07/02/2026 13:33

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You'll never know. In fact, Shotoku, for all hisenthusiasm in the cause of Buddhism, seems to have shrunk fromanything like bigoted exclusiveness. Andnot without good reason. How long had Fletcher been standing there? He had nobusiness spying on them or frowning at them as if he'd caught them doingsomething wrong.

She was worn out, poor kid. I need something stiffer than caffeine. That Shotoku's choice fell on him at this juncturemight well have been regarded by his countrymen as an intervention ofheaven. He stared down at the imitation walnut grain of thetable, his head and shoulders shaking.