Chapter 44
Convincing airport security in Missoula not to attempt to open the small Chinese container that held the pearl had been the most challenging part of the flight back to Japan. Michael explained that it was an ancient, very expensive Chinese artifact. But the lead container and dirt made the TSA agent suspicious, and he tried to pry open the bronze with a penknife. Michael finally convinced him that it obviously hadn’t been opened in two thousand years. After a sniffing dog and wand scan found no problem, the agent let it through.
At Izumo, Michael rented a car, and he and Ceinwen headed for Kamigawa.
“This is weird,” Michael said after about thirty minutes. “I was sure that the first time I drove this way, by the time I reached this area, I was seeing signs with the name Kamig
