Summary

In Chapter 24, the story reverts to the time when Ling was apprenticed to Aritomo. The rains ended and work on the garden resumed. One day, Ling was finishing up some work. She said the garden seemed to be complete and perfect. Aritomo answered by taking a few leaves from her bag and scattered them. One evening, he announced that the tattoo was complete. Ling looked in the mirror and noted a small blank spot. Aritomo said every horimono had a blank to indicate that it would never be perfect and never finished.

Work continued each day, doing general maintenance on the garden. Each evening. Ah Cheong waited on the verandah with Aritomo's walking stick just as he and Ling set out for their daily walk. One day, Aritomo handed the walking stick to Ling and said he wanted to spend some time alone...