Fathers

by David J. Daniel

  The man said nothing as he slowly brought his hands to his head.

  “Do you speak English?” Asked Wiremu.

  Silence.

  “Are you a Jap?”Asked Jack.

  Silence.

  Jack poked the barrel of the rifle into the man’s back again and repeated loudly, “Are you a Jap?”

  “Yes. I am Japanese.”

  “And you speak English?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Are you that Jap POW that everyone’s been looking for then?” Asked Wiremu.

  “I will not lie to you. I escaped from Wakeford with many others, so yes; I am one of the prisoners that your people will be looking for.”

  “’Cept you’re the only one ‘cause they caught all the others,” said Wiremu.

  Silence.

  “What’s your name?” Asked Jack.

  “Konosu.”

  “Konosu, what?”

  “It is not important what my other name is. I am known as Konosu... And who are you?”

  Jack looked at Wiremu and said, “Should we tell him our names?”

  “Yeah I s’pose so, can’t do any harm, can it?”

  Jack thought it couldn’t so said, “I’m Jack and this is Wiremu.”

  “Good day to you Jack and Wi-re-mu.”

  “Um... Gidday,” said Jack.

  “Kia Ora,” mumbled Wiremu.

  “Um, you know you’re our prisoner now, so you have to do what we tell you otherwise I’ll have to shoot you,” said Jack.

  The rain had stopped but the leaves still dripped on as the sun broke through the canopy and lit up the scene like a spotlight on a stage. “I cannot go back to prison,” said Konosu.

  “Why not?”Asked Jack.

  “Because I will be killed.”

  “Nah, they won’t kill you, they’re not allowed to kill you. It’d be against the rules or something,” said Wiremu.

  “I’m not talking about the guards. I’m talking about my fellow prisoners.”

  “Why would they do that?” Asked Jack.

  “Because I have embarrassed myself and them. To be captured by two boys would be seen as total humiliation and an affront to the Emperor and Japan. I would not be forgiven.”

  “Yeah but I have a gun. You have no choice in the matter. You either come with us or I’ll have to shoot you,” said Jack.

  “So shoot me then as I will not go with you.”

  Jack looked at Wiremu as if to say, ‘What do we do now?’ Wiremu replied with a shrug.

  “Um, well okay then. This is your last chance. You either come with me or I’m going to have to shoot you, right here, right now,” said Jack with a tremble in his voice.

  Konosu took his hands from his head and placed them on his knees. He then bowed his head exposing his neck and closed his eyes. “Do as you must Jack.”

  Jack raised the rifle and placed the end of the barrel hard up against the base of Konosu’s head where the skull met the neck. He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and held it. A tear trickled down his cheek as the knuckle on his index finger turned white as he squeezed the trigger. Wiremu stood next to Jack, silent and wide eyed, mouth agape, as he realised Jack was going to do it; he was really going to kill this man.

  Konosu dreamed. He dreamed of his father and his mother and brother and sister. He saw his childhood lover, Kiyomi, which meant pure beauty, and indeed she was. And he smiled when he thought of her and he dreamed he was with her right now, embracing her and loving her as he waited for the bullet to enter his brain and bring peace to his tortured existence.

  Jack squeezed the trigger and fired.

  The rifle jumped back in his hands, just a little, from the recoil of the shot and the bullet embedded itself in the trunk of a ponga fern somewhere in the distance. Jack had lifted the rifle at the last moment as he knew he could not kill this man in cold blood. He might be the enemy but he was unarmed and he posed no threat to them. The man could’ve grabbed at the rifle at any stage and tried to wrestle it off him but he didn’t. He was prepared to die without a fight, at the hands of an eleven year old boy rather than fight back in a battle that he would have had a good chance of winning. He was after all a battle hardened soldier and they were two primary school aged boys armed with little more than a pea shooter.

  Konosu flinched as the bullet whizzed past his ear and he opened his eyes and lifted his head. He stood and turned his around to face Jack and Wiremu and then bowed. He said, “Arigatou gozaimasu”

  Jack and Wiremu looked at each other and both said, “Eh?”

