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The priest tried to free hi hiar a set of keys

Oni grabbed and ripped the

The priest cried out, but Ushi-Oni covered his mouth and then snapped his neck with a swift twist of his arms

Dropping the body to the ground, Ushi-Oni looked around hih the bamboo, but, other than that, the forest was quiet

Certain that he was alone, Oni took off his robe and then rearly; Oni was ht, he could not place the strange hat in a manner that looked normal He slid the strap under his chin and left it crooked

Before leaving the shrine, he dropped the naked priest in the trough “Cleanse yourself, shinsoku”

With the evidence of his first crime hidden, Oni tossed the brass casino ain and continued on the path toward the Shinto monastery up above

• • •

SUPERINTENDENT NAGANO was glad to see the white van pull in beside hiot out

“Is he still here?” the lieutenant asked

Nagano pointed toward the hills “He’s gone up to the shrine”

The lieutenant looked suspicious “What would a man like Ushi-Oni want at a shrine?”

“I doubt he’s after forgiveness,” Nagano said

“And you’re sure it’s him?”

“I saw hiano said “I want to take him alive Preferably, out in the woods where there are no civilians”