ackseason.”

    “Whoa,Isurerubbedyouthewrongway!Youlooklikeanicequietguy,butyou’vegotonehellofamouth.AndthisplaceisIbaraki,not‘Ibaragi.’AllyouKansaitypesarereadytoputuseastern‘farmboys’downatthedropofahat.Igiveup,”Keisukesaid.“Butseriously,though,didanybodygethurt?YoumusthavehadsomebodyyouknowinKobe.HaveyouseenthenewsonTV?”

    “Let’sgethesubject,”Miyakesaid.“Whiskey?”

    “Youbet.”

    “Jun?”

    “Justalittle,”Junkosaid.

    MiyakepulledathialflaskfromthepocketofhisleatherjacketandhaoKeisuke,whotwistedoffthedpouredsomewhiskeyintohismouthwithouttoughislipstotherim.Hegluggeditdownandsuckedinasharpbreath.

    “Thatisgreat!”hesaid.“Thishasgottobeatwenty-one-year-oldsi!Superstuff!Agedinoak.YouheartheroaroftheseaandthebreathofScottishangels.”

    “Givemeabreak,Keisuke.It’sthecheapestSuntoryyoubuy.”

    wasJunko’sturooktheflaskfromKeisuke,pouredalittleintothecap,andtriedafewtinysips.Shegrimaced,butchasedafterthatspecialwarmfeelingastheliquidmoveddownfromherthroattoherstomach.Thecoreofherbodygrewatouchwarmer.,Miyaketookonequietswallow,andKeisukefollowedhimwithanulp.Astheflaskmovedfromhandtohand,thebrewinsizeandstrength—notallatoinslow,gradualstages.ThatwasthegreatthingaboutMiyake’sbohespreadoftheflameswassoftale,likeacaress,withnothingroughorhurriedaboutit—theironlypurposewastoeople’shearts.

    Junkoneversaidmuthepresehefire.Shehardlymoved.Theflamesacceptedallthingsinsilence,drankthemin,uood,andfave.Afamily,arealfamily,robablylikethis,shethought.