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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (7/25/2008 7:22:32 PM)
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May 13, 1944
Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 472
Orders: Await further orders
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Seaman First Class Riku Ariga sits on a bench in a small park near the docks. He is reading a letter from Nanami Shun for the second time. It is a good letter, and he will probably read it three or four more times before the day is out. For the moment, however, he carefully folds it and puts it away. It is pleasant to just sit in the sun and relax, if only for another hour or two.
Though the cherry trees have long since dropped their blossoms there are flowers growing in bright profusion in the flower beds. Here and there vendors wander by with their carts, their business selling bento lunches beginning to pick up as noon approaches. There are mothers here with their children and couples strolling past. It is an entirely typical and pleasant urban scene and if it was not for the fact that so many of the men present are in uniform one would hardly know there is a war going on.
A shadow falls over Riku and he looks up. A man is standing there looking at him. The man is wearing a weathered coverall. He is of middle years and looks strong and fit despite a slight paunch and the fact that he is missing two teeth. Riku immediately places him as a dockworker, a breed known to every large port in the world. What such a man would want with him here he has no idea.
“Mr. Ariga?” says the man, bowing slightly.
“That’s me,” acknowledges Riku. He does not get up. “What may I do for you?”
The man sits at the other end of the bench, turning to face him.
“My apologies for disturbing you,” he says. “But you were pointed out to me by mutual acquaintances. My name is Kado. I have a business offer for you, if you would care to listen to it.”
Ah, thinks Riku. Of course. “I am sorry to disappoint you,” he says politely. “I am not interested.”
“No?” says Kado. He smiles, showing more of his bad teeth. “It would take very little of your time and would reward you handsomely. I represent an enterprising businessman and all he needs from you are the names of some of your contacts.”
“I regret that I cannot help you,” says Riku.
Kado sighs. “I see you are not a man to sell what he knows cheaply,” he says. “This is good. You know the value of things. Let me tell you, then, that in return for what you know I can offer you 1% of the profits that would result. There is no risk to you and the total value of that might be realized is quite high.” He names a figure that impresses even Riku. One percent of that sum would more than…
No. “Perhaps I have not made myself clear, Mr. Kado,” he says. “I appreciate the generous offer, but I am no longer in business in any form or at any price. You will have to look elsewhere for the assistance you need.”
Kado scrutinizes Riku for a moment. Finally he stands.
“I am sorry to have disturbed you, then,” he says. He nods at Riku and then turns and exits the small park, disappearing among the other pedestrians.
Riku gazes after him for a moment. Something about the encounter strikes him as slightly off. The man to all appearances was a typical wharf rat but something about his language was a little too smooth. In his time Riku has dealt with everyone from bankers to smugglers but he cannot quite place this Kado character. Oh well, he thinks. The man is gone now.
Riku takes out Nanami’s letter and begins to read it again.
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