Читать книгу Emory's Story - Paul Holleran - Страница 10

Chapter 4

Mission 1

The next two weeks were the fastest two weeks Em could ever remember in his entire life. He and Jack spent almost every day with Meredith and Katherine. He honestly felt for a few brief moments during that two weeks that the war could not be happening anywhere. The peace and serenity offered here in paradise was unmistakable. It could have been the slow lifestyle of the people or the absolute perfect weather or perhaps a combination of both. All he knew was that he really felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. He continued to write to Irene every day. He told her about Katherine. Captain Murphy’s daughter was the same age as Meredith and had spent most of her life here in Hawaii. She did not have Meredith’s looks. Her Irish heritage kept her from enjoying the sun too much. Her red hair was frizzy most of the time. She was really smart and had an amazing sense of humor. Em knew that Irene would be jealous. He could not blame her, but she did not have anything to worry about. Em had spent a lot of time with Katherine, but he told himself that he was only doing it so Jack could be with Meredith. Ms. Kay, Meredith’s mother, and Betty Ruth, Katherine’s mother, who had insisted that they call her Betty Ruth, had spent most of their time catching up. Their husbands had been flying together for over twenty years, but they had only lived in the same place for a couple of years. Both of them seemed quite eager to get reacquainted. Katherine knew the island like the back of her hand and was quick to share her geographical knowledge. Em was fascinated by the volcanic history and could not see and learn enough.

It was already September 30. He and Jack, along with Captain Murphy and Sergeant Barnes, were to board the USS Indianapolis tomorrow. The navy cruiser was scheduled to be overhauled in California in only a few weeks, but the new captain was an old friend of Colonel Roth’s. He had agreed to do him this favor before he officially took over the helm and took her home to be overhauled.

Before Colonel Roth had taken off with Sergeant Cannon and Sergeant Jefferson two weeks ago, he had given them the orders to board with Captain McVay and the rest of the crew after their shore leave. The Indianapolis had had a busy summer. After liberating Saipan and assisting throughout the entire region, the Indianapolis deserved a little attention. She would be travelling back to California for some dry dock work. Captain McVay had agreed to transport the four of them far into the eastern Pacific. The rendezvous point with the small fishing boat that would be carrying the rest of their team would be a literal speck in the ocean. The navigator of the USS Indianapolis said he could find that little “Jap” boat in the middle of a typhoon if they wanted him to. Em awaited his first voyage aboard the cruiser with trepidation. He was more nervous about this than when he first climbed into the back of the flying warehouse. He supposed that he would get used to the ship and become accustomed to it rather quickly.

Now, however, all he could think about was Jack. He and Meredith had been gone for over two hours. Em had an idea of what they were up to. Ever since the night of the engagement celebration, Em had been in close proximity to the two of them. Not once had they been alone for more than a few minutes at a time. Jack had been trying everything he could think of to find a place to be alone with Meredith. Today was the last day they would be together. Jack had finally succeeded with his plan. Katherine had assisted greatly. She knew places where the local teenagers went to get away from authority. Jack did not have to persuade Meredith at all. As a matter of fact, she had been the first one to insist that Katherine and Em “take a walk.” Em only hoped that Jack knew how to be careful. If Colonel Roth had any knowledge of the two of them being together alone, Em thought the consequences would not be pleasant. As he and Katherine ended their conversation about pineapples, Jack and Meredith came walking through the small gap in the shrubs. The first thing that Em noticed were the guilty looks on their faces and their clothes in disarray. He and Katherine exchanged a look of knowing.

“What are you two doing?” Jack had a suggestive tone in his voice.

“We are behaving ourselves. I should be the one asking, but by the looks of you two, there is really no need to ask,” Katherine said as she started to straighten Meredith’s clothes.

Meredith, looking embarrassed, blushed wildly and ran back into the trees. Katherine followed her.

“Do you even know what you are getting into?” Em looked at his friend and smiled and told him to get that silly grin off his face.

“You have no idea. I have truly been to paradise now. She is amazing.” The look on Jack’s face said it all. Em assumed this was his “in love” look.

“I just hope you know what you’re doing,” Em said as he turned to look for the girls. He could see them just beyond the clearing where he and Katherine had been waiting. They looked very deep in conversation. “What are you going to do now, Romeo? Did you remember we are leaving tomorrow? You are going to mess with that girl’s head. She thinks she’s in some kind of movie or something. You have to be careful. If Colonel Roth finds out you have been with his daughter this whole time, he’s not going to be happy.” Em said all this as if he were talking to a three-year-old, and Jack noticed.

“Really, Storybook, grow up. Believe me, she knew exactly what she was doing. As a matter of fact, she showed me a couple of things. Besides, her dad likes me. I mean, what’s not to like? I got it going on. In a couple of days, I am going to go and save her dad. Fish him out of the big blue sea. Bring him back from the Land of the Rising Sun. He might even promote me.” Jack was so full of himself right at this moment. He was once again strutting around like one of the roosters back home. He could pull it off without seeming arrogant. The girls fell for it every time. Every time Meredith looked at him, she giggled. Jack slapped Em on the back and said, “Stick with me, kid. It’s no telling where we might end up.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Em said only loud enough for himself to hear.

After waiting more than twenty minutes for the girls to come back, Jack and Em decided to catch up to them. They had walked in the direction of the beach. The sun was creeping lower in the sky. The sunset would be soon. Em was thinking about the next day. At sunrise, they were to board the USS Indianapolis. He had been aboard once, a couple of days prior, for a short tour. He and Jack, along with Sergeant Barnes and Captain Murphy, would be staying in officers’ quarters. They would be aboard only for seven days and travel dangerously close to Japanese territory. Then they were to meet with the fishing boat to pick up Colonel Roth, Sergeant Cannon, and Jeff, along with their cargo. It had all sounded so simple when Sergeant Cannon had briefed them before he left. He was always so sure of himself and could make Em feel secure. It would be nice to have his guidance again. Two weeks with Sergeant Barnes were like caveman training. Captain Murphy was rarely around. Em and Jack had become responsible for themselves in a way neither one of them was too familiar with. Em had been wearing dirty clothes for three days. This thought only reminded him that he still had to do laundry tonight before he finished his final packing.

The last thing Em told Jack before they caught up with the girls was that he should really end it with Meredith. Em felt that Jack needed to concentrate more on the missions ahead. He could not afford to be thinking about her all the time. Jack had only laughed and said, “Really.” Em laughed too, and then they caught up with the girls.

Em watched another spectacular sunset. Sitting on the beach, watching the sun as it seemed to kiss the water, all Em could think about was Irene.

