Summertime of the Dead (22 page)

Shiomi was the girl who'd tapped on my helmet. I'd bumped into some of the guys in the park last week and we'd played soccer. And she'd been there with some of her friends. I caught her looking at me a few times, and when I was leaving she walked me to the gate.

‘Don't tell me then,' said Yoshe, raising her eyebrows.

‘OK, I won't.' I put my dishes in the sink and went to leave.

‘You know, Yukio, I'm sure Miko wouldn't want you to be alone.'

‘No,' I said.

‘You should invite her round. And invite your school friends as well. You spend too much time by yourself.'

‘I'll think about it.'

‘And have you called your cousin yet?'

‘No. I keep meaning to, but I forget.'

‘Well, call her today. Your grandmother's just told me that she'll be spending the whole of September with us. She'll like that.'

‘She will too.' I could just see the joy on the Lump's face when she gets off the train. ‘I'll see you later, Yoshe.'

‘Mikazuki!' said the baby, still accusing me of hiding her.

Yoshe laughed. ‘Yes, Mikazuki's coming!'

I didn't want to look at the paper because I was in such a good mood. But it was on the hall table and I saw the headline: ‘Yakuza Suspected Over Murder of Prominent Politician'. The article said that Mr Itou, who was leading an investigation into illegal gambling, hadn't wanted to go along with things and so he was gunned down outside his family home. His wife said that he was a loving husband and a good father. She said he was a brave and decent man who'd stood up to the yakuza and he'd paid the price. And what made her angry was that he was the only one. She accused his colleagues of being cowards. And suggested that some of them were on the yakuza payroll.

I went out into the sunshine. It wasn't my war
any more and I wasn't going to get involved. But there was still a twinge of guilt. Part of me felt like a deserter who'd run away from a battle. But then I didn't care and I started to run. I wanted to be in the park playing games with my friends! I didn't care what games they were, as long as we were playing something. And I wanted Shiomi to be there!

I ran across the tracks and the road, and sprinting up the concrete ramp I went into the park. I had so much energy I felt as if I could run for days. I ran through the trees and past a homeless guy as he sat up on a bench.

‘Morning!'

‘Morning,' he said, scratching his head.

I kept going until I was past the trees and then I looked around for the guys. I saw them at the far end of the common, sitting on the grass. There was Kane, whose father was a cop, and Oki, who was appearing in a soap opera next summer. And then there were the brothers Hiro and Hiroto, whose mother owned the Blue Fin, one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo. And behind them sat Jin and his sour-faced girlfriend, Fumi, whose lip curled every time she spoke. And then I saw Shiomi sitting in the centre. I was happy she was there,
but trying not to show it I strolled over to join them.

‘Here he is!' said Oki.

‘'Bout time,' said Fumi.

Shiomi stood up. ‘We didn't want to start until you were here.'

‘
You
didn't!' said the sour-faced Fumi.

Hiro kicked the ball in the air. ‘Well, he's here now – let's play.'

‘We called yesterday,' said Shiomi. Then she looked a little shy. ‘Is it OK that we called?'

She had a really pretty face. ‘You can call any time,' I said. She smiled and I did too. And then we looked away from each other.

‘Why are you blushing, Shiomi?' asked Fumi in a sly sort of way.

Kane came over. ‘Hey, Yukio! You looking forward to going back to school?'

‘I suppose,' I said. And when I thought about it I was.

‘I'm joining the police cadets in the autumn. Why don't you join with me?'

The thought of becoming a cop when I left school flashed through my mind. And there was something about it that seemed right. Maybe, in some small
way, I could make up for the cop that I'd killed. ‘OK, I will. Just let me know when you're going.'

‘Great!' said Kane. He came closer and lowered his voice. ‘Dad's told me some things about the Psycho Killer murders. I'll fill you in later.'

Then Hiro handed me a flyer. ‘We're thinking of going to this club. What do you think, Yukio?'

I couldn't believe it! It was like a black cloud had blocked out the sunshine. It was an advertisement for a night out in Paradise, age group fourteen to seventeen. So once again Riko was opening the club!

‘Will you come?' asked Shiomi.

‘No, I won't. And you shouldn't go either!'

She looked a little startled.

‘Yukio's right,' said Kane. ‘My dad said that place is owned by the yakuza. They use the profit to deal in drugs. None of us should go.'

‘Well, my uncle's in the yakuza,' said Fumi, ‘and he doesn't sell drugs.'

‘That's beside the point!' said Kane.

‘No, it's not!' insisted Fumi.

‘Forget about it,' said Hiro. ‘I didn't want to go anyway. Now let's play ball.'

