by Ben Stevens
Many people still outside temple. They shout and cry.
Someone start angry say ‘Where is fire engine?’
Other people start also say this thing. Soon I hear many people say ‘Where is fire engine?’
But then I think someone is start say where is something else. I at first not able to hear what this something is.
Then the man say it in loud tremble voice next to me. I turn and see is my uncle. He look back at me with his narrow eye now wide with what look like fear. I never see man like my uncle look like this before.
He look straight in my eye like he not even recognise me.
He say ‘Where is my son?’
Then uncle wife start scream and call name of her son. His name Shintaro. Soon other people are call his name. Shintaro seem like only person who is miss.
Uncle go mad and try to get back in temple hall. But now it all on fire and fire is start spread to back of temple and corridor.
Other man pull uncle away from burn temple hall. Uncle is shout and cry. He say he think his son is inside some where. That may be his son go for to use the toilet.
Now other man try get in burn hall but it impossible. They not even get very near because it so hot. Then sudden there is more bang as other stove explode.
In loud voice Yamashita san say ‘Everyone get back now please.’
He have power voice and people listen. But my uncle and his wife are shout and scream. They are like crazy. Shintaro is their only child. His age seven I think.
I run in to area of temple that have office and kitchen. Of course all people in here have already gone outside. I call Shintaro name at full voice but no answer. Anyway I think other man have try this already.
I try go along some corridor that lead to temple hall but soon is much smoke and I not able to see or breath. Then I see glow of fire and it get very hot. All this is force me back outside.
My uncle now on his knee. Two men are hold his arm. I think otherwise my uncle try hurt him self or someone else. My uncle is cry and shout and scream. His wife also.
I think only one thing is left to do. Because my uncle say he think Shintaro go to use man toilet that near back of temple hall. May be I have way I can check in toilet.
But I have to be quick. May be it already too late. This not good thing to think but smoke and flame is very bad. I not see how anyone can survive if they trap in or near temple hall.
I have before describe temple. I say there is long corridor next to temple hall that have lot of glass. Also other short corridor at start of long corridor so two corridor is form like shape of letter L.
Under this corridor on outside is cement wall with wood panel on surface. For to make it look nice when visitor see from place like temple car park.
But at bottom of wall is small square shape gap. Because there is drain that come from narrow rectangle shape garden that is on other side of short corridor.
Rain water flow down several pipe that come from different level temple roof that is around narrow garden. Rain water then flow through square shape gap in concrete to big metal grill drain cover outside.
Square gap in concrete is almost at ground level. It is also half hide by big bush my father let grow. I mean so it hide drain because it not look nice to the temple visitor.
I run to gap now and push bush branch away with my hand. I think gap too small for me to fit through. It about twenty inch by twenty inch. It also same deep as corridor above. This about six feet. I think idea to crawl through here just impossible.
Then I hear my uncle wife scream. I never think I hear any noise so terrible. I think fast. I very thin. But I am now wear lot of clothe because it very cold. So I start take off top clothe like jacket. Soon I am just wear T shirt and jumper.
Fire from temple make light where I am. It also make place very hot. Sudden I see that one tree outside temple have catch fire. This happen even though some snow is fall.
Then Yamashita san see me. He come over. His face have many shadow and bright area because reflect the flame.
He say ‘Hiro san what you do?’
He talk like he think I go mad.
My heart beat so fast it hard to talk. I very scare but know I have to go now.
I say ‘That boy who is miss is my cousin.’ I say ‘I think he may be in man toilet.’
Yamashita san shake head and hold my arm. He have very power grip.
He say ‘Hiro san do you know your cousin in toilet?’
I say ‘No just idea.’
Yamashita san grip get even more tight.
He say ‘You try go in there you die.’ He say ‘Do not be stupid.’
This is not happy smile man now. He is may be speak truth. But I have no choice. I not try now I know I hear my uncle wife scream in my dream for rest of my life. I have to know I at least try to save her son.
I say ‘I go.’
I use hand to remove Yamashita san hand from my arm. I show that I am determine for to do this thing.
Yamashita san say ‘How you get in toilet?’
I say ‘Through window that is at end of garden.’
Yamashita san say ‘You know that window not open much.’
He say ‘This idea no use.’
I say ‘Then I break window somehow.’
I say ‘Enough talk.’
I put my arm then head and shoulder inside tunnel. Is very tight space. Also sudden very cold in here. Old wet leaf stick and some water on floor of tunnel.
My leg still outside tunnel. I start crawl with arm in front of my body. I have to move top of body like snake for to move forward. My hand almost through gap on other side when I discover that tunnel actual get more narrow. I never notice this thing before.
Sudden it feel like my shoulder is very stuck. I have strong feel of panic.
I say ‘Yamashita san.’
When is no answer I in more loud voice say ‘Yamashita san!’
I hear him say ‘I pull you out now.’
I think he is crouch by my feet. For few second I think to say OK.
Then I say ‘No.’ I say ‘Push my feet and I able to get out other side.’