“She’s the only girl I’ve ever loved. And before you say it, I don’t care if she is the only girl I’ve ever known that way. I never stop thinking about her, and I know that we will always be together.” Em stared out at the ocean and felt, for the first time in weeks, a tear running down his cheek. He did not wipe it away. Katherine told him of her plans to attend Stanford University and also of her plans to become a lawyer and to someday run for public office. She said that Hawaii would soon become a state, and she was in on the ground floor. She said the Hawaiian people respected women more than most Americans did. She felt like she could be a pioneer for all women, by being elected here in Hawaii and having a say in Washington DC. She told Em that by the time she was in her thirties, she expected that Hawaii would be a state. She planned on becoming Hawaii’s first senator. Then she said that maybe she would be a judge. Em was certain that her ambition was true and, no matter what path she chose, that it would be a righteous one. He thought that Katherine was a remarkable young woman and had every confidence that she would be very successful.

“How long have you known her, Emory?” Katherine was looking at Em.

When Em looked back, he saw the sun as it reflected off her auburn hair. The way she was looking at him scared him a little. He never had any desire to be unfaithful to Irene, but the circumstances right now were unlike any he had ever experienced before. The ocean continued to gently lap at the coast, and the soft sounds were hypnotic. Katherine seemed to be closer than she had been just a moment ago. Guilt as he had never felt began to overwhelm him. Before he let himself do or say something he might regret, he jumped up and walked toward Jack and Meredith. He paused and turned around. “Katherine, I really like you—” Em began, but Katherine interrupted him.

“Oh, Emory, relax!” she started. “I don’t know what you think, but I’m really just interested. I have been talking to you for two weeks. I think I know how you and Irene are destined for each other. I don’t know if you realize how much you talk about her. I almost believe I know her already. I really just think an awful lot of you and Jack, and I’d like to keep in touch. You never know when you’re going to need a friend. This war is not over yet. I’ll be right here in Hawaii. It’s closer than you think to everything.” She stopped talking and resumed staring at the sunset. Em knew she meant every word of what she had just said but never anticipated ever having to take her up on her offer.

He did not answer her question about when he met Irene, but now he could not stop thinking of that day.

*****

It was the spring of 1942. It had felt like the longest winter of Em’s life. Pearl Harbor happened in December. School had taken on a whole new atmosphere. The halls were unusually quiet. The girls grouped together a lot and cried. The seniors kept getting more frantic. Sometimes Em thought that none of it was real. He and Corby were in their second year of high school and starting to feel more mature. Then the United States entered the war. Now, he felt like a little boy again.

When his sixteenth birthday was approaching, the most important thing in his life was his friendship with Corby. The two of them were inseparable. Their parents knew that if one of them was in the house, then the other was close. The boys talked about the war constantly. Corby talked about enlisting long before Em thought about it. They were walking into church on a cold March morning, being very immature. They were drawing attention to themselves. Their parents were none too happy. When Em made eye contact with his mom, she indicated that he was to sit beside her. He wished he had never looked at her.

He and Corby squirmed in their seats while waiting on the minister to begin. Everyone was turned in their pews talking to one another; however, whenever he or Corby turned around, Em’s mom used her powers of intimidation to persuade them to keep looking forward. When Em noticed that everyone suddenly got quiet, he could not help himself, and he turned just in time to see her. The entire family were giants. Em counted four young men, each looking like they already were shaving daily. The dad was bigger than each one of them. The mom looked a little tired but still rather attractive. Then when a space between two of the brothers opened and she walked through, Em felt his heart stop. Her hair was tied with ribbons. It looked like silk. Em was feeling strange. He had never reacted this way before. She moved close to her mother and continued to look at the floor. Em was glad because he did not want to stop staring at her.

Corby punched him in the side and asked, “What are you looking at?” Em could only look away for a moment before he had to look at her again. Corby punched him again and said, “That’s really rude, you know. Quit staring at her already. I heard her dad’s going to be the new sheriff. Sheriff Garrison enlisted in the army, and he is going to fill in while he is away. He’s from Kenton County. He is only going to be here for as long the war lasts. My dad heard it all while he was in town the other night.”

His mom elbowed him again, and he reluctantly turned around in his seat. The new family sat near the rear. Em could not wait the entire service. He wanted to look at her again. He thought he could feel her looking at him. The back of his head felt warmer. He knew it was his imagination, but the feeling was overwhelming. He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his head. He slowly turned his body in the opposite direction. He would need to turn at least three quarters of the way around to see her. His mom would undoubtedly notice and embarrass him, so he decided to wait it out.

After the longest sermon of his life, the minister finally finished with an invitation for anyone who needed to confess their belief in Jesus to come forward. When no one went to the front of the church, Em quietly crossed his fingers and wished that the preacher would pick one of the young guys to lead the benediction. Their prayers were usually the shortest. He had no plan for after the services. He only knew that he was going to get a much better look at this new girl.

The aisles filled quickly. A cluster of people kept Em from getting through. He saw the giant father shaking the hand of the preacher. The rest of the family was in line behind him with the mother and the girl at the rear. She remained close to her mother. She was, however, now looking up. She had a scowl on her face as she pointed at one of her brothers and whispered something in her mother’s ear. Even with the contorted look on her face, Em thought she was beautiful. Her eyes reflected the light coming from the stained-glass windows. She turned her head. Before Em could look away, she made eye contact. Em could not think. Should he look away, or should he smile? Should he approach her? Instead of any of these things, he grabbed Corby’s arm and headed toward the side door. He never looked back.

It took two weeks before he was close enough to her to possibly contemplate speaking to her. He had almost stalked her in school. He was sure she never noticed. He and Corby had driven Em’s dad’s tractor by her house at least a dozen times. Once, when she was outside, they both turned and looked in the opposite direction. When they looked at the road again, they were completely on the wrong side.

Now, he and Corby were sitting at a table in Aunt Mable’s diner. When Irene and her twin brothers walked in, Em felt the urge to sink underneath the table. Irene’s eyes quickly scanned the room, and immediately, she saw Em and Corby. Her and her brothers turned and walked toward Em and Corby’s table. Em tried to look invisible and mentally urged Corby to do the same.

Right on cue, Corby leaped to his feet and stuck his hand out to the fast-approaching brother. “Hi! I’m Corby, and this is Em.”

Em did not know why it surprised him, but it did when her brother just reached out and shook Corby’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Mark, and this is Matt. This here is our little sister, Irene. She thinks you two might be able to help us. We need a tractor, and she says you two have one, and you don’t have anything worthwhile to do with it. She says all you do is ride up and down the road with it. My dad bought two mules and a plow and says he wants us to plow a few acres. We was thinking that if you might be able to help us, then maybe we could think of something to help you fellas out sometime.”