  He smiled. “I said, ‘thank you very much’.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re lucky I’m in a good mood today,” said Jack, trying to sound tough.

  Wiremu said, “You know I could go and get help while you guarded him Jack. I could be back in an hour or so.”

  Konosu smiled and said, “I would simply walk away Wir-e-mu and then what would happen? Jack would have to decide to shoot me or let me go. And I think Jack has already made that decision.”

  “He’s right Mu. There’s nothing we can do about it apart from report it when we get back,” said Jack.

  “S’pose your right, so what do we do then? Head back now or wait till we get our possums?”

  Jack said, “Um...I don’t know. We’ve got to get the possums. We can’t just leave them in the traps... We’ll get the possums first and then we’ll head back and tell someone.”

  “Yeah, but then they’ll say ‘why didn’t you tell us straight away’, you know, get all angry and that.”

  Konosu went and sat on a log while the boys debated over what to do.

  “We’ll I suppose you could go and I could carry on with the possums,” said Jack.

  “Nah, how about you go and I’ll do the possums,” said Wiremu.

  Konosu yawned and scratched his head.

  “Yeah and who am I going to tell. I’m not telling Doug, he’s a bastard and I’m not telling me mum ‘cause she’ll only tell him. That means I’d have to go and tell someone else, someone who lives miles away and that’d take ages. You could go and tell your parents. That’d be the quickest.”

  “Yeah, but Jack your forgetting one thing. Something that’s really important.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Today’s Friday and we’re meant to be in school.”

  “Oh crikey, you’re right. Well that’s it then. We can’t go and tell anyone otherwise we’ll be dropping ourselves in it.”

  Konosu looked at Jack and smiled.

  “It is for the best boys. If one of you left the other by themselves they would say that you should not have done that. It would not be seen as a sensible thing to do. Leaving one by himself in the hands of the enemy.”

  “Yeah that’s right. Whatever we’d picked would’ve been wrong. Well, once again it’s your lucky day Kon..., um, what’s your name again?” Said Jack.

  “Konosu. And yes it does appear that today is my lucky day.”

  “So what are you going to do Konosu?” Asked Jack. “Are you going to carry on running, hoping you don’t get caught and just wait till the war ends, or what?”

  “I have finished with running Jack. I plan to stay around here and hopefully survive. And when the war ends, I will return to my country and live in peace.”

  Wiremu said, “Well from what I’ve heard the war is coming to an end. My Dad was saying that if we’re lucky it could be over by Christmas.”

  “That’s if you lot would hurry up and surrender,” added Jack.

  Konosu shook his head. “I’m afraid Japan will not surrender. Not until the very last man has given his life. It is seen as a matter of honour for most and something that will ultimately destroy our people and country. It is very sad and I wish things could be different.”

  “Well I’ve heard that Okinawa has fallen and the next stop for the Americans is Japan itself,” said Jack.

  Konosu frowned. “If that is the case then I believe we could be in for a long wait b
efore the war ends. My people will not give up their country without horrendous sacrifices. Every man, woman and child will take up arms to defend their homes.”

  “We kicked the Germans arse and we’ll kick yours as well!” Said Wiremu a little angrily and pointing his finger at Konosu.

  Konosu smiled, “Yes I’m sure you will, in the end. But not without untold casualties on both sides.”

  Tearfully Jack said, “What is it with you people? I mean first the Germans want to take over the world then you lot attack the Americans. Why can’t we all live happily in our own countries without trying to kill each other? Why do some people die and others live in the war? I mean Wiremu’s father came home, not even scratched! Yet my Dad gets killed. Dead. How can that be fair? How can that be right? If you were a German I would’ve shot you. No mucking around. I would’ve shot you as payback for my Dad!” No one spoke as Jack wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned the rifle against a tree.

  Quietly Konosu said, “I don’t think you would have shot me Jack. I think you are a better person than that. And you know, killing one another is not the answer to our differences.” Then he added, “I am sorry for the loss of your father Jack.”

