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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (7/13/2008 12:51:07 AM)
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May 1, 1944
Location: 105 miles northeast of Saipan
Course: Holding position
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 228
Orders: Shadow enemy forces approaching the Marshall Islands
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Senior Petty Officer Yahama stands at attention beside the desk of Lieutenant Miharu’s small cabin.
“Thank you for seeing me, Yahama,” says Lieutenant Miharu.
“Of course, sir,” says Yahama, a squat, ugly, and very competent member of Lieutenant Sakati’s engineering crew.
“You bunk right next to Senior Petty Officer Okubo,” says the Lieutenant. “Did you see or hear anything unusual Thursday night, the night he was hurt?”
“No sir, I was asleep though the midwatch,” says Yahama. I got up for my watch at 0400 and heard Okubo groan like he was hurt or something. He tried to get up and couldn’t, so I went over and helped him get to the dispensary.”
“Did he say anything to you about what happened to him?”
“No sir,” says Yahama. “I asked, but he was dazed, sir, and not tracking real well.”
“I see,” says Miharu. “Thank you, Yahama. Dismissed.”
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It is Taiki’s turn:
“You told me before that you saw Chief Shun come in around 0230 hours,” says the lieutenant.
“Yes sir,” Taiki says.
“Where was Senior Petty Officer Okubo?”
“In his bunk, sir.”
“When did you get to the bunkroom, Takahashi?”
“About fifteen minutes before that,” says Taiki. “I was in the petty officer’s wardroom drinking some tea. I left there not long after 0200 hours and went to the bunk room. Okubo was asleep. I was writing in my diary when Shun came in.”
“Fortunately I did not just hear you say anything about keeping a diary,” says the Lieutenant.
“Of course not sir, thank you,” says Taiki.
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“I understand you and Petty Officer Okubo had a bit of a dispute a few days before he was attacked,” Lieutenant Miharu says. “Something about a card game?”
“Um, yes sir,” says Aikawa. “He accused me of cheating. I suggested he retract his statement and he did so. That was the end of it, sir.”
“I see,” says the lieutenant. “I’ll be frank, Petty Officer Aikawa. You were apparently nearby when Okubo was attacked. You had a disagreement with him earlier. Did you assault him, Aikawa?”
“No sir,” says Aikawa. He seems to stand even more stiffly. “I did not, sir.”
“Relax,” says Miharu mildly. “I do not think you did, but I had to ask. You wouldn’t do something like that, not over an insult. And at any rate the lookouts all say you did not have time to leave the deck to carry a heavy, unconscious man below decks.” He pauses, musing. “Although I suppose you might have had an accomplice.” Aikawa says nothing, though his eyes bulge slightly. Miharu smiles slightly. “No, maybe not,” he says.
Lieutenant Miharu sits silently for a moment, thinking. “I’m stuck, Aikawa. This whole business just doesn’t make any sense. There’s something I’m missing. But what?”
“Sir?’ says Aikawa. Miharu looks up. “Sir, this may not mean anything, but there were a couple of nights last week I thought I was being followed while on deck during the midwatch.”
The lieutenant’s attention focuses again. “Followed? What nights, Petty Officer?”
Aikawa furrows his brow. “Monday and Tuesday, sir, I think.”
“Oh, I think that probably does mean something, Aikawa,” says Lieutenant Miharu. He sighs. “I just have no idea what.”
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