Em could not believe his ears. She had noticed him. Nothing else registered. The brothers were talking, and she was looking at Em the whole time. He stared at her and could not look down. He felt his face flush but could not stop looking at her. He noticed her complexion was a little red. He still could not find the ability to speak. When Corby began to explain that it was not up to them, Em interrupted him and blurted, “Sure. We can help you. When do you need it done?”

Corby exploded into fits of laughter, and Mark and Matt just exchanged quizzical looks. To Em’s surprise, Corby finished his fit and calmed down. Irene was smiling and still blushing. Em stood up and told them that he could get it done in just a couple of hours, and as long as it did not rain, he would do it tomorrow.

The next day could not get there fast enough. Em could not sleep the entire night. He wanted to be there before sunrise. He could only manage to wait until eight o’clock in the morning. By ten thirty, he was almost finished. When he thought about leaving, he was consumed with daydreams about Irene coming out to meet him with lemonade. He wanted to sit in the swing with her. Several scenarios ran through his mind, and all of them included the two of them sitting together holding hands. With these thoughts consuming his entire mind, he almost ran the tractor over the mailbox. Then he saw her coming through the front door. She was wearing long pants and green sweater. She moved toward him and the tractor. He once again lost his concentration. The tractor slowed, and he forgot to push in the clutch. He jerked to a quick stop. The noise stopped at once. She was laughing a little. The redness he felt in his face was not due to the sun.

Then she spoke, “I want to thank you. My brothers are so lazy. You did not have to do this for them. They’re used to getting their way, and now they expect people to do things for them. I told them not to ask you. They made me come with them. I’m going to tell my dad.”

“Oh no, don’t do that. I mean, I really don’t mind at all. If there is anything you need done, all you have to do is say so. I’ll do it.” Em’s words were coming out of his mouth at full speed.

“Well, you don’t even know us,” Irene said. She was only two feet away from Em now. She looked at him and smiled again. Then she stumbled. She quickly straightened up and turned to look at the house. “Oh, I should have gotten you some iced tea or something.” She began to move toward the back door. “I’ll be right back.”

They drank iced tea and sat in the backyard talking for more than two hours. Her brothers came out and thanked him. When he met Irene’s mother, she made him feel at home. From that day forward, he slowly became integrated into their family. He and Irene became an item. By the end of the summer of 1942, they had told each other they loved each other. Corby thought he was crazy, and so did his family, but Em was certain he knew what he was doing.

*****

Right now, he had to get Jack out of here. They had to be at the dock at Pearl Harbor by sunrise, and there was a lot to do before then. He tried to end his conversation with Katherine, but another subject always came up. He also knew that this was definitely the last sunset he would watch from a beach this peaceful in a long time. Jack and Meredith were looking very relaxed. About thirty of forty yards away, they lay on a blanket and were wrapped around each other like a couple of earthworms. Em was aware that Jack was oblivious to any of his surroundings, with the exception of the five-foot-nine-inches Texan he was entangled with. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for the two of them to become too involved. I hope Meredith knows that Jack isn’t always going to be around.” Em was hoping that Katherine would offer some wisdom.

“I don’t think she’s in her right mind. She’s been saying some crazy things these past couple of weeks,” she offered

“What do you mean?” Em lowered his voice.

“I mean she’s in love. Or at least she thinks she is. I think she might do anything to make sure Jack feels the same way. I just hope she isn’t planning on going too far.” Katherine thought that she had said plenty, but Em was still feeling a little in the dark.

“Once again, what do you mean?” he asked.

Katherine merely raised an eyebrow and cocked her head in the direction of the two lovebirds. Em only hoped that she did not mean what he thought she meant. If Meredith was feeling desperate enough to try and lasso Jack, she might find out that he was one bronco that might be untamable. He thought that when they left tomorrow, she would move on. Separation was the key. Now, to separate them from a physical standpoint, he told his new friend goodbye and gave her an uncomfortable hug before he made his way to where Jack and Meredith lay in the sand.

“C’mon, Jack,” he began. Of course, Jack completely ignored him. Meredith made a pitiful attempt to arise from the blanket. Her earlier embarrassment seemed to have entirely vanished. Now she straightened her own clothes.

Her mother would see right through her, Em was thinking. “We have to go! We have lots of packing to do, and we can’t be late. I know this isn’t easy, but we’ll be back. Sergeant Cannon said this was an easy one. Two weeks and we’ll be right back here.” Em was sure these were not Sergeant Cannon’s exact words, but he needed to say something to get Jack up.

“I know, Storybook. Keep your knickers on. You and Katherine go on ahead, and we’ll be there in a sec.” Jack tried to get Meredith to lie back down. She broke away from him and gave Em a piercing stare and walked toward Katherine. “I don’t think she likes you, Em.” Jack grinned his most menacing grin and put his arm around Em’s shoulder. They walked behind the girls and began to think of the next day.

The sea was rolling, and the lightning was constant. Em felt sick to his stomach again. He could no longer vomit. All he did was dry heave. The nausea was all-consuming. He wanted to just lie still and not move at all. He and Sergeant Barnes were both in their bunks moaning and groaning. He thought he must have been here in this bunk for three days. How long could a sea storm last? Captain McVay had promised them calm seas by the morning. These last few hours were dragging on. Em could not even write in his journal. He held on to his stomach and curled into a ball and hoped no one tried to get him to move. It was already October 23. This mission had not gone according to plan. They were supposed to be back in Hawaii by October 18. The rendezvous had not even been set up yet. When the ship was in calmer waters a couple of days ago and the captain had let some of the men go swimming, Em remained on the top deck trying to write to Irene.

When he overheard a conversation between the captain and one of his officers, he was not quite sure what to make of it. The captain was looking out over the water and said to the other officer, “He is not going to leave us alone. I made him angry and embarrassed him in front of his crew. I don’t believe he will ever give up.” He paused, and when he turned his body, Em had a hard time making out his words. “He knows we’re close, but he can’t find us. If we get too close while we’re getting Philip, we might jeopardize his mission. We have to get in there and get out. We have one chance, and then we have to abort. There will be no time to second-guess. If Philip isn’t there, he may be on his own.”

Em sat quietly and hoped they never came his way. All he could think of was the phrase “one chance.” Did Captain McVay really mean that? They would never leave Colonel Roth out here, would they? Something else for him to worry about. Now, all he wanted to do was tell Jack. Jack would calm him down. He still made Em see things in a different light.

When Jack returned from swimming and told Em how the sailors had fixed a sling that catapulted someone more than thirty feet, he was all smiles. Jack had made friends at an alarming rate. Every sailor on board was envious of him. He had spun a tale of intrigue involving a Japanese princess. Now all the sailors believed they were on a mission to save a princess. Jack was relishing every moment. Em could not get as excited as Jack. His old worrisome self was unrelenting. He went along with Jack’s story but never offered any details to any of the questioning. When October 22 came and went, Jack never missed a beat. He told them that the princess’s father found out that she wanted to come to America and put her in one of the caves on her island. He was so convincing that some of the sailors were getting their hair cut in anticipation of her arrival on board. When more than a week passed and no princess, Jack recovered nicely by telling them another story. Em was only sure of one detail. Jack asked him to go along with his story. He only told anyone who asked that when they did rescue the princess, she would be hidden from all foreigners. Her father was so dangerous that anyone who saw her might be in danger. Em was thankful no one wanted his opinion.

Now, as he lay in the bunk and wished that the sea would stop rolling, he wondered where Jack was. The way Jack had taken to the sea was nothing short of phenomenal. When the storm had surrounded them just forty-eight hours ago, Jack never missed a beat. He jumped right in and helped out wherever he was needed. Em had gotten sick immediately and had yet to recover. The captain told them it was just a small storm, and it would not affect their mission, but Em thought it was relentless. He had not eaten in two days, and yet he could still throw up. Every time he tried to drink some liquids, it would only take one good rolling wave to bring it back up. How could he ever be any help at all if there was a situation? He could not wait to get off this boat. Why on earth was it taking so long for Colonel Roth and Sergeant Cannon and Jeff to set up the rendezvous? Sergeant Cannon had assured him and Jack that this was a simple extraction. Now, they were two weeks overdue, and yet no one seemed worried. Captain McVay seemed preoccupied with someone other than Colonel Roth. Every time he and Jack heard anything about what the new captain was like, all the other sailors had to say was that he was very familiar with the Japanese navy. He had been fighting since December of ’41. It was personal with him and a particular few of the Japanese naval officers. There was even a few rumors of a vendetta he held against one Japanese submarine captain. Em did not want to think of a submarine chasing the boat he was riding on.

Just when his stomach was feeling a little more settled, he thought he might actually get up and try to walk. Sergeant Barnes was snoring. Em thought he was not as sick as he proclaimed. Sergeant Barnes had been around for over a month now, and Em was quite certain of his laziness. He lay in the bunk and continued to snore. Em got up slowly from the bunk and felt uneasy. He stood still for a minute and regained his balance. He wanted to make his way topside and find Jack. He thought that as long as he never ate anything else, he could make it through the night without any more vomiting.

He crossed the room and went through the door as quietly as he could. There was no need to wake Sergeant Barnes. When he entered the corridor and all was quiet, he looked for the familiar numbers that he had memorized. He could read his way around most of the ship by looking for certain letters and numbers. He had not gotten lost since the first week. Now that he had been aboard for more than three weeks, he was as familiar as he wanted to get. He climbed the narrow stairway that led to the top deck and felt the rolling deck as soon as he stepped onto the wooden planks. The rain was coming down in torrents. He tried to control his stomach, and just when he began to feel a little more settled, Jack came running from around one of the giant deck guns. He looked like he was out of breath.

“Hey, where have you been? I have to tell you what I heard.” Jack had been working beside the other sailors when Captain McVay hurried past. He was talking to Captain Murphy and a couple of his officers. Even Captain Murphy did not notice Jack. Jack had been wearing borrowed squid uniforms for two weeks. Even though he had become adept at laundry in basic training, he had no intention of continuing the practice. Now, instead of doing his own laundry and wearing clean clothes, he just wore whatever one of his new friends loaned him. Jack said that all four of the officers were entranced in conversation. He also said that he was sure that something was happening. Captain McVay was half mumbling when he said that they had to remain inside this squall. Jack had a hard time hearing his exact words, but he suspected that he was trying to hide from something. The navigation officer that was with him kept assuring him that they were right where they were supposed to be. Why they had not been able to contact Colonel Roth was bothering him now. Em wondered why it had taken so long. When Jack told Em that the captain was staying inside the storm on purpose, Em felt an overwhelming sense of nausea again. He told his officers and Captain Murphy that the storm was changing tracks and now was headed toward the Japanese coast. If they did not make contact by tomorrow morning, he would have to rethink their next move. The last thing that Jack told him was the most frightening. Captain McVay said that the submarine was out there, and he could feel that it was close.

When Jack finished his tale, he had the proud look on his face again that Em had seen a thousand times. Jack expected Em to be astonished. Em thought that Jack enjoyed being the center of attention just a hair too much. Jack just paused and waited for Em to speak.

“So what’s going to happen?” Em began. “We can’t just leave them out here. Has there been any contact at all?” He didn’t think that Jack would have an answer, but Jack surprised him again.

“I heard Captain Murphy say that things had not gone as smooth as Colonel Roth had anticipated. The last contact had been just twelve hours ago. Colonel Roth had radioed the Indianapolis that the rendezvous should occur tonight. The original plan was for the colonel, Sergeant Cannon, and Jeff and whatever cargo they were bringing to board the Indianapolis. Then they would be dropped off back in Hawaii, and the Indianapolis would proceed on to California.”

Em thought that Jack withheld information on purpose sometimes. The dramatic effect that his revelations had on Em seemed to amuse him. “You really make me angry. Couldn’t you have already told me some of this information?” Em wondered to himself if he would ever understand his friend. He knew that something drove him to push the limits on even the smallest details of his life. Em thought that his reckless abandon attitude probably had been with him most of his life. “Just once, I would like you to be straight with me. What exactly do you know for a fact? Are Colonel Roth and Sergeant Cannon and Jeff coming aboard tonight?” Em waited on Jack to answer.

“All I know is that whatever they went to get, they still don’t have. The radio operator told me that the last message he had received gave the rendezvous coordinates and estimated the time of intersection to be close to zero two hundred hours. You know that it is close to midnight now. We have to get close to the bridge and find out what’s going on.” Jack was wet from head to toe. The rain was relentless.

Em looked out across the deck and was temporarily blinded by a flash of lightning. He never heard the thunder. When he got his sight back and the ship steadied itself for a few brief moments, he looked out to see if he could see the horizon. It was so dark that he could only see a hundred feet or so from the deck. When the lightning flashed, he tried to get a glimpse of the rolling seas. He could see white foam waves rolling at least thirty or forty feet. “Even if we find them and get close to them, there is no way we can haul them aboard.” Em was not really talking to Jack. His mind was racing. He totally forgot about being sick. All he could think about was trying to align this big ship with a small fishing boat. The crew had assured them that they could get the job done; however, Em thought the storm had to affect that surety somehow.