  “Hey, come on Jack,” said Wiremu cheerfully. “It’s all right mate. I know, we’ll have a brew eh! I’ve got some matches and a billy and tea. Did you bring some tucker Jack? We could have a feed as well!”

  “Yep, sure,” sniffed Jack. “But we should deal with the possums first, you know put ‘em out of their misery, eh?”

  Konosu agreed. “I think that is a wise idea Jack. No creature should be forced to suffer pain unnecessarily. May I follow and help you boys and perhaps you could show me how to kill one of these animals humanely.”

  Jack looked at Wiremu and then back at Konosu. “Can I just have a word with Wiremu first. Alone?”

  “Yes of course Jack. I will be waiting here.”

  Jack and Wiremu moved some distance away and Jack asked, “What do you think, Mu?”

  “What? About having a Jap tag along with us? Cripes it seems a bit odd doesn’t it? What if someone comes along and sees us with him? Then whatta we do?”

  “Yeah, well, we can’t just say ‘no’ can we? Anyway no one’s going to just, ‘come along’. Were in the middle of the bush after all. And if anyone did happen to walk this way we’d hear them a mile off, wouldn’t we?”

  “You’re right I ‘spose but it is a strange situation isn’t it, I mean us with a POW acting like were all mates or something. What if we turn our backs and he jumps us and scones us one?”

  “Um, I don’t think that’s likely, he could’ve done it at any time and anyway, look over there. I’ve left the rifle up against the tree and he’s not even interested.”

  Wiremu grimaced. “Jack you twit, he could’ve used that on us!”

  “Look Wiremu, I’ve got the ammo on me so that gun’s harmless okay? But besides that, I don’t think you get it. He’s doesn’t want to fight us or kill ‘cause it won’t help him any. We can’t take him in cause he’ll just walk off, and he knows and I know that I’m not going to shoot him. And I know you won’t shoot him either. So, we either tell him he can’t come with us and he goes back to whatever he was doing and we try to pretend he’s not here, or we just let him tag along.”

  Wiremu looked over at Konosu. “Yeah, but don’t you think he could be a bit nuts? Remember how he bashed that possum and then how he acted after that? What if he goes crazy again and decides he wants to beat our brains out with a log?”

  “Okay, we’ll have to ask him about that and make sure that it’s not going to happen again. Let’s see what he says.” They approached Konosu and Jack said, “We’re a bit worried about how you killed that possum and all that. You know, it looked a bit crazy.”

  “Oh, you did see that... I am embarrassed. I apologise for the way I acted and I can assure you that I do not act that way normally. I have been under immense pressure since escaping and I needed to vent my anger and frustrations and unfortunately the poor animal bore the brunt of it all. It will not happen again as I feel I have now accepted my situation and I will now learn to live with it. Please accept my apologies if I offended or frightened you in any way.”

  Jack replied, “Nah, that’s fine. You didn’t frighten us you just looked a bit weird is all. Sometimes I feel like going crazy too with all that’s happened over the last year or so.” He looked at Wiremu. “Alright I’m okay with you coming with us what about you Mu?”

  Wiremu squinted his eyes. “Yeah alright, but we’ll be watching ya! Remember any funny business and you’ll be getting a bullet in your bum.”

  “Thankyou, both of you,” said Konosu as he bowed again. He straightened. “I suppose you will be wanting this then.” And he picked up the rifle and handed it to Jack.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  After checking all the traps and showing Konosu the proper way to dispatch the possums they headed to the creek and to where Konosu had decided he was going to set up his camp. Wiremu got a fire going and filled the billy from the creek and hung it over the flames to boil. Jack pulled some bread and left over mutton from his haversack and shared it out. When the billy came to the boil Wiremu threw a handful of tea leaves into it and took it off the flames and sat it on a stone next to the fire to brew. Once ready, he poured it into two cups he took from his bag and handed them to Jack and Konosu, while he drank from the billy. “Ahh,” Konosu sighed after he sipped his hot drink. “I cannot say how thankful I am for the food and tea you have shared with me.”