Everyone relaxed then and we started kicking the ball around. But I felt that seething hatred
come back. And even though I fought against it, it wouldn't go away. Just the thought of Riko opening that club made me sick. And for that age group as well! And then it dawned on me: she was probably looking for girls to work in Uncle Benni's massage parlours. I wonder how many other girls had gone through what Miko did, only to end up dead. I kicked the ball back to Kane and turned to Shiomi. ‘Listen, promise me you won't go to that club.'

‘I won't,' she said, looking slightly hurt. ‘I was only going if you were going.'

‘Forget about it, Yukio,' said Kane. ‘No one wants to go anyway.' He kicked the ball towards me but I missed it.

‘Come on, Yukio!' said Hiroto. ‘You're not concentrating.'

As I turned to go after the ball an orange frisbee hit my chest. I was so shocked I couldn't move. Then I dropped to my knees and took it in my hands. My eyes filled with tears as once again I saw Miko laughing and Hiroshi running to catch it. When I looked up a small girl was standing in front of me. She looked like Miko in the photograph on my bedroom wall. Slowly she took it from me, and then she ran back to her parents. I swear, it was like I
was being summoned by my dead friends to avenge them. And avenge them I would!

‘Are you getting the ball or what?' asked Fumi.

‘I'm leaving,' I said, and walked away.

‘What's wrong?' asked Kane.

Shiomi ran after me and put her hand on my shoulder, but I pushed it away and kept walking.

‘Yukio!' she shouted.

But I was already gone. Games were for children. My place was on the battlefield.

The full moon was as big as I'd ever seen it and the ground was covered in mist. And it was silent. Silence is such a rare thing to hear in Tokyo. But this was the resting place of the dead and so it should be silent.

‘It seems like such a long time since we've spoken. But I wanted to tell you that I still look at you as my best friends, even though you are not here. And I miss you so much. Earlier today I thought you were summoning me for revenge. But you were such good kids that you'd never want me to hurt anybody, no matter what they'd done. And my cousin Mikazuki is the same. You were right, Miko. She really is a great kid. She got me to put down the sword. “Do
no harm,” she said, and she's right in a way. But if I stand by, more harm will be done. And so once again I have taken up the sword and now I'm going into battle. But I have to admit that I feel more frightened than I've ever felt! And so I ask both you and my ancestors to watch over me and make sure I come to no harm. But if I am to die, then please let it be quick! … I love you both.'

I bowed once, and getting on the bike I rode away. As I headed towards Uncle Benni's house I thought about the Lump. She would be so sad if she came in September and I wasn't there. I could just see her sitting in the park by herself. And then I imagined her with the Om, sleepwalking all the way to my grave. I loved the Lump and I should have told her. But she's smart – she knows things without having to be told.

But I had to put her out of my mind now because I was nearing the park where Uncle Benni lived. Then I was on the road that ran around it. It wasn't long before I came to the house, and as I slowed I was sickened to see three yakuza standing guard at the gate. But Yama wasn't one of them, and the gate was open; at least that was something.

I pulled into the first street I came to, and parking
the bike I put on my ski mask. I took the sword from its mounting and walked back down the street. I kept close to the park wall, so as to stay out of the street lights. And then, as I neared the house, I moved into the shadows beneath a tree.

The guards were not young men but they were stocky and fit-looking and dressed in tight-fitting suits. And they had short haircuts and hard faces. Everything about them seemed sharp. But these were Uncle Benni's bodyguards, so what did I expect? They talked from time to time, but even then they looked around. One of them lit up a cigarette and before long I could smell the smoke.

If I walked out, they'd see me coming. I'd have to wait for them to step back. I had to have surprise on my side, otherwise I was dead. Just the thought of death filled me with a sickening fear. I took a deep breath and tried to stop shaking. ‘You are a samurai. You live by the bushido code!' But the words were of little comfort. There was no chi energy flowing through my body. Even the hatred had deserted me. But if it was death, then so be it. Because these animals weren't getting away with what they'd done to the twins! And when I thought about it, I'd sooner die tonight with Riko than let her live!