The two of them made their way across the deck and ascended the stairs that led to the bridge. No one seemed to notice them. Jack knew his way around better than Em did. When they approached the narrow passageway that was adjacent to the bridge, they looked around for a place to conceal themselves. Neither one of them thought they would be successful. Under the stairwell that climbed to the crow’s nest was their only option. Hearing from here would be difficult, if not impossible. They would, however, be able to see who was going in and who was coming out. It did not take long for something to happen. The door to the bridge opened.

Captain Murphy came out with two other navy officers. They walked right by the two airmen hiding under the stairs and stood in the doorway that led out to the torrential rain. They spoke loudly so they could hear over the noise coming from the open doorway. “Is he crazy? There is no way we can be successful in this weather. I don’t care if we have to follow them all the way into the rising sun; we can get them aboard in the morning.”

Em had never heard the Captain so animated. Em could see through the narrow gap in the stairs. Captain Murphy continued to pace back and forth. There was only about seven feet of space in the narrow passageway. The two navy officers were careful to stay out of the captain’s way. Then one of the navy guys told Captain Murphy that Captain McVay had no intention of being near this particular location at sunrise. They tried to explain to him that the Japanese submarine was stalking them. It was only a matter of time before he found them. Em felt his stomach turn. He willed himself not to become nauseated. Once again, this talk of a submarine chasing them made him feel uneasy. He decided then and there that he wanted off this ship. He knew that he felt much safer up in the air. He never felt happier about his decision to join the US Air Corps instead of the US Navy. He honestly never wanted to be aboard one of these floating coffins again.

When Captain Murphy calmed himself down enough to reenter the bridge, Em caught a glimpse of him. He noticed that his skin was red. It was never more evident that he was Katherine’s father. No wonder he chose flying over sailing, Em thought. He could not be in the sun any more than Katherine could. Em crouched in the shadows behind the stairs and waited for the captain to pass by him. Jack was behind him and squirming. Em poked him with his left elbow. Jack let out a grunt.

Captain Murphy abruptly stopped and turned around. The two of them made a feeble attempt to crouch lower, but they were as low as they could be. Captain Murphy had not heard them; he only wanted to say one other thing to the navy officers. “When we get close enough to signal the colonel, I want to be in the radio room.” He opened the door and reentered the bridge.

The two officers remained in the passageway. One of them walked toward the bridge doorway and then abruptly stopped and turned around. “Hey, I bet we can get them aboard with the boom. We’ll just pluck them off that little nips boat and sling them up on deck. I bet the captain would go for it. We could do it in minutes, and the storm will just make it fun. There’s only supposed to be four of them. Get me close, and in twenty minutes, we’ll be on our way.” He stopped talking and waited for the other officer to reply. When the other officer just looked at him and remained silent, he continued, “I don’t know what we’re doing out here anyway. We should be back in California by now. This new captain isn’t making many friends this way. These guys are tired, and they deserve a little rest. I’m going in there and let him know my idea.”

The other officer looked at him and said, “Yeah, go ahead. That’s a great idea. Tell the new captain that he’s not making any friends. I’ll be out here.” He snickered and walked past his friend and onto the bridge.

Em watched as the two of them made their way back through the doorway. When the door was shut and Em and Jack emerged from their concealment, they just looked at each other.

“Let’s get Sergeant Barnes up,” Jack said as he walked out into the rain.

Em followed because he didn’t know what else to do. They quickly made their way to their quarters to find that Sergeant Barnes was finally out of his bunk. Em and Jack waited for him to come out of the latrine.

When the sergeant came into the room and saw them, wet and dripping on the floor, he laughed the familiar laugh that Em had learned to ignore. “What the hell are you two doin’? Ja git lost again?” He laughed again.

“We have something to tell you.” Em knew that Jack would blurt out anything that they had heard. Jack continued, “We’re close to them. We heard the captain say by two a.m.” Jack told Sergeant Barnes everything that they had heard and even added a few things about the submarine. According to Jack, the sub was on their tail, and it was going to get hairy.

Sergeant Barnes did not get too excited. He calmly put on his uniform and sat down to tie his boots. “Listen, boys. When we talked to the colonel this morning, he said that things had not gone according to plan. We would need to find a way to get this job done. I hope he knows what he’s doing. I have a feeling that he is gonna take us into the belly of the whale. He did not pick up his cargo yet. If I know him, and I do pretty well, then I know he won’t stop until he finishes. Even I don’t know what he went after, but I know it was damn important. Something was going on with your friend Jeff, and I don’t mean Sergeant Cannon. That boy had his head set on something, and the colonel was backing him all the way. Whoever they went after had to be someone he was close to.”

Em’s eyebrows raised without him being aware of it. “How do you know it was a someone and not a something?”

Em thought that he had caught the sergeant revealing confidential information, but Sergeant Barnes just continued to talk. “I thought you boys knew. The colonel told us—you was there—that there would be an extra head when we picked them up.” Em could tell by the look on the sergeant’s face that he honestly thought that they did know.

Em and Jack just looked at each other and simultaneously asked, “Who?”

“I don’t know who. You guys were there. We…No, now I know when it was. Right before you two tried to sneak into camp. Yeah, Jeffrey told me. I guess I just thought you heard.” Now the sergeant finished tying his laces and stood and crossed the room. Em had more questions, but the sergeant was on his way out.

“Who in the world did they go get?” Em asked no one in particular.

“It had to be some high-ranking officer. No one else would be worth the risk.”

Jack looked like he was already going over some plan in his head. Jack was always thinking about how things would affect him. Em was glad that his friend was always thinking about the situation. He hoped that Jack’s instincts would always lead them in the right direction. “I bet he will have some secrets with him. That submarine is probably not supposed to come back without sinking this ship.” Jack had that look on his face that Em had come to know so well. “If this guy is coming aboard this ship, then that sub will never give up. I sure hope this new captain is as good as they say he is.”

An hour later, things had become a little clearer. Captain Murphy had come and got them and filled them in on the latest. He had just come from the radio room and had spoken to Colonel Roth. They had only spoken for a few brief minutes. Captain Murphy was hesitant to tell them what he now knew. He paused before he informed them that the plans had been altered. Now, instead of picking up the colonel and Sergeant Cannon and Jeff, the Indianapolis would be unloading a couple of passengers. Em could not believe what the captain was saying. Sergeant Barnes, Jack, and he would be hauled off the Indianapolis and dropped aboard the tiny boat. It would happen in the next hour. The colonel had told him that the plans had been altered. They would now have to take an alternate route. He had come up with a plan and needed all of them to pull it off. Captain Murphy would stay aboard the Indianapolis and coordinate some new transportation. Em started to panic. The only thing he wanted to do was ask questions, but the captain kept assuring him that he would be informed as soon as the details became clearer.

