onitoccasionally,asifsuddenlyrecallingthatitwasthere.

    Asusual,JunkothoughtaboutJadon’s“ToBuildaFire.”ItwasthestoryofamantravelingalohroughthesnowyAlaskaninteriorandhisattemptstolightafire.Hewouldfreezetodeathunlessheakeitcatch.Thesunwasgoingdown.Junkohadn’treadmuchfi,butthatoneshortstoryshehadreadagainandagain,eversieacherhadassigasanessaytopicduringthesummervacationofherfirstyearinhighschool.Theseofthestorywouldalwaysevividlytomindassheread.Shecouldfeeltheman’sfearandhopeanddespairasiftheywereherown;shecouldseheverypoundingofhisheartashehoveredonthebrinkofdeath.Mostimportantofall,though,wasthefactthatthemanwasfuallylongingfordeath.Shekhatforsure.Shecouldn’texplainhowsheknew,butshekfromthestart.Deathwasreallywhathewanted.Hekhatitwastherightendingforhim.Ahehadtogoonfightingwithallhismight.Hehadtofightagainstanoverwhelmingadversaryiosurvive.WhatmostshookJunkowasthisdeep-rootedtradi.

    Theteacherridiculedherview.“Deathisreallywhathewahat’sanewoneforme!Andstrange!Quite‘inal,’I’dhavetosay.”Hereadherclusionaloudbeforetheclass,andeverybodylaughed.

    ButJunkoknew.Allofthemwerewrong.Otherwise,howcouldtheendingofthestorybesoquietaiful?

    “Uh,Mr.Miyake,”Keisukeventured,“don’tyouthinkthefirehasgo?”

    “Don’tworry,it’scaught.It’sjustgettioflareup.Seehowit’ssmoking?Youknowwhattheysay:‘Wherethere’ssmoke,there’sfire.’”

    “Well,youknowwhatelsetheysay:‘Wherethere’sblood,there’sahard-on.’”

    “Isthatallyouevertalkabout?”

    “No,buthowyoubesosureithasn’tgo?