by M L Maki
The doctor leads them into Kichiro’s room. Kichiro’s eyes widen when he sees Cumberland. Louis introduces himself and Sergeant Cass. He calmly questions Kichiro. “Could you just run through the events as they happened?”
Kichiro, “Yes, sir. My liberty buddy was TM3 Trindle. He was talking to this girl in the Barrel House. I was bored, so I walked across the street to another bar. It was something coup. It was an Australian word. Anyway, I like the sound of the music, so I walked in. This big guy stepped in front of me and said, “Whites only.” I started to back up ‘cause I didn’t want trouble. Something hit me a fucking whack on the head. I fell down, so I just curled up and they started kicking me. Then somebody shouted, “Enough,” and they ran off. I got myself up and headed back to the boat. The doc wasn’t in. I didn’t want to get in trouble, so I just waited on the pier. ST1 Brown found me.”
Louis, “Did you tell the doctor what happened to you?”
“No. I just said I got beat up. He tisk, tisked, and said I was sorely used.”
Cass, “Do you think you could identify your attackers?”
“The big guy in front of me, yeah. He had a block head and really long hair for around here. It wasn’t that well cared for, either. I mean, it was stringy, like he hadn’t had a bath. Oh, and he was a white dude.”
Louis, “What is a dude?”
Kichiro, “What? Dude? A dude is a guy. A man. It doesn’t mean anything special.”
Louis, “Thank you. Can you think of any other relevant detail?’
Kichiro, “The corpsman said I was the fourth non-white sailor to be assaulted.”
Louis, “We’ll figure this out and put an end to it. Thank you for your help, Petty Officer.” The officers leave.
Kichiro looks at Morrison, “When can I go back to the boat?”
“They’re waiting for test results, Kiche. It’ll be at least a couple of days. You don’t want to rush it.”
“But, sir, I’ll be able to get back, right?”
Cumberland, “No. You’re done.”
Morrison, “Sir, could you give us a minute?”
“Tell him the truth. I’m going to talk to Halsey’s staff about getting us another torpedoman.” Cumberland walks out.
“Sir?”
“Truth, Kiche, it’s going to take a while for you to recover. We’ll be transferring you off the ship for now, but that doesn’t mean you’re done.”
“What does it mean?”
“How many people on earth know what you do about torpedoes?”
“Not many.”
“Could you help us build new torpedoes?”
“Yeah, sure, except for the electronics. I know fuck all about electronics.”
“We got blueprints for that. We have the specifications for everything. With you, we also have someone who knows how to put it all together and test it.”
Kichiro tears up, “I’m a Guamanian second class. No one is going to give a fuck about what I know. No one cares about a second class, third class citizen.”
“I care, Kiche. Let me work it for you. Trust me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Focus on the job in front of you. Focus on getting yourself better, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll see what Mike needs and talk to your chief. Take care, Kiche.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When Morrison gets into the corridor, he finds Chief Kennedy and several torpedomen waiting and talking to Brown. “Guys, he’s tired, but seeing visitors. I just had to tell him he’ll be transferred off the boat. We’re going to take care of him.”
Trindle, “So, captain asshole finally gets what he wants.”
Morrison, “Trindle, let’s focus on taking care of Kiche, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
Morrison phones for a car.
CHAPTER 16
AMY RANDOLPH’S HOME
1615, 08 February, 1942
Gary and Amy walk into the house. “Hi Mom, Dad.” She hugs them. Gary stands back. Grinning, joyous, shows her parents a small diamond ring on her left ring finger, “We’re engaged.”
He mom’s mouth opens as wide as her eyes, immediately followed by a smile and a hug. Her dad’s head swivels toward Gary, lips tight and eyes narrowed. Gary makes eye contact and holds it.
Judy, “Oh my God, Amy. Oh my God. You have to tell me all about it.”
Andrew, “Excuse me, dear.” He let’s go of Amy and Judy, and walks toward Gary.
Judy, “Dear.”
Amy, “Dad.”
Andrew, “Judy, the young man and I are going to the pub.”
Judy, “Dear, your daughter loves him.”
“Our daughter doesn’t know what love is. Come.” Gary follows him out the door. Andrew is silent as they get into his Holden badged Chevy sedan. He puts the car in gear, backs up, and starts down the street. Gary holds the silence as they drive to a local pub. In the parking lot, Andrew says, “What kinda fucking game are you playing at?”
Gary holds Andrews gaze, “I love her.”
Andrew, “I don’t give a fuck. You’re just another fucking, randy bugger who wants to shag my daughter. I forbid it.”