Em noticed the look on Sergeant Barnes’s face. He could tell the sergeant was nervous. “What the hell is Philip up to? He’s gonna get us all killed, goin’ into the nips nest. If he’s talking about goin’ all the way to Hiroshima, he’s crazier than I thought.” He did not laugh after he spoke. Em truly thought that this was the first time he could remember the sergeant with a continuous serious expression.

“The crew assures us that it is safe. We can get all of you from deck to deck in minutes. Kevil, you might take a couple of extra straps, but I promise it won’t be too painful. The real bad part will be once you guys are on board. That little tug will be tossed around in this storm like—” He abruptly stopped talking when he saw the looks on the three airmen’s faces. Captain Murphy instead got up and straightened his uniform, before he walked out into the night again.

“This just keeps getting better. I thought I was getting off of this tub, but now I’m getting on a smaller one.” Once again, Em was talking to no one in particular. For some reason, all he could think of doing was writing to Irene. However, this was not the time.

Jack was packing what few things he had back into his bag. He suggested that the other two get busy. He told them that no matter what and how long they discussed it, the fact remained that they were getting off this ship in just a short time. He tried to explain the boom and how it worked, but Sergeant Barnes kept telling him to hush. Jack now laughed a little. “How long have you been flying around with Colonel Roth? You should be used to things like this, shouldn’t you? This can’t be the first time this has happened.” He finished closing his duffel bag and effortlessly threw it over his shoulder. Sergeant Barnes was muttering something. He still did not smile.

Jack was the first to volunteer. “When we get close, tie me into that thing and let me fly.”

Em thought Jack was showing off in front of his new “friends.” Captain Murphy looked at him rather strange when he told the sailors he was going to rescue the princess. When the boom lifted him over the railing and into the darkness, Em felt a sense of impending doom. He shook it off as fast as it took for the boom to come back over the rail. It had not taken but a minute or so. Jack had ridden in the harness before when he had been launched from it. Em had now heard him talk about the swimming experience for a few days. He wished he had gone with him. Now, however, he had to help Sergeant Barnes secure himself as comfortable as possible in the harness. The sailors who strapped him in wanted only to be finished so they could get off the deck out of the rain. The sergeant was as pale as Em had ever seen him. Even with only the lights from the deck, Em could tell his face was ashen. Maybe he was still a little seasick.

Just when he was about to be lifted, a sailor approached Captain McVay and did not seem at all concerned. When he stopped whispering in the captain’s ear, the captain just reached up and touched his chin. The boom operator had stopped what he was doing, and the captain waved his hand and said, “Go ahead, Simmons. Let’s get them over there.”

Em looked at Sergeant Barnes and noticed the sweat on his forehead. Em could tell it was not rain because it was running down from under the bill of his hat. “You all right, Sergeant?” Em was really starting to worry about the sergeant.

“I’m fine. You just hurry the hell up and get over there with us, and we’ll get the hell out of here.” Sergeant Barnes tried to look like he was not worried, but Em had no trouble seeing right through his thin facade. “Hold on tight and don’t look down.” Em laughed again as he saw the fat sergeant lifted over the rail.

Before he was the last one to get ready, Em looked at the captain and said, “Excuse me, sir. Should we be worried about that submarine?”

“Don’t you worry about that sub, son. She won’t get too close. She’s running deep right now. You will be running with this storm all the way inland. You’ll be all right. Besides, she don’t want you. She wants me. I expect she’ll follow me all the way to California. She won’t even know you’re out here.”

Em looked around the deck of the Indianapolis and began to get nervous himself. He had not noticed it when Jack and Sergeant Barnes were being lowered onto the small boat, but now that it was his turn, anxiety overwhelmed him. When the straps enclosed around him, he felt constrained so bad that he thought he would not be able to free himself. When his feet left the deck and he felt the harness lift him up, he felt very small. When he could no longer see the deck and the light began to fade and the side of the ship loomed so large in front of him, it felt like he would slam into it and be drug into the foamy sea.

Then he looked down, and all he could see were whitecaps. The waves looked so much larger from right above them. The boat below him was approaching fast. He could see the small group of men on the tiny deck. All of a sudden, a wave at least thirty feet high slammed into the small craft. It was tossed sideways in a flash of lightning. Em lost sight of it entirely for a second. A wall of water was obscuring his view. He kept descending and hoped that the crew aboard the Indianapolis were more aware of his surroundings than he was. When he could see the deck again, he was surprised to see that all the men were still there. He could now make out Jack and Sergeant Cannon and Jeff. He did not see the colonel or Sergeant Barnes. Em knew that Sergeant Barnes would find shelter fast. He was now only about fifty feet from touchdown when he heard a loud noise behind and above him.

The ship’s alert sirens were wailing, and the lights suddenly went out. The dark was all-consuming. Em wished silently that a flash of lightning would occur. The sirens stopped as suddenly as they had started, but the lights never came back on. The boom began to swing back and forth. The deck below him was now looking smaller and smaller. When he passed over it and could see the people scrambling around below him, he thought they looked freaked out. The boom lurched forward, slinging him even farther from the deck. Now he had to turn himself around to see the little boat at all. With one hand, he tried to get the harness to spin. The other hand refused to let go of the strap that was holding him in. When he finally started to go back toward the boat, he could tell that he was much lower to the water. He could feel the splash from the white foamy waves. He thought that if he could keep himself turned toward the boat, when he passed it, he could stretch his leg, and maybe someone could grab him. If not, then his momentum would carry him way beyond reach. He could see the rail now and thought that he would clear it. Now he could see Jack’s face, and his friend had a very determined look on it again. Em thought that Jack would grab him and be hauled overboard. Thoughts of basic training went through his head. The mud pit scenario was racing through his head. He wondered what made a person’s brain return to the past at such a strange time. When his feet touched the rail and he felt the deck rising and falling beneath him, he was afraid he would never be able to stop. The other rail was approaching fast when he was tackled from the side. Jack was laughing when both of them smacked into the rail on the opposite side of the boat. Jack quickly unhooked the strap, and Em fell hard onto the wet deck.

Before they had a chance to say a word, Sergeant Cannon yelled from behind them, “Hey, you two! Come on!” No explanation was necessary. The look on his face was enough.

Em and Jack quickly hauled themselves to their feet and followed Sergeant Cannon. Jeff was already going down the hatch that led below deck. Instantly, Em felt the movement of his new home. The Indianapolis moved as much as a tombstone compared to this bucket, he thought. Ironically, he did not feel nauseated. Before he entered the hatch, he looked back at the giant ship and saw that she had already began to turn. “Goodbye,” he said to himself.

