the shrine By WALT SHELDON Naito smiled. "You are still in the grip of time, Mr. Blair. Spend some with us and you will slip a little from its tyranny." _We have said on a number of occasions that there are a number of things and forces which dwell in the shadows of this Fantastic Universe of ours. And in the mountains.... Walt Sheldon tells the story of Edward Blair, reporter on the English-language TOKYO TRIBUNE, who, much, to his disgust, is sent to interview the monks at the Hataka shrine. After all, why waste time on these magic tricks? This is of course not Science Fiction. And_ is _it Fantasy? Who of us can really say?_ [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Fantastic Universe December 1956. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] The American stopped to rest, to daub his brow, and he withdrew for a moment into the mottled shade beside the trail. Ahead the mountain rose and became blue with distance. A figure in a saffron robe moved down the trail, and toward him. "A woman," said his lips without sound. His eyes clocked surprise. He was Edward Blair. He worked for the English-language Tokyo Tribune. It was as good a paper as any to work for when your career had been interrupted twice by war. You could coast on the Tokyo Trib. You could let things not matter. Now he watched the woman. She walked with a gliding motion; though her steps were tiny and downhill, her shoulders moved in an even line. They were small shoulders and, as she neared, he saw above them an oval face, a beautiful and simple face with golden skin and eyes of dark velvet. He stepped out of the shade and smiled as she came upon him. She showed no surprise, and he was startled to hear her speak good English. "You are Mr. Blair." "Why, yes. Yes, I am." "I am sent to meet you. I am sorry to be late." "That's all right." "I will show you the way to the shrine." "Well, thanks. But they said in the village it was easy to find. Just follow the trail to the top of the mountain." "But I will take you." "A pleasure, believe me," said Ed Blair, and grinned. And now they walked together, she effortlessly, like silk waved in air. He seemed to walk more easily, too. He no longer panted. The long grasses, the persimmon trees and the bamboo groves went by. He carried a press camera and a bag full of bulbs, but they no longer seemed heavy. "Nice of them to send you," he told the girl. She laughed. There are tinkling strips of glass hung in a Japanese garden in summer for their cool sound. She laughed like this. "Naito-san has reason for sending me. He always has reason." "Naito-san?" "He is Obo--the high priest, you say in English. He taught me English." "And your name?" "Yuki." "That can mean snow or flower," said Blair.