“Sir, I very much hope I can change your mind. It would rip her to pieces if I have to break it off.”
“Why didn’t you ask me first?”
“Fuck. You’re right, sir. I’m from 1990. It isn’t a thing that is done much anymore. I should have, sir, and I’m sorry.”
“Do you understand why a marriage is impossible between you two?”
“No, sir.”
“I’ll not have you haul our only child off to America, where we’ll never see her again. That would break her mother’s heart.”
“Sir, after the war, travel becomes easy and cheap. If we live in America, I’ll promise to bring her, and our children to see you, or bring you and her mother to see us. That said, I effectively have no family in the states. My dad is a kid. My grandparents have never met me. It seems to me it would make more sense for us to live here.”
“What would you do here?”
“Sir, I can’t go into details, of course, but mine is a new type of ship. My expertise as a mechanic is rare. There are only thirty or forty people on earth who would be my equal or better. Maybe not that many. After the war, my skills will be in demand. I would very much prefer to make a home here, raise my children here, and visit my family in the states from time to time.”
“How many Australians know what you know?”
“As far as I know, not one.”
“And Australia will need your expertise?”
“They will.”
“And you’re willing to live here?”
“I’d actually prefer it.”
“Why?”
“One: She knows her family and I don’t really know mine. Two: You guys are important to her and I want her to be happy. Three: Here, I’m part of an established community of relationships. Back home, I’m inserting myself in a place where I don’t really belong.”
Andrew, “Well, son, let’s go have a beer so I can introduce you to my mates.”
They get out of the car, and Gary look at him over its top, “Do I have your blessing, sir?”
Andrew comes around and gives him a hug, “You do.”
USS SAN FRANCISCO
Morrison is on the phone, on hold. A paper on his desk has seven phone numbers, with four scratched out. He finally hears, “Klindt.”
“Sir, this is Commander Morrison in Australia. I’ve a situation that letters are too slow to solve.”
“Go.”
“Torpedoman second class, Scott Kichiro, from Guam, was assaulted in a local pub and injured too badly to continue on the ship. I don’t think he would be safe on the carrier, either. I would like to send him to you.”
“How good is he?”
“He’s one of my very best.”
“So, he knows our torpedoes?”
“He’s not a chemical or electronic engine
er, but his knowledge of components, manufacture, assembly, and testing is encyclopedic.”
“I can use him. In fact, I desperately need him. However, a second class is of no use to me. We’ll get to that. What’s happening with Cumberland?”
“He’s still a pain in the ass. In normal circumstances, I would recommend his relief, but we’ve been working together okay. He absolutely hates Kichiro. When he came to the hospital, he was actually smiling. When I pulled him aside and pointed out that his conduct was inappropriate, he moderated it.”
“Why does he hate Kichiro?”
“Because Kichiro is outspoken, expert, and brown-skinned.”
“I see. I’m starting to run out of patience with that man.”
“The problem, sir, is we have no one to relieve him.”
“We have you.”
“Sir, the optics are terrible and my race goes against me.”
He hears Klindt take a deep breath, “We need to fix that. We’re also standing up a new school to train officers and enlisted people in our specialty. They’ll be needed. Keep me posted on Cumberland. Now, for Kichiro. Before you get underway, the young man needs a new sea bag and a promotion. I want you to take care of it. It’ll have to come out of your pocket, so tell me what it costs, and I’ll pay you back. You’re to commission him as a lieutenant before he walks out of that hospital. If you get underway before he can safely leave the hospital, attach him TAD in transit to the US consulate’s Naval attache until he can leave. Update his service record and ship it to me as soon as you can. Do you have all that?”
“Yes, sir.” He gives a verbatim readback as nukes are trained to do.
“Do you know how the Fife is coming along?”
“No, sir. I don’t.”
“I would like you to make the acquaintance of its captain. Her name is Commander Laura Wakefield.”
“Okay, sir. I and Commander Petrea have made our acquaintance. We’re cross training our enlisted and sharing training resources.”
“Good. She’s sharp. John, she lost her husband. They were a match, like you and Lisa.”
“She said. We…we’ve been sharing ears. She seems a safe person to confide in.”
“She is. Good. I’m delighted when a couple of my mentees help each other.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I want your feedback on Commander Wakefield. She’s a nuke mustang, but I’ve never met her. A few months ago, she was a JG. I would like you to take her under your wing, if possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you think Kichiro could pass the board to earn his gold pin?”
