Read Online Soldiers in Hiding by Richard Wiley - Free Book Online Page B

floor, the characters for war still spilling across its front. Kazuko’s mother went to the garden and looked about to see if any of the neighbors had heard me, but the street was empty. “Watch your tongue, Teddy,” she said, coming back. “We mustn’t say things we do not mean. We will be misunderstood.”
    The grandfather’s face was quizzical. He alternately peered at me and threw his eyes toward the ceiling in a gesture of futility.
    â€œAll right,” I said. “I’m sorry. This is Japan, but I’m not bloody well enlisting.”
    â€œQuiet, Teddy,” said Ike, and Kazuko put her fingers to her lips, her other hand gently upon my forearm. “Shh,” she said. “Silence is what is called for now. It is time for us to show our strength.”
    Jimmy just sat there, not adding his voice to mine, a model for Kazuko’s admiration. I think he knew if he said anything he’d give himself away, for all of us were looking at him. They all thought him so strong, but I suspected that the prospect of violent war had wrenched the voice from his throat.
    â€œSay something, Jimmy,” I said. “Will you enlist? Will you bear arms against the Americans?”
    When I spoke to him this time I spoke in English so the others kept quiet. But when Jimmy finally answered it was in Japanese again.
    â€œI think I will enlist,” he said. “It is the only thing to do.”
    While Jimmy had been quiet the reality of the war seemed to wait at the edges of the room, but when he broke his silence it all came in on us. The grandfather dug into his box of war relics
and, pulling out an old battle flag, draped it across Jimmy’s shoulders, the red rays of the flag falling down his arms. The patriotism shared by Kazuko and her mother and grandfather immediately centered on the flag, on the strength that came from that streaming sun. Even Ike seemed to bask in its warmth.
    â€œYou’re all nuts,” I said, but the fight had gone out of my voice.
    â€œMost young men our age are gone already,” Ike said softly, his eyes still fixed on the flag. “I’m still here because I’m helping to organize the ward.” He shook himself loose a little and said, “Don’t worry, it will be great. I think I can guarantee that we’ll all stay together.”
    While Jimmy was statued in the center of the room and Ike was still talking, while that battle flag still streamed from my friend so electrically, there was nothing I could do. I still hoped, though, that if I got him alone we could think of some way to get home. I walked out of the room and into the garden, the little cat following me. “Well,” I said to it, “you’ll be safe. All of the shamisen makers will be at war.” But it would not look at me. Over the past months I had taken to running my fingers along the edges of my knife wound whenever I saw the cat. Until now it had been a point of some pride with me, a wound taken voluntarily and for love.
    â€œAll right,” said Jimmy, standing beside me, the flag finally gone, “what would you have me do?” He spoke English, but softly. Since we were outside we wanted to keep our eyes open for the neighbors.
    â€œChrist, Jimmy!” I said. “This is no joke. We’re in Japan and Japan is at war with our country! What will we do? How will we get out of here?”
    He smiled that distant smile of his. “Resign yourself to it,” he said. “I’ve been up all morning thinking about it and there is nothing we can do. It is better to come to that realization now than later. I’m talking about staying alive, Teddy. If anyone thinks our ambition is to join the Americans we’ll be killed.”

    â€œJimmy,” I said, “ we’ve got to get home.”
    â€œ Don’t be optimistic,” he said. “Be careful. Don’t mess it up.”
    The cat crawled halfway up