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limbing back stairs and crawling through vent passageways in order to observe the myriad couples。
One came。 Lithe and slender； he blended into the darkness so that he was almost upon her before she became aware of his presence。 She turned her head； startled despite herself； giving a strangled little cry； angry with herself for not sensing him sooner。
〃What do you want？〃 Her voice was a husky whisper； little more than the night wind which rustled the leaves of the cypress above her head。
Sound； too； could betray him； so he remained silent。 And now； unbidden； Akiko felt fear flutter her heart。 Her eyes were open wide； the pupils dilated to their maximum as she peered into the blackness in order to pick out some tiny gleam that would make of him something more than a wraith。
〃I know you're there；〃 she said softly； willing her voice not to tremble。 〃If you e near me； I'll kill you。〃 But despite her bravado； she began to tremble。 She felt chilled to the bone and everything around her seemed strange and forbidding。
On the verge of tears； Akiko made a decision。 She knew that the longer she waited the more certain it was that she would lose her nerve。 Already tremors coursed through her tightly coiled muscles； wracking her like ague。 It was now or never； and she would just have to trust her eyes。 She had not seen him move from the patch of shadow so close to her so that must mean that he had not。 Visions of ghosts and shape…changing creatures were for children。
I am afraid； she told herself in the calmest inner voice she could summon up。 But he'll kill me if I let him or； at the very least； drag me back to Fuyajo； which would certainly be worse than death。
She was just bringing the pistol out from behind her when she felt the presence to her left and thought； The second one！ She felt pressure on her larynx and； of course； reflexively tried to breathe。 When she could not； panic rose within her and she cried out； bringing the pistol up in a blur； her forefinger already squeezing； squeezing； anything to get oxygen into her straining lungs。
The roar of the discharge caused her to scream in rage and fear。 Concussion struck her eardrums like a physical blow and she staggered； already retching from the intense stench of the cordite and the heat； searing and instantaneous； that had brushed by her like the hand of death。
Light blinded her and she fetched up against a wooden wall； sliding down it as her legs gave out。 Something was in her eyes and she put her free hand up； wiping at her forehead。 Her hair was matted and wet； filled with grit that rolled slickly through her fingers。
Blood black on the night； its coppery stench filling her nostrils； making her gag all over again； making her wipe again and again at her face； crying now in great gulping sobs。
A shadow looming over her and instinctively she brought the pistol upward； almost all control gone now so that the barrel weaved back and forth。 She tried to get at the trigger again but her finger wouldn't respond to her mands and then the gun was gone from her weakened grasp and she was broken； sobbing still； whispering through it； 〃Don't take me back； I don't want to go back。〃
Lifted bodily off the street； a breeze against her hot； streaked cheek for an instant and then a creak； a slam； the noises of a bolt being shot home and the warmth of a house； stealing over her； a place unfamiliar but only one fact surfacing： it was not Fuyajo。
Her head went down。。。
A face swam into view； like the man in the moon； pockmarked and huge； descending through a network of sere branches as spiky as a stag's antlers。
Akiko cried out； tried to throw her arms across her face to protect it。 She had the sensation of falling and shooting forward at the same time； spinning like a leaf in the wind； toppling from the safety of。。。 what？
The man in the moon lifted away； and it was like a weight being pulled off her chest。
〃Is this better？〃 The voice was soft and lilting； a country accent。
〃I can't。。。 breathe。〃 Her voice was like a rodent's squeak and she realized that her mouth and throat were so parched that she could not summon up saliva。
〃In time you will be able to do everything。〃 The man in the moon smiled； or so it seemed to Akiko。 She still had trouble seeing as if she were peering through a windowpane streaked with running rainwater。
〃You look blurry；〃 she whispered through cracked lips。
〃When you stop crying；〃 the gentle voice told her； 〃you will no longer have that problem。〃
She slept for a time after that； sliding down into a vertiginous whirlpool； a troubled slumber in which her fear； brought to the surface； would not allow her to slip deeply into unconsciousness。
Rather； she fought in a series of battle…scarred dreams； on the cusp of sleep； her eyelids fluttering constantly； her limbs thrashing and twitching like a dog's。
When； at last； she awoke it was near night again and it was as if no time had passed though； in reality； more than eighteen hours had elapsed from her ordeal in the street。
〃Where did you get this weapon？〃
It was the first question he asked her。 She knew the answer of course； but the effort required in opening her mouth and translating thought into speech seemed beyond her。
He put an enormous lopsided wooden bowl of larmen dosanko in front of her and； sitting cross…legged on the tatami beside the futon on which she lay； laced his fingers beneath his chin and contemplated her silently。
Akiko rose to her haunches。 The scent of the steaming noodle soup was overpowering； blotting out all other sensation or thought。 Only when she was finished eating did she notice the sleek metal and pearl of the pistol lying by his side。 It was this he was referring to when he had asked her the question。
She looked back at the rumpled futon。 Its fabric was light but in spots deep； rust…colored stains had turned the beautiful cotton leathery and stiff。 The sight set Akiko's heart to hammering again； and something must have showed in her eyes because the man sitting across from her smiled and said； 〃You have nothing to fear from me； Kodomo…gunjin。〃
Akiko put her fingertips up to the right side of her forehead； near her hairline。 A cessation of hunger had made her aware of a painful pulsing there。 She felt the bulge of a bandage。 〃Why do you call me Little Soldier？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 he said softly； leaning forward to push the pistol across the tatami toward her； 〃for the same reason you carry this weapon。〃
He cocked his head。 It was no wonder she had first thought of him as the man in the moon for his face was as round as a full moon's； with pockmarked cheeks and a flat Chinese nose。 He had a long； wispy mustache drooping down around the corners of his mouth but little other hair。 Overall his face seemed as soft as raw dough。
He bowed now。 〃I am Sun Hsiung。 How may I call you？〃
〃You have already named me； haven't you？ Kodomo…gunjin。〃
He nodded。 〃As you wish。〃
She leaned forward and took the pistol off the tatami。 It seemed quite heavy to her now。 She did not look at him when she spoke next。 〃What happened。。。 last night？〃
Sun Hsiung put his forearms on the points of his knees。 〃You shot the。。。 man who was holding