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(211, 1, '2009-02-05 13:29:05', '2009-02-05 04:29:05', '', 'The Truth', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '210-revision', '', '', '2009-02-05 13:29:05', '2009-02-05 04:29:05', '', 210, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/05/210-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(212, 1, '2009-02-09 18:34:14', '2009-02-09 09:34:14', 'Several cups of coffee had done nothing to wake Akiko up, but at least the frequent trips to the toilet had stopped her falling properly asleep. Neither helped with work, however, so she was trying to get through at least an hour without coffee. As the screen swam in front of her eyes, she wasn’t at all sure she would make it.\n\nShe shook herself awake, and shifted to get comfortable on the tatami, catching her sleeve out of the way with her left hand as she picked up the brush with her right. Before she could dip it in the ink, however, she noticed a flaw in the paper, a speck of greenish black in the white. She brushed at it, but it seemed to be part of the paper, sticky, grasping at her fingertips as they passed over it. The mark was larger already, now covering half the paper and growing rapidly, the stench of decay rising from it as the lacquer writing desk also began to crumble. Akiko stood up and stepped back, her sleeves becoming heavier as they turned black, the smell filling her nostrils, the rot crossing the floor and devouring her tabi, cold, slimy, and alive underfoot, writhing and trying to push through her toes.\n\nShe turned and ran deeper into the shrine, as the groans of the timbers behind her became tortured screams, rotten bases no longer able to support the weight of a roof itself turning to decay, even the copper splitting and falling as scales with the sound of a thousand crashing cars.\n\nTamao was sleeping on his dais, his scales still shining as she reached him. She tore away the rotten remnants of her kimono and gathered him up in her arms, his skin against hers, cool metal and warm gemstone sliding along her arms and round her stomach as the kami coiled around her, his head resting between her breasts. Even in sleep, the lightning of his tongue played around his mouth, jolting her body and making her gasp for breath.\n\nThe decay was rushing to meet her, spreading from the fallen fragments of her clothes, and she stumbled with every step as the floor sagged and cracked under her weight, or flowed away from her, or seized her feet and tried to pull her down. Dragging her feet forward, she moved to where she thought the exit should be, but the shrine was changing as it collapsed.\n\nAnd then she felt something cool and slimy on her side, and looked down to see tarnish covering the gold and silver of Tamao’s skin as the gemstones cracked and clouded, grey mud oozing out from around them as the lightning tongue turned a sickly green, its touch provoking nausea and making Akiko stagger. She could feel her fingers sinking into the kami’s flesh, as…\n\n“Akiko! Wake up!â€ The urgent hiss was accompanied by a poke in the ribs, and Akiko brought her head up with a start. Satomi was next to her, looking at the screen. “Pretend you’re showing me something.â€ Still half asleep, Akiko pointed at the screen, and Satomi nodded. Akiko surreptitiously glanced around the room, but no-one seemed to have noticed.\n\nHer hands were shaking, possibly due to all the coffee she had been drinking, but she decided to have another cup anyway.', 'Change and Decay', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '94-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-09 18:34:14', '2009-02-09 09:34:14', '', 94, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/09/94-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(213, 1, '2009-01-06 12:34:03', '2009-01-06 03:34:03', 'Several cups of coffee had done nothing to wake Akiko up, but at least the frequent trips to the toilet had stopped her falling properly asleep. Neither helped with work, however, so she was trying to get through at least an hour without coffee. As the screen swam in front of her eyes, she wasn’t at all sure she would make it.\r\n\r\nShe shook herself awake, and shifted to get comfortable on the tatami, catching her sleeve out of the way with her left hand as she picked up the brush with her right. Before she could dip it in the ink, however, she noticed a flaw in the paper, a speck of greenish black in the white. She brushed at it, but it seemed to be part of the paper, sticky, grasping at her fingertips as they passed over it. The mark was larger already, now covering half the paper and growing rapidly, the stench of decay rising from it as the lacquer writing desk also began to crumble. Akiko stood up and stepped back, her sleeves becoming heavier as they turned black, the smell filling her nostrils, the rot crossing the floor and devouring her tabi, cold, slimy, and alive underfoot, writhing and trying to push through her toes.\r\n\r\nShe turned and ran deeper into the shrine, as the groans of the timbers behind her became tortured screams, rotten bases no longer able to support the weight of a roof itself turning to decay, even the copper splitting and falling as scales with the sound of a thousand crashing cars.\r\n\r\nTamao was sleeping on his dais, his scales still shining as she reached him. She tore away the rotten remnants of her kimono and gathered him up in her arms, his skin against hers, cool metal and warm gemstone sliding along her arms and round her stomach as the kami coiled around her, his head resting between her breasts. Even in sleep, the lightning of his tongue played around his mouth, jolting her body and making her gasp for breath.\r\n\r\nThe decay was rushing to meet her, spreading from the fallen fragments of her clothes, and she stumbled with every step as the floor sagged and cracked under her weight, or flowed away from her, or seized her feet and tried to pull her down. Dragging her feet forward, she moved to where she though the exit should be, but the shrine was changing as it collapsed.\r\n\r\nAnd then she felt something cool and slimy on her side, and looked down to see tarnish covering the gold and silver of Tamao’s skin as the gemstones cracked and clouded, grey mud oozing out from around them as the lightning tongue turned a sickly green, its touch provoking nausea and making Akiko stagger. She could feel her fingers sinking into the kami’s flesh, as…\r\n\r\n“Akiko! Wake up!â€ The urgent hiss was accompanied by a poke in the ribs, and Akiko brought her head up with a start. Satomi was next to her, looking at the screen. “Pretend you’re showing me something.â€ Still half asleep, Akiko pointed at the screen, and Satomi nodded. Akiko surreptitiously glanced around the room, but no-one seemed to have noticed.\r\n\r\nHer hands were shaking, possibly due to all the coffee she had been drinking, but she decided to have another cup anyway.', 'Change and Decay', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '94-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-06 12:34:03', '2009-01-06 03:34:03', '', 94, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/06/94-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(214, 1, '2009-01-06 12:34:39', '2009-01-06 03:34:39', 'Akiko was entirely on autopilot as she went home, to the point that she had been standing still for over a minute before she realised she had stopped, and long seconds passed before she could work out why she wasn’t walking anymore.\r\n\r\nThe road ahead of her was completely closed, with workmen all over it testing the drains and digging up sections of the surface. She briefly wondered which politician or bureaucrat had been inconvenienced by the water, before her attention moved on to the question of how she was going to get home.\r\n\r\nShe knew perfectly well what the best route was: past Tamao Shrine. However, she also knew that she didn’t want to go that way.\r\n\r\n<em>It’s just a shrine. I’m just having odd dreams. The weather is even quite good today.</em>\r\n\r\nOnly the last point carried any conviction; a handful of clouds chased each other across the sky, but the wind wasn’t strong and there was no sign of coming rain. Akiko watched the workmen for a bit longer, and then gathered her courage, breathing deeply to calm herself.\r\n\r\n<em>It’s not real. I’m just having strange dreams. Passing the shrine will be perfectly safe. I don’t have to go in. I won’t be attacked. I won’t fall in a flood.</em>\r\n\r\nChoosing to believe herself, Akiko turned and made her way up the hill, her pace slowing as she climbed. At the corner where the shrine would come into view she paused, her stomach churning. She realised that she was shaking, but she blamed that on the amount of caffeine she’d drunk during the day.\r\n\r\nShe darted forward, running round the corner and along the road the followed the edge of the shrine precincts. The green of the trees was particularly vivid after the rain, and the leaves rustled in the breeze, a calming noise like running water.\r\n\r\nAs she came up to the torii there was a deep noise from within, and her stomach lurched as her heart beat faster. She didn’t stop, keeping running and picking up her pace as the beats of the drum also got faster.\r\n\r\nAnd then she was past the shrine and running down the hill on the other side. Gasping for breath she slowed down, suddenly aware that she might lose her footing and fall. She risked glancing back over her shoulder, but the trees rising into the sky presented no threat. A small flock of birds burst into the sky from them, sweeping through the air over the shrine twice, three times in a rush of wings, and then settling back into the green of the leaves.\r\n\r\nAkiko got home without incident, but the first thing she did after taking her shoes off was to look for her map of Kawasaki and check possible routes home from the office, routes that could not take her past the shrine, no matter which roads were blocked. The available options were all longer, of course, but if she stayed on the train for another two stops there was a road that wasn’t too long, with her flat squarely between the station and the shrine.\r\n\r\nShe put the map out ready to take to work with her the following day.', 'Closed Road', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '96-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-06 12:34:39', '2009-01-06 03:34:39', '', 96, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/06/96-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(215, 1, '2009-02-09 18:36:40', '2009-02-09 09:36:40', 'Akiko was entirely on autopilot as she went home, to the point that she had been standing still for over a minute before she realised she had stopped, and long seconds passed before she could work out why she wasn’t walking anymore.\n\nThe road ahead of her was completely closed, with workmen all over it testing the drains and digging up sections of the surface. She briefly wondered which politician or bureaucrat had been inconvenienced by the water, before her attention moved on to the question of how she was going to get home.\n\nShe knew perfectly well what the best route was: past Tamao Shrine. However, she also knew that she didn’t want to go that way.\n\n<em>It’s just a shrine. I’m just having odd dreams. The weather is even quite good today.</em>\n\nOnly the last point carried any conviction; a handful of clouds chased each other across the sky, but the wind wasn’t strong and there was no sign of coming rain. Akiko watched the workmen for a bit longer, and then gathered her courage, breathing deeply to calm herself.\n\n<em>It’s not real. I’m just having strange dreams. Passing the shrine will be perfectly safe. I don’t have to go in. I won’t be attacked. I won’t fall in a flood.</em>\n\nChoosing to believe herself, Akiko turned and made her way up the hill, her pace slowing as she climbed. At the corner where the shrine would come into view she paused, her stomach churning. She realised that she was shaking, but she blamed that on the amount of caffeine she’d drunk during the day.\n\nShe darted forward, running round the corner and along the road that followed the edge of the shrine precincts. The green of the trees was particularly vivid after the rain, and the leaves rustled in the breeze, a calming noise like running water.\n\nAs she came up to the torii there was a deep noise from within, and her stomach lurched as her heart beat faster. She didn’t stop, keeping running and picking up her pace as the beats of the drum also got faster.\n\nAnd then she was past the shrine and running down the hill on the other side. Gasping for breath she slowed down, suddenly aware that she might lose her footing and fall. She risked glancing back over her shoulder, but the trees rising into the sky presented no threat. A small flock of birds burst into the sky from them, sweeping through the air over the shrine twice, three times in a rush of wings, and then settling back into the green of the leaves.\n\nAkiko got home without incident, but the first thing she did after taking her shoes off was to look for her map of Kawasaki and check possible routes home from the office, routes that could not take her past the shrine, no matter which roads were blocked. The available options were all longer, of course, but if she stayed on the train for another two stops there was a road that wasn’t too long, with her flat squarely between the station and the shrine.\n\nShe put the map out ready to take to work with her the following day.', 'Closed Road', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '96-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-09 18:36:40', '2009-02-09 09:36:40', '', 96, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/09/96-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(216, 1, '2009-01-08 11:23:16', '2009-01-08 02:23:16', 'Akiko had sake with the eel, so she was already a bit tipsy when they left the restaurant to head to Roppongi and a night club. She confirmed that her face was bright red when they passed a mirror, and assumed that it was largely due to the alcohol, rather than to embarrassment at Naoyuki’s unflagging efforts to look up her skirt. She’d chosen well, however, and he had so far been disappointed. Not that he seemed particularly unhappy about it, however; he’d been unusually cheerful through dinner.\r\n\r\nThey dashed through the storm, which had got worse, arriving at the underground station just as the street was lit by a flash of lightning. The trains were quite crowded, giving Naoyuki all the excuse her needed to stand close to Akiko and try to subtly slide his hand up inside her skirt. She kept swatting it away, but she could tell she was grinning like an idiot, and anyway this skirt wouldn’t let him do that.\r\n\r\nAnother dash, quite a short one, brought them to the night club, and Naoyuki paid their cover charges without taking his eyes off Akiko. As soon as they were inside, he turned to her.\r\n\r\n“It’s warm in here. Let me take your jacket.â€ For a moment, Akiko thought she would refuse, but then she realised that it would be more fun with nothing over the camisole. She shrugged the jacket off and handed it to him.\r\n\r\n“Now buy me a drink.â€\r\n\r\n“Of course, your majesty.â€ Naoyuki grinned as he said it, and Akiko affected a haughty stare, striding out onto the dance floor.\r\n\r\nThe club was still fairly quiet, as it was early in the night, and Akiko was grateful, because she soon realised that it was a long time since she’d been to a club, and that she hadn’t kept up with the music or the dance styles. After a couple of minutes, she retreated to a table to drink with Naoyuki, watching the dancing women until she thought she could copy them well enough to not stand out.\r\n\r\nThen she stood up, glancing at Naoyuki, she hoped flirtatiously, and went out to dance.\r\n\r\nThe wall opposite the bar was one large mirror, and she used it to keep an eye on Naoyuki, as well as on her dance moves. She felt drunk enough to relax, but not too drunk to dance properly, and Naoyuki certainly seemed to have his eyes fixed on her. She spun round to look at him directly, and felt her nipples pressing against the thin material of the camisole. She spun back to the mirror to check whether they were visible.\r\n\r\nTamao was lying along the bar, his head at the inner end raised to stare at her. His eyes shone golden, and the purple, green and red gems of his skin caught the night club’s lights and scattered their many colours all across the room. The shards of light reflected off the mirror and ran across her camisole, almost as if they were deliberately drawing attention to her erect nipples.\r\n\r\nShe put her head down, and hurried back to the table.\r\n\r\n“We’re going to another club. Drink up now.â€ Naoyuki looked shocked, but he drained his glass and got up to follow her.', 'Dancing with the Kami', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '106-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-08 11:23:16', '2009-01-08 02:23:16', '', 106, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/08/106-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(217, 1, '2009-03-30 00:00:28', '2009-03-29 15:00:28', '“I’m sorry, we filled that vacancy yesterday.â€\r\n\r\n“I see. Thank you anyway.â€ Akiko sighed and hung up, crossing another job off the list. She put her phone down for a moment, looking around the cafe, looking to see if there were any creatures watching her.\r\n\r\nJust people, and the only ones watching her were a couple of men, who were trying not to be too obvious about it. Perfectly normal, then.\r\n\r\nShe took a sip of coffee, and sighed again, looking at the job adverts once more. She’d called six places already, and all of them had said no, for various reasons. She was very tempted to give up, especially as she was becoming convinced that Tamao was working to stop her becoming employed.\r\n\r\n<em>Which is all very well,</em> she thought, <em>but what does he want me to do instead? </em>She had no answer for her own question, and picked up her phone to call the next company. Basic office work, short term; probably covering maternity leave, she decided. Still, 1200 yen was a decent hourly rate, and it would buy time to find something more permanent. Akiko smiled wryly. Worrying about whether she should take the job was a bit premature, she reflected.\r\n\r\nHer call was answered.\r\n\r\n“Good morning, I’m calling about the office assistant position you advertised in the jobs paper.â€ <em>This is where they tell me there’s no job any more.</em>\r\n\r\n“Oh yes, thank you. Do you have experience of office work?â€\r\n\r\n“I…â€ For a moment, Akiko forgot what to say. “Yes, I do. I worked in an office for three years.â€\r\n\r\n“Are you familiar with the standard software?â€\r\n\r\n“I suppose so; Office, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, of course.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, I am. We used it every day.â€\r\n\r\n“And you’re fine with the hours and the term of the job?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko quickly checked the paper; was there something strange about them? Oh, the office opened at seven am, and closed before four. An early start, then.\r\n\r\n“The hours are no problem, and I understand that the job is short-term.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, three months. There is very little chance of it being extended. Is that OK?â€ This was sounding very promising.\r\n\r\n“That’s absolutely fine.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s a relief. I’m sorry, we’ve had a few calls from people who don’t seem to have read the advert. Anyway, could you come for an interview this afternoon? Bring your CV.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry?â€ Akiko couldn’t quite believe her ears.\r\n\r\n“Can you come for an interview this afternoon? From three thirty.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, certainly.â€ An interview! Akiko had to remind herself that it wasn’t a job offer, not yet, but it was so much further than she’d got with any of the others.\r\n\r\n“We look forward to seeing you. The address is in the advert; just ask at reception.â€ Akiko checked the advert; not too far, just a short bus ride. She could even walk it if need be.\r\n\r\n“Thank you. I’ll be there before half past three.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€\r\n\r\nThe man hung up, and Akiko sat there holding her phone, grinning foolishly. She looked at the clock; still early. There was time to go and talk to Shiraishi before she went to the interview.\r\n\r\nShe had an interview!', 'Job Hunting', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'job-hunting-2', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:45:18', '2009-02-12 01:45:18', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=217', 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(218, 1, '2009-02-12 10:45:10', '2009-02-12 01:45:10', '', 'Job Hunting', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '217-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:45:10', '2009-02-12 01:45:10', '', 217, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/217-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(219, 1, '2009-03-31 00:00:27', '2009-03-30 15:00:27', 'At the shrine, Akiko paid her respects first, and then pressed the bell to call Shiraishi. The priest soon appeared, and smiled when she saw Akiko.\r\n\r\n“Thank you for coming back,â€ she said.\r\n\r\n“Did you think I wouldn’t?â€ Akiko was a little surprised.\r\n\r\n“I wondered… Anyway, please come in.â€ The priest led the way into the house, and to the reception room where they normally talked. She indicated that Akiko should sit down, and knelt opposite, her hands clasped on the table.\r\n\r\nFor a long time, she said nothing.\r\n\r\n“Well, I’ve thought about what you said.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, far more nervous than she’d expected. Shiraishi stopped again, and looked at the table for a while, before looking Akiko straight in the eyes.\r\n\r\n“Can I be completely honest?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko felt herself blushing as she nodded, her heart beating quickly and her stomach knotting. Surely at least one person would believe her?\r\n\r\n“I thought about everything you said, and about the dust. And…â€ She paused, then took a deep breath before continuing. “I can’t just believe you.â€ Akiko felt the blood drain from her face, and she was very glad she was sitting down. The priest, however, wasn’t looking at her, and, staring at the table, she went on. “Seeing the kami, seeing what sound like spirits of kegare, claiming to have entered a version of the shrine that doesn’t actually exist. I mean, that’s just not plausible.â€ Akiko realised that she was shaking as she gripped the table. What had she expected, though? It wasn’t as if the story were believable.\r\n\r\nThe priest wasn’t finished, though.\r\n\r\n“But… It’s a ridiculous story. If you were trying to con me, you’d come up with something a bit more plausible. In fact, I can’t think of any reason why you would make up a story like that, and you don’t seem to be insane.\r\n\r\n“So, I have to consider the possibility that you are right. That you really have seen the kami. That you were chased by a spirit of kegare to the shrine, but that it couldn’t enter.â€ She looked up briefly, but quickly looked back down at the table. Akiko was even more nervous, but less despairing. Where was the priest going with this?\r\n\r\nIn front of her, the priest spread her hands on the table, and then looked up, looking straight at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“I’ve decided to act as if I believe you. If you are lying to me or mad, then the worst that can happen is that I look rather foolish. But if you are right…â€ She paused, and shook her head. “If you are right, I really don’t know what is going on, but it must be important. And I think you might need my help.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko dropped her eyes first, unsure of how to respond. Did the priest believe her, or not? She looked up again, searching Shiraishi’s face for clues.\r\n\r\n“Do you believe me?â€ She hadn’t really meant to ask that question out loud, but it was said, now.\r\n\r\n“I… Yes.â€ The priest nodded. “Yes, I choose to believe you. What do we do now?â€', 'Shiraishi''s Conclusion', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'shiraishis-conclusion', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:46:08', '2009-02-12 01:46:08', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=219', 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(220, 1, '2009-02-12 10:46:02', '2009-02-12 01:46:02', '', 'Shiraishi''s Conclusion', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '219-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:46:02', '2009-02-12 01:46:02', '', 219, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/219-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(221, 1, '2009-04-01 00:00:15', '2009-03-31 15:00:15', '<em>What should we do?</em> That was a big question, and one that Akiko had rather been hoping that Shiraishi would have easy answers to.\r\n\r\n“Don’t you know?â€ The priest shook her head.\r\n\r\n“Like I said before, my training really didn’t cover this sort of situation.â€ She looked out of the window as she spoke, and then started to get up. “The weather has brightened up. Let’s walk in shrine grounds while we talk about it.â€ Akiko’s legs were getting sore from kneeling, so she readily agreed, standing up slowly and massaging life back into them.\r\n\r\nThe weather really had improved. A few wispy white clouds were scattered across the blue, but the sun shone on the shrine, making the leaves of the trees and the grass of the precincts gleam. The air was fresh, with a hint of the smell of pine, and the noises of the city were distant, drowned out every time a bird sang among the trees. Shiraishi led the way off the path, and towards the rear of the shrine.\r\n\r\n“So, you say you’ve seen the kami several times. Has he said anything to you?â€ Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, he just looks at me, like I’m supposed to know what to do.â€ The priest sighed.\r\n\r\n“And what about the kegare spirits?â€\r\n\r\n“The what?â€ It was that word again.\r\n\r\n“Ke-ga-reh. Pollution. Loss of energy. Bad stuff. It’s what you get rid of when you wash your hands and mouth at the water basin, or have a harae done.â€\r\n\r\n“Harae?â€\r\n\r\n“A ritual to get rid of kegare. Anyway, the other spirits you are seeing sound like kegare spirits to me.â€\r\n\r\n“Hmm, yes. I suppose that would describe them.â€ Akiko paused to think, but nothing leapt out at her. “They just seem to appear in places, and then chase me.â€\r\n\r\n“Decaying places, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, the laundrette’s building, certainly. And I suppose the one at the building site appeared from the bamboo grove that was being cut down. The love hotels weren’t decaying, though.â€\r\n\r\n“Not physically. But they aren’t exactly happy and hopeful places.â€\r\n\r\n“I suppose not. My old flat wasn’t decaying, though.â€\r\n\r\n“No, but you had just been evicted.â€ They were round the back of the shrine, near the stones, and the priest paused.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, do you have anywhere to live?â€\r\n\r\n“What? Oh, I’m all right. I’ve got a job interview this afternoon. I think this is just going be a really difficult week when I look back on it.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm, OK.â€ The priest didn’t sound completely convinced, but she wasn’t looking at Akiko, instead staring into the stones. Akiko remembered the light she had seen, and looked as well, but there was nothing unusual. The priest noticed where she was looking.\r\n\r\n“That’s the iwakura. It’s where the kami was honoured before the shrine building was first built. You said you saw a light there?â€ Akiko nodded. “But not the snake? The snake was always in the shrine building?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, sometimes it wasn’t in the shrine at all, and it did come out, but…â€\r\n\r\n“But it lives in the shrine building.â€ The priest frowned and looked between the iwakura and the back of the shrine. “I can’t help feeling that’s significant, somehow.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko glanced at her watch, and gasped.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry; I really have to go. I’ve got to get changed before I go to the job interview.â€\r\n\r\n“Do you want to change here?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, thank you, but I didn’t bring the clothes. I really have to go; I’ll come back soon.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, please do.â€\r\n\r\nOnce again, Akiko was running from the shrine, but this time she turned at the torii to wave good bye.', 'Conversation in the Precincts', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'conversation-in-the-precincts', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:46:49', '2009-02-12 01:46:49', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=221', 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(222, 1, '2009-02-12 10:46:44', '2009-02-12 01:46:44', '', 'Conversation in the Precincts', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '221-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:46:44', '2009-02-12 01:46:44', '', 221, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/221-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(223, 1, '2009-04-02 00:00:57', '2009-04-01 15:00:57', 'Akiko checked her clothes in the mirror at the manga cafe; she looked smart, presentable, ready for work. She nodded, satisfied with the effect, and let herself out of the shower. The guy who was waiting to use it whistled and clapped as she emerged, but he also stepped back well out of her way, so she just smiled at him, and headed for the exit.\r\n\r\nShe took the advert out of her bag, confirming the address and the nearest bus stop, and went down to the bus stop. It was one of the ones in the area behind the railway station, the area that hadn’t been redeveloped yet, and the buildings were getting old. As she looked at them, the walls sagging and some of the windows cracked, she remembered what Shiraishi had said about kegare, and looked more carefully, wondering if any of the kegare spirits would be in there. Crossing the road, she kept her distance as she made her way to the bus stop.\r\n\r\nEven while she was waiting for the bus, she kept glancing at the buildings, worried that something would appear. She tried to tell herself that the fear was unreasonable, but she didn’t believe it. There really might be something in there.\r\n\r\nThere was.\r\n\r\nThe first time it moved she thought it might just be paranoia, but then she saw it again. It wasn’t very big, and she couldn’t make out any details, but the way it moved across the walls of the building was wrong; it certainly wasn’t a bird or anything. She looked down the road, and saw the bus in the distance. Checking her watch, she realised that she couldn’t afford to miss this one if she wanted to make the interview on time. Biting her lip, she looked back at the kegare spirit.\r\n\r\nIt had crawled down from the building, and was weaving along the edge of the road, as if looking for something. It hadn’t reached the main road yet, and didn’t seem to have noticed her. She looked back the other way; the bus was getting closer, but it had stopped at the previous stop.\r\n\r\nThe spirit hadn’t moved far, but it had stopped, as if listening for something. Akiko couldn’t hear anything over the traffic, including a motorbike that needed its silencer fixed. The spirit seemed to be looking up, alert, and Akiko felt sure that it was looking in her direction. She glanced the other way; the bus was on the move again, getting ever closer.\r\n\r\nThe spirit definitely seemed to be waiting for something. A car went past, blocking her line of sight for a moment, and when she could see it again the spirit had started running along the side of the road. The bus was very close now. She looked back, the noisy motorbike coming up past the spirit and blocking her view for a moment.\r\n\r\nShe saw the spirit leap on to the front of the bike, grabbing the wheel. It swerved and skidded as the rider lost control, falling and sliding along the road to slam into the side of a building with a deafening crash.\r\n\r\nAs the bus came to a stop, people were already running over, and someone had a cell phone out. Akiko got on the bus, which was abuzz. Everyone was staring, so she didn’t seem out of place, but she wasn’t looking at the same thing as them.\r\n\r\nThe spirit had vanished.', 'Kegare Accident', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'kegare-accident', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:47:29', '2009-02-12 01:47:29', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=223', 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(224, 1, '2009-02-12 10:47:23', '2009-02-12 01:47:23', '', 'Kegare Accident', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '223-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:47:23', '2009-02-12 01:47:23', '', 223, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/223-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(225, 1, '2009-04-03 00:00:34', '2009-04-02 15:00:34', '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 a 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'interview', '', '', '2009-04-04 08:53:24', '2009-04-03 23:53:24', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=225', 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(226, 1, '2009-02-12 10:48:04', '2009-02-12 01:48:04', '', 'Interview', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '225-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:48:04', '2009-02-12 01:48:04', '', 225, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/225-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(227, 1, '2009-04-04 00:00:16', '2009-04-03 15:00:16', 'Akiko stood watching the fire for a few more minutes, still not quite believing it, until she became conscious of the rain soaking her clothes. She looked around for somewhere to get out of it, but there didn’t even seem to be a convenience store. Resigning herself to being drenched, she turned and headed back to the station.\r\n\r\nThe rain got lighter as she walked, and by the time she was back it was nothing but a light drizzle. The motorcycle was still there, with police tape around it, but there was no sign of the spirit. Akiko hoped that the rider wasn’t too badly injured.\r\n\r\nAfter changing into dry clothes, she found herself sitting in the manga cafe, idly surfing the net. She had meant to be looking for job vacancies, but really, what was the point? Tamao was willing to set fire to a company’s offices to keep her out of work, and was probably responsible for the bus’s breakdown and the weather, as well. How on earth was she supposed to fight that?\r\n\r\nShe rested her head in her hands, all her energy and enthusiasm gone. Her life was over. No husband, not even a boyfriend, no job, pursued by a giant snake and threatened by kegare spirits. What was the point of going on?\r\n\r\n<em>Stop being melodramatic,</em> she told herself, sternly. <em>It’s not that bad.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Yes it is,</em> insisted a small voice in her mind, but Akiko wasn’t going to let that defeatist voice win. She had lost her job, her boyfriend, and her home. Fine. The kami wasn’t going to let her have them back, either. Fine. She would just have to build her life again. What would people think if she just gave up at this point? She had to be stronger than that.\r\n\r\nShe finally talked herself into getting up and leaving the cafe.\r\n\r\n<em>The shrine,</em> she thought. <em>I’ll go to the shrine and tell Tamao that he can’t beat me that easily.</em>\r\n\r\nThe walk was surprisingly pleasant, despite the grey and overcast sky; the rain had stopped completely, and the wind was very gentle in the warm air. When the shrine came into view, the leaves were bright green, washed clean by the rain, and as she climbed the steps it smelled fresh, invigorated.\r\n\r\nAs she washed her hands and rinsed her mouth, she felt her spirits lift a little, and she marched over to the shrine, bowing and clapping to get Tamao’s attention before giving him a piece of her mind.\r\n\r\n“I hope you’re happy now. You’ve driven my boyfriend away and got me thrown out of my flat, and, not content with getting me fired from my old job, you are doing all you can to stop me getting a new one. Well, you win. I can’t fight you. I give up. You don’t want me to have a happy, normal life. I don’t know what kind of misfit you want me to be, and I don’t really care. I can’t be normal? Fine.â€ She spat the word out. “I’ll just do…â€ What? What would she do?\r\n\r\n“Er, Ms Tanahata?â€ It was Shiraishi. Embarrassed, Akiko spun round to face her, looking down at her from the veranda. “Can we talk?â€', 'Giving Up', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'giving-up', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:48:47', '2009-02-12 01:48:47', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=227', 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(228, 1, '2009-02-12 10:48:43', '2009-02-12 01:48:43', '', 'Giving Up', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '227-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:48:43', '2009-02-12 01:48:43', '', 227, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/227-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(229, 1, '2009-04-05 00:00:55', '2009-04-04 15:00:55', '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 quit 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'coming-home', '', '', '2009-05-11 17:17:05', '2009-05-11 08:17:05', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=229', 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(230, 1, '2009-02-12 10:50:07', '2009-02-12 01:50:07', '', 'Coming Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '229-revision', '', '', '2009-02-12 10:50:07', '2009-02-12 01:50:07', '', 229, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/12/229-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(231, 1, '2009-02-16 17:53:24', '2009-02-16 08:53:24', '“Tonight?