Prologue: The Town

I watched the sunrise over the rocky cliff, that led out of the forest. I climbed up to the top and peered down at a country road. I unloaded myself and sat down on the edge of the cliff. A green sedan drove passed as I carefully placed my guitar case, and duffel bag beside me. I made myself comfortable, and then took a gulp of spring water, from my bottle gourd canteen. I sat there for awhile, just staring up at the morning sun.

I was thinking back to when I was a young boy. I remembered how I used to watch teenagers busking with their acoustic guitars. People would throw, dollars, and loose change in to their empty guitar cases. I always wished I could be like them. Now, I'm nearly eighteen and for the past year, I have busked my way across America. I can still remember the day I left Japan. All the faces waving at me, as I left the Tokyo harbor. I got a job playing guitar on a cruise ship - bound for the States. I picked up my guitar case, and took out my twelve-string.

It had been given to me by a friendly, old Japanese man, while I was in the hospital. I placed it in my lap and began to play an old song, that I heard many years ago. As I played the song, a feeling of great joy came over me. I hadn't felt this happy for the past five years - since... Anyway, I realized it was getting late, and I wanted to reach town by high noon.

I gathered up my things, and proceeded to walk down the hill, and along the road. The sun was almost overhead, as strolled towards the small town. I grew up no more than forty-five minuets away, yet I never knew this town was here. I don't know why

I came back - so close to... a year of hich-hiking for this! As I approached the village I noticed a decrepit, old, wooden sign.

"Welcome to the Japanese-American community of 'Hayatoge'!" The sign read.

I looked around. there was only three buildings - a diner, a post office and the courthouse - it was a ghost town. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ten dollars I made busking, in the last town. I walk into the diner and sat down at the counter.

"Yokoso*!" A Japanese woman exclaimed from behind the counter.

"Genki desu ka*?" I replied

"Aa, ii desu yo*!" The woman said with a smile.

I ate a rye sandwich. The woman handed me a bill for nine dollars and fifty cents.

"Nine dollars and fifty cents for a rye sandwich in a ghost town!" I stammered

"Nan desu ka*?" The woman asked

"Ii desu ne*!" I said quickly

I payed the bill, and walked back out to the dusty main street. I reached into my bag and pulled out a letter. I strolled into the post office, with my letter in hand.

There was a clerk, and two men looking at a bulletin board - snickering to themselves. I handed the clerk the fifty cents, that I got back from my sandwich.

"Can I buy a stamp? I would like to mail this letter to a Mister Joe Futado, Iga, Mie Prefecture Japan"

the old clerk smiled, and took my letter. I could't help but overhear the two men. They were looking at a poster.

"Wanted: Sheriff to look after Hayatoge and surrounding farms and forests. Room and board provided. See mayor's office if interested." the poster read.

"Deputy Yoshikawa's got his hands full!" The one man laughed.

"Nobody's stupid enough to take that job!" The other man exclaimed.

"Why not!" I interrupted

The two men starred at me

"What so tough about being a sheriff in an old ghost town?" I said chuckling

"You're new here, right? This town use to be a quiet place to live, but now..." The two men looked at each other.

The other man spoke up. "You see, back when the 'Fukushima Incident' happened, all of the townspeople returned to Japan. The town when to ruin. There are still a few farmers left, but most of the land is forest. A lot of nasty thugs, have been using these woods as an escape from the law. We had a sherrif, but they done run him off. So, they deputize this punk, kid, Atara Yoshikawa. He's about your age. Anyhow, he can't handle it alone, so they're looking for a sheriff."

"Your letter's sent, Sonny!" The clerk spoke up.

I said goodbye to the men, and left the post office. I walked over to a wooden bench and sat down.

Ever since I left Japan my life has been a daze. My only goal was to return to... and now that I'm almost there - what am I going to do now? I can't be a nomad my whole life? Can I? I watched an old, pickup truck, park next to the post office.

A man, and a young boy, got out of the truck. They approached the post office door. The two men, that I talked to, stepped out.

"Hey, Jim! How are you guys making out with the new baby?" One of the men ask

"Terrible!" The man said, holding the boy's arm. "I'm sending a letter to the bank, telling them to take that 'jixed' farm back."

"What's the matter, Jim? Afraid of a little, hard work?" The two men chuckled

"Why are you laughing? What if you were up all night, trying to take of a newborn - meanwhile, some one is stealing your chickens? You wouldn't be laughing!"

"So what - a couple of chickens - big deal!"

"But my son - he has to live in fear of some thug robbing - he doesn't want to leave the house! This is the first time he's been out in a month!" The man snapped back. "I didn't want my kids to grow up around hooligans - that's why I left Terrapin's Point!"

Tarrapin's Point! I got a lump in my throat.

"Well if you're so concerned - why don't you talk to Deputy Yoshi- Brain!" One of the men snickered.

"He's no help - we need a real sheriff around here!"

I watch them go their separate ways. I knew what I had to do. I sat up, and walked towards a bright, white, building. I opened the door to the courthouse...

* Yokoso - Welcome

Genki desu ka -How are you

Aa, ii desu yo - Very good

Nan desu ka - What?

Ii desu ne - Everything's good!

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems