Tuesday, December 23, 2014

More good times in December


Well, November and December have been pretty lovely times.
My in-laws got me a few cool trains and trams which I love. The Kato 1-421 Hiroshima-Hannover Tramis a cool piece. It has a nice, lean look I like.


This KATO train is something I've been looking into for a LONG time. Years, I think. But, it needs a wide radius, so I had to wait until I had a space to run it. So, it was the prime time for my subway idea.



 I had space under the two tables that make up my current layout, so I thought that a subway would be perfect. Larger radius curves and some additional running area - perfecto. Yes, I still hold knocking through my wall close to heart, but that will happen later. For now, a subway will be perfect. So, I grabbed some wood and started planning.

I'm not a woodworker, but I manage. I have square corners and I can get things working. So, I just started putting stuff together.










I started with the track plan, laying track to work with the wood I purchased. Again, flying by the seat of my pants. :)












My two year old assistant :)




I'm sure there are hundreds of better ways to make this happen. With the power of groove music and thinking about my late Father helping me, I managed to get this wonky idea to work! heheheh  My back is still sore from the lifting. Ask for help? BAH! :)



This KATO train runs like a dream. Now I need to implement the ideas I called out in my last post. I think things will work out.


 In other news....

I love my Modemo. I just wish it was running better. I need to look into recent advice about removing the traction rubber on the tires for better electrical pickup.

 There's going to be a heli-pad in the harbor area. I got some fun copters recently and want to use a helipad to show them off.




LOCATION: Alameda

There's a fun bridge here in the East Bay that I thought people might be interested in. It run along side a auto bridge and isn't in use anymore - least I don't think so. But it's fun. The auto bridge can lift up and out of the way and so can the train section. It's a fun piece and might be an interesting addition to a layout.







It's been nice making time to work on this stuff again. I missed it. It's a great departure from my work - getting away from computers for a while.

I want to do my backdrop and I was playing around with the "HOW" today. I think I'll use the existing brown paper as a base, then measure the space and match things up that way - using the brown paper as the template. It's already there - why not use it as the base for my background project.

I'll measure where things are - harbor, temple, villiage, roadways etc - then draw in what I want.

Next, I'll pull the paper and roll out the canvas I have. I'll sketch in the areas I need, then start paining. The whole thing will be around 15 feet or so. It should be an interesting project and one that will really add to the layout. I have been seeing some coo backdrops being done, so I can't wait to see what a proper, painting backdrop adds to my layout. I just hope I still have my painting chops! 



Lastly, I wish you all a happy holiday filled with things you love. I still count myself lucky to have a space like this to play in and a wife that gives me the space to play within it! :)

Merry Hollowdaze to you! :)
































Sunday, December 21, 2014

Working and...whoa...I'm working!


Wow...I'm actually working on the layout again instead of just planning. That's fun. :)

I was playing around with this round building idea. It might take care of my desire for a walkway as well if I put both of them together. I've taking a coffee can and Pringles can and plan to use them as bases for buildings adding windows and the like. We'll see if they actually work out. It might just be silly once it's done.



The two cylinders are far away at the moment, but it's I move them closer, I'll be able to connect them with a flyover walkway. Might be fun with people crossing back and forth. I also plan to add windows and other details to sell the idea. Could be fun.



The big thing is the subway and how it's starting to come together. I have a general action plan - we'll see if it works out.


The station is rather straight forward. I'll have the platform and a really nice overhead area. Maybe some lights as well. There will be a series of view block walls that will have details added to make it look subway-like. But the biggie will be the little monster scene. I want it to be a little nugget that people will see and say, "Uh...is that the military doing something with an underground monster there?" :) 

I'm currently building another novice base for this to live on with Helper Number 2 (my two year old) and it should be strong enough to prevent warping and the like. I do enjoy working with wood even though I'm not REALLY sure what I'm doing. hehehehe

I plan on working on my backdrop over the holiday break as well. I'll post photos if and when progress happens on that front.

Lastly, I need to get my trains running better! The KATO train I had on my tracks ran like a dream, but the Modemo tram isn't working well at all. I added another drop and thought more power to the line would help, but perhaps another track cleaning is in order. It's odd that the KATO runs so well. Maybe it has more power pickups. I'll have to research it.

Happy hobbying! :)

Monday, December 8, 2014

December planning


'Tis the season. The go go go of work is at full tilt with both work and freelance fronts and 100%. Add in the kids and sleep and it's a party. :)  But, I'm still rolling with some small, forward momentum here and there.

