mac.thepearlharbormurders-第23章

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n　the　sky　over　Honolulu　began　to　fade；　until　the　heavens　again　belonged　to　the　stars。　Oahu　itself　seemed　to　slumber；　with　only　the　slowly　turning　hands　of　the　Aloha　Tower's　quartet　of　clock　faces　to　mark　the　passing　of　another　tropical　night。
　By　three　a。m。；　the　darkness　was　broken　chiefly　by　stoplights　pulsing　red；　and　mute；　deserted　streets　twinkling　with　Christmas　lights。　A　few　pleasure　palaces　in　Chinatown　ignored　the　curfew；　their　entryways　scarlet　with　the　neon　promise　of　sin；　beckoning　foolish　tourists　and　fearless　servicemen。　And　offshore；　to　the　west；　at　the　entrance　to　Pearl　Harbor；　red　and　green　buoy　lights　winked　in　the　dark；　as　if　they　and　the　night　shared　a　secret。
　In　these　deceptively　peaceful　hours　before　dawn；　out　in　the　blackness　beyond　the　reef；　destiny　was　bearing　down　upon　Oahu。　Three　hundred　miles　north　of　Honolulu；　an　armada　charged　through　heavy　seas　at　a　clip　of　twenty　knots…destroyers　and　cruisers；　battleships　and　aircraft　carriers；　bombers　and　torpedo　planes…　while；　much　closer　to　Oahu；　a　small　fleet　of　submarines　already　had　the　island　surrounded；　and　five　midget　submarines　were　even　now　gliding　toward　their　targets。
　A　little　before　four　a。m。；　a　minesweeper　signaled　the　destroyer　Ward　of　the　sighting　of　a　possible　periscope　three…quarters　southwest　of　the　harbor's　blinking　entrance　buoys。　General　quarters　were　sounded　by　Lieutenant　William　Outerbridge；　captain　of　the　Ward…　summoned　to　the　bridge　in　his　pajamas；　over　which　he　wore　a　kimono…and　for　half　an　hour；　the　destroyer　searched　the　restricted　waters　outside　the　harbor；　and　saw　nothing；　their　sonarmen　hearing　nothing。
　Then　at　6：30　a。m。；　a　Ward　crewman　spotted　the　half…submerged　midget　sub　trailing　the　supply　ship　Antares　toward　the　harbor　entry；　whose　torpedo　nets…usually　blocking　the　channel…were　wide　open。　Lieutenant　Outerbridge　sounded　general　quarters　again；　and　took　chase；　quickly　closing　to　within　a　hundred　yards；　firing　and　missing；　then…with　a　point…blank　hit…nailing　the　sub　at　the　juncture　of　its　conning　tower；　sinking　the　seaweed…shrouded　sub；　then　pounding　it　with　depth　charges　until　the　wounded　ship　bled　oil。
　The　Ward；　little　realizing　it；　had　just　fired　the　first　shots　of　the　Pacific　War。
　Though　this　encounter　had　taken　place　within　five　miles　of　Battleship　Row；　Oahu　continued　to　slumber…　Lieutenant　Outerbridge；　who　of　course　promptly　radioed　a　coded　message　of　the　sinking　to　the　mander　of　the　Fourteenth　Naval　District　at　Pearl　Harbor…did　not　receive　a　request　for　〃additional　details〃　until　7：37　A。M。
　Just　before　dawn；　atop　a　ridge　on　the　northern　shore　of　Oahu；　one　of　Colonel　Teske's　mobile　radar　stations　was　scheduled　to　be　shut　down　at　seven　a。m。　General　Short　had　these　half…dozen　trailer…mounted　units　in　operation　only　a　few　hours　a　day；　primarily　for　training　purposes。　Private　George　Elliot　and　Private　Joe　Lock…ard　were　working　a　four…hour　graveyard　shift；　three　in　the　morning　till　seven；　but　the　track　that　was　supposed　to　pick　them　up　for　breakfast　was　late；　and　Private　Elliot　left　the　equipment　on　after　seven；　merely　for　the　practice。
　And　just　as　dawn　was　threatening　to　break；　a　notably　strong　wave　pattern　blipped　on　Elliot's　five…inch…diameter　oscilloscope；　indicating　dozens　of　aircraft；　about　130　miles　north；　heading　toward　Oahu…at　a　speed；　they　soon　estimated；　of　around　180　mph。
　Elliot　called　this　in　to　the　Air　Warning　Service　at　Fort　Shafter；　where　Lieutenant　Kermit　Tyler…assuming　these　blips　represented　some　B…17s　expected　in　from　the　mainland…told　the　radarman；　〃Well；　don't　worry　about　it。〃
