1945

Under the circumstances, Sergeant Yokota wasn't in the least surprised when several of the recruits simply disappeared into the night. Lieutenant Uji was beyond himself with rage and disappointment, but even he recognized the futility of going after the deserters. It did not escape Yokota's notice that kempei presence was inconsistent the closer they got to the actual fighting.

Then came the day he realized they'd arrived at their destination. Their sector was quiet, but the Americans were only a couple of miles away.

"The rains are getting harder," Lieutenant Uji exulted. "Under their cover we will soon launch ourselves against the enemy and rid Japan of their scourge."

Yokota agreed that the weather was truly flicking miserable. A couple of the men had developed hacking coughs and now vomited their rations. As to whether the Americans could be driven off, he had doubts. Even though many hundreds of other soldiers were well hidden in the area, he wondered what they could do against the American army's legendary firepower. What use was courage and a bayonet against a machine gun? He'd seen that scenario played out in China when the roles were reversed. There it had been the Chinese who'd had the courage but not the weapons, and they'd been slaughtered.

And how would his men react when the time came? To his surprise, Yokota had found himself growing attached to them and not wishing them harm. He was their grandfather and they came to him with all kinds of problems. One had asked him why they were fighting and when it would stop. It was evident from the way the others watched this one that he represented all of them. They were all smart and most were educated. In earlier days, Yokota would have slapped them for being weak or even beaten them senseless and sent them back to work, but not now. Too much had changed. These were children, not soldiers, and he grieved for them and what they would suffer. He told them the war would soon end.

Worse, he knew that he was only a couple of miles and a day or two away from his own destruction. This was not the way he'd planned it, and he racked his brain trying to figure a way out of the mess he'd gotten into. He would do everything he could to save his newfound children along with himself. Only problem was, he hadn't the foggiest idea how.

CHAPTER 72

KYUSHU, CAMP 7

Joe Nomura was half-asleep outside Hirohito's bedchamber when he heard the first shout of alarm. It was followed by a burst of gunfire and a scream that ended in a gurgle. It had begun. He checked the time. It was a couple of hours before dawn. Joe pulled his pistol from its holster and ran the few feet to Hirohito's quarters.

"Where're you going?" yelled Sakei as he charged in. "Traitors are attacking us. They want the emperor. We must stop them." He had his own pistol out and was casting about in sleep-induced confusion.

"I'm going to protect the emperor," Nomura answered, and pushed past him. Sakei didn't protest. Instead, he went on to battle what he thought were the Japanese forces trying to take or kill his emperor. Nomura hoped it would be several minutes longer before Sakei realized his mistake.

Hirohito was seated on the floor listening to the battle. Apprehension was on his face, but not fear. "It is time?"

Joe plopped down beside him. "Yes."

Further conversation was cut off by a fusillade of shots punctuated by further screams. "Your men got so very close before being detected, didn't they?"

The bad weather had worked in their favor and hidden the approach of the rangers and the frogmen. Refugees remained huddled in their miserable tents and shelters and ignored the thirty-odd men who'd moved with near perfect silence through the camp and toward the hospital. Those who saw them noted nothing unusual as the men had been draped in blankets. In the rain and dark they appeared to be another group of refugees, or additional troops for the mysterious compound.

More gunfire erupted, this time close. The top of the tent shuddered and a line of bullet holes appeared in it. It reminded Hirohito of the time when Sakei had first taken him prisoner in the bunker beneath the palace in Tokyo. It was hard for Hirohito to remember that it had been only half a year earlier. As if to complete the memory, Sakei burst in on them. He had a pistol in his hand and his face was contorted with rage.

"Americans!" His voice was a shriek. "Americans are attacking us." He turned to Nomura. "We must move the emperor immediately."

"No," Joe answered softly. He fired his pistol twice, hitting Sakei in the chest with both bullets.

Sakei dropped to his knees and let his pistol fall to the ground. "Not you," he muttered as realization dawned.

A moment's anger twisted Sakei's face before his eyes rolled up in his head and he slumped to the floor. An enlisted guard retreated in on them and Joe shot him in the back. Another entered and, seeing the bodies, ran away before Joe could kill him as well.

"Roy," a deep voice yelled.