Page 22 of Mercy Written in Blood

"No."

Ken closed his eyes. Haruki studied the journal.

"What did you see?"

"Writing."

"What kind?"

"I don't know."

"Japanese?"

"I think so."

"You think?"

"It looked old."

"That is not a language."

Toma lowered his gaze.

"Sorry, Boss."

Haruki sighed. The man looked genuinely ashamed.

"It's done now. Just don't touch anything else."

"Yes, Boss."

Haruki moved further into the chamber. The bones rested against the far wall — three sets, though time and partial collapse had scattered some of the remains. They appeared to have been placed rather than thrown. One skeleton lay on its side with its arms folded close to the chest; another sat against the wall, skull bowed forward. The third was smaller.

Haruki looked away first.

"Could be a child," Ken said quietly.

"Don't assume."

"Right."

But Haruki had seen enough bodies to understand proportions. One of the engineers crouched several metres away.

"We shouldn't move any remains until forensic specialists arrive."

"We won't."

A painted mural stretched above the bones — white lotus flowers floating across a dark pool beneath a mountain, human figures standing on one bank and others opposite them. At first glance, both groups looked the same. Then Haruki noticed subtle differences. One figure had been painted with eyes too pale to be natural. Another had long, pointed nails. A third stood beneath the suggestion of wings. The people on the opposite bank appeared ordinary. Between them, growing from the water, were the lotuses.

Haruki stepped closer. Time had damaged most of the pigments, but the flowers remained vivid — white petals, red centres.

"What is this?" Ken asked.

"Don't know."

"Religious?"

"Maybe."