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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/27/2008 11:49:04 PM)
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April 15, 1944
Location: 275 miles southeast of Iwo Jima
Course: South
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 310
Orders: Shadow enemy forces approaching the Marshall Islands
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Shiro finishes carving the last character into the thin piece of wood. He studies his handiwork, polishes one rough spot a little bit, and then looks up.
“It’s done,” he says.
Riku hands him a small brocade bag. The bag is white and has the silhouette of a destroyer sewn into it with red thread. Shiro looks it over.
“This is nice work, Ariga,” he says. “I did not know you were so good with a needle.”
Riku shrugs. “Join the navy and learn new skills,” he says. “Repairing every garment in the cold-weather locker has its advantages.”
Oizuma joins them. “Here is a scale,” he says, “I found it at the bottom of the crate. Hey, Yoshitake, are you done?”
Yoshitake looks up. “I think so, he says. “Here.” He hands Shiro several red silk tassels. Shiro places the wooden charm and the snake scale in the bag, then threads the tassels around the opening and ties it tightly closed.
“It’s a fine omamori*,” he says. “But it still needs to be blessed by a priest.”
“That’s a problem,” Oizuma says. “There aren’t any on board.”
“Then we will have to improvise,” says Riku.
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Captain Ishii is at his desk, reading, when there is a knock at the door. He puts the book down.
“Enter,” he says. The cabin door opens to reveal Lieutenant Miharu.
“There is a delegation to see you, sir,” he says. He looks amused.
“A delegation, eh?” says the captain. “Well, show them in.” Lieutenant Miharu steps back and four sailors duck inside, crowding into the small area. Ishii recognizes Seamen Ariga, Kuramata, Yoshitake, and Oizuma. They salute and stand stiffly at attention.
“Relax,” Ishii says. “What is this about, eh?” The men all look at each other. “Kuramata, you speak.”
Shiro edges forward. “Yes sir,” he says. “It is about Seaman Shoji,” he begins. He goes on to outline the woes of the luckless sailor and the remedy they have undertaken.
“Let me see this omamori,” Captain Ishii says. Shiro hands it to him.
“Very nice,” Ishii says, turning it over in his hand. He knows that opening it once it is tied breaks the charm, so he does not try to do so. “But what do you need me for?”
“We need you to bless it, sir,” says Riku.
“Me?” says the captain. “I am no priest!”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma. “I mean, no sir. But you are the captain and you can marry people and stuff like that.”
“Captain,” Riku says seriously, “you represent the spirit of this ship. I think your blessing would carry a lot of weight, especially done here at sea. But the important thing is that Seaman Shoji will think so too. If he expects his luck to change it might really change.”
“Hm, I can’t argue with that,” Ishii says. “But what do I do?”
“Just say a few words, sir,” says Shiro. “I expect the spirits will know what you mean.”
“Very well,” says the captain. “But I feel foolish.” He thinks for a moment and then holds up the charm. The four sailors are respectfully silent. “May the spirits of the sea and those that protect men in peril lend their power to this charm.” He looks at the sailors. “Will that do?” He hands the charm back.
“Admirably, sir,” says Riku. “Thank you very much, Captain.”
“Of course,” says Ishii. “I hope it works. I suspect Lieutenant Nakagawa would be glad to see less of Mr. Shoji.”
“Yes sir,” Riku says. The four men salute and then depart, not without some bumping and crowding at the door. After they are gone Ishii shakes his head before taking up his book again. Never make the mistake of thinking you’ve seen everything, he reminds himself.
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*A Japanese good luck charm. This is an omamori bukuro, literally "charm in a brocade bag".
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