Steal The Sun(战争间谍)-第51章

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sun　that　would　kill　thousands　and　thereby　save　hundreds　of　thousands　from　dying　in　an　invasion
of　Japan。
“Look；”　said　Captain　Anderson；　“why　don’t　I　call　out　the　troops　and　search　the　place　one
apartment　at　a　time？”
“No。”　Finn’s　tone　was　smooth；　final；　leaving　no　possibility　of　question。　He　faced　the　captain。
“All　I　need　is　one　of　your　men　for　a　few　minutes。　I’ll　meet　him　by　the　front　fence。　Which
barracks　does　Takeo’s　family　live　in？”
“Thirty…nine；　apartment　A。　Back　by　the　rear　fence；　first　row；　near　the　washhouse。”
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“Does　Masataka　live　there　too？”
“No。”
“Good。　What’s　the　name　of　Masataka’s　wife？”
“Kiku。”
Finn　reached　back　under　his　jacket；　snaked　out　his　。45　and　checked　it。　Anderson　stared　at　the
gun。
“Jesus。　You　aren’t　going　to　shoot　her；　are　you？”
Finn　returned　the　gun　to　its　holster　in　the　small　of　his　back　and　picked　up　the　radiation　counter
again。　“If　you　don’t　hear　from　me　in　an　hour；　call　General　Groves。　He’ll　tell　you　what　to　do。”
He　opened　the　guardhouse　door　and　stood　for　a　moment　as　though　testing　the　wind。　The　door
closed　behind　him。　He　was　alone　in　the　desert　night。　As　he　faced　the　lights　of　Manzanar；　he　felt
the　skin　of　his　neck　tighten　and　move；　hidden　among　those　lights　was　the　power　to　change　the
world。
He　walked　toward　the　camp　with　long　strides。
Manzanar
42　Hours　19　Minutes　After　Trinity
The　USO　barracks　was　the　only　one　fully　lit。　The　wind　blew　through　cracks；　stirring　the
American　flags　that　were　draped　everywhere。　Vanessa　sat　at　a　table　just　inside　the　front　door；
smiling　and　talking　with　a　young；　slightly　drunk　lieutenant；　an　Isei；　second…generation　American。
He　lacked　the　personal　and　cultural　reserve　of　many　who　lived　in　Manzanar。　She　had　led　the
conversation　to　the　subject　of　life　in　San　Francisco　before　Pearl　Harbor。
“Did　you　know　the　Oshigas？”　she　asked。　“They　had　a　flower　shop　in　Little　Tokyo。　I　heard　he
was　sent　to　Manzanar。”
“You　bet；”　said　the　lieutenant；　finishing　off　his　beer。　“His　son　was　with　me　when　I　got　this。”　He
thumped　on　the　cast　covering　his　right　leg。　“Hell　of　a　fight。　We　were　lucky　to　come　out　alive。”
Vanessa　smiled；　concealing　the　leap　of　her　nerves。　Finally；　a　Japanese　who　was　not　afraid　to　talk。
“Is　the　whole　Oshiga　family　here？”
The　lieutenant　frowned。　“Ana　–　his　sister　–　went　to　Mexico。　It　nearly　killed　her　father。”
A　feral　alertness　swept　over　Vanessa。　“Mexico？”
“Juarez；　I　think。”　He　shrugged。　“It’s　not　a　popular　subject　with　the　Oshigas。”
“I　understand；”　she　murmured。　“They　are　loyal　Americans。”　Fools。　“Do　they　still　live　in
apartment　28B？”
“No；　it’s　39A；”　said　the　lieutenant；　signaling　for　another　beer。
Vanessa　controlled　the　impulse　to　leap　to　her　feet　and　run　out　of　there。　She　must　stay　for　a　few
minutes　more。　The　lieutenant　must　not　suspect　that　she　was　going　to　the　Oshigas’　apartment。　She
smiled　and　pretended　interest　in　what　the　lieutenant　was　saying　about　the　Italian　campaign。
Manzanar
42　Hours　29　Minutes　After　Trinity
“He　must　stay　here！”　said　Ana　fiercely；　her　voice　hoarse　from　the　long　argument　that　had
followed　her　appearance　with　Kestrel　in　her　father’s　apartment。　“You　can　see　he’s　ill！　What　harm
can　one　weak　stranger　do　to　any　of　you？”
“Tonight；　the　man　you　call　Kestrel　will　stay；”　said　Takeo。　“I　wouldn’t　dishonor　our　house　by
refusing　shelter　to　a　sick　man。”