â€ Naoyuki sounded surprised, and a bit sceptical.\n\n“It’s Saturday; surely you don’t have a nomikai.â€\n\n“No, but…â€ He actually sounded like he might turn her down. Akiko forced herself to loosen her grip on her phone.\n\n“Come on. We can have dinner, go to a club, and then go back to your place. I’ll make it fun for you.â€\n\n“A club? How long is it since you went to a club?â€\n\n“Too long!â€ Akiko tried to sound carefree, but wasn’t sure she was managing it. <em>There is no snake in the shrine. I only sleepwalked once. It’s not a problem.</em> “I’ll even pay.â€\n\n“What?â€ Now Naoyuki really sounded surprised. “No, I’ll pay, of course. Oh, all right. Let’s meet in Shibuya at eight.â€\n\n“Seven.â€ Eight o’clock was too far away; Akiko needed distracting before that.\n\n“Eager, aren’t you. OK, seven. See you then. And you don’t need to wear underwear.â€ He hung up before she could get a response in, and she had heard the laugh in his voice. He never gave up, a bit like Tamao. Shaking her head to banish the thought, Akiko got up and went over to her rack of clothes, looking for something to wear. Something stylish, but sexy. Definitely sexy. She deliberately remembered times in bed with Naoyuki, and the good parts were very good. She was smiling to herself as she went through her underwear, looking at the lacy things, many of which Naoyuki had bought for her. <em>Considering he never wants me to wear any, he buys me enough,</em> she thought, laughing to herself. A thought came to her and, blushing furiously, she turned to look at her other clothes.\n\nOnce she had laid her selection out on the futon, she went into the bathroom to fix her makeup. Standing in front of the mirror, she found herself searching the image for a snake. There was nothing there, but still she found that she couldn’t get her mind off the idea. She forced herself to focus on her face, applying the make-up carefully. The magazines were propped up around the sink, and she kept looking at them to check that she was doing it right. Every time she looked back up at the mirror, she expected to see the snake in the background, but there was nothing but the washing machine and her dirty laundry. She completed her preparations uninterrupted.\n\nShe put her clothes on carefully, checking their fit. The leather miniskirt was tight enough not to fly around, which was important, and the feel of it against her skin made her blush. The black camisole top and small jacket went well with it, and when she stretched her hands above her head the top rode up, exposing her navel. She smiled at the mirror. Naoyuki would definitely approve. A glance out of the window confirmed that the weather was getting worse, and Akiko frowned. It was still warm, but it looked like rain, and she’d hoped to avoid carrying an umbrella. Still, there was nothing to be done. She picked up her folding umbrella, and slipped her boots on in the hallway. She looked at her watch. Half past five.\n\nShe was going to be early.', 'War Paint', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-16 17:53:24', '2009-02-16 08:53:24', '', 102, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/16/102-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(232, 1, '2009-01-08 11:21:48', '2009-01-08 02:21:48', '“Tonight?â€ Naoyuki sounded surprised, and a bit sceptical.\r\n\r\n“It’s Saturday; surely you don’t have a nomikai.â€\r\n\r\n“No, but…â€ He actually sounded like he might turn her down. Akiko forced herself to loosen her grip on her phone.\r\n\r\n“Come on. We can have dinner, go to a club, and then go back to your place. I’ll make it fun for you.â€\r\n\r\n“A club? How long is it since you went to a club?â€\r\n\r\n“Too long!â€ Akiko tried to sound carefree, but wasn’t sure she was managing it. <em>There is no snake in the shrine. I only sleepwalked once. It’s not a problem.</em> “I’ll even pay.â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€ Now Naoyuki really sounded surprised. “No, I’ll pay, of course. Oh, all right. Let’s meet in Shibuya at eight.â€\r\n\r\n“Seven.â€ Eight o’clock was too far away; Akiko needed distracting before that.\r\n\r\n“Eager, aren’t you. OK, seven. See you then. And you don’t need to wear underwear.â€ He hung up before she could get a response in, and she had heard the laugh in his voice. He never gave up, a bit like Tamao. Shaking her head to banish the though, Akiko got up and went over to her rack of clothes, looking for something to wear. Something stylish, but sexy. Definitely sexy. She deliberately remembered times in bed with Naoyuki, and the good parts were very good. She was smiling to herself as she went through her underwear, looking at the lacy things, many of which Naoyuki had bought for her. <em>Considering he never wants me to wear any, he buys me enough,</em> she thought, laughing to herself. A thought came to her and, blushing furiously, she turned to look at her other clothes.\r\n\r\nOnce she had laid her selection out on the futon, she went into the bathroom to fix her makeup. Standing in front of the mirror, she found herself searching the image for a snake. There was nothing there, but still she found that she couldn’t get her mind off the idea. She forced herself to focus on her face, applying the make-up carefully. The magazines were propped up around the sink, and she kept looking at them to check that she was doing it right. Every time she looked back up at the mirror, she expected to see the snake in the background, but there was nothing but the washing machine and her dirty laundry. She completed her preparations uninterrupted.\r\n\r\nShe put her clothes on carefully, checking their fit. The leather miniskirt was tight enough not to fly around, which was important, and the feel of it against her skin made her blush. The black camisole top and small jacket went well with it, and when she stretched her hands above her head the top rode up, exposing her navel. She smiled at the mirror. Naoyuki would definitely approve. A glance out of the window confirmed that the weather was getting worse, and Akiko frowned. It was still warm, but it looked like rain, and she’d hoped to avoid carrying an umbrella. Still, there was nothing to be done. She picked up her folding umbrella, and slipped her boots on in the hallway. She looked at her watch. Half past five.\r\n\r\nShe was going to be early.', 'War Paint', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-08 11:21:48', '2009-01-08 02:21:48', '', 102, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/08/102-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(233, 1, '2009-01-08 11:25:52', '2009-01-08 02:25:52', '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 an 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-2', '', '', '2009-01-08 11:25:52', '2009-01-08 02:25:52', '', 114, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/08/114-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(234, 1, '2009-04-06 00:00:16', '2009-04-05 15:00:16', 'Akiko put her bags down on the road and shook her aching arms, wishing, for the fifth time, that she had called for a taxi. Again, she considered doing it now, but she didn’t know how to give directions to where she was, and anyway, she was very close to the shrine now.\r\n\r\n<em>Why did I think trying to carry all my worldly possessions from the storage room to the shrine was a good idea?</em> She knew the answer, of course; a taxi cost money, which she didn’t really have, while carrying them only took time and energy. And she had thought she had plenty of both of those. Groaning, she settled the rucksacks, back and front, once more, and gathered up the other bags, grabbing the handles of the cases. Feeling like a pack animal, she started off again.\r\n\r\nAt least the weather was good. The rain had stopped soon after the sun came out, but some clouds remained, keeping the temperature pleasant. The streets were still damp, but they were drying out quickly, although the river had been high again when Akiko passed it. She wondered whether she should be thanking Tamao for giving her good weather to move in, and, with a shock, realised that that was a serious question.\r\n\r\nAfter two more pauses for breath, she finally reached the bottom of the shrine steps. They looked twice as steep and three times as high as she remembered, and she carefully unloaded all the luggage, piling it at the bottom.\r\n\r\n<em>I am not trying to get everything up the steps at once,</em> she told herself.\r\n\r\nIn the end, she did five trips, heaping everything just outside the torii so that she didn’t have to go through and bow so many times. On the last journey, Shiraishi appeared, having apparently heard her.\r\n\r\n“Do you want any help?â€ Breathing hard, Akiko put the last bag down on the pile, and stood there for a moment, trying to catch her breath.\r\n\r\n“Yes… thank you. Help… would be… very good.â€ <em>A bit earlier would have been better,</em> she thought, but she knew she couldn’t say it, not to someone who was offering her free accommodation. Shiraishi picked up a couple of bags, taking them to the house, and Akiko followed. They stacked everything in the entrance to start with, then Shiraishi stepped out of her sandals and up into the house.\r\n\r\n“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.â€\r\n\r\nShe led the way down the hall, and slid a door open, indicating that Akiko should go in.\r\n\r\nThe far wall of the room was large windows, overlooking the pond in the garden, with the shrine wood as a backdrop. There was a large alcove, with shelves, and the door panels were painted with scenes of mountains, dragons, and waterfalls. Akiko had no idea what to say.\r\n\r\n“This was the main guest room. It seems a real shame for it not to get any use, so…â€ Shiraishi sounded almost apologetic. Akiko was still trying to get over the sheer size of it; her whole flat would have fitted inside. “There are futons in the cupboard, but I’ve put a couple out on the veranda to air.â€ Akiko could see them, and she slipped out of her slippers to walk into the room. The sun sparkled off the surface of the water, and the iwakura came into view beyond the other wing of the shrine house.\r\n\r\nShe still had no idea what to say.', 'Moving In', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'moving-in', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:49:22', '2009-02-17 07:49:22', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=234', 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(235, 1, '2009-02-17 16:48:39', '2009-02-17 07:48:39', '', 'Moving In', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '234-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:48:39', '2009-02-17 07:48:39', '', 234, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/234-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(236, 1, '2009-02-17 16:48:58', '2009-02-17 07:48:58', 'Akiko put her bags down on the road and shook her aching arms, wishing, for the fifth time, that she had called for a taxi. Again, she considered doing it now, but she didn’t know how to give directions to where she was, and anyway, she was very close to the shrine now.\r\n\r\n<em>Why did I think trying to carry all my worldly possessions from the storage room to the shrine was a good idea?</em> She knew the answer, of course; a taxi cost money, which she didn’t really have, while carrying them only took time and energy. And she had thought she had plenty of both of those. Groaning, she settled the rucksacks, back and front, once more, and gathered up the other bags, grabbing the handles of the cases. Feeling like a pack animal, she started off again.\r\n\r\nAt least the weather was good. The rain had stopped soon after the sun came out, but some clouds remained, keeping the temperature pleasant. The streets were still damp, but they were drying out quickly, although the river had been high again when Akiko passed it. She wondered whether she should be thanking Tamao for giving her good weather to move in, and, with a shock, realised that that was a serious question.\r\n\r\nAfter two more pauses for breath, she finally reached the bottom of the shrine steps. They looked twice as steep and three times as high as she remembered, and she carefully unloaded all the luggage, piling it at the bottom.\r\n\r\n<em>I am not trying to get everything up the steps at once,</em> she told herself.\r\n\r\nIn the end, she did five trips, heaping everything just outside the torii so that she didn’t have to go through and bow so many times. On the last journey, Shiraishi appeared, having apparently heard her.\r\n\r\n“Do you want any help?â€ Breathing hard, Akiko put the last bag down on the pile, and stood there for a moment, trying to catch her breath.\r\n\r\n“Yes… thank you. Help… would be… very good.â€ <em>A bit earlier would have been better,</em> she thought, but she knew she couldn’t say it, not to someone who was offering her free accommodation. Shiraishi picked up a couple of bags, taking them to the house, and Akiko followed. They stacked everything in the entrance to start with, then Shiraishi stepped out of her sandals and up into the house.\r\n\r\n“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.â€\r\n\r\nShe led the way down the hall, and slid a door open, indicating that Akiko should go in.\r\n\r\nThe far wall of the room was large windows, overlooking the pond in the garden, with the shrine wood as a backdrop. There was a large alcove, with shelves, and the door panels were painted with scenes of mountains, dragons, and waterfalls. Akiko had no idea what to say.\r\n\r\n“This was the main guest room. It seems a real shame for it not to get any use, so…â€ Shiraishi sounded almost apologetic. Akiko was still trying to get over the sheer size of it; her whole flat would have fitted inside. “There are futons in the cupboard, but I’ve put a couple out on the veranda to air.â€ Akiko could see them, and she slipped out of her slippers to walk into the room. The sun sparkled off the surface of the water, and the iwakura came into view beyond the other wing of the shrine house.\r\n\r\nShe still had no idea what to say.', 'Moving In', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '234-revision-2', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:48:58', '2009-02-17 07:48:58', '', 234, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/234-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(237, 1, '2009-04-07 00:00:29', '2009-04-06 15:00:29', 'At first, Akiko did not know what had woken her. The house was quiet, isolated from the noise of the city by the shrine grounds, the room illuminated by a gentle light from outside. She sat up in bed, straightening the yukata that Shiraishi had lent her, and looked around the room, glancing out of the window.\r\n\r\nIn the heart of the iwakura, she could see a red light, pulsing to some inner rhythm, casting changing shadows across the precincts towards her windows. She pushed the futon off her legs, and walked over to the windows. They slid open easily, and the night air was surprisingly warm around her as she walked out onto the veranda. She walked along it a short distance, until the shrine building came into view as well. A warm, golden light, much steadier than the red glow among the stones, spilled out of the front.\r\n\r\nCurious, Akiko stepped off the veranda, into the sandals left there for when people wanted to go into the garden, and made her way carefully over the stone bridge crossing the pond. A stone basin of water stood at the gate out of the garden, and Akiko quickly rinsed her hands and mouth, pulling the yukata more closely around her as the chill of the water made the air feel cooler.\r\n\r\nAs she stepped out of the garden the red light among the stones started to fade, but the light from inside the shrine remained strong, and the faint rustling of bells teased at her awareness. She walked across the grass to the foot of the steps into the shrine, and looked up.\r\n\r\nThe doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit, the light spilling over the balcony, casting hazy shadows of the railings on the ground around her, dark bars on green grass. Akiko, on impulse, stepped out of the sandals as she began to climb the steps, almost holding her breath in anticipation.\r\n\r\nStanding on the balcony, Akiko felt that there was something strange about the shrine, but for a long moment she couldn’t put her finger on it. The stools were lined up as normal, and a single square tatami mat sat on the raised platform, directly in front of the doors to the inner shrine. She stepped into the building, and was climbing the steps to the dais before it struck her.\r\n\r\nThe lights were all out, but the room was filled with brilliant illumination.\r\n\r\nHer breath now coming quickly, Akiko walked to the tatami mat and knelt on it, facing the doors. As she settled herself, the doors swung outwards, opening apparently by themselves.\r\n\r\nTamao filled the doorway, his golden eyes fixed on her as lightning played around his lips, refracted into dazzling colours from the red, green, and purple jewels of his skin.\r\n\r\nAkiko bowed her face to the floor, twice, then, sitting straight, clapped her hands together twice in front of her chest, before bowing her face to the floor once more.\r\n\r\nAs she raised her face she saw the doors closing, and the light within the shrine began to fade. Hurriedly, she got to her feet, turning at the door to the shrine to bow once more before leaving. The precincts were rather darker now, but there was still enough light for her to find her way back to the garden, and back to her room. She carefully, trying not to make any noise, closed the window behind her, before lying back down on the futon and soon falling asleep.', 'Formal Welcome', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'formal-welcome', '', '', '2009-05-11 17:15:42', '2009-05-11 08:15:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=237', 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(238, 1, '2009-02-17 16:49:54', '2009-02-17 07:49:54', '', 'Formal Welcome', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '237-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:49:54', '2009-02-17 07:49:54', '', 237, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/237-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(239, 1, '2009-02-17 16:50:02', '2009-02-17 07:50:02', 'Akiko put her bags down on the road and shook her aching arms, wishing, for the fifth time, that she had called for a taxi. Again, she considered doing it now, but she didn’t know how to give directions to where she was, and anyway, she was very close to the shrine now.\n\n<em>Why did I think trying to carry all my worldly possessions from the storage room to the shrine was a good idea?</em> She knew the answer, of course; a taxi cost money, which she didn’t really have, while carrying them only took time and energy. And she had thought she had plenty of both of those. Groaning, she settled the rucksacks, back and front, once more, and gathered up the other bags, grabbing the handles of the cases. Feeling like a pack animal, she started off again.\n\nAt least the weather was good. The rain had stopped soon after the sun came out, but some clouds remained, keeping the temperature pleasant. The streets were still damp, but they were drying out quickly, although the river had been high again when Akiko passed it. She wondered whether she should be thanking Tamao for giving her good weather to move in, and, with a shock, realised that that was a serious question.\n\nAfter two more pauses for breath, she finally reached the bottom of the shrine steps. They looked twice as steep and three times as high as she remembered, and she carefully unloaded all the luggage, piling it at the bottom.\n\n<em>I am not trying to get everything up the steps at once,</em> she told herself.\n\nIn the end, she did five trips, heaping everything just outside the torii so that she didn’t have to go through and bow so many times. On the last journey, Shiraishi appeared, having apparently heard her.\n\n“Do you want any help?â€ Breathing hard, Akiko put the last bag down on the pile, and stood there for a moment, trying to catch her breath.\n\n“Yes… thank you. Help… would be… very good.â€ <em>A bit earlier would have been better,</em> she thought, but she knew she couldn’t say it, not to someone who was offering her free accommodation. Shiraishi picked up a couple of bags, taking them to the house, and Akiko followed. They stacked everything in the entrance to start with, then Shiraishi stepped out of her sandals and up into the house.\n\n“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.â€\n\nShe led the way down the hall, and slid a door open, indicating that Akiko should go in.\n\nThe far wall of the room was large windows, overlooking the pond in the garden, with the shrine wood as a backdrop. There was a large alcove, with shelves, and the door panels were painted with scenes of mountains, dragons, and waterfalls. Akiko had no idea what to say.\n\n“This was the main guest room. It seems a real shame for it not to get any use, so…â€ Shiraishi sounded almost apologetic. Akiko was still trying to get over the sheer size of it; her whole flat would have fitted inside. “There are futons in the cupboard, but I’ve put a couple out on the veranda to air.â€ Akiko could see them, and she slipped out of her slippers to walk into the room. The sun sparkled off the surface of the water, and the iwakura came into view beyond the other wing of the shrine house.\n\nShe still had no idea what to say.', 'Moving In', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '234-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:50:02', '2009-02-17 07:50:02', '', 234, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/234-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(240, 1, '2009-04-08 00:00:07', '2009-04-07 15:00:07', 'Akiko woke to light flooding in through the windows. She was very relaxed, and for a few minutes she just lay still, enjoying the feeling.\r\n\r\nThen she remembered seeing Tamao in the night, and sat up. Had it really happened? She went to the windows, and opened them, stepping out onto the veranda. There were sandals waiting where she remembered, and a stone bridge over the pond. The stone water basin was still there at the garden exit, but when she walked round to the shrine, the outer doors were closed and, as she discovered when she climbed the steps, locked.\r\n\r\nShe stood on the veranda, wondering, until she was distracted by someone coming into the shrine through the torii. She looked round quickly, and then relaxed when she saw that it was Mr Takenaka. He had noticed her as well, so she came down from the shrine and walked over to greet him.\r\n\r\n“Good morning.â€ He bowed slightly in reply.\r\n\r\n“You’re here very early, Ms Tanahata.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh.â€ Akiko felt herself blushing slightly. “Yes. I’ve just moved in here. For a while.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah. Patched up your problems with our priest, then?â€ He was smiling slightly as he said it, in a way that seemed significant, but Akiko couldn’t work out why, so she just nodded.\r\n\r\n“That’s good.â€ The smile vanished, replaced by a worried frown. “Is she up?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t know.â€ Mr Takenaka looked a little surprised, but then just walked over to the house and pressed the doorbell. Shiraishi appeared moments later.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Mr Takenaka, good morni…â€ He cut her off before she could finish.\r\n\r\n“I have a business appointment, and I need a prayer before I go. I know it’s early, but I’d be very grateful.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh. Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll go and get changed.â€ She looked around, and then picked up some keys and held them out to Akiko. “Could you open the shrine, Ms Tanahata?â€ Mr Takenaka looked between them quizzically as she said that, and Akiko could have sworn that Shiraishi blushed, but the priest hurried into the house before she could be sure.\r\n\r\nMr Takenaka was now paying no attention to her, and had started pacing back and forth in front of the shrine house, so Akiko went to unlock the main building.\r\n\r\nShe slid the heavy wood-and-glass doors aside, and looked within. The stools were lined up much as she remembered them, and there was a small tatami mat in the centre of the dais. She couldn’t see any signs that she had been there in the night, but then she didn’t remember leaving any, either. Frowning to herself, still unsure, she quickly paid her respects and then came back to the house. Mr Takenaka was still pacing, muttering to himself and fidgeting with his pockets, so she didn’t disturb him. Putting the key back where it had been, she was about to go into the house when she remembered that she had taken the sandals from the garden.\r\n\r\nAs she turned to pick them up to take back, her gaze passed over Mr Takenaka, who seemed to have something like a cloud of dark, greasy smoke hovering over his shoulders, stretching black wings out to shelter him. Sucking in her breath, she looked back, but there was nothing to see now but a businessman, pacing in the morning sunlight.', 'Takenaka''s Prayer', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'takenakas-prayer', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:50:36', '2009-02-17 07:50:36', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=240', 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(241, 1, '2009-02-17 16:50:31', '2009-02-17 07:50:31', '', 'Takenaka''s Prayer', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '240-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:50:31', '2009-02-17 07:50:31', '', 240, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/240-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(242, 1, '2009-04-09 00:00:43', '2009-04-08 15:00:43', '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 bark 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-tree', '', '', '2009-04-09 08:45:53', '2009-04-08 23:45:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=242', 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(243, 1, '2009-02-17 16:51:06', '2009-02-17 07:51:06', '', 'The Tree', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '242-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:51:06', '2009-02-17 07:51:06', '', 242, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/242-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(244, 1, '2009-04-10 00:00:30', '2009-04-09 15:00:30', 'The light filled the room, dazzling Akiko as the thunder’s crash seemed to shake her to the bone. She turned to look out of the window without thinking, and found the view almost entirely obscured by the falling rain, its roar quiet only compared to the thunder that had heralded it. She stood, leaving her book on the table, and went over to look out properly.\r\n\r\nThunder crashed again before she could reach the windows, rattling them, while the lightning scattered off the raindrops in a wall of light that left her blinded for a moment, blinking to get her vision back. The rain was churning the surface of the pond into froth, spray bouncing off the veranda in a cloud to be lost in the raindrops. The drumming on the roof sounded like a cry of rage to Akiko, and she stood still by the glass, staring out in fascination.\r\n\r\nLightning and thunder again, and she flinched back from the window.\r\n\r\n“Quite a storm, isn’t it?â€ Akiko turned to face the priest.\r\n\r\n“It certainly is. I don’t remember anything like this in the weather forecast.â€ Shiraishi shook her head in response.\r\n\r\n“Clouds, at worst, I think. There seems to have been a lot more rain than expected the last couple of weeks.â€ Akiko nodded, glancing back at the rain, which showed no sign of weakening, let alone stopping. “Anyway, I was just checking that all the windows were closed properly.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, yes, good idea. I’ll help.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€ The priest seemed genuinely pleased, but Akiko quickly noticed a problem.\r\n\r\n“Er, I don’t really know my way around…â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, true. We can go round together, then. It’ll still be quicker in each room. Come on.â€\r\n\r\nChecking the windows and doors did not take much time or effort, although the house was larger than Akiko had thought. They did find one that wasn’t closed properly, and, after closing it, fetched cloths to clean up the water that had got in. The thunder and lightning did not let up, and continued to come at the same time.\r\n\r\nAt yet another flash and bang, Akiko looked up from wiping.\r\n\r\n“This storm seems to be parked over the shrine,â€ she commented. Shiraishi wrung her cloth out into the bucket, and nodded.\r\n\r\n“Maybe we’ve been cursed by the kami,â€ she suggested, with a smile. That didn’t seem such an amusing possibility to Akiko, and her reaction must have showed, because the priest hurried on. “That was a joke, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm, but what if? It could be a curse, you know.â€ Akiko started to get really worried, and she glanced nervously out of the window.\r\n\r\n“Why would Tamao curse his own shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“Why would he curse me?â€\r\n\r\n“Well… ah.â€ The priest fell silent, and when Akiko glanced back she was looking at the floor, not making any move to clean up. Akiko looked back out of the window, but she could see very little in the darkness. Lightning flashed again, turning the whole scene white and brilliant as the window rattled at the thunder’s roar.\r\n\r\nKami’s curse? Akiko didn’t want to think so.\r\n\r\nShe and the priest both jumped when the doorbell rang.', 'Rainstorm', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'rainstorm', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:52:04', '2009-02-17 07:52:04', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=244', 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(245, 1, '2009-02-17 16:51:58', '2009-02-17 07:51:58', '', 'Rainstorm', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '244-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:51:58', '2009-02-17 07:51:58', '', 244, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/244-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(246, 1, '2009-04-11 00:00:11', '2009-04-10 15:00:11', 'Akira Takenaka was waiting under the porch, wearing a raincoat but soaked to the skin anyway. He barely seemed to register Akiko’s presence, speaking to Shiraishi as soon as the door opened.\r\n\r\n“Have you seen my father today?â€ Shiraishi was as surprised by the question as Akiko, and didn’t answer immediately. “Please, it’s important.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes. Come in out of the rain, Akira, and tell us what’s going on.â€ Shiraishi sounded a bit worried, and Akiko withdrew a little as Akira came inside, dripping on the floor in the entryway.\r\n\r\n“When did you see him?â€\r\n\r\n“This morning. He came early, to have a ceremony done. Why?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s missing.â€\r\n\r\n“Missing?â€ Shiraishi’s tone was quizzical. “What do you mean?â€\r\n\r\n“We haven’t heard from him today.â€ Shiraishi glanced at her watch.\r\n\r\n“It’s only half nine. Maybe he’ll be back later. He does have his favourite bar, after all.â€\r\n\r\n“He’s not there. Did he say anything this morning?â€\r\n\r\n“Anything?â€ Akiko could tell that Akira was really worried, more so than seemed reasonable. You got worried when a child was late home, not when it was your father.\r\n\r\n“You know what I mean.â€ Akira sounded almost angry, but Shiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, Akira, I don’t. Of course he spoke to me, and he didn’t say anything that sounded particularly strange.â€\r\n\r\n“But what did he say?â€ Akiko remembered how tense Mr Takenaka had appeared, and found herself starting to get worried. Maybe there was a good reason for Akira’s nerves.\r\n\r\n“He wanted a ceremony to ask for success in a business negotiation. We didn’t have a very long conversation.â€\r\n\r\n“A negotiation today?â€ The question seemed very important, judging from the urgent tone in which Akira asked it.\r\n\r\n“Yes, I think so. Yes, I’m sure it was.â€\r\n\r\nAkira’s face fell, and for a moment he looked wildly round the entrance hall, as if expecting to find his father hidden there.\r\n\r\n“Akira, what is it?â€ Akiko realised that Shiraishi was talking to Akira almost as if he were a child. He stopped searching with his eyes, and took a deep breath.\r\n\r\n“I’m worried. My father has been under a lot of stress, and he had a meeting today. I heard him say something about “last chanceâ€ to the foreman when he thought I wasn’t listening. No-one, not us, not his employees, have heard anything from him since he left this morning.â€\r\n\r\n“What about the company he had a meeting with?â€ Shiraishi now sounded concerned as well.\r\n\r\n“I called them. The meeting happened, but they weren’t able to give him any contracts. They were a bit surprised to hear from me, I think. They said he had left their offices around two.â€\r\n\r\n“And you say he isn’t at the bar?â€\r\n\r\n“No. I wondered whether he might be here.â€\r\n\r\n“Here?â€\r\n\r\n“He used to come sometimes, in the night, to think.â€\r\n\r\n“Really?â€\r\n\r\n“He did; I met him a couple of times,â€ Akiko said, and Akira, seeming to notice her for the first time, managed a weak smile.\r\n\r\n“So, have you seen him tonight?â€ Shiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I haven’t, but I haven’t been out since I closed the shrine building at sunset. He could have come after that. Ms Tanahata, have you seen him?â€ Akiko shook her head, and Akira slumped a little.\r\n\r\n“Could I look for him? Make sure he isn’t here?â€\r\n\r\n“Of course,â€ the priest replied. “We’ll help.â€', 'Worried Akira', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'worried-akira', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:52:43', '2009-02-17 07:52:43', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=246', 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(247, 1, '2009-02-17 16:52:36', '2009-02-17 07:52:36', '', 'Worried Akira', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '246-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:52:36', '2009-02-17 07:52:36', '', 246, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/246-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(248, 1, '2009-04-12 00:00:25', '2009-04-11 15:00:25', '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 if 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'looking-within', '', '', '2009-04-13 06:50:26', '2009-04-12 21:50:26', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=248', 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(249, 1, '2009-02-17 16:53:52', '2009-02-17 07:53:52', '', 'Looking Within', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '248-revision', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:53:52', '2009-02-17 07:53:52', '', 248, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/248-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(250, 1, '2009-02-17 16:55:09', '2009-02-17 07:55:09', '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.\n\n“We have to calm Akira down; that’s why we’re helping.â€\n\n“Do you know where his father is?â€\n\n“Pachinko, I guess.â€\n\n“Pachinko?â€\n\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€\n\n“So, you don’t think there’s anything to worry about?â€\n\n“Not immediately, no.â€\n\n“Not immediately?â€\n\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€\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\nShiraishi shone her torch over the shrine building, its veranda empty behind a curtain of rainwater cascading from the roof. Akiko followed suit.\n\nAnd had to swallow a scream.\n\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.\n\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.\n\nShe swung the torch away and back again. There was nothing there.\n\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.\n\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.\n\nOnce again she hurried to keep up with the other two, carefully choosing her words.\n\n“Shouldn’t we look inside the shrine?â€ she asked, as she reached them. Shiraishi turned back to look at her.\n\n“I said, I locked it. He certainly wasn’t there then.â€\n\n“Doesn''t he have a key?â€ Akira asked, and Shiraishi turned to look at him.\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\nShe opened her eyes again, and looked into the shrine building. Shiraishi’s torch revealed the stools, looking the same as ever.\n\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.\n\n“Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.â€\n\nShiraishi had seen him as well.', 'Looking Within', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '248-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:55:09', '2009-02-17 07:55:09', '', 248, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/248-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(251, 1, '2009-02-17 16:54:02', '2009-02-17 07:54:02', '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“Didn’t he have a key?â€ Akira asked, and Shiraishi turned to look at him.