“20,000 yen!â€ Akiko said as she checked the envelope in the car on the way back.

“I hope he feels the harae was worth it, then.â€

“I think he will.â€ Akiko remembered the heavy kegare around the house, which had been swept away by the purification. If past experience were any guide, the Yamaguchis would definitely notice a difference. “And you said he hadn’t had anything to do with the shrine before?â€

“No.â€ Shiraishi shook her head, but kept her eyes on the road. “Nothing serious, in any case. He might have attended a festival or two, of course, but I don’t remember him.â€

“That’s a good sign then,â€ Akiko said, feeling rather more cheerful. “People are starting to…â€ She stopped, overcome by a strong urge to vomit, and a stabbing pain, as if someone had just punched her in the stomach. She grabbed the dashboard, and looked around, her vision switching so that she could see the kegare around them.

The factory just ahead of them was covered in giant grubs, all a sickly greenish-white, which were spinning black threads across it. As she watched, one of the grubs exploded in a shower of gore, and a raven-like creature burst from it, flying around the factory and then diving back in. The whole structure seemed to shudder, as if getting ready to move.

“Stop the car!â€ she gasped out, and Shiraishi quickly pulled over.

“Akiko, are you all right?â€ The priest leaned over, looking concerned, and Akiko nodded as she gulped air down and tried to force her stomach to settle.

“I… Yes.â€ She pointed out of the window. “That factory. It’s…â€ She was lost for words for a moment, as something huge moved again inside the network of threads. “It’s very, very polluted. I think we should purify it.â€

“Are you sure? They aren’t going to pay us.â€

Akiko forced a quick smile.

“No, but, really, we should.â€ Her stomach was still churning, and now her head was beginning to ache, a throb in both her temples.

“I thought you were sceptical about these purifications?â€

“We can’t just leave it!â€ The priest sat back, her face surprised. The urgency in Akiko’s voice surprised even her. Shiraishi nodded.

“If you feel that strongly, we had better do something.â€

They gathered the equipment, and walked over to the factory.

“I don’t think it’s just a spiritual cleanup that this place needs,â€ Shiraishi said as they got closer. “It looks like they’ve spilled just about everything they could.â€ Akiko nodded, but the feelings of nausea were getting stronger, and she couldn’t switch her vision away from the kegare.

At the entrance, they were met by a security guard. Akiko could see that he was bound back to the factory by dozens of the black threads, and the surface of his uniform writhed and boiled, as if thousands of maggots writhed underneath. She had to fight back the urge to vomit as she started to gag.

“What do you want?â€

“We want to purify the factory.â€ Shiraishi went for the direct approach; given that they were in their vestments, Akiko couldn’t fault her.

“You can’t go in. Now go away.â€

“But…â€

“Go away. This is private property.â€

Akiko was pretty sure that the guard wasn’t going to change his mind, and turned away, Shiraishi following her.

“Well, what now?â€ the priest asked as they reached the car.

“We sneak in round the back.â€

The priest looked at her for a long time, and Akiko forced herself to hold her gaze. Finally, Shiraishi nodded.

“Very well.â€