I worry he argue. There no time for this. But then I feel him push my feet. (Of course I am still wear the shoe.) I move forward little bit. Now half my arm is out of tunnel. But it very cramp and hard to breath. I need more arm out other side for to be able to push my self out. I not feel more push.
I loud say ‘What is happen?’
Top of my arm tight against my both ear. I only just able to hear Yamashita reply.
He say ‘I not able to push you more.’ He say ‘Wait second.’
I think he is get someone for to help him. I think I hear more man voice. Then is very strong push against my feet and my head sudden come out other side of tunnel.
All my arm out now and I push with hand against concrete wall cover with thing like ivy that is on side of narrow garden. It take much effort but at last I able to get all body out of tunnel. But because this side more narrow I know now I not able to go back this way. This may be big problem.
But no time for to think of this thing now. Because I hear uncle voice come along tunnel.
It hard to understand what he is say because he is also much cry. Then I understand he is say ‘Please Hiro san save my son!’
I not answer because am already move in to small rectangle shape garden. On my left side I see big fire in long corridor. I mean long corridor that have lot of glass along side of temple hall.
Big fire light up garden. There is little snow on top of some small rock and moss and statue.
I reach other side of garden. There is concrete wall that again have thing like ivy grow on it. It have narrow long window near top. To bottom of window is about seven feet high.
This window is for man toilet. It only open little bit because have security device inside that stop someone like thief open window all way for to climb inside. But now I think thief have to be like acrobat for to get inside toilet even if w
indow open all way.
Window long but have thing like metal bar about every twelve inch along. Also window only about twelve inch high. Bottom of window have the small ledge. I put finger on ledge and use finger for to lift my self off ground. So I can try to look inside toilet.
But inside it just all very dark. I think fire have cause all light and electricity for to stop work.
But may be Shintaro is inside in dark. This thing I have to check.
So in shout voice I say ‘Shintaro!’
I say three time but is no answer. Just noise of fire and more distant sound noise of people shout in car park.
Then I hear siren noise of ambulance and fire engine. But I think vehicle like that have trouble for to drive up narrow slope that lead to temple car park. May be fire man have to carry hose up hundred stone stair instead. If they able to.
While I think this I am of course also think how to get inside man toilet. I have to let go of ledge now because my finger very hurt.
Then I look at tanuki statue I before describe that is in narrow garden. It about as tall as my thigh.
I try to pick it up. Bottom of statue is little bit stick in ground and is heavy but I just able to lift it. Then I able to hold it over my head.
Statue drop some earth on my head because bottom have be in ground many year. Then I smash statue hard as I able to against window.
There is noise of glass break. I again smash statue against glass that still remain. I need all glass knock out of metal window frame before I able to climb inside. But exact how I climb inside I not yet able to decide.
My arm muscle hurt very much. I drop tanuki statue on ground. It have not break just glass.
Now I see is much fire behind glass of long corridor. I worry that may be this glass explode out very soon. So in narrow garden not safe place to remain.
I think I have knock out all glass in long narrow toilet window. Just hope this glass not hurt Shintaro if he in toilet. But I still not hear any sound from inside. If he inside then I think he already have lose conscious because of smoke. Or perhaps the more worse thing have happen.
I again hold ledge with finger for to pull my body up. I put one arm inside toilet and push against inside wall.
Now my head and shoulder is inside toilet. It very dark and is some smoke. But not as much smoke as I think there be.
Toilet slide door is I think close. Door of woman toilet and man toilet make off heavy thick wood. This I think keep out lot of smoke and even fire for short time.
There is still small amount of glass remain in window frame. It very cut my finger and also stomach and chest skin even through my clothe as I slide body more inside. I try to ignore pain and sudden I am fall.
I land in Japanese style toilet. Toilet next to this one is western style. Outside these toilet is area man use for urinate and sink that Yamashita san before tell me is lose on wall. Then is heavy slide wood door that lead out to corridor that is near shoin room.
I lucky able to use my hand for to stop my fall. But my wrist make crunch noise and is again much pain. Also I cut my self more on broken glass on floor. I feel blood come down my face and also is lot of blood on both hand.
I slow stand up. I start to cough. Is hard to breath because of smoke. I open door of toilet. (It of course not lock but is still close.)
I in area with sink and place for urinate. My eye get more use to dark now. So I see there is shape lie on tile floor. I bend down and see shape is Shintaro. I shake his shoulder and say his name but his eye stay close.
I cough more. I put my ear by his mouth. For moment I think worse thing. But then I hear he breath! I say his name more and shake his shoulder.
He sudden open eye. He start cough and cry. He say child word for mother.
My eye start very hurt. Because of smoke. I think it is quick become more worse. Some wind is blow in through window that I smash glass out of. So this not really make any smoke escape outside.
I say ‘Shintaro you have to stand up.’
But he just shake head and cough and close his eye again.
There is no time for delay. I think window of long corridor soon explode out because of fire inside. Then may be not able to get back through narrow garden.
