneeling, her eyes fixed on Akiko, her body still. Heightened colour and the fluttering of her throat as she breathed rapidly gave her tension away, however.\r\n\r\n“They will use whatever tools they have to drive you from the shrine, and then me from my domain.â€\r\n\r\nTamao’s words were inside Akiko’s mind, the meaning perfectly clear, but the sound that she could hear speaking them was her own voice. Dizziness swept over her as she recognised the sound, and then, as she concentrated, the feeling of her mouth moving, air vibrating in her throat, her tongue and lips shaping words. All without her intervention. All beyond her control.\r\n\r\n“If I am driven away, there will be nothing and no-one to fight the corruption. The spirits of kegare will have free rein.â€\r\n\r\nFor a moment, Akiko felt trapped in her body, panic welling up within her as she tried to move her fingers, even the slightest amount, and found that she couldn’t, even as her voice continued to calmly relate Tamao’s words. And then her attention was caught by Tamao’s eyes again, as the kami leaned in close.\r\n\r\n“Pollution will overwhelm the area, and people will fight one another over the ruins.â€\r\n\r\nTamao’s eyes glowed golden, the light like the flame of a lamp, its gentle motion soothing Akiko’s fear. She could smell pine trees, and the wet earth after rain, and in the still air she yet felt a gentle breeze playing with her hair. The panic passed, and Akiko let her awareness float on the river of Tamao’s control, going where he led without resistance.\r\n\r\n“You must purify my land. You must preserve the shrine.â€\r\n\r\nThere was a deep throbbing from behind Akiko, a pulsing heat, from the direction of the iwakura. For a moment, she smelled sulphur and the brittle edge of burning rocks, but then the breeze blew it away, replacing it once more with the scent of trees.\r\n\r\n“This is your duty. Spirit Child, Bright Child, serve your kami.â€\r\n\r\nAnd Tamao was gone. Across the shattered remains of the table, Akiko could see Shiraishi, trembling slightly as she watched Akiko. There was a weight still around Akiko’s neck, and she reached up, her fingers brushing a necklace.', 'Possession', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'possession', '', '', '2009-06-23 11:16:17', '2009-06-23 02:16:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=417', 0, 'post', '', 7);
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(418, 1, '2009-04-11 18:32:32', '2009-04-11 09:32:32', '', 'Possession', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '417-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:32:32', '2009-04-11 09:32:32', '', 417, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/417-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(419, 1, '2009-06-23 00:00:00', '2009-06-22 15:00:00', '“Is it… over?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi was whispering, barely moving her lips. Akiko nodded, her fingers still resting on the heavy necklace she was wearing. The priest bowed, and then let out a long, drawn-out “ohâ€, performing the formal ceremony for the return of the kami. Then she reached into the remains of the himorogi and picked up a brocade bag, walking round to Akiko and holding it out.\r\n\r\nWith a shock, Akiko realised exactly what she had around her neck.\r\n\r\nCarefully, reverently, she lifted it over her head. The stones of the go-shintai were polished, not cut, but they still glowed in the light of the fires, crystals, gems, the size of hens’ eggs, red, green, purple, and large masses of gold and silver, apparently natural nuggets, polished but not shaped. The cord linking them appeared to be copper, glinting orange-red where it caught the light.\r\n\r\nHardly daring to breathe, Akiko dropped it back into the bag, which Shiraishi quickly drew shut.\r\n\r\nAs she shut it, the priest relaxed, almost falling to the ground, shaking and gulping in air. Akiko felt her calm draining away, as the implications of what had just happened started to come home to her.\r\n\r\n“What happened?â€ Shiraishi’s question was a bit surprising.\r\n\r\n“What did you see?â€ Akiko asked, suddenly unsure.\r\n\r\n“You suddenly started dancing, very, very fast, leaping over the himorogi and spinning in the air. It was…â€ The priest paused, looking at the space over the shattered platform. “… amazing.â€ She barely breathed the last word, and then fell silent for a moment. “And then you knelt where you are now, bowed and clapped, and spoke the words of the kami. In fluent classical Japanese, the language of the noritos.â€\r\n\r\n“I what?â€ Akiko thought she had been speaking modern Japanese, although now she thought back she could only remember hearing her own voice and knowing what Tamao was saying; she could not actually remember the words she had used.\r\n\r\n“You were speaking in classical Japanese,â€ Shiraishi said again. “I’m pretty sure I understood it; you were using the standard pronunciation we use for norito. And you used all the proper forms for a high superior addressing inferiors, I think. At any rate, you didn’t use the forms we use to address the kami in a norito.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded. She realised that she was shaking a bit now. She had been possessed by a kami.\r\n\r\n“When did I put the necklace on?â€ Akiko remembered Tamao leaping for her and then becoming a weight around her neck, but she was sure that wasn’t what Shiraishi had seen.\r\n\r\n“I… It’s very strange. I don’t think you did. You were wearing it while you were dancing, but I never saw you take it from the bag.â€\r\n\r\n“And what happened to the platform?â€\r\n\r\n“You landed on it. Don’t you remember?â€ Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I remember, but I don’t remember that.â€\r\n\r\n“So, Akiko, what did you see?â€\r\n\r\n“I saw Tamao. He appeared within the shimenawa around the himorogi, and the sakaki and platform shattered when he appeared. And then he spoke to me, but I could understand his meaning, rather than hearing his words. The music drove me to dance… Did you hear the music?â€ Shiraishi shook her head, a look of wonder on her face.\r\n\r\n“I heard nothing but the sound of your feet on the ground.â€', 'Another Perspective', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'another-perspective', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:33:30', '2009-04-11 09:33:30', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=419', 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(420, 1, '2009-04-11 18:33:26', '2009-04-11 09:33:26', '', 'Another Perspective', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '419-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:33:26', '2009-04-11 09:33:26', '', 419, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/419-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(421, 1, '2009-06-24 00:00:39', '2009-06-23 15:00:39', '“So. What does it mean?â€ Akiko sat at the kitchen table, looking at Shiraishi as the priest stirred her coffee.\r\n\r\n“It means you were possessed by the kami to pass a message on to us. Which, incidentally, is probably what miko originally did. I have to admit that I didn’t think it was still part of the job, however.â€\r\n\r\n“And the dance?â€\r\n\r\n“Dancing while possessed by a kami goes back over a thousand years; it’s mentioned in the <em>Kojiki.</em>â€\r\n\r\n“That’s the old collection of legends, right? Not the collection of norito?â€\r\n\r\n“Right. The collection of norito is the <em>Engishiki.</em>â€\r\n\r\n“Er, didn’t you mention something about dancing when you were talking about the designs for the new shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“Right. You remembered that? <em>Kagura,</em> sacred dance, is still an important part of Shinto, but it’s not much like what you did just now. Much slower and more restrained. No, your dance was definitely possessed dancing.â€\r\n\r\n“So it was all perfectly normal, then?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi burst out laughing, and Akiko found herself joining in. When the priest got herself under control, she shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, it wasn’t normal. But it does fit with the legends.â€\r\n\r\n“Maybe they aren’t just legends.â€\r\n\r\n“Let’s not go overboard. I doubt that a kami literally gave birth to the islands of Japan. Still, some bits may be a lot closer to simple accounts of the facts than I thought. We’ve had Hideo’s angry ghost, calmed by being enshrined, and now possession by a kami conveying warnings about pollution and telling us what to do. I doubt this is the only time it’s happened.â€\r\n\r\n“But you’ve not heard about it before?â€ Shiraishi shook her head. “So why now? And why me?â€\r\n\r\n“I have no idea,â€ the priest admitted. “Maybe you could ask Tamao?â€ Akiko was about to snap back an irritated response, when she realised that Shiraishi was entirely serious, and that it might actually be a possibility.\r\n\r\n“Maybe I could. I’m just not sure…â€ Akiko tried to remember how she had felt when Tamao possessed her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “No, I’m not sure how to do that. In any case, what do we do about Tamao’s message?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, it doesn’t really tell us anything we didn’t know already.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s true,â€ Akiko had to agree. “Although it does confirm what Tamao is angry about.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. And it seems that the pollution and the direct threat to the shrine are separate, at least as far as Tamao believes.â€\r\n\r\n“So, if we can purify the surrounding area and save the shrine, Tamao will be happy and stop causing floods and earthquakes.â€\r\n\r\n“I think that’s about it,â€ Shiraishi agreed.\r\n\r\n“It would have been nice if Tamao had given us some hints as to how to do that.â€ Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“Well, we can get on with rebuilding the shrine as quickly as possible. And think about purifying the area.â€\r\n\r\n“That would be a good idea. The kegare seems to cause accidents. Or maybe accidents cause kegare.â€ Akiko thought back over what she had seen, remembering the motorcycle crash and the flood. “Or maybe both. In any case, places with kegare seem to be bad, so cleansing them should be good by itself.â€\r\n\r\n“But what do we do? Go around performing harae everywhere?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko imagined the two of them, in full vestments, performing ceremonies around Kawasaki while people stared at them, and shook her head, blushing.\r\n\r\n“I don’t think that’s the best way to do it. We need to think of something else. What is causing it?â€\r\n\r\n“What, indeed.â€ Shiraishi also seemed to have no answer to that question.', 'Discussion', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'discussion', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:34:19', '2009-04-11 09:34:19', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=421', 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(422, 1, '2009-04-11 18:34:10', '2009-04-11 09:34:10', '', 'Discussion', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '421-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:34:10', '2009-04-11 09:34:10', '', 421, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/421-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(423, 1, '2009-06-25 00:00:26', '2009-06-24 15:00:26', 'It was late afternoon the following day before Akiko woke up. When she found the priest, who was at Takenaka’s shrine, to apologise, Shiraishi brushed it off, saying that being possessed seemed very tiring, and telling her to take things easy for the rest of the day. Akiko tried to spend some time in the shrine precincts, but the protesters kept wandering around, getting in her way, and she gave up, heading back to the house.\r\n\r\nBack in her room, she was trying to think of ways to deal with the kegare when she noticed that her cell phone was blinking at her. There were three missed calls, all from her mother. Sighing, Akiko called back.\r\n\r\n“Hello, this is Chiaki Tanahata.â€\r\n\r\n“Mum, your cell phone tells you it’s me.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko? Oh, so you called back, then.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, Mum. Was there something particular you wanted to talk about?â€\r\n\r\n“Noriko Yamada had her wedding a few days ago. Mrs Yamada was showing me the pictures yesterday, and it really looked wonderful. Noriko was beautiful in her wedding dress, and Mrs Yamada looked just right in her kimono.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm-hm.â€ It needed no insight at all to see where this conversation was going.\r\n\r\n“So, I was wondering when you were going to be having your wedding.â€\r\n\r\n<em>Time for the truth,</em> Akiko decided.\r\n\r\n“Mum, I’m not going out with Naoyuki any more.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, what?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m not going out with Naoyuki any more. It’s over.â€\r\n\r\n“So who are you going out with now? Is he in a good job?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m not going out with anyone.â€\r\n\r\n“What? At your age? Akiko, you’re already over twenty five; you can’t be messing about. You have to find a husband soon.â€ Akiko’s mother sounded almost panic-stricken.\r\n\r\n“And I quit my job.â€ A brief surge of bitterness in her mouth made Akiko’s face twist, but she wasn’t about to claim to have been fired. Especially since she had been driven out of the job.\r\n\r\n“<em>What?â€</em> It was almost a screech, and her mother really did sound like she was panicking now. “Why? What are you doing now?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m living and working at a shrine. I’m a miko.â€ Akiko was surprised at how calm she managed to keep her voice.\r\n\r\n“Sorry? Akiko, I thought you said you were a miko at a shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“I did, mother.â€\r\n\r\n“What on earth…? That’s not a career. And how are you going to meet anyone? Are you dating the son?â€\r\n\r\n“No, mother. I told you I’m single. Anyway, the priest is female and she doesn’t have any children.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko, you really need to think about your future. You can’t be a miko for, well, very long at all. Aren’t they supposed to be, ah, young girls?â€\r\n\r\n“My age isn’t a problem.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, in any case, it isn’t a career. Akiko, what happened? Why have you thrown your future away?â€ Her mother sounded like she was on the verge of tears now. Akiko took a deep breath to steady herself before replying.\r\n\r\n“Mum, this is the right thing for me to do now.â€\r\n\r\n“Why? How can it be? You’re too old for this kind of foolishness.â€ Akiko shook her head, even though her mother couldn’t see her. She couldn’t explain the real reason. There were strange sounds from the other end of the phone, and, with a shock, Akiko realised that her mother was crying.\r\n\r\n“Mum, don’t cry. This is the right decision for me, really. At least for the moment.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, I suppose you’re old enough to wreck your own life now. I don’t suppose I can do anything about it.\r\n\r\n“I hope you’re happy.â€\r\n\r\nAnd her mother hung up. Akiko put the phone down on the table.\r\n\r\nThat last sentence hadn’t really sounded like a wish for her happiness.', 'Family Row', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'family-row', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:34:57', '2009-04-11 09:34:57', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=423', 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(424, 1, '2009-04-11 18:34:54', '2009-04-11 09:34:54', '', 'Family Row', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '423-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:34:54', '2009-04-11 09:34:54', '', 423, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/423-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(425, 1, '2009-06-26 00:00:04', '2009-06-25 15:00:04', 'Even as it got late, Akiko could tell that there was no chance of her sleeping.  She felt that telling her mother the truth had been the right thing to do, but she found herself reminding herself of that repeatedly. And there was still the issue of the possession. What did Tamao want them to do about the kegare? She thought that Shiraishi was probably right about rebuilding the shrine quickly, but was there something else that they should be doing about the protesters?\r\n\r\nShould she call her mother back?\r\n\r\nAkiko realised that she had been pacing in her room for the last half hour, and stopped.\r\n\r\n<em>I have to do something definite,</em> she decided. <em>I will try to talk to Tamao again.</em>\r\n\r\nAfter a moment’s consideration, she headed to the bathroom, to purify herself physically before the attempt.\r\n\r\nHalf an hour later, wearing her miko’s vestments and carrying a tatami mat, she went out of the shrine house and into the grounds. Tamao had appeared close to where the shrine had been, and the iwakura was also connected to him, so that seemed a good place to try it. She put the mat down and knelt on top of it, breathing deeply to calm herself.\r\n\r\nShe bowed twice, and then started reciting the purification prayer, pleased to find that she could remember it. She still didn’t fully understand the grammar, which reminded her that Shiraishi had said she had spoken in classical Japanese. Maybe that was the language the kami spoke among themselves, as well.\r\n\r\nShe finished the prayer, bowing to the ground twice, clapping twice, and bowing once more, before sitting back on her heels and composing herself, trying to remember how she had felt when Tamao possessed her.\r\n\r\n“Oh, excuse me.â€\r\n\r\nThe voice startled Akiko, and she twisted to look round. There was a middle-aged woman behind her, someone who looked vaguely familiar. One of the protesters, Akiko was fairly sure.\r\n\r\n“Can I help you?â€\r\n\r\n“I was just wondering what you were doing here in the middle of the night.â€\r\n\r\n<em>I live here,</em> Akiko thought. <em>I should be asking that question.</em> She got to her feet.\r\n\r\n“Just a personal ceremony for the kami.â€\r\n\r\n“Should you really be doing secret ceremonies? It doesn’t promote trust, you know. People might come to all sorts of strange conclusions.â€\r\n\r\n“Now why would they do that?â€ Akiko was even warier now. Had the protesters realised that they had done a night ceremony? She thought they cleared the remains of the platform up properly, but maybe they’d left something. They hadn’t thought they had to hide all the evidence, after all.