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Nicholas came back down the aisle； slumped down in the seat next to Yukio。 'Too late；' he said。 'Too late。'
Now the train picked up speed for the last part of the journey towards Shimonoseki。 It was quiet in the car。 Even Yukio was silent。 She stared at her hands while he looked out of the window。
The night was aflame。 They were passing fairly close to one or another of the southern cities … he had no idea which one …which had been turned into a supportive structure for a vast
oil refinery。 Giant flames leaped and spewed into the darkness like the corona of the sun seen close up in a kind of silent hellish dance。 It seemed an inhuman place to work or live； a desolate dreamscape from which there was no exit。 It went on and on as they travelled； the lines of red and orange lights leading in inevitable precise rows towards the refinery's main building bulking blackly against the skyline； the bloated billowing flames。
'What did you think of the old man's story？' Yukio said。
He turned his head。 'What？'
〃The old man。 Did you believe him？'
For some reason he thought of So…Peng。 'Yes；' he said。 'I did。'
'I didn't。' She crossed her legs at the knees； very American。 'Something like that couldn't have happened。 Life's just not like that。'
They spent the night in Shimonoseki； so near the water that they could hear it though they could not see it for the thick ground fog。 Horns hooted mournfully； deepened by the night air； made somehow mysterious。
She lay with her head on his bare chest； her night…dark hair spread in a fan across his pale flesh。 He was a long time falling asleep。 He felt her breathing gently； rhythmically through his fingertips； the weight of her on his sternum and rib cage。 He wondered what it was about her that drew him so powerfully。 And could not even decide why it seemed so important for him to know。
Yukio stirred and it seemed a part of him。
'What is it？' he asked her。
'Oh； nothing。' Her voice was very soft。 'I was just thinking of a story。 It's the one my mother told me。 The only one I remember。 Want to hear it？'
'Yes。'
'Well； once upon a time there was a lady。 She lived in a castle in Roku…No…Miya。 Where that is no one knows to this day …that's just how my mother used to say it。 Anyway； after this girl's parents died； she was brought up by a governess … she was an extremely well protected girl … and； as the years passed； she grew up into a beautiful young woman。
'One evening she was introduced to a man and； every evening after that； he would e to the castle and she would entertain him until gradually the place took on a festive air。
'But during the long afternoons； while she was alone walking in her gardens； the lady thought of the power of fate。 She thought about being dependent upon this man for her happiness。 Then she would shrug her shoulders and smile wanly into the sun。
'At night she would lie awake beside her lover； neither happy nor unhappy。 What satisfaction she could possess was fleeting。
'But then； one day； even this was to end； for her lover informed her solemnly that he must go with his father to another district to assist him in his new political post。 〃But；〃 he said； 〃the assignment is but for five years。 At the end of that time I shall return for you。 Please do me the honour of waiting for me。〃
'The lady openly wept； perhaps not from love itself but from the idea of separation。
'In six years； nothing was the same at the lady's castle in Roku…No…Miya。 The man had not returned and all the servants' hall gone as both time and money withered away。 The lady and her governess were forced into the old； long…abandoned samurai's quarters to live。
'Now there was only rice to eat and great gaps in the wooden frame of the place let in both wind and rain。 At length the governess besought her lady； saying； 〃Forgive me； lady； but your lover has abandoned you。 There is a certain man who has been inquiring about you。 Since we have so little money。。。〃
'But the lady would not listen。 〃I have no use for other adventures now；〃 she said。 〃I only wish for the solace of death。〃
'At that moment； in another district； the lady's lover lay with his new wife。 Startled； he sat up in the dark； saying； 〃Did you hear that？〃
' 〃Go back to sleep； my lord；〃 his wife answered him。 〃It is only a cherry blossom falling。〃
'Not over a year later； this man returned to Roku…No…Miya with his wife and retinue。 He had paused at a roadside inn to wait out inclement weather and there had sent a number of notes to his former mistress。 Not one was answered and thus； piqued； he left his wife at the house of her father and set off in search of the castle at Roku…No…Miya。
'When he arrived； he almost passed it by； so changed was it。 The great wood and iron gates that had bee so familiar to him were but stumps in the loamy earth and； down the road； the high blue lacquered torii； around which he and the lady used to stroll in the spring and summer； was gone。
'The castle itself he found uninhabitable。 Some immense storm had pletely demolished the east wing and the rest was a shambles。
'In the old samurai's quarters he found only an old； time…weary nun。 She 。was； she said； the daughter of one of the lady's servants。 When he inquired after the lady's whereabouts； she said； 〃Alas； my lord； no one knows。〃
'He went out searching for her but no one in the district claimed to have seen her。
'One dreary； rain…filled night； he stopped at a crossroads beside a monk and； hearing a voice he was certain was familiar； peered through the loose slats of a board house。 Instantly he recognized the withered woman on the floor as his mistress。 Rushing with the monk to her side he looked upon her face。 She was surely dying and he asked the monk to recite a sutra over her。 〃Invoke the name of the Amida Buddha；〃 the monk implored the lady。 To which she replied； 〃I see a blazing carriage 。。。 No； it is a golden lotus。〃 〃Please； my lady；〃 the monk cried； 〃you must call out to the Amida Buddha。 We have no power over transmigration； otherwise。 You must call to Him with all your heart。〃
' 〃I see nothing；〃 the lady cried。 〃Nothing but darkness。〃
'〃My lady…〃
' 〃Darkness and a cold wind blowing。 A black wind； so cold。〃
The monk did his best to assist her while the man prayed to the Amida Buddha。 Gradually the lady's cries grew fainter； at last mingling with the sound of the wind whistling through the trees。'
Yukio was quiet for some time。
'Is that the end of the story？'
'Not quite。 On the night of the full moon； some days later； the old monk sat by the same crossroads； pulling his ragged cloak about his bony knees in an effort to keep out the cold。
'A samurai came by singing a song and； seeing the monk； paused to hunker down next to him。 〃Is this the place？〃 he asked。 〃It is said in the district of Roku…No…Miya the weeping of a woman can be heard sometimes at night。 What do you know of this？〃
' 〃Listen；〃 was all the monk would say。 And the samurai listened。 He heard nothing at all save the tiny night sounds。 Then； of a sudden； he thought he heard a woman's cry of grief。 〃What is that？ 〃he said。
' 〃Pray；〃 said the monk。 〃Pray for a spirit that knows neither heaven nor