The Temple Dogs [antikvár]

PrologueYikio, the Master of Kozen Temple, was famed throughout the land as a trainer of dogs. It was widely believed that his dogs were able to suckle human young and to howl the melodies of temple chants.A royal visitor one day watched Yikio's majestic animals perform and was impressed until he saw five dirty, flea-ridden, unkempt mongrels sleeping under a tree."And are these your failures?" the Prince asked."No," Yikio said. "They are my greatest successes," He went on to explain that the five dogs were especially trained to guard the temple. "As the sun goes down, one dog goes to the east wall, another to the west, and to the north and to the south, and there they patrol for the evening, repelling all bandits and keeping all safe within.""But there are five dogs. Where guards the fifth?""He is the most savage of all," Yikio said. "He sits inside the front door of the temple.""But why?" asked the Prince."Because most houses are brought down from inside the walls."^Japanese folk tale1I he white chrysanthemums arrived anonymously, as they always did. The unknown sender had been so conscientious through the years that the Haverfords had counted on the flowers, reserving an entire wall of New York's elegant Inn on the Park at their daughter's wedding reception.They weren't disappointed. The blossoms, as delicate t ^ looking as the Eurasian bride, filled the wall and spilled ! over into the adjoining rooms, suffusing the restaurant ( with their soft fragrance.'Susi Haverford, now Mrs. John Belmont, wore a white , silk Mary McFadden gown covered by^a Japanese cere- ' monial kimono duster, bright red and worked heavily with hand-painted gold. Her clothing, like her face, reflected the mingling of two cultures, two races, and as she danced with her brother. Miles, the two Haverford offspring looked like exotic and beautiful visitors from another planet.'"Even more flowers than usual," Susi said. "Our secret admirer never fails," Miles said with a j grin. He remembered a truckload of flowers had arrived ^ at his apartment in New Haven on the day he graduated ' , from lav/ school. And it had been that way since they | i were toddlers. Every birthday, every personal milestone,\had been greeted with white chrysanthemums; but no i, one ever knew where they came from.'' 'At first their mother Mickey had believed that her husband was sending them, but he quickly disabused her , i11I'ii