\r\n\r\n“Well, you know, with Shinto’s connection to fascism…â€\r\n\r\nAkiko cut her off.\r\n\r\n“Might I ask what you are doing here at this time of night? You do not work at this shrine, after all.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, we’re just… keeping an eye on things.â€\r\n\r\n“I see. I can assure you that everything is all right.â€\r\n\r\n“We’re keeping an eye on <em>you.</em>â€ The tone sent a shiver through Akiko, and she involuntarily took a step back. But at that moment, someone called from near the entrance.\r\n\r\n“Mrs Watanabe! Fancy meeting you here. And Ms Tanahata. This is a pleasant surprise.â€ Forcing a smile, Akiko bowed to Mr Akiyama, and then excused herself, returning to the house.\r\n\r\nShe had no chance of being able to talk to Tamao tonight.', 'Seeking Contact', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'seeking-contact', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:35:41', '2009-04-11 09:35:41', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=425', 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(426, 1, '2009-04-11 18:35:35', '2009-04-11 09:35:35', '', 'Seeking Contact', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '425-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:35:35', '2009-04-11 09:35:35', '', 425, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/425-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(427, 1, '2009-06-27 00:00:55', '2009-06-26 15:00:55', '“They’re spying on us at night, now.â€ Shiraishi looked shocked as Akiko broke the news to her over breakfast.\r\n\r\n“At <em>night?</em> Inside the shrine grounds?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. I saw two of them last night, including the headmaster.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi hugged herself briefly.\r\n\r\n“I don’t like that idea. I don’t want them wandering around while we’re asleep, especially while we don’t know who burned the shrine down.â€\r\n\r\n“Can we afford to put gates on the shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“No.â€ Shiraishi made a face. “And anyway, we shouldn’t. It should be open for people like you… and Hideo…â€ She paused, blinking rapidly, and then went on. “People who really want to visit the shrine at night should be able to.â€\r\n\r\n“So, what do we do?â€\r\n\r\n“Keep watch, I suppose.â€\r\n\r\n“Just the two of us?â€\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ Shiraishi picked up her rice, and ate a bit while she thought about it. “Well, I don’t think they’re likely to actually attack us. I mean, they don’t seem violent.â€ Akiko nodded, conceding the point. “So I think that one person watching would be enough. We can call the police if something starts to happen.â€ The priest drank a bit of her soup, her face still thoughtful.\r\n\r\n“The problem, of course, is that we need to have someone around during the day, as well. And actually do shrine business. No, I don’t think the two of us can do it by ourselves.â€\r\n\r\n“So who do we ask?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi pulled another face, and lifted some flesh from her fish.\r\n\r\n“There aren’t many people left. Hideo would have helped.â€ She stopped again, closing her eyes for a moment before continuing. “Hideo would have helped, and maybe Akira will.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, I think so,â€ Akiko agreed, “but he does have the business to look after as well.â€\r\n\r\n“True. Well, we’ll just have to do the best we can. Oh, by the way, the first load of wood for the new shrine should be delivered today. We’ll probably have to deal with the protesters when it comes.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi’s prediction was accurate. Akiko didn’t see either Mr Akiyama or the woman who had been there the previous night, but there were enough people, including Naoyuki, to make it very difficult for the contractors to get the wood up the steps and to the spot where it was being laid out. In the end, they had to pay the contractors extra to work into the night, finally getting the last load up.\r\n\r\nAkira arrived as the contractors were tidying up, and immediately came over to Akiko.\r\n\r\n“Difficult day?â€\r\n\r\nShe looked at him, and sighed.\r\n\r\n“What do you think? Thanks for coming.â€\r\n\r\n“No problem.â€ They started walking up the stairs into the shrine. “It’s odd. I feel somehow close to my father when I’m here.â€ His voice caught a little as he spoke, and Akiko avoided looking at him.\r\n\r\n“Well, he is enshrined here.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah.â€ Akira sounded surprised. “Yes, I suppose he is. Do you think that’s it?â€\r\n\r\n“It could be.â€\r\n\r\nAkira walked over to the small shrine where his father was revered, and squatted down in front of it.\r\n\r\n“Maybe it is. I don’t feel near him when I go to the grave, not at all. And in the offices… Well, there are a lot of reminders of him, but I don’t feel like he’s there. Home’s the same. Here, though…â€ His voice trailed off, and he stood abruptly to bow and clap.\r\n\r\n“Well,â€ he said, turning to Akiko, “what do I do now?â€\r\n\r\n“Just walk around and ask protesters to leave.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s it?â€\r\n\r\n“That’s all that’s necessary.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, then. You should get some rest; don’t forget I need to go by one.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, thanked him, and headed inside.', 'Guarding the Shrine', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'guarding-the-shrine', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:36:31', '2009-04-11 09:36:31', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=427', 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(428, 1, '2009-04-11 18:36:15', '2009-04-11 09:36:15', '', 'Guarding the Shrine', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '427-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:36:15', '2009-04-11 09:36:15', '', 427, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/427-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(429, 1, '2009-06-28 00:00:43', '2009-06-27 15:00:43', '“Revd Shiraishi, could I ask a favour?â€\r\n\r\n“What? Yes, of course.â€ Shiraishi sounded wary.\r\n\r\n“Er, I just wanted to ask you to watch the protesters for a while. Is that OK?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, I see.â€ The priest seemed quite relieved. “Yes, that’s fine. What do you want to do?â€\r\n\r\n“Talk to Tamao again.â€\r\n\r\n“Can you?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. But I think I have to try.â€\r\n\r\nThe priest nodded slowly.\r\n\r\n“It would certainly be very useful to know what he wants, and be able to talk to him more reliably. What will you do?â€\r\n\r\n“I was thinking of going into the shrine woodland, and seeing whether I could contact him there. I should be out of sight of the protesters.â€\r\n\r\n“Fine. I’ll make sure none of them go back there.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you. I’d better go and get ready.â€\r\n\r\nThe pounding of Akiko’s heart was already starting to fill her ears, and her mouth was dry as she walked to the bathroom. <em>I have to talk to him,</em> she told herself, <em>I have to try.</em> But things seemed much more difficult now. Nothing had happened since the Tamashi Shizume, but Akiko had been thinking about it. She had completely lost control of her body, words and actions. Tamao could have done anything with her. And Tamao did not exactly have a track record of being considerate of her feelings and goals.\r\n\r\nShe didn’t want to do it again, didn’t want to give him another chance. If he forced his way in, well, there was nothing she could do about it, but inviting him… No. And yet, she did need to talk to him. Whether she was protecting people from him, or working with him to protect the people from something else, or even just trying to guide him, like a strong flow of water being used to power a mill, she needed to know more about what he wanted. Visions of litter in the shrine weren’t enough any more.\r\n\r\nShe washed herself carefully, three times, soaking in the bath between each shower. When she got dressed, her underwear was new, laundered but unworn, and she had thoroughly cleaned her miko’s vestments earlier in the day. <em>Purity,</em> she thought. <em>I mustn’t offend him.</em>\r\n\r\nThe sky was heavy with clouds, the air dense with the promise of rain, and for a moment Akiko was ready to use that as an excuse to put off the experiment. Chiding herself for cowardice, she stepped into the sandals in the garden, and crossed the bridge to the exit to the shrine precincts.\r\n\r\nCarefully rinsing her hands and mouth, she looked around. The wood for the new shrine was piled to one side, the site still a scar of bare earth. The stones of the iwakura were dark under the dark sky, and Akiko felt as though they were watching her. With a shiver, she looked away, to see Shiraishi shooing a protester out of the shrine grounds. She heard a protest, something about fascism that she couldn’t entirely catch, and then the precincts were quiet. Even the sound of cars was muffled, as if someone had wrapped a blanket around the shrine.\r\n\r\nAkiko hurried into the woods, the crunch of earth under her sandals the loudest noise, the trees eerily still, as if they were waiting for something. Or as if the sky were holding its breath for an underwater dive. As she threaded her way between the trunks of the trees, stepping over undergrowth and ducking under branches, that image took hold in her mind. The air tasted damp, and her movements even seemed a little more difficult, as if the air were thicker than normal. Sounds were muffled, but she could feel vibrations in her gut. Making her way deeper into the woods, the smell of damp earth, damp wood became ever stronger, and she thought that the trees wavered as she glimpsed them from the corner of her eyes, as if she were seeing them through water.\r\n\r\nShe knew roughly where she was going, but the tree with the shimenawa seemed to be further into the woods than she remembered. When she came out into the clearing around it, the space was gloomy, the shards of sky she could see over her head black with cloud, the air as still and oppressive as it had been before. Slowly, she approached the tree, reaching out for its twisted bark.\r\n\r\nThe contact was the opposite of electric, as all tension drained from her, and the leaves of the tree rustled once, although she felt no breeze. Stepping forward, Akiko had embraced the tree before she realised what she was doing. Pressing her cheek against the rough surface, she breathed in its scent, wood and water, age and life, the bark warm against her skin, her vestments cutting her off from the wood, from the calm that it offered.\r\n\r\nAkiko took a step back, and brushed at her vestments with her hands. They were still remarkably clean. She drew herself up straight, looking at the tree, and bowed. Something shifted as she came up, and for a moment she thought she could see other things out of the corner of her eye. She bowed again, her attention focused inwards, and had the same sense again. This time, though, she also caught the changes within her.\r\n\r\nShe clapped, and it was as if pieces of a jigsaw in her head were jolted a little more into place. She could almost see it.\r\n\r\nOne more clap, and the key was almost there, she was sure of it.\r\n\r\nShe bowed, looking at the ground, and finally she knew what she needed to do. It wasn’t that difficult, just a different way of seeing, of thinking. Of sensing.\r\n\r\nShe looked up at a world alive with spirits.\r\n\r\nFigures like tiny dolls gathered on the branches of the trees around her, watching her without hostility. A pair of birds flew down, followed moments later by the spirit bird watching over them. She heard the rush of its wings, a clear, sharp sound in the air, and then she heard a grumble from overhead, tasted electricity, and looked up at the spirits writhing within the clouds, still asleep but only barely so.\r\n\r\nAhead of her, the tree was still a tree, but it seemed older now, and she sensed roots stretching down to the bottom of the earth, and branches that brushed the sky. It was larger, so large that the whorls in its bark were larger than her, and she had a vision of crawling into one, taking refuge within the tree, hiding from the threats.\r\n\r\nTaking a deep breath, she shook her head. She couldn’t run away. Carefully, watching for spirits, she walked to the far edge of the woodland, to the edge of a ridge overlooking the city.\r\n\r\nNausea overpowered her, driving her to her knees. The stench was unbearable, the tendrils of decay woven tightly between the houses, coiled along power lines, while twisted forms clambered and slithered among them. She saw one reach down and catch a child’s foot, sending her tumbling to the road. The girl’s cries pierced the air as she sat up, too far away for Akiko to see any details.\r\n\r\nTearing her gaze away, Akiko pushed herself to her feet and staggered back into the woods.\r\n\r\nWhat could they do?', 'Space to See', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'space-to-see', '', '', '2009-06-28 06:50:42', '2009-06-27 21:50:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=429', 0, 'post', '', 6);
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(430, 1, '2009-04-11 18:37:00', '2009-04-11 09:37:00', '', 'Space to See', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '429-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:37:00', '2009-04-11 09:37:00', '', 429, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/429-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(431, 1, '2009-04-11 18:40:02', '2009-04-11 09:40:02', 'I''ve just finished writing Episode 26, which you should see towards the end of June. So, I guess I''m just over eleven weeks ahead at the moment; that''s a good length of buffer to avoid breaks in publication.\r\n\r\nOf course, I can''t say anything about Episode 26 without spoiling the story for everyone.', 'Episode 26 Done', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'episode-26-done', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:40:02', '2009-04-11 09:40:02', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=431', 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(432, 1, '2009-04-11 18:39:31', '2009-04-11 09:39:31', 'I''ve just finished writing Episode 26, which you should see towards the end of June. So, I guess I''m just over eleven weeks ahead at the moment; that''s a good length of buffer to avoid breaks in publication.', 'Episode 26 Done', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '431-revision', '', '', '2009-04-11 18:39:31', '2009-04-11 09:39:31', '', 431, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/11/431-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(433, 1, '2009-02-17 16:55:12', '2009-02-17 07:55:12', 'Akiko and Shiraishi had to get changed before they could go out, and as they headed back into the house, leaving the impatient Akira in the entrance, the priest spoke to Akiko in a low voice.\r\n\r\n“We have to calm Akira down; that’s why we’re helping.â€\r\n\r\n“Do you know where his father is?â€\r\n\r\n“Pachinko, I guess.â€\r\n\r\n“Pachinko?â€\r\n\r\n“Mm. It doesn’t really fit the image, does it? I think that’s why he kept it secret from his son, although his wife knows. He only goes when he’s really stressed, and he always turns his cell phone off. I guess this is the first time Akira’s been involved enough to notice it.â€\r\n\r\n“So, you don’t think there’s anything to worry about?â€\r\n\r\n“Not immediately, no.â€\r\n\r\n“Not immediately?â€\r\n\r\n“Hideo, er, Mr Takenaka is under a lot of pressure at the moment, just like the shrine. He’s not the kind to worry about nothing, so I’m sure there are real problems.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh.â€ They had reached Akiko’s room, and she stepped inside while the priest continued on. Outside, the rain continued to come down in sheets, growling on the roof and veranda, still interrupted by shouts of thunder. She frowned, really wishing she didn’t have to go out in it, but not willing to challenge Shiraishi’s assumption that she obviously would.\r\n\r\nAkiko beat Shiraishi back to the entrance, where Akira was pacing, peering out through the door in the direction of the shrine building. Given the weather, that was the obvious place for Mr Takenaka to be, if he was here at all, but Akiko doubted Akira could see anything in the darkness. Akira did glance her way as she put her shoes on, but said nothing, simply turning back to stare outside.\r\n\r\nShiraishi soon joined them, carrying a couple of torches. She ducked into the shrine office, and the external lights came on. They illuminated little more than the rain falling around them, however, and Akiko resigned herself to getting drenched.\r\n\r\n“OK, Akira, let’s see if he’s here. Come on, Ms Tanahata.â€ The priest pushed the main door open, and the spray from the rain immediately struck Akiko in the face, cold, almost hostile. She pulled her coat more tightly around her neck, bringing the hood forward as far as she could, and took the torch that Shiraishi offered. They stepped out into the night.\r\n\r\nShiraishi shone her torch over the shrine building, its veranda empty behind a curtain of rainwater cascading from the roof. Akiko followed suit.\r\n\r\nAnd had to swallow a scream.\r\n\r\nWhile Shiraishi’s torch had revealed nothing, she could see something like a huge, dark lizard, squatting on the roof of the shrine over the steps, its head swinging blindly in the rain. Rain that seemed to be falling straight through it to bounce off the copper beneath.\r\n\r\nWhere the thing’s feet touched the copper, Akiko could see corrosion spreading, but as it shifted its footing, six limbs, she now saw, the metal seemed almost unharmed.\r\n\r\nShe swung the torch away and back again. There was nothing there.\r\n\r\nThe other two were too preoccupied to have noticed her reaction, to her relief, and she hurried to catch up, shining her torch on the shrine again when she did so.\r\n\r\nThe light fell on the doors, closed as they always were at night, but the small panes of glass looked clouded, as if green and white mould were growing over them. Akiko held the beam in place, pressing her lips tightly together to maintain control of her voice, and watched as the wood of the doors seemed to warp and crack. She swung the light away and back. This time the panes of glass seemed cracked and broken, while the wood was marked with gouges that looked like claw marks, where fungus grew.\r\n\r\nOnce again she hurried to keep up with the other two, carefully choosing her words.