<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko felt a little self-conscious, kneeling with the feather robe pooled around her while everyone else was dressed more normally. She was aware that people were glancing at her, although everyone was trying not to stare.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, then, if everyone’s here,â€ Shiraishi began, and everyone’s attention turned to her, “I think I’d like to start by explaining a bit about what happened.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were a lot of nods from around the table.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What was that snake? And the fire?â€ a woman asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s a good place to start. The snake was… is Tamao, the kami of this shrine. The fire was his aramitama, his fierce spirit.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“When Ms Tanahata spoke to us, was that what the snake said?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi turned to look at Akiko.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko replied. “What did it sound like to you?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The snake’s voice? Well, I almost understood bits…â€ Mrs Tanaka started, before trailing off as everyone else nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think it was ancient Japanese,â€ Shiraishi said. “But maybe a bit older than the Japanese we use for the norito these days. I understood most of it.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, the same as before, then?â€ Akiko asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Before?â€ Noriko asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Shiraishi said. “Akiko was possessed by Tamao when she formally became a miko, and he spoke through her then.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How long has this been happening?â€ a woman asked, her voice shaking.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Only a few months. And this is the first time Tamao has appeared like this.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“He first appeared to me a while before the fire,â€ Akiko put in, and Shiraishi nodded. “But no-one else could see him then.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So what changed?â€ Mrs Tanaka sounded half curious, half sceptical.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Tamao’s power, perhaps,â€ Shiraishi said. “There’s something else we need to tell you about before we can explain everything.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“This area of Kawasaki was, until the festival, heavily polluted with kegare.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kegare?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Corruption. Decay. Pollution.â€ Shiraishi shrugged. “It’s what was causing all the accidents and the illnesses that you had. It’s what the harae clears away.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, today’s festival was a harae for the whole city. Well,â€ Shiraishi paused for a moment, “at least for the area covered by this shrine.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Did it work?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“We think so,â€ Shiraishi said, looking at Akiko, who nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, everywhere looked purified,â€ she confirmed.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“‘Looked?’â€ It was Mrs Ito. Akiko felt herself blushing again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I, ah…â€ She suddenly remembered that everyone here had seen the kami and heard him speak through her. They were hardly likely to doubt her now. Suddenly confident, she continued. “I can see the kegare, and there didn’t seem to be any after the festival.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“How could you see the whole area?â€ one of the older men asked. Akiko was lost for words. How could she describe that?</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“She was possessed by the kami,â€ Shiraishi said, rescuing her. “Anyway, the festivals, the wild festival and today’s festival, increased the power of the kami, and today’s festival purified the area. That might be why you were all able to see him.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You aren’t sure?â€ It was one of the younger women, and she looked very nervous. Shiraishi looked down, then glanced at Akiko and Kazumi for support.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I’m not,â€ she said, her voice steady. “This is all new to me as well. But it does make sense.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So all the little problems we’ve been having will go away now?â€ Mrs Tanaka asked, her voice a little sceptical.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What happened after a normal harae? I imagine it will be like that,â€ Shiraishi replied. “They should get somewhat better right away, but it might take some time to resolve them completely. At least the kegare won’t be interfering any more.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Will the kegare come back?â€ Noriko asked. She sounded nervous.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not as strongly, I think. Tamao should be strong enough to keep it at bay, as long as we continue the ceremonies.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There were nods around the room, and people made comments to their neighbours. Shiraishi let them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, what do we do now?â€ Akira asked, loudly, and silence fell again.</p>