tool made from fine hairs, he consulted his notes and carefully inscribed a small square to precise points, then drew a small line from the top of the square upwards. In due course he drew another line of a different but exact length downwards from the square. With unhurried but long practiced precision he finally inked in the box with red ink and sat back. He repeated this procedure on several more of the fine parchments being careful to place each sheet apart for the ink to dry.

Homma called for a pot of Sencha tea and contemplated his drawing for an hour. He had reached the stage where he could read a number of the secret symbols. In time he would master them all. Of those he didunderstand he noticed they had consequences. One symbol indicated a certain probability; another symbol had a different meaning. From his limited understanding he had isolated a small group of these magical beasts and watched what happened when a specific sequence occurred. He had tested these sequences in his research hundreds of times and he had seen their specificity repeat again and again. His research covered over 1500 years of records. No one had ever observed a reoccurring event over such a long time span. Now at last he was ready.

Tomorrow he would rise and leave for the rice market where he would undertake his true calling and unknowingly launch himself into the pages of history. His preparations were made and his mind was serene in the knowledge that