\r\n\r\n“Shouldn’t we look inside the shrine?â€ she asked, as she reached them. Shiraishi turned back to look at her.\r\n\r\n“I said, I locked it. He certainly wasn’t there then.â€\r\n\r\n“Doesn''t he have a key?â€ Akira asked, and Shiraishi turned to look at him.\r\n\r\n“Oh. He does, doesn''t he.â€ She turned to the shrine, playing her torch over it. As before, everything looked normal in her light, but when she turned it away and Akiko swung her torch’s beam to cover it she saw smoke, and charring, and small flames breaking out in the wood. Her stomach was tying itself in knots; she was sure that this couldn’t be good.\r\n\r\n“Well, I suppose we had better look.â€ The priest led the way to the shrine and up the steps. The wood felt somehow soft under Akiko’s feet, yielding and grasping, as it were thick mud, and she drew breath in a sharp hiss as she passed through the rain curtain; for a moment, it burned like acid on her skin.\r\n\r\nAs Shiraishi set a foot on the veranda, lightning flared again, the thunder shaking the shrine. And then again, and again, and again. Shiraishi and Akira stopped still, staring out at the precincts, illuminated in the harsh glare of lightning. Every flash revealed decay and destruction in the shrine building, but every flash showed different decay. Swarming cockroaches, clutching vines, graffiti, fire, flood… Akiko couldn’t look away.\r\n\r\nFinally, the lightning stopped, and Shiraishi turned to the door. She put out a hand to push it, and it slid open. The priest stopped, and glanced at Akira. Akiko realised that Shiraishi wasn’t so confident that Mr Takenaka was at Pachinko any more.\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka?â€ Her voice wasn’t as loud as it needed to be, and, clearing her throat, she called again. “Mr Takenaka?â€ Still no response. She pushed the door open further, and Akiko saw hundreds upon thousands of tiny spiders spill out, scuttling round her as they flowed down the steps. She closed her eyes, willing herself to stay still, even though she could feel them running over her feet, but they weren’t staying on her, and now they were gone.\r\n\r\nShe opened her eyes again, and looked into the shrine building. Shiraishi’s torch revealed the stools, looking the same as ever.\r\n\r\nThe thunder was loud enough to drown any words, any cry, even any thought, but the lightning was bright enough to show Mr Takenaka’s body hanging from the ceiling. Bright enough for that, and long enough to etch the image on Akiko’s memory.\r\n\r\n“Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi had seen him as well.', 'Looking Within', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '248-revision-3', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:55:12', '2009-02-17 07:55:12', '', 248, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/248-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(434, 1, '2009-04-13 06:55:28', '2009-04-12 21:55:28', 'By the time Akiko got home, wet from the rain and mortified at what the people she passed must have thought of her, her good mood had been completely swept away. The image of the snake kept coming back to her, even though she had managed to get away from the shrine without incident. She slammed the door behind her more violently than was necessary, and struggled out of her boots, dropping her jacket in the entrance hall. In the main room she pulled the curtains closed and then took her top off, draping it over the table. She pulled a bra out of the closet and put it on, her mood settling a little immediately.\n\nFully dressed, she was a lot calmer, and could feel the colour draining from her cheeks as her embarrassment faded. She swore to herself that she would never do that again, as she opened the curtains. It didn’t let a lot of light in; the clouds had darkened, and rain was falling heavily. Akiko sighed and sat down on the floor. She’d been hoping to go out shopping to take her mind off the shrine, but she wasn’t about to go out in that sort of weather. She looked around for something to read as she reached up to turn the light on, and settled on a magazine.\n\nThe rain continued to pound on the window as she read, the noise fading into the background. After a while, the light seemed to fade a little, and she glanced up. The light was still on, but outside it was almost completely dark, even though it was still afternoon. She pulled the curtains shut again, blocking out the driving rain, and sat down to read again.\n\nAfter a few minutes she decided it was definitely getting darker, and looked up at the light again. It seemed to be shining through mist, its light scattered into a sort of halo around the bulb. Frowning, Akiko stood up to get a better look. The mist around the light thickened as she did so, and she realised that it covered the whole ceiling. The mist became a layer of white clouds, like an overcast sky, and thickened further to grey, then black, the underside starting to boil as if agitated by a strong wind. Akiko reached up, her hands vanishing into the clouds, and felt their cold wetness on her hands.\n\nHer stomach lurched as panic began to build. She stretched, standing on tip-toe, until her fingers brushed the ceiling, and she was reassured to find that it was still there.\n\nA drop of water fell on her arm, and then on her face, and looking around she realised that it had started raining. Stung into action, she gathered everything she could find, covering them with her coats and jackets as the rain strengthened.\n\nWith a flash and bang, the light fused and went out, plunging the room into darkness. The rain got heavier, and the room was lit once more by a flash of lightning, followed after a couple of seconds by a rumble of thunder. Akiko crouched on the floor in the darkness, breathing heavily. <em>I fell asleep reading. This is a dream. This is a dream.</em> The rain got heavier, and she could feel the tatami mats getting wet under foot as the water soaked into her clothes.\n\nLightning flashed again, revealing a bank of mist around the edges of the room, a thick white fog that hid the walls from sight. The thunder crashed a bare second later, but Akiko was already dashing for for the door. She was there in two steps, and could feel the mist cold against her body. The wall and door were still there beyond, sensible to her groping hands, and she searched wildly for the handle.\n\nThe metal was cold and wet under her hand, and she twisted and pushed. The door did not respond. The fog around her was illuminated by another flash of lightning, the deafening thunder occurring at the same moment, and Akiko staggered back from the bright whiteness.\n\nIn the blackness she felt herself begin to sob, panic overwhelming her at last. She drew a deep breath and screamed, desperate for someone, anyone, to come and help. Her scream was drowned out by thunder, as the lightning showed her cocooned within black clouds, none of the surfaces of the room visible. Her table still reared up out of the roiling fog, but there was no other sign of her room, and even the feeling under foot had changed, from wet tatami to something soft and shifting, almost but not quite like water.\n\nLight began to filter in from behind her, in the direction that ought to be the window. She turned, hoping to see out, and saw a glow within the mist, which seemed to be thinning. Shapes started to resolve themselves, and she took a step back, away from it, as the mist receded to leave a corridor of cloud leading to a shining white torii.\n\nBeyond it she could see the shrine grounds, bathed in sunlight, the green grass sparkling with dew, and beyond it the pale wood of the shrine building supporting the copper roof, which burned orange. The scent of flowers drifted to her, while the rain continued.\n\nLightning and thunder again, and the doors of the shrine opened to let the snake, Tamao, emerge. He slid gracefully down the steps, scales shining in the sunlight, and raised his head to look at her. Akiko knew he was inviting her to walk down the tunnel to the shrine, and she found herself shifting her weight in preparation.\n\nShaking her head violently, she forced herself to step backward.\n\n“No!â€ she screamed. “I won’t go! You aren’t real!â€ She took another step back, and another, and the mists closed in on the tunnel as the light faded. Another step and she was within the fog on the opposite wall. One more and she felt her back against the wall.\n\nAnd the clouds vanished, leaving her in her room. A room thoroughly wet from the rain, with black scorch marks around the useless light. Akiko, still soaking wet, looked around in the faint light that came in from the window, and then reached her hands up to the ceiling.\n\nThe ceiling was dry. Not a burst pipe then. Rain in the room.\n\nShe sank to her knees on the sodden floor, struggling to come to terms with a new reality.\n\n<em>On to <a href="http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/category/02-double-life/">Part 2: Double Life</a>.</em>', 'Raining Inside', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '114-autosave', '', '', '2009-04-13 06:55:28', '2009-04-12 21:55:28', '', 114, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/13/114-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(435, 1, '2009-02-16 17:56:30', '2009-02-16 08:56:30', 'By the time Akiko got home, wet from the rain and mortified at what the people she passed must have thought of her, her good mood had been completely swept away. The image of the snake kept coming back to her, even though she had managed to get away from the shrine without incident. She slammed the door behind her more violently than was necessary, and struggled out of her boots, dropping her jacket in the entrance hall. In the main room she pulled the curtains closed and then took her top off, draping it over the table. She pulled a bra out of the closet and put it on, her mood settling a little immediately.\r\n\r\nFully dressed, she was a lot calmer, and could feel the colour draining from her cheeks as her embarrassment faded. She swore to herself that she would never do that again, as she opened the curtains. It didn’t let a lot of light in; the clouds had darkened, and rain was falling heavily. Akiko sighed and sat down on the floor. She’d been hoping to go out shopping to take her mind off the shrine, but she wasn’t about to go out in that sort of weather. She looked around for something to read as she reached up to turn the light on, and settled on a magazine.\r\n\r\nThe rain continued to pound on the window as she read, the noise fading into the background. After a while, the light seemed to fade a little, and she glanced up. The light was still on, but outside it was almost completely dark, even though it was still afternoon. She pulled the curtains shut again, blocking out the driving rain, and sat down to read again.\r\n\r\nAfter a few minutes she decided it was definitely getting darker, and looked up at the light again. It seemed to be shining through mist, its light scattered into a sort of halo around the bulb. Frowning, Akiko stood up to get a better look. The mist around the light thickened as she did so, and she realised that it covered the whole ceiling. The mist became a layer of white clouds, like an overcast sky, and thickened further to grey, then black, the underside starting to boil as if agitated by a strong wind. Akiko reached up, her hands vanishing into the clouds, and felt their cold wetness on her hands.\r\n\r\nHer stomach lurched as panic began to build. She stretched, standing on tip-toe, until her fingers brushed the ceiling, and she was reassured to find that it was still there.\r\n\r\nA drop of water fell on her arm, and then on her face, and looking around she realised that it had started raining. Stung into action, she gathered everything she could find, covering them with her coats and jackets as the rain strengthened.\r\n\r\nWith a flash and bang, the light fused and went out, plunging the room into darkness. The rain got heavier, and the room was lit once more by a flash of lightning, followed after a couple of seconds by a rumble of thunder. Akiko crouched on the floor in the darkness, breathing heavily. <em>I fell asleep reading. This is a dream. This is a dream.</em> The rain got heavier, and she could feel the tatami mats getting wet under foot as the water soaked into her clothes.\r\n\r\nLightning flashed again, revealing a bank of mist around the edges of the room, a thick white fog that hid the walls from sight. The thunder crashed a bare second later, but Akiko was already dashing for for the door. She was there in two steps, and could feel the mist cold against her body. The wall and door were still there beyond, sensible to her groping hands, and she searched wildly for the handle.\r\n\r\nThe metal was cold and wet under her hand, and she twisted and pushed. The door did not respond. The fog around her was illuminated by another flash of lightning, the deafening thunder occurring at the same moment, and Akiko staggered back from the bright whiteness.\r\n\r\nIn the blackness she felt herself begin to sob, panic overwhelming her at last. She drew a deep breath and screamed, desperate for someone, anyone, to come and help. Her scream was drowned out by thunder, as the lightning showed her cocooned within black clouds, none of the surfaces of the room visible. Her table still reared up out of the roiling fog, but there was no other sign of her room, and even the feeling under foot had changed, from wet tatami to something soft and shifting, almost but not quite like water.\r\n\r\nLight began to filter in from behind her, in the direction that ought to be the window. She turned, hoping to see out, and saw a glow within the mist, which seemed to be thinning. Shapes started to resolve themselves, and she took a step back, away from it, as the mist receded to leave a corridor of cloud leading to a shining white torii.\r\n\r\nBeyond it she could see the shrine grounds, bathed in sunlight, the green grass sparkling with dew, and beyond it the pale wood of the shrine building supporting the copper roof, which burned orange. The scent of flowers drifted to her, while the rain continued.\r\n\r\nLightning and thunder again, and the doors of the shrine opened to let the snake, Tamao, emerge. He slid gracefully down the steps, scales shining in the sunlight, and raised his head to look at her. Akiko knew he was inviting her to walk down the tunnel to the shrine, and she found herself shifting her weight in preparation.\r\n\r\nShaking her head violently, she forced herself to step backward.\r\n\r\n“No!â€ she screamed. “I won’t go! You aren’t real!â€ She took another step back, and another, and the mists closed in on the tunnel as the light faded. Another step and she was within the fog on the opposite wall. One more and she felt her back against the wall.\r\n\r\nAnd the clouds vanished, leaving her in her room. A room thoroughly wet from the rain, with black scorch marks around the useless light. Akiko, still soaking wet, looked around in the faint light that came in from the window, and then reached her hands up to the ceiling.\r\n\r\nThe ceiling was dry. Not a burst pipe then. Rain in the room.\r\n\r\nShe sank to her knees on the sodden floor, struggling to come to terms with a new reality.', 'Raining Inside', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '114-revision-3', '', '', '2009-02-16 17:56:30', '2009-02-16 08:56:30', '', 114, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/16/114-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(436, 1, '2009-02-12 10:50:40', '2009-02-12 01:50:40', 'Akiko stood there for a long time, wishing that she could sink into the ground and disappear. She really hadn’t intended for the priest to hear that rant. She hadn’t really wanted anyone apart from Tamao to hear it, in fact. And now that she thought about it, yelling at the kami may not have been the most intelligent thing to do. Although, what else could it really do to her?\r\n\r\nShiraishi was still waiting at the bottom of the steps, saying nothing but keeping her eyes on Akiko. Akiko forced herself to nod, not trusting herself to speak for the moment, and, after making a perfunctory bow to the shrine, came down to stand next to the priest.\r\n\r\n“I take it the interview didn’t go well?â€\r\n\r\n“There was no interview. The bus broke down, then there was a rainstorm, and by the time I got to the company, their building was on fire.â€ Akiko saw Shiraishi suppress a smile, and had to fight to keep a scowl off her face. It wasn’t funny!\r\n\r\n“I can see why you might feel cursed.â€ Akiko suddenly felt bad; she’d been accusing Shiraishi’s kami of cursing her.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to suggest that…â€ What? She had stood in front of the shrine and directly accused Tamao of cursing her. It wasn’t easy to get around that.\r\n\r\n“Oh, don’t worry about it. Curses from the kami are at least as common in the legends as blessings. Usually when they want something.â€\r\n\r\n“Like what?â€\r\n\r\n“A shrine. A particular priest. A festival. Those sorts of things.â€\r\n\r\n“So, you think Tamao wants something from me?â€\r\n\r\n“It seems likely. The kami don’t make people’s lives miserable for fun, at least not in the legends.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko wasn’t sure whether that was a relief or not. On the one hand, if she wasn’t just being tormented for the sake of it, she might be able to stop it. On the other…\r\n\r\n“<em>What</em> does he want from me?â€ The wind was picking up a bit, and it was cold. The first drops of rain began to fall, and Akiko shivered a little.\r\n\r\n“Let’s discuss that inside.â€ Shiraishi didn’t wait for Akiko to reply before hurrying into the house, but Akiko was not far behind; the rain was getting heavy. Shiraishi led her to the reception room, and then asked her to wait for a little while. Akiko sat on the floor, and looked out of the window, at the rain falling on the garden, churning the surface of the pond and dancing off the stone lantern in a cloud of spray. Very heavy, already.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was back very soon, with a hot water pot and a tray of things.\r\n\r\n“I thought you wouldn’t want to wait while I got the tea ready, so I’ll have to heat the water a bit here.â€ She put everything down, setting out more Japanese sweets, but Akiko wasn’t in a mood to eat.\r\n\r\n“What do you think Tamao wants from me?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah. Yes.â€ The priest looked down at her hands, which were clasped on the table in front of her.\r\n\r\n“You have an idea?â€\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ Akiko was getting frustrated.\r\n\r\n“Well, what is it?â€ <em>That was rude.</em> “I’m sorry, please tell me what you think.