Unconsciously；　Ana　looked　around　her　father’s　“house”　–　a　20’　by　25’　segment　of　barracks　–
with　a　combination　of　contempt　and　sadness。　Her　father　noticed　her　expression；　but　he　said
nothing　about　her　lack　of　respect。
“Tomorrow；”　Takeo　said；　“we　go　to　Masataka…san　and　ask　the　honor　of　his　wisdom。　He　will
hear　you；　and　the　man　Kestrel；　and　then　Masataka…san　will　decide　what　to　do。”
“But　–　“　began　Ana。
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“Enough；　daughter！”　whispered　Takeo。　“Masataka…san　is　wise。　He　will　tell　us　what　is　best　for　the
Japanese　in　Manzanar。”
“There　are　no　Japanese　in　Manzanar；”　hissed　Ana；　“just　2；000　faceless　Americans！”
Ana　turned　and　stalked　past　her　mother　to　the　apartment　door。　As　she　opened　it　and　stepped
out；　wind　snatched　the　door　out　of　her　grasp。　It　slammed　behind　her；　shaking　the　plywood　and
tarpaper　building。
“Ana！　Ana！”
She　pretended　not　to　hear　her　father’s　angry　cry。　Hunched　against　the　wind；　she　walked　to　the
women’s　latrine。　It　was　crowded　with　women　preparing　for　bed。　She　turned　away　and　walked
around　the　building；　waiting　for　it　to　empty　of　people。
Vanessa　heard　Ana’s　name　called　above　the　wind；　and　saw　her　stalk　out　of　39A。　Vanessa
hesitated；　then　followed；　believing　that　Ana　Oshiga；　lately　of　Juarez；　would　lead　her　to　the
Japanese　man　who　had　so　shrewdly　stolen　the　uranium。
Manzanar
42　Hours　41　Minutes　After　Trinity
The　knock　on　the　outer　door　was　hurried；　light；　barely　perceptible　over　the　wind。　Takeo　reached
to；　answer　it；　then　remembered　the　uninvited　guest　in　the　sleeping　cubicle。
“Who　is　knocking？”　called　Takeo　softly　in　Japanese。
“Kiku　sent　me；　Takeo；”　answered　a　man’s　voice　in　the　same　language。　“Come　quickly；　please。
Masataka　is　very　ill。　Kiku　asks　that　you　and　your　wife　come　now。”
“Yes；”　said　Takeo　quickly。
He　turned　to　tell　his　wife；　but　she　had　heard。　She　gathered　up　jackets　for　both　of　them　and
hurried　to　the　door。　As　Takeo　pulled　the　door　shut　behind　him；　a　tall　man　stepped　out　of　the
shadows。　Behind　him　waited　another　man；　a　soldier。
“Go　with　the　soldier；”　Finn　said　in　Japanese。　“You　won’t　be　hurt；　but　you　must　be　quiet。　Do　you
understand？”
Wind　blew；　nearly　drowning　Takeo’s　soft　“Yes。”
“Is　Ana　inside？”
Takeo　hesitated；　then　made　a　gesture　of　sadness　or　despair。　“No。”
“Where　is　she？”
“We　argued；”　said　Takeo；　his　face　expressionless。　“She　left。”
“When？”
“A　few　minutes　ago。”
Finn　looked　at　the　soldier　and　nodded。　The　soldier　led　Takeo　and　his　wife　away。　When　they
were　gone；　Finn　turned　and　quietly　opened　the　door。　The　wind　gusted　suddenly。　The　door
thumped　shut　despite　Finn’s　attempt　to　prevent　it。
The　sound　penetrated　Kestrel’s　sleep。　He　stumbled　to　the　surface　of　his　fever　dream；　carrying　a
tiny　mountain　in　a　silver　pail。　As　he　staggered；　the　mountain　grew；　a　silent　expansion　that
consumed　his　strength。　The　pain　crinkled；　turned　scarlet　and　peeled　away；　revealing　the　white
shine　of　the　growing　mountain。　Too　heavy　for　his　arms；　he　had　to　carry　the　mountain　on　his
shoulders；　his　body　bent　and　twisted　and　the　mountain　swelling　as　silently；　as　irrevocably；　as　the
dawn。
He　was　outside　himself；　watching　himself　struggle；　straining　to　balance　a　mountain　as　big　as
Japan　on　his　back。　The　mountain　continued　to　grow；　snow…topped；　conical；　an　immense　volcano
wrapped　in　its　own　perfection；　waiting　for　the　annihilating　instant　of　release。　His　body　and　the
mountain　trembled。　The　world　exploded　into　a　column　of　brilliant　white　silence。