“Not as a nuke, sir, but he knows the systems. Backes, Miller, and I can conduct the board with your permission.”
“Please do.”
“Yes, sir. By the way, congratulations on your promotion.”
“Thank you.”
“Sir, is there any news from Washington I should know?”
“None I can share over this medium. We’re working as fast as we can.”
“I understand.”
“Give me a call at this number when you have everything set up. Good day, John, and good luck.”
RANDOLPH HOUSE
Gary and Andrew pull into the driveway and get out of the car. Gary passes a serious belch and Andrew laughs, “Good beer, mate?”
“The best beer. Reason number four.”
They walk into the house and Andrew stumbles toward his daughter. He puts a hand on each side of her face, “You have my blessing, daughter. Your man is a fair dinkum, right fine, cunt.”
Amy starts crying, “I love you, Dad.” Judy walks into the hug and they hold each other, all three crying.
Andrew, “I love you, too. Momma, do you have some tucker on? We need to feed our boy before we ship him off to duty. He has to be aboard tonight.”
“I have it on, my darling man.”
USS SAN FRANCISCO
0830, 9 February, 1942
Morrison dresses in his tropical whites. There’s a knock on the door, “Enter.”
The messenger, ST3 Guthrie, says, “Sir, that girl commander is waiting for you on the brow.”
“That girl commander has a name.”
“Yes, sir. Why are you hanging out with her?”
“She’s the reactor training assistant on the Vinson.”
“Oh, it’s a nuke thing.”
“Tell her to come down.”
“Sir, she’s wearing a skirt.”
“Okay. Thank you, Guthrie. I need Kichiro’s sea bag put in my car.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you okay, Guthrie?”
“Just missing my girls, sir.”
“I thought you would already have a harem here.”
He turns red, “No, sir.”
“If you need to talk, I’ll be back tonight.”
“Thank you, sir.” Guthrie goes.
Morrison gives himself a quick look in the mirror, grabs a folder, and leaves the boat. When he gets to the brow, he sees Petrea waiting for him in her tropical whites. “I heard about your torpedoman.”
“Yeah. I need to sort out some things for him today.” They get in the car, “I need to update his wardrobe.”
“Why?”
“Admiral Klindt. I talked to him last night.”
“On the phone?”
“Yeah. It was a challenge to find him.”
“Fill in the pieces, please.”
“Kiche is too injured to deploy with us. When he’s capable of traveling, we’re to ship him off to Klindt’s office in D.C. He’s going to build new torpedoes for us.”
“That doesn’t explain the wardrobe change. Wait, it does. Klindt wants to commission him.”
“To Lieutenant. The base CDO recommended a tailor shop. That’s where we’ll go. No way we can get what he’ll need off a shelf. Klindt also wants him to stand his sub board. He’ll never qual nuke without power school, but we’re the only nuke boat. I need to give him the good news at the hospital.”
Liz, “Do you think he’ll pass?”
“All, except maybe, the tactical stuff. He’s sharp.”
“Okay. At thirteen hundred we have a high tea with Sam and Gloria. They’re bringing a couple of other people.”
“Okay. This afternoon, I also need to visit the Fife.”
“It’s in dry dock getting a new bridge. Why do we need to go there?”
“Have you met her captain?”
“No. I know the ship got decapitated by a missile and a female lieutenant saved the ship and got promoted to command. Oh, Klindt, again.”
“Yep. He asked me to offer my services as a mentor. Might I suggest you do the same?”
“Sure. Do you know what Klindt is up too?”
Morrison, “If you think about it, it’s kind of obvious. He’s the right person, in the right position to do it, too.”
“I get it. Do you think he might succeed?”
“He’s the only person who could. Frankly, I’m delighted to play my part, however it plays out.”
Petrea, “Yeah, me too. So, we take care of your guy. Is that where we’re going?”
“Yes, to arrange the tailor first, then give him his sea bag and the good news.”
“Let’s go back to the Vinson. I can get him a set of bars and some other officer uniform items, like shoulder boards and a combination cover.”
“Any chance you could scrounge up bridge coat buttons?”
“I’ll try, but that’s a tall order.”
They drive to the Vinson and he helps her in their scavenger hunt. Two hours later, they leave with everything. The next stop is the tailor. They agree to a price for a full sea bag, including summer and winter dinner dress, and Morrison pays the bill. Then they go to the hospital.
Morrison carries the two bags of gear up to Kichiro’s room. He knocks and enters. Kichiro is lying in bed reading a newspaper, “Hi, boss.”
“How are you doing?”