â€ Shiraishi took a deep breath, and looked up.\r\n\r\n“Think about what has happened. Tamao has driven you out of your job and your flat, and stopped you getting a new job.â€\r\n\r\n“And driven my boyfriend away.â€ The priest shook her head slightly.\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure about that. Your boyfriend seems to have had a problem with the shrine; Tamao didn’t do anything against him directly.â€ Akiko thought about that for a moment, and it was largely true. There was only that one time, in bed, when Tamao had done something directly to come between her and Naoyuki. She nodded.\r\n\r\n“Go on.â€\r\n\r\n“Tamao also drove you to come here, and clean up.â€ Akiko started to get a sense of where this was going, and nodded again.\r\n\r\n“So…?â€\r\n\r\n“I think he wants you to be here, at the shrine.â€ Shiraishi said it quickly, and then looked down. Akiko turned to look out of the window. It did make a lot of sense.\r\n\r\n“Doing what?â€ That was still a question.\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure. Being a miko, perhaps?â€\r\n\r\n“A miko? I’m not qualified.â€ Shiraishi looked surprised.\r\n\r\n“Not qualified? What do you mean?â€ Akiko felt herself blush.\r\n\r\n“I’m not… you know. I had a boyfriend.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi laughed.\r\n\r\n“Miko don’t have to be virgins.â€ Akiko felt her blush getting hotter. “I suppose you think that they don’t wear knickers, either?â€ Akiko said nothing, but her deepening blush gave her away. Shiraishi chuckled again. “You’ve been reading naughty manga, haven’t you?â€\r\n\r\n“No! Well, not really.â€ Shiraishi shook her head, waving her hand to move off the issue.\r\n\r\n“Anyway, you don’t have to be a virgin, and most miko wear knickers. In winter, they wear long, thermal underwear. Although… How old are you?â€\r\n\r\n“Twenty six, why?â€\r\n\r\n“Hmm, half my age.â€ Akiko was surprised. She had put Shiraishi in her late thirties, very early forties at most. “That’s actually a bit older than most miko; it’s normal to quite around twenty five. Still, not unheard of.â€\r\n\r\n“Great, too old for this as well.â€ This time Shiraishi blushed.\r\n\r\n“Oh, I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to come out like that. You’d be fine as a miko, really.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, but I’m not sure I want to be one.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m not sure that Tamao really wants to offer you a choice.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko scowled, and looked out of the window again. Shiraishi was right about that. There was a pause, but Akiko had no intention of saying anything, and just waited for the priest to continue.\r\n\r\n“Actually, the shrine isn’t doing that well at the moment, so I wouldn’t be able to pay you much. However, there’s only me in the house, so there’s plenty of room. You could stay here, at least until we figure out what Tamao wants.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked back at the priest, surprised. It was a very generous offer.\r\n\r\n“Why? You hardly know me…â€ Shiraishi blushed again, and looked down.\r\n\r\n“I said I had chosen to believe you. If the kami is talking to you and driving you here, I can’t really object.â€ Akiko nodded slowly. She felt that she ought to turn the offer down, but…\r\n\r\nBut she didn’t have anywhere else to go. She thought about the shower room at the manga cafe, and compared it to the enormous bathroom in the shrine house in her mind.\r\n\r\n“What if I don’t want to be a miko?â€ Shiraishi shrugged.\r\n\r\n“That may not be what Tamao wants. I’m fairly sure he wants you here, but beyond that, it’s not clear to me.â€\r\n\r\n“So, it’s all right if I think for a while?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. What do you say?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked out of the window again. She was going to say yes, she knew it. How could she turn this offer down? She looked back at the priest.\r\n\r\n“Yes. Thank you very much.â€\r\n\r\nThe sun broke through the clouds, turning the rain to a curtain of shining silver outside the window.', 'Coming Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '229-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:50:40', '2009-02-12 01:50:40', '', 229, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/229-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(437, 1, '2009-02-20 11:49:13', '2009-02-20 02:49:13', 'The rain had stopped by the time Akiko woke up the following morning, but the sky was still a heavy grey, pressing down and threatening more rain at any moment. The air seemed oppressive, somehow thicker around her as she got up. She checked her watch; already nine am. A quick look at her cell phone confirmed that she had forgotten to set her alarm, and she quickly got dressed before going looking for Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nShe first went outside, but the shrine was still closed and shuttered. Akiko frowned. If Shiraishi hadn’t got around to opening up, that was not a good sign. Scuttling motion caught her eyes, as something seemed to dart under the doors of the shrine, but when she looked again, there was nothing. Akiko forced herself to relax her jaw as she turned and went back into the shrine, but she could not deny that she was worried.\r\n\r\nShe found Shiraishi, dressed in a simple yukata, in the living room. A bottle of sake was open in front of her, and she was downing another glass as Akiko entered. The priest looked up at her, and forced a smile.\r\n\r\n“You didn’t know him, did you? Not really.â€ Akiko shook her head. “Biggest supporter of the shrine. An Ujiko representative for the last fifteen years, and the only one who hadn’t abandoned us recently.â€ She laughed, completely without humour. “Even in death, he hasn’t abandoned the shrine.â€ Her laughter stopped abruptly, and she refilled her glass. “Now what do we do?â€ Akiko knew that the question wasn’t really directed at her, which was just as well, as she had no idea how to answer it. No idea what to say or do, in fact.\r\n\r\nThe priest emptied her glass and sighed, resting her head on her hand.\r\n\r\n“Centuries of history. Is it all over now?â€ Akiko really wanted to do something, and she moved further into the room. Shiraishi looked up at her, sharply.\r\n\r\n“You see the kami. Tell him that if he doesn’t do something soon, his shrine is history.â€ Her face was hard, and then suddenly crumpled, as she dropped her head back into her hands. “I want to talk to Hideo!â€ she wailed. “He always had an idea. He never gave up. Why did you give up?â€ The last question was almost screamed into the air. Akiko bit her lip, and took another step forward, but Shiraishi took a deep breath, and reached for the bottle again.\r\n\r\n“Can I do anything?â€ Akiko asked, wincing a little at how banal it was.\r\n\r\n“Tell Tamao to bring Hideo back. And the other Ujiko, while you’re at it.â€ The priest took another deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard for you as well.â€\r\n\r\n“I could open the shrine up.â€\r\n\r\nThe priest nodded.\r\n\r\n“You do that. It can’t hurt; the police said we could.â€ There was a pause, while Shiraishi refilled her glass. “And you could answer the phone and door today. I’m ill.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course.â€ Akiko waited a few moments longer, then left the priest to herself.\r\n\r\nAs she walked over to the shrine, dozens of crows started up from the trees, their raucous cries almost deafening. She flinched a little as the sky filled with their dark forms, but they soon settled, and Akiko was able to purify herself in peace. The water had a bitter tang to it, and she pulled a face as she spat it out.\r\n\r\nStanding in front of the shrine, she paid her respects first, and then slid the doors open. The interior looked just as it always did, just a little darker, a little colder, and the veranda seemed to shift slightly under her feet. Shivering, from the cold, she told herself, Akiko hurried back into the house.', 'Escape', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '256-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:49:13', '2009-02-20 02:49:13', '', 256, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/256-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(438, 1, '2009-04-14 19:29:22', '2009-04-14 10:29:22', 'The rain had stopped by the time Akiko woke up the following morning, but the sky was still a heavy grey, pressing down and threatening more rain at any moment. The air seemed oppressive, somehow thicker around her as she got up. She checked her watch; already nine am. A quick look at her cell phone confirmed that she had forgotten to set her alarm, and she quickly got dressed before going looking for Shiraishi.\n\nShe first went outside, but the shrine was still closed and shuttered. Akiko frowned. If Shiraishi hadn’t got around to opening up, that was not a good sign. Scuttling motion caught her eyes, as something seemed to dart under the doors of the shrine, but when she looked again, there was nothing. Akiko forced herself to relax her jaw as she turned and went back into the house, but she could not deny that she was worried.\n\nShe found Shiraishi, dressed in a simple yukata, in the living room. A bottle of sake was open in front of her, and she was downing another glass as Akiko entered. The priest looked up at her, and forced a smile.\n\n“You didn’t know him, did you? Not really.â€ Akiko shook her head. “Biggest supporter of the shrine. An Ujiko representative for the last fifteen years, and the only one who hadn’t abandoned us recently.â€ She laughed, completely without humour. “Even in death, he hasn’t abandoned the shrine.â€ Her laughter stopped abruptly, and she refilled her glass. “Now what do we do?â€ Akiko knew that the question wasn’t really directed at her, which was just as well, as she had no idea how to answer it. No idea what to say or do, in fact.\n\nThe priest emptied her glass and sighed, resting her head on her hand.\n\n“Centuries of history. Is it all over now?â€ Akiko really wanted to do something, and she moved further into the room. Shiraishi looked up at her, sharply.\n\n“You see the kami. Tell him that if he doesn’t do something soon, his shrine is history.â€ Her face was hard, and then suddenly crumpled, as she dropped her head back into her hands. “I want to talk to Hideo!â€ she wailed. “He always had an idea. He never gave up. Why did you give up?â€ The last question was almost screamed into the air. Akiko bit her lip, and took another step forward, but Shiraishi took a deep breath, and reached for the bottle again.\n\n“Can I do anything?â€ Akiko asked, wincing a little at how banal it was.\n\n“Tell Tamao to bring Hideo back. And the other Ujiko, while you’re at it.â€ The priest took another deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard for you as well.â€\n\n“I could open the shrine up.â€\n\nThe priest nodded.\n\n“You do that. It can’t hurt; the police said we could.â€ There was a pause, while Shiraishi refilled her glass. “And you could answer the phone and door today. I’m ill.â€\n\n“Of course.â€ Akiko waited a few moments longer, then left the priest to herself.\n\nAs she walked over to the shrine, dozens of crows started up from the trees, their raucous cries almost deafening. She flinched a little as the sky filled with their dark forms, but they soon settled, and Akiko was able to purify herself in peace. The water had a bitter tang to it, and she pulled a face as she spat it out.\n\nStanding in front of the shrine, she paid her respects first, and then slid the doors open. The interior looked just as it always did, just a little darker, a little colder, and the veranda seemed to shift slightly under her feet. Shivering, from the cold, she told herself, Akiko hurried back into the house.', 'Escape', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '256-autosave', '', '', '2009-04-14 19:29:22', '2009-04-14 10:29:22', '', 256, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/14/256-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(439, 1, '2009-02-20 11:50:06', '2009-02-20 02:50:06', 'Shiraishi seemed rather better, if a bit hung over, the next morning. Akiko made breakfast, and the priest ate some. She made no comment on the previous day, beyond thanking Akiko for opening and closing the shrine, and said nothing while she ate, nor when they had finished. After sitting in silence for some time, while Akiko wondered whether she should say anything, Shiraishi stood up.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata, please deal with any callers.â€ She took a bottle of sake out of a cupboard, then another. Then she paused, put one back, locked the cupboard and put the key on the counter. “Keep this safe,â€ she said, tapping it, and then left the room, carrying the bottle and a glass. Akiko stood up and pocketed the key, then cleared up.\r\n\r\nOnce the breakfast things were cleared away, Akiko had nothing to do, and found herself sitting on the veranda outside her room, staring out across the pond. The air was heavy and still, tense, as if waiting for a great storm, and unwholesome colours, oily, writhed on the surface of the pond. Akiko kept telling herself that she ought to find out what they were, but she couldn’t convince herself to move. What was the point?\r\n\r\nThe doorbell roused her, and she went to see who it was.\r\n\r\nShe had not been expecting Akira, but there he was, dressed formally in black, bowing deeply as she opened the door.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata. Is Revd Shiraishi at home?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah, she said she didn’t want to be disturbed.â€ Akira nodded, his face concerned.\r\n\r\n“Is she all right? It must have been a great shock for her.â€ Akiko nodded, surprised.\r\n\r\n“She’s… coping, I think. Are you all right?â€ As soon as she’d asked it, she worried that she had made a mistake, but Akira didn’t seem to be bothered.\r\n\r\n“Oh yes. It’s Sunday; I can’t do anything about the business until tomorrow, so there’s no problem with me coming to check on you. And mother wanted me to get out of the house for a while; I think she wants some time alone.â€ He smiled, then, but even Akiko could see that it wasn’t wholly natural.\r\n\r\n“That…â€ She stopped herself. She didn’t know Akira well enough to tell him how he should be reacting. She brushed her hair back, to give herself something to do, and then looked beyond Akira, out into the shrine.\r\n\r\nShe could see where he had stepped, crossing the grass to reach the house. The grass in his footprints was dead, sere and brown, and the ground beneath it shimmered, covered with crawling insects. Akiko shuddered, and looked back at Akira. He was looking at her in apparent concern.\r\n\r\n“Are you all right, Ms Tanahata?â€\r\n\r\n“Me?â€ To cover her confusion, Akiko looked past him again. This time, the grass was unmarked, green and wet from the rain. “I… Yes, I’m fine.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, take care. There seems to be a nasty fever going around; I know a couple of people who went down with it yesterday.â€\r\n\r\n<em>A fever?</em> Akiko almost wanted to shout and Akira, to shake him, to tell him that his father was dead, why was he babbling about a fever? But she didn’t. She just nodded.\r\n\r\n“We will.â€\r\n\r\n“Good. Well, I suppose I had better be going home.â€ With a bow, he took his leave. Akiko stood looking after him for some time.', 'Akira''s Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '258-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:50:06', '2009-02-20 02:50:06', '', 258, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/258-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(440, 1, '2009-06-29 00:00:04', '2009-06-28 15:00:04', 'After a few moments leaning on a tree, Akiko realised that she couldn’t see any spirits. She looked around, and the woods seemed normal, mundane. Even the bit of Kawasaki she could see between the trees showed no overt signs of kegare. Still, she was sure that it hadn’t been a hallucination. Quite the opposite, in fact; for the first time, she had been in control, and known what she was seeing.\r\n\r\nSo much pollution! That thought stayed in her mind, dominating it. It was no wonder Tamao wanted the area to be purified, and Akiko agreed that it would be a good idea, even if Tamao weren’t demanding it. But that didn’t help with the question of “howâ€. She wondered whether the other spirits she had seen could help, and how she could ask them to, but she didn’t know enough about them.\r\n\r\nThat, she decided, was the most frustrating thing. She didn’t know enough about the situation to decide what to do. She didn’t know what might be causing the kegare, or what might be an effective way to purify it.\r\n\r\nStanding around in the woodland was definitely not going to help, however, so Akiko started making her way back through the trees to the main shrine precincts. As she got closer, she started to hear voices, and it sounded like people were shouting. Suddenly worried, she picked up her pace a bit, although hurrying through trees in her vestments was far from easy, and twigs and branches kept catching at her.\r\n\r\nThe sky was as dark and ominous as before when she finally came out into the open area, and for a moment the iwakura looked like some sort of looming creature. When she looked again, though, it was just the stones, from a new angle. The arguing voices were clear now, and shaking her head and telling herself not to start seeing monsters that weren’t there, she walked as quickly as she could across the precincts to the steps.\r\n\r\nFrom the top, she could see what was happening. A knot of protesters were standing across the bottom of the steps, facing a middle-aged man who seemed to want to come in. Akiko hadn’t seen him before, but Shiraishi, who was standing behind the protesters, did seem to know him. Akiko started down the steps, listening to the argument, trying to work out what was going on.\r\n\r\n“Look, will you please get out of his way.â€\r\n\r\n“We aren’t inside the shrine. You can’t tell us what to do on a public road.â€\r\n\r\n“You’re blocking access!â€\r\n\r\n“We aren’t blocking a public route.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko suddenly recognised the voice. It was the woman who had told her that she was watching Akiko. With that realisation, it only took a moment to pick her out of the group of protesters.\r\n\r\n“Look, I just want to go in and talk to the priest. Could you please get out of my way?â€ That was the man they seemed to be blocking.\r\n\r\n“We can stand here if we want. It’s for your own good, you know. The kami are dangerous.