\r\n\r\n“Oh. He did, didn’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-2', '', '', '2009-02-17 16:54:02', '2009-02-17 07:54:02', '', 248, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/17/248-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(252, 1, '2009-02-18 20:50:15', '2009-02-18 11:50:15', 'Akiko stood at the bottom of the steps to the shrine, the night air slightly chill, and she hugged herself, partly to reassure herself that she really was wearing the thick coat. The area was quiet, with no lights showing in the surrounding houses, and the few streetlights only relieved the gloom to the extent that she could see that the steps were there. Peering up, she thought that she could just make out the torii. Sounds were even clearer than normal; the rustle of twigs in the trees, the sounds of small animals moving around, and, from a direction she couldn’t quite place, the drip of water into a pool.\n\nShe realised that she was still standing at the bottom of the steps, and forced herself to start climbing. Even in trainers, her footfalls sounded loud in the stillness, at least until a car went past a few streets over, drowning them out completely. At the top of the steps, she paused just outside the torii, looking for something.\n\nThe precincts were lit, with two lights under the eaves of the shrine, one over the water basin, and a handful of others scattered across the grass. The illumination was dim, but bright enough for Akiko to be able to see the area within the trees clearly. She looked over at the shrine house, but there were no lights there, and no signs of life.\n\nTaking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, she bowed her head as she stepped through the torii, half expecting the sun to come out. Nothing changed. Halfway between relief and disappointment, she went over to the water basin to purify herself. The source of the dripping sound was the dragon-shaped water pipe standing over the basin, dispensing a slow drip rather than the normal gentle stream. The ripples in the surface caught the light, and Akiko watched them for a moment before taking the ladle to rinse her hands and mouth.\n\nAs she moved around the shrine after praying, she could see nothing in the shadows under the trees, but the only sounds were of small animals. The smell of earth and plants, with a faint hint of fried noodles and sake (someone’s dinner?) was calming, but gave her no help with understanding her situation. Within the trees, she could see clearly, discarded wrappers and a couple of empty bottles standing out against the grass, but there was nothing strange.\n\nNevertheless, she felt a growing tension, a nervousness, as she walked around. She was supposed to be doing something. She kept glancing at the shrine building, but it remained dark and quiet. She walked round behind it, where there were fewer lights and, she thought, more pieces of litter. Her nerves increased as she spotted a strange dark shape, but as she cautiously approached she realised that it was just a collection of large stones, almost lost in the gloom.\n\nShe walked back to the front of the building, her stomach now churning with tension. She tried to sit down, but she found she couldn’t stay still for more than a moment. The sense of urgency was almost overwhelming, but she had no idea what she was supposed to do.\n\nSuddenly, she remembered the dream of the picnic, and the wounds that had been inflicted on the kami with every piece of litter. Hurrying over to the nearest wrapper she could see, she picked it up. The tension subsided for a moment, but then started to build until she hurried to pick up another one.\n\nShe gathered litter until her hands were full, and then left to find somewhere to dispose of it.', 'Night Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '122-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-18 20:50:15', '2009-02-18 11:50:15', '', 122, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/18/122-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(253, 1, '2009-01-14 11:53:17', '2009-01-14 02:53:17', 'Akiko stood at the bottom of the steps to the shrine, the night air slightly chill, and she hugged herself, partly to reassure herself that she really was wearing the thick coat. The area was quiet, with no lights showing in the surrounding houses, and the few streetlights only relieved the gloom to the extent that she could see that the steps were there. Peering up, she thought that she could just make out the torii. Sounds were even clearer than normal; the rustle of twigs in the trees, the sounds of small animals moving around, and, from a direction she couldn’t quite place, the drip of water into a pool.\r\n\r\nShe realised that she was still standing at the bottom of the steps, and forced herself to start climbing. Even in trainers, her footfalls sounded loud in the stillness, at least until a car went past a few streets over, drowning them out completely. At the top of the steps, she paused just outside the torii, looking for something.\r\n\r\nThe precincts were lit, with two lights under the eaves of the shrine, one over the water basin, and a handful of others scattered across the grass. The illumination was dim, but bright enough for Akiko to be able to see the area within the trees clearly. She looked over at the shrine house, but there were no lights there, and no signs of life.\r\n\r\nTaking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, she bowed her head as she stepped through the torii, half expecting the sun to come out. Nothing changed. Halfway between relief and disappointment, she went over to the water basin to purify herself. The source of the dripping sound was the dragon-shaped water pipe standing over the basin, dispensing a slow drip rather than the normal gentle stream. The ripples in the surface caught the light, and Akiko watched them for a moment before taking the ladle to rinse her hands and mouth.\r\n\r\nAs she moved around the shrine after praying, she could see nothing in the shadows under the trees, but the only sounds were of small animals. The smell of earth and plants, with a faint hint of fried noodles and sake (someone’s dinner?) was calming, but gave her no help with understanding her situation. Within the trees, she could see clearly, discarded wrappers and a couple of empty bottles standing out against the grass, but there was nothing strange.\r\n\r\nNevertheless, she felt a growing tension, a nervousness, as she walked around. She was supposed to be doing something. She kept glancing at the shrine building, but it remained dark and quiet. She walked round behind it, where there were fewer lights and, she thought, more pieces of litter. Her nerves increased as she spotted a strange dark shape, but as she cautiously approached she realised that it was just a collection of large stones, almost lost in the gloom her.\r\n\r\nShe walked back to the front of the building, her stomach now churning with tension. She tried to sit down, but she found she couldn’t stay still for more than a moment. The sense of urgency was almost overwhelming, but she had no idea what she was supposed to do.\r\n\r\nSuddenly, she remembered the dream of the picnic, and the wounds that had been inflicted on the kami with every piece of litter. Hurrying over to the nearest wrapper she could see, she picked it up. The tension subsided for a moment, but then started to build until she hurried to pick up another one.\r\n\r\nShe gathered litter until her hands were full, and then left to find somewhere to dispose of it.', 'Night Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '122-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-14 11:53:17', '2009-01-14 02:53:17', '', 122, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/14/122-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(254, 1, '2009-04-13 00:00:53', '2009-04-12 15:00:53', 'Akiko stood in the porch of the shrine house, watching the ambulance crew carry Mr Takenaka’s corpse out of the shrine into the torrential rain, and heard them calling to each other as they tried to manoeuvre the stretcher down the shrine steps. As the last of them passed through the torii, she thought she saw something shadowy spring up and cling onto the upper lintel of the gate, but in the darkness it was impossible to be sure.\r\n\r\nShe remained standing there even after they were out of sight. She could hear the police officers in the shrine, but she wasn’t looking that way. She wasn’t looking at anything. She felt on the verge of tears, even though she had hardly known Mr Takenaka, and was willing herself not to cry. Akira seemed to be bearing up, and she didn’t want to look to him as though she was acting sadder than she felt.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata?â€ She looked round; it was one of the police officers.\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€\r\n\r\n“Can I ask a few questions?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, yes, of course.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you. When did you first see the body?â€\r\n\r\n“A bit before ten, I think. I was with Mr Takenaka and Revd Shiraishi.â€\r\n\r\n“Why were you going into the shrine?â€\r\n\r\n“We were looking for Mr Takenaka. Er, Hideo Takenaka.â€\r\n\r\n“Why?â€\r\n\r\n“Akira was worried about him. He said he’d been very worried recently. He certainly looked worried when he came to the shrine this morning.â€ The police officer nodded.\r\n\r\n“How well did you know the late Mr Takenaka?â€ Akiko shrugged.\r\n\r\n“Not well. We had spoken a few times, but that’s all. I went to his house once, but didn’t go inside.â€\r\n\r\n“Apparently, he came to the shrine a lot.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, I mainly met him here.â€\r\n\r\n“But only a few times?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, I only moved in a couple of days ago.â€ The officer nodded again.\r\n\r\n“I see. Well, thank you for your co-operation. I know finding a suicide must be difficult.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, and involuntarily looked back at the shrine, wondering why Mr Takenaka had chosen to end his life there.\r\n\r\n“If you would excuse me…â€ Akiko turned back to bow briefly to the officer, who went to join the others in the shrine. Akiko remained in the porch, ignoring the chill and the spray that struck her, leaving her clothes damp. There was an edge to the smell of the shrine tonight, an edge that was more than the wetness.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, you should go inside.â€ It was Akira. She turned to face him, and he quickly looked outside. “There’s nothing you can do, now, and it’s cold.â€\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka, I’m really…â€ Her voice trailed off. What on earth could she say to him now?\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ He still wasn’t looking at her. “I have to go home, now. My mother will need me, and there’s a flood warning from the rain. Take care.â€ He looked towards her as he bowed, and their eyes met for a moment, before he turned away and hurried into the rain. Akiko felt tears pricking at her eyes, and blinked rapidly to bring them under control.\r\n\r\nIt was several minutes before she realised that Akira had left his coat, hanging on a peg by the door.', 'The Authorities', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'the-authorities', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:48:38', '2009-02-20 02:48:38', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=254', 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(255, 1, '2009-02-20 11:48:28', '2009-02-20 02:48:28', '', 'The Authorities', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '254-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:48:28', '2009-02-20 02:48:28', '', 254, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/254-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(256, 1, '2009-04-14 00:00:44', '2009-04-13 15:00:44', '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 house, 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'escape', '', '', '2009-04-14 19:28:17', '2009-04-14 10:28:17', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=256', 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(257, 1, '2009-02-20 11:49:05', '2009-02-20 02:49:05', '', 'Ecape', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '256-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:49:05', '2009-02-20 02:49:05', '', 256, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/256-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(258, 1, '2009-04-15 00:00:18', '2009-04-14 15:00:18', '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 at 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, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'akiras-visit', '', '', '2009-04-14 19:48:30', '2009-04-14 10:48:30', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=258', 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(259, 1, '2009-02-20 11:49:47', '2009-02-20 02:49:47', '', 'Akira''s Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '258-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:49:47', '2009-02-20 02:49:47', '', 258, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/258-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(260, 1, '2009-04-16 00:00:13', '2009-04-15 15:00:13', 'Shiraishi was equally quiet during breakfast the following day, and when it finished she turned to look at the sake cupboard, fixing her gaze on it for long moments before sighing and turning back to Akiko.\r\n\r\n“I’ll deal with any visitors today. Thank you.â€ Akiko nodded. She had been thinking about looking for jobs again, but she felt very lethargic, as if the close atmosphere was draining all her vitality.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Akira Takenaka visited yesterday. He wanted to see whether we were all right.â€ Shiraishi looked at her, surprised, and Akiko nodded. “He also warned us about a fever that might be going around.â€ The priest sighed and shook her head, looking down at the table for a few moments.\r\n\r\n“I’d better get on,â€ she said, standing up. “You do… whatever you feel you need to.â€ Akiko just nodded, not at all sure what she did want, or need, to do. She went back to her room, and looked out of the window, but the pond seemed to be covered with a layer of scum, with the bright colours of plastics mixed with the bodies of dead fish.\r\n\r\n<em>Plastics? How could they have got in there?</em>\r\n\r\nShe looked back, and the scum was gone, although the plants around the pond looked unhealthy, spotted with fungus. Akiko felt her heart speeding up as anxiety gripped her stomach, and twisted. She got up and went out of the front of the house, looking at the shrine.\r\n\r\nSomething scuttled over the roof, something a bit like a monkey, and dropped out of sight in the back. Akiko went round, noticing that the shrine seemed to be leaning slightly, twisted. At the back, however, there was nothing to see. The shadow in the heart of the iwakura seemed deeper than normal, but it wasn’t big enough to hide whatever she had seen. Akiko wasn’t surprised, but her concern didn’t lessen.\r\n\r\nShe heard the doorbell, and went to see who it was, arriving at the same time as Shiraishi, from the opposite side.\r\n\r\nMr Wakabayashi was very formally dressed, but Akiko could smell burning around him, ash, and greasy black smoke seemed to be rising from his suit, forming a dark cloud in the air around him. Akiko glanced covertly at Shiraishi, but she showed no signs of seeing anything amiss. A call from the trees drew Akiko’s eyes, and she realised that dozens of crows were perched there, watching them.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, I heard about your loss.â€\r\n\r\n“Thank you for your concern.â€ The priest bowed formally, but her tone was no more sincere than Mr Wakabayashi’s.\r\n\r\n“I was wondering whether you wanted to reconsider my offer?â€ Shiraishi’s face changed in an instant, flushing red with anger.\r\n\r\n“No! I will <em>not</em> sell you the shrine grounds! Never! How many times? How dare you come at a time like this, with such a suggestion?â€\r\n\r\n“A time like this?â€ Mr Wakabayashi was still calm, but the smoke coming off him had thickened, and Akiko could now see small flames on his suit, flames like eyes that seemed to be watching her. “You have just lost the last person supporting the shrine. Do you really have any choice?â€\r\n\r\n“Get out! Get out before I call the police!â€ Shiraishi was screaming, but Wakabayashi only sighed, bowing to her again before turning to leave. The flames Akiko could see were now like giant centipedes, crawling over him and looking back at her, while the smoke cast a pall over the whole precinct. As she watched him leave, she saw that the grass he had crossed was blackened to ash, the destruction spreading out.\r\n\r\n“Damn that man!â€ Akiko looked back at Shiraishi, who was still fuming in the porch, and when she looked back the grass and air were free of smoke or signs of burning.', 'Wakabayashi''s Visit', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'wakabayashis-visit', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:50:42', '2009-02-20 02:50:42', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=260', 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(261, 1, '2009-02-20 11:50:38', '2009-02-20 02:50:38', '', 'Wakabayashi''s Visit', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '260-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:50:38', '2009-02-20 02:50:38', '', 260, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/260-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(262, 1, '2009-04-17 00:00:51', '2009-04-16 15:00:51', 'Shiraishi soon went back inside the house, leaving Akiko standing alone in the precincts. Everything seemed normal, apart from the large audience of crows, but the atmosphere was still oppressive, and a faint, acrid smell of smoke remained on the air. Looking around, Akiko noticed that the path was still rather muddy from the rainstorms, and that the area in front of the shrine needed tidying up. Shaking herself in an attempt to dispel the lethargy, she went to fetch a broom.\r\n\r\nThe mud was easy to clean up, and for a while Akiko lost herself in the simple, repetitive task of sweeping the path. She knew that she should be thinking about her future, but she just couldn’t concentrate on it. All she could think about was the broom, sweeping back and forth across the stones, scraping the mud off to either side and leaving the dull grey surface of the rocks clean.\r\n\r\nAn insect scuttled across, but Akiko paid it no mind. Then there was another, and another. They looked like large cockroaches, but they looked soft, rotten. More appeared, running around on the path as if not knowing where they were going, and the smell of rotten flesh reached Akiko’s nose. One ran over her foot, and even through the shoe she could feel its legs touching her, a slimy, repellent chill.\r\n\r\n<em>Through the shoe?</em> Akiko looked up, sharply, and then down again. The insects were gone, but there was a dark mist in the air, smelling chemical, taking on the colours of corrosion when she wasn’t looking directly at it. Clutching the broom, she started walking slowly towards the shrine.\r\n\r\nThe ground shook, enough to rattle the windows of the house and ring the bell at the shrine, and to send the crows skyward from the trees in a cacophony of screeches. Akiko stumbled, but didn’t fall. The bell rope was swinging wildly, and there seemed to be something hanging on to it, although she couldn’t make out the details.\r\n\r\nThe ground shook again, and for a moment Akiko thought she saw parts of the shrine roof, shaken free, falling like rain onto the veranda. In a moment they were gone, however.\r\n\r\nAkiko realised that she hadn’t purified herself. Was that why there was an earthquake? She was almost at the water basin before it struck her that she was taking seriously the idea that an earthquake might be a personal message from the kami.\r\n\r\nThe water in the basin smelled foul when she got there, a layer of green scum covering the surface, apart from a couple of areas where oil glistened in many colours.\r\n\r\n<em>This is not real,</em> Akiko told herself. <em>The water is still flowing through the basin. It can’t be stagnant.</em> She closed her eyes, breathed out, and then opened them again as she breathed in. The water looked clean again, and she quickly rinsed her hands and mouth, before turning back to the shrine.\r\n\r\nShe could see fungus growing on the walls, forcing the boards apart, pushing through the copper plates on the roof. As she watched, a cloud of spores rose from a cluster of greenish-grey puffballs, and drifted towards the shrine house.\r\n\r\n<em>Not real.</em> Akiko thought for a moment, then corrected herself. <em>Not real fungus, anyway.</em> Sure enough, when she looked away and looked back, the shrine was back to normal. Determined to find out what was going on, she steeled herself and started walking up the path.', 'Earthquake', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'earthquake-2', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:51:14', '2009-02-20 02:51:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=262', 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(263, 1, '2009-02-20 11:51:08', '2009-02-20 02:51:08', '', 'Earthquake', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '262-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:51:08', '2009-02-20 02:51:08', '', 262, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/262-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(264, 1, '2009-04-18 00:00:23', '2009-04-17 15:00:23', 'The steps up to the shrine shrieked in protest as Akiko stepped on them, and shifted under her feet as if they were about to give way. She reached out for the railing and looked down with a gasp, but the steps were as solid as ever. The railing, however, felt slimy, and something with too many legs scuttled over her hand. She snatched her hand back, but the railing looked the same as ever, and there was no sign of anything crawling on it.\r\n\r\nWith every step, Akiko’s legs felt heavier, and the shrine got darker. By the time she reached the veranda, it was positively gloomy, and as she looked back at the precincts, she saw them wreathed in a dark mist, more like smoke than mist, smelling like burnt plastic. She could just make out the torii, but she thought she saw other things moving in the smoke, things that moved wrongly.\r\n\r\nHer heart was pounding and her mouth dry as she turned back to the shrine, ringing the bell, ignoring the things that seemed to fall out, bowing twice, clapping twice, the noise apparently startling things inside the shrine, and then bowing once more.\r\n\r\nAkiko stifled a scream as she straightened up. Mr Takenaka’s body was back, hanging from the ceiling, twisting in the air. She couldn’t properly make out his face in the shadows, but it was unmistakably him. Further in, in the back the shrine, there were twin golden lights, Tamao’s eyes, and the snake moved forward into the shrine, twisting away from the hanging corpse, but keeping his eyes on Akiko.\r\n\r\nAkiko found herself looking from the kami to the corpse and back, unable to focus on either as her heart pounded, her blood surging in her ears, deafeningly loud.\r\n\r\nThe surface of the body started to flex and writhe, and it seemed to shift, maybe flexing its fingers, or turning its head. Akiko tried to step backwards, but her feet seemed to be stuck to the floor. The motion resolved itself, maggots, hundreds of them, all a dull white, crawling out of and through the body. The stench of decay suddenly hit her, and she gagged, desperately fighting the urge to vomit.\r\n\r\nThe maggots started dropping off the corpse, landing on the stools, which immediately began decaying around them. They swarmed up the rope, into the roof of the shrine, and the rope began to thin and fray, and then it broke.\r\n\r\nThe body fell among the stools with a crash, scattering them and spraying maggots around. Some landed on Akiko, and she desperately brushed them off.\r\n\r\nThe shrine was rocked by a thunderclap, and Akiko looked up to see some of the maggots on Tamao, burrowing into his skin. As if summoned, maggots began pouring out of the corpse, flowing across the floor with incredible speed and up, onto Tamao. The kami reared up, thrashing, scattering some and crushing others, but there were too many, crawling beneath the scales, devouring the kami alive. Akiko still couldn’t move, and could only watch as Tamao collapsed to the floor.\r\n\r\nAnd vanished. Akiko staggered forward as her feet were released, looking around the room. The stools were still lined up in orderly rows, and there were no corpses, but now she could feel the pollution, the kegare, all around her. She turned and ran out.', 'Consumption', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'consumption', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:51:47', '2009-02-20 02:51:47', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=264', 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(265, 1, '2009-02-20 11:51:39', '2009-02-20 02:51:39', '', 'Consumption', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '264-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:51:39', '2009-02-20 02:51:39', '', 264, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/264-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(266, 1, '2009-04-19 00:00:56', '2009-04-18 15:00:56', 'There was someone in the precincts as Akiko dashed down the steps of the shrine, but she ignored them, running straight to the house and into the entrance hall.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi! Revd Shiraishi!â€ It was only as she called for the priest that she realised who she had seen; Akira Takenaka. She turned back, and he nodded to her.\r\n\r\n“Good morning, Ms Tanahata. Are you all right?â€ Akiko had some idea of how panicked she looked, and just shook her head. She was about to explain, but suddenly realised that she couldn’t tell Akira that she’d just had a vision of his father’s corpse.\r\n\r\nShiraishi came hurrying to the entrance.\r\n\r\n“What is it? Oh, Akira. How are you?â€\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, you have to purify the shrine.â€ Akiko couldn’t wait, couldn’t take time to explain. The priest looked at her, puzzled.\r\n\r\n“What? What are you talking about?â€\r\n\r\n“There are purification ceremonies, right? You have to perform one for the shrine.â€ <em>Don’t make me explain why,</em> she pleaded silently. <em>Not in front of Akira.</em> Shiraishi continued staring at her, puzzled, for a few moments, and then she paled, blood draining from her face, and nodded.\r\n\r\n“Yes, yes, you’re right.â€ She turned back to Akira. “I’m sorry, Akira. How are you? And what can we do for you?â€ Akiko, her heart still pounding, turned to look out at the shrine. It looked as though the ridge pole had collapsed, the centre of the roof drooping inwards as pus leaked from the cracks as if from a sore.\r\n\r\n“I’m all right, thank you. I just came to make sure you were OK, because I didn’t see you yesterday.â€ Akiko couldn’t control herself any longer.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, you have to  purify the shrine <em>now.</em>â€ The priest looked at her, angry, and opened her mouth, before closing it sharply as fear chased anger from her face.\r\n\r\n“Did you…?â€ She trailed off, glancing surreptitiously at Akira. Akiko just nodded, and she saw the priest swallow sharply, and then try to bring herself under control. Shiraishi turned back to Akira.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, we have to perform this ceremony. Would you like to attend?â€\r\n\r\n“I would be happy to.â€ Akira was very polite, but sounded slightly distant. Shiraishi watched him for a long moment, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“I have to get changed. Please wait here.â€ She bowed once, and then headed back into the house, leaving Akiko and Akira alone.\r\n\r\nAkiko’s eye was caught by motion, by something like a centipede disappearing under the step up from the entrance into the house, and she turned to look out at the shrine again.\r\n\r\nEverything seemed to be covered in cobwebs, great drapes of grey fibre cocooning everything, while a myriad spiders crawled over them, some of them as large as a dog, with venom dripping from their mouths. Akiko took a step back, and almost stumbled when she came up against the shelves for shoes.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata? Are you sure you’re all right?â€ Akiko realised she was shaking her head, but before she could correct herself her ears were filled with a hideous buzzing, like a million flies attacking a corpse, rising and settling in clouds of decay.\r\n\r\n“Would you like to sit down?â€ Akira’s voice was solicitous, but Akiko still couldn’t get a reply together. Fortunately, Shiraishi chose that moment to reappear, in her full vestments.\r\n\r\n“Right, if you would follow me to the shrine.â€\r\n\r\nThe spiders were gone when they stepped outside, but off the paths the grass seemed to have become a swamp, with ghostly lights flickering over pools of stagnant water where the scent of rot hung heavy in the air. The only noise was of <em>things</em> moving through the water, some splashing, some gliding, some paddling, but none sounding healthy to Akiko as she picked her way carefully along the stones.\r\n\r\n<em>Akira and Revd Shiraishi haven’t noticed anything,</em> she told herself. <em>I won’t sink if I step off the path.</em> But still, she couldn’t make herself do it.\r\n\r\nThey climbed the steps to the shrine, steps that looked rotted and broken to Akiko, but which became solid again moments before the priest stepped on them, and then seemed to crumble again under Akiko’s feet. She looked back from the veranda, and the swamp had swallowed the path. The torii at the entrance, wreathed in mist, was leaning at a crazy angle.\r\n\r\nInside the shrine, Shiraishi went to kneel before a large stick with many strips of folded white paper fixed to one end, the ohnusa, and Akiko and Akira sat on the stools. To Akiko’s eyes they were heavy with mildew, and cockroaches scampered across them, but Akira seemed to have no qualms about sitting. Although her skin shied away from contact, Akiko followed suit.\r\n\r\n“<em>Takamanoharanikamuzumarimasu…â€</em> Shiraishi started reciting the norito, the prayer, as darkness seemed to thicken around her. Akiko could definitely see things watching them now, clinging to the walls at the rafters, bats and lizards and monkeys and birds, all with injured or deformed bodies, all leaking pus, or drooling, some defecating on the shrine as she watched. Their eyes burned with an unwholesome light.\r\n\r\nAkiko glanced at Akira, and had to suppress a gasp. She could hardly see him; he was wrapped in darkness, in threads that seemed to bind and conceal, that kept reaching for his mouth and nose as if they wanted to invade his throat. Choking back her words, Akiko turned back to Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nThe priest was continuing the prayer, and the ohnusa was shining. Gold and silver light ran along the edges of the paper like lightning, while a fire in red and green and purple seemed to burn at the head of the rod, consuming nothing.\r\n\r\n<em>“…kashikomikashikomimomousu.â€ </em>Shiraishi finished the prayer and bowed before reaching for the ohnusa. As she lifted it, drops of light fell from the paper, bouncing on the floor and driving the darkness back. The priest stood and bowed once more, before walking to the rear of the shrine. She raised the ohnusa and shook it to the left, then the right, then the left again.\r\n\r\nAs she shook it, Akiko saw the light and fire flung off it, sweeping out to drive back the darkness, the fire consuming the things that clung to the walls, dissolving them to nothingness.\r\n\r\nThe priest turned to face them.\r\n\r\n“Please bow your heads.â€\r\n\r\nEven with her head bowed, Akiko could see the light flooding out from the ohnusa, scouring the corruption, bleaching the mildew from the seats and, out of the corner of her eye, burning away the threads that surrounded Akira.\r\n\r\n“Please raise your heads.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked up again. The room seemed empty and clean once more. She looked around, but there was nothing to be seen. She relaxed, the tension flowing out of her, and nodded to Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nThere was a sound from beside her, and she looked to see tears starting from Akira’s eyes, as he buried his head in his hands and began crying.', 'Harae', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'harae', '', '', '2009-05-11 17:14:44', '2009-05-11 08:14:44', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=266', 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(267, 1, '2009-02-20 11:52:23', '2009-02-20 02:52:23', '', 'Harae', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '266-revision', '', '', '2009-02-20 11:52:23', '2009-02-20 02:52:23', '', 266, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/20/266-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(268, 1, '2009-01-20 11:54:09', '2009-01-20 02:54:09', 'Friday was a terrible day at work. Akiko was utterly exhausted, to the point that even Megumi sounded sympathetic when asking how she was, and the documents she had prepared were not quite right. Mr Kanayama explained the problem, but Akiko couldn’t see how she could have got that wrong. She managed to get the corrected parts to the meeting before it finished, but she could tell that Mr Kanayama was disappointed.\r\n\r\nEven though she knew that she should work late to try to improve his opinion of her, she just couldn’t keep going past five. She fell asleep on the train home even so, waking up with a start at the stop before hers. There was another note from the landlord when she got back, something about a water leak, but she barely had the energy to pull her futon flat and collapse onto it.\r\n\r\nThe ground was pleasantly warm under her feet as she walked around the shrine precincts, the blades of grass tickling slightly. With every step, her awareness of the grass became more intense, more precise, so that she could feel the shape of each blade, all its imperfections, bends, tears, and insect bites. And then they started to dig into her feet, sharp pricks that got stronger, turning to cuts that drew blood, flowing warm and sticky over the soles of her feet, the grass now lancing into her feet and crumbling to dust within the wounds…\r\n\r\nAkiko sat up sharply, drawing a shuddering breath. Her heart was racing, and she reached down to massage her feet without thinking. Despite her exhaustion, it was clear to her what she had to do. She would get no peace otherwise.\r\n\r\nDespite her convictions, she still hesitated at the foot of the steps, remembering the previous night. Clutching her rubbish bag and torch, she made her way carefully into the shrine precincts, straining all her senses for any sign of trouble.\r\n\r\nAfter purifying herself and making her initial prayers, the only problem she found was that her torch wasn’t working. That wasn’t really surprising, now that she thought about it, but it still restricted her to looking for rubbish in the open area. The air was very still, and even the animals seemed to be resting; apart from Akiko herself, the only sounds were those of distant cars, and occasional sirens. Her footfalls sounded loud to her, and she kept glancing nervously at the shrine house, but there was no reaction. When she started jumping at her breathing as well, she realised that she was over-reacting, and tried to relax.\r\n\r\nShe found a few pieces of little for her bag, but the area round the front of the shrine was quite clean now. Still unsettled, she decided that she had to go around the back, even though that was darker and near the rocks.\r\n\r\nThe stones were a dark mass in the night, with no sign of a light within them. The air stayed still, and the ground remained steady under her feet. She looked up, and hundreds of stars shone down. She bent to pick up a piece of litter, and then straightened sharply at a rhythmic noise. She looked first at the stones, but they remained unmoving. And then she placed the noise.\r\n\r\nSomeone was coming up the steps into the shrine.', 'Restored Calm', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '138-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-20 11:54:09', '2009-01-20 02:54:09', '', 138, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/20/138-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(269, 1, '2009-02-27 07:25:02', '2009-02-26 22:25:02', '“Who’s the big cheese?â€ Megumi whispered. Akiko shushed her, but she also wanted to know the answer, sneaking peeks over her shoulder as he was shown into Mr Kanayama’s office.\n\n“Taro Wakabayashi,â€ Satomi whispered. “President of Wakabayashi Construction, and head of the Wakabayashi Group.â€ Akiko looked blankly at her.\n\n“Never heard of him,â€ Megumi said, saving Akiko the trouble.\n\n“No, well, it’s not like Mitsubishi or anything. It is, however, the biggest construction company around here, by a significant margin. If Mitsubishi were building something here, they’d probably contract with Wakabayashi for it. The other companies in the group cover a wide range of businesses.â€\n\n“And he’s a potential new client?â€ Akiko asked.\n\n“Right,â€ Satomi agreed. “Hence all the bows from everyone.â€\n\n“Ah.â€ Nodding in understanding, Akiko risked another glance at the office. Mr Wakabayashi had seemed to pay attention to every employee when he came into the office and they were all lined up to bow to him, which certainly suggested that he was taking them seriously. “Here’s hoping he brings us lots of business.â€\n\n“And pay rises!â€ Megumi added. Akiko shushed her again, but couldn’t help smiling. A pay rise would, certainly, be very nice.