The Final Storm - Jeff Shaara [66]
“We have been given the code of the Bushido. That is the greatest tool of all. Sir!”
Ushijima knew there was nothing to be gained by continuing any argument with Cho, thought, does he truly believe that? We shall win because we are more spiritual than the Americans? Ushijima moved out of his room, turned toward the map room, a short walk down the hall. Cho moved with him, stayed a pace behind, appropriate. There, two officers were staring at the enormous map of the island, one man with a thick stub of blue chalk, marking a line across Okinawa’s narrow center. They were suddenly aware of the commanders, stood back at stiff attention, and the man with the chalk said, “Forgive me, sir. I was adjusting the enemy’s position.”
“Yes, I see that. Then it is confirmed? They have reached the eastern coast, severed our connection with the north?”
The man seemed to hesitate, a glance at Cho. Ushijima knew why, said, “You may speak, Major. Give me the report. The accurate report.”
The man nodded toward the table close to the large map.
“Just arrived, sir. I was going to bring it to General Cho in one minute. I had been ordered to correct the maps as quickly as possible. My apologies for the delay.”
Cho started to speak, and Ushijima interrupted him, knew that the major would get a lashing for no good reason. It was Cho’s way, bombast and fear, as though no one would do their jobs without the crack of his whip.
“Thank you, Major. Have all the line commanders communicated with us?”
“Those in the south, yes, sir. We have been unable to reach Colonel Udo.”
“No, I suspect not.”
Cho stepped forward, pointed at the northern part of the island.
“Udo will do his duty. He will bloody the enemy and drive them into the sea!”
Ushijima did not respond, moved close to the map. He had studied every detail of the geography, stared at the curving lines that represented the hills over the northern half of the island. Udo will fight with what he has, he thought, and we can give him nothing more. He knew Udo well, had studied alongside him at the Imperial Military Academy. But Udo had shown very little of the dignity Ushijima had expected, seemed to spend his energies endearing himself to General Cho. Colonel Udo was said to have brutalized the Okinawan civilians in the north, which kept many of them from willingly serving the army as much-needed laborers. Ushijima had planned that the north be lightly defended, and so Udo was given that command, which kept Udo out of the way from the more critical defenses in the south. Ushijima understood that he did not have the luxury of replacing Udo with another experienced commander. If Udo’s bad habits got in the way of his performance against the Americans, Ushijima just didn’t want to hear about it. After a long silence, Ushijima said flatly, “Colonel Udo knows his duty. He will do what we have asked him to do.” He glanced at the paper, troop movements, brief reports from several of the field commanders, all communicated through the radio room nearby. “The American Marines are driving northward, which will weaken the forces who face us here. That is the best we can do with the resources we have. We shall continue to strengthen our position in the south, using this part of the island to our advantage. I expect Colonel Udo to do what he can against the Marines, engaging them at every suitable opportunity. His greatest duty is to allow the passage of time, to keep the Marines far from our strongest point.”
“He shall succeed! And he shall accomplish much more! I am certain of it! Sir!”
Ushijima ignored Cho’s bombast once more, studied the southern half of the island.
“I am greatly pleased with the work we have done to strengthen our defensive lines.” He turned to Cho. “You are pleased with the strength