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko had reached the bottom of the steps.\r\n\r\n<em>You know, she has a point,</em> she thought, and then turned her attention to resolving the situation', 'Trouble at the Gate', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'trouble-at-the-gate', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:38:41', '2009-04-16 03:38:41', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=440', 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(441, 1, '2009-04-16 12:38:36', '2009-04-16 03:38:36', '', 'Trouble at the Gate', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '440-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:38:36', '2009-04-16 03:38:36', '', 440, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/440-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(442, 1, '2009-06-30 00:00:49', '2009-06-29 15:00:49', '“A miko? I thought you said the shrine had been destroyed?â€ The man looked at Akiko, and then turned an accusing stare onto the woman who was blocking his way.\r\n\r\n“It has. Burned down, and then an earthquake toppled the torii.â€\r\n\r\n“But it never had a miko before. It sounds like it is doing well to me.â€\r\n\r\n“It is <em>not!</em> It is declining and failing, just like all shrines, and you shouldn’t prolong it. If not for yourself, won’t you think of the children?â€\r\n\r\n“I’m doing this for my children!â€ The man was shouting back at her, and he stopped abruptly, breathing hard and obviously trying to get himself back under control.\r\n\r\n“Look, you are blocking the entrance to someone’s home,â€ Shiraishi said, “and preventing someone from visiting them. Even though you are not on the shrine property, I don’t think that’s legal.â€\r\n\r\n“Call the police, then!â€ The woman was defiant, but Akiko noticed that the two protesters with her looked rather less certain, a lot more nervous. Akiko decided to address them.\r\n\r\n“Haven’t you made your point now? I’m sure that we all know you think that no-one should visit the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“And you expect us to just allow someone in?â€ The woman broke in quickly, but the other two still looked unsure.\r\n\r\n“Well, you won’t achieve anything with us. Revd Shiraishi and I are not going to abandon the shrine and, er…â€ Akiko looked at the man, not knowing how to refer to him.\r\n\r\n“Ito,â€ he said, clearly guessing her problem.\r\n\r\n“And Mr Ito is not going to go home without coming into the shrine, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Absolutely,â€ he agreed, smiling and nodding at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“So,â€ Akiko continued, “you’ve made your point now, and there’s no point risking arrest. Think how embarrassed your family would be.â€\r\n\r\n“My family would be proud of me!â€ The woman was still defiant, but her companions weren’t.\r\n\r\n“Er, Mrs Watanabe, I think they’re right.â€\r\n\r\n“What? We can’t give up!â€\r\n\r\n“It’s not giving up,â€ the third protester said. “We’ve made our point. If he wasn’t determined to go in, he would have given up by now. And… I really can’t afford to be arrested, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“And Mr Akiyama, you know, said that we mustn’t break the law.â€\r\n\r\n“I sometimes wonder about Mr Akiyama’s dedication. Or whether he really understands the seriousness of the situation.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko realised that Mrs Watanabe’s companions looked a bit embarrassed at that; perhaps they thought that she was being a bit too enthusiastic. Akiko, on the other hand, was starting to wonder just how much Mrs Watanabe knew. If she knew just a bit about the kami, hostility might not be unreasonable.\r\n\r\n“If you break the law, we can call the police and have you arrested. That would certainly make our lives easier. Should we try it?â€ Shiraishi had fished her cell phone out of her pocket, and was holding it up. One of the other two protesters held his hands up in surrender.\r\n\r\n“No, no. That won’t be necessary.â€ He stepped across, standing half in front of Mrs Watanabe, blocking her in and leaving a narrow passage at the side, just large enough for Mr Ito to make it onto the steps.\r\n\r\n“What are you <em>doing?â€</em> Mrs Watanabe almost screeched her protest.\r\n\r\n“Recognising the limits on what we can do. The miko’s right. We’ve made our point. Getting ourselves arrested isn’t going to help.â€ He turned back to Mr Ito. “If you really want to, you can go in. But I still advise you not to.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€ Mr Ito’s reply was very formal, as he edged round them to start climbing the steps.', 'Negotiating Passage', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'negotiating-passage', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:39:27', '2009-04-16 03:39:27', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=442', 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(443, 1, '2009-04-16 12:39:18', '2009-04-16 03:39:18', '', 'Negotiating Passage', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '442-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:39:18', '2009-04-16 03:39:18', '', 442, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/442-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(444, 1, '2009-07-01 00:00:34', '2009-06-30 15:00:34', '“We should go into the house,â€ said Shiraishi as they climbed up the steps. “They know that they can’t disturb us in there.â€ Akiko could hear the protesters arguing amongst themselves, keeping their voices low for the most part, and decided that they weren’t likely to interfere for a while in any case. Mr Ito nodded, but he was very quiet now, following them into the house, merely murmuring the conventional courtesies.\r\n\r\nWhen Akiko brought the tea into the reception room, he and Shiraishi were still sitting in silence. The priest glanced at Akiko, raising her eyebrows and shrugging slightly.\r\n\r\n“Won’t you have some tea, Mr Ito? And tell us why you have come.â€\r\n\r\nHe took the tea, and sipped from it, staring at the table. Then he put it down, adjusting its position slightly, before looking up, glancing between Shiraishi and Akiko.\r\n\r\n“This is a bit embarrassing,â€ he said, with a sigh. “I really don’t believe in this sort of thing.â€\r\n\r\n“What sort of thing?â€ Shiraishi asked the question gently, but Akiko thought she detected an eagerness to hear the answer. Akiko herself was certainly curious.\r\n\r\n“Oh, I don’t know. Kegare. Curses. Purification. I don’t know what to call it.â€\r\n\r\n“What is the problem?â€\r\n\r\nMr Ito sighed, and looked at his hands again, staring at them for several long moments.\r\n\r\n“It sounds silly when I just say it,â€ he said, finally. “I’m just having lots of bad luck. Little things. Dropping a pen behind a desk. Forgetting to unmount a disk before ejecting it, and then losing important data. Tripping in the street. Small things keep going wrong with the car. And I’ve constantly got small pains, although they move around. And I can’t sleep.â€ Shiraishi was nodding sympathetically, but Akiko was much more alert, remembering what she had seen kegare spirits doing, remembering the girl she had seen tripped up only a few minutes before.\r\n\r\nShe tried to recapture the state she had reached in the wood. <em>I needed to think like this, no, not quite, more like… Ah. Nearly. So maybe it was… Yes. Oh, no.</em>\r\n\r\nSuddenly, Akiko could see kegare. Shiraishi was almost entirely free of it, and even the bits she had were burned away as Akiko watched by a faint glow that seemed to come from the priest’s skin.\r\n\r\nMr Ito, on the other hand, was heavy with it. Black vines of corruption wrapped round his body, pressing thorns into his neck, while bloated centipedes crawled over them, disappearing into the folds of his clothes and then reappearing on the other side of his body, almost as if they were crawling through him. Akiko had to fight to suppress a shudder.\r\n\r\n“Ah, Mr Ito, is your throat sore at the moment?â€\r\n\r\n“What? Er, yes. Yes, a bit. How did you know?â€\r\n\r\n“Um…â€ Akiko wasn’t at all sure how she could explain, but she was sure that what she was seeing was real. She turned to the priest.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, I think we should perform a harae for Mr Ito.â€ Shiraishi was briefly startled, but then she nodded.\r\n\r\n“I’ll get ready.â€\r\n\r\nThe rain was still not falling, although the clouds seemed even heavier, so they set the himorogi up on the former shrine site, this time leaving the go-shintai inside. As they knelt, and Shiraishi began the ceremony, Akiko tried to switch back to seeing the kegare. As the priest picked up the ohnusa, she finally succeeded.\r\n\r\nThe vines were moving around Mr Ito, constricting, while the centipedes scuttled ever faster. Then Shiraishi waved the ohnusa over him, and although Akiko saw no light from it this time, the vines and centipedes dissolved as if they were just painted on, and were being washed away.\r\n\r\nMr Ito’s face relaxed, and he smiled.', 'Purification', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'purification', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:40:04', '2009-04-16 03:40:04', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=444', 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(445, 1, '2009-04-16 12:39:58', '2009-04-16 03:39:58', '', 'Purification', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '444-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:39:58', '2009-04-16 03:39:58', '', 444, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/444-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(446, 1, '2009-07-02 00:00:11', '2009-07-01 15:00:11', '“10,000 yen! For an ordinary harae. And he was talking about coming back to the meetings.â€\r\n\r\n“The meetings?â€ Akiko was a little puzzled, but pleased to see how happy Shiraishi looked.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Mr Ito was one of the ujiko. One of the last to abandon us. Not quite the last, before Mr Takenaka…â€ The priest’s face suddenly fell, and she leaned on the desk in the office. “Anyway,â€ she continued, brightening up again, “he was talking about taking up his role as an ujiko again. I think he’s been feeling guilty about ignoring us.â€\r\n\r\n“That is good.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes!â€ Shiraishi was enthusiastic again. “I think we’ve hit the low point, and are now recovering. And the plans for the shrine building are coming on well. Look!â€ She spread the diagrams over the desk, and started explaining them to Akiko, pointing bits out.\r\n\r\n“We’re going to have serpents carved over here. I’ve already commissioned the work, and approved the sketches; I imagine he’s started by now. And carvings round here, as well, but I’m still discussing whether it would be better to have those done in place.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded as she looked at the plans.\r\n\r\n“We can afford all of this?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, yes. The loan covers it. And with the ujiko coming back, the loan won’t be a problem.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi certainly sounded confident, but Akiko remained a bit worried. The protesters hadn’t gone away, and they could still drive the costs up. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if they ran out of money before the shrine was finished. What would Tamao do?\r\n\r\n“That’s good,â€ she said, trying to sound as positive as the priest. “What about the torii?â€\r\n\r\n“Already ordered. It should be ready next week, although they’ve agreed to hold on to it until the shrine itself is built.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s fast.â€\r\n\r\n“They had a free slot in their schedule; apparently they’re going to get very busy soon, so they offered to do the job quickly, to get it finished.â€\r\n\r\n“That is good.â€ <em>Maybe Tamao is helping out,</em> Akiko thought. “What about the main building?â€\r\n\r\n“Hmm, yes. Well, we’ve found workmen who can do it, and are willing to, but they’re busy at the moment. They won’t be able to start for another three months at least.â€\r\n\r\n<em>Maybe Tamao isn’t helping.</em> “Three months?â€\r\n\r\n“I know. But there aren’t that many people who can build shrines, and most shrines book rebuilding months or years in advance; it takes time to raise the funds, you know. They’ll fit us in early because this is an emergency, but that’s still a few months away.â€\r\n\r\n“So why the rush to get everything else done? Where are we going to keep everything?â€\r\n\r\n“Well…â€ For a moment, Shiraishi actually looked nonplussed. “Er, a lot of it will stay at the workshops. And I was thinking of setting the furniture for the honden up in one of the rooms here, so that we could put the go-shintai somewhere a little more suitable. We want to keep Tamao happy, after all.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes,â€ Akiko agreed, “we do. And I suppose it can’t hurt to have everything ready, can it? The workmen might become available sooner than they think.â€\r\n\r\n“Right. I wonder how many of the ujiko will come to the enshrining ceremony?â€', 'Order-Made', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'order-made', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:40:44', '2009-04-16 03:40:44', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=446', 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(447, 1, '2009-04-16 12:40:37', '2009-04-16 03:40:37', '', 'Order-Made', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '446-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:40:37', '2009-04-16 03:40:37', '', 446, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/446-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(448, 1, '2009-07-03 00:00:50', '2009-07-02 15:00:50', 'The immediate influence of Shiraishi’s enthusiasm had worn off by the following morning, leaving Akiko in a worried mood again. The presence of the woman protester, Mrs Watanabe, in the precincts when she went out to pay her respects to the kami did nothing to help. It wasn’t even difficult for Akiko to understand why she was worried. The kegare over Kawasaki hadn’t gone away, even if the kegare around Mr Ito had, and Tamao still didn’t have a shrine. A lot could go wrong in a few months. Once the kami were involved, lives could be turned upside down in a matter of weeks.\r\n\r\nAkiko spent the morning restless, trying to get various jobs done around the shrine, but making much less progress than she felt she should. Were things actually getting better? They certainly hadn’t looked that way to her when she’d seen the kegare over the city, but at least the shrine seemed to be clean. She remembered the kegare around Mr Ito dissolving under the harae, and wondered if that had solved his problems.\r\n\r\nHer idle speculation quickly hardened into a genuine question. <em>Had</em> it solved his problems? Akiko realised that she still didn’t really know what the connection between kegare and real, physical problems was. She was just assuming that it caused them. She had seen the spirits associated with it causing accidents, but the kegare itself just seemed to be there. Things that looked damaged when she could see the kegare often weren’t; she remembered how the shrine building had looked after Mr Takenaka’s suicide. So what was the connection? But how could she find out? She thought about calling Mr Ito, but couldn’t work out how to put the question.\r\n\r\nThe idea didn’t go away, however, and it kept bothering her for the rest of the day. Maybe she should call Mr Ito. She could just ask him how he was. That would just sound like ordinary concern, surely. It wasn’t like she had no connection to him.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t even entirely convince herself, but by the evening she was sure that she had to call. She had to know. It was easy to find his number in the shrine records.\r\n\r\n“Hello? This is Hidenori Ito.â€\r\n\r\n“Mr Ito? This is Akiko Tanahata, the miko from Tamao Shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata?â€ He sounded surprised, which was, Akiko supposed, natural. “How can I help you? Did I leave something there?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, no, nothing like that. I was…â€ She paused for a moment. The question would sound oddly personal, she knew. But she had to know; she pressed on regardless. “I was just wondering whether you felt any better after yesterday’s harae.â€\r\n\r\nThere was a brief pause before Mr Ito replied.\r\n\r\n“Yes. Yes, I did. My sore throat went away, and I felt much less tired. I didn’t notice any strange problems on the way home, either.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, that’s very good to hear. Thank you.â€\r\n\r\n“But…â€ He interrupted her, and Akiko fell silent. So did he, but this time Akiko was willing to wait, worrying about what he was going to say.\r\n\r\n“I started feeling down again soon after I got home. My leg aches now, and dinner got burned.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah, Mr Ito, this might sound strange, but… Could I have a look at your house?â€', 'Aftercare', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'aftercare', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:41:17', '2009-04-16 03:41:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=448', 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(449, 1, '2009-04-16 12:41:13', '2009-04-16 03:41:13', '', 'Aftercare', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '448-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:41:13', '2009-04-16 03:41:13', '', 448, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/448-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(450, 1, '2009-07-04 00:00:23', '2009-07-03 15:00:23', 'Mr Ito had agreed to her coming round very quickly, and Akiko had only paused long enough to tell Shiraishi where she was going before setting off. It was only as she was walking over that she began to wonder why he had agreed so quickly. They had only met the previous day, after all. She remembered asking about the sore throat, and wondered whether Mr Ito thought that she had supernatural powers of some sort.\r\n\r\n<em>I do have supernatural powers of some sort.</em>\r\n\r\nThe realisation brought her up short, and she stood in the street, trying to come to terms with it. There was really no other way to describe what she could do, what she had done. And at least the power of seeing seemed to be her, not Tamao.\r\n\r\n<em>I wish I had more useful supernatural powers,</em> she thought, <em>ones that actually helped to solve the problems.