mac.thepearlharbormurders-第27章

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　And…under　a　sky　momentarily　quiet；　but　still　thick　with　black　smoke…they　dashed　out　to　the　black　Ford　just　as　three　more　carloads　of　uniformed　police；　heavily　armed；　were　forming　a　cordon　around　the　consulate。
　
　
　
　FIFTEEN
　Retaliation
　
　In　less　than　half　an　hour；　in　a　peacetime　attack　unparalleled　in　the　modem　world；　Japan　had　delivered　the　worst　Naval　defeat　in　American　history。
　Thick　black　smoke　draped　Pearl　Harbor；　where　all　seven　battleships　moored　at　Ford　Island　had　suffered　damage；　all　hit　by　one　or　more　bombs。　In　the　overturned　hull　of　the　Oklahoma；　most　of　the　crew　remained　imprisoned；　while　others　were　trapped　in　the　capsized　Utah；　rescue　efforts　in　either　case　were　hampered　by　continual　strafing；　until　the　silver　planes　of　the　Rising　Sun　finished　their　runs。
　In　the　lull　that　followed　the　first　wave　of　attack　planes；　the　Americans　worked　frantically　to　prepare　in　the　event　of　another　blow…and　one　was　ing：　a　second　wave　of　169　fighters　and　bombers　crossed　the　northern　coast　of　Oahu　at　8：40　a。m。
　Fifty…four　high…level　bombers　and　thirty…one　fighters　streaked　toward　Hickam　Field　and　Kaneohe　Naval　Air　Station　and　other　bases；　seeking　more　American　planes　on　the　ground　to　blow　up；　often　strafing　civilian　vehicles　and　residential　areas；　apparently　just　for　the　sheer　hell　of　it。　Eighty…one　dive　bombers　prowled　for　any　surviving　warships　in　the　harbor；　with　ships　awaiting　repairs　being　additional　targets…like　the　flagship　Pennsylvania；　and　the　destroyers　Downes　and　Cassin；　all　in　Dry　Dock　#1。
　During　this　second　attack；　however；　the　Japanese　pilots　met　stronger　American　resistance；　and　had　to　deal　with　billowing　black　smoke；　a　cover　of　their　own　raid's　creation；　obscuring　their　targets。　The　mander　of　the　second　wave　of　fighters；　encountering　fiercer　ground　fire　than　he'd　anticipated；　wound　up　crashing　his　Zero　into　a　flaming　hangar；　and　efforts　to　sink　the　fleeing　battleship　Nevada；　to　seal　off　the　harbor　with　a　mass　of　steel；　proved　unsuccessful。
　Small　victories；　in　so　large　a　defeat。
　With　the　exception　of　the　occasional　scurrying　Oriental；　disappearing　down　an　alley　or　into　a　doorway；　the　streets　and　sidewalks　of　Chinatown　were　deserted。　The　rows　of　shops　and　cafes　were　as　abandoned　as　an　Old　West　ghost　town；　lacking　only　tumbleweed；　the　hustle　and　bustle　of　the　Aala　Market…where　Sunday　was　just　another　day；　any　ordinary　Sunday；　that　is…replaced　with　an　eerie　silence；　deserted　stalls　filled　with　fresh　fish　whose　dead　faces　stared　with　mute　curiosity；　as　if　to　say；　Where　is　everybody？　Under　a　sky　black　with　storm　clouds　of　war；　the　smell　of　burning　could　be　detected：　not　the　acrid　stench　of　fuel…oil　fires　from　the　harbor；　but　the　crackling　scorch…scent　of　refuse　disposal；　mingled　with　the　unmistakable　smell　of　fear。　All　around　Chinatown；　in　metal　drums　or　（as　at　the　Consulate）　washtubs　or　in　backyard　bonfires；　issei　and　nisei　were　burning　books　written　in　the　Japanese　language；　as　well　as　Rising　Sun　flags　and　pictures　of　the　emperor　and　photos　of　family　members　in　Japan；　even　apparel　like　kimonos　and　getta；　they　were　burying　samurai　swords　and　family　heirlooms　in　their　backyards…doing　their　frantic　best　to　nullify　any　signs　of　Japanese　influence　and　culture　in　Honolulu。
　Burroughs　found　in　Japanese…dominated　Chinatown　nothing　to　confirm　the　long…held　local　apprehension　that…in　the　case　of　war　with　Nippon…Oahu's　Japanese　would　e　charging　into　haole　neighborhoods　brandishing　guns　or　even　samurai　swords。　Nor　was　there　any　sign　of　them　skulking　off　to　plant　dynamite　satchels　and　mines　under　bridges　and　piers　or　at　military　installations　and　electric　lines。　And　predictions　that　your　own　maid；　your　neighbor's　houseboy；　the　cop　on　the　beat；　the　farmer　down　the　road；　the　nisei　Hawaii　Territorial　Guard　members；　would　band　together　against　〃Americans〃　（which　they　of　course　were　themselves）　hardly　seemed　to　be　materializing。