He　screamed；　and　the　column　answered　in　a　burst　of　rolling　thunder　that　was　also　white；　the
flawless　white　of　death。
Kestrel　awoke；　feeling　the　last　of　his　dream　in　the　sweat　that　gathered　on　his　flesh。　He　was　very
thirsty。　He　rolled　onto　his　side　and　looked　around　the　tiny；　bare　corner　divided　from　the　rest　of
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the　apartment　by　two　sheets。　A　small　window　with　four　panes　of　glass　looked　out　onto　the　blank
wall　of　another　barracks。　The　curtain　had　been　washed　so　many　times　it　was　nearly　transparent。
An　origami　bird　and　two　pictures　clipped　out　of　a　magazine　were　all　that　decorated　the
plywood　walls。　Dust　sifted　through　the　ill…fitted　window；　coating　a　floor　bleached　by　repeated
scrubbings。　Near　the　bed；　a　pitcher　of　water　and　a　glass　made　intersecting　rings　on　the　floor。
Kestrel　lifted　himself　on　one　elbow　and　poured　a　glass　of　water。　He　drank　slowly；　despite　his
hot　thirst。　His　stomach　and　bowels　accepted　the　water　without　rebellion。　Feeling　stronger；　he　lay
back　and　tried　to　sleep；　but　something　kept　intruding　into　his　awareness。
Quiet。　It　was　too　quiet。　He　had　gone　to　sleep　with　the　murmur　of　Ana’s　family　in　his　ears；　but
now　there　was　nothing。　Even　if　everyone　was　asleep；　there　should　be　a　multitude　of　small　noises；
breathing　and　the　rustle　of　sheets；　the　random　sounds　of　people　in　the　grip　of　dreams。
But　there　was　only　the　wind。
Beyond　the　sheet　dividers；　footsteps　suddenly　sounded；　crossing　the　floor；　coming　closer。　One
sheet　was　pulled　aside。　A　man　stepped　into　Kestrel’s　small　room。　In　one　hand　the　man　carried　a
black　box　set　with　dials。　In　the　other　was　a　gun。
Kestrel　recognized　Finn　immediately；　not　from　his　height　or　race；　but　from　the　way　he　moved　–
like　a　hunting　cat；　utterly　controlled。
Finn　tore　down　the　sheet　dividers　with　two　hard　jerks。　He　cataloged　the　area　in　a　glance；　from
the　thin　curtains　and　the　fresh　water…rings　on　the　floor；　to　the　calm；　powerful　man　lying　on　the
bed；　watching　him　with　the　opaque　black　eyes　he　had　last　seen　across　a　cockfighting　pit　in　Juarez。
“Kestrel。”
Finn’s　statement　was　barely　louder　than　the　wind。　Kestrel　knew　he　could　deny　the　name；　and
knew　that　denial　would　be　futile。　There　had　been　no　doubt　in　Finn’s　tone。
Cautiously　Finn　approached　the　bed。　He　stopped　just　beyond　arm’s　reach。　The　Japanese　smiled
and　opened　his　hands　on　top　of　the　Army　blanket。
“You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me；”　said　Kestrel　in　Japanese。　“I　am　ill；　a　scabbard　without　a
sword；　harmless。”
“You　are　samurai；”　answered　Finn　in　the　same　language。　“Like　fire；　you　are　always　armed；
always　dangerous。”
“Ana　was　right　to　fear　you；”　murmured　Kestrel。　With　subtle　movements；　he　gathered　himself
for　the　fight　that　must　come。
Finn　glanced　quickly　around　the　room；　missing　nothing。　If　the　uranium　was　here；　it　was　hidden
beneath　the　floor。　With　his　left　hand　he　set　down　the　radiation　counter　and　switched　it　on。　The
counter　clicked　excitedly。　He　pointed　the　probe　toward　Kestrel。　A　sound　like　cloth　ripping
filled　the　room。
“Get　out　of　bed；　slowly。”
Finn　spoke　in　English；　but　Kestrel　responded　immediately。　He　sat　up　in　stages；　feigning　more
weakness　than　he　felt。　Fever　had　dulled　his　reflexes；　until　he　knew　the　extent　of　his　weakness；　he
would　not　attack。　Nor　would　he　acknowledge　despair。　That　would　drain　his　strength　as　surely　as
fever。
“Lie　down　on　your　stomach；”　said　Finn