</em> Shaking her head, she started walking again. If Mr Ito thought that she wanted to go to his house to use her supernatural powers on it, then, as it happened, he was absolutely right. If he thought she had the faintest idea what to do after that, he was likely to be disappointed.\r\n\r\nShe reached the house, a typical family home, fairly new, hemmed in by very similar buildings around it. She thought about trying to see kegare right away, but decided that she should introduce herself first. She rang the doorbell, and waited.\r\n\r\nThe door was opened by a woman, about the same age as Mr Ito. His wife, Akiko guessed.\r\n\r\n“Yes? Oh, you must be the girl from the shrine. Please come in; my husband is waiting for you.â€ Akiko bowed slightly in acknowledgement.\r\n\r\n“I’m Akiko Tanahata. Pleased to meet you.â€ She stepped up into the house, and realised that Mrs Ito was looking at her slightly oddly. Suspicious? Not exactly. Curious?\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata, what can you see?â€ Mr Ito sounded quite worried, and his question was very abrupt.\r\n\r\n“See?â€\r\n\r\n“That’s why you wanted to come, wasn’t it? To see whether my house was polluted?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, well, yes. But how did you know?â€\r\n\r\n“You knew about the sore throat. And then you recommended harae, which did seem to help. What…?â€ He suddenly stopped, looking at his wife. Akiko glanced round, to see her shaking her head slightly.\r\n\r\n“Forgive my husband. He likes to ask rather too many questions. I think we would be better off not knowing too much about this.â€ Akiko opened her mouth to protest, and then closed it again. She would rather not know most of it; she could hardly argue with Mrs Ito. Mrs Ito nodded, still watching her. “Anyway, please. Do… whatever you want to do.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€ Akiko looked away from them, looking inside, pushing her perceptions around as she searched for the key that would give her the visions of kegare again. She still wasn’t quite used to it, but… there!\r\n\r\nThe stench was overpowering, and Akiko couldn’t stop herself covering her mouth and nose. Blackish-green slime ran down the walls of the room, while ropey tendrils in sickly red crossed the ceiling, and spider webs surrounded by clouds of unhealthy brown dust blocked the doorways. Spider spirits skittered across them, and, looking down, Akiko saw spirits like deformed rats, gnawing at the supports of the house, undermining it.\r\n\r\nTaking a deep breath, she switched her vision back to normal.\r\n\r\n“We need to purify your house.â€', 'Home Visit', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'home-visit', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:41:53', '2009-04-16 03:41:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=450', 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(451, 1, '2009-04-16 12:41:45', '2009-04-16 03:41:45', '', 'Home Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '450-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:41:45', '2009-04-16 03:41:45', '', 450, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/450-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(452, 1, '2009-07-05 00:00:02', '2009-07-04 15:00:02', 'Both of the Itos looked shocked, but Mrs Ito recovered first, nodding in acknowledgement.\r\n\r\n“When would be convenient?â€\r\n\r\n“This evening would be good.â€ Akiko was finding it hard to forget the images of decay, and the spirits trying to undermine the house. Could the whole place collapse around them? “As soon as possible, really.â€\r\n\r\nMrs Ito nodded again, but her mouth was pressed firmly closed.\r\n\r\n“Do you need anything?â€ Mr Ito asked.\r\n\r\n“Ah, no. Just space to set the himorogi up. In here is fine, if we push the furniture back a bit. But…â€ Akiko remembered that she was still in her own clothes. “I need to go back to the shrine to change, and to help Revd Shiraishi bring the things we need. I’ll call you when we are coming.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course,â€ Mrs Ito replied. “Try not to be too late; our son has school tomorrow.â€\r\n\r\n“No, obviously.â€ Akiko thought she managed not to visibly shudder at the thought of a child living in that house, but she almost ran back to the shrine, only slowing down as she ran out of breath.\r\n\r\nShiraishi’s initial reaction was slightly sceptical.\r\n\r\n“Go out to do a harae? Why?â€\r\n\r\n“Because Mr Ito’s house is heavy with kegare. I think there are spirits trying to make it collapse. We have to cleanse it, and drive them away.â€\r\n\r\n“And a harae will do that?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“You are sure?â€ Shiraishi was suddenly very interested.\r\n\r\n“Yes. I can see the kegare. When you perform the harae, it all gets swept away and destroyed. We cleansed Mr Ito of a lot yesterday, but he picked some up again as soon as he got home. We have to cleanse the house, too.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi was quiet for a few moments, as if thinking hard about something. Then she nodded.\r\n\r\n“I see. We have to purify ourselves first, particularly you, if you’ve been in there.â€ Akiko felt her skin crawl at the thought of what she might have picked up, and nodded. “Do you want to use the bath first?â€ Shiraishi continued.\r\n\r\nAkiko’s sense of urgency mounted ever higher.\r\n\r\n“There isn’t time for that. We should use it together.â€ She had to force herself not to run for the bathroom, and she was already down to her underwear when Shiraishi entered the changing area. Akiko glanced over, and saw that the priest was blushing bright red. Shy? Akiko quickly slipped off her underwear and hurried into the bath. Maybe the priest didn’t want to undress in front of her.\r\n\r\nShiraishi came into the bathroom just as Akiko was stepping into the bath itself, and she seemed to be staying as far away as possible. Akiko wondered what the problem was as she ducked under the water, but she didn’t have time to think about it; she quickly got out of the bath and went to get dressed.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was still dressed before Akiko; an extra few decades’ practice getting the vestments gave her an edge there. She was still rather red, but Akiko decided not to ask about it.\r\n\r\n“Help me carry the gear,â€ Shiraishi said, smiling slightly.\r\n\r\nIn the car, the priest did return to the subject.\r\n\r\n“Sorry about the bath thing. I was just a bit surprised.â€\r\n\r\n“Surprised?â€\r\n\r\n“I, er, didn’t think it was quite that urgent. Ah, here we are. Did we really need the car?â€\r\n\r\n<em>Probably not,</em> thought Akiko, but deciding whether to take it would have taken even more time. Shiraishi went to ring the bell, while Akiko picked up the equipment from the boot of the car. She caught bits of the conversation with the Itos as she carried it in, and then the two of them set it up.\r\n\r\n“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi was whispering.\r\n\r\n“What?â€\r\n\r\n“Should the Itos be here for the ceremony?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah.â€ Akiko hadn’t thought of that. “Yes, they should. That way they’ll get purified as well.â€ The priest conveyed the message, and Mrs Ito went to get their son while Akiko finished putting the himorogi up.\r\n\r\nWhen the preparations were complete, Akiko knelt off to one side, while Shiraishi showed the Itos where they should be. Akiko knew that she should look at the kegare to monitor the situation, but she really didn’t want to see that again.\r\n\r\n<em>Coward,</em> she accused herself, and tried to shift her perceptions.\r\n\r\nFor a few moments nothing happened, and Akiko realised that she was too nervous. She had to relax a bit, and then… there.\r\n\r\nThe room looked as bad as she remembered, the himorogi standing out clean within it, the shide papers hanging from the sakaki sparkling in the general gloom. Shiraishi was also clean, with a definite glow about her, a glow that Akiko saw several tendrils of kegare flinch away from. She looked down at her own hands, and saw that they were also clean. Around her knees, the mat of fungus on the floor had drawn back, leaving a channel a few millimetres wide.\r\n\r\nAkiko glanced over at the Itos. Mr Ito had a few thin tendrils around him, much lighter than the ones over his wife. As Akiko watched, a yellow centipede ran over Mrs Ito’s face and disappeared into the corner of her eye. She had to stifle a scream, and she quickly looked at their son.\r\n\r\nThe boy was invisible within a cocoon of kegare, pus leaking from cracks at the joints whenever he moved.\r\n\r\nAkiko turned sharply back to the himorogi, hoping, praying that the harae would work as well as she hoped.\r\n\r\nAs Shiraishi intoned the norito, even before she touched the ohnusa, Akiko saw the tendrils of kegare writhing and twitching back, smoking and dissolving at their tips. She looked down, and saw that the kegare around her had retreated a little further.\r\n\r\n<em>It’s working,</em> she thought.\r\n\r\nShiraishi picked up the ohnusa, sweeping it through the air. The tendrils dissolved as they flinched back, and the air seemed to get fresher, clearer. She swept the ohnusa over the Itos, and the tendrils surrounding Mr Ito vanished, blown away like cobwebs, while those around his wife were reduced to thin threads. The cocoon around their son cracked and flaked away, revealing him inside, but it didn’t disappear; there were simply gaps in it.\r\n\r\n<em>Not enough.</em> Shiraishi turned back, but Akiko caught her eye and shook her head, willing the priest to understand.\r\n\r\nIt seemed she did, because she turned back to the Itos, waving the ohnusa once more. This time, the cocoon shattered into dust. The Itos’ son gasped, and then collapsed onto the floor, crying.\r\n\r\nAround him, the room seemed entirely clean.', 'Harae', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'harae-2', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:42:27', '2009-04-16 03:42:27', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=452', 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(453, 1, '2009-04-16 12:42:19', '2009-04-16 03:42:19', '', 'Harae', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '452-revision', '', '', '2009-04-16 12:42:19', '2009-04-16 03:42:19', '', 452, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/16/452-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(454, 1, '2009-07-06 00:00:15', '2009-07-05 15:00:15', 'The boy didn’t stop crying, and Akiko and Shiraishi glanced at each other. Akiko wasn’t sure what to do, and it didn’t look as though the priest had a clear idea, either. After a moment, Shiraishi continued with the ceremony, concluding it as quickly as possible and then starting to clear away the equipment. Akiko hurried to help her, glancing back at the Itos, the parents attempting to comfort their son.\r\n\r\nOnce the equipment was gathered, Shiraishi turned to bow to the Itos, and excused herself.\r\n\r\n“The ceremony is finished. Thank you for your devotion.â€ Mr Ito looked up and nodded to them, and Shiraishi beckoned to Akiko, leading her quickly out of the house.\r\n\r\nIn the car, Shiraishi just sat there, her hands on the steering wheel, staring out of the windscreen. Suddenly, she turned to Akiko.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, tell me what you see.â€\r\n\r\n“Kegare, I think.â€\r\n\r\n“No, in detail. <em>How </em>do you see kegare?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh.â€ Akiko turned to look out of the car, gathering her thoughts. “It… varies. Decay, normally. Vines, fungus, insects. Larger animals, often deformed, although those might be spirits rather than kegare itself. Smells of decay, as well.â€\r\n\r\n“What about the Ito boy? Did you see why he was crying?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah.â€ Akiko shuddered a little at the memory. “He was utterly covered in something, like a cocoon. It was leaking pus where his movements had cracked it at the joints.â€\r\n\r\n“But why? What was it.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko sighed, looking down and then looking back at Shiraishi.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. When the shrine was polluted, after… after Mr Takenaka died, I saw kegare a lot, but it looked different every time. I assume it was the same kegare, though.â€\r\n\r\n“So different kegare doesn’t look different?â€\r\n\r\n“No.â€ Akiko considered for a moment. “At least, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure that the same kegare can appear in a lot of ways, and I don’t think the different sorts of kegare appear differently. Actually, I’m not even sure that there are different sorts of kegare.â€\r\n\r\n“So you don’t know why the boy was crying?â€\r\n\r\n“No. He had more kegare than his parents, I think.â€\r\n\r\n“You can see amounts?â€\r\n\r\n“I think so. Mr Ito only had a bit wrapped round him, maybe because he’d just had the harae. Mrs Ito had more. Their son, well. Like I said, a cocoon.â€\r\n\r\n“What about me?â€\r\n\r\n“None. I seemed to be clean, too.â€\r\n\r\n“And it all vanished after the harae?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. And Mr Ito said that he felt better after the last harae. Actually, the boy didn’t start crying until you’d purified him of all the kegare.â€\r\n\r\n“What about other people?â€\r\n\r\nThe questioning was starting to make Akiko a little uncomfortable; she was realising how little she really knew about what she was seeing.\r\n\r\n“Other people. Yes, they have kegare. Mr Takenaka had a lot when he came to the shrine the morning before he died. Akira had a lot after that, until the ceremony to purify the shrine. Mr Wakabayashi always has quite a lot.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi banged her hands on the steering wheel.\r\n\r\n“Wakabayashi has it because he’s hostile to the kami, I think. Hideo had it because he was on the verge of suicide. But I think Akira had it because he had been near his father’s death.â€ She turned to look at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“It doesn’t really tell us anything useful, does it?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I just see the pollution. I don’t see causes.\r\n\r\n“I don’t see answers.â€', 'Explaining Kegare', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'explaining-kegare', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:43:18', '2009-04-18 03:43:18', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=454', 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(455, 1, '2009-04-18 12:43:09', '2009-04-18 03:43:09', '', 'Explaining Kegare', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '454-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:43:09', '2009-04-18 03:43:09', '', 454, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/454-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(456, 1, '2009-07-07 00:00:24', '2009-07-06 15:00:24', 'There were still people gathered near the entrance to the shrine, and Akiko wondered whether they would have trouble getting in. In the event, however, it was easy, with nothing more than a few hostile looks. The shrine precincts were cold, and Akiko shivered a little in her vestments; she remembered Shiraishi saying something about miko wearing long thermal underwear in winter, and understood why.\r\n\r\nShe had just finished changing into her normal clothes when the doorbell rang. Akiko arrived in the entrance hall just as Shiraishi was opening the door. Mr Wakabayashi was waiting outside. Akiko stiffened, even as he smiled and bowed.  What did he want <em>this</em> time?\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, could I come in and speak to you?â€\r\n\r\n“You can speak to me here. I will not sell you the shrine.â€\r\n\r\nMr Wakabayashi just smiled, and Akiko felt herself go cold. She didn’t like that smile, not in the slightest.\r\n\r\n“You borrowed a large sum of money recently, secured on the land, did you not?â€\r\n\r\n“None of your business.â€ Shiraishi was clearly trying to keep her annoyance in check. Akiko stayed in the background, not sure what she should do, but sure that it was better for her to be there.\r\n\r\n“Oh, but I am afraid it is. The company from which you borrowed the money was having cash flow problems, and was willing to sell the debt to me.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko didn’t quite manage to suppress a gasp, and she took a step forward before catching herself.\r\n\r\n“I don’t believe you.â€ Shiraishi’s response was flat, but Akiko could not tell whether it was sincere. Wakabayashi shrugged and reached into his bag.\r\n\r\n“This is why I suggested that you let me in. If you would look at these papers, you will see that it is quite in order.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi almost snatched the offered papers from him, looking through them, her body becoming visibly tense and her face reddening as she did so. Finally, she looked up, her lips pressed firmly together.\r\n\r\n“All right,â€ she said, after a pause. “It looks like you now own our debt. We have been making the repayments, and we will continue to do so. You only get the land if we default.â€\r\n\r\n“That is true, of course. I am, however, willing to cancel the loan and pay you one billion yen for the land. You must admit that that is a good deal.â€\r\n\r\nIn purely financial terms, it did sound like a good deal to Akiko. In fact, it sounded like he would lose money on the deal, no matter what he built on the plot. City regulations wouldn’t let him build enough flats to recoup that sort of money. But if he wasn’t just a greedy developer, what was he?\r\n\r\n“I have told you over and over again that I will not sell.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t quite shouting, but Akiko imagined that the self-control must be hard for her.\r\n\r\n“In that case, can I ask you to take another look at the loan agreement you signed? Particularly clause 32.â€\r\n\r\nHe held out a sheaf of paper, which Shiraishi almost snatched from him, leafing through it. Akiko moved up to read it over Shiraishi’s shoulder. Clause 32 gave conditions under which the contract could be ended. Akiko read it over, and then read the last one again, as the blood drained from her face. Shiraishi’s grip tightened on the paper as she read it as well.\r\n\r\n“In accordance with that clause,â€ Wakabayashi said, “I hereby give you formal notice that you have one week to repay 80% of the initial loan.