Hawaii - James Michener [525]
On the fourth day, when it was apparent that the Imperial navy was going to be temporarily delayed, Mr. Ishii dropped the whole subject and took up instead the rumor printed in the Prairie Shinbun that the Japanese had captured both Australia and New Zealand. He felt, he told the Sakagawas, that it might be a good idea to emigrate to Australia, for under Japanese control there would be good lands for all.
Reiko-chan discussed each of these rumors with Lieutenant Jackson, who listened patiently as the wide-eyed barber disclosed her apprehensions. Always he laughed, and once observed: "This Mr. Ishii must be quite a jerk," but Reiko apologized for the little man: "He came from Hiroshima long ago and has lived in darkness," whereupon the naval officer said, "He better watch out what he says. He could get into trouble." At this Reiko-chan laughed and said, "Nobody ever takes Mr. Ishii seriously. He's such a sweet, inoffensive little man."
It would be difficult to characterize as a love affair a series of meetings conducted in a barbershop under the hawklike eye of Kamejiro Sakagawa and in a crowded Okinawan restaurant run by the Senaga family, for between Reiko-chan and Lieutenant Jackson there were no crushing kisses or lingering farewells, but it was a love affair nevertheless, and on one bold Tuesday, Reiko extended her lunch hour till four in the afternoon, and that sunny day there were both kisses and enraptured embraces. One Wednesday night she slipped away from home and waited for Lieutenant Jackson's Chevrolet, and they drove out to Diamond Head and parked in a lovers' lane. Local people called this, "The midnight athletes watching the under-water submarine races under a full moon." But a shore patrol, inspecting cars, called it country necking, and when they got to the Chevy they were astounded.
"What you doin' with a Jap, Lieutenant?"
"Talking."
"With a Jap?"
"Yes, with a Japanese."
"Let's see your papers."
"You didn't ask to see their papers."
"They're with white girls."
With a show of irritation Lieutenant Jackson produced his papers and the shore patrol shook their heads. "This beats anything," one of the sailors said. "She a local girl?"
"Of course."
"Can you speak English, lady?"
"Yes."
"Well, I guess it's all right, if a naval officer don't care whether he necks with a Jap or not."
"Look here, buddy . . ."
"You want to start something, sir?"
Lieutenant Jackson looked up at the two towering sailors and said, "No."
"We didn't think so. Good night, Jap-lover."
Lieutenant Jackson sat silent for some minutes, then said, "War is unbelievable. If those two boys live till we get to Tokyo, they'll probably fall in love with Japanese girls and marry them. With what confusion they will remember this night."
"Will our men get to Tokyo soon?" Reiko-chan asked.
The lieutenant was impressed-by the manner in which she said "our men," and he asked, "Why did you say it that way?"
She replied, "I have four brothers fighting in Europe."
"You have . . ." He stopped and on an uncontrollable impulse jumped out of the car and shouted, "Hey, shore patrol! Shore patrol!"
The two young policemen hurried back and asked, "What's the matter, Lieutenant? She turn out to be a spy?"
"Fellows, I want you to meet Miss Reiko Sakagawa. She has four brothers fighting in the American army in Italy. While you and I sit on our fat asses here in Hawaii. When you were here before, I didn't know."
"You got four men in the war?"
"Yes," she replied quietly.
"All army?"
"Yes. Japanese aren't allowed in the navy."
"Ma'am," one of the shore patrol said, a boy from Georgia, "I sure hope your brothers get home safe."
"Good night, miss," the other boy said.
"Night, fellows," Jackson muttered, and when the patrol wheeled down the road he stammered, "Reiko-chan, I think we ought to get married."
She sighed, clasped her hands very tightly, and said, "I thought your job was to keep men like you from marrying girls