skipping a beat.
Ojiisan sighed. “That’s what you came here to find out. We’re here to help you however we can.”
Reflexively, Jet made a fist and punched the earth. She’d wanted to stay calm, but she was rattled. It was like she was special in a way she couldn’t possibly understand. Or believe. And yet, she’d made a promise to come here. To figure it out. So far, she’d gotten nowhere.
Ojiisan sighed. He stroked his chin as if gathering his words, then spoke clearly. “I know you’ve come back to help. And for that, I thank you with all of my heart. I know you are frustrated. But we must be patient. Your mother knew what she was doing, even if the rest of us don’t,” he laughed.
“Ojiisan,” Jet whispered. “Grandpa….”
He wrapped her in his strong arms and pulled her close as her sobs released themselves. Letting herself surrender, she realized how good it felt to be held like this. She’d never had a father or a grandfather. She’d had men in her life, like J-Bird, but never that blood bond that would make her walk through fire and over water. She yearned for that closeness, that comfort, somewhere to belong. More than anything, that’s what she wanted. Would Kanabe be it? Would she finally find a place to be herself, whoever that was?
CHAPTER 9
予言 Yogen
The Prophecy
Ojiisan led them down the path to the huge wooden gate before the temple, where people sat in small circles outside the prayer hall. In the middle of each circle, a blind female itako in a white kimono chanted as she fingered her prayer beads, clicking them together rhythmically.
“Hey! There she is!” Hiro shouted. He grabbed their hands and pulled them toward a stout old woman who appeared to be almost ninety.
“Hello there,” he said. “Remember me?” He crouched next to where she sat. The woman squinted, tilting her head in his direction.
“Ah! I’ve heard that voice before. Yes, I remember! You’re the boy who always comes with your Ojiisan from Mt. Hakkoda. Am I right?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Hiro answered.
“And you came with your Ojiisan today, too. But wait…” She turned toward Jet. “You’re also with a young lady.”
Hiro laughed. “I knew it! You’re just pretending to be blind. You really can see!”
The old lady snorted. “Even if I can’t see, I have a nose and ears. Even if my nose and ears don’t work, I can feel someone’s presence through my skin. Seeing is not the only way of receiving and perceiving. Understand?”
The sound of prayers rang out through the temple hall.
“I understand!” Hiro said confidently, then shifted his gaze to Jet. “Hey… My cousin came all the way from America to talk to the spirits. Here…” He pushed Jet in front of the itako.
She motioned Jet closer. She took a few breaths and placed her right hand on Jet’s heart. It raced under the itako’s touch, the woman’s power charging her like electricity. Then words echoed from the itako’s mouth, though they seemed to come from somewhere behind her body.
“The spirits are protecting you,” she said, “but as you gain power in the present, you are being asked to go back to the past.”
Jet opened her mouth to speak, but the woman’s hand pressed her chest, as if stopping her words.
“You must find the treasure and save the magic mountain. It’s what your mother trained you to do.”
“How did you….” Jet stammered.
“You will save the mountain and its gods from destruction. You will be the one….”
Jet trembled in the cold air. “Me? How?” She also wanted to ask: And how could a mountain be magic? Carpets, sure, and markers, too. But a mountain? But she held her tongue.
The itako lifted her palm. “People from all over the world will come to the mountain for its blessings. It will become a symbol of peace. But only if you help.”
“How! Tell me! How can I help?” Jet asked, her interest more piqued now than ever.
“Find your power. Then trust your power,” the old woman said, nodding rhythmically as the words came out. “The women will guide you.”
“What women? Where?” Jet said, struggling to understand.
The itako nodded. “Ahhh. Look within. We’re always looking outside ourselves, but we’re the ones with the power. Nature gives it to us, if we serve her.”
“Nature?” Jet murmured, puzzling over the itako’s words. “Serve her? How?”
“We’ve lost our connection,” the itako said, head bobbing as the words spilled out in a rush. “It’s there if we look.”
“But I don’t understand. I’m afraid,” Jet said.
Light suffused the itako’s ancient lined face, making her look young and radiant.
She pressed her palm into Jet’s heart softly. “That’s good. It’s only through fear that we can discover our courage. If you’re fearless, you don’t need to be brave. Bravery comes from overcoming your fears.”
“Hmmm. I never thought of it that way,” Jet said, reassured.
“Use the feminine power to guide yourself and others. It’s the only way.”
“Teach me how,” Jet stammered.
“I can’t teach you. You are the teacher. Just trust, and let her emerge.”
The itako shuddered, and the words stopped coming. Jet tried to let them sink in, but the message only confused her.
Suddenly, Ojiisan came to the itako’s side and whispered something into her ear.
“Yes! You must go. Now!” the itako said.
“Wait!” Jet pleaded, “Tell me what to do.”
“Not now, child. There is danger. Come back again.”
Bowing to the old woman, Ojiisan wrapped his arm around Jet, guiding her to the gate.
“Thank you, thank you,” Jet called out behind her as they boarded the bus.
“Quiet. Don’t speak,” Ojiisan whispered, glancing at the other passengers.
Jet nodded, frightened. Hiro looked down.
They rode in silence. Jet had no idea where they were going, and in the silence could only hear the itako’s words ring out loudly in her head: As you gain power in the present, you are being asked to go back to the past.
What could that mean?
Soon the bus had descended