â€', 'The Loan', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-loan', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:43:59', '2009-04-18 03:43:59', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=456', 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(457, 1, '2009-04-18 12:43:50', '2009-04-18 03:43:50', '', 'The Loan', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '456-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:43:50', '2009-04-18 03:43:50', '', 456, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/456-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(458, 1, '2009-07-08 00:00:09', '2009-07-07 15:00:09', 'Shiraishi seemed stunned, staring at the paper in her hands. Wakabayashi bowed again, and left. Akiko had no idea how to react. How could Shiraishi have signed such an agreement? She clamped her mouth shut on the question before she could ask it, however; this wasn’t the time. But what could she say? She suddenly realised that she was likely to lose her home, again.\r\n\r\nThere was a sudden sound of cheering from outside. Shiraishi looked up sharply, her face crumpling, and then sat down, hard, on the floor, her shoulders shaking. Akiko hesitated for a moment, then ran out of the house to see what was happening.\r\n\r\nLooking down the steps, she could see the protesters gathered at the bottom, around Wakabayashi, cheering. Naoyuki was there, and Mrs Watanabe, although she couldn’t see Mr Akiyama. Wakabayashi had obviously just told them what was happening. Akiko could feel tears pricking at her eyes as a gust of wind struck her, quite strong and laden with grit.\r\n\r\nThe wind drew the protesters’ attention, too, and they looked up, seeing her. Mrs Watanabe pointed at her, exultant.\r\n\r\n“You’re finished! You and your kami, you’re all finished!â€ And then she laughed.\r\n\r\nAkiko realised that she had clenched her fists, and forced herself to relax. She couldn’t help the situation by shouting at the protesters.The wind buffeted her again as she turned and went back into the house.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was still sitting on the floor, now crying quietly. Akiko sat down beside her, wondering what to do. Tentatively, she reached out a hand, resting it on the priest’s shoulder. The older woman stiffened for a moment, then let out a wail and leant against Akiko’s shoulder, sobbing.\r\n\r\nAkiko had no idea how to react, and finally, tentatively, put an arm around the priest.\r\n\r\nWhen Shiraishi quietened down, Akiko asked the question that had been bothering her.\r\n\r\n“How much are we short?â€ If the lender called the loan in early, only 80% had to be repaid, and Akiko knew that they hadn’t spent all of the money. Could they actually make it up? Shiraishi sobbed a couple of times, and then managed to answer.\r\n\r\n“About twenty million yen.â€ Akiko sucked her breath in sharply. That was a lot of money. More than they could borrow easily, that was clear.\r\n\r\n“Can we find it?â€ Outside, the wind had picked up again, howling round the entrance.\r\n\r\n“Twenty million yen!â€ was Shiraishi’s only response. It was true that Akiko couldn’t see any obvious way to raise that much money, certainly not in a week. It was enough to buy a reasonable-sized flat.\r\n\r\nAkiko wasn’t willing to give up. They couldn’t give up. They couldn’t do anything about the kegare if they didn’t have a shrine, and how would Tamao react if the precincts were destroyed? They had to think of something.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi…â€ she began.\r\n\r\n“Leave me alone!â€ the priest shouted. Then she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,â€ she said, more quietly, but without looking at Akiko. “I just…â€ She stopped, her shoulders heaving a couple of times, and then tried again. “I can’t…â€  Again, she couldn’t finish, but Akiko understood enough. She stood up.\r\n\r\n“I’ll be outside if you want me, Revd Shiraishi.â€', 'Reactions', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'reactions', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:44:29', '2009-04-18 03:44:29', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=458', 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(459, 1, '2009-04-18 12:44:25', '2009-04-18 03:44:25', '', 'Reactions', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '458-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:44:25', '2009-04-18 03:44:25', '', 458, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/458-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(460, 1, '2009-07-09 00:00:41', '2009-07-08 15:00:41', 'The wind was stronger when Akiko stepped out of the front door, whipping her hair around her face and blowing dust up and into her eyes. The branches of the trees were swinging back and forth, and even the trunks were swaying.  Akiko walked to the top of the steps, looking down. There was no-one there, and as the wind flung a twig against her face, she realised why.\r\n\r\nWincing, and rubbing at the sore spot, she turned back into the precincts, staggering a little as an even stronger gust caught her. There was a snapping sound as a branch came off a tree, flung to the ground in front of her. The wind swept round, changing direction, pushing Akiko back towards the steps, then, as she tried to brace against it, changing direction abruptly, blowing from behind her so that she fell forward, catching herself with her hands. The soil pressed into her palms, and her knees stung where she had banged them. Her hair was still blowing into her eyes, and two small twigs bounced off her back before she had properly regained her balance. She had to go back into the house.\r\n\r\nAkiko pushed herself back up, struggling to her feet.\r\n\r\nAnd froze.\r\n\r\nThe wind was no longer just wind. Tamao flew through the air, riding the currents, his jaws agape as he belched out the windstorm. Lightning danced around his open mouth, and Akiko could feel the anger coming off him.\r\n\r\nThe kami swept down, across the open area of the precincts, through the space that had once been occupied by his shrine building, and then climbed into the sky, twisting in the air. The wind twisted with him, and Akiko lost her footing again, falling to one knee, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the kami. Even angry, he was beautiful, gems shining against the dark sky.\r\n\r\nTamao dived again, into the woodland, wrapping his body around one of the trees and shaking back and forth. The roar of the wind filled Akiko’s ears, filled her mind, as Tamao’s body shone from within the woodland. Leaves filled the air, ripped from the trees by the fury of the storm, plastered against Akiko’s body by the wind, driven into her mouth. She raised a hand to ward the twigs off from her face, and then started across the precincts as she realised what Tamao was doing.\r\n\r\n“No! Tamao! Leave the tree!â€ she shouted, but the wind whipped the words away. The kami seemed to hear, nevertheless, because he fixed his eyes on her, opening his mouth to roar and shaking his head, as the tree, with a terrible groaning sound, tipped sideways, and then fell with a great crash, shaking the ground as it glanced off the trunks of the other trees around it, settling to the ground in a great cloud of dust and leaves.\r\n\r\nTamao sprang up into the air again, hovering over the shrine precincts as clouds gathered around him, thickening, becoming ever blacker. Lightning leapt from his mouth to the clouds, and Akiko heard the first rumble of thunder. The wind was as strong as ever, and a clattering sound suddenly drew her attention.\r\n\r\nHideo Takenaka’s shrine. She could just see it, still in place, but straining against the cords they had used to tie it down. One of them snapped.\r\n\r\nAkiko ran over to it, the wind blowing from behind her, helping her on her way. She reached it before the second cord gave way, wrapping her arms around it and holding it down.\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€', 'Wind Storm', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'wind-storm', '', '', '2009-07-09 08:46:48', '2009-07-08 23:46:48', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=460', 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(461, 1, '2009-04-18 12:45:00', '2009-04-18 03:45:00', '', 'Wind Storm', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '460-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:45:00', '2009-04-18 03:45:00', '', 460, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/460-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(462, 1, '2009-07-10 00:00:16', '2009-07-09 15:00:16', 'Akiko knew the voice, and she looked up, mouth open in shock.\r\n\r\nHideo Takenaka was standing beside the shrine, dressed in a suit. He looked grateful, but also a bit worried.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know what I would have felt if that had blown away, but I doubt it would have been pleasant.â€\r\n\r\nHe looked alive.\r\n\r\nAkiko looked away, out to the centre of the precincts, where Tamao was still twisting through the air. There was another crash of thunder, and the rain started. Akiko was soaked in a moment, but she couldn’t make herself move. She managed to look back. Mr Takenaka was still there.\r\n\r\n<em>Well, if I can see Tamao, and Mr Takenaka is now a kami, I suppose it makes sense. And I saw him before. Even if it was in a fever dream.</em>\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka?â€ Akiko could feel the water soaking through her clothes and starting to run down her skin, and noticed that Mr Takenaka’s suit was not getting wet. “Are you really there?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, I’m really here.â€\r\n\r\n“How?â€\r\n\r\nHe shrugged, with a half smile.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. I remember hanging myself — an experience I do not recommend, by the way — and I remember being enshrined here. The bit in between…â€ He shrugged again. “That’s more like a dream memory. Or hallucinations.â€ Akiko remembered all too well what he had been doing then, and decided not to say anything. “And so you can see me.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded; that was obvious.\r\n\r\n“But not all the time, right?â€\r\n\r\n“All the time?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. I’m always here, you know. This is where I’m enshrined; I’m not sure I can leave the precincts.â€\r\n\r\n“So you know what’s going on?â€\r\n\r\nHe nodded.\r\n\r\n“Wakabayashi drove me to my death, so I pay attention when he comes.â€ His face suddenly became completely serious. “Ms Tanahata, this is very important. You have to find a way to preserve the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“I know.â€\r\n\r\n“No, you don’t. You think you do, but…â€ He seemed to take a deep breath. <em>Do kami breathe?</em> Akiko wondered.\r\n\r\n“Aramitama,â€ Mr Takenaka said. “You have heard of it?â€ Akiko nodded, and he continued. “Tamao’s aramitama is enshrined in the iwakura.â€ Akiko remembered the pulsing presence within the stones, and nodded slowly. “Ah. I see you have had some dealing with it.â€ He paused again, as if deciding what to say.\r\n\r\n“The storms have been Tamao’s nigimitama. The aramitama is much more forceful, more violent, and it cares a lot less about whether people get hurt.\r\n\r\n“If the shrine is destroyed, the aramitama will be furious. Floods, earthquakes, storms, all at once. Even volcanic eruptions.â€\r\n\r\n“Mount Fuji?â€ Akiko asked, without thinking.\r\n\r\n“No,â€ Mr Takenaka shook his head, “the kami of Mount Fuji is too powerful for Tamao to interfere. No, Tamao would create a new volcano, here.â€\r\n\r\n“He can do that?â€\r\n\r\n“I fear so. He is certainly threatening it. Even if he can’t, the other disasters would kill hundreds, at least.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko swallowed hard, and nodded.\r\n\r\n“I understand. I don’t know what we can do, but I understand.â€\r\n\r\n“Good.â€ Mr Takenaka paused, and this time he looked almost embarrassed. “Ah, could you give my son two messages?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh… Yes, of course.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you. First, tell him that the password for the encrypted directory is “obviouslyâ€, in English. And second…â€ The kami paused, looking really embarrassed. “Second, tell him I’m proud of him for continuing the company.â€\r\n\r\nHe vanished, and when Akiko looked around there was no sign of Tamao, either. It was still pouring with rain, but the wind had dropped. Her clothes and hair clinging to her skin, Mr Takenaka’s warning heavy in her mind, Akiko stood up to return to the house.\r\n\r\n<em>And how am I going to tell Akira?</em>', 'Messages from Beyond', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'messages-from-beyond', '', '', '2009-07-10 12:36:07', '2009-07-10 03:36:07', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=462', 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(463, 1, '2009-04-18 12:45:38', '2009-04-18 03:45:38', '', 'Messages from Beyond', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '462-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:45:38', '2009-04-18 03:45:38', '', 462, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/462-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(464, 1, '2009-07-11 00:00:07', '2009-07-10 15:00:07', 'When Akiko got back into the house, water dripping off her onto the floor, Shiraishi was nowhere to be seen. Akiko thought about calling out, asking for a towel, but it didn’t seem appropriate. Where were they going to find twenty million yen? And what was going to happen if they didn’t? Akiko quickly pulled her shoes off and ran to the bathroom.\r\n\r\nAfter drying off a bit and putting a yukata on, Akiko went in search of the priest. It didn’t take long to find her; she was sitting in her room, her head in her hands, the sake bottle and glass in front of her.\r\n\r\nThe sake bottle was still unopened.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi?â€\r\n\r\nThe priest looked up, her eyes red and her face streaked with tears.\r\n\r\n“Is Tamao going to produce money to save us?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah…â€\r\n\r\n“No. Stupid question. He never does anything helpful. Always asking, never giving.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko sat down opposite the priest.\r\n\r\n“We aren’t doing this for Tamao, though. We’re doing it for everyone who lives here, right?â€\r\n\r\n“You and me?â€ Shiraishi’s voice was on the verge of tears, but she seemed to want to talk now.\r\n\r\n“Bigger here. This whole area. We have to protect them from the kegare, and from Tamao.â€\r\n\r\n“Is that what you think we do?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, thinking about how to put it.\r\n\r\n“It was just before you made me a miko. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do it; what had Tamao ever done for me? Then I realised that I had to mediate between Tamao and the people living here. I think he can help with the kegare; he stopped the thing that was chasing me, remember. And, on the other side, we have to protect people from his anger.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi was almost smiling.\r\n\r\n“You make Tamao sound like an adolescent.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko just managed to stop herself from laughing, as she realised that was exactly how she’d been thinking of him. A delinquent teenager. No, a <em>talented</em> delinquent teenager.\r\n\r\n“Um. That’s, er, not very respectful, is it?â€ Akiko could feel herself blushing a bit.\r\n\r\n“Accurate, though.â€\r\n\r\nThere was a crash from outside, something blown over by the wind, and both women jumped.\r\n\r\n“I think he heard us,â€ Akiko said.\r\n\r\n“Yes, well, if he has any sense he’ll realise that he has bigger problems than the two of us running out of patience with his tantrums.â€ The priest sighed. “I think it’s over, Akiko. Maybe we could have survived Hideo’s suicide, and the fire, but not this as well. I don’t know…â€\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi,â€ Akiko interrupted, “I just spoke to Hideo Takenaka.â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s a kami now, in the precincts.â€ Shiraishi had gone pale, and was staring at her. Then, slowly, she nodded.\r\n\r\n“Right. And you see the kami. I… I really hadn’t thought that through.â€\r\n\r\n“He warned me about Tamao’s aramitama. He said that it would get really angry if the shrine was destroyed, and could kill a lot of people.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh… wonderful.â€ The priest buried her head in her hands again. “I don’t think Wakabayashi will take that as a reason for not taking the shrine off us.â€\r\n\r\n“We have to do something. Couldn’t we sell a bit of it?â€\r\n\r\n“Not in a week. And we shouldn’t sell any of the precincts, not really.â€\r\n\r\n“What about the ujiko?â€\r\n\r\n“Twenty million yen, Akiko.â€\r\n\r\n“Refunds from the craftsmen?â€\r\n\r\n“Not enough.â€\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, we can’t give up!â€\r\n\r\nThe priest reached for the sake bottle, and then let her hand fall onto the table.\r\n\r\n“No, you’re right. We mustn’t give up.\r\n\r\n“But what can we <em>do?â€</em>', 'Defeat', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'defeat', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:46:33', '2009-04-18 03:46:33', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=464', 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(465, 1, '2009-04-18 12:46:15', '2009-04-18 03:46:15', '', 'Defeat', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '464-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:46:15', '2009-04-18 03:46:15', '', 464, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/464-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(466, 1, '2009-07-12 00:00:42', '2009-07-11 15:00:42', '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.\r\n\r\n<em>On to <a href="http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/category/05-spirit-busters/">Part 5: Spirit Busters</a>.</em>', 'Seeking Support', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'seeking-support', '', '', '2009-07-26 17:20:27', '2009-07-26 08:20:27', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=466', 0, 'post', '', 6);
