The Way of the Fox Read Free Page B

Sleek and droll, the fox walked around and around Kuno’s feet. “Buddhists! To place boundaries about the boundless: to try and place restrictions upon the immeasurable. These are not the actions of the sage.”
    Kuno was uncertain whether to be scathing, or scandalised. “Who are you to cast doubts upon the wisdom of the Buddha?”
    “Hey – I’m a Taoist! It’s my job.” The fox gave a swirl of her tail. “Numbers. You folk are hearing the maths and missing the point. I point my finger at the sky to show you the moon, and you all call out ‘finger’ !”
    Tonbo rapped upon the log , trying to redirect her attention.
    “ The road?”
    “Oooh ye ah. The road!” Sura rummaged about in the grass behind her. “Well – no bandits. There was a hair ribbon just off the verge. Red – the kind of lucky colour you’d give a bride. No signs of blood or battle or anything.” She handed the ribbon to Tonbo, then hummed and hawed. “There’s nothing by the road. I’m not finding any solid clues.”
    “Perhaps you should range further.”
    The fox was well pleased. “Well – if you think you boys will be safe!”
    “We’ll manage.” Tonbo finished tying up his sandal. “Stay close – in ear shot at all times. Take no chances. Call out if you find anything.”
    “ Pffft! We’re not married!” The fox trotted off into the grass. “Relax! I’m an exorcist. Torijutsu . I think I can take care of myself!” Sura’s voice faded off into the bushes. “Find clues! Information. A witness would be great. Or a real estate broker who can tell you why anyone would want the place…!” She disappeared. “Oooh look – wild mint! I love this stuff!”
    Tonbo could only shake his head. He arose, and led the way as he and Kuno trekked back out onto the road.
    Kuno glanced at the bushes, wher e thick mats of spider’s web now clung between the trees. The fox had utterly vanished once again.
    “Tonbo san. That woman is truly a priestess?”
    “Yes.”
    “And a trained criminal investigator?”
    “In a sense.”
    “But not a Buddhist?”
    “Decidedly not.” Tonbo gave a dark, ironic laugh. “Decidedly not.”
    The y walked onward – on towards the marshes that stretched out beside the road.
     
     
    For the first time in her life, Sura was doing exactly what she knew she had been born to do. She was on the case, wild and free – investigating mysteries, chasing monsters! Tail high, she trotted on all four dainty feet through the ragged underbrush. The air was filled with interesting scents – the universe was filled with sounds. She could feel the great Tao all around her – a living, breathing universe of infinite possibilities. Murders aside, it was an utterly perfect day.
    Tonbo and the newcomer were walk ing along the road, moving slowly and steadily. Sura took the opportunity to range off and away towards the marsh. Four-footed and fancy free, she threaded her way between weeds and grasses. Tangled bushes hid her from any possible lurking eye. She roamed back away from the road, and began poking her long muzzle here and there about the trees.
    Something was quite definitely wrong with the marsh and woods. The place had an air about it – a terrible, chill sense of disquiet. In her considered opinion – and if one were honest, Sura was always full of opinions – there was a ghost at large. Hopefully a great big fat one! It was quite likely to be luring people off the road here and there. It would hardly be a match for a highly trained and dedicated Spirit Hunter. And so Sura made her way down towards the marsh, moving perhaps a touch too far away from the road, and began to nose her way along the shallows.
    Swamps were usually fascinating places – filled with water insects, with dragonflies, tadpoles and tortoises . This particular marsh, however, seemed to be quite stagnant: greasy with bubbles and old algae. There were few signs of life: not even the distant screeching of a bird. Swamp water ran