ousandyears,”Junkosaid.

    “You’vegotsomethingthere,”Keisukesaid.

    “PeoplewillbelightingfireslongafterPearlJamisgone.”

    “You’vegotsomethioo.”KeisukepulledhisrighthandoutofhispocketandputhisarmaroundJunko’sshoulders.“Thetroubleis,Idon’thaveadamnthingtodowithanythingfiftythousandyearsago—orfiftythousandyearsfromher.Nothing.Zip.What’simportantisnow.Whoknowswhentheworldisgoingend?Whothinkaboutthefuture?TheonlythingthatmattersiswhetherIgetmystomachfullrightnowauprightnht?”

    Theyclimbedthestepstothetopofthebreakwater.Miyakewasdowninhisusualspotonthebeach,collegdriftwoodofallshapesandsizesandmakipile.Onehugelogmusthavetakenamajoreffortttothespot.

    Thelightofthemoontransformedtheshorelioasharpenedswordblade.Thewinterwaveswerestrangelyhushedastheywashedoverthesand.Miyakewastheonlyohebeach.

    “Prettygood,huh?”hesaiduffofwhitebreath.

    “Incredible!”Junkosaid.

    “Thishappenseveryonawhile.Youknow,wehadthatstormydaywiththebigwaves.Lately,Itellfromthesound,like,‘Todaysomegreatfirewood’sgoingto.’”

    “Okay,okay,weknowhowgoodyouare,”Keisukesaid,rubbinghishandstogether.“’sgetwarm.It’ssodamncold,it’senoughtoshrivelyourballs.”

    “Hey,takeiteasy.There’sarightwaytodothis.Firstyou’vegottoplanit.Andwhenyou’vegotitallarrangedsoit’llworkwithoutahitch,youlightitslow-like.You’trushit.‘Thepatientbeggarearnshiskeep.’”

    “Yeah,”Keisukesaid.“Likethepatienthookerearnsherkeep.”

    Miyakeshookhishead.“You’retooyoungtobemakingsuchcrummyjokesallthetime