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(467, 1, '2009-04-18 12:47:10', '2009-04-18 03:47:10', '', 'Seeking Support', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '466-revision', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:47:10', '2009-04-18 03:47:10', '', 466, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/466-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(468, 1, '2009-04-18 12:47:24', '2009-04-18 03:47:24', '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. The precincts were a mess, though, 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-2', '', '', '2009-04-18 12:47:24', '2009-04-18 03:47:24', '', 466, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/18/466-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(469, 1, '2009-07-13 00:00:20', '2009-07-12 15:00:20', '“Twenty million yen.â€ Shiraishi looked at Akiko for confirmation, and she nodded. That was what she counted, as well.\r\n\r\nThey were sitting facing each other over the office table, the money stacked between them after counting. Akiko looked back at the money. She’d never seen so much cash. She wasn’t entirely sure she believed she was seeing it now.\r\n\r\n“Exactly the amount we need.â€ Shiraishi’s tone was awe-struck, almost incredulous. Akiko looked up and nodded again.\r\n\r\n“Who <em>was</em> he?â€ she asked.\r\n\r\n“Mr Fujimura,â€ Shiraishi replied, and shrugged. “You know as much as I do.â€\r\n\r\n“But surely he must be an ujiko, or a past ujiko, or something.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I’ve never seen him before, at least as far as I can remember. And we’ve never had ujiko called Fujimura, at least not in my lifetime.â€\r\n\r\n“But you don’t just walk into a random shrine and hand over twenty million yen!â€ It struck Akiko that it was slightly perverse to be sceptical about this, but she couldn’t help it.\r\n\r\n“Apparently, he does.â€ Shiraishi was looking at the money again.\r\n\r\n“But exactly the right amount?â€ That made it even harder to believe.\r\n\r\n“Could be chance.â€ The priest didn’t sound convinced herself.\r\n\r\n“Are you sure he was human?â€ Akiko asked, and Shiraishi looked at her sharply.\r\n\r\n“You’re the one who sees the kami. You tell me.â€\r\n\r\n“I… I couldn’t tell. For some reason, I only saw the normal world. I couldn’t see whether he had any kegare.â€\r\n\r\n“So, maybe not human, then.â€\r\n\r\n“Maybe,â€ Akiko agreed. “It would explain how he knew how much we needed.â€\r\n\r\n“Kami don’t know everything.â€\r\n\r\n“True, but they have ways of learning things. They can wander around invisible, if nothing else.â€\r\n\r\n“Could he have been Tamao?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko thought about it for a while, then shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I really don’t think so. He was, how to put it, too <em>controlled</em>. Tamao is much more elemental, much more spontaneous than that.â€\r\n\r\n“But why would another kami want to help Tamao’s shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“So, maybe he was human.â€\r\n\r\n“Then how did he know?â€\r\n\r\n“Wakabayashi told him?â€ Even as she said it, Akiko realised that it was a real possibility. This could be a further part of some scheme to undermine the shrine.\r\n\r\n“But what good would that do?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, if we take the money, we are involved in whatever Mr Fujimura is planning.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi looked thoughtfully at the money.\r\n\r\n“I’ll ask the bank to check that it isn’t forged when I take it in. They should be able to do that quite quickly; getting me arrested for dealing in forged money would undermine the shrine even more.â€ The priest continued looking down for a while longer, clearly thinking, and then looked up.\r\n\r\n“If it’s real, though? What do you think, Akiko?â€\r\n\r\nThat was the question. If it was real, they had the money they needed to pay off the debt and save the shrine. She remembered Mr Takenaka’s warning, and the dangers if they didn’t save the place.\r\n\r\n“If it’s real,â€ she said, at last, “I think we have to take it. If we don’t, it’s all over anyway.â€', 'Who and Why', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'who-and-why', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:05:49', '2009-04-23 02:05:49', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=469', 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(470, 1, '2009-04-23 11:05:31', '2009-04-23 02:05:31', '', 'Who and Why', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '469-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:05:31', '2009-04-23 02:05:31', '', 469, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/469-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(471, 1, '2009-07-14 00:00:56', '2009-07-13 15:00:56', 'Akiko was nervous, waiting in the office in her best suit. It was some comfort to see that Shiraishi was nervous as well, pacing back and forth in the small space available. The bank had confirmed that the money was genuine, and paid it into the shrine’s account. Shiraishi had then called Wakabayashi, asking him to come to the shrine to discuss the issue of the loan. She’d asked Akiko to be there, and to go with her when they went to pay the loan off, to make sure that there was at least one witness on the shrine’s side. Akiko was happy to agree; she wanted to see the loan cleared, to be sure the problem was solved. And now, they just had to wait for Wakabayashi.\r\n\r\nHe should be arriving any minute. Akiko reflected that he, at least, wouldn’t have any problems with the protesters.\r\n\r\nAkiko jumped when the doorbell rang, and Shiraishi looked startled as well, for all that they had been anticipating it. Quickly, Akiko stood up, following the priest to the entrance.\r\n\r\nWakabayashi was waiting there, and he bowed formally to them. Akiko focused her attention inward, trying to switch to seeing the kegare she was sure he carried.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, have you decided to sell me the shrine grounds? A very wise decision. I will even pay you full market price for them, without worrying about the loan amount.â€\r\n\r\n“Mr Wakabayashi, will you not reconsider calling in the loan?â€ Shiraishi was polite, but clearly ignoring what Wakabayashi had just said. Akiko thought she nearly had her vision right and then, there.\r\n\r\nSmoke and fire still clung close to Wakabayashi, the smoke curling round his body and head while small flames danced over his suit. Something darted out of one pocket and into another, moving so quickly that Akiko could not see what it was.\r\n\r\n“We would be happy to pay off the loan under the original terms,â€ Shiraishi continued.\r\n\r\nFor the first time, Wakabayashi’s mask of politeness slipped.\r\n\r\n“No!â€ he barked, shaking his head, and the flames Akiko could see rose up, stronger, stinking of oils and plastics, the greasy smoke hiding Wakabayashi’s face for a moment. As he regained control, they subsided. “It is too late for that,â€ he continued. “You must pay up within the week. Good day.â€ He was bowing to take his leave when Shiraishi interrupted.\r\n\r\n“In that case, can I ask you to accompany us to the bank? They have a room ready in which we can do the necessary paperwork.â€\r\n\r\nWakabayashi just stared at her for a moment.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry?â€\r\n\r\n“We need to go to the bank so that I can pay off the loan.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s impossible! You don’t have enough money to pay the loan off now!â€ Again, the mask slipped, but this time the fires were flickering, more smoke pouring off them, sweeping around Wakabayashi’s head as if driven by a strong wind.\r\n\r\n“As I said, we are ready to pay the loan off today.â€ Shiraishi was entirely calm, and polite. Akiko reflected that it was easier to hold that poise when you were the one in the dominant position.\r\n\r\n“I… I don’t believe you.â€ Wakabayashi sounded slightly desperate.\r\n\r\n“In any case, you can hardly refuse to accompany us to the bank.â€ For a moment, Akiko thought he might; the smoke was thick around him, and the shapes moving within it, glowing like embers as they crawled slowly over his body, took the form of rats, biting at his clothes. She could smell fear in the smoke now.\r\n\r\n“Very well. We will continue with this charade.â€ Akiko blinked, and her vision returned to normal. Before she could work out what had happened, and try to change back again, Shiraishi spoke to her.\r\n\r\n“Good. Ms Tanahata, if you please.â€', 'Pay Off', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'pay-off', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:06:29', '2009-04-23 02:06:29', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=471', 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(472, 1, '2009-04-23 11:06:20', '2009-04-23 02:06:20', '', 'Pay Off', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '471-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:06:20', '2009-04-23 02:06:20', '', 471, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/471-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(473, 1, '2009-07-15 00:00:39', '2009-07-14 15:00:39', '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 weren’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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'messenger', '', '', '2009-07-15 16:31:48', '2009-07-15 07:31:48', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=473', 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(474, 1, '2009-04-23 11:06:55', '2009-04-23 02:06:55', '', 'Mesenger', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '473-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:06:55', '2009-04-23 02:06:55', '', 473, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/473-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(475, 1, '2009-07-16 00:00:31', '2009-07-15 15:00:31', '“Who <em>are</em> those people in front of the shrine?â€\r\n\r\nThat was not what Akiko expected to hear when she opened the front door of the shrine house, so it took her a few moments to take the situation in. Satomi was standing in front of her, looking as elegant as ever, but also more than a little hassled.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Satomi. Er, they’re protesters against the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“I could see <em>that.</em> But why would anyone protest against a shrine? I mean, why bother? It’s not like shrines pollute the surrounding environment.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko shrugged.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. They seem to think it’s important, though.â€\r\n\r\n“Hmph. Why don’t you move them on?â€\r\n\r\n“They come back. We aren’t the police.â€\r\n\r\n“I suppose so.â€ Satomi took a deep breath. “Anyway, I didn’t come to talk about them. I came to see how you were. And look at you! Quite the proper miko! Give us a turn.â€ Satomi was smiling as she said it, so Akiko, blushing, did a quick pirouette. “It suits you, you know,â€ Satomi said.\r\n\r\n“What do you mean?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t really know. It looks right, though. You look like a real miko, not like you’ve dressed up for a party.â€\r\n\r\n“Well I <em>am</em> a real miko,â€ Akiko protested, and Satomi laughed.\r\n\r\n“Of course, but, well, you look like one. Are you enjoying the job?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko had to think about that. Was she enjoying it? That really didn’t seem like the right word. But saying “noâ€ would make it sound like she didn’t like being a miko, and that wasn’t right either. Satomi was still watching her, her face growing quizzical.\r\n\r\n“It’s very… interesting,â€ Akiko said at last. “Not at all what I expected. But I do plan to keep it up. So, how are you doing?â€ She moved on to the question quickly, before Satomi could ask any more difficult questions.\r\n\r\n“Oh, me.â€ Satomi sighed, and looked skywards. “I’ve had one of those weeks. Everything that could go wrong did, or at least it seems like that. My car broke down, and the repairs will cost hundreds of thousands. The trains were disrupted every single day this week, and I wasn’t into work on time once. We had a computer virus in the office, which shut us down for a day and lost us some data; we still don’t know how much.â€ She stopped, and took a deep breath, then smiled. “I could go on like that for quite some time, I’m afraid.â€\r\n\r\nActing on instinct, Akiko pushed her vision into seeing kegare, and had to suppress a gasp.\r\n\r\nSatomi was heavy with pollution, ragged, feral cats draped over her shoulders and threading between her legs, jumping up to fasten their claws in her immaculate designers clothes and slipping back down, leaving the clothes shredded. There was something threaded through her hair, something that looked a bit like pond weed, or maybe seaweed, and it pulsed, releasing clouds of greenish-black spores.\r\n\r\n“Maybe you should have a harae,â€ Akiko suggested.\r\n\r\n“What? To get rid of the bad luck?â€ Satomi sounded sceptical.\r\n\r\n“Well, yes. That’s one of the sorts of pollution it clears.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko, do you actually <em>believe</em> that sort of stuff?â€ This time, Satomi sounded really surprised, and Akiko instantly felt defensive.\r\n\r\n“Well, you said I looked like a real miko.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, but you don’t have to believe the supernatural stuff. Anyway, I think I’ll pass on the harae, thanks. I’d really better be going. See you!â€ And she turned and hurried off, trailing kegare behind her.\r\n\r\nAkiko watched her go, worry and puzzlement vying for dominance.', 'Bad Week', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'bad-week', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:07:53', '2009-04-23 02:07:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=475', 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(476, 1, '2009-04-23 11:07:48', '2009-04-23 02:07:48', '', 'Bad Week', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '475-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:07:48', '2009-04-23 02:07:48', '', 475, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/475-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(477, 1, '2009-07-17 00:00:01', '2009-07-16 15:00:01', '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.\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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'shrine-grounds', '', '', '2009-07-17 09:15:55', '2009-07-17 00:15:55', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=477', 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(478, 1, '2009-04-23 11:08:19', '2009-04-23 02:08:19', '', 'Shrine Grounds', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '477-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:08:19', '2009-04-23 02:08:19', '', 477, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/477-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(479, 1, '2009-07-18 00:00:37', '2009-07-17 15:00:37', 'Immediately, Akiko dropped to her knees, bowing her face twice to the ground, sitting back on her heels to clap twice, and then bowing once more, before sitting back up to look at the kami.\r\n\r\n“Rise, Bright Child.â€ Tamao spoke to her, but Akiko heard her name’s meaning rather than its sound, just like when she had been possessed. Slowly, she got to her feet. “Welcome back.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you, Lord Tamao.â€ She bowed again; it seemed the only polite thing to do. And why had she used such an old-fashioned honorific? It had been instinctive, but it certainly wasn’t how she normally spoke.\r\n\r\n“Welcome, Akiko.â€ Hideo Takenaka walked over to stand beside Tamao, bowing low to the snake as he reached him; Tamao bobbed his head in acknowledgement, and then looked back at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“Bright Child, there is still darkness spreading across the land. Come, see.â€ He turned away, slithering towards the entrance, and Akiko quickly followed, Mr Takenaka coming along behind her.\r\n\r\nThe white torii still stood in these precincts, and she looked down the steps, lined by ancient trees, disappearing into the clouds. Tamao let out a long hiss, and the clouds suddenly boiled, surging and flowing away, splitting apart so that she could see below them.\r\n\r\nThe gap in the clouds revealed the area around the shrine, the area that was under Tamao’s protection. A net of pollution lay over it, threads covering the whole region, while a few nodes throbbed with kegare, seeming to writhe and boil with spirits, spirits that were barely visible from this distance.\r\n\r\n“Bright Child, you and Spirit Child must drive back this corruption.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked down, and quailed at the scale of the job. A question rose in her mind, but she didn’t want to ask it. She looked up, to see Mr Takenaka looking at her, and smiling.\r\n\r\n“Ask, Akiko. Don’t assume he knows what you need to know.â€ Tamao’s face swung round to look at her, and for a moment Akiko lost herself in the glow of the golden eyes. Summoning all her willpower, she managed to stammer out the question.\r\n\r\n“Why… Why don’t you cleanse it?â€ Even as she asked it, she was overcome with nerves. <em>That wasn’t very polite,</em> she chided herself, and, unthinkingly, she shrunk back a little from Tamao, fearing his reaction.\r\n\r\n“I have not the strength.â€ The kami looked away, looking back down at the city. “Once I could have driven this away with one breath. Once it could not have risen so strong in the first place.â€ He looked back at her, and Akiko thought she could see regret on the serpentine features. “The kami gain power as people honour them, and people are made prosperous by the kami.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko swallowed hard. The neglect of the shrine must be weakening Tamao, then, she thought.\r\n\r\n“But the storms…â€ She cut herself off. Maybe asking everything was not such a good idea. Tamao’s eyes flared more brightly, and lightning danced over his lips, the gems of his skin scattering the light back in red, green, and purple.\r\n\r\n“I can show my anger still, Bright Child. I am still a kami.â€\r\n\r\n<em>He still has power in his anger?</em> Akiko thought.\r\n\r\n“So, could your aramitama…â€ The breath was knocked from Akiko’s body as a blast of wind picked her up and hurled her into the air.', 'Aramitama', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'aramitama', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:09:05', '2009-04-23 02:09:05', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=479', 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(480, 1, '2009-04-23 11:08:53', '2009-04-23 02:08:53', '', 'Aramitama', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '479-revision', '', '', '2009-04-23 11:08:53', '2009-04-23 02:08:53', '', 479, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/04/23/479-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(481, 1, '2009-07-19 00:00:52', '2009-07-18 15:00:52', '<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 she 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'wind-in-the-tree', '', '', '2009-07-21 10:16:45', '2009-07-21 01:16:45', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=481', 0, 'post', '', 9);