  “You’ve gotta stop thanking us Konosu, we couldn’t really eat in front of you without sharing, that wouldn’t be polite,” said Wiremu.

  “The food and this tea are so wonderful after living on barely anything. It has brought me much pleasure and nourishment.”

  “What have you been eating?” Said Jack.

  “Insects, grubs, even a rat. I was lucky enough to eat mussels from this stream last night. They tasted divine.”

  “Did you find any crawlies?” Said Wiremu.

  Konosu frowned “Crawlies? What are crawlies?”

  “Crayfish, freshwater crayfish or koura in Maori. Look I’ll show you.” Wiremu went to the edge of the creek and lifted stones from the bed and looked under them. As the water cleared, a crayfish, about four inches long, sat on the bottom. “See there’s one.”

  Konosu came to the creek and saw where Wiremu was pointing. It looked the same as its larger marine cousins and it was the colour of the creek bed. Konosu went to grab the fish when it shot off, backwards, with a flick of its tail, into the main stream and disappeared.

  Wiremu said, “No, not like that. You’ll never catch them like that and you’ll end up getting nipped. Here I’ll show you.”

  Jack had approached now and was watching with interest. Wiremu lifted another stone and waited for the water to clear. There were two crayfish under the stone, one larger than the first one they saw, and the other a little smaller. Wiremu quietly slid his hand in the water and with his thumb and fore finger deftly grabbed the large crayfish behind its head and lifted it from the water. The crayfish attempted to nip him with its large nippers but it couldn’t reach back far enough to pose any danger. The crayfish left behind was still visible but had moved and backed up against another stone. “Go on, you have a go, try to grab it behind the head. Do it nice and slowly at first so you don’t scare it, then grab it fast before it has a chance to take off or nip ya,” said Wiremu.

  Konosu did as Wiremu showed him and in an instant had the crawly between thumb and fore finger.

  “Easy, eh!” Said Jack, who had caught his own crawly while the lesson was been shown to Konosu.

  “This is very good what you are showing to me. Are they good to eat?’ Said Konosu

  “Yep, pretty good. How about you get a few and you can cook them up tonight for your tea,” said Jack.

  “Yeah, you could have them
and mussels and roasted possum and if you want some greens try this.” Wiremu went and picked the curled young shoots of the pikopiko or hen and chicken fern and held them out to Konosu. “It tastes like asparagus if you’ve ever tried that and for flavour to meat or a stew or something, try adding these.”

  Wiremu plucked the heart shaped leaves off a kawakawa shrub and handed them to Konosu. “You can also make a drink from them by boiling them up. They’re good for a lot of things like a gut ache or tooth ache and if you can’t crap properly,” he said with a chuckle.

  Jack started to giggle and then Konosu smiled and said “I will put that to good use especially after what I’ve been eating.”

  And they all cracked up with laughter.

  After calming down Konosu continued. “This is all valuable things that you have shown me Wi-re-mu...”

  “Just call me Mu,” said Wiremu.

  “Alright...Mu. This is all good what you have shown me but I do not have a pot in which to cook these things. Nor do I have any means to start a fire.”

  Wiremu said, “Ah, but you do now. I’ll leave my billy with you and you can also have these matches and I’ll even leave a cup as well. It’s just a loan though. When the war’s over you’ll have to give them back eh?”

  Jack chipped in, “And you can have a couple of traps too, to catch a possum when you need it.”

  Konosu grinned. “You are surely sent from the gods and I am very grateful that I have met both of you. You will help me to become a better person with your kindness and understanding.”

  “Yeah, ta for that,” mumbled Wiremu, a little embarrassed.

  Feeling the same as Wiremu Jack said, “Um, okay, thanks but it’s nothing, really. Hey, we’ll come and see you as often as we can and bring you things. You know, like food and maybe some clothes.”

  “I would like to see you both again but I do not want to get you into trouble. If you wish to come back please be extra careful. Not for my sake, but for yours.”

  “No problem. We were going to trap this area anyway so we’d be coming back whether you were here or not,” said Wiremu. “If you come with us now you can help us skin the possums and take back what you want for meat,” he continued.