　Lockard　suggested　they　shut　down　the　radar　set；　but　Elliot　wanted　some　more　practice：　he　watched　until　the　swarm　of　planes　was　only　twenty…two　miles　north　of　Oahu；　at　which　point　the　patterns　disappeared。　Unaware　that　this　meant　the　planes　were　lost　in　the　dead　zone　of　the　hills；　as　they　crossed　the　shoreline；　Elliot　switched　off　the　set　and　logged　his　final　report；　at　0740。。。
　。。。　content　that　he'd　had　enough　practice　for　one　day。
　The　blips　on　his　screen　had　been　forty…three　Zeros；　forty　torpedo　bombers；　and　one　hundred　bombers；　the　first　wave　of　planes　launched　at　six　a。m。　by　the　Japanese　battle　fleet　275　miles　due　north　of　the　radar　station。　Their　shadows　racing　across　the　checkerboards　of　sugarcane　and　pineapple　fields；　the　183　silver　planes　streaked　over　the　lushly　tropical；　dreamily　peaceful　island；　where　a　harbor　as　still　as　a　millpond　awaited；　part　of　a　golden　landscape　basking　in　the　tranquillity　of　a　Sunday　dawn。
　At　around　7：30　a。m。；　Hully　Burroughs　and　his　father　sat　at　a　round　wicker　table　on　the　Niumalu　patio；　having　breakfast。　Hully　was　in　bis　tennis　whites；　O。　B。　in　a　short…sleeved　woven　tan　shirt　and　khaki　slacks；　an　ensemble　that　looked　vaguely　military；　both　men　were　in　sneakers。　The　plan　was　to　play　tennis　after　breakfast；　so　they　again　ate　light…orange　juice　and　coffee　and　muffins　and　fresh　fruit。
　Their　houseguest；　Bill　Fielder；　was　still　on　the　pallet　in　the　bungalow；　sleeping　it　off；　dead　to　the　world。　The　chief　topic　of　discussion　between　father　and　son　was　their　frustration　that　the　Sunday　paper　was　late：　Hully's　brother　Jack's　ic　strip；　based　on　ERB's　John　Carter　of　Mars　stories；　was　making　its　debut　today。
　〃Well；　it's　not　like　we　haven't　seen　the　proofs；〃　Hully　said；　buttering　a　muffin。
　〃Sure；　but　I'm　anxious　to　see　it　in　color；〃　O。　B。　said；　obviously　disappointed　that　he　couldn't　read　this　latest　Burroughs　spin…off…helmed　by　his　eldest　son；　a　fact　of　which　he　was　inordinately　proud…over　his　morning　coffee。
　Neither　father　nor　son　had　mentioned　anything　about　the　murder　investigation　that　had　so　consumed　them　the　day　before；　this　was　a　new　day…witness　the　endless　blue　sky　puffed　with　clouds；　the　surf　rolling　gentry　to　shore；　hear　and　feel　the　wind　whispering　through　the　fronds；　a　strangely　still　morning；　quiet；　serene　。。。　Sunday。
　When　the　first　sounds　of　artillery　fire　interrupted　that　serenity；　shattering　it　even；　Burroughs；　coffee　cup　in　hand；　looked　at　Hully　with　one　arched　eyebrow。
　〃No；〃　Hully　said；　to　the　unasked　question。
　And　O。　B。　nodded。
　After　all；　yesterday's　papers　had　said　that　heavy　guns　would　be　fired　from　various　parts　of　the　island；　over　the　next　few　days；　and　Oahu　was　a　continual　site　of　war　games　and　realistic　maneuvers。
　As　the　sounds　of　battle　built；　other　patrons　of　the　Niumalu；　at　other　tables；　were　exchanging　the　same　information：　this　was　just　a　drill；　some　kind　of　Navy　battle　practice；　or　the　Army　having　target　practice。。。。
　A　woman　at　a　nearby　table　said　in　an　English　accent；
　〃What　a　wonderfully　realistic　imitation　of　a　European　air　raid。〃
　〃Well；　now　I　know　how　they　sound；〃　her　male　panion；　an　American；　said　matter…of…factly。
　Soon；　as　father　and　son　wandered　to　the　tennis　court；　rackets　in　hand；　Burroughs　was　saying；　〃You　get　used　to　these　damn　maneuvers；　living　on　a　military　island　like　this。　But　I　have　to　admit；　after　what　we　learned　yesterday；　I'm　damned　nervous。　You　don't　think　this　could　be。。。〃
　From　the　direction　of　the　beach；　the　sky　rumbled；　and　it　wasn't　thunder。
　Nonetheless；　Hully　shook　his　head。　〃Dad；　we'd　be　hearing　sirens…it'd　be　all　over　the　radio；　by　now。　We'd　know　if　this　were　more　than　just　gunnery　practice。〃
　So　they　began　to　play　tennis。　Before　long；　many　of　the　Niumalu　guests　had　gathered　on　the　sandy　patch　adjacent　to　the　tennis　court；　that　sunbathing　area　where；　not　so　long　ago；　Pearl　Har…ada　had　lounged　in　a　pretty　pink　bathing　suit。　From　there；　the　rubberneckers　could　enjoy…just　past　the　stubby　wooden　fence…a　clear　view　of　the　coast；　from　Diamond　Head　to　beyond　Pearl　Harbor　and　Barbers　Point；　though　a　hill　kept　them　from　seeing　the　Naval　base。