The first thing he noticed when he began to look around at the rocking boat was just how small it was. The room he was in was barely big enough to hold the people in it. With everyone holding on to keep themselves from being tossed about, he found it hard to concentrate on one thing. Jack was looking at Jeff and talking to him quietly.

Sergeant Cannon was not holding on to anything and was using a towel to dry himself off. Even soaking wet, Em thought he looked rather sharp. The expression on his face suggested something intense. “Listen up, we’re getting out of here. Captain Nakahara has already set his course to follow this storm. We’ll ride it in to the mainland and return to sea with the other fishing boats. Right now, the Indianapolis is creating space. She thinks that sub is in the area. She knows that it will follow her. After all, who in their right mind would get off of that and onto this?” He paused. Then he looked at Em and said, “I can just imagine how many questions you have. Well, fire away.”

Em thought that this was not the right time, but when he opened his mouth, what came out surprised even himself. “I don’t know what the hell you guys are up to, but I didn’t sign up for this. I thought that at least I would know what the hell was going on. You treat us like little kids. I remember the colonel saying he wanted someone he could trust. Well, did he change his mind? Where the hell are we going? Japan, really? I don’t think it’s a good time to go to Japan.” Em could feel his face getting hot. His anger only intensified when everyone laughed when he stopped talking.

Jeff was the only one who remained quiet. Jack was still at Jeff’s side. He looked like he was about to say something. Jeff reached out and put a hand on Jack’s shoulder and said, “Excuse me, Jack. Let me say something.” Jeff stood up, and everyone suddenly got quiet. “I know some of you know why we’re here. The rest of you deserve to know more. Jack, Em, and Sergeant Barnes are still a little in the dark.”

The boat continued to sway back and forth, back and forth, and Em could feel the nausea returning. He looked at Jack and thought that he had a look of knowing on his face. He had been talking to Jeff since he had crash-landed on the deck. Jeff had a calm look on his face that had not been there for the past few weeks. He was actually smiling. Jack looked like the cat who ate the canary. Em knew that Jack enjoyed being “in the know.”

“The past couple of weeks have truly been an adventure. I am so sorry that we were delayed. You will understand in just a minute. Colonel Roth will be out shortly. He will inform you of what our specific plans are henceforth.”

Em sat back in his makeshift “chair” and waited on Jeff to continue. Jeff told them that when they left Hawaii, they had anticipated a quick trip and an uneventful pickup. After all, his parents were simply visiting family. Em tried to sit up when he heard him say parents. He lost his balance and nearly toppled out of his chair.

Jeff stopped in midsentence and began again, “My parents always assured me that it was completely safe. They have made this trip dozens of times. I have even made it a couple of times. However, as you all are aware, things in Hiroshima have been strangely quiet. My mother’s family has lived there for centuries. The people there are scared. My mother just had to go back and see her family one more time before the war advanced.” Jeff seemed eerily at ease.

Em thought that if his parents were in Japan, he would be frantic. Em did not even find it strange that Jeff was talking about a Japanese mother. Em was aware that Jeff spoke fluent Japanese and also knew that he had spent time in Japan before the war. Now that Em looked at him, he could see the Asian features in Jeff’s face. He remembered that Jeff had told him and Jack that his dad was a merchant marine. He had retired from the US Navy and now made a living on a boat in the Pacific. He went wherever the trades were most profitable. He had met Jeff’s mother while he was spending a few months recovering from a bout with dysentery. They had fallen in love over a hospital bed. She had run away with him two weeks after he had been discharged. She returned to America with him and became a citizen long before Jeff was born. His father still went on trading expeditions. His mother often accompanied him. Some of the men in her family were fishermen, and she would go home to see her mother periodically. Her father had never forgiven her and had forbidden her to return home. When she learned of her oldest brother’s death in the war, she became distraught. She feared for her entire family’s safety. Jeff’s father had no choice but to let her go home one more time. They had met a friend of Jeff’s father’s in Saipan before the Allies had invaded. From there, they boarded another fishing boat. This one belonged to Jeff’s uncle. His mother’s brother was a prominent fisherman and delivered fresh halibut to the port in Hiroshima every day. He was well respected and sailed through the passageway into Hiroshima harbor unobstructed every morning at four-thirty. They had no trouble getting into the harbor. His mother had departed the docks inside the fish trailer with the ice and fish. She knew the routine well. She waited until she had crossed three sets of railroad tracks and then climbed out of the back, and no one ever paid her any attention. She thought the city had not changed. It was still clean and had no indication that a war was raging all around it. From there, she took the familiar path up the hill to her neighborhood. She knew her father would not be home. Her mother’s last letter had told her that he spent most nights at the fort near the harbor. His military career had become the most important thing in his life. When he learned that his oldest son had died, he had not even come home. Jeff’s mother told him that his grandmother had secretly expressed her desire to come to America with her daughter. She thought her two other sons, Jeff’s other two uncles, would follow in her husband’s footsteps and make a military career out of their lives. She was deeply concerned that none of them would survive the war.

Em came back to reality with a thud when the boat slammed into another rogue wave. The room went totally sideways, and everyone grabbed onto the nearest supported structure. Em’s chair rode the wave quite easily. He remained upright. Jeff abruptly became quiet. Em heard nothing but the crashing waves until he spoke again.

“And if everything goes according to plan this time, then we will only be near the coast for the low tide. When high tide rolls in, we will ride it back out and be on our way home.”

Em had heard most everything he had said. He was not, however, ready for what came next. He heard noise coming from topside and looked up just in time to see a pair of legs descending into the cabin. Colonel Roth barely had any rain on his uniform. Em wondered if an officer could command even the weather. He barely had a chance to get to the bottom of the stairs when Em saw another pair of legs emerging into the interior of the small cabin. This time, the legs were smaller and definitely not male. The woman was covered in heavy rain gear, but Em had no doubt that she was a woman. One more pair of legs came down the ladder. This time, they were covered in a military uniform. The plain fatigues were filled with a large man. He was black, and he had very dark skin. He immediately reached for the woman and embraced her, before he turned and looked at all the men gathered in the small lower deck of the boat.

“Jack, Em, Sergeant Barnes, this is my mother and father. Hank, Mari, meet Jack, Em, and Kevil.”

Before Em’s mind could even process this, a loud air horn sounded from up top. Em had no idea what to do and only knew that something was not right when Sergeant Cannon got up and sprinted toward the stairs. Jeff quickly followed him. Jeff’s father smiled at his wife and turned to follow the other two.

