becauseitwastooraw,tooheavy,toorealtobecalledacoursedthroughherbodyandvanished,leavingbehindasweet-sad,chest-gripping,straoffeeling.Foratimeafterithadgone,shehadgoosefleshonherarms.

    “Tellme,Mr.Miyake,whenyouseetheshapesthatabonfiremakes,doyoueverfeelkinde?”

    “Howso?”

    “Idon’tknow,it’slikeallofasuddenyougetveryclearaboutsomethingpeopledon’tusuallynotieverydaylife.Idon’tknowhowtoputit,I’mnotsmartenough,butwatgthefirenow,Igetthisdeep,quietkindoffeeling.”

    Miyakethoughtaboutitawhile.“Youknow,Jun,”hesaid,“afirebeanyshapeitwantstobe.It’sfree.Soitlooklikeanythingatalldependingonwhat’sihepersonlookingatit.Ifyougetthisdeep,quietkindoffeelingwhenyoulookatafire,that’sbecauseit’sshowingyouthedeep,quietkindoffeelingyouhaveinsideyourself.YouknowwhatImean?”

    “Uh-huh.”

    “Butitdoesn’thappenwithjustanyfire.Forsomethinglikethistohappen,thefireitselfhastobefree.Itwon’thappenwithagasstarettelighter.Itwon’tevenhappenwithanordinarybonfire.Forthefiretobefree,you’vegottomakeitintherightkindofplace.Whi’teasy.Notjustanybodydoit.”

    “Butyour.Miyake?”

    “SometimesI,sometimesI’t.Mostofthetime,I.IfIreallyputmymindtoit,Iprettymu.”

    “Youlikebonfires,don’tyou?”

    Miyakenodded.“It’salmostasiesswithme.WhydoyouthinkIcametoliveinthisnavel-lintnothingofatown?It’sbecausethisplacegetsmoredriftwoodthananyotherbeaow.That’stheonlyreason.Icameallthewayoutheretomakebonfires.Kindofpointless,huh?”

    Whenevershehadtheceafterthat,JunkowouldjoinMiyakeforhisbonfire