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dense bands of hardened muscle below the surface.
    “More Tachikawa?” the man in the suit, Shimizu, asked. He was referring to the Tachikawa School of Shingon Buddhism. The Tachikawa School was a heretical branch of the Shingon Sect founded by the monk Ninkan during the Heian period; it taught that enlightenment could be achieved through the sexual union of the male and female body.
    “The Jintan Method.”
    “Monk Sendo’s Bedroom Arts?”
    “More or less.”
    “Ah, to enjoy yourself and, in the process, procure the spirit of a young woman. A convenient method indeed.”
    “Indeed. What brings you here today?” Biku asked, still naked. He was surprisingly relaxed.
    Although the man appeared to be his elder, Biku’s phrasing suggested they were at least of equal status. Moreover, Shimizu had referred to him as “Master”. Everything suggested that Biku was older than he appeared, perhaps, like Shimizu, in his late 20’s.
    “There has been a communication from the mountain,” said Shimizu.
    “A communication?”
    “For the Kujaku Myo’o.”
    “They want to perform the Rite of the Kujaku Myo’o?”
    “Yes.”
    “Something must have happened.”
    “It appears we will have a visitor from the mountain before the day is out.”
    “I see.” Biku nodded, glancing at the young girl near his feet. Her breathing told them that she was asleep. “I am afraid you’ll have to wake the girl and send her home.”
    “Indeed. If anyone discovered we practice the Tachikawa and Jintan methods...well, we wouldn’t hear the end of it.” Shimizu bowed slightly, taking his leave.
    “A communication from the mountain, for the Kujaku Myo’o,” Biku folded his arms, muttering the words to himself after the door had closed.
    The mountain was Mt. Koya. The Rite of the Kujaku Myo’o was a “Protection of the State” ritual carried out in honor of the Kujaku Myo’o. Its purpose was to call on the powers of the goddess of the wilds, the Kujaku Myo’o, to restore order and exorcise evil spirits. In ancient India, the Kujaku, a peacock, had been recorded to feast on poisonous snakes; as such, the Kujaku Myo’o was accorded with the divine ability to absorb and displace all forms of poison, but Shimizu had not meant the words literally. Coming from the mountain, the notification of the performance of the Rite of the Kujaku Myo’o was a code. Mt. Koya was requesting Biku’s assistance. The Kujaku Myo’o’s smile floated across his lips.
    For the first time in a while, there was going to be trouble.
    3
    A heavy sea breeze buffeted against the young man’s cheeks.
    Gentle waves of black hair flicked across his pale forehead. His softly pursed lips were crimson red. He was tall. His features and slender body gave the impression of youth. His name was Biku. The place was Miyukigahama in Odawara.
    For a while, Biku had been observing a peculiar old man. The old man stood at the shoreline gazing out to sea. Light from the afternoon sun flowed over his back. Fishermen dotted the expansive coastline at regular intervals. It was still too early in the season for the beach to be crowded with people out to enjoy swimming in the sea. It was the latter half of June. The old man seemed like any old man taking advantage of the break in the monsoon weather to enjoy a rare walk out in the sun. A lone, black dog had been skulking around the beach for some time. It looked somewhat neglected; its hair was greasy with dirt. It did not seem to have an owner nearby and had no collar, a stray. There was a fishing port nearby, Biku imagined it was able to get by scavenging food there.
    The view could have been any coastline. Out to sea, in the distance, one could just make out the faint outline of the island, Izu Oshima.
    The old man appeared to notice the dog’s presence. He put his walking stick under his arm and crouched down, calling out to it. The dog trotted over. Something completely unexpected happened--the old man stood bolt upright