Salasaid.

    "Thatsbecauseyoureyoungandfullofenergy,Sala,"Junpeisaid."HurryanddrinkyourmilksoItellyoutherestofthestory."

    "O.K.,"shesaid,ingherhandsaroundtheglassanddrinkingthewarmmilkwithgreatcare.Thensheasked,"Howasakichidoesntmakehoneypiesahem?Ithinkthepeopleiownwouldlikethatbetterthanjustplainhoney."

    "Anexcellentpoint,"Sayokosaidwithasmile."Hisprofitswouldbemuchgreaterthatway."

    "Plowingupnewmarketsthroughvalueadded,"Junpeisaid."Thisgirlwillbearealentrepreneursomeday."

    Itwasalmost2A.M.bythetimeSalawentbacktobed.JunpeiandSayokowaitedforhertofallasleep,theosplitaofbeeratthekittable.Sayokowasntmuchofadrinker,andJunpeihadtodrivehome.

    "Sorryfingyououtinthemiddleofthenight,"Sayokosaid,"butIdidntknowwhatelsetodo.Imtotallyexhausted,andyouretheonlyonewhocalmherdown.TherewasnowayIwasgoingtocallTakatsuki."

    Junpeinoddedandtookaswigofbeer."Dontworryaboutme,"hesaid."Imawaketillthesunesup,andtheroadsareemptyatthistimeofnight.Itsnobigdeal."

    "Youwerewonastory?"

    Junpeinodded.

    "Howsitgoing?"

    "Likealways.Iwriteem.Theyprintem.Nobodyreadsem."

    "Ireadthem.Allofthem."

    "Thanks.Youreaniceperson,"Junpeisaid."Buttheshortstoryisonitswayout.Likethesliderule.LetstalkaboutSala.Hasshedohisbefore?"

    Sayokonodded.

    "Alot?"