Chapter 10Uplifted, transcendent, euphoric, and exhausted, Admiral Nobu Nagano reached the base of the thousand-foot staircase, on his head the wide-brimmed conical cap he'd borrowed to protect him from the wind. He turned to the Priestess who had accompanied him on his pilgrimage.
In the east, a lighter cast to the horizon indicated an approaching dawn. He marveled that through it all, he'd wondered for not a single moment what time it was.
The chanting, praying, meditating, and back to chanting, had consumed nearly twelve hours without his noticing. They had eaten sparingly, just a few strips of bean curd and bit of warmed rice, a few cups of tea, and back to the worship of Buddha's ancient mysteries.
It had been magnificent. Admiral Nagano turned to Priestess Midori Sato to tell her.
