Chapter 8 Summary

Akira is at first very angry with Christopher's betrayal. However, when he finds out the reason, he forgives him and invents the detective game to help Christopher deal with the situation. Akira is very sensitive, for when Christopher is uncharacteristically adamant in insisting that his father is not tied-up, it is Akira who ensures that Christopher's father is accommodated very comfortably by the kidnappers in their game. Meanwhile, Christopher is just as anxious to find out the fate of the magic lotion. Akira is reluctant to talk about it at first, but Christopher eventually finds out that the lotion was returned by Akira's sister Etsuko. The two boys discuss the possibility of Christopher having to return to England if his father is not found, but Christopher dismisses this as unlikely.

As Christopher evokes these childhood memories, he recalls a Chinese man with a...