Cuttlefish
Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007 From: Oregon, USA Status: offline
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August 24, 1944 Location: Kagoshima Course: None Attached to: TF 23 Mission: Air combat System Damage: 3 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 459 Orders: Await further orders --- Torpedomen Kinsei and Hosogaya enter the dispensary and, after receiving the okay from Lieutenant Nakagawa, walk over to Chuyo’s pallet. “Hey you guys,” says Chuyo as they settle themselves cross-legged on the floor beside him. “Hello, Chuyo,” says Kinsei. “How are you feeling?” “Recovering, I think,” says Chuyo. His left arm twitches and he pretends to adjust his blanket to conceal the fact that his left hand is trembling. His friends politely pretend not to notice but Chuyo sees it is no use. “Really, I think I am getting better,” he says. He sounds as though he is trying to convince himself as much as he is trying to convince them. “Even Lieutenant Nakagawa says so.” “That’s good!” says Hosogaya. “We hear they are moving you to a hospital ashore,” says Kinsei, “Surely you will finish getting well there.” “Yes,” says Chuyo in obvious distress. He sits up a little. “But they don’t need to! I really should stay on board. Maybe you two could talk to the Lieutenant for me and make him see I should stay here?” Kinsei and Hosogaya look at each other. Both know they have a better chance of being named admiral than they do of persuading the ship’s medic to keep Chuyo on board. “We will see what we can do,” says Hosogaya soothingly. “Ah, it’s no use,” says Chuyo. He slumps back. “This is a fighting ship. There is no place here for a…for a cripple!” “Look here, Chuyo,” says Kinsei sternly. “You’ve had a rotten break, it’s true. But you will get better and you will return! You have to. There are battles ahead and we will need you. So stop moping so much and work on getting well.” Chuyo looks at him, a little surprised. The feckless and quiet Kinsei of old would never have spoken so. Chuyo thinks he sounds a little like Lieutenant Sugiyura himself. Slowly he nods. “I will,” he says. “We brought you something,” says Hosogaya. He pulls out a small tin of hard candies and hands it to Chuyo. Chuyo takes it with his right hand. “Thank you, guys,” he says. “Hey…take care of yourselves, okay?” “We will,” promises Hosogaya. The big torpedoman clasps Chuyo’s hand and then stands. Kinsei does the same thing. “We will see you back aboard by the end of the year or we will come looking for you to find out why,” he says firmly. “I’ll be back,” says Chuyo.
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