The Sun Gods Read Online Free PDF

Mrs. Uchida’s influence on the boy’s pronunciation would probably not be permanent, but he wished he could find a young Nisei member of the English language congregation to take care of Billy.
    Mrs. Uchida continued on down the corridor with Billy pointing the way and squeaking, “Wa- ter , wa- ter .” In the narthex, she bent to let the boy slurp loudly at the arc of water. When Billy was satisfied, she made a circuit of the narthex, then let him take another drink.
    Just then, the doors to the sanctuary opened, and the Reverend Hanamori came out. He stood in the front entrance, bowing and shaking hands as the Nichigos filed past him. Taking Billy from Mrs. Uchida, Tom joined his fellow pastor at the door.
    â€œRemember what I said,” he announced to no one in particular, “anyone who needs a ride this afternoon, just talk to me. And be sure to come!”
    Several of the grey-haired churchgoers bowed to him as they passed, murmuring things in Japanese. He recognized the words “ fukuin ,” meaning “gospel,” and “ kokoro kara ”—“from the heart”—among the syllables that Shinichi Kawamoto directed to him, but the rest of it passed him by, and Reverend Hanamori was too busy chattering with other Nichigos to translate for him.
    Billy demanded “Wa- ter ” a few times, but when he saw that he would have to wait for his next drink, he wrapped both arms around his father’s neck and laid his head on his chest.
    â€œPastor Tom,” he heard a soft male voice saying to him, and he turned to see the grey temples and round spectacles of Mr. Nomura. “I want you to meet my sister-in-law.”
    Now the woman was standing close to him, her high, clear brow conveying a serenity that only added to his unease. She looked straight at him, the hint of a smile on her full lips. At this point, Mrs. Nomura took over. Her English was much better than her husband’s. “This is my sister, Mitsuko,” she said, pronouncing the name “MEETS-ko.” “She’s visiting us for a while from Japan.”
    â€œOh, I see,” said Morton, reaching out to take the woman’s hand. In doing so, he jostled Billy, who lifted his head and again called for “Wa ter ,” turning to point toward the fountain. When Billy caught sight of Mrs. Nomura’s sister, however, he wrenched himself away from his father and all but threw himself into her arms.
    â€œ Abunai! ” several Nichigos shouted in unison: “Watch out!”
    Mitsuko herself almost lost her balance as Billy came hurtling toward her, but she managed to catch him, and the cries of alarm turned into peals of laughter.
    But Tom Morton did not laugh. He saw his son clutching at this woman with mysterious tenacity, and he wondered what it meant. “Bad boy,” he said at length. “You almost hurt the lady. Come away, now.”
    He reached for his son, but Billy pressed his face against the woman’s throat and held on with increased determination. Again the others laughed, and Morton heard someone saying “ skee ”—Billy likes her. Mitsuko held the boy close and began pacing around the vestibule, rocking him gently and singing in low tones, her mouth next to his ear.
    Morton turned back to continue his conversation with Mrs. Nomura, but there was nothing he could say when he saw the look on her face. She was watching Mitsuko with Billy, her eyes full of tears. Even Mr. Nomura, usually a stolid sort, seemed moved to see his sister-in-law and the child. Mrs. Nomura looked at her husband, the two nodded almost imperceptibly to each other, and she stepped closer to Pastor Tom wearing a doleful expression.
    She spoke in a quavering whisper, and Morton had to bend down to catch her words.
    â€œMy sister lost a child last year. When I saw her holding your son, I …”
    But she was too overcome with emotion to go on. Tom put his arm around