Backdrop
I've been giving more thought to the layout on the whole as it stands now. What needs to be done before adding a bunch of new things. There's A LOT of things I could focus on. The backdrop is one of the items on the list. Currently, I have brown paper blocking the faux wood panels. hehehe





The plan is to buy primed canvas (ordered) and paint my own backdrop.

Yikes. :) I used to paint all the time, but now.....we'll see how it goes. I'm aiming for "painterly" over "photo realistic". I'm just not sure how it will go. It's going to be better than fake wood panels - that's a given.


Shizuka
Shizuka is working out for the most part layout wise. I like the overall layout of it. It needs a LOT of work for sure, but it's coming along. The track is nice and the flow is working for me. I have more cars on order that will fill in the space as well as more cheap painted people to populate the area. Both of these are poorly painted filler that will add to the overall see in the background. I'll keep my good figures for foreground and mid-ground areas. 



There will be a walkway between buildings (center of image below) that is based on prototype scenes I've seen. Lots of things like bike racks, signs, vending machines and the like in that area. There will be street and sidewalk work done eventually as well - especially since I have the layout locked down now.



I have another area to address as well - a spot where the track is different that I plan to have a work crew working on for fun. I think it will be a nice detail to disguise the need I had to make the track a little longer in that area.



Shizuka hill is pretty good, though it needs more cars and people. The back corner (top right of image below) needs to be addressed. The shopping area will probably look more real with additional cars added to the lot and additional shoppers shopping. I think an overpass will be added from the hill over the street and too the shopping areas.



Soyokaze Township
Things are moving along in the township area as well. Closer on the redesign for sure, but it needs one last tweak before I'm willing to call it done.  I think it will really pull together when some of the street markings are added - that's a global, but the buildings still need to be adjusted. It's just not everything I want as of yet. But, close.


There are still areas that have not been dealt with where bare, painted deck work can still be seen. Again...time heals all wounds. :)  I'll deal with it.


This little area - while fun - is still a head scratcher for me at the moment. Something will happen here. It's RIGHT in the front of the layout. Just a matter of sorting out what. Maybe the vendors will be here. Might make sense.


The bridge needs to be locked in and locked down. Still very floaty.

The amazing floating bridge. :)

This whole section needs to be addressed as well. A road will lead into the painted backdrop, walkways will be added and the track in the back of the layout will be sceniced and dialed in. Things like the pink building's parking area will be blended in as well.




Soyokaze Village
I'm far happier with the village area now that I've reworked some items. I gave thought to stone streets, but I like the look as it is now. Really, it just needs a TON of people now. Shopping, eating and sightseeing all over. That's going to make a world of difference. 


This back area needs help, too. I'm not sure what's going on there. Potential for another scenic nugget. The farm area is fun and I have workers for it I can put out. I just needs a little more work going on. Time to look through all my reference materials.



Soyokaze Temple
The temple was one of the first things I got done. It's 905 to 95% there. Tourists will be added and that will help, but I also need to dial in the parking lot area. Barriers, street markings and the like. I need to address street markings globally. The "how" is top of mind. I was using GUNDAM ENAMEL MARKERS and they worked well, but it was hard to sort out what markings should be where.


Soyokaze Harbor
Like a broken record, more people working. More things going on. It's coming together nicely. I'm happy with the overall layout and the number of buildings in the area. Some tuning will help, but I'm digging it. The little science building in front needs some help. Really just needs cementing into place and some paint touch-up work.


And lastly...
The Subway
Funny story about that subway. LOL


My in-laws are lovely people. Really very nice and caring sorts. My Father-in-law travels to Japan on business and my Mother-in-law went back with him this last trip. She asked if there were things I wanted and my first impulse was to send a shopping list to avoid shipping costs! hehehehe  But, I didn't want to saddle them with dragging things around, so I suggest a few items. They went above and beyond, getting me the HIROSHIMA RAILWAY TYPE 200 HANNOVER TRAM - a long time want of mine and the KATO JR sets that I've been drooling over for years now. Perfect for me subway section. I started planning it out at once.



Then, I got home and realized that it was the "dummy" set with no engine. LOL Part of me sank when I was pulling cars saying, Maybe the engine is in this one. I felt like my four year old daughter - knowing that it's not going to happen, but still saying, "Well....maybe now? Now? Now?"  Nope...no engine. All dummy cars.

