“I thought you couldn’t do the dances yet?â€ Shiraishi was obviously trying to keep the question light, but she couldn’t quite hide the concern and incomprehension. For a moment, all Akiko could do was shake her head.

“I have been practising, but I can’t do it that well,â€ she said when she finally found her voice. “I don’t suppose you heard the drum?â€ Shiraishi shook her head. “I didn’t think so. It wasn’t like the time I was possessed, but…â€ She paused, trying to put the experience into words, and failing. “The music took hold of me,â€ she finished, lamely.

“Well, you did the dance very well. When have you been practising?â€ Akiko started to answer, but Shiraishi interrupted her. “And who’s been teaching you?â€

“Ah.â€ Akiko was embarrassed, realising that she really should have told Shiraishi before. “I met another miko at the sacred tree, and she’s teaching me at night.â€

“Another miko?â€

“Yes. From this shrine.â€ Akiko could see that the priest was ready to ask more questions, and held up a hand to stop her. “And I don’t know how that’s possible, or where she comes from, or what she is. I’m not asking.â€

“Is that safe? She could be an evil spirit.â€

“The tree wanted me to learn from her.â€ <em>That sounds really, really naive,</em> Akiko thought, but Shiraishi just nodded.

“The tree is probably a reliable source. At least as reliable as what this miko would say if you did ask her. Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?â€

Akiko thought for a moment, and realised that she was. Yoshiko’s puzzlement with certain aspects of Akiko’s life just added to her confidence. It didn’t seem like any sort of trick.

“Yes, I am. Learning from her is the right thing to do at the moment.â€

“Well, then. If she’s teaching you dances like that, I won’t complain. I think we should take the kagurasuzu with us to the river, though.â€

Akiko looked at it, and nodded, suddenly remembering the dream.

“Yes, I think that would be a very good idea.â€

Akira arrived at half past two, as promised, and the weather was still beautiful, a gentle sun shining on the clean grass of the shrine, and on the fresh shoots now springing up where the shrine building had been. Akira smiled at both of them.

“I should be grateful to you for giving me a good reason to get out of the office. I’d have been stuck inside otherwise.â€

“We should be grateful to you,â€ Akiko replied.

“Purification again?â€ he asked, and she nodded.

“The river, this time.â€ He just nodded, and then glanced towards the entrance.

“Only a couple of protesters today, and that noisy woman isn’t there. I should have it fairly easy. Good luck with the purification.â€

“Thanks.â€

They walked down to the river; it wasn’t that far, and there wasn’t anywhere to park the car in any case. Without the himorogi, things were a lot easier. Akiko and Shiraishi chatted about the shrine as they walked, speculating about whether the Tanakas would be back, wondering whether they would see Mr Fujimura again, and complaining about the protesters. They were nearly at the river before Akiko realised that everyone they passed was staring at them. <em>It makes sense,</em> she thought. <em>We are walking through the streets in full vestments.</em>

At the river, they walked carefully down the steps to the small park at water level. Akiko looked around, and nodded her head.

“This looks enough like the dream. I think this is the place.â€

“Right, then. Standing ceremony; the ground’s still rather muddy.â€ Akiko looked down and nodded. It certainly was. She looked at the river, which did have some rubbish in it, but didn’t look anything like as polluted as it had in the dream. At least not when she looked at it with normal eyes.

Through other eyes, the things floating in the water were clear, but the surface of the river was unnaturally smooth and slick, as if the oil covering it were somehow holding the water down. There were kegare spirits clinging to the concrete walls, and scuttling about the park, although they kept their distance from the two of them. As ever, Shiraishi was free of kegare and shining slightly, and that seemed to make the spirits nervous. Akiko saw one of them, a giant beetle, driving its limbs into the concrete in a cloud of dust, its glittering eyes turned in their direction.

She realised that the priest was looking at her, waiting for a signal, and she nodded her head. Shiraishi bowed once, and began the harae.

The spirits responded at once, hissing and screeching as they scrambled up the walls and away, running from the area before they could be swept out of existence. Akiko could see the light building within the ohnusa, and it seemed that a lot of the spirits could, too.

The river began to surge, large waves passing down its length. Then an even higher wave passed, and Akiko realised that she could see under the bottom of the water. A moment later the water broke free of its channel, a giant, blind snake, just like in the dream, the sound of flowing water conveying anger and pain. Its head swung blindly, and Akiko realised that Shiraishi had faltered in her recitation of the norito.

The light within the ohnusa began to fade, and Akiko looked around to see the kegare spirits creeping closer again around the top of the park, jaws clicking in anger.

“Keep going!â€ she urged, as loudly as she dared. Shiraishi took a step back, but tried to return to the norito. Akiko saw the river-snake turn its head towards them, as she felt water on her feet. Fast-flowing water, rising.

The river. The spirit was making the river flood. Akiko took a step back as well, and raised her hands to ward the spirit off. As she did, the kagurasuzu rang, and the snake flinched slightly.

Remembering the dream, Akiko summoned up her courage, and stepped in front of Shiraishi, raising the kagurasuzu and shaking it as she swung it down, across in front of her, then raised it again on the other side, swinging it down again to complete the barrier against the serpent. It flinched back, and Akiko felt the water around her feet ebb. Behind her, Shiraishi’s voice picked up the norito again, getting stronger and more confident.

Akiko took another step forward, holding the kagurasuzu in front of her and vibrating it so that the bells kept sounding. The snake shrank back, its head thrashing from side to side, the roar of the water taking on overtones of agony. Akiko felt tears prick her eyes, as the spirit’s suffering pierced her heart.

And then light exploded from behind her as Shiraishi finished the norito and swung the ohnusa, light that ignited the oil covering the serpent, wreathing it in red and black flames that burned with the stench of chemicals, black smoke pouring off to be dispersed by the light, as the flames kept burning, burning clearer and clearer.

The serpent opened its eyes, pools of water set within scales of blue and white flame, and looked straight at Akiko. Its hiss was of pleasure as it dived back into the channel, splashing flames to either side, which flowed up the banks and burned away the last fragments of kegare.