Chapter 14

           Mr.NobusukeTagomithought,Thereisnoanswer.Nounderstanding.Evenintheoracle.YetImustgoonlivingdaytodayanyhow.

           Iwillgoandfindthesmall.Liveunseen,atanyrate.Untilsomelatertimewhen—

           Inanycasehesaidgood-byetohiswifeandlefthishouse.ButtodayhedidnotgototheNipponTimesBuildingasusual.Whataboutrelaxation?DrivetoGoldenGateParkwithitszooandfish?Visitwherethingswhocannotthinknonethelessenjoy.

           Time.Itisalongtripforthepedecab,anditgivesmemoretimetoperceive.Ifthatcanbesaid.

           Buttreesandzooarenotpersonal.Imustclutchathumanlife.Thishadmademeintoachild,althoughthatcouldbegood.Icouldmakeitgood.

           ThepedecabdriverpumpedalongKearnyStreet,towarddowntownSanFrancisco.Ridecablecar,Mr.Tagomithoughtsuddenly.Happinessinclearest,almosttear-jerkingvoyage,objectthatshouldhavevanishedin1900butisoddlyyetextant.

           Hedismissedthepedecab,walkedalongthesidewalktowardthenearestcabletracks.

           Perhaps,hethought,IcannevergobacktotheNipponTimesBuilding,withitsstinkofdeath.Mycareerover,butjustaswell.AreplacementcanbefoundbytheBoardofTradeMissionActivities.ButTagomistillwalks,exists,recallingeverydetail.Sonothingisaccomplished.

           Inanycasethewar,OperationDandelion,willsweepusallaway.Nomatterwhatwearedoingatthetime.Ourenemy,alongsidewhomwefoughtinthelastwar.Whatgooddiditdous?Weshouldhavefoughtthem,possibly.