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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (8/28/2007 9:52:34 PM)
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March 11, 1943
Location: 360 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 427
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
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Training in the Japanese Navy is brutally calculated to instill unquestioning obedience. During training, and aboard some ships, physical punishment is handed out almost at random and for any infraction, including failing to respond to a superior quickly enough or even for failing to respond with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm.
Captain Ishii despises this practice and forbids random physical punishment, but nonetheless runs a tight ship. As per regulations, most discipline is handled by the offender’s immediate superior. Some more serious cases are passed up to the executive officer, Lieutenant Miharu. In some instances he will in turn pass the case up to Captain Ishii, but this is rare.
Nonetheless he is wishing he could do that right now. The large box on the wardroom table keeps twitching, and Miharu is having trouble not shifting away from it every time it does. He maintains his imperturbability with an effort, however, and focuses on the young sailor standing on the other side of the table. Though the young man is standing rigidly at attention Lieutenant Miharu can tell that he is very nervous. This is probably not helped by the fact that the only other man in the room is Chief Petty Officer Shun, who is standing just inside the wardroom door.
“Seaman Oizuma,” the Miharu says, indicating the box. “This box contains a snake that was retrieved from the forward engine room, where it was curled up around a pump. It liked the heat, no doubt. I am told that you may know something about this snake.” He finishes and looks expectantly at Oizuma. Something inside the box rustles restlessly.
“Yes sir,” says Seaman Oizuma. He swallows nervously. “That’s my snake, sir.”
“I see,” says Miharu. “Go on. Tell me, please, about this snake, and why it is aboard Hibiki.”
“She’s a Borneo blood python,” says Oizuma. “I got her at Balikpapan. She’s, uh, she’s for the rats, sir.”
“Rats?”
“Yes sir, we have some rats in our bunk area. There was a man selling snakes at Balikpapan, and he said she would take care of the rat problem.” Lieutenant Miharu leans back in his chair, a move that seems casual but actually puts him another foot farther away from something called a “blood python”.
“I see,” he says. “You know, of course, that regulations forbid crew from bringing pets or any other animals aboard ship.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma. “I offer no excuse, sir.”
“Very well,” says the lieutenant. “You are deprived of all leave for one month, that should keep you out of trouble for a while at least. Oh, and kill the snake and dispose of it.”
“Kill Benzaiten, sir?” says Oizuma in dismay.
“Benzaiten?” answers Miharu. He is rather amused by the name, though he doesn’t show it. “Yes, you heard me correctly. We can’t have this thing running around the ship any more.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma stoically. He receives help from an unexpected source as Shun suddenly stirs from immobility behind him.
“Permission to speak, Lieutenant,” he says in his gravelly voice.
“Granted,” says Miharu.
“Sir,” says Shun, “the rodent population aboard ship has dropped noticeably since we left Balikpapan.” Lieutenant Miharu thinks for a moment. He knows Shun well enough to know that the Chief would not speak up without good reason, though he has doubts that one snake could eat enough rats in two weeks to make a difference.
Reluctantly he stands and takes the lid off the box on the table. Curled inside is a four-foot snake with a tan and brown body and a reddish head. It flicks its tongue at him. Really, it doesn’t look so bad.
“All right,” he says. “I will grant a stay of execution. Oizuma, build a proper box for this thing. Your duffel bag doesn’t seem to do the job. If it ends up in the engine room again I am not answerable for what Chief Engineer Sakati does. The rest of your punishment stands. “
“Yes sir, thank you sir,” says Oizuma happily.
“Dismissed,” says the lieutenant. “And take this thing with you,” he says, indicating the box. Oizuma salutes and does so. After the door closes Miharu looks at Shun.
“All right, Chief,” he says, “what’s the real reason?” Shun steps forward, looking as though he was expecting the question.
“It’s the name,” he says. “Benzaiten is a lucky goddess. She is connected to the sea and to snakes and dragons.” He stops and looks at the executive officer. Miharu shakes his head, not understanding. Shun’s expression doesn’t change, but Miharu gets the impression Shun thinks he is being dense.
“Hiryu,” says Shun, and suddenly the lieutenant understands.
“Flying dragon,” he says. “You think that if I order the snake killed and the carrier sinks…”
“Then people will say it’s because we killed the snake, yes sir,” finishes Shun. Lieutenant Miharu shakes his head.
“That’s ridiculous,” he says.
“Sir, with respect you are an intellectual, an educated man,” says Shun. “Perhaps you forget how deep old beliefs go, and how superstitious most sailors are.” Miharu considers this for a moment.
“All right,” he says, giving in with a laugh. “I trust your instincts, Chief. And who knows, perhaps Benzaiten will help save Hiryu.” Shun looks grave.
“Yes sir,” he says, “maybe she will.”
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Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 68, Fires 0: Distance to port: 360 miles
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