Holy shit.
I put my view on the path.
Well damn. I’ll have to honor that power.
I scanned the area around me. Even though Yoichi’s bones were tingling, the island was calm. The sun was sliding low. The golden warm light came at us sideways through the trees, slanting across the gravel in long patient stripes.
Birds called to one another in the branches overhead. Somewhere far off, a wind chime made of bamboo knocked itself together in a melodic lazy rhythm.
Many people were heading home.
A young mother walked along the side of the path with a small boy on her hip and a folded blanket draped over her shoulder. The boy had a half-eaten rice ball clutched in his fist. His cheek was smeared with it.
As we rolled past, the boy waved at me with sticky fingers.
I grinned and waved back.
The boy giggled.
Further up the path, an older man pushed a wooden cart loaded with vegetables—bright orange carrots, deep green spinach, and a few pale daikon laid across the top. His back was bent. His hands were calloused.
As we passed, he lifted a hand without looking up, and one of my guards waved.
I leaned back and let out a long sigh.
Two little girls in matching yellow dresses ran along a side trail, chasing each other with sticks. One had a flower crown slipping sideways off her head. The other shrieked with laughter when she caught up.
A woman called something to them from a porch I could not see and they both stopped and turned obediently back toward the voice.
We rounded the bend.
Three fishermen were walking up from the south path with their poles slung across their shoulders and a small cooler swinging between them. The shortest one was telling a story with his hands. The other two were laughing.
Minutes later, we arrived at the mansion, and Yoichi helped me off the cart.
When we entered the mansion, it was calm too.
We walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the elevator.
I think everything will be just fine.
Yoichi pressed the button. “Can you humor me some more?”
“Sure.”
“I love your dress, but I think you should change.”
“Change into what?”
“Something more comfortable.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I feel like this won’t be a relaxing night. My. . .bones are tingling which always means that evil is on its way.”
I swallowed. “On its wayhere?”
“Yes, but that can always mean anything.”
