“Did you say anything?”
Just a week ago, he’d been talking to Tenzo, his neighbor at work who had been arrested. Tenzo complained about their Japanese overlords, how few opportunities they gave other than to their lackeys and how the economy was in a complete rut. Ezekiel had tried to calm his office mate, urging him to “be discreet and not complain too much. At least we’re alive.” Tenzo didn’t care, vocal in his malcontent to the point where a few coworkers had noticed their exchange.
“What will the Tokko do?” Ruth asked.
“Tenzo and his family are most likely being tortured right now.”
“That means–”
“The same thing will happen to us.”
Ruth shook her head. “They might just question you. The–”
“Mogi-san more or less told me to settle matters tonight.”
“Settle matters?”
Ezekiel’s eyes went to his feet and he could not look Ruth in the eyes. The door unlocked and their eleven year-old son, Ben, arrived from a day at school. He was carrying a broken portical.
Ezekiel didn’t know what to do, couldn’t imagine the soldiers putting their hands on him. But Ruth was more clearheaded and went to Ben, holding both his arms. She knew lies to soothe him would be a travesty at this critical juncture.
“USJ officers are coming to arrest me and your father,” she informed Ben.
“Why?”
“They think we’re traitors.”
“Tell them you’re not.”
“They wouldn’t believe me.” Ruth stared at Ben for a long time. “My parents died when I was young and I hoped for a different life for you, that we would be there to take care of you. I’m sorry for what we’re about to ask you to do.”
“What?”
She looked at Ezekiel, then said to Ben, “Go to the police station and ask for Detective Mifune. Report us to the authorities.”
“What are you doing?” Ezekiel asked.
“It’s the only way he’ll survive.”
“But you’re asking him–”
“I know what I’m asking,” Ruth replied. “But if he doesn’t, he’ll be killed with us.” She looked back at Ben. “Tell them you heard us talking against the Empire while you were eating.”
“Tell them your mother opposed, but I stubbornly insisted,” Ezekiel added.
“Ezekiel…” Ruth began.
“You might still have a chance,” Ezekiel said to Ruth.
“It’s both of us or they won’t believe it,” Ruth said, knowing that she too had said her share of criticisms about the Empire. She took a deep breath and looked at her son again. “Ben. I want you to slap me.”
“Mom.”
“Slap me.”
When Ben hesitated, Ruth slapped Ben in the face. “Slap me.”
“Bu–”
Ruth slapped him again. “Hit me!”
“D–”
“HIT ME!”
Ben complied, but it was a soft blow.
“Harder.”
“I don’t want to.”
“HIT ME HARDER!”
“Mom.”
“HARDER!”
Ben punched his mother.
“Now curse us,” Ruth ordered.
“I can’t.”
“Call me a traitor! Call me a coward.”
“Mom!”
“This is the only way you can survive. Otherwise, they’ll kill you too.”
“But–”
“If you don’t do what I say, they’ll kill you.”
“Then I don’t want to live.”
“You want our deaths to mean nothing?” Ruth asked. “Please, Ben, do it for us.”
“Ruth,” Ezekiel called. “You know what this means for him.”
“Life,” Ruth replied. “Survival.”
“Why do I have to survive? I hate this world, hate everything about it,” Ben said. “I’ll kill everyone in the Empire! I’ll make them pay!”
“No!” Ruth shouted. “Then you’ll be no better than them.”
“They’re evil!”
“There’s no ideology, only people. And there are many good people in the USJ, even if there are many bad ones too.” She got wistful. “There used to be a place called America people could believe in, a land of freedom. The physical place died, but the dream lives. Give the USJ a dream to believe in.”
“How? What am I supposed to do without you?”
“You’ll find a way,” she said, then stared at the portical he was holding. “You handle these better than your father.”
“They’re just games.”
“Maybe. But they can be so much more if you can find a way,” Ruth replied. “Join the ranks, become an officer. Maybe one day they’ll call you Major Ishimura. But you have to be strong. Do you hear me?”
“No, I don’t. I- I can’t do this,” Ben said. “How could I ever join the military? They’d never accept me. They… They…”
Ezekiel held his son. Ruth embraced them. She was weeping.
Ezekiel kissed his son on the forehead.
“Dad–”
“Go before it’s too late.”
“But–”
“Go now!” Ezekiel ordered.
Ben shook his head and was crying. “I’d rather die!”
Ruth put her arms around her son, patted his head, and said, “You’re the bravest boy I know.” She wiped his tears away. “Live your life so that our sacrifice has meaning. Go quickly, Beniko.” She pushed him away and, when he tried to hold her again, she sternly refused. “Did you hear what I said? Go now!”
“But Mom–”
“I’m no longer your mother. He’s no longer your father. We are enemies of the Empire. Do you understand?”
“No. I don’t understand at all!”
She went to the bedroom and returned with a pistol, a Nambu Type 18 semi-automatic pistol. She pointed at her son. “Go now.”
“But–”
“Go now or I will kill you, because that’ll be a better fate than if you stay here!”
She pushed Ben out of the apartment and locked the door behind him. He knocked several times, but they ignored him. He eventually ran away. She put her fingers on the door and muttered, “Sayonara,” doing her best to hold back bitter tears.
“He’ll be fine,” Ezekiel said. “Ishimuras are strong. You know that.”
“I hope so…”
“I-I should never have let you marry me. I’m sorry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My past, my whole life, has been nothing but a burden to you. I’ve caused you nothing but misery.”
“Don’t talk like that. We did the best with what we could.”
“Did we really?”
“Yes. Don’t be weak right now.”
“Do you regret marrying a traitor?”
“You’re not a traitor.”
“I’ve betrayed the whole world for you,” Ezekiel replied.
“So have I.” She blinked back tears. “How long before they come?”