I was sure I could get an engine to fit or even get the other full set to have an eight car subway, but after seeing all the work listed above, I thought, "Hey...maybe this is a good thing." I can build a small, subways section for the front to show, but it doesn't have to be wired and a full track. I was rather relived, really. I can do a small diorama and stick it under the Shizuka section and be done. Rig it with lights and the like and it will be a great piece. In time, once other stuff is done, I can rethink the subway and make it a real, working track, but for now....I think it'll be fantastic as a diorama , no function piece.  :)


The subway diorama will live right under this section. It'll be a lovely addition.

I also got some information via the KATO UNITRACK Facebook Group that I had completely forgotten about regarding power. My trams run horribly. :) I thought it was just dirty track, but then the folks in the group reminded me about power drops when I pinged them about the issues. I was thinking the KATO power pack was just not a powerhouse, but they mentioned a feeder for every three feet of track or so. I have.....one feeder for the lot! LOL    So....yeah...on my list as number one to see if the trams will run better with more feeders. (Comments welcome)

I have a lot of the list. Not sure when I'll get around to ding any of it with all this freelance work coming in. Of course, freelance cash is nice. It allows for some overseas purchases this month! :)

Cheers!

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Engine House Hobbies - Gaithersburg, MD


Well, we're out here visiting the in-laws for the Holiday out here in Gaithersburg, MD and I had remembered visiting a cool little shop in the area a few years back. I made the 10 minute trek over with my daughter, but the store was closed Mondays. I posted something up to MODEL RAIL RADIO because I thought people could relate. "I'm going to the train shop! Gonna see trains! Whoot! Ah....shoot...it's closed today..." 


Like I said, I had been there before and loved the place. It had a charm and the owner/operator was friendly and fun to chat with. The place is right by the tracks, so when the CSX rolled through, the five or so gents in the shop walked over to the window and all watched like kids. Friendly folk and a great trainspotting location. 

I was taken aback when the Yelp page was added as a comment on my post. The Yelp review was one star and filled with horrid service comments and stories about the owner hating children. I thought that maybe the ownership had changed hands - this wasn't the same shop I had been in. My uncle lives in Bowie, MD and he used to drive over to frequent the shop as well. I cruised over today - sans daughter just in case - and the experience was fantastic. 

Ken wasn't the horror that he was made out to be at all. Even though he was trying to get something done before the UPS guy came in, he took the time to ask me if I needed help. When I informed him I was just browsing, he completed his task, then circled back around to chat. 

We talked trains, I explained that I was running an N scale Japanese style layout and he was very interested. He asked about Christmas and we talked trains around the tree and the potential I had for a train in the yard. No hard sale talk, just train chat. When I mentioned that my Uncle used to come in, he remembered him and asked how he was doing - a bit worried because he hadn't been in in a while. 

This was no ogre. This was a really cool guy. I mentioned the Yelp review thing and he was really sad about it. He explained a few of the interactions that were on the site and that he tried to make things right with the reviewer, but he was too upset to talk things through with. 

In short, ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES was a great shop for O and HO modelers. He has a lot of O items and I think the place would be well worth stopping in on if that's your gauge. And, the store is located right by the tracks, so when the train rolls by, you can view it passing from a lovely, warm location. It just goes to show that Yelp reviews may or may not be helpful - it really depends on who's leaving the reviews and why they are choosing to leave it when they do. Sometimes, it may be posted out of spite. 

Check 'em out!
ENGINE HOUSE HOBBIES 
1A East Diamond Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-590-0816
 
Sun 12:00 -5:00,  Mon - closed,  Tues - Fri 10:00-6:00,  Sat 10:00-5:00
https://plus.google.com/u/0/115391504113915818521/about 


My personal favorite - I'd love to own one of these Penn electrics

HO and toy items along with paint supplies and a large supply of scenic materials.

A very large O scale selection!


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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

November 2014 Layout Tour Video


I wanted to get another little layout tour video in for 2014 - the end of the year is starting to look a little...busy, so I figured I'd knock another benchmark video out to see where things stand at the moment.
They are pretty much where they were a while back - I need to get more people and more vehicles for sure.

I rearranged the Shizuka section yet again and I am liking it a little more. I also took another pass at the Town area, but that needs another revision.