　The　distant　echo　of　explosions　provided　a　thunderous　backdrop　as　Ed　Burroughs　and　his　son　walked　by　the　sampan　dock；　where　the　blue　boats　bobbed；　unattended。
　〃So　much　for　a　fifth　column；〃　Burroughs　said　to　Hully；　looking　around　at　the　desolation；　as　they　approached　the　small　grocery　near　the　Aala　Market。
　〃I'd　feel　better　about　this；〃　Hully　said；　clearly　a　little　nervous；　〃if　Agent　Sterling　were　at　our　side。〃
　Burroughs　held　up　his　palm；　where　the　tiny　German　automatic　nestled。　〃We'll　be　fine。　Sterling　has　his　own　job　to　do。〃
　〃Well；　the　door's　open；　anyway；〃　Hully　said；　and　brushed　aside　the　hanging　black　beads　and　gestured；　politely；　for　his　father　to　go　in　first。
　The　writer　stepped　inside；　Hully　right　behind　him。　The　wooden　storefront　was　unattended；　the　place　had　a　curious　fragrance；　similar　to　incense…though　to　Burroughs　the　unfamiliar　scent　suggested　decay。　His　son　had　told　him　about　the　shop；　but　Burroughs　was　not　prepared　for　how　little　the　〃grocery〃　had　to　do　wife　his　American　preconceptions。　He　glanced　around　at　the　walls　of　shelves　lined　with　jars　and　baskets　of　strange　herbs；　roots；　dried　seaweed；　and　other　exotica。
　〃I　guess　he's　out　of　Ovaltine；〃　Burroughs　said　dryly。
　With　his　left　hand；　Burroughs　slapped　the　〃Please　Ring〃　bell　on　the　counter；　which　stretched　along　the　left　of　the　shop。
　A　door；　opposite　the　beaded　one　they'd　e　in；　cracked　open；　apparently　from　a　rear　storage　area。
　〃Shop　is　closed；〃　Yoshio　Harada　said。　Then　he　recognized　them；　and　the　grocer　stepped　into　the　storefront；　closing　the　storeroom　door　behind　him。　He　half　bowed。　〃Burroughs…san　。。。　Burroughs…san；〃　he　said；　acknowledging　them　both。
　〃The　door　was　open；〃　Burroughs　said；　nodding　toward　the　beaded　entry。　〃Sorry　to　drop　by　unannounced；　but　this　is　an　extraordinary　morning；　wouldn't　you　say；　Mr。　Harada？〃
　Nodding　again；　the　diminutive；　trimly　mustached　man…in　a　white　shirt；　grocer's　apron；　blue　trousers；　and　sandals…shuffled　behind　the　counter　at　the　left；　the　shelves　rising　behind　him　provided　a　bizarre　backdrop　of　gnarled　roots；　shark　fins　and　seahorse　skeletons。
　〃A　terrible　day。〃　Harada　was　hanging　his　head。　〃I　am　ashamed　to　be　Japanese　on　this　day。〃
　〃No　kidding？〃　Burroughs　leaned　a　hand　against　the　counter；　his　other　hand；　with　the　little　gun；　was　behind　his　back。　〃I　heard　you　used　to　have　the　emperor's　picture　on　display。〃
　Head　still　bowed；　he　gestured　with　both　hands；　as　if　disgusted。　〃I　threw　it　away；　many　weeks　ago。　We　work　so　hard　to　be　accepted…to　be　good　American。　In　one　morning；　all　is　undone。　I　am　angry　at　Japan。〃
　A　faraway　explosion　seemed　to　punctuate　his　sentence。
　The　little　grocer　shook　a　fist　at　the　sky。　〃Dirty　Japs！〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　Burroughs　said；　chuckling。　〃If　Weiss…muller　was　as　good　an　actor　as　you　are；　Harada；　I'd　be　a　happy　man。〃
　Harada　looked　up　at　the　writer；　blinking。　〃Who？　What？〃
　Moving　closer　to　the　counter；　Hully　went　into　their　prepared　spiel。　〃We've　just　e　from　the　Japanese　Consulate；　Mr。　Harada。　General　Consul　Kita　says　you　and　Morimura　are　buddies。〃
　Harada　frowned　in　apparent　confusion。　〃I　know　no　one　named　Morimura。〃
　〃How　about　Yoshikawa？〃　Burroughs　asked；　innocently。　〃A　rose　by　any　other　name。。。　You　see；　I　thought；　what　with　bombs　dropping　and　all；　you　might　be　just　the　guy　to　help　get　the　vice　consul　out　of　the　limelight。〃
　The　grocer　shook　his　head。　〃I　know　nothing　of　what　you　speak。〃
　〃Well；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃to　tell　you　the　truth；　we　were　bluffing。　Kita　didn't　mention　your　name。　Matter　of　fact；　I　doubt　Kita　even　knows　your　name；　unless　the　Consulate　buys　seafood　and　vegetables　from　you。〃
　〃They　do　not。〃