I mean Shintaro get back through narrow garden. Because he can then fit through narrow concrete gap that is for drain at other end. But I am still trap unless can find other route out.
I hold Shintaro jacket and pull up him so he stand on feet. This take much effort. Because I am sudden feel very weak and tire. I have feel like I just want go sleep. Also my wrist is very much hurt from when I fall in to toilet. I think it is start to swell.
More cough come from my throat and tear come from my eye because of smoke. I think can hear fire outside toilet. I mean is sound of fire everywhere and some crash noise come from temple hall. I think this mean some of roof is fall inside.
But I keep hold of Shintaro and with hand that have injure wrist I touch heavy slide wood door. It too hot to touch for more than second. This mean fire right outside. If open door now fire immediate come inside.
Shintaro look like he fall if I not keep hold him. His head roll side to side. He keep say child word for mother.
I not like what I do but I slap his face. His eye open very wide and he stare at me. He see thing like blood on my face and hand. Then he start very cry.
He say ‘I not want die!’
This better.
I quick say ‘Shintaro listen to me.’ I look hard in his eye. I say ‘You see your mother again but you have to do what I tell you.’ I say ‘Do you understand?’
He nod head and keep look at me. He cough. I cough.
I say ‘Look at window behind you.’
He turn head and look up at window that I smash glass out of. Outside is red smoke sky. Not really able to see corridor with much glass from this position. This good thing because I think it just make Shintaro more scare.
I say ‘You climb out through this window and run through narrow garden.’ I say ‘You climb through gap in concrete wall on other side of garden and there is wait your mother and your father.’
Shintaro keep stare at window and then again cry.
He say ‘I not able to!’
I again say ‘Shintaro listen to me.’
I kneel so my face is near his. He look at me. I see he is try to stop cry. He small shy boy but I think he also brave.
I say ‘I sorry I slap you but you have to be brave boy now.’ I say ‘I help you climb out of window. I say ‘Then you run fast as you able to to gap in concrete wall at other end of garden.’ I say ‘There is your father and other man wait for to help you.’
He nod head and quiet say ‘OK.’
I again say ‘You have to be brave boy now you understand.’
I think because I say this thing it stop emotion like panic in Shintaro mind. But only for very short time. But long enough for me to help him climb out through window and see that he get through garden OK.
I say ‘Let go.’ I hold his arm and we enter Japanese style toilet. Smash glass from window make crunch noise under our foot.
I hold hand up and feel in window frame for bit of broken glass. Most have fall out when I climb through window. But there still some small piece remain.
I say ‘Shintaro take off your jacket.’ This is necessary anyway because it thick jacket and may be make it difficult for him to crawl through gap in concrete.
Shintaro take off the jacket. I hang jacket on bottom of window frame for to stop him be scratch by any remain glass.
Then I say ‘OK you go now.’
I put both hand on his waist and hold him up high as I can. He only small boy and light but still is take much effort. Also I bite my lip for to stop cry of pain. Because my wrist is again hurt very much.
I quick say ‘Shintaro put arm on top of jacket and pull your self out to other side.’
But I hear he is again cry and he say ‘It too high I not able to!’
I reali
se he see how far it is to ground on other side. I say before is about seven feet.
I cough very hard now. It hurt my lung just to breath. Then I think I hear noise like crack. I think this is from fire against heavy slide wood toilet door. I think soon fire start get through door.
I say ‘Just go!’ and I am push up him hard.
His body start fall through window. I try to keep hold of him long as possible. I am now hold his leg. I stand on my toe for to get as much high as I am able to.
All smash glass from window have fall inside toilet. So I know this not problem outside. Just grass and moss for to land on. But still ground hard because of very cold winter weather.
Then is very bad pain in my wrist and I accident let go. Shintaro give cry as he fall outside. I fall back against toilet wall. For few second everything just like black and I think I am lose conscious. I not think I ever feel so tire in my life. Only pain in my body is keep me awake.
I make my self put finger on window frame and somehow pull up my self. I think may be my wrist is break but I just have to ignore pain now.
I just able to see in garden. All long corridor with much glass is just fire now. I think how glass not break yet? It make narrow garden very bright.
There is two small tree and tanuki statue lie where I drop it. But where Shintaro? I shout his name.
Sudden he appear. He have be lie or kneel next to concrete wall so I not able to see him. He stare at me. He stare at fire in long corridor. He is rub his arm.
He say ‘My arm hurt!’ and he cry.
Now I just go like mad. Say ‘YOU RUN TO OTHER END OF GARDEN NOW!’ Say ‘NOW GO!’
He stare at me for few more second then start move to other end of garden. But then he stop for to look at much fire in long corridor. Is like he is hypnotise.
I say ‘GO!’
Again is for second black in front of my eye. But is less smoke in this place because of smash window so I can breath more easy.
Now I hear man voice shout. I think they look through gap in concrete wall and see Shintaro. Also Shintaro say child word for father and sudden move quick to end of garden.
