Oneof Endo`s most unusual and powerful novels isset largely in a modern hospital, with themes and scenes that eerily seem to predate ”Never Let Me Go”A jaded businessman has a chance encounter with the doctor son of his best friend at school, Ozu, and memories are stirred of a former love interest of Ozu`s, Aiko. The son of his friend proves to be contemptuous of the outmoded values of his father`s world and ruthless in pursuit of success at his hospital. The story reaches a terrible climax when Aiko, now a middle-aged cancer-sufferer, is admitted to the hospital and Ozu leads the way in experimenting on her with dangerous drugs. ”