Prologue

A child, no older than three or four years trembled in the alleyway. Her hair was stringy and very greasy. Her clothes were in tatters and she had no shoes. Matsuda bent down and tried picking her up, but she scrambled away. Taking out a candy bar from his pocket, he said, “My name is Matsuda. Mat-su-da. Can you say that?” He asked, offering the candy.

“Mat...su...da.” the child answered, taking the chocolate and nibbling on it.

“Good. What’s your name?”

The child shook her head, frightened.

“I won’t hurt you. You look cold. Will you come with me?” Matsuda asked, offering a hand. The girl whimpered, moving further into the dark. Matsuda sighed and took out a lighter. He lit it and followed the child. Upon seeing the fire, the child ran to him and started to look at it intently.

“You like this?” Matsuda asked, moving it from left to right. The girl’s eyes followed the small flame. Matsuda slowly started backing out of the alley. The girl, mesmerized, followed the flame.

“Come on, isn’t it pretty? Follow the pretty light.” Cooed Matsuda. He opened the door to his car and backed in with the lighter. The girl followed. Matsuda let go of the lever and the flame extinguished itself. He shut the door and buckled the girl in. She reached for a strand of his hair, which hung down to his shoulder blades. She giggled and lightly pulled on it. Matsuda smiled. He had gained her trust with nothing but a chocolate bar and a lighter. He chuckled at how easy children are to please. He slid over the emergency brake and the stick shift and into the driver’s seat. “I think I’ll call you Sachiko.”

Sachiko cooed and waved her arms in response.

Matsuda smiles and turns on the engine. “You like it?” Masuda reaches over and patted her head. “Good.”