Colonel Roth turned toward Em and said, “Good to see you again, Story. I guess we can catch up later. I better get up there.”

All of them climbed the stairs and left Sergeant Barnes sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him on the floor. He had sat down in the only dry place that he had found when he came down there. Em thought that his legs had looked a little wobbly since the sling ride. “And why the hell are we going to Japan anyway? I think we got what we came for, so let’s just get the hell back to Hawaii and away from them little nips.” The first thing that Em noticed was that the sergeant was no longer laughing after he spoke. As a matter of fact, he seemed more serious than Em had ever seen him.

“I’m getting too old for this shit. I don’t think Philip is thinking straight. What the hell is he thinking? Goin’ into enemy territory and picking up a couple of civilians. Even he ought to know better. I know you boys like Jeff and everything, but his parents made a decision. They should have to live with it. Risking our lives for Mommy and Daddy. I should have my head examined for coming back out here. I had it good in Mississippi. Come on out to the sunshine, he said. Just a couple of quick missions and you get to work on a new plane. Well now, here I am in the middle of the goddamned ocean, and I ain’t seen a plane in two months. What the hell does he need me for?” Em no longer felt like Sergeant Barnes was talking to them. His tone was morphing into a mumble. Now he got up and walked over to the hatch and looked up into the storm. “This little tub probably won’t make it back to port anyway.”

Now Em was sure that Sergeant Barnes was not talking to them. He wasn’t even finishing his words. He was almost grunting when he turned around and threw a towel. It sailed past Em’s shoulder and landed in a heap in the corner. The sergeant began to climb the ladder when Em heard someone coming toward the open hatch.

Jeff was coming back down. He had a very serious look on his face. Before he even descended all the rungs, he blurted out, “We are going to need you guys up top. The captain says we need to turn around and follow the Indianapolis. The storm is getting stronger. He wants to sail north and try to get out of it. The Indianapolis will lead the way. He has already signaled them. She says the storm is only a few miles wide. We should be clear in a couple of hours. We need you two”—and he indicated Em and Jack—“to get up top and be deck hands. We have been the crew since we got on. The regular crew took some time off to be with their families. Captain Nakahara felt like it would be safer for us if he was the only one on board.”

Em and Jack decided not to ask questions and quickly began to get their rain gear on. Em wanted out of this storm so bad he was willing to do anything to help. He felt like there would be time for all his questions later. Right now, all he could think about was calm seas. It had literally been weeks since he had been on land. He could not wait to get off this boat. Even though he had only boarded a short while ago, he wanted his time on this rocking tub to end.

Two hours later, he and Jack were soaking wet and exhausted. Sergeant Cannon had given them a crash course in sailing. The storm had accelerated their understanding. It was getting close to dawn, and Em could see some light on the horizon. He hoped that it meant they were coming to the edge of the storm. The Indianapolis was still nowhere in sight. Jeff had assured them they were on the right track. He spoke to Captain Nakahara at least once every half an hour. He was translating to the rest of them. The captain said that they were about four or five kilometers behind the Indianapolis and were holding steady. The cruiser was cutting a path directly out of the storm. Em hoped he got to see her one more time. Now that he was no longer aboard, he was beginning to miss it. It sure beat the seesaw he was on now.

During one of the lapses in the storm, Jeff had been talking to him and Jack. To Em’s amazement, he learned that not only were Jeff’s parents on board but his grandmother was also with them. She had made the difficult decision to migrate to the United States. Her husband, Jeff’s grandfather, had contacted her and informed her that the only way he would come home was if the war ended. Jeff suspected that his grandmother knew that the war was not going to end the way they had anticipated when it started. He felt that she was also afraid of what her husband might do if defeat was imminent. He was proud, just like the entire Japanese population, and she knew that defeat was not acceptable. She feared that she would never see her husband or her sons again.

Em stood on the deck of the small boat and watched as the Indianapolis came into view. She was cutting through the water effortlessly. The storm was behind them now, and Em felt better than he had in days. He had not felt anxious since he had been working. The endless tasks were keeping his mind occupied. He had not thought about the submarine that was chasing the Indianapolis in more than three hours. When it abruptly entered his mind again, he sought Jeff as fast as he could. “Jeff. What did the captain say about the sub?”

Jeff did not even look up when he answered. “He’s not worried about that sub. He says the Japanese subs are not very good at tracking. The storm would keep them away. He wants to stay behind the Indianapolis until we get closer to Saipan. Then we will turn and head to quieter and safer waters. He does not expect any trouble.” This seemed to satisfy Em, so he continued to work.

The sun was climbing into the sky. Em thought that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The boat was close enough to the Indianapolis that Em could make out the wake. Their small transport was staying directly behind it. He was watching the ship as it moved along and did not notice the ripple in the wake in front of them.

When the water no longer reflected the sun as it was rising but looked to be disturbed, he squinted and put his hand over his brow to get a better look. He thought he was seeing something spectacular and waited for the whale to come up to breathe. Instead, the surface of the water became black. He heard Captain Nakahara scream. The men on deck all stopped what they were doing and ran to the front of the boat. The submarine was emerging from the depths. The Indianapolis started to zigzag in front of them. Em was close enough to see the sailors on deck as they scrambled to get to their stations. The ship’s warning siren was wailing loud enough to be heard from even this distance. Em did not know what to do. Jack was climbing the stairs to the bridge.

“Where are you going?” Em knew that Jack did not hear him, so he decided to join him. The submarine was only a quarter mile in front of them. The distance between the sub and the Indianapolis was only a few hundred feet. Why the sub got so close was a mystery to Em. He knew that its torpedoes could sink a ship like the Indianapolis from a much greater distance. He frantically looked around the bridge and saw Captain Nakahara. He did not look alarmed anymore. The scream he had heard was only to make everyone aware of their situation.

Now Em could feel the boat turning. The Indianapolis was beginning to create a much greater distance between itself and the submarine. The sub had surfaced in just a minute or so. Now it looked to be diving again. As fast as it had appeared, it was now disappearing. Em could feel that their boat was now heading in another direction. Jeff was up top talking to Colonel Roth and Captain Nakahara. Jack had a look of excitement on his face. Em could tell his adrenaline was pumping. Both of them went to the side of the boat where they could still see the Indianapolis. The sub had totally vanished. Em knew that it was most likely chasing the Indianapolis, but a feeling of dread suddenly overwhelmed him. His mind would only think things like, “What the heck am I doing here?” and “Where in the world am I right now?” He was as close to understanding Sergeant Barnes as he ever would be.

The Indianapolis finally disappeared over the horizon. Em muttered the words, mostly to himself, “Godspeed, Indianapolis.”