\n\nThe meeting went on for a long time, which Akiko supposed was a very good sign, and she was soon concentrating on her work again. It was supposed to be simple data entry, but the spreadsheet was telling her that the company had lost billions on one contract, and that was clearly not the case. She started chasing the calculations back from cell to cell, trying to find the mistake, but there were no obviously superfluous zeroes. She started working a few bits out by hand, deciding that the error was likely to be in one of the formulae, and as she did so the screen saver kicked in, leaving her monitor dark.\n\nLightning from outside flickered in the reflection of the windows, but the thunder was inaudible. Akiko finished her calculations, without finding the error, and looked back at the monitor, reaching for the mouse.\n\nThrough the windows, she could see a cloudy sky with patches of blue, darkening towards rain, while the reflections of the window in the monitor were dominated by the black clouds and lightning flashes of a major storm. She glanced over her shoulder; very different weather in two parts of the sky was not impossible. However, although the clouds were darker, and starting to rain, there was no storm. She looked back at the monitor.\n\nThe rain in the reflected windows was heavier, and she could see motion in the distance, glimmering with every flash of lightning. The glimmers came closer, and she could see that they were the reflections off a churning wall of water, a tsunami rushing towards her, buildings collapsing as it passed over them.\n\n<em>Tsunami don’t get that big,</em> she thought, <em>or some this far inland.</em>\n\nThe wave in the reflection reached the windows of their building, shattering them as it struck.\n\nThe lights went out.\n\nMoments later, they flickered back on, accompanied by the sounds of computers restarting and muttered curses from the other workers. The windows reflected in the monitor matched the direct view, but Akiko realised that she couldn’t stay any longer.\n\nClaiming illness, she hurriedly left the office.', 'Flooding', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '146-autosave', '', '', '2009-02-27 07:25:02', '2009-02-26 22:25:02', '', 146, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/146-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(270, 1, '2009-01-20 11:57:40', '2009-01-20 02:57:40', '“Who’s the big cheese?â€ Megumi whispered. Akiko shushed her, but she also wanted to know the answer, sneaking peeks over her shoulder as he was shown into Mr Kanayama’s office.\r\n\r\n“Taro Wakabayashi,â€ Satomi whispered. “President of Wakabayashi Construction, and head of the Wakabayashi Group.â€ Akiko looked blankly at her.\r\n\r\n“Never heard of him,â€ Megumi said, saving Akiko the trouble.\r\n\r\n“No, well, it’s not like Mitsubishi or anything. It is, however, the biggest construction company around here, by a significant margin. If Mitsubishi were building something here, they’d probably contract with Wakabayashi for it. The other companies in the group cover a wide range of businesses.â€\r\n\r\n“And he’s a potential new client?â€ Akiko asked.\r\n\r\n“Right,â€ Satomi agreed. “Hence all the bows from everyone.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah.â€ Nodding in understanding, Akiko risked another glance at the office. Mr Wakabayashi had seemed to pay attention to every employee when he came into the office and they were all lined up to bow to him, which certainly suggested that he was taking them seriously. “Here’s hoping he brings us lots of business.â€\r\n\r\n“And pay rises!â€ Megumi added. Akiko shushed her again, but couldn’t help smiling. A pay rise would, certainly, be very nice.\r\n\r\nThe meeting went on for a long time, which Akiko supposed was a very good sign, and she was soon concentrating on her work again. It was supposed to be simple data entry, but the spreadsheet was telling her that the company had lost billions on one contract, and that was clearly not the case. She started chasing the calculations back from cell to cell, trying to find the mistake, but there were no obviously superfluous zeroes. She started working a few bits out by hand, deciding that the error was likely to be in one of the formulae, and as she did so the screen saver kicked in, leaving her monitor dark.\r\n\r\nLightning from outside flickered in the reflection of the windows, but the thunder was inaudible. Akiko finished her calculations, without finding the error, and looked back at the monitor, reaching for the mouse.\r\n\r\nThrough the windows, she could see a cloudy sky with patches of blue, darkening towards rain, while the reflections of the window in the monitor were dominated by the black clouds and lightning flashes of a major storm. She glanced over her shoulder; very different weather in two parts of the sky was not impossible. However, although the clouds were darker, and starting to rain, there was no storm. She looked back at the monitor.\r\n\r\nThe rain in the reflected windows was heavier, and she could see motion in the distance, glimmering with every flash of lightning. The glimmers came closer, and she could see that they were the reflections off a churning wall of water, a tsunami rushing towards her, buildings collapsing as it passed over them.\r\n\r\n<em>Tsunami don’t get that big,</em> she thought, <em>or some this far inland.</em>\r\n\r\nThe wave in the reflection reached the windows of their building, shattering them as it struck.\r\n\r\nThe lights went out.\r\n\r\nMoments later, they flickered back on, accompanied by the sounds of computers restarting and muttered curses from the other workers. The windows reflected in the monitor matched the direct view, but Akiko realised that she couldn’t stay any longer.\r\n\r\nClaiming illness, she hurriedly left the office.', 'Flooding', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '146-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-20 11:57:40', '2009-01-20 02:57:40', '', 146, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/20/146-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(271, 1, '2009-04-20 00:00:57', '2009-04-19 15:00:57', 'The following morning, Shiraishi was quiet, as usual, as she ate breakfast, but as soon as she finished she stood up, cleared her throat, and looked straight at Akiko. Akiko, still eating, quickly put her chopsticks down and waited. It was a few moments before Shiraishi actually began talking.\r\n\r\n“I think you should make some contribution to your living expenses.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko felt horribly embarrassed, realising that she should have offered sooner.\r\n\r\n“Um, yes, of course. Sorry. Ah, how much?â€\r\n\r\n“About 20,000 yen per week would be good.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t looking at Akiko as she said that.\r\n\r\n“What?â€ Akiko reckoned that she could have kept living in the manga cafes for that sort of money; in any case, it was money she didn’t have.\r\n\r\n“The shrine isn’t made of money, you know. Our most loyal supporter just hanged himself, and there are few other people coming here. If you’re going to live here, you need to contribute.â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t have that sort of money! That’s the problem!â€\r\n\r\n“Well, maybe you should try to get a job, then.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t shouting, but she was very definite. Akiko started her retort before she really realised what she was doing.\r\n\r\n“What do you think I was doing? There aren’t exactly lots of jobs floating around at the moment.â€\r\n\r\n<em>I’m arguing with the person who is offering me free accommodation,</em> she realised. <em>I have to stop this.</em>\r\n\r\n“Well, look harder.â€ Shiraishi shot back. “I’ve put a roof over your head; you can hardly expect me to put food in your stomach as well.â€\r\n\r\n“Fine.â€ Akiko stood up. “I’ll look for a job. <em>If</em> your kami will let me.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh yes, blame Tamao. It must be his fault you got fired and can’t get another job. After all, you’ve been trying for <em>days.</em>â€ The sarcasm was heavy in Shiraishi’s tone, and the priest was looking at Akiko now. Akiko winced, because she couldn’t easily deny what Shiraishi was saying. But still, it seemed unfair; the kami <em>was</em> picking on her, she was sure.\r\n\r\n“I thought you were going to believe me,â€ she said, as her parting shot, and stormed out of the room.\r\n\r\nAs she got changed, as quickly as possible, she started feeling horribly guilty. Shiraishi was doing her a large favour, and her request wasn’t basically unreasonable, even if the amount was rather more than Akiko could afford. Why on earth had she let herself start arguing? And how could she face Shiraishi?\r\n\r\nWell, she had an answer to the second question: if she could show that she was seriously searching for a job, she should be able to talk to the priest, and maybe apologise. She checked the charge on her cell phone — charged on the shrine’s electricity, she realised — and grabbed her bag. She peered out into the corridor, but there was no sign of the priest. Seizing the moment, she darted out and hurried to the entrance, pulling on her coat and stepping into her shoes as she rushed out of the building and the shrine precincts. She managed to escape without being spotted.', 'Spirited Discussion', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'spirited-discussion', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:00:39', '2009-02-27 03:00:39', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=271', 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(272, 1, '2009-02-27 12:00:34', '2009-02-27 03:00:34', '', 'Spirited Discussion', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '271-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:00:34', '2009-02-27 03:00:34', '', 271, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/271-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(273, 1, '2009-04-21 00:00:45', '2009-04-20 15:00:45', 'Sitting in the coffee shop with the jobs paper open in front of her was strangely comforting, Akiko found. It felt normal, even though it wasn’t something she particularly wanted to be doing. It reminded her that there was a normal life out there, and that she could, probably, participate in it again.\r\n\r\nA group of young people, maybe high school students, came into the shop, laughing and joking, and Akiko glanced up, noticing that they were all wearing filter masks. She looked around the cafe, and realised that more than half the people there had the masks, most placed on the tables while they ate. She remembered what Akira had said a couple of days earlier about a fever doing the rounds, and decided to get herself a mask as soon as possible. She couldn’t afford to get ill while looking for a job, after all.\r\n\r\nWith that thought, she turned back to the jobs paper, looking for serious jobs. She reckoned that she could put Shiraishi off for a while with a serious search, so she didn’t need to try for absolutely anything. Something in an office, something like her previous job, something <em>normal,</em> and reasonable for a woman of her age. That was what she wanted.\r\n\r\nShe went through the whole paper and ringed the candidates in red before calling any of them, and then went through again, to make sure she hadn’t missed any options. As she started reading over the descriptions again, she realised that she was putting off making the phone calls.\r\n\r\n<em>They aren’t all going to turn you down again, you know,</em> she told herself, sternly. <em>And anyway, you have to call them, or Shiraishi will hardly believe that you are taking this seriously.</em>\r\n\r\nSummoning up all her courage, Akiko opened her phone and called the first number.\r\n\r\n“Hello? I’m calling about the secretarial job you advertised in the jobs paper. … Yes. … Oh, I see. … No, thank you. Sorry to trouble you.â€ She hung up. Once more the job had been filled already. She checked the date on the advert, and realised that it was already running for the second week. Sighing, she checked the other candidates. One of them was also on its second week, and she was about to cross it off when she thought about Shiraishi’s reaction. Taking a sip of coffee, she picked up the phone. <em>They might not have filled it yet.</em>\r\n\r\n“Hello. Kanadera Services.â€\r\n\r\n“Hello. My name is Akiko Tanahata, and I’m calling about the office job you advertised in the jobs paper.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, yes. The vacancy is still open; are you interested?â€ Akiko smiled to herself.\r\n\r\n“Yes, I am.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, we can do the interview this afternoon. Please bring your resume along.â€\r\n\r\n“Certainly.â€ They organised the details.\r\n\r\n“Please bear in mind that we won’t be able to decide immediately after the interview; we have to consider all candidates.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s quite all right.â€\r\n\r\n“And you will have to wear a uniform for the job. A fairly standard one, but we do ask that you wear it for the interview, as well. Obviously, we provide it.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s fine.â€ A uniform was normal, but why did they want her to wear it for the interview? Akiko was a little puzzled.\r\n\r\n“Well then, see you later.â€\r\n\r\n“See you later.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko hung up, and sat back, trying to pin down exactly why she felt a bit uneasy about this job.\r\n\r\n“All three of mine have gone down with this flu.â€ Akiko caught a fragment of the conversation behind her. <em>Mustn’t forget to buy a mask,</em> she reminded herself.', 'Job Hunting', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'job-hunting-3', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:01:20', '2009-02-27 03:01:20', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=273', 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(274, 1, '2009-02-27 12:01:15', '2009-02-27 03:01:15', '', 'Job Hunting', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '273-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:01:15', '2009-02-27 03:01:15', '', 273, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/273-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(275, 1, '2009-04-22 00:00:28', '2009-04-21 15:00:28', 'Akiko followed the directions from the bus stop, up a back street to the office building. She checked her watch; she was a bit early, so she stopped outside, looking at the building. It looked fine to her, in good condition, with a proper nameplate and signboard. She could, just about, see a few women working in the front office, and their uniforms looked fairly conventional. The skirts were possibly a bit on the short side, but they weren’t miniskirts by any means. Akiko frowned to herself. She still didn’t feel right about this; if anything, the feeling had got stronger as she got closer.\r\n\r\n<em>Maybe you just don’t want to work,</em> she told herself.\r\n\r\nAt that moment, something shifted, the world seeming to go out of focus for a moment. Akiko shook her head and rubbed her eyes, blinking as she looked around. Everything came back into focus, but with a difference.\r\n\r\nThe office building’s facade was now riddled with cracks, all of which were leaking foul-looking liquids. There were things crawling on the sides, giant lizards made of something like plastic, no, it looked like camera film. Their eyes shone the red of LEDs, and they peered into the windows, trying to force their way in through tiny cracks. As she watched, one managed the trick, disappearing inside with a hiss.\r\n\r\nJust as Akiko was making up her mind to skip the interview, her vision shifted again, and the building looked normal once more. She still considered leaving, but in the end she decided that she couldn’t let the vision drive her that much.\r\n\r\nAs she entered the building, the woman behind the desk smiled at her.\r\n\r\n“Good afternoon!â€\r\n\r\n“Good afternoon. I’m Akiko Tanahata…â€\r\n\r\n“Ah yes, the interview. Please follow me.â€ The receptionist led her behind the desk, and upstairs to the second floor, indicating a door. “In here, please.â€\r\n\r\nInside the room, another woman, in the same uniform, sat at a desk, working on a computer. She looked up, removed her filter mask, and smiled.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata? If you leave your resume here, you can change just through that door. There are several uniforms hanging up; there should be one in your size.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, thank you.â€ Something definitely felt wrong about this, although Akiko wasn’t sure how much of that was due to the vision. And could she trust that? And even if she could, what did it mean?\r\n\r\nInside the room, there were a lot of uniform jackets and skirts hanging up, and even a set of packs of tights. Turning round, Akiko saw the blouses, and she pushed the door to, revealing a mirror on the back. She took one of the jackets off the wall, looking for a size indication, but couldn’t find anything. She stuck her head back out of the door.\r\n\r\n“Excuse me, none of these jackets seem to have sizes marked.â€\r\n\r\n“Really?â€ The woman sounded slightly surprised. “I’m sorry. Just try them until you find one that fits; it shouldn’t take too long.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, even more unsure, and, closing the door, began to unbutton her jacket. Hanging it up, she turned to the clothes set out. The tights, at least, had sizes marked, so she picked out an appropriate pair, and undid her belt. As she did so, something moved in the mirror. She looked sharply at it, and saw one of the lizard creatures perched in a corner of the ceiling, its eyes seeming to move in and out, focusing on her as it leered down. Spinning round, she looked up.\r\n\r\nThere was no lizard, but she saw the glint of light reflecting off glass. A camera! Suddenly, Akiko understood. Quickly doing her belt back up, she pulled her jacket on and stormed out of the room, snatching her resume up from the desk. The secretary looked shocked, but her face went bright red as Akiko turned back to her and said,\r\n\r\n“I saw the camera!â€\r\n\r\nThere was a murmuring from the women in the office as Akiko rushed through, but she didn’t stop to analyse their reaction. She didn’t need a job that badly.', 'Bad Interview', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'bad-interview', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:02:06', '2009-02-27 03:02:06', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=275', 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(276, 1, '2009-02-27 12:02:00', '2009-02-27 03:02:00', '', 'Bad Interview', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '275-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:02:00', '2009-02-27 03:02:00', '', 275, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/275-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(277, 1, '2009-04-23 00:00:13', '2009-04-22 15:00:13', 'Akiko was still unsettled the next morning, debating with herself whether she should have called the police, but really not wanting to spend any longer dealing with that sort of situation, or to draw that sort of attention to herself. She mentioned that she had been to an interview to Shiraishi, and the priest nodded to acknowledge hearing her, but said nothing.\r\n\r\nAfter the abortive interview she had rung round the other places, and had another interview today. She mentioned that to Shiraishi as well, and this time the priest looked up and smiled slightly, as well as nodding, but she still didn’t say anything. Further unsettled by Shiraishi’s attitude, Akiko excused herself and went to get changed.\r\n\r\nThe radio news was talking about the flu-like disease that was spreading through Kawasaki. Apparently, it was still confined to the north of the city, but it was not yet clear what it was. SARS and bird flu were both mentioned, but government experts were advising against panic. Akiko realised that she had forgotten to buy filter masks the previous day, and resolved to do so before her interview.\r\n\r\nOn the bus, she checked the map, and decided to walk from the railway station. It looked like the bus at the other end went a very long way round, and she could just cut through a residential area to reach the office much more quickly. Almost everyone else on the bus had a filter mask on, but when the bus got caught in a traffic jam, Akiko realised that she wouldn’t have time to buy any before the interview.\r\n\r\nBy the time she got off the train, the sky was dark with clouds, heavy, black swathes across the sky. Looking up, she wryly calculated the chances of rain as being about 90%, if not more. Picking up her pace, she set off along the route she had chosen.\r\n\r\nAs she walked, she realised that the road passing through the area was very narrow, and ran between the backs of large apartment blocks as it crested a hill. Suddenly nervous, she looked around and behind her, and saw a couple of young men some distance behind her. Telling herself not to be stupid, she quickened her pace slightly.\r\n\r\nRunning footsteps came up from behind, and someone grabbed her arm. Akiko screamed, and twisted, trying to break his grip. The other young man came up alongside her, but before he could grab her he tripped on something, falling heavily against his accomplice. Falling, his hand slipped slightly, so that he was only clutching Akiko’s sleeve. Taking advantage, Akiko pulled her arm out, and then left the jacket behind as she started running. She heard shouts from behind her, but she did not stop, or look back.\r\n\r\nAs she ran, it started to rain, light at first but getting rapidly heavier. She ran on, nevertheless, not willing to stop until she was somewhere safe, somewhere with people. Breathing heavily, she kept running even when she reached the shopping district, pushing her way between masked people sheltered under their umbrellas, finally stopping, panting and fighting back tears, in the doorway of the company offering the interview.', 'Streetlife', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'streetlife', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:02:47', '2009-02-27 03:02:47', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=277', 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(278, 1, '2009-02-27 12:02:40', '2009-02-27 03:02:40', '', 'Streetlife', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '277-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:02:40', '2009-02-27 03:02:40', '', 277, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/277-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(279, 1, '2009-04-24 00:00:54', '2009-04-23 15:00:54', 'Akiko leaned against the door frame, breathing hard, swallowing as she tried to get herself under control. Slowly, she became aware of the water soaked through her clothes, now chill against her skin, and she began to shiver. She was sure people were staring, as well, but she didn’t dare look at the street to confirm that. Instead, she pushed the door open and went into the office.\r\n\r\n“Can I help you?â€ The receptionist’s tone was a mix of concern and scepticism.\r\n\r\n“I’m Akiko Tanahata. I’m here for the interview, but someone tried to mug me on the way here.â€\r\n\r\n“Really? That’s terrible. Come through; we’ll get you some tea. Are you hurt? Did they get anything?â€ Concern now won out.\r\n\r\n“I’m fine, I think. They only got my jacket.â€ The receptionist nodded sympathetically, and guided her through to a waiting room.\r\n\r\n“I’ll let the manager know you’re here. Do sit down; someone will come with the tea soon.â€ Akiko just nodded, and sank into a chair. She realised that she wasn’t shaking entirely from the cold; the shock was only just sinking in.\r\n\r\n<em>I’m all right,</em> she told herself. <em>The jacket wasn’t that expensive anyway.</em> She started taking deep breaths, but she found that she couldn’t settle down. There was a knock at the door, and she almost jumped out of her chair. The door was pushed open, and a young woman, with a tray of tea things and a pile of towels, came in.\r\n\r\n“Here’s a hot drink, and some towels to dry off a bit. I’m afraid we don’t have any spare clothes, though.â€ Akiko found she had to force a smile, as she suddenly remembered the last interview.\r\n\r\n“That’s fine. It’s very kind of you, thank you.â€ The woman bowed slightly, and left, and Akiko began patting herself down with the towels, the attempted mugging playing over and over in her mind.\r\n\r\nThe door pushed open again, and an older man popped his head round the side.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata? I’m Kenji Sugimoto, the manager here. I heard what happened. Please feel free to take some time to recover; we can do the interview later. Or tomorrow, if you’d like to go home first. Or to the police?â€ Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“That’s very kind. I would like a few minutes, but I think I can do the interview today.â€\r\n\r\n“What about the police?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko hadn’t thought about that. They did get the jacket, but she didn’t see them well. She shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I’d rather not.â€ It wasn’t worth the attention, she decided. Mr Sugimoto just nodded.\r\n\r\n“Well then, in about half an hour?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, thank you. That’s very kind.â€\r\n\r\n“It’s nothing.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko settled back, patting herself with the towels and sipping the tea, but her mood did not settle. The weather outside the window remained equally violent, rain pouring down as a thunderstorm started. She frowned, thinking about how she was going to get home, wondering whether she could get home safely… <em>Stop it,</em> she told herself sharply. <em>There is virtually no chance that you will be mugged again.</em>\r\n\r\nA few minutes before the time set for the interview, there was a bright flash of lightning, accompanied by a deafening crash of thunder that shook the windows and the tea cup.\r\n\r\nAll the lights went out.\r\n\r\nAkiko could hear the voices of the staff as they checked with each other as to what was going on, and she just remained seated, waiting. She didn’t imagine that she was going to be interviewed now; she was seeing a pattern.\r\n\r\nSure enough, Mr Sugimoto came back in a couple of minutes.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, we seem to have had a power cut. I’m afraid we won’t be able to do the interview today. Can you come back tomorrow?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, certainly,â€ Akiko nodded. <em>I’ll get a taxi back to the shrine,</em> she decided.', 'Power Cut', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'power-cut', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:03:25', '2009-02-27 03:03:25', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=279', 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(280, 1, '2009-02-27 12:03:20', '2009-02-27 03:03:20', '', 'Power Cut', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '279-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:03:20', '2009-02-27 03:03:20', '', 279, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/279-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(281, 1, '2009-04-25 00:00:32', '2009-04-24 15:00:32', 'Akiko paid the driver and got out of the taxi at the bottom of the shrine steps. The rain had eased off during the short drive, and as she climbed it stopped completely, although the wind was still strong, chill on her damp clothes. As she came through the torii, the sun broke through the dispersing clouds, reflecting off the damp grass and puddles of rainwater in a dazzling display of silver and gold. Akiko felt a little of her tension leave her at the sight, the trees of the shrine woodland like a protecting wall around her. She went over to the water basin to purify herself, and then to the shrine building to pay her respects.\r\n\r\nAs she straightened up from the final bow, she found that the tension and worry had drained away from her completely. Even when she deliberately thought about the mugging, her only feeling was annoyance. She peered into the shrine, but there was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen. Nevertheless, she assumed that Tamao had something to do with her change in mood, and bobbed her head in quick thanks.\r\n\r\nBack in her room, she checked her cell phone, and found a message from her mother, berating her for not calling recently. Akiko sighed, and resignedly dialled her mother’s number.\r\n\r\n“Hello? This is Chiaki Tanahata.â€\r\n\r\n“Mum? It’s Akiko.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, finally. Why do you never call?â€\r\n\r\n“Mum, it’s only a few days since I last called.â€\r\n\r\n“We used to talk every day.â€\r\n\r\n“That was when I was six, mother.â€\r\n\r\n“You were much older than that, young lady. Don’t be cheeky.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry. Anyway, was there anything particular you wanted to talk about?â€\r\n\r\n“Well, I still want to know when I’m going to meet my future son-in-law.â€ Akiko’s stomach went cold and seemed to drop. She hadn’t told her mother anything yet. How on earth was she going to even start? The silence stretched on as Akiko searched desperately for something to say.\r\n\r\n“Akiko? Are you still there?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, mother.â€\r\n\r\n“Well? You haven’t had a fight with your boyfriend, have you? You’re twenty six; you don’t have time for that sort of thing. Most people are properly married by your age.â€\r\n\r\n“No, mother, we’ve not had a fight.â€ Akiko’s face twisted as she said it, her mouth suddenly filled with a bitter taste.\r\n\r\n“Has he asked you to marry him, though?â€ Akiko frowned, wishing her mother would leave that issue alone.\r\n\r\n“Not yet. Look, I’ll tell you when he does, OK?â€\r\n\r\n“Humph. Well, make sure you do. And get a move on; you aren’t getting any younger, you know, and I want grandchildren.â€ Akiko rolled her eyes.\r\n\r\n“I know, mother. You tell me often enough.â€\r\n\r\n“Well, it’s important. And how is your job going?â€\r\n\r\n“Fine.â€ Again, Akiko’s mouth was flooded with bitterness, and she looked around for something to drink to wash it away.\r\n\r\n“Good. That’s a nice, respectable job. Your boss would make a good impression at the wedding.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm. Look, mum, I’ve got to get back to work.â€ The bitter flavour was almost overpowering now, and Akiko had to fight the urge to retch. “I’ll call you soon.â€\r\n\r\n“Make sure you…â€ Akiko cut the connection before her mother finished, unable to face any more of her comments.', 'Phone Home', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'phone-home-3', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:04:01', '2009-02-27 03:04:01', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=281', 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(282, 1, '2009-02-27 12:03:56', '2009-02-27 03:03:56', '', 'Phone Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '281-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:03:56', '2009-02-27 03:03:56', '', 281, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/281-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(283, 1, '2009-04-26 00:00:06', '2009-04-25 15:00:06', 'On the following day, Akiko set off for the postponed interview, resolved to take the bus this time. The sky was heavy and threatening, and it started raining soon after she got on the bus to the station. Only a handful of people were not wearing masks, and Akiko realised that she had, once again, forgotten to buy herself any. She resolved to get one at the chemist’s near the station, before she got on the train.\r\n\r\nAs the bus ground to a halt in yet another traffic jam, she realised that she would have to give up that idea. They crawled along for a good fifteen minutes, before passing the police cars that marked the site of the accident and picking up to something like a normal pace. At the station, Akiko dashed straight onto the train, already sure that she would be late. She considered calling the company to say that she would be late, but at that point the PA system reminded everyone not to talk on their cell phones, so she abandoned the idea.\r\n\r\nAt the other end, things seemed to go quite smoothly. There was a bus waiting at the terminal, and it left within five minutes of Akiko getting on. Checking her watch, she thought that she might just make it in time, and settled back in her seat.\r\n\r\nA loud sneeze from behind her, followed by coughing, made her jump, and she looked round. The man behind her, covering his face with a handkerchief, was coughing violently, and really didn’t look well, hunched up and shivering inside his coat. Once again Akiko realised that she didn’t have a mask, and she quickly looked forward again, hoping that she could escape infection.\r\n\r\nThe rain was getting heavier, and Akiko could barely see out of the window. The driver was clearly having a similar problem, as the bus had slowed to a crawl. A car’s horn sounded behind them, then again, more insistent. The driver sped up a bit, but soon slowed down again. Akiko heard an engine rev behind them, and looked out of the window to see a car overtaking them. Another car appeared in front of them, and the overtaking car accelerated and swerved, trying to pull in in front of the bus.\r\n\r\nThere was a terrible crash as it didn’t quite make it, clipping the front of the bus and spinning out of control. The bus was knocked sideways, lurching as it ploughed into a streetlight, coming to an abrupt stop, throwing Akiko forward so that she banged her head on the back of the seat in front.\r\n\r\n“Is anyone hurt?â€ the driver called back, looking round at them all. Akiko raised her hand to her forehead, but there was no blood, and the skin was only a little tender. She shook her head, and around her the other passengers were doing the same. The driver nodded in relief.\r\n\r\n“I’m really sorry about that,â€ he continued. “It would be best if everyone got off the bus, though.â€ No-one was particularly enthusiastic at that prospect, not even Akiko. “There’s a convenience store just over there.â€ The driver pointed across the road, and opened the doors, and people started to get up. Akiko remained in her seat for a few moments, looking at the driving rain, and then sighed, pulling her folding rain coat out of her bag. She had learned to be prepared for these sorts of problems.\r\n\r\nIt took some time to reach the office following the bus route, and by the time she had Akiko’s legs were soaked through. Fortunately, the rain coat had kept the worst of it off her, so she was not as wet as last time by the time she got through the door.\r\n\r\nShe had called ahead about the bus crash, so the receptionist was ready for her.\r\n\r\n“Are you all right? You really are having a run of bad luck, aren’t you. Mr Sugimoto says that you can have a few minutes to dry off before the interview.â€ Akiko smiled wryly.\r\n\r\n“Thank you. Fortunately, I still had my jacket this time.â€\r\n\r\nA few minutes with a towel actually made a lot of difference, and the pain in her head had largely receded by the time Akiko made her way to the interview room. Mr Sugimoto was there with two other people, a man and a woman, and he smiled as Akiko came in.\r\n\r\n“Thank you for coming, Ms Tanahata. Can I just say that I admire your persistence in coming to this interview? It makes you wonder whether someone doesn’t want you to be here.â€ He laughed, and Akiko forced herself to laugh along with him, ignoring her suspicion that someone really didn’t want her to be here.\r\n\r\nShe took the indicated seat, and the woman got up and went to prepare coffee. Mr Sugimoto started with some general questions, largely, Akiko suspected, to fill time.\r\n\r\n“Ow!â€ She looked over to the woman, who was sucking on her hand.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry,â€ the woman said. “The coffee is very, very hot. There must be something wrong with the thermostat. You should let it stand for a little while before you drink it.â€ Wrapping a tea towel round it, she picked it up and put it on the table in front of Akiko. Akiko nodded her thanks, and the woman sat down.\r\n\r\n“Well then,â€ said Mr Sugimoto, “I suppose we can start properly now.â€\r\n\r\nNo sooner had he said that than the ground shook, gently at first, then suddenly more strongly, rattling the windows, knocking books over, making Akiko and the interviewers grab the table or the arms of their chairs.\r\n\r\nAnd tumbling the cup of coffee off the table and into Akiko’s lap.\r\n\r\nThe heat of the liquid was almost immediately painful, and Akiko sprang to her feet, knocking the cup to the floor. Instinct seemed to take over, and she had pulled her skirt off, and her blouse and jacket away from her body, before she even realised what she was doing. As she started to pull down on her knickers, conscious thought kicked in, and she just pulled the wet patch away from her skin instead.\r\n\r\nStill, she could imagine what she looked like, and she went bright red.\r\n\r\nSomewhat comfortingly, so did the interviewers. Mr Sugimoto and the other man quickly left the room, muttering incomprehensible things that were probably apologies. Akiko sucked her breath in as the hot liquid made its way to the fabric that was still in contact with her skin, and, now that the men had left, pushed her underwear down and struggled out of the other clothes.\r\n\r\nThe woman was babbling apologies through her embarrassment, as Akiko sank back down into the chair, her hands firmly in her lap.\r\n\r\n<em>At least they aren’t filming me here,</em> she thought. <em>But I can’t work here now! </em>Besides that, her conviction that Tamao did not want her taking the job was far stronger than it had been. He didn’t want her taking this job, or any other job. And he was willing to hurt her to make that point.