I'm going round and round on the subway section. I really would like to have a subway area and I like the idea I have going for it, but I'm not sure the time, money and effort makes sense at this point. Spending the money getting more items o make the existing sections dialed in seems to make more sense. I'm going to keep sitting on it and milling it over.

As usual, comments are welcome. The video is just a fun little piece that I spent all of an hour on. :)



N-RAIL November 2014 Layout Tour and update from Malcolm Johnson on Vimeo.

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Soyokaze Stories: Incorporeal Reflection

Soyokaze Stories: 
  Incorporeal Reflection

HALLOWEEN,  Shizuka Japan, 1989

The crisp, October air was alive with music and the smell of food as masked figures and cheerful onlookers mingled in the street.  Three girls wandered down the Shizuka street as the Halloween festival sizzled around them. Their Gothic Lolita styling blended traditional Japanese garments with their unique take on the modern vampire rounding out their costumes with small, cute trinkets.

Akiyama Akane steered the group through the crowd in an effort to make her way closer to some of the photographers in the area while her two friends followed close behind. Her Father’s whiskey was still coursing through them as the surrounded another unsuspecting soul with a camera. They loved posing and made a sport of it from time to time.

“Photo?” Akane smiled and let her fangs show. The older man nodded energetically and raised his camera. Akane motioned for Rin and Shigeko to fall into line and the did it in a well practiced manor. They loved these old etchi.




The man smiled and nodded again. “Another?”

Akane posed with Rin, but Shigeko moved away. She had had enough of this and was feeling the chill and the hunger in her stomach. She was tired and wanted to camp out somewhere and stop moving for a while.

“And again, Shigeko lives up to her name and wanders off to rest before she faints away.” Akane smiled her cruel smile. “Come. We’ll get your food. I don’t want you begging out of tonight altogether.”

Shigeko’s sister Rin pouted playfully. “Poor Shigeko.” She swooned. “Too much walking for Princess?”

Shigeko waved them off with her hand outstretched and nails lifting out towards them in a shoo now gesture they were all too familiar with. “You two should have been sisters. You’re both idiots.”

The girls laughed and pulled Shigeko up by her arm. “Come, Drama. Let’s go eat.”


~


Night fell and the festivals of Shizuka and Soyokaze continued to fill the air with song and laughter. Multicolored lights lit up the night as the three girls stepped from the tram in Soyokaze station. All three had had enough walking for a while, but they had a little farther to travel on foot. They were not at their final destination yet, but they could see it above them in the darkness.

Akane pulled her flask from the purse she carried and sipped. She passed it to Rin and watched as the girl finished what was left of the whiskey within it. “Hey, what about Shigeko, Rin-chan?!” She yanked the empty flask back.

“That’s fine, I don’t need more.” Shigeko stared up towards the hillside with a blank expression.

“Well, I suppose it’s better this way. She shows up back at home smelling of whiskey and she’ll never see 19!” Akane laughed. “You - you can just blame Shigeko for your breath, Rin. Let big sister -“

Shigeko cut her off. “Will your brother really let us up there? He’ll loose his job if he gets caught.”

Akana held out her hand in a fist. “And I’ll do worse if he DOESN’T let us up there!” She laughed and turned to stare up at the hillside with the other two girls.




Soyokaze Temple loomed above. Beams of light shown up from the ground and illuminated the wondrous structure while dark trees set shadows falling and remained dark around it. The three made their way towards Akane’s brothers guard station at the base of Soyokaze Temple Hill.

~




Hours passed and all three of the girls longed for the warmth the whiskey had provided. They had not planned on Soyokaze’s fog bringing the temperature down so low on their adventure. Rin slapped Akane in the arm and barked, “Enough of this. She’s not coming. I want to go home.”

“We have another 30 minutes before my brother leaves.”

“We can take the tram. I just want to go. This is stupid.”

Akane ignored Rin’s request and narrowed her eyes searching the darkness for Shigeko. “Where is she now?”

“Wandering around again.” Rin snarled bitterly, “I hope she falls to her death like that-“

“STOP!” Akane punched Rin’s arm and stared at her with wide and scared eyes. “What are you thinking?! Saying such things here. In front of her.” She shivered. “And to make fun of the way she died.” It was the first time Rin had ever seen Akane look scared. 

“It’s make believe, Akane. The only reason I’m here is to meet your brother.” Rin rubbed at her arm and whispered, “Crazy busu.”

Shigeko’s scream made them both jump and cling to each other.

