Part 23 (1/2)
Kubota turned for the door. ”I will leave you two now.”
Franz called after him. ”Colonel, may I have another word?”
”There is nothing left to discuss, Dr. Adler.”
”It has nothing to do with this . . . incident.”
Back still turned, Kubota nodded.
Franz glanced looked over to Hannah. ”Wait outside, Liebchen. Please. We will just be a minute or two.”
She shot him a reluctant look before slowly walking to the door and closing it behind her.
Kubota turned to face Franz. ”What is it, Dr. Adler?”
Franz moved a step closer and lowered his voice. ”Colonel, I have heard a rumour.” He paused. ”Concerning you.”
Kubota chuckled humourlessly. ”If rumours were raindrops, Shanghai would be underwater by now.”
”It's more than just a rumour.”
Kubota c.o.c.ked his head. ”How so, Dr. Adler?”
Franz closed his eyes. Once he said the words, there would be no backtracking. But regardless of the risk, he could not remain silent. He owed this man too much. ”I have reason to believe that certain people are plotting against you.”
Kubota's face told him little. ”Plotting to a.s.sa.s.sinate me?”
Franz nodded.
”Which people?”
”I don't know who they are,” Franz said. ”I have never met them. I only know that they are involved with the Underground.”
”And how do you know this?”
Franz held out his hands. ”I . . . I cannot say. I am not involved. Nor is the person who told me. That I promise you.”
”Then why are you telling me?”
Franz motioned to the door. ”You just spared my daughter from a public flogging. And last year you helped save us from the n.a.z.is. I can never repay that debt.”
Kubota frowned. ”Nor can you tell me who is behind the plot to kill me.”
”I do not know. I swear to you! You can hand me over to Colonel Tanaka. Even if I spent another week in Bridge House, it would not help you find the people responsible.”
”Are you aware of any specifics?” Kubota asked. ”When or where? Or what they are planning?”
”No, nothing,” Franz said helplessly. ”I only know that they are very interested in the layout of your office, here in this building. A bomb, maybe?”
Kubota bowed his head slightly. ”Thank you, Dr. Adler,” he said without a trace of alarm. ”I appreciate you sharing this information.”
”It's not my place to say, Colonel, but I hope you will take precautions. Perhaps you could post more guards?”
Kubota tilted his head in genuine surprise. ”Why would I do that?”
”Surely if your life is in danger-”
”There must be thousands of people in Shanghai who would want me dead. I cannot blame them. In their shoes, I would feel the same.” Kubota sighed resignedly. ”Besides, good men-men whose lives are ahead of them, not behind-are dying every day. What right do I have to ask for special protection?”
”You are their leader.”
Kubota laughed to himself. ”I was not sent back to Shanghai to lead.”
”Why were you sent back, then, Colonel?”
”To remind me of my dishonour.”
”Dishonour? How is that possible? You risked your life to stand up for the refugees.”
”Disobedience is dishonourable, regardless of the circ.u.mstance,” Kubota said. ”Our culture is sometimes difficult for an outsider to understand, Dr. Adler.”
”In this case, yes.”
”There is an old j.a.panese proverb: Karo tsen. It literally means 'summer heater, winter fan.'”
”I do not understand, Colonel.”
Kubota spoke softly. ”Sometimes one has to recognize when one has outlasted his usefulness.”
Two soldiers escorted Hannah and Franz from the building and released them without a word. Threats would have been superfluous, though. There was no question that Franz would be back as ordered; he had nowhere to hide.
With her head hung low, Hannah held Franz's hand weakly as they walked home. Her shame was so evident that, despite his curiosity, Franz held his tongue.
A block from their home, Hannah slowed down and freed her hand from his. ”Papa, I thought . . .”
Franz turned slowly to face her. ”What did you think, Hannah?”
”That I could . . . help somehow.”
”Help? By smuggling cigarettes?”
”No-well, yes-by raising money. For the family. To contribute somehow.”
The good intention behind her reckless actions only fuelled his anger. ”Was this contribution worth risking your life-all of our lives-over?”
”Freddy's father, he said-”