The abbot nodded calmly. “I have heard this, certainly. The sailors bring me news of local events. But I have never seen the lights myself. Except on special occasions such as this, I retire immediately after evening rites at sunset, and do not venture outside my quarters until dawn. My attendants can confirm this, if you wish.”

“Then you don’t know the cause of the lights?” Sano said, disappointed. Even if the mysterious lights were indeed connected with Spaen’s murder, he had yet to find an explanation for them. And Abbot Liu Yun had just presented an alibi for the night of Spaen’s death.

A shadow of impatience crossed the priest’s impassive features. “There are many curious phenomena in this world. In my travels, I have seen crackling lights flash up and down the masts of ships. I have seen a fireball hurtle from the sky and burn a house. I have seen a whirlwind destroy a town, and a great sinkhole swallow an entire team of oxen. Such phenomena, including the lights in Nagasaki Harbor, are surely manifestations of the spirits. Some men may be able to evoke them. I cannot, for I am no magician.”

From the deck of the junk, the crew lowered two small boats into the water. Sailors rowed these up to the pier. The priests carefully placed the golden statue into the first boat. The sailor in the second boat called to the abbot.

“If you have any further questions, you can find me at the temple,” Liu Yun said. “But now I must accompany the sea god to the ship so he can bestow his blessings upon it.”

With a benevolent smile, he bowed to Sano, then allowed his subordinates to help him into the boat. Accompanied by chanting from the priests on the pier, bursting rockets overhead, and shouts from the waiting sailors, the boats glided toward the junk.

Sano didn’t believe Abbot Liu Yun was as indifferent to his brother’s death as he claimed. Chinese and Japanese cultures weren’t completely dissimilar; Confucian family loyalty dominated both, and could seldom be completely erased by religious fervor. That same loyalty could inspire a priest’s brethren to supply a false alibi for him. Liu Yun had access to weapons, and transportation available to carry him to and from Deshima by water. The Chinese, inventors of gunpowder, fireworks, and other magic, could surely create mysterious lights. Sano saw salvation in pinning Spaen’s murder on a foreign subject. Yet he couldn’t arrest Liu Yun on the strength of motive and rumor alone. Might he possibly locate witnesses who could place the abbot near Deshima the night before last?