Chapter Seven

In the predawn hour there came the sound of men singing a soothing chant. Men in their holy robes with a light in one hand and sweet smelling incense burners swinging in the other hand made their way up the mountain. They passed by the wind and rain ravaged camp. Two monks broke off and began to try to salvage what they could. The rest began to walk up the trail to the bangai. They walked past a ravine still burning with its cleansing fire, the incense mingling with the sweet smell of burning wood, up to a dilapidated and falling down building. Two of them broke off from the group and upon entering the bangai they found the ghost hunters. Bruised, some broken and all obviously tired from their ordeal. In sync the monks bowed to them.

The sun had just started to show it's light when the monks came to us. Drifting on my pain I had heard the men discussing the next course of action; whether to send one of them for help or to carry us womenfolk down the mountain. Considering the remote location of the Bangai it could be assumed that the only way to actually get help was to go to it or wait for hours on end for the rescue team to make it to you. Only to have hours pass again until you were actually at a facility. Eventually the men all came to the consensus to make makeshift stretchers and carry us down the mountain. Because Ayako only had a broken arm she was going to have to walk. Looking at her tired and pinched sleeping face I wondered who was the poor soul that was going to have to tell her that.

To be on the safe side the men wanted to wait for daylight. The ghost was gone, exercised and then burned in fire. But the trail was still not safe to tread without light and we all had none, since the boys flashlights had only lasted long enough for them to make it to the bangai and carry us inside.

Just as Naru had gotten up and told the men to get up as well we could hear men's voices… singing? The sounds got louder and louder until the strong and melodic chant sounded out side of the door. Then two monks came in to our shelter and with solemn dignity they bowed to us. The men got up and bowed back. Naru took charge.

"We have exercised your demon as well as the surrounding countryside."

The first monk broke out in a large grin and nodded. "Yes, we have walked the land and found all to be fresh and new. Please let us help you down the mountain where we can tend to your wounds."

Naru nodded. He and Lin went with the monks who left the building to fashion some stretchers. More monks came into the building and went to our sides and with some limited supplies began to tend what they could. Soon we were taken outside and placed on our makeshift carriers. It seemed decadent (and embarrassing) to be carried down the mountain on a stretcher by two monks. Ayako only had a broken arm but I think she was enjoying the fussing that was being done over her. Poor Masako was the worst. She was still and white from the pain of her broken leg. Obviously she wasn't going to walk down the trail. As we left I could see some of the monks staying behind and looking at the dilapidated bangai. I could hear plans being made to fix and clean the shrine.

Going down the mountain was quicker than I thought it would be. The monks were strong and graceful over the rough terrain. And I watched the clouds drift in the sky and was thankful that we had all made it out of that night alive.

It took a while but soon we were back in the city. The hospital gave me some bindings and a clean bill of health. Everyone had their wounds fixed and wrapped. It seems that most of our equipment did not survive the assault. Thankfully insurance covered most of it and what insurance did not cover the monks were more than happy to compensate. It has been quiet as we all tried to recuperate. Masako is on leave from her job and being fussed over by her servants and family. John is serving at the orphanage. Ayako was busy with her family hospital and home. It seems that the hunt had interested Bou-san enough that he was actually taking the trip. He had been gone now for two weeks. I hope his pilgrimage was going well.

And Lin, Naru and I are back in the office. Waiting for the next hunt.

Author Note: Thanks all for waiting. Feels like for ever since I wrote on this. In the mean time I have had another baby and am very busy with my three boys. (Three boys five and under, gah!) But I still think of stories and in fact have another idea of a story…