\r\n\r\nThe receptionist appeared with towels, and Akiko wrapped them round herself for a bit of modesty while her clothes dried and cooled off.\r\n\r\n<em>OK Tamao,</em> she thought to herself. <em>I give up. You don’t want me to work. I get the idea.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>What </em><strong><em>do</em></strong><em> you want me to do?</em>', 'Rescheduled', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'rescheduled', '', '', '2009-04-27 06:45:21', '2009-04-26 21:45:21', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=283', 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(284, 1, '2009-02-27 12:04:40', '2009-02-27 03:04:40', '', 'Rescheduled', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '283-revision', '', '', '2009-02-27 12:04:40', '2009-02-27 03:04:40', '', 283, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/02/27/283-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(285, 1, '2009-01-20 11:58:55', '2009-01-20 02:58:55', 'The sense of calm stayed with Akiko as she made her way home, only to suddenly vanish as she turned a corner. Her stomach was churning, her heart pounding, and her breath coming in gasps, as if she had just run up a hill. She put one had on a wall for support, and just stood there, looking around, while she calmed down a bit.\r\n\r\nThere was nothing obvious to cause such a reaction; just houses, some cars, and a building site. She looked around again, but it still seemed to be an absolutely typical Kawasaki scene. Despite the absence of anything frightening, her body refused to calm down completely. She tried taking a few deep breaths, and nearly retched. There was a scent of rot on the air, decaying meat and sour milk mixed with faeces. She searched for a source, and found her eyes drawn to the building site.\r\n\r\nThe sign said “Wakabayashi Constructionâ€, which meant more to her now than it had that morning, and the workmen seemed to be clearing the land ready for building. Men with chain-saws and a digger were in the process of cutting down a bamboo grove, the tall stems falling to earth with a crash to be dragged away as the digger pulled up the roots.\r\n\r\nThe odour still nagged at her, and at the edge of hearing Akiko thought she could hear someone screaming. It seemed to be coming from the building site, but even as she drew closer she realised that that wasn’t possible; quite apart from the fact that the workmen would have heard it, the screaming was from too far away.\r\n\r\nStill, something about the work held her attention, and she had been examining the scene carefully for some time before she realised what she was doing. With no idea of what she was looking for, she couldn’t say why she had to keep looking, but she couldn’t look away.\r\n\r\nThere was a flicker of motion at the edge of her vision, but when she turned to look it was just an area of bamboo stumps, waiting for the digger to root them up. Another bit of motion, this time at the base of a falling stem of bamboo, but, again, she couldn’t see anything definite when she looked again. The stench of rot was getting stronger, although she had become somewhat used to it, and the screaming continued, an almost-inaudible accompaniment to the scene.\r\n\r\nThe shape of the bamboo became intensely clear to her, each stem stretching up to the sky, deep green and ringed, proudly proclaiming its life and its place in the world, until the chain-saw bit into the base, bringing it tumbling down to earth. The fall of each stem started to affect her like a physical blow, a poke in the stomach that got stronger with every death. She found herself holding on to the chain-link fence for support, desperate to look away, but unable to.\r\n\r\nAnd then she saw something else in the rapidly-disappearing grove, something moving between the dying stumps, jumping eagerly from one fallen stem to the next, as if feeding on them. The workmen were oblivious to its presence, but Akiko could see it getting bigger.\r\n\r\nIt was black, the black of mould on a wall that hadn’t been cleaned for years, the black of mildew on an old bath, of rotten clothes left in a gutter for months. Every time it jumped, there was a stronger wave of the rotting stench, and every time it crouched over a stump the sound of screaming got thinner, as if one voice among many had been silenced.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t make out a shape for it at first; it seemed to have too many legs, and then too few, and she wasn’t sure whether it had a head at all. It never stopped moving, and although it was darker than the gathering gloom it was still half-lost in the shadows. She felt her heart and breathing speeding up again as her fear built up.\r\n\r\nWhat <em>was</em> it?\r\n\r\nIt stopped, then, in the middle of the devastated grove, and somehow she knew that it had turned towards her. She saw light within it, the light of smoky fires, and there was a chemical reek as two points of light, eyes, she realised, fixed on her.\r\n\r\nHer whole body shivered, as if a dozen cold, slimy hands caressed her skin at once, probing at her body, touching her everywhere. Nausea rose within her, as she felt dirtier than she ever had, and the eyes got bigger as the thing left the grove to approach her, the stench getting stronger with every step it took. Akiko couldn’t move. It was as if she was in mud up to her knees, mud through which worms were crawling, brushing against her skin, stinging her if she tried to take a single step.\r\n\r\n“It’s a tragedy, isn’t it?â€\r\n\r\nThe sensations all vanished at the sound of the voice, and Akiko turned to see an old woman standing next to her, looking at the grove, where the workmen continued to fell it.\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Akiko couldn’t manage any more. She still felt filthy, contaminated, but there was nothing holding her legs any more.\r\n\r\n“I remember when there were groves like that all round here, you know. That was one of the few that were left, and now it’s gone, too.â€\r\n\r\n“It’s a real shame. I’m sorry, please excuse me.â€ The woman nodded, as Akiko turned and walked away from the building site, picking up the pace as she remembered the thing within the grove, getting faster as her fear returned, until she was running home as fast as she could.\r\n\r\nAs soon as she got back to her flat, grabbing the note the landlord had left on the door and dropping it in the hallway, she started the bath, pulling her clothes off as quickly as she could and dropping them straight into the washing machine before washing herself in the shower.\r\n\r\nShe had been soaking in the bath for half an hour before she began to feel clean again.', 'Building Site', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '150-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-20 11:58:55', '2009-01-20 02:58:55', '', 150, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/20/150-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(286, 1, '2009-01-20 11:58:18', '2009-01-20 02:58:18', 'It was raining steadily by the time Akiko reached Tamao Shrine, but at least it wasn’t too heavy. She’d bought a light rain coat from a convenience store, and it seemed to be keeping her largely dry. She reflected that the rain would reduce her chances of meeting anyone at the shrine, for which she was grateful; she could feel herself starting blush at the mere thought of explaining to anyone why she was there in the afternoon.\r\n\r\nAs she climbed the steps, she intended to go straight into the woods, where she couldn’t be seen, but as she passed through the torii she found that the shrine building demanded her attention, and she couldn’t bring herself to forgo paying her respects. She quickly rinsed her hands, then walked as quickly as she dared to the shrine, ringing the bell, bowing, clapping her hands, and bowing again, as instructed. She paused a moment, looking into the gloom within the shrine, but there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary. She hurried from the veranda before anyone could see her.\r\n\r\nWithin the trees, she felt a lot calmer. The leaves blocked most of the rain, and the sound of drops running off them and hitting the ground was soothing. The scent of wet soil filled the air, and, when Akiko stood still to listen, she could hear an occasional scurrying, as some small creature hurried about its business.\r\n\r\nShe looked around, as her eyes adjusted to the relative gloom, and started gathering rubbish, the garish colours of the packaging standing out against the natural tones of the woodland floor. With no particular plan, she just wandered into the woods, picking up rubbish as she came to it, feeling that the further in she was, the less likely she was to be spotted.\r\n\r\nHer bag was about half full when she found herself looking at one of the largest trees she had ever seen. Its trunk, looking almost as though it was formed of three or four trunks coiled together, was wider than her outstretched arms, and as she looked up into the canopy she realised that the rain was entirely blocked, the layers upon layers of green leaves stretching high into the sky. She looked back down at the trunk, noticing the rope tied around it, decorated with folded strips of white paper, and felt an urge to touch the bark.\r\n\r\nShe thought she was resisting the urge, which was completely irrational, but she found herself walking towards the tree and raising her hand. The bark was slightly warm to the touch, rough with the scars of years, and as she ran her hand over it the sensation sent shivers up her arm and down her back. Stepping back, she put her rubbish bag on the ground, and then placed both hands on the bark. Her tension seemed to drain out of her, into the tree, and she relaxed against it.\r\n\r\nShe was at the bottom of the shrine steps, with a full bag of rubbish, before it struck her that she had paid no attention to whether anyone saw her on her way out. With a stab of panic she looked back up the steps, but there was no-one there. She seemed to be safe.', 'Cleaning in the Rain', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '148-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-20 11:58:18', '2009-01-20 02:58:18', '', 148, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/20/148-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(287, 1, '2009-01-22 10:47:37', '2009-01-22 01:47:37', 'Akiko made sure that she got into work early the following day, and started looking at the problems with the spreadsheet again. She still had no idea what she had seen at the building site, but she had equally little idea as to what she should do about it. Go back? That didn’t seem like a good idea. Ignore it? That also seemed like a bad plan; whatever it was, it had seemed threatening. But at that point, she ran out of ideas.\r\n\r\nSighing, she shook her head and tried to focus on the spreadsheet again. The error had to be in her somewhere.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata?â€ She looked up, and Mr Kanayama was standing by her desk. “Could I have a word in my office, please?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, of course.â€ Akiko stood up, following her boss back to his office. He closed the door behind them, and went to stand behind his desk. For a moment, he said nothing, looking down at the papers in front of him. When he did speak, it was without looking up.\r\n\r\n“You left work early yesterday.â€ Half statement, half accusation.\r\n\r\n“Yes…â€ Akiko began, uncertain. “I wasn’t well.â€\r\n\r\n“Hm.â€ Mr Kanayama cut her off. “That wasn’t the first time recently, was it?â€ Akiko remembered going home a bit early after seeing the snake in the windows, and had to agree.\r\n\r\n“No, it wasn’t.â€\r\n\r\n“Hm. And there was that problem with the photocopying, and the spreadsheets Mr Tanaka asked you to do yesterday still aren’t finished.â€ Akiko really didn’t like the way this conversation was going, and could feel her legs beginning to shake, but she couldn’t think of anything to say at that point. She could hardly deny what Mr Kanayama was saying.\r\n\r\nHe cleared his throat and looked at her briefly, before dropping his eyes back to the desk.\r\n\r\n“You really need to pick up your work level, you know. We can’t afford to carry passengers at this company.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko felt the colour drain from her face, and fought back the tears that were pricking at her eyes. <em>He hasn’t fired me, not yet, </em>she reminded herself.\r\n\r\n“Yes, sir.â€ Mr Kanayama cleared his throat again, and looked up at her.\r\n\r\n“I had high hopes for you, Tanahata. Don’t disappoint me.â€\r\n\r\n“No, sir.â€\r\n\r\n“Very well, that’s all for now.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, sir.â€ Akiko bowed to him, and left the office.\r\n\r\nBack at her desk, she found herself staring at the computer, not really seeing the numbers on the screen. Could she really be at risk of losing her job? She thought about the problems she’d had over the last couple of weeks, and mentally compared them to the sorts of mistakes Megumi made all the time. She couldn’t feel that she was the one who should have this threat hanging over her. Satomi was, she could tell, stealing glances at her, but Megumi hadn’t even arrived yet.\r\n\r\n“Sss, Akiko!â€ Satomi whispered, trying to get her attention. “You’d better look busy. Mr Kanayama is watching you.â€\r\n\r\nWith a start, Akiko realised that she had been doing nothing. She quickly turned her attention back to the spreadsheets, looking for that elusive error.', 'Work', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '152-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-22 10:47:37', '2009-01-22 01:47:37', '', 152, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/22/152-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(288, 1, '2009-03-03 11:28:29', '2009-03-03 02:28:29', 'Akiko made sure that she got into work early the following day, and started looking at the problems with the spreadsheet again. She still had no idea what she had seen at the building site, but she had equally little idea as to what she should do about it. Go back? That didn’t seem like a good idea. Ignore it? That also seemed like a bad plan; whatever it was, it had seemed threatening. But at that point, she ran out of ideas.\n\nSighing, she shook her head and tried to focus on the spreadsheet again. The error had to be in here somewhere.\n\n“Ms Tanahata?â€ She looked up, and Mr Kanayama was standing by her desk. “Could I have a word in my office, please?â€\n\n“Yes, of course.â€ Akiko stood up, following her boss back to his office. He closed the door behind them, and went to stand behind his desk. For a moment, he said nothing, looking down at the papers in front of him. When he did speak, it was without looking up.\n\n“You left work early yesterday.â€ Half statement, half accusation.\n\n“Yes…â€ Akiko began, uncertain. “I wasn’t well.â€\n\n“Hm.â€ Mr Kanayama cut her off. “That wasn’t the first time recently, was it?â€ Akiko remembered going home a bit early after seeing the snake in the windows, and had to agree.\n\n“No, it wasn’t.â€\n\n“Hm. And there was that problem with the photocopying, and the spreadsheets Mr Tanaka asked you to do yesterday still aren’t finished.â€ Akiko really didn’t like the way this conversation was going, and could feel her legs beginning to shake, but she couldn’t think of anything to say at that point. She could hardly deny what Mr Kanayama was saying.\n\nHe cleared his throat and looked at her briefly, before dropping his eyes back to the desk.\n\n“You really need to pick up your work level, you know. We can’t afford to carry passengers at this company.â€\n\nAkiko felt the colour drain from her face, and fought back the tears that were pricking at her eyes. <em>He hasn’t fired me, not yet, </em>she reminded herself.\n\n“Yes, sir.â€ Mr Kanayama cleared his throat again, and looked up at her.\n\n“I had high hopes for you, Tanahata. Don’t disappoint me.â€\n\n“No, sir.â€\n\n“Very well, that’s all for now.â€\n\n“Yes, sir.â€ Akiko bowed to him, and left the office.\n\nBack at her desk, she found herself staring at the computer, not really seeing the numbers on the screen. Could she really be at risk of losing her job? She thought about the problems she’d had over the last couple of weeks, and mentally compared them to the sorts of mistakes Megumi made all the time. She couldn’t feel that she was the one who should have this threat hanging over her. Satomi was, she could tell, stealing glances at her, but Megumi hadn’t even arrived yet.\n\n“Sss, Akiko!â€ Satomi whispered, trying to get her attention. “You’d better look busy. Mr Kanayama is watching you.â€\n\nWith a start, Akiko realised that she had been doing nothing. She quickly turned her attention back to the spreadsheets, looking for that elusive error.', 'Work', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '152-autosave', '', '', '2009-03-03 11:28:29', '2009-03-03 02:28:29', '', 152, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/03/152-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(289, 1, '2009-04-27 00:00:20', '2009-04-26 15:00:20', 'Akiko didn’t see Shiraishi again until breakfast the following day. She had been in no mood to talk to the priest, or anyone, for that matter, when she got back from the interview, going straight to her room and closing the door. She woke up with a bit of a headache, but resigned to explaining the situation.\r\n\r\nAs normal, Shiraishi was silent throughout breakfast, and Akiko decided to wait until she had finished before raising the issue. Akiko found that she didn’t have much appetite herself, and she ate little more than a few mouthfuls of rice. Finally, Shiraishi was finished, and Akiko cleared her throat.\r\n\r\n“Er, Revd Shiraishi?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€\r\n\r\n“I’ve been going to job interviews, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“Mm. I noticed. Thank you.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, well. I… I don’t think Tamao wants me to get a job.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry?â€\r\n\r\n“I think Tamao is actively trying to stop me getting a job.â€\r\n\r\n“Why would you think that?â€ Akiko took a deep breath, and began telling the stories of her attempts to find a job. Shiraishi made occasional comments.\r\n\r\n“They were trying to film you? You should tell the police.â€\r\n\r\n“That was a mugging, Akiko. You really should tell the police.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, why did the spilled coffee mean that you couldn’t work there? It isn’t like you spilled it.â€ Akiko blushed, as she realised that she had been avoiding telling that part of the story. She explained, keeping the details to a minimum, and found Shiraishi still apparently sceptical.\r\n\r\n“If the coffee was that hot, I don’t think you could have got your clothes off in time. You should have been badly scalded.â€\r\n\r\n“It was definitely that hot; the woman almost burned herself on the cup,â€ Akiko protested, defensively.\r\n\r\n“Mm. And how quickly can you normally undress?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, well, um.â€ Now Shiraishi was blushing as well.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, that’s a rather odd question. Still, I hope you understand what I’m saying.â€\r\n\r\n“You don’t believe me?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, no. I <em>do</em> believe you. And I think Tamao must have been involved, or you would have been badly injured.â€\r\n\r\n“So he was just trying to humiliate me?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi laughed, rather awkwardly.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. This is all very new for me as well, you know.â€\r\n\r\n“So, do you agree that Tamao is trying to stop me finding a job?â€ The priest sighed, and looked down at her hands, folded on the table.\r\n\r\n“I think I do,â€ she said, without looking up. “I…â€ She paused again, and did look up. “I don’t understand what is going on, but something, quite likely Tamao, does seem to be willing to do almost anything to stop you getting a job.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, and rested her head in her hands; the headache had been getting worse as she told her story.\r\n\r\n“Given that,â€ the priest continued, “I don’t suppose I can ask you to contribute much money for the moment.â€ She laughed, briefly, but it wasn’t a terribly happy sound. “I guess that, if Tamao is causing the problems, it’s only fair for him to pay for the result.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded again, and stood up, her head swimming as she did so, forcing her to clutch the back of the chair for support.\r\n\r\n“I’ll go and clean the precincts a bit, then. I should at least do something.â€', 'Getting Ill', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'getting-ill', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:52:14', '2009-03-04 06:52:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=289', 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(290, 1, '2009-03-04 15:52:09', '2009-03-04 06:52:09', '', 'Getting Ill', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '289-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:52:09', '2009-03-04 06:52:09', '', 289, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/289-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(291, 1, '2009-04-28 00:00:20', '2009-04-27 15:00:20', 'Akiko went out into the grounds with a few tools, planning to clear up any bits of litter then tidy the plants up a bit, but her headache continued to get worse. The sun was out, and the light hurt her eyes, seeming to throb in time with her pulse. For a moment, she wondered whether Tamao was doing something again, but then she realised that it was just part of the headache.\r\n\r\nShe went to sit down on the shrine’s veranda, out of the sun, to get her breath back, and recover a bit of energy. And then Shiraishi was in front of her, and Akiko had no idea how long she had been sitting there.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata? Are you all right?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko looked up, her eyes narrowing against the brightness and her head throbbing even more as she moved it. She tried to shake her head, but that was too painful. And, it seemed, unnecessary.\r\n\r\n“You look dreadful. Come on, get back inside at once. You need to lie down.â€ Akiko struggled to rise, suddenly overcome by coughing, and was glad when the priest reached down and helped her up. “I think you’ve caught this disease that’s going around.â€ Akiko nodded, very gently, remembering the coughing man on the bus. She never had got a chance to buy a mask.\r\n\r\nShiraishi helped her inside, and once they were in Akiko pushed her gently away.\r\n\r\n“Thank you. I think I can walk to my room, now.â€ As she said it, she swayed a little in place, slightly dizzy, and the hallway came in and out of focus. She felt very cold, and could feel herself start to shiver, but as she tried to put one foot in front of the other her sense of balance deserted her, and she flung out a hand, trying to catch the wall.\r\n\r\nShiraishi caught her. Akiko smiled sheepishly as she leaned on the priest again.\r\n\r\n“Maybe I can’t.â€\r\n\r\nThey got to Akiko’s room, where the futon was still spread out on the floor. Akiko was glad she had forgotten to put it away, and let Shiraishi lower her into it, quickly bundling herself up in the covers.\r\n\r\n“I’ll bring you some water; you have to be careful about dehydration.â€ Akiko tried to nod, but was overcome with another fit of coughing.\r\n\r\nUnder the futon, Akiko’s chills quickly vanished, becoming uncomfortable heat. Her headache was getting worse by the moment, and she threw the quilt off her as she rolled around, trying to get comfortable. A sudden fit of coughing brought her upright, the quilt falling from her, and she looked to see Shiraishi kneeling by her bed, a look of concern on her face and a damp cloth in her hand. How long had the priest been there? She tried to form a question, but Shiraishi just shushed her, and got her to lie down again.\r\n\r\nAkiko could feel herself sweating under the futon, her clothes getting sodden, as if it were raining inside the room. Her mouth was dry, her head on fire, and she tried to form the words to ask for a drink. She felt a hand under her head, and water on her lips, before she slipped back into the fever dream.', 'Fever', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'fever', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:52:52', '2009-03-04 06:52:52', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=291', 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(292, 1, '2009-03-04 15:52:45', '2009-03-04 06:52:45', '', 'Fever', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '291-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:52:45', '2009-03-04 06:52:45', '', 291, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/291-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(293, 1, '2009-04-29 00:00:01', '2009-04-28 15:00:01', 'Akiko got out of bed, straightening the white yukata she was wearing, and walked, barefoot, along the corridor. Cold, silver light poured in from the full moon, giving everything an otherworldly gloss. Akiko stepped down into a pair of sandals and then out into the shrine precincts.\r\n\r\nThe moonlight washed the colour from everything, leaving the grass black around the silver of the path. The trees of the woodland, whispering in a gentle breeze, were black with silver leaves, leaves that scattered moonlight across the grass like small pearls. The shrine building itself shone silver, the white wood reflecting the light while the burnished copper roof was turned the colour of pure gold. The breeze blew a little more strongly, pleasantly warm in her hair, rubbing the silk of the yukata gently over her skin. Akiko smiled, and turned around, gazing at the unbroken circle of trees.\r\n\r\nHer eyes fell on the torii at the entrance, glowing white, a halo hovering around it in the air.\r\n\r\nAnd, beyond it, a dark silhouette. A silhouette that looked somehow familiar. Was it someone she knew? Akiko moved a bit closer, and the figure turned round, the moonlight giving his face a deathly tinge.\r\n\r\nHideo Takenaka.\r\n\r\nAkiko stopped in her tracks as her heart stopped for a moment, then started again, beating quickly, accelerating. Mr Takenaka did not seem to recognise her, or even notice that she was there, as he looked around the precincts. He took a step forward, to pass through the torii, but the light shining from the pillars flared across the gap, and he fell back.\r\n\r\nHis face twisted in rage, but it didn’t seem to be directed at the torii, or at Akiko. He turned away from them, looking out over the forest, and raised his hands, shaking his fists at the sky. As if in answer, clouds appeared above him, boiling and clashing, spreading across the sky.\r\n\r\n“Traitors!â€ It was a scream more than a yell. “I helped you all those years, and you abandoned me!â€ He paused, dropping his arms to his sides, and then spun round to look around the shrine precincts. Akiko’s immediate instinct was to hide, but there was nowhere close by, and her white yukata was bright in the darkness. Mr Takenaka’s arm shot out, pointing at her.\r\n\r\n“You!â€ Akiko took an involuntary step back. “Tell them! Tell them that this is fair punishment for what they did! As they took everything from me, I will take it from them. They thought they could save themselves by agreeing to the demands of a tyrant, but they were wrong. I can still punish those who spurned me. I can still have my revenge!â€\r\n\r\nMr Takenaka paused, apparently catching his breath, and then started again.\r\n\r\n“There will be justice! They could have been loyal, they could have stood by connections built up over years, but no, they had to go for quick profits instead. Or bow, craven, to threats! Well, it will do them no good! Everything they feared will happen to them! They cursed my name before; let them understand what a curse truly is!â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko! Akiko!â€\r\n\r\nIt was Shiraishi’s voice. Akiko opened her eyes, then closed them again as the light hurt them.\r\n\r\n“Lights…â€ was all she could manage to say, as her hands pushed weakly at the futon, seeking some relief.', 'Ranting', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'ranting', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:53:30', '2009-03-04 06:53:30', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=293', 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(294, 1, '2009-03-04 15:53:26', '2009-03-04 06:53:26', '', 'Ranting', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '293-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:53:26', '2009-03-04 06:53:26', '', 293, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/293-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(295, 1, '2009-04-30 00:00:46', '2009-04-29 15:00:46', 'The futon seemed to get heavier and heavier, and finally Akiko managed to push it off, struggling to her feet. The room was bright, sunlight flooding in from the open windows, sparkling off the surface of the pond. Akiko quickly shrugged her yukata off, bathing quickly in the pond before putting on the white kimono and red hakama of her miko’s uniform. She walked out through the garden, into the shrine precincts.\r\n\r\nThey were deserted, the roof of the shrine shining green in the sunlight, while the rocks of the iwakura behind it seemed to suck the light in to the deep shadow at their heart. Birds were singing in the trees, and the sun shone from a clear sky, warm on Akiko’s skin. The grass was soft against her bare feet as she walked up to the shrine.\r\n\r\nThe doors were shut. Akiko frowned. They shouldn’t have been closed during the day; maybe Revd Shiraishi had forgotten to open them. Akiko reached out to slide the doors, but they wouldn’t move. She took out the key, and put it in the lock, but it seemed to be open already. She pushed again, but the doors wouldn’t move. Even rattling them didn’t help.\r\n\r\nAs she struggled with the doors, she felt a chill, as if a shadow had fallen over her, although the sun was as bright as ever. She turned, looking out from the shrine over Kawasaki.\r\n\r\nShe could see the hills, covered with houses, some topped with blocks of flats, the power cables running from one house to another, tying them down to the earth. The town was still in the sunlight. No cars moved on the roads, no people walked the streets. The neon signs on the love hotels flashed their desperate invitations, but no-one answered. The convenience stores were open for business, their automatic doors sliding open to entice custom, but there was no-one there to be tempted.\r\n\r\nAkiko frowned, a frown that deepened as something did move. Something dark among the houses, something clouded and dusty among the flats, something wet and rotten among the love hotels. Tendrils shot out, like vines among the houses, like cracks among the flats, obscene among the love hotels, wrapping themselves around the buildings and spreading rapidly, darkening the scene and casting shadows across the city, even as the sky remained clear, the sun bright.\r\n\r\nAkiko felt the chill again and shivered, hugging herself. As the tendrils spread, other things started to crawl along them, things that she had seen before, two-headed dogs of crumbling concrete, lizards made of desperate, furtive couplings, centipedes born from the death of bamboo groves. All the green in the landscape vanished, turning to brown, and then the black of decay or the grey of paving.\r\n\r\nAnd then the first block of flats collapsed, folding into itself in a cloud of grey dust that formed into a flock of birds, birds that cried in harsh voices as they settled on another block, which collapsed beneath them, spawning yet more of the creatures. The houses were shrouded in darkness, and Akiko saw the first signs of fire among them. Only the love hotels seemed to prosper, their signs becoming larger, brighter, and more explicit, offering people as well as a place.\r\n\r\nAkiko found her breath, and screamed.', 'Regional Pollution', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'regional-pollution', '', '', '2009-04-30 21:16:58', '2009-04-30 12:16:58', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=295', 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(296, 1, '2009-03-04 15:54:01', '2009-03-04 06:54:01', '', 'Regional Pollution', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '295-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:54:01', '2009-03-04 06:54:01', '', 295, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/295-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(297, 1, '2009-05-01 00:00:21', '2009-04-30 15:00:21', '“Akiko! Akiko! It’s all right.â€ Akiko opened her eyes on hearing Shiraishi’s voice and looked around her room, not really taking anything in. There was no sign of decay, no sign of kegare. Breathing a sigh of relief, she relaxed back into the bed.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t get comfortable, though, and a noise from outside, something she couldn’t quite place, kept distracting her, just as she thought she was about to get to sleep. Finally giving up, she flung off the futon and got up, pulling a yukata on for warmth as she went out through the windows into the garden, picking her way carefully around the pond in the dark and the mist.\r\n\r\nShe could hardly see anything, and almost felt her way towards the entrance, the apparent source of the sound. It was clearer now, someone muttering and occasionally shouting, but she couldn’t make out any words, just sounds that hovered on the edge of clarity before falling back into mere noise once more.\r\n\r\nJust inside the torii she stopped, one hand on the cool, rough stone of the upright, peering out into the gloom. She caught sight of motion, someone pacing, up and down the steps, and across them from one side to another. The shape was vaguely familiar, and then she placed it: Mr Takenaka.\r\n\r\nAt that moment she could understand what he was saying, catching even his mutterings.\r\n\r\n“Betrayal. Lies. That’s what it is. Ingratitude. None of them put any value on what I’ve done for them over the years. None of them care about anything other than making as much money as possible. No loyalty. No-one is honest any more. No-one. Look what they did to me! Look what they are doing to the area!â€\r\n\r\nMr Takenaka walked all the way up the steps, right to the threshold of the torii, but he didn’t look at Akiko. Rather, he was staring into the precincts. Akiko glanced over her shoulder, but she could see nothing, the shrine building lost in the mist, the lights apparently not working. She looked back, and Mr Takenaka was still standing there. He raised his fists and screamed at the shrine.\r\n\r\n“You too! You have no loyalty. I’ll show you all. You will all regret what you did to me! All of you! But the ones who betrayed me will regret more than most. Sugiyama! I mean you! You will pay for abandoning me.â€ His hands dropped back to his sides, and he looked down, breathing heavily, his distorted face slowly relaxing.\r\n\r\n“An electrician. That’s what you were, Sugiyama. You betrayed that. And so electricity will betray you.â€ It was almost whispered. “Yes, you will feel its anger. And my anger, through it.â€ His voice was getting louder again, and he looked up, then spun round to face out over the city. “Lightning, Sugiyama! I’m going to strike your house with lightning! You cannot escape it. Your house cannot run. Your excuses are no good now!â€ Takenaka was screaming into the darkness again.\r\n\r\n“Lightning will burn you!â€', 'Threat', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'threat', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:55:00', '2009-03-04 06:55:00', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=297', 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(298, 1, '2009-03-04 15:54:55', '2009-03-04 06:54:55', '', 'Threat', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '297-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:54:55', '2009-03-04 06:54:55', '', 297, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/297-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(299, 1, '2009-05-02 00:00:08', '2009-05-01 15:00:08', '“We have to warn them!â€ Akiko shouted, sitting up in bed and looking round the room. There were running footsteps, and the door slid open as Shiraishi came in, quickly followed by Akira Takenaka.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, are you all right? You shouted…â€ The priest looked concerned.\r\n\r\n“I’m fine, but we have to warn them. We have to warn them before the lightning strikes.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko, calm down.â€ Shiraishi knelt by the bed and put a cool hand on Akiko’s forehead, frowning as she did so. “Lie down, Akiko. You need to sleep more.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko shook the priest’s hand off, and tried to push herself up, but her arm shook, and seemed to have no force. Her legs were heavy, as if wrapped in concrete, and she couldn’t move them, either.  She groaned in frustration, shook her head, and then groaned again at the pain that lanced through it.\r\n\r\n“We have to warn them <em>now!</em> The lightning could strike at any time.â€\r\n\r\n“Shush, Akiko. It was just a dream.â€\r\n\r\n“It wasn’t! I saw Mr Takenaka! He was shouting, standing outside the shrine.â€ Akira stood up and took a step back, but he didn’t leave, just blinked rapidly.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, Mr Takenaka is dead.â€ The priest’s voice was gentle, as if she really thought Akiko might have forgotten.\r\n\r\n“I <em>know!</em>â€ Akiko almost cried in frustration. “I know he’s dead! But he’s going to strike them with lightning! We have to warn them; they can’t move the house, but they can get out. He said he’d strike the house. If they get out, they’ll be safe.