Season of Violence

The brutal side of his nature had reasserted itself.

He simply played like a child who feels compelled to damage his favorite toys until they are destroyed. And Eiko might easily have accepted the role of being a mere plaything.

Tatsuya regained the old sadistic feelings toward Eiko, and she found she had no power to repulse them. Tatsuya was no longer moved to excitement when they embraced in Eiko's room, and his sudden assaults often hurt her so much that she cried out in pain

He felt somehow shy and innocent when he was with her, like a boy with no previous experience with women.

realized at last what it was to know a woman. Instead of devouring and destroying the woman's love, he encouraged it and enjoyed her ecstasy as his own. The moment he embraced her wet body on the deck of the boat he realized that she was no ordinary girl. He had felt an emotion in Eiko totally different from that of early summer when Eiko had thrown the book at his groin.

The fact was that Tatsuya began to take advantage of her

It grew to such an extent that she committed the fault that so many women do in similar circumstances. She tried to keep Tatsuya close to her even at those moments when there was no physical closeness.

With human beings, love and affection are emotions which cannot be kept burning forever. Does love not seem to burn most brightly when flesh and flesh are one? Men and women only find themselves physically one at this moment and believe that the brilliance of the moment remains with them when in fact it is no more than an after-image on the retina.

At last I can really love someone,"

Beyond the hills, the moon was rising. Eiko looked at it and knew for certain that she was really capable of loving a man.