They watched as she bolted through the bushes and around the back of the temple. She was barefoot and had her dress yanked to her thighs as she ran towards them - her face a mask of terror. She screamed again and pushed past the two girls. Her dress caught and she was tossed forward, landing in a heap in the wet grass before them. She shoved herself up and managed to scream, “RUN!” before starting to descend the steps back down to the parking area.

Akane and Rin made their way down the steps adding their screams to Shigeko’s. Akane held her hand out before her to block her view of the burial area to the left. Somehow, knowing it was still there behind her hand filled her with more fear and her screams became louder.

Rin shouted down to Shigeko as they ran. “What?! What was it?!” She tried to look back, but the steep stairs and flowing dress made it impossible to do without breaking her neck.

Shigeko said nothing as she yanked her dress higher and continued to run. The last few stairs were the only thing she could focus on. Something sprang from the darkness and grabbed her before she reached the parking lot.

~


HALLOWEEN,  Soyokaze, Japan 2014

Ueda Masao stared out over the harbor as he finished his meal. Waves beat against the seawall  and a fine mist added to the dampness of the fog. He absently popped another piece of fish into his mouth and watched the lights on the boats bob from side to side.

The man to his right licked his fingers and waved for the check. He sipped at his beer and said, “So, you two got married after she finished screaming up there?” The man chuckled and finished the beer. “I can’t imagine.” He glanced back towards the temple. “I would have liked to see that whole scene.” He chuckled. “Romantic, really. Right? Saving a girl you hardly knew from a ghost? Her samurai.”

Masao nodded. His eyes remained locked on the harbor. “I could feel her heart beating as I hugged her to me. Her screams - they made my eyes giggle in my skull - they were so damn loud.” He smiled. “When Akane and Rin smashed into us and we all fell into the lot, I thought my neck was broken for sure. All of them screaming and screaming.”

“And, you believed her?” Yamada dabbed his mouth with the napkin and stood to stretch his back. “This ghost story she told?”

Masao stood with his friend and tossed money onto the table. Yamada knew better than to try to convince Masao to let him pay for his share. Masao took a deep breath and let the salty air fill his lungs. “Not at first. No way. But, over the years it grew on me. All the nightmares. The books and research she was always doing.” He looked to Yamada and said, “She saw something up there. I’m not sure what, but it was something that scared her.”

“A ghost lady?”

Masao shrugged. “Her sister thinks I’m a fool for coming here of all places, but I feel like it’s the least I can do for her now that….” He let his words fall away. Yamada gripped his shoulder. Masao continued. “I wanted to do it sooner, but I needed a little more time.” He nodded.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go up there with you?” Yamada tried to lighten the mood. “You made me eat among all this fishing scrap and smell instead of over the hill in one of those lovely, warm good places, Mr. Cheap. I might as well go up there and ghost hunt with you.” He smiled.

Masao grinned. “This place is the best and you know it.” He chuckled and shook his head no. “No. No, I’ll go alone. I’ll see you back at the hotel.” Masao patted his friend on the arm and turned to go. “And I mean it.”

Yamada raised his hands and bowed his head - surrendering. He smiled and dropped his hands to his sides as he watched his friend make his journey.


~


Fog drifted around the buildings and through the trees and Masao made his way to the second set of stairs. He stopped to get a read on where he was. According to Rin and the photos he saw on the internet, the stairs were around to the left and the burial area was around to the right. He reached inside his coat and groped around for his cigarettes before remembering.

Never another cigarette. His heart sank for a moment as he remembered his wife in her hospital bed. Gone.

The fog chilled him from his gloom and he inhaled sharply before turning and walking around the building to the right. The small markers were lit by a light mounted on the roof of the second tier building.

Masao stood in the silence and stared around the area. Part of him wanted to call out, but he thought it silly. He glanced at his watch. He had another 45 minutes before he had to be back down to the guard station and off the premises.

“Hello?” He rolled his eyes. “Hello? I’m Ueda Masao. You scared my wife here once. She saw you.” He looked around, then back in the direction he came from. His nerves made him examine every shadow. He counted on the substantial financial offering given to the guard to prevent the young man from trying to scare him up here. Masao swore he’d toss him off the hill if he tried.

He made his way through the brush and back around the backside of the building, pausing briefly when he saw the huge pool of blackness he had to cross to get to the stairs. He pushed forward and fought the urge to walk all the way around the front of the building again just to be able to stay in the light.