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi’s tone was sharper. “Stop it! Lie down!â€\r\n\r\n“It’s all right, reverend.â€ Akira’s voice was strained, but calm. “It’s the fever. I understand.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko collapsed back on to the bed for a moment, breathing heavily and gathering her strength before she pushed herself up again.\r\n\r\n“It’s not the fever. I saw him. He was threatening them.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko…â€ Shiraishi was trying to shush her again.\r\n\r\n“He’s going to strike them with lightning! He said Sugiyama was an electrician and so deserved to be struck with lightning just as he was. No, that’s not right. Betrayed by electricity, just like he betrayed.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko, lie down,â€ the priest said, but Akira had moved closer.\r\n\r\n“Who? Who did he say he would strike?â€ His voice was very strained, on the verge of crying or screaming. But Akiko was out of energy, and she collapsed back on to the futon, drenched in sweat, tossing her head from side to side as the pillow dug into her. “Akiko? What was the name?â€ Akira’s voice was gentler now.\r\n\r\n“Akira, I don’t think…â€\r\n\r\n“Please, Revd Shiraishi, let her answer. Akiko, what was the name?â€\r\n\r\nYes, the name was important. If they knew the name, they would know whom to warn. What was the name? For a moment, Akiko thought that she might have forgotten it, but then she remembered the dark figure in the mist, ranting at the sky, calling down his vengeance on…\r\n\r\n“Sugiyama. Sugiyama the electrician.â€ She looked at Akira, who was sitting back, shock etched on his face.', 'Delirious Warning', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'delirious-warning', '', '', '2009-05-27 13:18:24', '2009-05-27 04:18:24', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=299', 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(300, 1, '2009-03-04 15:55:26', '2009-03-04 06:55:26', '', 'Delirious Warning', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '299-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:55:26', '2009-03-04 06:55:26', '', 299, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/299-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(301, 1, '2009-05-03 00:00:56', '2009-05-02 15:00:56', 'Akiko pulled her trainers on in the entrance hall and went out into the shrine. She walked slowly across the grass, looking around her, paying attention to the shapes of the trees, the motion of the leaves, the birds darting among the branches. The quiet was broken only by the occasional snatch of bird song, and the gentle sound of her own footsteps. She looked up, at a blue sky brushed with white filaments of cloud, and down, at the blades of grass still sparkling with dew.\r\n\r\nShe was waiting for something, but she didn’t know what. She walked a bit further into the precincts, stepping on to the path from the torii to the shrine. She glanced both ways; the bell rope swung a little in the breeze, in front of the open shrine doors, and she could see little through the torii, the trees lining the steps blocking most of the view. Bowing her head as she crossed the middle of the path, she went to the water basin to purify herself.\r\n\r\nThe water was cool on her hands and sweet in her mouth, and her heart was calm as she walked to the shrine and climbed the steps. She rattled the rope, the bell clattering above her, and bowed twice.\r\n\r\nAs she clapped for the first time, a deafening crack of thunder split the air. The second clap was the same, and when Akiko rose from the final bow Tamao was emerging from the rear of the shrine, golden eyes shining and the jewels of his skin sparkling in the light. His eyes met Akiko’s as he slid forwards, and she instinctively stepped back out of his way before dropping to her knees and bowing her face to the floor as he passed.\r\n\r\nThe snake glided easily down the steps, and as Akiko followed him with her eyes, she saw things moving on the steps beyond the torii. Her breath caught in her throat, which was suddenly dry and tight, and then came faster. Whatever they were, they were not healthy, not pure. They seemed to leak, or smoke, and in one case she could see the stench coming off it, although no odour reached her. They were climbing the steps slowly, shaped like feral cats, emaciated and disfigured with sores, and one of them hissed, a sound that made Akiko shudder, and filled her with an urge to wash.\r\n\r\nTamao crawled along the path, and then paused just inside the torii, looking out. The kegare creatures looked back. For several moments, all was still, as Akiko held her breath, not daring to move a muscle.\r\n\r\nOne of the cat-things leapt up at the torii, and Tamao’s head moved swiftly to meet it, catching it in mid-air and hurling it back and away, into the trees. Another sprang, and another, but always Tamao was there to meet the challenge.\r\n\r\nBut now there were other shapes among the trees, scuttling, far too large. One came to the edge of the clearing, a cockroach the size of a small car, apparently made of mould pressed together, oozing the juices of decay. Lightning flashing from his mouth, Tamao sprang sideways, and drove it back. Its place was soon taken by another, this one made of fragments of broken glass, most coated with dried fluids, blood, milk, vomit. It put one leg within the ring of trees, and Tamao, rearing up, spat lightning at it.\r\n\r\nShrieking, the creature drew back into the woods, but there were many more where it had come from, and Tamao was moving without ceasing, blocking entry, spitting lightning at those that dared to cross the border. Akiko looked to the other side, where the shrine house should have been, and saw Tamao again, driving back creatures like large worms made of chain fences, trailing barbed wire like drool from their faceless mouths.\r\n\r\nShe looked back to the torii, where the cat-creatures were gathering again, pacing in front of the gate and hissing, occasionally darting towards the gap before running back into the pack. They did not have enough courage to enter yet, but it would not be long before they did.\r\n\r\nAkiko sprang to her feet and ran down the steps to the path, shouting at the things to go, waving her arms in an attempt to scare them. As she approached, she could feel her tee-shirt against her skin, the fibres rough, abrasive, while the stiff fabric of her jeans fought against her motion. She winced as the shirt grazed her armpit, and then stumbled, tripping and falling to the floor as the jeans refused to bend.\r\n\r\nAs she fell, the cats sprang, leaping through the torii towards her. Fear gave her greater strength, and she scrambled to her feet. The leading cat hissed again, its drool smoking green, black, and orange in the air, and terror took control, driving Akiko back as she ran back into the shrine.\r\n\r\nBehind the shrine building, a red light pulsed within the iwakura, reflected in the pool at its base. Clothes, red and white, were draped over the stones, and something metallic sparkled beside them. The cats were getting closer, and Akiko ran forward.\r\n\r\nThe light within the stone pulsed, and a wave of intense heat passed over Akiko, leaving her clothes charred, smoking, on the verge of bursting into flames.\r\n\r\nFor once, Akiko understood what she was supposed to do and, pulling her clothes off, she plunged into the pool, ducking her head under the water.\r\n\r\nIt was icy cold, but pure and clean, penetrating her and washing all pollution away. When she stood up, pushing back hair that was suddenly dry, she could see a ring of red light surrounding her and the stones, while the cats prowled on the other side and, beyond, Tamao fought back the creatures in the woods.\r\n\r\nShe stepped over to the clothes on the stones, and quickly dressed, the white kimono and the red hakama, the miko’s uniform. The metal was a small implement, bells covering a cone on a short handle, with long ribbons, yellow, white, red, green, and purple, flowing from the bottom. She picked it up, and as she swung it through the air, the bells tinkling, the red light vanished.\r\n\r\nThe kegare beasts sprang forward, but Akiko was ready for them, sweeping the bells across their path, watching as they all dissolved into nothing when touched by the sound. Tamao was still fighting at the borders of the grass, and Akiko ran round to the front, to take her place at the torii.', 'On the Defensive', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'on-the-defensive', '', '', '2009-05-04 05:17:49', '2009-05-03 20:17:49', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=301', 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(302, 1, '2009-03-04 15:56:14', '2009-03-04 06:56:14', '', 'On the Defensive', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '301-revision', '', '', '2009-03-04 15:56:14', '2009-03-04 06:56:14', '', 301, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/04/301-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(303, 1, '2009-01-22 10:48:47', '2009-01-22 01:48:47', 'Akiko got home the following night to another note from her landlord, reporting claims of excessive noise. She had no idea what that was talking about, and put it on one side; she had more immediate things to worry about. Naoyuki had emailed her to check that she was all right, but she was still disturbed by the vision. She could easily come up with things it might mean, but she did not like any of the ideas it suggested. For almost an hour, she seriously considered not going to the shrine, but her steadily building tension convinced her that she would have to go if she was going to sleep at all.\r\n\r\nHer lack of sleep was catching up with her again, so she decided to take a risk and go to the shrine a bit earlier than normal. She paused at the bottom of the steps, straining her ears for any sound. She could hear the drip of the water into the basin, and the leaves rustling in the occasional breeze, but other than that, the shrine seemed to be quiet. Stepping as quietly as she could, she hurried up the steps and into the shrine, quickly rinsing her hands and mouth and then going to pay her respects. As she turned away from the shrine, she noticed that there was still a light on in the shrine house. She almost ran down the steps and into the cover of the woods.\r\n\r\nIn the darkness under the trees she felt a lot safer from discovery, but she quickly realised that there was no way she could do any cleaning without using her torch. The light from the shrine grounds was enough to see where the main tree trunks were, but everything around them was merely degrees of shadow. She glanced back at the open area, but she couldn’t see anyone moving about. Making sure to direct it away from the house, she turned her torch on and cast the beam around, looking for rubbish.\r\n\r\nThere was a flash of orange from a bush, and Akiko turned the torch off as she made her way over, turning it on again to confirm that the orange was an empty senbei wrapper. She picked it up and put it in her rubbish bag, then shone the torch around once more.\r\n\r\nAs she walked through the darkened woods in between each use of the torch, she was very aware of the trees around her. She could feel the shapes of their roots under her feet, her footing slightly unsteady as she tried to move around them, and their lower branches caught at her hair and clothes, as if trying to caress her. The smell of wood and leaves filled the air, cleaner and clearer the further into the wood she went, and the gentle creak of the trunks and branches as the settled in the night air was almost a lullaby. Every time she turned the torch back on, the trees seemed to draw back from her even as they sprang into full visibility.\r\n\r\nHer bag becoming full, Akiko turned back towards the open area, and she could see the shrine building clearly through the trees before she realised that she had been turning the torch on while it was pointed in that direction. Putting it away, she walked as quickly as she dared towards the exit, hoping she had not been spotted.\r\n\r\nAs she emerged from the woods, Shiraishi was waiting for her.', 'Kami''s Woodland', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '156-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-22 10:48:47', '2009-01-22 01:48:47', '', 156, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/22/156-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(304, 1, '2009-05-04 00:00:25', '2009-05-03 15:00:25', 'Akiko opened her eyes. Her mind was clear, her body comfortable, but she lay still for some time, staring at the ceiling. She could remember the dreams, visions, whatever, very clearly. She remembered Mr Takenaka’s threat against the Sugiyamas. She remembered the scenes in the shrine grounds, which even she could interpret as instructions to become a miko.\r\n\r\n<em>But how much of it was just the fever?</em> she wondered. As she watched the light reflected from the pool playing over the ceiling in complex patterns, she sighed. <em>Probably none of it.</em>\r\n\r\nShe tried to sit up, and was astonished at how weak she was. She finally managed to push herself to a sitting position, but then had to stop there for some time, catching her breath. As her breathing returned to normal, there was a knock on the door, and moments later Shiraishi pushed it open and came in. Seeing Akiko sitting up, she came hurrying over, concern on her face, but by the time she had reached the side of the futon, her expression had settled into relief.\r\n\r\n“Are you feeling better, Ms Tanahata?â€ Akiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“Yes, thank you. I feel fine, just very weak.â€ The priest sat down by the bed.\r\n\r\n“I’m not surprised. You hardly ate while you were ill.â€ As she said that, Akiko suddenly noticed how hungry she was.\r\n\r\n“How long was I ill?â€\r\n\r\n“Four days. It’s Tuesday today.â€\r\n\r\n“Four days?â€ Akiko was shocked. It really didn’t seem that long. Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“The doctor said it wasn’t unusual for this fever, and I should keep you warm and make sure you drank.â€\r\n\r\n“A doctor came?â€ The priest shook her head.\r\n\r\n“Too busy; there are a lot of cases of this fever. No, I just phoned him and got advice.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko let herself sink back into the futon, coming to terms with how long she’d been ill.\r\n\r\n“Would you like something to eat?â€\r\n\r\n“Mm.â€ Akiko suddenly turned her head to look at the priest. “I remember saying something to you and Akira Takenaka while I was ill. Did that really happen?â€ Shiraishi nodded, looking a little embarrassed. Akiko looked back at the ceiling, thinking over what she had to do.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, I think I have to become a miko.â€\r\n\r\n“Have to?â€ The priest sounded slightly… offended. Akiko looked back at her, searching her expression.\r\n\r\n“Yes. I had a vision while I was ill. Tamao wants me to become a miko, so I really have no choice.â€\r\n\r\n“Being a miko isn’t like working at McDonalds, you know. You should have a bit more enthusiasm for the job. A bit more enthusiasm for the shrine.â€ Akiko shook her head impatiently; why couldn’t Shiraishi see?\r\n\r\n“I don’t <em>want</em> to be a miko. I want a normal job, in an office. I want to marry a man on the career track, leave work, have children, maybe study flower arranging and work part-time in Takashimaya.â€ With a start, Akiko realised that she was on the verge of crying. “I want a normal life. I just want to be happy.â€ She took a deep breath, getting herself back under control, and turned back to the priest.\r\n\r\n“But I don’t think Tamao is going to let me do that. So I have to become a miko.â€', 'Awakening', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'awakening', '', '', '2009-05-04 05:18:55', '2009-05-03 20:18:55', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=304', 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(305, 1, '2009-03-06 14:53:45', '2009-03-06 05:53:45', '', 'Awakening', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '304-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:53:45', '2009-03-06 05:53:45', '', 304, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/304-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(306, 1, '2009-05-05 00:00:31', '2009-05-04 15:00:31', 'The conversation went no further that day; Shiraishi quickly changed the subject by offering Akiko a meal, and Akiko, ravenous, could not turn it down. She then fell asleep again, waking twice more to eat and go to the toilet (and why couldn’t she remember doing that while she was ill? — She was definitely too embarrassed to ask Shiraishi).\r\n\r\nWhen she woke up on Wednesday, however, she felt much better. Pulling on a yukata, she went out through the garden to pay her morning respects to Tamao. The shrine was quiet, with no sign of monsters or kami, the air cool and clear, birds singing in the woodland.\r\n\r\nAs she finished paying her respects, Akiko realised what she had to do. It might just have been the fever, but if it wasn’t too late, she had to warn the Sugiyamas. She remembered Akira’s reaction, or at least the reaction she thought she’d seen, and suspected that he knew who they were. So, the first step was to call him.\r\n\r\nShe found a business card inside the house, and called, hoping that Akira would pick up. Fortunately, he did.\r\n\r\n“This is Akiko Tanahata,â€ she said. “Sorry to disturb you.â€\r\n\r\n“No, it’s good to hear from you. I hope you’re feeling better?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, thank you. Um.â€ Akiko paused, aware that what she was going to say next would sound a little strange. “Could you tell me the Sugiyamas’ address?â€\r\n\r\nThere was silence from the other end, long enough for Akiko to wonder whether the connection had been cut.\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, I’m still here. Yes, I can tell you their address. Just a moment.â€ There were rustling sounds, presumably as he looked for the address, and then he read it out to her.\r\n\r\n“Ms Tanahata?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah… nothing. Excuse me.â€ And he hung up. Akiko closed the phone, a little puzzled. She couldn’t work out what he was thinking, not at all. As she thought back over their encounters, she decided that that wasn’t surprising, but still, she wanted to know.\r\n\r\nPutting that problem to one side, she went to have a shower and get dressed.\r\n\r\nShiraishi was fairly obviously waiting for her when she emerged, even though she was pretending to be working on something; she looked up far too quickly.\r\n\r\n“Ah, Ms Tanahata.â€ There was a pause. “Are you going out?â€\r\n\r\n<em>Did Akira call her?</em> Akiko wondered.\r\n\r\n“Yes, I have an errand to run.â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€ The question was very abrupt, and Akiko was suddenly sure that Akira had called the priest.\r\n\r\n“I have to warn the Sugiyamas.â€ Akiko looked straight at Shiraishi as she spoke, keeping her voice neutral. “If Hideo Takenaka hasn’t struck them with lightning yet, there might still be time to get them out of the house.â€\r\n\r\n“Akiko…â€ Shiraishi sounded worried and annoyed in equal measure. “That was just a fever dream.â€ Akiko shook her head.\r\n\r\n“I don’t think so. I only remember a few of the things I saw while I was ill, but that’s one of them. I think it was a real threat.â€\r\n\r\n“From a dead person?â€\r\n\r\n“From a dead person. Don’t you have legends of angry ghosts? I’m being persecuted by a kami; I can hardly dismiss ghost stories out of hand.â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi looked like she was about to say something, but then, apparently, she thought better of it, and just waved Akiko towards the door.\r\n\r\n“Take care. There are masks in the entrance; don’t forget to take one.â€', 'Responsibility', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'responsibility', '', '', '2009-05-05 06:37:31', '2009-05-04 21:37:31', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=306', 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(307, 1, '2009-03-06 14:55:01', '2009-03-06 05:55:01', '', 'Responsibility', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '306-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:55:01', '2009-03-06 05:55:01', '', 306, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/306-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(308, 1, '2009-05-06 00:00:15', '2009-05-05 15:00:15', 'Akiko put the mask on as she strode purposefully out of the shrine house and down the steps from the precinct, pulling the straps over her ears. She glanced around as she reached the bottom, but the street seemed normal; no monsters, no signs of decay. The only people she could see were wearing masks, just like her, but they didn’t seem to be suffering from anything. Akiko felt a brief uncertainty; was she just imagining all the things she saw? Then she remembered the ridiculous sequences of events preventing her from getting a job, and her confidence returned. She had to warn the Sugiyamas.\r\n\r\nWaiting for the bus, Akiko noticed that everyone she could see was wearing a mask. She looked around to confirm it; she could see a couple of people in a coffee shop who weren’t wearing them, but they were drinking coffee, which they could hardly do through a mask. She wondered how much worse the fever had got while she was ill, and it suddenly occurred to her that it might be connected with the corruption she had seen.\r\n\r\nOn the bus, half-empty, and with only one person without a mask, that possibility continued to bother Akiko. She peered out of the window, squinting, trying to look out of the corners of her eyes, doing anything she could think of that might enable her to see the kegare again. Nothing worked, however, and the streetscape remained stubbornly mundane.\r\n\r\nAs the bus reached her stop, Akiko turned her thoughts to the warning.\r\n\r\n<em>The ghost of Hideo Takenaka threatened to strike your house with lightning. You need to get out while you still can.</em>\r\n\r\nAs soon as she formulated it, she could see the problem. These were people who didn’t know her, and almost certainly didn’t believe in curses and the like. Were they going to listen to that? No. Better to find some other way to phrase it.\r\n\r\n<em>Have you had your home checked for lightning risk?</em>\r\n\r\nAkiko grimaced as she got off the bus. That made her sound like a con-man, about to charge them hundreds of thousands of yen to put a wire on the roof. And how could she follow it up?\r\n\r\n<em>Does Hideo Takenaka have any reason to hold a grudge against you?</em>\r\n\r\nShe checked the address plate on an electricity pole, and set off towards the area where the Sugiyamas’ house should be. She wasn’t happy with that opening, either. It was too personal, and probably not something that they would want to discuss with a complete stranger. It also didn’t lead into the warning.\r\n\r\n<em>I’m a weather scientist, and I think that lightning might strike your house soon.</em>\r\n\r\nAkiko tried to remember what the proper word for “weather scientistâ€ was, but couldn’t. Keeping that story up was likely to be difficult, then. The Sugiyamas were unlikely to trust her enough to take the warning.\r\n\r\nAkiko found herself outside the house. She hesitated, on the verge of abandoning the foolish errand, when she noticed that black clouds were gathering overhead, heavy and menacing. She hurried up the path and pressed the doorbell, not letting herself dwell on the difficulties. As soon as the door opened, she blurted out her warning.\r\n\r\n“The ghost of Hideo Takenaka threatened to strike your house with lightning. You need to get out while you still can.â€', 'Warning', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'warning', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:55:53', '2009-03-06 05:55:53', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=308', 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(309, 1, '2009-03-06 14:55:45', '2009-03-06 05:55:45', '', 'Warning', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '308-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:55:45', '2009-03-06 05:55:45', '', 308, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/308-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(310, 1, '2009-05-07 00:00:05', '2009-05-06 15:00:05', 'The man in the doorway just stood there, staring at her, his hands frozen in the process of putting his mask on. Akiko was silent as well, berating herself internally.\r\n\r\n<em>I decided that was a really stupid way to put it!</em> Still, she had said it now. What should she say next to recover from it? Her mind was blank. That was all of her message. What else could she say?\r\n\r\nThe man, presumably Mr Sugiyama, blinked, and finished adjusting his mask. He squinted at her, but the white material over his nose and mouth made it difficult to read his expression.\r\n\r\n“Are you from that shrine?â€ His voice, muffled as it was, was suspicious, even hostile. Akiko didn’t know how to respond for a moment. Why would he jump to that conclusion? She even glanced down to make sure that she wasn’t, somehow, wearing a miko’s uniform, but she was dressed normally.\r\n\r\n“Er, Tamao shrine?â€ she asked, unsure.\r\n\r\n“I don’t know. Whichever one he was obsessed with.â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t think he was obsessed…â€ Mr Sugiyama interrupted her.\r\n\r\n“I thought so. Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage already?â€\r\n\r\n“Sorry?â€ Akiko was really confused now. What damage had they done?\r\n\r\n“You drove him to suicide with your outdated superstitions. Hounding a decent businessman until he couldn’t make any sensible decisions anymore. Everything depended on that shrine; it had a stranglehold over him.â€\r\n\r\nThat didn’t sound right to Akiko; certainly, the things Mr Takenaka and Akira had said didn’t suggest that, and she couldn’t see Shiraishi controlling anyone that way. Of course, if Tamao had been hounding Mr Takenaka in the same way as he was hounding her… She wondered again whether Mr Takenaka had known what she was seeing. Still, his ghost hadn’t been blaming the shrine.\r\n\r\n“I don’t think it was the shrine that caused his suicide…â€ she began, but Mr Sugiyama interrupted her again.\r\n\r\n“Oh? Where did he kill himself? Don’t you think that’s some sort of message?â€ He paused, almost as if he expected an answer, but Akiko had nothing to say.\r\n\r\n“Look, I don’t have time to stand here talking about ridiculous superstitions. My wife and daughter both have the fever, and I have to look after them. Take your ideas of cursing gods, and pointless offerings elsewhere. I’m not interested in the inherent superiority of the Japanese nation, or the importance of loyalty to the Emperor. The Emperor! What importance does he have today? We’re a democracy now, not some sort of theocracy ruled by divine right. You and all the other Shinto people are just throwbacks to before the war, to the nationalism that led to our defeat. I’m sure you heard about that in school; there were two atomic bombs involved. <em>That’s</em> what Shinto brought to our nation, and Shinto led Takenaka to suicide. So why, tell me why, should I listen to what you say? Just get out, OK? Leave now, before I call the police.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko, stunned by the torrent of words, could only nod, and turned to walk down the path. As soon as she stepped onto the street, she heard the door slam behind her.', 'Anti-Shinto Tirade', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'anti-shinto-tirade', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:56:31', '2009-03-06 05:56:31', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=310', 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(311, 1, '2009-03-06 14:56:26', '2009-03-06 05:56:26', '', 'Anti-Shinto Tirade', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '310-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:56:26', '2009-03-06 05:56:26', '', 310, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/310-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(312, 1, '2009-05-08 00:00:40', '2009-05-07 15:00:40', 'Akiko turned round to look back at the house, wondering whether she could do anything else.\r\n\r\nThe light blinded her, the sound deafened, and the blast almost knocked her off her feet. As her vision cleared, she could see the damage to the Sugiyamas’ house, the flames licking round the gash in the roof, starting to spread. For a moment she stood, staring in shock, but then she pulled out her cell phone and dialled 119.\r\n\r\n“Hello? There’s a fire at…â€ She gave the address and answered the questions, and could hear the sirens almost as soon as she hung the phone up. A crowd was already gathering, but there was no sign of anyone leaving the house. Akiko suddenly remembered something that Mr Sugiyama had said.\r\n\r\n“He said his wife and child had the fever!â€ she cried out, and ran up the path. Moments later, a man followed her. Akiko reached for the bell, but the man pulled on the door, which was open, and dashed into the house, calling “Masahiro!â€ as he went, not even stopping to pull his shoes off. Akiko retreated out of the way, and as the fire engine arrived the Sugiyamas emerged from the house, ahead of the smoke now pouring from the door, and the hole in the roof left by the lightning. The firemen went in as the family came out, the paramedics sitting them down and giving them a quick check up.\r\n\r\nAkiko joined the crowd, watching as the firemen put the fire out, and breathed a sigh of relief. There was damage, but it didn’t seem as though anyone had been killed. She was starting to think about going back home when she realised that Mr Sugiyama was storming towards her, his face furious.\r\n\r\n“You! You started this fire! You tried to kill my family!â€ Akiko looked around wildly, feeling the mood of the crowd turn hostile.\r\n\r\n“Masahiro, it was a lightning strike. I saw it.â€ The man who had gone into the house had caught up with Mr Sugiyama, and laid a hand on his shoulder, which Sugiyama angrily shook off.\r\n\r\n“She said it was going to happen. She tried to burn my house down and kill my family.â€\r\n\r\n“Masahiro!â€ The crowd’s mood was less hostile now, Akiko thought, but she was still very uncomfortable. With relief, she saw one of the firemen coming up.\r\n\r\n“Mr Sugiyama? What’s this about?â€\r\n\r\n“This woman started the fire! Arrest her!â€\r\n\r\n“Masahiro…â€\r\n\r\n“Sir, the fire was started by a lightning strike. One of the clearest cases I’ve ever seen.â€\r\n\r\n“And it was her fault!â€\r\n\r\n“Sir, if she can make lightning strike you, it would be sensible to be polite to her. And if she can’t, she cannot have started this fire. Please go and sit with your family again; I know you’re upset, but you shouldn’t take it out on her.â€\r\n\r\n“So how did she know?â€\r\n\r\n“Please go and sit down, sir.â€ Mr Sugiyama, somewhat grudgingly, did so, and the fireman apologised to her, on his behalf. Akiko just nodded. It had really come home to her now.\r\n\r\nMr Takenaka had struck someone with lightning.', 'Lightning Strike', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'lightning-strike', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:57:30', '2009-03-06 05:57:30', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=312', 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(313, 1, '2009-03-06 14:57:23', '2009-03-06 05:57:23', '', 'Lightning Strike', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '312-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:57:23', '2009-03-06 05:57:23', '', 312, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/312-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(314, 1, '2009-05-09 00:00:36', '2009-05-08 15:00:36', '“I’m back,â€ Akiko called out as she took off her shoes in the entrance hall at the shrine house.\r\n\r\n“Welcome back.â€ Shiraishi appeared out of the shrine office almost immediately, looking slightly worried. “What happened?â€\r\n\r\n“The Sugiyamas’ house was struck by lightning. Fortunately, the family all got out safely.â€ The priest paled as Akiko said it, her face a mask of shock.\r\n\r\n“Lightning really struck?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, suddenly very tired.\r\n\r\n“Lightning really struck, just as Mr Takenaka said.â€\r\n\r\n“We need to talk.â€ Akiko nodded again, and followed the priest into the reception room. Shiraishi sat on the floor, and Akiko followed suit; she wasn’t bothered about tea, and neither, it seemed, was Shiraishi.\r\n\r\nEven though they had agreed that they needed to talk, and it was obvious what they needed to talk about, there was a long silence. Akiko couldn’t think of anything else to say; she had seen Mr Takenaka, and he had warned her about what he was going to do. And it seemed to be taking Shiraishi a long time to formulate her questions.\r\n\r\nAt last, the priest broke the silence.\r\n\r\n“Tell me what you saw while you had the fever.â€\r\n\r\n“I saw Mr Takenaka, and he threatened to strike the Sugiyamas with lightning.â€\r\n\r\n“No, all of it. Please. It could be important.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko nodded, and began to tell the story as best she could remember.\r\n\r\n“…and Mr Takenaka was pacing outside the torii, ranting about betrayal.â€\r\n\r\n“One moment. Outside the torii, you said?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€\r\n\r\n“Did he ever come inside, into the shrine precincts.â€\r\n\r\n“Er…â€ Akiko wasn’t sure, and she had to think for a few moments. “I don’t think so, no. No, he was always on the steps down from the torii.â€ The priest nodded, her lips pressed together.\r\n\r\n“Go on.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko told her about the visions of Mr Takenaka, and then went on to describe the final vision, the one that had led her to conclude that she was supposed to become a miko.\r\n\r\n“You said that Tamao came out of the shrine building, right?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, out of the rear section.â€\r\n\r\n“But the red light and the miko uniform were in the iwakura?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, that’s right.â€\r\n\r\n“While you could see Tamao fighting at the edge of the precincts?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Akiko was puzzled now. “Why?â€\r\n\r\n“It sounds like Tamao is enshrined in the shrine building, not the iwakura. So that raises the question of what the light in the iwakura was.â€\r\n\r\n“It was on Tamao’s side, I think. At least, it was helping me drive the kegare off, and Tamao didn’t attack it.â€ Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“Maybe the aramitama.â€\r\n\r\n“The what?â€\r\n\r\n“The aramitama. Kami have two spirits, the aramitama and the nigimitama. The nigimitama is the gentle spirit, the aramitama is the wild spirit, the violent one. In one sense different aspects of the same kami, but they’re almost different kami. Some shrines have them enshrined in different places; Ise, for example.â€\r\n\r\n“Wouldn’t the giant snake be the wild spirit, the, what, aremitama?â€\r\n\r\n“Aramitama. Well, maybe, but how violent has the snake been?â€\r\n\r\n“Well… Actually, not really. There have been violent things, but not from the snake directly.â€ Shiraishi nodded again.\r\n\r\n“And the nigimitama has been more worshipped in the recent past, which would explain why it is in the main building. I’ll have to think about that, but one thing is clear now.â€\r\n\r\n“What’s that?â€ Akiko asked.\r\n\r\n“I have to start training you as a miko.â€', 'Shiraishi Talk', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'shiraishi-talk', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:58:10', '2009-03-06 05:58:10', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=314', 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(315, 1, '2009-03-06 14:58:06', '2009-03-06 05:58:06', '', 'Shiraishi Talk', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '314-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:58:06', '2009-03-06 05:58:06', '', 314, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/314-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(316, 1, '2009-05-10 00:00:20', '2009-05-09 15:00:20', 'Akira appeared at the shrine early the following morning, before Shiraishi could start on any sort of training.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, we need to talk.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko couldn’t argue with that, but she wasn’t looking forward to the conversation; normal rules of etiquette didn’t seem to cover telling someone that his dead father was cursing the neighbourhood. Still, she went to the reception room with him, and sat down at the table. Shiraishi hovered for a moment, and then went to make them tea.\r\n\r\n“I heard that the Sugiyamas were struck by lightning,â€ Akira said, jumping straight in.\r\n\r\n“Well, their house was, yes.â€\r\n\r\n“And you were there.â€\r\n\r\n“I went to warn them.â€\r\n\r\n“Why?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly, staring at her hands, which were folded in her lap. How could she answer that question? She glanced up, and Akira was watching her intently, but saying nothing. She drew breath again, but again let it out without actually saying anything. This time, she looked out of the window, at the garden.\r\n\r\nAt that point Shiraishi came in with the tea and small sweets, buying her a bit of time, which she used to muster all her courage. As soon as the priest had gone, she looked Akira in the eye, and began her explanation.\r\n\r\n“While I was ill, I saw your father’s ghost. He was standing outside the shrine precincts, shouting about people who had betrayed him. While he was doing that, he specifically threatened to strike the Sugiyamas with lightning. So I went to warn them.