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.

She 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.

“Ms Tanahata? Are you all right?â€

Akiko 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.

“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.

Shiraishi helped her inside, and once they were in Akiko pushed her gently away.

“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.

Shiraishi caught her. Akiko smiled sheepishly as she leaned on the priest again.

“Maybe I can’t.â€

They 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.

“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.

Under 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.

Akiko 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.