“I don’t know.”
“In the next life, let’s switch places,” Ruth said. “I’ll be the man.”
“You sure you’ll still have eyes for me?”
Ruth put her hands on his cheeks. “Always.”
“I love you,” Ezekiel said to her.
“How much?”
He’d already used the stars in the universe and the sand in the ocean countless times. “As many as the number of hairs on my head.”
“You don’t have that much hair,” she said.
They both laughed and held each other for another minute before walking into the bathroom. Ruth held the pistol. “Remember this?”
“Is it the same one?”
She shook her head. “Same model. Something poetic about using this gun.”
“Like a haiku.”
“I’ve never been good at haikus.”
“Me neither,” Ruth confessed.
Ezekiel got nervous and
said in a panic, “I never thought it would be like this. I always thought things would get better, that it would improve and–”
“Shh. Don’t be afraid,” Ruth said. “It’ll be over soon.”
Another train began to go by. Two gunshots marked the end, but no one heard them.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
United States of Japan wouldn’t exist without some wonderful people. Obviously, the first person I want to thank is Philip K Dick who inspired me a great deal growing up, especially through The Man in the High Castle. Even though we’re very different writers, he’s had a huge influence on me and helped me to view the world in a completely unique light.
I wanted to make sure to get the facts right, as the history and tragedy of all those who suffered during the events of WWII were always on my mind. I want to give credit to some of the many books I looked to for research and information, including, but not limited to: The Rising Sun by John Toland, Japan’s Imperial Army by Edward Drea, A Modern History of Japan by Andrew Gordon, Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa, Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer, Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert Bix, Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Eric Lacroix and Linton Wells II, The Shifting Realities of Philip K Dick by PKD (which has some of the ideas he had for a The Man in the High Castle sequel), The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L Shirer, A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Return to the Philippines by Rafael Steinberg, Japan at War: An Oral History by Haruko Taya Cook & Theodore F Cook, Shogun by James Clavell, The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang, The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, and so many more, not to mention countless articles, films, and documentaries, which were invaluable for me to better understand the times.
Japanese culture has always been a huge influence and artists/writers/designers like Hayao Miyazaki, Hideo Kojima, Yukio Mishima, Yukito Kishiro, Mamoru Oshii, Hideaki Anno, Kinji Fukasaku, Rieko Kodama, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Kurosawa, and Katsuhiro Otomo were people whose works I revered growing up. I highly recommend a trip to the San Jose Japanese American Museum, especially their guided tours. That trip ended up shocking me to the core and informing a key part of the book. I wanted to thank Ken Liu for writing The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary. When I finished my first draft of USJ, I was very scared because of the material it covered and I found a lot of courage reading Ken’s superb novella.
Big thanks to the very talented John Liberto for painting the cover of USJ as well as the incredible concept art he did for the book. I am in awe of his genius and am still so honored that he made time to paint the cover! Thank you to my friend, Geoff Hemphill, for introducing me to John, as well always being so encouraging through the tough times. You’re one of my closest friends and I am always grateful to you for your witty insight and honesty. A deep expression of gratitude for Sam Boettner, aka Chang Yune, for all the fantastic questions and enthusiasm for the project, as well as some really great fan art. Bonny John, your depiction of biomorphs still gives me chills. Richard Thomas, thank you for being one of the first readers, as well as for all your wonderful advice in crafting the world of USJ. James Chiang, one day we’ll get to Dr 2, but in the meantime, I wanted to thank you for your wisdom, patience, and your friendship. Many of the things I researched about Japan started with our graphic novel and I can’t wait to finish it with you. And, of course, I always thank God.
Judy Hansen! You’re my dream agent and I’m so lucky you represent me! Thank you for always fielding my stream of questions and for your guidance through the publishing world.
Big thanks to the love of my life, Angela Xu, without whom I wouldn’t be half the writer I am. I bounce all my ideas off her, constantly ask her about everything, and field her for suggestions when I’m stuck in my stories. She watches all the movies with me, plays games that I look to for inspiration, and is the best friend I could ever have. Thank you for everything.
The crew at Angry Robot are so amazing and I am so grateful to them for taking a chance on this novel and believing in it every step of the way. They are literally my dream publisher and working with them has been a dream come true. Thank you, Penny Reeves, for being the most amazing publicity manager and just an incredible person. Chances are, if you’ve heard about USJ in a media outlet, it’s thanks to her efforts. I’m a big fan of Mike Underwood’s writing and it was so incredible always being able to lean on him for advice on pretty much everything. If you like the cover of United States of Japan, thank Marc Gascoigne for his brilliant cover art direction and just being a kick-ass publisher. Paul Simpson did a fantastic job with the copy editing, poring over every line and making sure everything was technically sound. Amanda Rutter and Trish Byrne caught all the little things that slipped through the cracks and were wonderful proofreaders.
I have to thank my editor, Phil Jourdan, to whom this book is dedicated. Thank you for believing in me, for seeing things in the book even I didn’t see, and for giving me the opportunity to share my strange stories. You’re one of the best editors around and it’s been my privilege to work with you.
If I thanked everyone who’s been supportive of USJ from its announcement to its release, I think I would literally have to name everyone I know. Thank you everyone for your generosity, your kind words, and your faith in the project.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Tieryas is a character artist who has worked on films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Alice in Wonderland and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. His novel, Bald New World, was listed as one of Buzzfeed’s 15 Highly Anticipated Books as well as Publishers Weekly’s Best Science Fiction Books of Summer 2014.
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tieryas.wordpress.com • twitter.com/TieryasXu
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An Angry Robot paperback original 2016
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Copyright © Peter Tieryas 2016
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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UK ISBN 978 0 85766 532 4
US ISBN 978 0 85766 533 1
EBook ISBN 978 0 85766 534 8
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This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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