Page 67 (1/2)

When all ured they had traveled about ten e,” she said

They listened for any sounds but heard none

“Let’s find out where we are,” she said

Paul did the honors, crawling across the sacks of rice to the corner of the container where he could gaze through one of the ventilation slits “Warehouse,” he said “I can’t see anything but other containers”

“If it’s all quiet out there, we should probably make our move”

After shoving the heavy bags aside, they opened the door a crack The warehouse was dark and looked deserted

“All clear,” Gamay said “I say we et inside unnoticed, we can get this inforton and escape with our lives”

28

MOUNTAIN DISTRICT, JAPAN

SUPERINTENDENT NAGANO followed Ushi-Oni using the tracking coin It was an ingenious piece of electronic design, trans a pulse only once every thirty seconds, whichit

At a long distance, the signal was relayed by the nation’s vast network of cell towers, but, closer in, Nagano used a dedicated receiver to ho transmitted from the coin

The signal led hi et fuel and use the restrooano snuck up to his car and placed a second transmitter under the bumper in case Oni used or lost the coin

With two transano dropped well back of his quarry, keeping out of sight and waiting for the opportune moment to arrest him

To his surprise, Ushi-Oni continued higher into theto the foothills of Mount Fuji, before turning onto an obscure side road and finally stopping an hour later

Nagano studied the satellite i but a forested hillside A yellow icon suggested a suesthouse was hidden beneath the trees As was a natural onsen—a traditional hot spring, mineral bath In addition, a Shinto shrine lay nearby