”

    “Ijustknow.It’sgoingtoflareup.”

    “Howdidyouetomastersuart,Mr.Miyake?”

    “Iwouldn’tcallitan‘art.’IlearwhenIwasaBoyScout.Whenyou’reaScout,likeitornot,youlearhingthereistoknowaboutbuildingafire.”

    “Isee,”saidKeisuke.“ABoyScout,huh?”

    “That’snotthewholestory,ofcourse.Ihaveakindoftalent,too.Ido,butwhenitestomakingabonfireIhaveaspecialtalentthatmostfolksjustdon’thave.”

    “Itmustgiveyoualotofpleasure,butIdon’tsupposethistalentofyoursmakesyoulotsofmoney.”

    “True.all,”Miyakesaidwithasmile.

    Ashehadpredicted,afewsmallflamesbegantoflickerattheterofthepile,apaniedbyafaintcragsound.Jualong-heldbreath.Nowtherewasnothingtoworryabout.Theywouldhavetheirbonfire.Fagthenewbornflames,thethreebegantostretchouttheirhands.Forthefewmiherewasnothingmoretobedoowatsilenceas,littlebylittle,theflamesgainedih.Thosepeopleoffiftythousandyearsagomusthavefeltlikethiswhentheyheldtheirhandsouttotheflames,thoughtJunko.

    “Iuandyou’refromKobe,Mr.Miyake,”Keisukesaidinacheeryvoice,asifthethoughthadsuddenlypoppedintohishead.“DidyouhaverelativesorsomethingintheKahquakelastmonth?”

    “I’mnotsure,”saidMiyake.“Idon’thaveahKobeanymore.Notforyears.”

    “Years?Well,yousurehaven’tlostyourKansaiat.”

    “No?I’ttell,myself.”

    “Idodeclare,youmustbejoking,”saidKeisukeinexaggeratedKansaitones.

    “Cuttheshit,Keisuke.ThelastthingIwanttohearissomeIbaragiasshtotalktomeinaphonyKansaiat.Youeasternfarmboyswouldbebetterofftearingaroundonyourmotorcyclesduringthesl