â€\r\n\r\n“And then the lightning struck.â€ Akira said it in an entirely matter-of-fact tone, and Akiko nodded, watching his face anxiously. She couldn’t read his expression, though.\r\n\r\n“Do you believe me?â€\r\n\r\nAkira looked away, blinking rapidly, and then, drawing a shuddering breath, looked back at Akiko.\r\n\r\n“I think I have to. You knew about Mr Sugiyama, which you really shouldn’t have, and then lightning did strike them. I mean, it <em>could</em> be coincidence, but…â€ He left the thought unfinished. “So, why?â€\r\n\r\n“Why what?â€ Akiko was completely confused.\r\n\r\n“Why is my father’s ghost striking people with lightning?â€\r\n\r\n“Oh. I don’t know. He seemed very angry.â€ Akira nodded, his jaw set. He looked down, then out of the window, then up at the ceiling. Akiko could see muscles working in his neck as he fought for control. Finally, he looked back at her.\r\n\r\n“I think I need to go through my father’s papers. Will you help me? You might spot something I wouldn’t know was important.â€ Akiko was surprised; she hadn’t thought she knew the Takenakas that well. But she didn’t think she could refuse.\r\n\r\nOn their way over to Akira’s house, he filled her in on his father’s background.\r\n\r\n“He graduated in management from Waseda University, and worked in a bank for a while, and then used his savings to set up a construction sub-contractor, in plumbing. He met my mother shortly after that, and they married once the business was doing well. He has, <em>had,</em> about a dozen employees, so it’s a small business, but it was doing well. I guess I’m in charge of it now. I’m still working out what to do with it… No, that’s not true. I’ve not been able to face it so far. But now, I think I have to.â€\r\n\r\nHideo Takenaka’s office was very neat and tidy, and Akiko noticed that Akira was fighting back tears as soon as they entered. She discreetly looked around the shelves, looking at the labels on the files, giving him some time to control himself.\r\n\r\n“Right, let’s look at the Sugiyama files first.â€ Akira was trying to sound business-like, but he couldn’t keep the wavering out of his voice.\r\n\r\nThey spent several hours looking through files and accounts together, and soon pieced the story together. The business had been doing well for years, since before Akira was born, but in the last year or so the number of contracts had dropped off very sharply. Akiko saw a name she recognised in the files, and pointed it out to Akira.\r\n\r\n“Did he have a lot of dealings with Wakabayashi Construction?â€\r\n\r\nAkira nodded.\r\n\r\n“That was one of his major clients. I actually met Mr Wakabayashi a few times.â€ Akiko frowned, and double-checked the files.\r\n\r\n“But he didn’t get any jobs from them in the last year. And about six months ago, jobs from other companies started to dry up, as well.â€ She showed Akira the files, and he frowned.\r\n\r\n“That’s right. Odd. But he didn’t let any of the staff go; look.â€ He showed her a different set of accounts. All the wages were being paid, right up to the last month. “He borrowed a lot of money to keep this going. The business is in a lot of trouble.â€ Akira sighed, and looked down. Akiko got up again, to give him some space, and looked at the earliest records of the company.\r\n\r\n“Akira?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€\r\n\r\n“I thought you said your father used his savings from the bank to set the business up?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, he did.â€\r\n\r\nShe showed him the earliest accounts, with the large loans from consumer credit companies, gradually paid off, then cleared with bank loans, which were paid off in turn. Akira frowned again.\r\n\r\n“That’s strange. He always said…â€\r\n\r\n“Did he ever say <em>which</em> bank?â€ Akira shook his head, the lines of worry deepening. He went to another file, and started looking through it.\r\n\r\n“What are you looking for?â€\r\n\r\n“His Waseda graduation certificate. He never would show it to me.â€ He looked through the file once, and then again, then sat back. “Not there.â€ He sat silently for a moment, and then went to the office door.\r\n\r\n“Mr Nakayama! Could you come here for a moment?â€ An older man came over, dressed in overalls.\r\n\r\n“What is it, Akira, er, sorry, Mr Takenaka.â€ Akira shook his head.\r\n\r\n“Akira is still fine, Uncle Ken. You’ve been working here since the company was founded, right?â€ Mr Nakayama’s face was instantly wary, and Akira noticed it as well. “OK, so there was something my father didn’t tell us. What was it?â€ Mr Nakayama looked around, as if looking for an escape route, and then sighed.\r\n\r\n“I suppose it would be best to say now. Your father never graduated from Waseda. He never even attended Waseda. To be honest, I doubt he graduated from high school. He was, however, a damn good plumber, and the best boss I ever had. He built this business from absolutely nothing, and stood by all his employees, through anything.â€ His tone was almost defiant, as if challenging Akira to say anything bad about his father.\r\n\r\n“What did he do before, then?â€\r\n\r\n“He didn’t like to talk about it, but I think he had another plumbing business, over Chiba way. I think that one went bankrupt.â€ Mr Nakayama stopped abruptly, taking a deep breath. Akira nodded.\r\n\r\n“Thank you.â€ He turned to look around the office again. “So he was doing everything he could to stop the same thing happening again, and he failed. Do you know why Wakabayashi stopped giving you business?â€ Mr Nakayama shook his head.\r\n\r\n“He never said. It happened all sudden-like, though. I think the others were under pressure from Wakabayashi.â€\r\n\r\n“The others?â€\r\n\r\n“The other companies that stopped working with us. We’ve not had any work for two months. Didn’t stop your father paying us.â€\r\n\r\n“Won’t stop me, either.â€ Akira looked more determined than he had, but Akiko was feeling very nervous, remembering Wakabayashi at the shrine, kegare following him, and at her office, just before she was fired. What was he up to?', 'Hideo''s Past', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'hideos-past', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:58:46', '2009-03-06 05:58:46', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=316', 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(317, 1, '2009-03-06 14:58:30', '2009-03-06 05:58:30', '', 'Hideo''s Past', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '316-revision', '', '', '2009-03-06 14:58:30', '2009-03-06 05:58:30', '', 316, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/06/316-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(318, 1, '2009-01-22 10:50:40', '2009-01-22 01:50:40', 'Akiko stared at the screen, her face twisted into a frown. This was definitely not how she had planned to spend her Saturday, but she didn’t see that she had any choice. It had been midnight before she got the graphs and charts ready for Mr Kanayama, and that left a pile of the other work she had been supposed to do on Friday sitting on her desk. Given her boss’s current attitude, she was sure she had to do something to convince him she was serious. So here she was. She grimaced at the screen again, and started typing.\r\n\r\nHer cell phone rang. She ignored it at first, but the person, a number she didn’t know, didn’t give up.\r\n\r\n“Hello? This is Akiko Tanahata.â€\r\n\r\n“This is Ota.â€ Her landlord.\r\n\r\n“Oh, Mr Ota. What can I do for you?â€\r\n\r\n“I’ve had several complaints from your neighbours about the loud noises from you room at night.â€\r\n\r\n“At night?â€ Akiko was confused. <em>She</em> hadn’t heard any loud noises.\r\n\r\n“Yes. Your contract requires you to keep the noise down after dark. So please see to it.â€\r\n\r\n“But…â€ He had already hung up on her. Akiko closed the phone and turned back to the screen, just as it went blank. She tapped at the keyboard, and at the power key, but they had no effect. She got down on her hands and knees under the desk, and found that the cord had got wound around her chair leg and the plug had been pulled out of the socket.\r\n\r\nPlugged in again, the computer started up, but when she tried to open any of her files she got error messages; the crash seemed to have corrupted part of the disk. She looked for earlier versions, but they wouldn’t open either, and then the machine crashed again.\r\n\r\nAkiko stared at the screen, incredulous. How many problems could she face on a single weekend? Something moved in the reflection, behind her, and she quickly looked over her shoulder. She saw Mr Tanaka, on his way to his desk. He nodded at her, but paid little attention, caught up in his work as normal.\r\n\r\nWhen she looked back, the screen was a window onto the shrine, looking down from above the torii. Without thinking, she moved the mouse, but it had no effect on the image. The deep green of the trees contrasted with the bright green of the copper roof, but there was no sign of anyone in the grounds. Just an empty drink bottle on the path. And a plastic lunch tray. And an empty crisp packet.\r\n\r\nAs she watched, more and more litter appeared on the ground, filling it up, hiding the grass from view and starting to build up to the level of the shrine veranda. She waved the mouse and stabbed at keys, but nothing changed the image on the screen.\r\n\r\n“All right,â€ she muttered. “I get the message.â€ Turning the computer off made the image fade, and she gathered her coat and bag. She looked at the pile of work still sitting on her desk and sighed. It looked like it wasn’t going to get done this weekend, after all.', 'Working Weekend', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '162-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-22 10:50:40', '2009-01-22 01:50:40', '', 162, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/22/162-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(319, 1, '2009-03-09 17:47:07', '2009-03-09 08:47:07', 'Akiko stared at the screen, her face twisted into a frown. This was definitely not how she had planned to spend her Saturday, but she didn’t see that she had any choice. It had been midnight before she got the graphs and charts ready for Mr Kanayama, and that left a pile of the other work she had been supposed to do on Friday sitting on her desk. Given her boss’s current attitude, she was sure she had to do something to convince him she was serious. So here she was. She grimaced at the screen again, and started typing.\n\nHer cell phone rang. She ignored it at first, but the person, a number she didn’t know, didn’t give up.\n\n“Hello? This is Akiko Tanahata.â€\n\n“This is Ota.â€ Her landlord.\n\n“Oh, Mr Ota. What can I do for you?â€\n\n“I’ve had several complaints from your neighbours about the loud noises from your room at night.â€\n\n“At night?â€ Akiko was confused. <em>She</em> hadn’t heard any loud noises.\n\n“Yes. Your contract requires you to keep the noise down after dark. So please see to it.â€\n\n“But…â€ He had already hung up on her. Akiko closed the phone and turned back to the screen, just as it went blank. She tapped at the keyboard, and at the power key, but they had no effect. She got down on her hands and knees under the desk, and found that the cord had got wound around her chair leg and the plug had been pulled out of the socket.\n\nPlugged in again, the computer started up, but when she tried to open any of her files she got error messages; the crash seemed to have corrupted part of the disk. She looked for earlier versions, but they wouldn’t open either, and then the machine crashed again.\n\nAkiko stared at the screen, incredulous. How many problems could she face on a single weekend? Something moved in the reflection, behind her, and she quickly looked over her shoulder. She saw Mr Tanaka, on his way to his desk. He nodded at her, but paid little attention, caught up in his work as normal.\n\nWhen she looked back, the screen was a window onto the shrine, looking down from above the torii. Without thinking, she moved the mouse, but it had no effect on the image. The deep green of the trees contrasted with the bright green of the copper roof, but there was no sign of anyone in the grounds. Just an empty drink bottle on the path. And a plastic lunch tray. And an empty crisp packet.\n\nAs she watched, more and more litter appeared on the ground, filling it up, hiding the grass from view and starting to build up to the level of the shrine veranda. She waved the mouse and stabbed at keys, but nothing changed the image on the screen.\n\n“All right,â€ she muttered. “I get the message.â€ Turning the computer off made the image fade, and she gathered her coat and bag. She looked at the pile of work still sitting on her desk and sighed. It looked like it wasn’t going to get done this weekend, after all.', 'Working Weekend', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '162-autosave', '', '', '2009-03-09 17:47:07', '2009-03-09 08:47:07', '', 162, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/09/162-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(321, 1, '2009-01-28 12:40:09', '2009-01-28 03:40:09', '<em>Ms Tanahata,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I warned you several times about noise in the flat and damage to the property. This situation is completely unacceptable, and you are hereby evicted, effectively immediately.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Ota</em>\r\n\r\nAkiko read the note several times, not believing it. Noise? Damage? She couldn’t remember any noise or damage. She put her key into the lock, but it wouldn’t turn. Looking around the landing, she realised that all her property had been taken out, and now sat around her. She felt numb, a conviction that this must be another dream, another unsubtle message from the kami to get her to do what he wanted, taking hold of her mind. She looked around, staring at the boxes and cases without really seeing them, waiting to wake up.\r\n\r\nIt started to rain, a few drops falling on the items nearest the edge of the landing. For a moment, she did nothing, but as the rain got heavier she started picking up the boxes and bags, moving them closer to the wall. As she moved her spare work uniform, something broke inside her.\r\n\r\nThis wasn’t a dream.\r\n\r\nShe tried to blink back the tears, but they were coming too fast. She took a deep breath, but it shuddered and turned into a sob as she let it out again. Standing, she shook her head, determined to get herself under control. Reaching out, she grabbed the railing, gripping it tightly, so tightly that the edges dug into her palm, holding her breath and blinking rapidly.\r\n\r\nShe couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her breath came out in a wail, and she crumpled to the floor, sitting staring at her worldly goods as the vanished behind her tears.\r\n\r\nWhat was she going to do now? No job, no home. How could she face anyone? She was homeless. Her future was a tent made of blue sheeting, people ignoring her to her face and mocking behind her back.\r\n\r\nThe idea of suicide briefly crossed her mind, as she imagined jumping in front of the train she used to catch to work, but she angrily rejected it. The kami wasn’t going to beat her that easily.\r\n\r\nNaoyuki. She could call Naoyuki. It would be easy for her to stay away from the shrine now that the kami had destroyed her life. She could stay with him. She was sure that would be OK.\r\n\r\nFumbling, dropping it twice, she got her cell phone out of her bag, and called him. His phone rang and rang, but she was put through to the answering service before he picked up. She hung up and dialled again. And again. And again. The fifth time, she left a message.\r\n\r\n“Naoyuki! I need to talk to you! Call me back! Come and see me!â€ She was wailing and sobbing as she said it, not sure that he would understand, and as the service beeped to tell her that the message was over she dropped her phone, still crying, and reached out for one of the bags.\r\n\r\nAs she did so, she caught a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of her eye, something half-hidden behind her bags, something entirely the wrong shape to be a person.', 'Despair', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '175-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-28 12:40:09', '2009-01-28 03:40:09', '', 175, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/28/175-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(322, 1, '2009-01-28 12:39:24', '2009-01-28 03:39:24', 'Akiko replayed the conversation with Mr Kanayama over and over in the train on her way home. Every time she came up with better responses, either to convince him that he was lowly scum and that she didn’t want their stupid job anyway, or that he was making the biggest mistake in the company’s history, so that he grovelled to her to accept his apologies and take the job back. Sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t.\r\n\r\nWhen she got off the train, however, her mood flipped to despair. She couldn’t even keep a job as an office worker. What was she going to tell Naoyuki? What was she going to tell her mother? What must Satomi think of her now? And Megumi: Megumi would probably be gloating, blaming everything on Akiko’s failure to buy new Louis Vuitton bags every three months. Thinking about Megumi helped switch her mood back to anger. It was absurd to think that she was a worse worker than Megumi, and utterly inconceivable that she deserved to be sacked while Megumi didn’t. Akiko started speculating darkly about affairs between Megumi and Mr Kanayama, or conspiracies to ruin her life stretching up through the company.\r\n\r\nThat reminded her of the other influence that had played a role. Tamao. What did the kami want? He had made it impossible for her to work properly, interfering with the computer and, she was suddenly sure, with the files and print-outs, making her lose her job. He’d rather have her picking litter up in the shrine grounds. Maybe he was also behind the affair between Megumi and Mr Kanayama. That would make sense; she couldn’t see any other reason why those two might get together. Well, she could understand Mr Kanayama lusting after Megumi, but he was hardly a prize physical specimen, and Megumi hardly needed to go gold digging. And if she did, she’d set her sights rather higher than the manager of such a small a company. Yes, the kami definitely had to be involved.\r\n\r\nSatisfied with the conspiracy, she started thinking about ways to expose it in the press, bringing the whole company down in scandal as crowds picketed the shrine over the kami’s destruction of her life.\r\n\r\nOf course, that was impossible. No-one would believe her about the kami. Not even the priest at the shrine believed her about the kami. Naoyuki would dump her for sure if she blamed it on the kami. She felt tears pricking at her eyes as her mood swung back to despair, and had to stop on a street corner and take a deep breath to steady herself. She looked down at her clothes, her work uniform, and the tears threatened again. <em>Get home and get changed,</em> she told herself. <em>You’ll feel better then.</em>\r\n\r\nShe walked up the stairs to her flat, and realised something was wrong as she reached the door. There were boxes and cases piled round the door, things she recognised, her things. On the door was a note, addressed to her.', 'Getting Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '173-revision-2', '', '', '2009-01-28 12:39:24', '2009-01-28 03:39:24', '', 173, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/01/28/173-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(323, 1, '2009-05-11 00:00:15', '2009-05-10 15:00:15', '“No! Not like that, like <em>this!â€</em> Shiraishi sounded quite frustrated as she took the small stand, the sanpo, from Akiko and held it up. “Look, your fingers go <em>here</em> and <em>here</em>, and you hold it at eye level. Now try it again.â€ They were kneeling formally in the reception room in the shrine house, and Akiko’s legs were already starting to go numb. And all they had done was pick up the sanpo. There wasn’t even anything on it. Stifling a groan, Akiko picked it up again, trying to get her hands into the same position as Shiraishi’s, and raised it to eye-level. The priest peered under the tray, and then nodded.\r\n\r\n“Right, finally. Now, put it down.â€ Akiko put the sanpo on the table.\r\n\r\n“Nooo! Oh, for goodness’ sake.â€ Shiraishi really did sound exasperated. “What did I tell you? First put it down near the front, then take your hands off, line the fingers up, put them on the sides of the base, and move it to the centre. Don’t just put it straight down. Watch again.â€ The priest picked the stand up, and then put it down, adjusting her grip to push it closer to the centre. Akiko really couldn’t see the point.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, but why not put it straight down?â€\r\n\r\n“Because that’s not the way it’s done. You have to do it in two stages, like I showed you.â€ Akiko’s legs were starting to ache, and she shifted in place.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, how long do I have to sit in seiza?â€\r\n\r\n“It’s only been ten minutes! No ceremony is over that quickly; you need to be able to do at least half an hour.â€\r\n\r\n“Half an…â€ Akiko cut herself off as she realised how incredulous she sounded. “Can’t I at least build up to it?â€\r\n\r\nShiraishi opened her mouth, then shut it again, nodding.\r\n\r\n“Yes, I suppose you should. Now, watch me, and copy how I stand up.â€\r\n\r\nIt looked easy; she shifted her legs so that she could get one under her, and then stood up smoothly. However, when Akiko tried to copy her, her legs refused to co-operate, and she had to grab on to the table to keep from falling over. Even then, she could only stand up very slowly. Shiraishi grimaced.\r\n\r\n“Once you are standing, we’ll practice bowing.â€\r\n\r\n“I think I can bow.â€\r\n\r\n“Well then, bow as if you’re paying your respects to the kami.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko did, but when she straightened up Shiraishi was shaking her head.\r\n\r\n“Not deep enough. You have to bow all the way down to ninety degrees.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko finally lost her patience.\r\n\r\n“I thought you were going to train me to be a miko! That seems to be what Tamao wants! Why are you spending all this time on pointless movements?â€\r\n\r\n“These “pointless movementsâ€ are the main part of being a miko. Well, apart from cleaning the shrine grounds, and you seem to have that part down already.â€\r\n\r\n“What about, I don’t know, the norito? Something like the Lotus sutra?â€\r\n\r\n“Miko don’t do noritos. That’s just the priests. You have to learn the ritual movements, and the dances.â€\r\n\r\n“Dances?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes.â€ Shiraishi rolled her eyes. “You really have got all your knowledge of miko from manga, haven’t you? There are no magic charms, no battles with spirits, no transforming into white birds, no secret schools of martial arts. And you don’t have to be a virgin and you do get to wear knickers.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko was about to retort that battles with spirits had been a fairly central part of Tamao’s message when the doorbell rang.', 'Training', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'training', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:47:34', '2009-03-12 11:47:34', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=323', 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(324, 1, '2009-03-12 20:47:17', '2009-03-12 11:47:17', '“No! Not like that, like <em>this!â€</em> Shiraishi sounded quite frustrated as she took the small stand, the sanpo, from Akiko and held it up. “Look, your fingers go <em>here</em> and <em>here</em>, and you hold it at eye level. Now try it again.â€ They were kneeling formally in the reception room in the shrine house, and Akiko’s legs were already starting to go numb. And all they had done was pick up the sanpo. There wasn’t even anything on it. Stifling a groan, Akiko picked it up again, trying to get her hands into the same position as Shiraishi’s, and raised it to eye-level. The priest peered under the tray, and then nodded.\n\n“Right, finally. Now, put it down.â€ Akiko put the sanpo on the table.\n\n“Nooo! Oh, for goodness’ sake.â€ Shiraishi really did sound exasperated. “What did I tell you? First put it down near the front, then take your hands off, line the fingers up, put them on the sides of the base, and move it to the centre. Don’t just put it straight down. Watch again.â€ The priest picked the stand up, and then put it down, adjusting her grip to push it closer to the centre. Akiko really couldn’t see the point.\n\n“I’m sorry, but why not put it straight down?â€\n\n“Because that’s not the way it’s done. You have to do it in two stages, like I showed you.â€ Akiko’s legs were starting to ache, and she shifted in place.\n\n“Revd Shiraishi, how long do I have to sit in seiza?â€\n\n“It’s only been ten minutes! No ceremony is over that quickly; you need to be able to do at least half an hour.â€\n\n“Half an…â€ Akiko cut herself off as she realised how incredulous she sounded. “Can’t I at least build up to it?â€\n\nShiraishi opened her mouth, then shut it again, nodding.\n\n“Yes, I suppose you should. Now, watch me, and copy how I stand up.â€\n\nIt looked easy; she shifted her legs so that she could get one under her, and then stood up smoothly. However, when Akiko tried to copy her, her legs refused to co-operate, and she had to grab on to the table to keep from falling over. Even then, she could only stand up very slowly. Shiraishi grimaced.\n\n“Once you are standing, we’ll practice bowing.â€\n\n“I think I can bow.â€\n\n“Well then, bow as if you’re paying your respects to the kami.â€\n\nAkiko did, but when she straightened up Shiraishi was shaking her head.\n\n“Not deep enough. You have to bow all the way down to ninety degrees.â€\n\nAkiko finally lost her patience.\n\n“I thought you were going to train me to be a miko! That seems to be what Tamao wants! Why are you spending all this time on pointless movements?â€\n\n“These “pointless movementsâ€ are the main part of being a miko. Well, apart from cleaning the shrine grounds, and you seem to have that part down already.â€\n\n“What about, I don’t know, the norito? Something like the Lotus sutra?â€\n\n“Miko don’t do noritos. That’s just the priests. You have to learn the ritual movements, and the dances.â€\n\n“Dances?â€\n\n“Yes.â€ Shiraishi rolled her eyes. “You really have got all your knowledge of miko from manga, haven’t you? There are no magic charms, no battles with spirits, no transforming into white birds, no secret schools of martial arts. And you don’t have to be a virgin and you do get to wear knickers.â€\n\nAkiko was about to retort that battles with spirits had been a fairly central part of Tamao’s message when the doorbell rang.', 'Training', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '323-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:47:17', '2009-03-12 11:47:17', '', 323, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/323-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(325, 1, '2009-05-12 00:00:58', '2009-05-11 15:00:58', 'Akiko could see that it wasn’t Akira almost immediately, but, judging from the way the priest suddenly stiffened and stopped, Shiraishi realised that it was Mr Wakabayashi first. Akiko was about to excuse herself, when Shiraishi sighed and said,\r\n\r\n“Come on. We might as well get it over with.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko followed her to the hall, where they both put masks on before sliding the glass door open. Mr Wakabayashi was almost wearing his mask, and his bow, while perfectly proper, struck Akiko as rather perfunctory.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, I’ve come to see whether you have reconsidered my offer.â€\r\n\r\n“I will not sell you the shrine grounds. How many times must I tell you that my decision is final?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko stood behind the priest, looking at Mr Wakabayashi and the shrine grounds beyond. Today, she could see nothing out of the ordinary; just a businessman, in a dark suit, and a sunlit lawn beyond. There was no sign of kegare, but she was sure it must still be there.\r\n\r\n“Your shrine has suffered a number of heavy blows recently,â€ Mr Wakabayashi went on, “and you must be concerned about whether you can continue.â€\r\n\r\n“We are doing just fine, thank you.â€ Shiraishi’s tension was obvious in her voice.\r\n\r\n“After the suicide of one of your last supporters, it would be very difficult for the shrine to endure another blow.â€\r\n\r\n“<em>What</em> are you suggesting?â€ Now the priest’s anger was clear.\r\n\r\n“Just that you might want to take the chance to sell before anything happens to reduce the value of the property.â€\r\n\r\n“Are you threatening us, Wakabayashi?â€ His expression was unreadable behind the white mask, but he shook his head.\r\n\r\n“Not at all. Merely encouraging you to seize the moment.â€\r\n\r\n“Well then. I don’t want you to set foot on shrine property ever again. It is private property, and I <em>do</em> control it. So get out. Now.â€ The last word was almost shouted. Mr Wakabayashi just shook his head.\r\n\r\n“I suppose this is only to be expected when a woman is left in charge. Well, I can’t take any responsibility for what might happen.â€ He sketched a bow and left, before Shiraishi could get a response out. She slammed the door shut and pulled her mask off, turning to Akiko.\r\n\r\n“The gall of the man! I can run this shrine just as well as any of my ancestors could.â€\r\n\r\n“Do you think he really was threatening us?â€ Akiko was slightly worried.\r\n\r\n“Not really. He just wants to buy the land.â€\r\n\r\n“But, you know, I think he did threaten Mr Takenaka and deprive him of business. And I suspect he had something to do with my being fired.â€\r\n\r\n“What?â€ Shiraishi sounded surprised, so Akiko filled in the details of what she and Akira had learned, and about the events at her office immediately before she lost her job. As she spoke, rain began drumming on the roof, getting steadily louder.\r\n\r\nWhen she finished, Shiraishi looked thoughtful.\r\n\r\n“Well, maybe he has been trying to drive the ujiko away. But I really can’t see him doing any more than that. I mean, what can he do? Have us killed? Blow the shrine up?â€ Akiko shook her head slowly.\r\n\r\n“Well, I suppose not…â€\r\n\r\n“You <em>suppose?</em> Oh, come on. This isn’t some gangster film.â€ Akiko nodded, but she couldn’t help remembering the kegare swirling around Mr Wakabayashi. What <em>could</em> he do?\r\n\r\nOutside, the downpour continued.', 'Offer to Refuse', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'offer-to-refuse', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:48:32', '2009-03-12 11:48:32', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=325', 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(326, 1, '2009-03-12 20:48:22', '2009-03-12 11:48:22', '', 'Offer to Refuse', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '325-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:48:22', '2009-03-12 11:48:22', '', 325, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/325-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(327, 1, '2009-05-13 00:00:39', '2009-05-12 15:00:39', 'The doorbell interrupted miko training again later in the day, much to Akiko’s relief. She was sure she’d snap if she had to practise walking across the room one more time. This time, looking through the frosted glass of the door, she thought it was Akira, and went with Shiraishi without being asked.\r\n\r\nShe was right; he bowed to them, and then took his mask off.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, Ms Tanahata. Can I speak to both of you? It’s about my father.â€ The priest gestured for him to come in, and led the way to the reception room. She left Akiko with him while she went to get tea, and Akira quickly turned to her.\r\n\r\n“What have you told her already?â€ Akiko blushed, suddenly wondering what was supposed to be secret.\r\n\r\n“Well, about my visions, of course, and about the pressure from Mr Wakabayashi on his business. Shouldn’t I have?â€ Akira shook his head.\r\n\r\n“No, it’s fine. I just wanted to know how much background I had to fill in.â€\r\n\r\n“So, what is it?â€\r\n\r\n“I’d rather wait until the priest is here as well.â€ He paused, taking a deep breath. “I’d rather not have to do this twice.â€ Akiko nodded, thinking she understood, and they sat in silence until Shiraishi returned.\r\n\r\n“Well, Akira, what can we help you with?â€\r\n\r\n“The offices of Tateyama Construction were struck by lightning last night. No-one was there, so there were no casualties, but it was a while before the fire brigade were called; their office is some way from any houses. The building was, apparently, completely destroyed.â€ He paused, taking another deep breath. “Tateyama Construction is another company that used to deal with my father.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko was shocked, and looked at Shiraishi to gauge the priest’s reaction. She seemed equally surprised, and worried, and sipped nervously at her tea.\r\n\r\n“Do you…â€ The priest’s voice was very tentative, and she didn’t manage to finish the sentence.\r\n\r\n“I think it might be my father’s curse, yes. I suppose I can understand why he’s doing this, but he was never violent. What changed?â€\r\n\r\n“He died.â€ Akiko regretted the words the moment they passed her lips; far too blunt. Akira swayed backwards almost as if struck, and looked down, blinking rapidly. “Oh, I’m sorry…â€ She started to apologise, but Akira held a hand up, shaking his head. Swallowing and wiping his eyes, he looked up.\r\n\r\n“No, no. You’re right. He died, and that seems to make a big difference.â€ He took a deep breath, which shuddered in his throat, and blinked a few more times. “I’ve been thinking about how to pacify him.â€ He looked down again, looking at both of them. “I’ve decided to drop out of university and take over the business. I have the necessary training, and Mr Nakayama’s agreed to advise me. He says that my father always wanted me to…â€ Akira broke off, and covered his eyes with his hands for a moment.\r\n\r\n“The life insurance payment will cover all the debts, with a couple of months of salaries left over.â€ He tried to smile, but it was thin. “Father increased the policy when I was born. I guess he really didn’t want to leave us in trouble.â€ Drawing a deep breath again, he took a sip of tea. Akiko stayed quiet, giving him time.\r\n\r\n“I want to go and talk to the people who used to work with us; offer them the chance to hire us again. Akiko, would you act as my secretary? Just for a day or two?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko couldn’t bring herself to refuse.', 'Akira the Businessman', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'akira-the-businessman', '', '', '2009-05-13 22:11:04', '2009-05-13 13:11:04', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=327', 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(328, 1, '2009-03-12 20:49:00', '2009-03-12 11:49:00', '', 'Akira the Businessman', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '327-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:49:00', '2009-03-12 11:49:00', '', 327, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/327-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(329, 1, '2009-05-14 00:00:18', '2009-05-13 15:00:18', 'After a weekend of practising walking, kneeling, bowing, and carrying things, Akiko was very glad to see Akira on Monday morning and more than happy to go with him to visit former clients of his father’s business. As he drove them to the first office, Akira quickly explained what he wanted Akiko to do: stand in the background and look secretarial, essentially. Akiko guessed that he didn’t want to just turn up alone, but that he also didn’t want one of the long-standing employees with him, in case the old contacts preferred to talk to the people they knew. It was fine with her; anything to get away from miko practice for a while.\r\n\r\nThe streets were quiet, with only a handful of people visible, and all of them wearing masks.\r\n\r\n“The fever is getting worse, isn’t it.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes,â€ Akira replied. “Although it doesn’t seem to be spreading outside this area.â€ He parked the car outside an office, pulling his mask on before getting out. “It’s strange. Almost everyone seems to be going down with it around here, but even in south Kawasaki, or just across the river, no-one is catching it at all.â€ His voice was slightly muffled by the mask, but his eyes were fixed on Akiko. She caught the hint; it didn’t sound natural. She really hoped that Akira’s father wasn’t responsible for the disease as well as the lightning strikes.\r\n\r\nShe followed Akira to the office entrance, and waited while he buzzed the intercom. There was quite a delay before anyone answered.\r\n\r\n“Yes?â€\r\n\r\n“I’d like to talk to Mr Kondo.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry, he’s off with the fever.â€\r\n\r\n“Oh, well, is there anyone I can talk to? This is Akira Takenaka.â€\r\n\r\n“No, I’m afraid there’s no-one here to talk to you. I hope they’ll be better by next week.â€\r\n\r\n“I see. Thank you anyway.â€ Akira pulled a face, just visible around the mask, as he turned away. “I hadn’t allowed for this. It’s going to be hard if there’s no-one to talk to us.â€ Akiko nodded, and followed him back to the car.\r\n\r\nThe next office was more successful. At first, they didn’t want to talk, but when Akira gave his name, the boss, Mr Takei, agreed to come down. He opened the door, but, wearing his mask, kept his distance.\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka. I was very sorry to hear about your father. My condolences.â€ Akira bowed in acknowledgement.