The sky crackled with electricity and thunder followed. Somewhere I heard a bell toll. It echoed in the night like a ghostly foghorn. Then I heard chanting. There must have been a temple close by. And then, in my mind, I saw Riko dancing in that club. And I heard the song ‘Psycho Killer'. The song merged with the chanting and a booming drumbeat played over it. I got goose pimples when I thought about all the great battles that had begun with the beating of the drums. And then I felt the chi energy flow through my body and my courage came back! I felt like roaring a battle cry and charging the gate. But I didn't because the men moved back into the driveway. I stepped out of the shadows and headed towards the entrance. And as I did the drumbeat grew louder, and the bell boomed, and that clanging sound rang in my ears. But it was too late to bother me now! I could hear the men talking. And then I saw them! My attack was like the rising of the wind. I went through them and never looked back. But I could hear them dying. One of them tried to shout but his throat was cut. Another tried to stay on his feet, but there was a hollow thud and his head hit the tarmac. The third was dead before he hit the ground. I headed towards a side entrance, away
from the main door, and as I neared it, it opened. I thrust the sword straight into the man's chest. Then I pushed him back against a wall. I closed the door and climbed a spiral staircase. When I reached the top I heard him drop and the noise in my head fell silent.

I moved down a dark corridor and came out on a well-lit landing. Below was the main entranceway, and looking over the banister I saw the double doors that led to the driveway. And I could hear a thudding sound coming from a room a couple of doors down. Someone was using a punchbag. As I stepped towards the room the sound of the pounding grew louder. I peeked around the corner. It was a large wide room walled in mirrors, and bare except for some weightlifting equipment. Looking in a little further I saw a red punchbag and the person who was pounding it. It was Yama! He had his shirt off and his thick, muscular torso was covered in tattoos. He attacked the bag with furious left and right hooks. But powerful as they were, they were nothing to the karate kicks that followed. His huge bare feet slammed the bag with enough power to knock down a horse. It crossed my mind to get out of there. Before the fear got to me, I entered the room.
I came up slowly behind him. I wanted to strike him down with a surprise attack, but he saw me in the mirror. And what was worse was that he pretended not to notice me. He threw a few more punches, and then taking off his gloves he hung them on a hook.

‘So we meet at last, Psycho Killer. I knew you'd come.'

His voice threw me. It was calm and soft like a girl's. He turned to face me. His body was covered in demons, but none of them was as demonic-looking as he was. His broad battle-scarred face was something to behold. And his sunken pale eyes made him look insane. And when he smiled I knew that he was.

‘Are you not going to take off the mask? … Never mind. I'll rip it from your dead body.'

Fear got the better of me, and raising the sword I attacked. But it struck the low ceiling and I had to step back. Suddenly a karate kick thumped into my chest and sent me flying. I was winded, but I got to my feet. By that time he was holding a fat aluminium baseball bat. Suddenly he swung at my head. All I could do was duck. I couldn't even block the blow. If the bat broke the sword I was dead! He swung again and I jumped back. He moved quickly for a
big man and he was fast on his feet. If I couldn't control my mind, I was done for!

‘What's it like to know you're going to die?' he said.

A sickening fear flowed through me and my heart pounded painfully. Suddenly he sprang forward and swung. I jerked my head back and the bat swished past my nose. Another inch and I would have been in too much pain to continue. He swung again and I tried to block it. But the bat smashed the sword to one side. It was almost knocked out of my hands. For a second I thought it had broken. I started backing away and he followed. Then I saw that I was backing into a corner. I was going to die! Then in my mind I saw the Lump in her kendo gear. Suddenly I dropped on to one knee and hacked at his left foot. The blade cracked his ankle and slashed his Achilles tendon. Before he could club me I did a forward roll and jumped up. I saw bone sticking from his ankle and blood pouring from the severed tendon. It was a serious wound and he knew it. But with all the discipline he could muster he placed his damaged foot on the floor and limped after me. He swung the bat but missed. When he swung again I saw his side was completely open. I waited for his next
swing. As he turned with the blow I stabbed him through the armpit. Blood ran down his side like a waterfall, and as it did the colour left his face. He looked to the door. For a second I thought he was going to shout, but he didn't. He turned towards me and came on. I was still backing away but my mind was calm. I lined up his left wrist and judged the distance. Crying out I jumped forward and struck the target. The blade severed his left hand with a surgical cut and he looked at his stump in amazement. Then he looked on the floor. But his hand was still clinging to the baseball bat, which he held in his right. He tried to take it with his stump but he realized he couldn't. Screaming, he charged. I thrust the sword through his chest but it had no effect! He dropped the bat, and grabbing my throat he pushed me against a wall. I couldn't get him off. And I couldn't breathe! He started clubbing me with his stump and then he tried to bite my face. With all my strength I pushed back his big head. And as I did his eyes filled with blood. He started to weaken, and so with one last shove I pushed him away. He fell to the floor, face first, and I fell with him. I knelt there choking and sucking up deep breaths. Then I heard someone running up the stairs.