Preparing to tee off, Kobayashi began to feel dizzy. Perhaps he should get out of the sun. He was, after all, seventy-three years old, so what did he have to prove?

Even as he decided he should return to the clubhouse, he swayed, causing the caddie to set down the golf bag and hurry over in concern.

As Kobayashi swayed again and put his hands up to his face, the caddie grasped the golfer to steady him.

The old man felt a slight prick where the caddie's hand grasped his forearm, but was too sick to notice the syringe the man had deftly employed.

"Sir, I think perhaps the heat is too much to continue playing. Maybe we should go back to the clubhouse?"

The caddie's question was phrased respectfully in Japanese.

"Yes. The sun is too hot."