　Even　from　the　court；　Hully　and　his　dad　could　quite　plainly　see…pausing　between　serves…bombs　falling　into　the　ocean　not　so　far　away；　dense　black　smoke　billowing　up　as　if　the　water　were　on　fire。
　〃It's　a　practice　smoke　screen；〃　somebody　said。
　〃Sure　doesn't　sound　like　practice；〃　someone　else　said；　rather　idly。
　Antiaircraft　shells　were　exploding　in　the　sky；　and　ships　at　sea　were　firing；　and　the　guests　were　oohing　and　ahhing；　as　if　at　a　Fourth　of　July　fireworks　display；　marveling　at　these　〃realistic　maneuvers　the　Navy　was　staging。〃
　Hully　had　just　returned　a　serve；　and　O。　B。　had　swatted　it　back；　when　a　bomb　went　off　surprisingly　nearby；　and　Hully's　attention　jerked　toward　the　beach；　the　ball　bouncing　past　him；　unattended。　The　hotel　guests　were　rearing　back　in　horror　and　surprise。　Gasps　and　screams　intermingled　as　they　began　to　back　away；　and　gradually　turned　and　walked；　and　ran；　to　their　bungalows　or　the　lodge　or　just　somewhere　else；　anywhere　else；　as　long　as　it　was　inland。
　At　the　sound　of　that　nearby　explosion；　Hully　had　tossed　his　racket　and　his　father　had　done　the　same；　and　as　the　guests　rushed　toward　them；　the　Burroughs　duo　moved　through　the　panicking　crowd；　swimming　against　the　tide；　running　toward　the　beach。
　Fred　Bivens；　eyes　wide　and　unbelieving；　came　up　to　them；　gesturing　numbly　toward　the　waters。
　〃A　supply　ship…it　was　standing　just　offshore；　by　Fort　DeRussey。。。。　A　bomb　blew　the　damn　thing　up！　What　kind　of　war　games　are　these？〃
　Hully　and　his　father　looked　out　and　could　see　bombs　bursting　over　Pearl　Harbor　and　Hickam　Field。
　〃It's　war；　Fred；〃　O。　B。　said　gravely。　〃Not　games。〃
　Hully　grabbed　his　father　by　the　arm　and　said　to　him　pointedly；　〃Then　let's　go　take　a　prisoner。〃
　O。　B。；　understanding；　nodded　curtly；　and　they　took　off。
　Feeling　like　idiots…they　if　anyone　should　have　known　this　was　the　real　thing…Hully　and　O。　B。　ran　toward　the　Kuhns'　cottage。　As　they　passed　by　an　open　window　of　another　bungalow；　a　radio　blasted　out　an　announcer's　call　to　action：　〃All　men　report　to　your　post！　Calling　all　nurses！　Proceed　to　Pearl　Harbor！〃
　And　as　they　jogged　by　another　open　window；　on　another　tumed…up　radio；　a　different　announcer　was　saying；　〃Civilians…stay　off　the　street！　Stay　home！　Do　not　use　the　telephone！　Oahu　is　being　attacked…the　sign　of　the　Rising　Sun　is　to　be　seen　on　the　wings　of　the　attacking　planes！〃
　No　radio　was　on　in　the　Kuhns'　quarters；　but　they　found　the　door　open　and；　inside；　Adam　Sterling；　who　had　a　。38　revolver　in　his　right　hand。　The　place　was　a　mess；　almost　as　if　it　had　been　searched；　but　that　wasn't　exactly　the　case。
　The　FBI　agent；　who　might　have　been　a　tourist　in　his　aloha　shirt　and　chinos；　looked　at　them　and　said；　〃Kuhn　and　his　wife　cleared　out；　sometime　during　the　night。〃
　Hands　on　his　hips；　O。　B。　snorted　a　laugh　and　asked；　〃Where　the　hell　do　they　think　they're　gonna　hide；　on　this　island？〃
　Sterling　stuck　the　gun　in　his　waistband；　shrugging。　〃Maybe　with　Jap　sympathizers。　Maybe　they　think　that　fifth　column　is　going　to　rise　up；　or　maybe　an　invasion　is　going　to　follow　this　goddamn　air　raid；　and　they're　hiding　till　the　oute。〃　Swallowing　thickly；　Sterling　shook　his　head　and　his　eyes　locked　with　O。　B。's。　〃Jesus；　Ed…did　we　have　to　be　right？〃
　Explosions；　muffled；　underscored　the　agent's　statement。
　'This　is　it；〃　O。　B。　said　through　clenched　teeth。　〃This　is　the　attack。　But　my　question　is…is　this　what　Pearl　Harada　knew？〃
　Sterling　shook　his　head。　〃No…but　close。　Last　night；　after　you　and　I　struck　out　with　General　Short　and　Admiral　Kimmel。　。。　and　what　a　morning　I　bet　they're　having　。。。　I　couldn't　sleep。　So　I　went