Chapter 14 Summary - After the Rain (August 1975)

It is five-thirty in the morning and Masa is outside in her garden, tending to the plants. She used to plant very few annuals, but since Shizuko's death she had planted more and moreincreasingly. The two-week drought had killed the flowers that had sprung up after Yuki's visit, which Yuki had spent hours caring for. Masa recalls Yuki's visit and how she was never rude or irritable, and when they disagreed her face was always full of patience, but Masa felt that something was wrong. AndIn addition, she blamed their strained relationship on Yuki's father; if she had been allowed to visit regularly, things would be different. She sees her husband, Takeo, waving on his way to collect eggs from the hen coophencoop.

He had woken up just before six, having dreamt of hundreds...