　〃After　all；　Kita's　not　the　espionage　agent…he'd　likely　be　kept　out　of　the　know；　for　security　reasons。　It's　Morimura…that　is；　Yoshikawa…who's　the　spy　in　the　woodpile。〃
　Harada's　frown　no　longer　seemed　confused；　though　his　words　continued　down　the　path　of　denial：　〃I　understand　none　of　what　you　say。〃
　〃There's　no　fifth　column　in　Oahu；〃　Burroughs　said　with　a　grin；　which　quickly　vanished。　〃But　there　is　a　tiny　network　of　real　spies。　That　radiophone　call　was　a　signal　that　this　Sunday　would　make　a　fine　morning　for　a　surprise　party。　Your　niece　knew　something　was　up…　more　importantly；　she　knew　you　were　an　agent；　just　like　Otto　Kuhn；　and　Morimura。〃
　Now　the　mask　dropped　and　a　tiny；　but　very　nasty　smile；　etched　itself　on　the　bland　features。　〃Are　these　things　you　can　prove？〃
　Burroughs　shrugged。　〃Hell；　I'll　leave　that　to　the　FBI。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　at　Hully。　〃My　son；　here；　is　the　one　who　really　put　it　together。〃
　Hully　said；　〃I　couldn't　stop　thinking　about　Morimura　bawling　Pearl　out…she　wasn't　one　of　his　conquests；　he　wasn't　her　type。　Why　would　she　even　know　him？　Then　it　came　to　me：　through　you。。。。〃
　〃As　the　grocer　making　deliveries　to　the　Niumalu；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃you　could　easily　maintain　contact　with　your　German　'sleeper'　agent。　And　Pearl　was　aware　of　your　relationship　with　both　Kuhn　and　Morimura。　After　all；　she　lived　with　you；　up　above　your　shop；　before　she　moved　to　the　Niumalu；　so　she　knew　you　and　Morimura　were　in　league…and　she　knew　or　figured　out　that　he　was　an　espionage　agent；　she　even　knew　his　real　name。　She　got　wind　of　something　big　ing　up；　and　she　was　going　to　turn　you；　and　Morimura；　in　to　military　intelligence。。。　to　show　her　loyalty　to　America。〃
　'To　prove　herself；〃　Hully　said　softly；　sadly；　〃to　her　boyfriend's　father。〃
　Harada　held　out　both　empty　palms　and　shook　his　head；　smiling　as　if　this　was　all　too　far…fetched；　too　absurd。　〃And　you　think　this　。。。　Morimura。。。　killed　my　niece？〃
　〃No。〃　Burroughs　twitched　a　smile；　nodding　right　at　the　grocer。　〃I　think　you　killed　her。　I　know　you　killed　her。　You　confronted　her　about　what　you　considered　her　disloyalty；　to　her　family；　to　Japan；　and　she　told　you　she　was　going　to　Colonel　Fielder；　to　tell　him　everything。　You　struck　her　down；　with　a　goddamn　rock；　crushed
　her　skull…then　Morimura　helped　cover　it　up；　by　calling　Kuhn　and　having　him　finger　the　wrong　man。〃
　Now　the　grocer　folded　his　arms　and　his　chin　raised；　his　tone　was　quietly　defiant；　now。　〃I　would　take　offense　at　these　accusations；　but　they　are　。。。　foolish。〃
　〃Oh；　there's　more。　You　got　to　thinking　about　your　niece's　close　friend；　that　homosexual　musician；　and　got　worried　that　she　may　have　talked　to　him；　shared　what　she　knew。　Or　perhaps　she　bragged　to　you　that　she　had　told　Terry　Mizuha　what　she　knew；　thinking　it　would　protect　her；　would　keep　you　from　harming　her。　Either　way；　she　was　too　naive；　or　maybe　too　nice　a　kid；　to　understand　that　this　is　war：　that　one　more　casualty；　more　or　less；　is　nothing　to　a　soldier。。。　even　if　it　is　his　own　niece。〃
　Harada　said　nothing；　however；　a　faint　sneer　could　be　detected　under　the　trim　mustache。
　A　slight　tremor　in　his　voice；　Hully　said；　〃You　made　an　unscheduled；　unexpected　delivery　of　seafood　to　the　Niumalu…the　day　after　your　niece　was　murdered！　If　you　had　any　human　passion　or　decency；　you'd　know　how　suspicious；　how　wrong　that　would　seem　to　a　normal　person。〃
　〃You　murdered　Terry　Mizuha　at　the　hotel；　probably　in　his　room；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃tossed　him　in　your　pickup　truck；　like　another　swordfish；　and　hauled　him　to　the　beach。〃
　Hully　added；　〃Though　you　probably　picked　up　your　pal　Morimura　to　help　you　carry　him　down　that　rocky　slope　to　the　beach。〃
　Harada　smiled；　just　a　little；　then　looked　at　each　man；　one　at　a　time；　with　quiet　contempt。　〃You　will　try　to　p