It seemed to get colder in the center of the darkness, but he shook it off and continued on to the stairs. As he climbed up, he stared up to the top of the temple spire which was barely visible in the fog shrouded night sky.

“Amazing that you three ran down these stairs in those costumes, Shigeko.” He smiled and shook his head. He reached the top of the steep stairs and turned to stare back down at the burial area and building. He craned his head forward to peer into the blackness behind the building. He wanted to make more of the shapes and motion in it, but as the wind blew and fog chilled him, he knew better. Plants and wind was all.

Now, for the final task. Behind the Temple. His heart beat a little faster in his chest as he remembered Shigeko’s description of the thing she saw.

“She was beautiful and terrible. She was like…and angel. A vision. She shimmered like the fog and seemed to long to be with me, but made no move towards me. Like me, she was in traditional clothing - all white, black and red. She looked…wet. She….she didn’t have a face, Masao.”

A shiver ran down Masao’s back. He bit his bottom lip, then pushed forward again. He moved with caution. He remembered RIn telling him that there was a drop here somewhere. He had no intention of falling onto rails tonight. He scanned the darkness. Another chill almost sent him running for the stairs. His voice caught in his throat, he swallowed, then called out, “Hello? Hello, I am Ueda Masao and my wife - she saw you here years ago.”

“Would a ghost know years?”  Masao thought to himself.

“She’s…she’s gone now. She…” Masao swallowed hard again. “She passed away.” He coughed and wiped a tear that caught in the corner of his eye. “She died. Died a month and a half ago.”

Fog wiped around Masao and a cold wind made the trees sway around him and hiss softly.

“She saw you here. Right here.” He smiled. “You scared her so much that she….she ran all the way down the hillside.” A laugh escaped him - sharp and short - as he remembered back to the night. Shigeko slamming into him and him holding her tight even after Akane and Rin collided with them and sent them crashing to the ground. “She never stopped talking about you. Looking for signs of how she might help you.”

Masao lost his fears - letting them drift away with the fog. He slumped and sat on the wet grass and stared off towards the ocean. The darkness enveloped him and wrapped him in a sort of calm. He looked up at the temple, then back over his shoulder towards the village. He closed his eyes and thought about his beautiful wife. His beautiful life with her.

Masao opened his eyes and pushed himself up to his feet. He glanced at his watch and made note of the mere minutes he had left. A thought passed over him.

“If you are here somewhere, thank you. You introduced me to my wife and made us very, very happy.” He thought a moment. “I hope that brings you happiness.”

Masao turned and made his way to the stairs. As he descended the stone steps, he thought that he heard something move behind him. He didn’t turn to look, however. Whatever was there could stay there with the dark and the fog. He had to go. He decided that he’d head home in the morning to deal with his own ghosts. Get his son from Rin and take him on a trip somewhere. He still had a few days left of vacation.

As he approached the stairs, the wind kicked up leaves around his feet, swirling them and sending dust up around his knees. Something raced up behind him with a rush - he could feel it swoop up behind him. He spun around half tripping over his own feet. His heart beat hard in his chest as he caught himself.

The guard adjusted his wind blown hat and jacket and stared up at Masao from the parking area. “Hey, Mister! You ok up there? Time’s up, Sir.”

Masao stared back towards the top of the hill, his wide eyes darting back and forth scanning the dark. He turned and made his way down the stairs quickly trying not to run.

“Did you hear that?” Masao’s eyes begged for an answer from the guard.

“Hear what, Sir?” The guard frowned. “You were too far away from me to hear you if you said something. I’m sorry.”

“No not - I didn’t say something is was…” Masao pointed up the stairs, then withdrew the gesture and dropped his arm. “Never mind.” He smiled.

The guard returned his smile, then looked around at his feet and back up at Masao. “That story you told me. True?” He pointed at the ground at their feet. The spot where Masao caught Shigeko.

Masao nodded with a smile and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Thank you for letting me stroll around up there.” He turned and moved down through the parking area towards town.

The guard shouted after him. “Thanks for the story. Very nice, Sir.”  He touched the brim of his hat. “Goodnight, Sir.”

Masao half heard the guard’s words as he pushed his hands deeper into his pockets and made his way down the parking ramp and off down the stairs. He didn’t know what to think. He was numb from the experience. He was sure he heard it. A faint voice among the rush of wind - small and sweet like a reed.

It whispered, “Anata ga aishita.”    

“You loved.”