\r\n\r\n“Thank you. It was a terrible shock. However, I intend to keep his business running, and I hope that you will continue to think of us in the future.â€ He bowed, holding out his business card, and there was an odd pause before Mr Takei took it, bowing in return.\r\n\r\n“Ah, yes.â€\r\n\r\n“I was wondering whether you might have any jobs for us at the moment?â€\r\n\r\n“Ah…â€\r\n\r\n“I know that you are involved in several projects.â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, but it’s a bit difficult.â€\r\n\r\n“I hope that there were no problems with the quality of our work.â€\r\n\r\n“No, no.â€ The denial was quick, and sounded sincere to Akiko. “Your company always did good work, on time. I have no complaints.â€\r\n\r\n“We are still available for work.â€ Mr Takei looked around quickly, and then stepped forward, speaking quietly.\r\n\r\n“Look, don’t say I said this. It was made clear to me that I only have these jobs as long as I don’t hire your company. It might be different now your father’s dead, but I’ve not heard anything. I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to think of my employees.â€\r\n\r\nAkira just bowed.\r\n\r\n“Thank you for your time,â€ he said as he straightened up, turning quickly away. Akiko thought she caught a glimpse of tears in his eyes.', 'Former Clients', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'former-clients', '', '', '2009-05-19 12:27:28', '2009-05-19 03:27:28', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=329', 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(330, 1, '2009-03-12 20:49:44', '2009-03-12 11:49:44', '', 'Former Clients', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '329-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:49:44', '2009-03-12 11:49:44', '', 329, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/329-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(331, 1, '2009-05-15 00:00:59', '2009-05-14 15:00:59', 'Back in the car, Akira drove around the corner, then parked and hit the steering wheel, hard.\r\n\r\n“Wakabayashi! It has to be him.â€ Akiko just nodded; that had been her conclusion as well. “But why?â€\r\n\r\n“He’s trying to buy the shrine’s land, and your father was a loyal ujiko, so maybe he was trying to prise him away.â€ Akira turned to look at her, his eyes wide over the mask.\r\n\r\n“That… No, wait, that makes no sense. The shrine is up a hill; it’s not a great place for building. If Wakabayashi is threatening people over this, he’s breaking the law. He wouldn’t do that over that piece of land. It’s not that good.â€ He shook his head. “Maybe something personal? Maybe he was threatening the shrine to get at my father?â€\r\n\r\n“He was back after…â€ Akiko couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. Akira said nothing for a long time, and then looked up and started the car.\r\n\r\n“Well, there’s nothing to do but keep looking.â€\r\n\r\nThe next office looked like a bomb had hit it. They both got out of the car, staring at the wreckage in disbelief. A security guard noticed them, and came over.\r\n\r\n“Can I help you?â€\r\n\r\n“Er, probably not. I was hoping to talk to Mr Tamura. We used to do business with him.â€\r\n\r\n“Ah. No, I can’t help with that. The gas tanks went up a couple of nights ago. The only people in the office had just popped out to the convenience store, so in a way it’s really lucky. He said to say that he’s planning to reopen, within a month, but can’t take any inquiries until then.â€ Akira nodded, still staring at the devastation.\r\n\r\n“Thank you. I’ll get in touch with him later, then.â€\r\n\r\nBack in the car, he paused for long moments before turning the ignition. Akiko looked at him, trying desperately to read the visible parts of his face.\r\n\r\n“Do you think…?â€ He nodded once, sharply.\r\n\r\n“Mr Tamura was a gas engineer. His own tanks wouldn’t go up by accident.â€\r\n\r\n“No-one was hurt, though,â€ Akiko hastened to reassure him.\r\n\r\n“No. Well, other than by having their livelihoods devastated.â€ He took a deep breath. “Next place.â€\r\n\r\nThey could hear the sirens from some distance away, and came round the corner to see fire engines still clustered round the burnt-out shell of a building, which still smouldered slightly. Akira stopped the car, and Akiko tried to glance at him without being obvious about it. All she could see was that he was gripping the steering wheel very tightly. She couldn’t imagine how he was feeling, and certainly couldn’t think of anything to say, so she just sat there.\r\n\r\nAkira suddenly looked around, and then started manoeuvring the car to get it back out; the road ahead was blocked.\r\n\r\n“There’s no point visiting here. I’m taking you back to the shrine.â€\r\n\r\n“There are still other people to visit.â€ Akiko didn’t want him to give up, at least not at this point, but he was adamant.\r\n\r\n“You might get caught up in it, being with me. I can’t risk that.â€\r\n\r\n<em>I’m already caught up in it, </em>Akiko thought, but she said nothing.', 'Vengeance', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'vengeance', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:50:28', '2009-03-12 11:50:28', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=331', 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(332, 1, '2009-03-12 20:50:22', '2009-03-12 11:50:22', '', 'Vengeance', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '331-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:50:22', '2009-03-12 11:50:22', '', 331, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/331-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(333, 1, '2009-05-16 00:00:34', '2009-05-15 15:00:34', 'Akira walked Akiko up the steps and back to the shrine house, but left her at the entrance. He had been very quiet all the way there, and said only the briefest of farewells as she went inside.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi! I’m back!â€ she called out, hoping that the priest was around. Shiraishi emerged from the office almost immediately.\r\n\r\n“Welcome back… What’s wrong?â€ Akiko realised that her worry, her fear, was showing on her face.\r\n\r\n“Revd Shiraishi, what do you know about angry ghosts and curses?â€\r\n\r\n“Legends, mainly. They’re called tatarigami. Why? Oh…â€ Shiraishi’s face fell, as she realised what Akiko meant. Akiko nodded.\r\n\r\n“Are they associated with lightning strikes?â€ Shiraishi nodded. “Accidents? Fires?â€ Shiraishi nodded again. “Diseases?â€ Another nod.\r\n\r\n“Akiko, what are you suggesting?â€ Akiko took a deep breath. Saying it aloud would make it more real, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that. But if she didn’t say anything, they couldn’t do anything, and it would just get worse.\r\n\r\n“I think Mr Takenaka has become an angry ghost, and is cursing the area. I think he’s particularly targeting the businesses that stopped hiring his company. We went round them today, and found two more devastated; a gas explosion and a fire. That’s four, Revd Shiraishi. Four in a week or so. That’s not normal.â€\r\n\r\n“That… No… They…â€ Shiraishi was at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n“What do we do?â€\r\n\r\n“I don’t know.â€\r\n\r\n“You’re the priest!â€\r\n\r\n“They’re legends, Ms Tanahata. They’ve always just been legends. I didn’t expect them to come true. I never prepared for them to come true. Akiko, legends aren’t a threat. Legends don’t kill my friends.â€\r\n\r\n“Neither will my father.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko and Shiraishi both spun to face the door, where Akira stood.\r\n\r\n“I… I thought you’d gone home,â€ Akiko stammered out.\r\n\r\n“Not quite.â€ He stopped, but his whole attitude suggested he was going to speak again; Akiko waited quietly. “My father was not, is not, a violent man. He wouldn’t kill anyone. The fever is not fatal.â€ That was true; Akiko had heard no reports of deaths yet. “None of the accidents have killed anyone.â€ Akiko remembered the Sugiyamas being carried out of their house, but as far as she knew, that was also true. “He is angry, not psychotic. I think that, if I can get the business going again, he will rest peacefully.â€ Akira’s voice was starting to crack, and Akiko suddenly felt tears rising in her eyes. <em>How can Akira possibly cope with this?</em>\r\n\r\n“The business and his family; those were the most important things to my father.â€ Akira was crying openly as he spoke now, struggling to get the words out coherently. “If those are saved, he will rest peacefully. I’m sure of it. I’m sure of it.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko, trying to blink back the tears, just bit her lip and nodded, looking at Shiraishi, who also nodded.\r\n\r\n“Go home, Akira,â€ the priest said. “You’ve done all you can for today. I’m sure your mother wants to see you.â€ Akira took a shuddering breath, and nodded.\r\n\r\n“I’m sorry. I will go home now. Akiko, could you accompany me again tomorrow?â€\r\n\r\n“Of course, Akira.â€\r\n\r\nWhen he had gone, and they were sure, Akiko turned back to Shiraishi.\r\n\r\n“Do you think he’s right?â€ The priest shrugged, but Akiko could tell she wasn’t convinced.\r\n\r\nIt was only after she had gone to bed that Akiko realised that Akira had called her by her given name.', 'Probable Cause', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'probable-cause', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:51:05', '2009-03-12 11:51:05', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=333', 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(334, 1, '2009-03-12 20:50:59', '2009-03-12 11:50:59', '', 'Probable Cause', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '333-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:50:59', '2009-03-12 11:50:59', '', 333, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/333-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(335, 1, '2009-05-17 00:00:15', '2009-05-16 15:00:15', 'Akiko was awake in the middle of the night, for no reason she could discern. She lay in the futon for a while, staring at the ceiling, slowly realising that she could see it very clearly, in a soft silver light. It didn’t quite look like moonlight, and she immediately started to wonder, calmly, whether she was actually awake. She glanced around the room, but it looked perfectly ordinary; not that that proved anything.\r\n\r\nShe got up, pulling on a yukata and belting it at her waist. The night air was surprisingly warm when she opened the windows and stepped out onto the veranda, the pool liquid silver in the moonlight. She glanced back into her room; maybe it was just reflected moonlight. Maybe. Stepping down into the sandals, she walked across the bridge and purified herself before leaving the garden and stepping into the shrine grounds. Everything was peaceful, the stones of the iwakura dark shadows in the moonlight, while the shrine seemed almost to glow. Akiko looked around, but she still couldn’t see anything that proved she was dreaming, or awake, for that matter.\r\n\r\nShe walked towards the shrine building, intending to pay her respects to Tamao. <em>If he wants something, that will give him a chance to say so,</em> she thought. As she reached the steps, she looked round, and saw a figure standing outside the torii. It looked human, but it was surrounded by swirling clouds, moving as if caught in a hurricane, glowing red, green, and purple, flashing with silver and gold lightning.\r\n\r\n<em>Probably dreaming, then, </em>she concluded, walking cautiously towards the torii. <em>Probably.</em>\r\n\r\nAs she got closer, she could make out more details of the figure; the fact that it was Mr Takenaka didn’t surprise her, and even came as a relief. At least it was a known issue, not something else to deal with. He was standing outside the torii as the clouds whipped round his body, but his clothes seemed untouched by the wind, hanging still around him. He was facing out, looking over Kawasaki. Akiko could not see the town through the trees, but maybe Mr Takenaka could. She walked up to the torii, but not through it. If he was an angry ghost, a tatarigami, Akiko wanted to be inside the shrine, under Tamao’s protection.\r\n\r\n“Mr Takenaka?â€\r\n\r\nHe turned round, and Akiko gasped as her heart started pounding. His face was twisted, his eyes burning with green fire in red skin. He grinned when he saw her, and she was sure that his teeth were sharper, longer, than they should be. He reached out for her, but snatched his hand back as it reached the torii, scowling. Akiko was very glad she had decided to stay inside.\r\n\r\n“Akiko Tanahata.â€ His voice was deeper than before, rumbling with the cadences of thunder, making ground vibrate under her feet. She swallowed, hard, wondering what it meant that he recognised her. “They have tasted my wrath. They have had the warnings. <em>You</em> have had the warning; you burned with it, didn’t you?â€\r\n\r\nAkiko realised he was talking about the fever, and nodded, her mouth dry. She desperately wanted to run away, but she also needed to know what he wanted, what he planned to do. <em>He can’t cross the boundary,</em> she reminded herself, and put one hand on the torii, gripping it for support.\r\n\r\n“Well then, why haven’t you acted? Why have none of them acted? Why do they not repent of ignoring me, of neglecting me? Don’t they know that it is dangerous to neglect the kami? We have ways of getting what we want!â€\r\n\r\n<em>You certainly do,</em> thought Akiko, then guiltily glanced back over her shoulder, wondering whether Tamao could read her mind. Takenaka grinned, apparently noticing her glance.\r\n\r\n“Yes, is he really so different from me? But he has a shrine, festivals, ujiko. I was a loyal ujiko. I took my turns helping run the shrine. I made my offerings. And in return I was abandoned, left unsupported.â€ He spun round, stretching his hands out over the city. “Well, now they will know what it is like. They will feel my anger, my revenge. No-one can stop me now.â€ It wasn’t a boast, or a challenge. Just a calm statement of fact.\r\n\r\nHer heart pounding even faster, her stomach churning, Akiko licked her lips to wet them and forced the question out.\r\n\r\n“What… what do you want?â€\r\n\r\nHe turned back to her, looking at her curiously from his burning eyes.\r\n\r\n“Want? I want justice. I want vengeance.â€ He raised a hand, the clouds gathering round it, shining weirdly and spitting lightning. “I can have revenge now.â€ He paused, smiling, and Akiko shuddered.\r\n\r\n“So, enough warnings. Nobody is taking it seriously. Nobody is afraid.â€ <em>Well, that’s not true,</em> Akiko thought, as her fingers tried to dig into the stone of the torii. Somehow, however, saying that didn’t seem like a good idea.\r\n\r\n“Earth next. I will bury them. They dug the foundations, so I will bury them in earth. His home will vanish into the ground.â€\r\n\r\n<em>Who? Say the name!</em> Akiko begged silently.\r\n\r\n“The hill will consume it, as if it was never there.â€ Takenaka raised a hand, and then froze, looking beyond Akiko. She looked over her shoulder, and saw Tamao looming there, his eyes fixed on Takenaka’s spirit. The gems of his skin shone brightly, and Akiko looked back to see the clouds around Takenaka pulsing in response, swirling faster and faster, as if all the movement had drained into them. Because Takenaka was standing absolutely still, transfixed by the snake.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, Akiko wondered whether Tamao was going to defeat Takenaka, but, although his tail flicked, the snake made no larger move. Carefully, quietly, Akiko backed away, towards the shrine house. Tamao had bought them time, she decided. Time to warn the victims, if Akira Takenaka knew who they were. Time to work out what to do about Hideo Takenaka.\r\n\r\nShe turned and ran into the house, banging on the door of Shiraishi’s room until the priest got up.\r\n\r\nThey had been talking for several minutes when Akiko suddenly realised that there had been no moment of awakening.\r\n\r\n<em>Not a dream, then.</em>', 'Tatarigami', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'tatarigami', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:51:51', '2009-03-12 11:51:51', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=335', 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(336, 1, '2009-03-12 20:51:43', '2009-03-12 11:51:43', '', 'Tatarigami', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '335-revision', '', '', '2009-03-12 20:51:43', '2009-03-12 11:51:43', '', 335, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/12/335-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(337, 1, '2009-03-13 12:28:32', '2009-03-13 03:28:32', 'I use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit my website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please refer to their websites.\r\n\r\n<a href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html">Google Advertising</a>\r\n\r\n<a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1">Amazon.com</a>\r\n\r\nIn addition, I collect statistical information about visitors to my site. This information is aggregated, and does not identify individuals.\r\n\r\nAny information you provide in comments is publicly visible, with the exception of the email address you give. This email address will not be given to third parties, unless I am compelled to do so by law.\r\n\r\nAs the webmaster of the domain, I also have access to the recent logs, which include IP addresses. These could, in principle, be used to identify individuals, but probably only with the cooperation of your internet service provider; they only directly identify a computer at a time, as ISPs reassign IP addresses from time to time. In short, if a government agency wanted to know who you were, they could probably find out, but the only plausible way for me to do so is to ask you. I do not archive the raw log files, as I have no need for them.', 'Privacy Policy', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'privacy-policy', '', '', '2009-03-13 12:28:32', '2009-03-13 03:28:32', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?page_id=337', 0, 'page', '', 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(338, 1, '2009-03-13 12:28:26', '2009-03-13 03:28:26', 'I use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit my website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please refer to their websites.\n\n<a href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html">Google Advertising</a>\n\n<a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1">Amazon.com</a>\n\nIn addition, I collect statistical information about visitors to my site. This information is aggregated, and does not identify individuals.\n\nAny information you provide in comments is publicly visible, with the exception of the email address you give. This email address will not be given to third parties, unless I am compelled to do so by law.\n\nAs the webmaster of the domain, I also have access to the recent logs, which include IP addresses. These could, in principle, be used to identify individuals, but probably only with the cooperation of your internet service provider; they only directly identify a computer at a time, as ISPs reassign IP addresses from time to time. In short, if a government agency wanted to know who you were, they could probably find out, but the only plausible way for me to do so is to ask you. I do not archive the raw log files, as I have no need for them.', 'Privacy Policy', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '337-revision', '', '', '2009-03-13 12:28:26', '2009-03-13 03:28:26', '', 337, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/13/337-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(339, 1, '2009-03-16 17:39:58', '2009-03-16 08:39:58', 'For a moment Akiko could say nothing from the shock, her mouth dry as she felt waves of heat, followed by chills, flow through her. She couldn’t have actually been fired, surely?\n\n“I’m sorry?â€ It sounded lame even in her ears. Mr Kanayama cleared his throat again.\n\n“You’re fired, Ms Tanahata. Please collect your personal possessions, and then leave the office.â€ He was still looking at the desk, refusing to meet her eyes.\n\n“What for? What have I done?â€ As she said it, an edge of anger crept into her voice, even as it settled into her mind. It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t done anything unethical.\n\n“As I said, you are clearly not up to this job. I’m afraid that I cannot justify continuing to employ you.â€\n\n“What, unlike Megumi? She’s constantly late preparing things, forgets half of what anyone asks her, and hasn’t managed a project without a mistake while I’ve been here. Why isn’t she being sacked?â€\n\n“This isn’t about Ms Ito, it’s about you, Ms Tanahata.â€\n\n“It’s because of her father, isn’t it. I don’t have a rich father you daren’t offend, so you are happy to sack me when you need some sort of scapegoat.â€ Even as she said it, Akiko felt her anger taking over. A small part of her mind was warning her to be careful, but she didn’t listen to, didn’t <em>want</em> to listen to it.\n\nMr Kanayama had flushed, and now he did look up.\n\n“Don’t insult my integrity, Ms Tanahata. How can you even suggest that I would fire you for anything less than a good reason? Or that my attitudes to Ms Ito are influenced by who her father is?â€\n\n“Maybe you’re screwing her, then.â€ The small part of Akiko’s mind winced as she said that.\n\n“How dare you!â€ Mr Kanayama almost shouted the words, his face now bright red. “I was obviously right to fire you before your attitude could cause the company even more problems. Now, are you going to leave by yourself, or do I have to call security and have you escorted out?â€\n\nAkiko drew breath for a stinging retort, but suddenly realised that she had nothing to say. Nothing that would make a difference, anyway. Nothing that was worth wasting energy on. She let the breath out again, slowly, and then nodded. She couldn’t bring herself to make any polite noises, and simply turned her back on her boss. <em>Former</em> boss, she reminded herself, as she let herself out of the office.\n\nShe pulled her personal property out of her desk, piling it on her chair as she looked around for something to put it in. Satomi arrived before she had finished, and Akiko avoided her co-worker’s eyes, continuing with the job as if there was no-one there. She knew Satomi was looking at her, but the other woman didn’t try to say anything as Akiko picked up her things and left, and Akiko was almost grateful enough to turn back and say good bye. Almost, but not quite.\n\nAt the lifts, Megumi was just coming out.\n\n“Akiko, where are you going?â€\n\nAkiko managed to bite back her response, letting the lift doors close behind her, hiding her from Megumi and anyone else in the office.', 'Fired', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '171-autosave', '', '', '2009-03-16 17:39:58', '2009-03-16 08:39:58', '', 171, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/16/171-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(340, 1, '2009-05-18 00:00:03', '2009-05-17 15:00:03', '“We need to call Akira Takenaka now!â€ If it wasn’t a dream, Akiko was even more confident that the vision was accurate, but Shiraishi didn’t seem to share her urgency.\r\n\r\n“It’s not six am yet! We can’t call him in the middle of the night!â€\r\n\r\n“People will die.â€ Akiko said it slowly and clearly, as if talking to a rather slow child. “Hideo Takenaka is going to drop a hill on someone’s house.â€\r\n\r\n“You don’t even know who.â€\r\n\r\n“But Akira might! That’s why we have to call him!â€\r\n\r\n“Calm down! You said that Tamao was controlling Takenaka. There’s no need to panic.â€\r\n\r\n“I’m not panicking.â€ Akiko wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but she wasn’t going to admit to it. “This is an emergency. Who knows how long Tamao will be able to hold Takenaka in check? Do you? Do you understand the kami that well? We have to call Akira <em>now.</em>â€\r\n\r\n“OK, OK. But you have to calm down.â€\r\n\r\n“This is an emergency! How can I calm down!â€\r\n\r\n“You have to be able to tell Akira everything that might help him identify the targeted family. And you can’t do that while you’re ranting.â€\r\n\r\n“I am <em>not</em> ranting!â€ Shiraishi said nothing, and Akiko abruptly closed her mouth. She was ranting. And the priest was right; she didn’t have a name so she had to be able to explain things clearly to Akira. Closing her eyes, she clenched her fists by her sides and breathed deeply, relaxing her fists as she calmed down a little.\r\n\r\n“All right.â€ Akiko opened her eyes again. “Let’s do this calmly.â€ Shiraishi nodded.\r\n\r\n“Good. Now, what did Takenaka actually say?â€\r\n\r\n“He said that the warnings were over, because no-one was taking him seriously. ‘Earth this time.’ He said he was going to bury them, because they dug the foundations. The, er, yes, the hill would swallow them.â€ Shiraishi frowned.\r\n\r\n“Anything else?â€ Akiko racked her brains.\r\n\r\n“He said ‘his home will vanish into the ground’. And that no one was afraid. Oh, yes, he was talking about everyone ignoring and abandoning him before that, but I don’t think that helps with the identification.â€ Shiraishi shook her head.\r\n\r\n“No, I don’t think it does, but it is interesting…â€ She stared into space for a few moments, before shaking herself and looking back at Akiko. “And that’s it? He didn’t say anything else?â€ Akiko shook her head, and Shiraishi sighed. “It isn’t a lot to go on. Someone involved in making foundations, who lives in a house on or near a hill. Assuming he’s local, that second point won’t narrow it down much.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko sat down, suddenly exhausted. Shiraishi was right. The information was very vague.\r\n\r\n“Isn’t the fever very localised?â€ she asked, looking up. Shiraishi nodded. “Well then, maybe Takenaka only has power within that area. So it’s someone who has his home within that area.â€\r\n\r\n“That’s a good point.â€ The priest glanced at a clock, and nodded.\r\n\r\n“OK, I think you should call Akira now. I need to check some things about tatarigami.â€\r\n\r\nBoth women hurried to their tasks.', 'Panic', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'panic', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:13:36', '2009-03-17 03:13:36', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=340', 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(341, 1, '2009-03-17 12:13:30', '2009-03-17 03:13:30', '', 'Panic', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '340-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:13:30', '2009-03-17 03:13:30', '', 340, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/340-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(342, 1, '2009-05-19 00:00:42', '2009-05-18 15:00:42', '“Hello? Akira Takenaka?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes? Who is… Ms Tanahata?â€ The voice at the other end of the telephone was still sleepy.\r\n\r\n“Yes. We need to find a former client of your father as soon as possible.â€\r\n\r\n“What? I was going to cancel that; Kawasaki city has recommended that people avoid leaving home for all but essential journeys. Work is specifically noted as non-essential in most cases. So, there wouldn’t be…â€ Akiko couldn’t wait any longer.\r\n\r\n“No, this is essential. We have to find a specific client.â€\r\n\r\nThe other end of the phone was silent, for long enough that Akiko wondered whether Akira was still there.\r\n\r\n“Hello?â€\r\n\r\n“Yes, yes, sorry.â€ Another pause. “A threat?â€ Akiko suddenly saw the situation from Akira’s perspective, and a lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t realised that she was bringing him bad news.\r\n\r\n“Yes,â€ she replied, sitting down and trying to organise her thoughts.\r\n\r\n“Who?â€ She tried to pick up hints of Akira’s mood from the monosyllable, but failed.\r\n\r\n“I don’t quite know. He didn’t say a name this time, just some things about…â€ <em>The target? No, far too aggressive. The victim? Even worse. </em>“…him,â€ she finished lamely.\r\n\r\nAnother pause from the other end, before Akira responded.\r\n\r\n“OK. What did m… he say?â€\r\n\r\n“He said it was someone who dug foundations, and that a hill would swallow his home. We think it’s someone who lives in the area covered by the fever.â€\r\n\r\n“I’ll have to check the company records. I don’t know where all our clients live off hand. I’ll call you back.â€\r\n\r\n“No. It’s better if you come straight over. We have to go there as soon as possible.â€ Another silence.\r\n\r\n“I see.â€ This time, Akiko could hear the strain in his voice quite clearly. “I’ll be as fast as I can, then.â€ He hung up, without saying anything further, leaving Akiko staring at the phone.\r\n\r\nShe remembered what he had said about the health warning, and went to the computer to check the council’s web page. The warning was there, as Akira had said, along with further details about the disease. There were a lot of people in hospital, some of them in a serious condition, but it did not seem as though anyone had died of it. At least not yet. She wondered whether Tamao’s intervention was delaying the progress of the disease as well, and, again, started to worry about how long it would last.\r\n\r\nGetting up, she went to the door of the house, looking out at the shrine. There was no immediate sign of Tamao, but that did not surprise her too much. She went out, looking around, keeping her senses peeled, but the morning light revealed only the trees and grass, and a few birds hopping around, apparently unconcerned. She stopped by the torii, looking down the steps, but there was no sign of Takenaka, no sign of any spirits.\r\n\r\nSuddenly, she realised that she was still wearing nothing but a yukata; not a suitable state for going with Akira. Dashing to her room, she got dressed as quickly as she could.', 'Health Warning', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'health-warning', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:14:14', '2009-03-17 03:14:14', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=342', 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(343, 1, '2009-03-17 12:14:09', '2009-03-17 03:14:09', '', 'Health Warning', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '342-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:14:09', '2009-03-17 03:14:09', '', 342, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/342-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(344, 1, '2009-05-20 00:00:21', '2009-05-19 15:00:21', 'Akiko was back at the torii, now fully dressed, when Akira appeared at the bottom of the steps. She hurried down them to meet him.\r\n\r\n“Well?â€ He nodded.\r\n\r\n“I found two possibilities. I couldn’t tell from the addresses whether they were near hills, but it’s certainly likely.â€\r\n\r\n“Let’s go to the closest one first.â€ Akiko was already getting into the car, and when she glanced at Akira he was just staring at her, most of his face hidden by the white mask. “Come on!â€ He snapped out of it then, hurrying round to his side of the car and getting in. The car navigator sprang into life as he turned the ignition, and he pressed a couple of buttons.\r\n\r\n“I’ve already programmed the addresses in. This is the nearest one.â€ The computer started issuing directions, and they set off.\r\n\r\nAkiko looked out of the window as Akira drove, too keyed up to make casual conversation, and completely unable to think of any tactful way to talk about what was worrying her.\r\n\r\nThe streets were eerily quiet. It was early in the morning, but the rush hour should have been well under way, with commuters lined up at bus stops and cars filling the main roads. Instead, she saw only a handful of people walking, hurrying along, their faces hidden behind masks, and while there were more cars, the roads were very far from being busy. She saw large red-and-white posters all around, and, looking more closely, saw that they were health warnings, about the fever. She couldn’t read the details as they drove past, but the fact that they were there at all was enough to make her shiver.\r\n\r\nAs they passed a clinic, Akiko was suddenly overcome by a wave of nausea, her head split by a pounding headache and her body drenched in sweat as she felt as feverish as she could remember. She closed her eyes and sucked in her breath, but the feelings passed in a moment. She took a moment to calm herself, hoping not to distract Akira, and then opened her eyes again.\r\n\r\nThe streets were busier now, but not with people. Creatures prowled the pavements, harassing the few pedestrians, who seemed oblivious to their presence, and occasionally lunging at cars, one of which Akiko saw swerve slightly before the driver got it back under control. The misshapen beasts climbed the walls of buildings, almost covering the next clinic they passed, their eyes searching out.\r\n\r\nOne of them met Akiko’s gaze briefly, its burning red eyes carrying nausea, the stench of vomit, a sticky feeling down her front, making Akiko glance down to confirm that she hadn’t just thrown up on herself. As she looked away, the feelings passed, and she looked up again, at a health warning poster on the pillar of an elevated road. The poster appeared to be surrounded by deep cracks, in and out of which flew things like enormous hornets, in and out, burying the poster in a cloud. Akiko could feel the fever building again in her chest, rising into her neck, but she couldn’t look away.\r\n\r\nThey turned a corner, and came to a stop.\r\n\r\n“This is the first one,â€ said Akira.', 'Ghost Town', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'ghost-town', '', '', '2009-05-21 06:27:49', '2009-05-20 21:27:49', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=344', 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(345, 1, '2009-03-17 12:14:45', '2009-03-17 03:14:45', '', 'Ghost Town', 0, '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '344-revision', '', '', '2009-03-17 12:14:45', '2009-03-17 03:14:45', '', 344, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/2009/03/17/344-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(346, 1, '2009-05-21 00:00:00', '2009-05-20 15:00:00', 'They looked out of the car. There was no hill near the house, and Akiko could see little sign of kegare.\r\n\r\n“Dammit. Not this one.â€\r\n\r\n“You’re sure?â€ Akira asked.\r\n\r\n“No hill. And…â€ She paused to consider how to put it. “It doesn’t look like the right place.â€ <em>No time to explain kegare,</em> she thought. Akira looked at her for a moment, and then nodded, pressing buttons on the navigator again.\r\n\r\n“OK. One more to try.â€\r\n\r\nAkiko could still see the kegare if she looked out of the car, particularly concentrated around the warning posters and clinics, but also around some houses and other businesses, and occasionally huddling around a pedestrian, or covering a car. She watched it in horrified fascination, wondering what it meant, fearful of possible consequences.\r\n\r\nBut, most of all, desperately trying to think of something, anything, she could do about it. Warning one family no longer seemed like a good response.\r\n\r\nThey were driving into a hilly region now, along narrow streets. Houses lined both sides, the ground built up on concrete platforms to make a flat base, the buildings fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. The hill was there, but Akiko couldn’t see how Takenaka could target just one house.\r\n\r\nThen she remembered how indiscriminate the fever was, and realised that he might not care.\r\n\r\nThe car lurched, as Akira struggled to bring it under control, finally scraping along the wall of a house. All around them things were shaking, falling over. And then the quake was over. Akira got out, and Akiko scrambled over his seat to follow him.\r\n\r\n“It’s just round the…â€ He was cut off by the sound of a terrible groan, a growl of pain from the guts of the world. The ground shook again, with a roar, and a great cloud of dust billowed down the street, grit in her eyes and on her skin. Blinking, she looked ahead, at the dirt spilling out across the street.\r\n\r\nShe started running forward just before Akira did, round the corner to where the dirt and rock that had collapsed from the hill nearly buried a house. People were running out of the houses to either side, but for a moment, Akiko thought that the targeted house was already destroyed. Then she heard a squeal, metal under strain, and realised that the structure was still, barely, holding up against the weight of the earth.\r\n\r\nWithout thinking she scrambled up the slope to the first-floor windows, barely visible over the dirt. Grabbing a rock she broke the glass in, fumbling around inside for the catch. The frame had bowed slightly, and the window was stiff, but then Akira caught up to her, and between them they pushed it open. The dirt shifted under her feet, a small landslide below her, and the house groaned again. Akiko could suddenly see kegare-spirits all over it, lizards made of rock and earth, probing for weaknesses.\r\n\r\n“Over here!â€ she yelled into the open window. “Get out over here!â€\r\n\r\nThere was an answering shout from inside the house, and moments later, as the house shifted again, a woman came into the room, leading two young children. The shifting floor made her stumble, but she pushed the children ahead of her. Akira reached through the window and scooped one out, and as he turned to deposit the boy on the landslip Akiko helped his sister out. The house groaned again, and they both reached back to seize the woman’s arms, pulling her out and running down the slope, slipping and sliding, as the house groaned a last time and collapsed, spilling more earth down, catching them and sweeping them off their feet to leave them, bruised and breathing heavily, at the base of the pile.', 'Landslide', 0, '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'landslide', '', '', '2009-05-21 06:25:03', '2009-05-20 21:25:03', '', 0, 'http://www.davidchart.com/Novels/Tamao/?p=346', 0, 'post', '', 3);
