aid,“Youknow,Mr.Miyake,something’sbeenkindofbme.DoyoumindifIaskyouaboutit?”

    “Whatkindofsomething?”

    “Somethingpersonal.”

    Miyakescratchedhisstubblycheekswiththeflatofhishand.“Well,Idon’tknow.Iguessit’dbeokay.”

    “Iwasjustwif,maybe,youhadawifesomewhere.”

    Miyakepulledtheflaskfromthepocketofhisleatherjacket,ope,andtookalong,slowdrink.Theonthecap,slippedtheflaskintohispocket,andlookedatJunko.

    “Wheredidthatefromallofasudden?”

    “It’snotallofasudden.Ikindofgotthefeelingbefore,whenKeisukestartedtalkingabouttheearthquake.Isawthelookonyourfadyouknowwhatyouooldme,abouthowpeople’seyeshavesomethinghoaboutthemwhenthey’rewatgafire.”

    “Idid?”

    “Anddoyouhavekids,too?”

    “Yup.Twoof’em.”

    “InKht?”

    “That’swherethehouseis.Isupposethey’restilllivingthere.”

    “WhereinKobe?”

    “TheHigashi-Nadase.Upinthehills.Notmuchdamagethere.”

    Miyakenarrowedhiseyes,raisedhisfadlookedoutatthedarksea.Theurnedhiseyesbacktothefire.

    “That’swhyI’tblameKeisuke,”hesaid.“I’tcallhimanidiot.Idon’thavetheright.I’mnotusingmybrainanymorethanheis.I’mtheidiotking.IthinkyouknowwhatImean.”

    “Doyouwanttotellmemore?”

    “No,”Miyakesaid.“Ireallydon’t.”

    “Okay,I’llstop,then.ButIwillsaythis.Ithinkyoodperson.”

    “That’snottheproblem,”Miyakesaid,shakinghisheadagain.Hedrewakindofdesigninthesandwiththetipofabranch.“Tellme,Jun,haveyoueverthoughtabouthowyoingtodie?”

    Junkopohisforawhile,thenshookherhead.

    “Well,It