Part 28 (1/2)

Franz's heart sank as he recognized the voice of Colonel Kubota. He rushed over to the injured man's bedside. ”Yes.”

”I see.” The colonel's tone was flat. ”They were waiting for us.”

”Saboteurs?”

Kubota nodded. ”It was an ambush. There was some kind of explosion. They blocked the street and shot our motorcycle escorts. They attacked our car from both sides. One shot the admiral and me, and the other stabbed Colonel Tanaka.”

Franz reached for Kubota's belly. ”May I examine you?”

Franz took the man's slight shrug for permission. He untucked Kubota's s.h.i.+rt and pulled it up. The bullet wound to his abdomen had stopped bleeding. Franz gently touched the moist skin at its edges. The abdominal muscles contracted involuntarily, but Kubota did not even wince in response.

”At least I was forewarned,” Kubota said quietly.

Distracted, Franz shook his head and mumbled, ”I'm sorry, Colonel.”

”You warned me that the attack would come.”

”But my warning did you no good.”

”In life, it always helps to be prepared.”

Franz turned his attention to the wound on Kubota's thigh. ”You must be in pain.”

Kubota tilted his head slightly. ”It is bearable.”

Franz called over his shoulder, ”Berta, please prepare morphine.”

Kubota reached out with his steady hand and grabbed Franz's wrist. ”Give me a substantial dose, Dr. Adler. Please.”

”We will make sure you are comfortable. I promise.”

Kubota squeezed tighter. ”That is not what I am requesting.”

Franz pulled back to study Kubota's face. ”Surely you do not mean . . .”

The colonel swallowed. ”My time has come. Let me go. Please.”

Franz's neck tightened as he considered how quickly the colonel, in his vulnerable state, would stop breathing following a liberal dose of morphine.

Just then, Miriam called out to him, ”Herr Doktor, they are ready for you in the operating room.”

Franz's gaze lingered on Kubota before he turned away. ”Berta, please give the colonel as much painkiller as he requests. Double the dose, if he asks for it.”

Franz hurried down the hallway to the operating room. Outside, he donned a surgical gown and mask and then scrubbed his hands at the sink. He was nearly finished when Sunny appeared, breathless, at his side. ”I was there, Franz,” she panted. ”Jakob and me. The bomb exploded so near us! And then the shooting began.”

He motioned to the operating room. ”Tanaka is inside. Knife wound to the chest.”

”Colonel Kubota, he smiled at me from the back seat of the car.” Her face reddened and she dropped her gaze to the floor. ”They got to him, Franz.”

”Without your help.”

”I want to believe that, too.”

Franz waited as Sunny slipped into her surgical gown and hurriedly scrubbed at the sink. They entered the operating room together. Tanaka was already on the gurney covered in sheets, except for the exposed patch of skin surrounding his stab wound. Liese held a blood-soaked gauze to his chest. On the other side of the bed, a surgical tray lay at the ready.

Tanaka's breathing was laboured, but he was wide awake. He eyed Franz hostilely. ”Why the wait? Fix me!”

”Should we not wait for the ether-the gas-to arrive?”

”I told you. No gas. Begin!”

Franz nodded to Sunny, who stepped up to the gurney. Liese slid out of the way, and Franz moved into the spot across from his wife. Sunny pa.s.sed Franz an antiseptic-soaked towel, and his nose filled with the acrid smell of iodine. He swabbed the wound in slow circles.

Tanaka gritted his teeth in obvious pain. ”So close to the Designated Area,” he grumbled.

”Pardon me, Colonel?” Franz asked, wondering if the colonel was delirious or in shock.

”The attack. So close to the Designated Area.”

”I suppose so, yes.”

”The Jews,” Tanaka said. ”They are the saboteurs.”

”I'm sure it is not so.”

Tanaka gave him a look of sheer loathing. ”The Germans are right. You Jews only make trouble.”

Franz's throat tightened. ”We were not involved.”

”I will put an end to it,” Tanaka grunted.

Franz tried to fight off a sudden sense of doom. ”An end to what, Colonel?” he breathed.

”All of it,” Tanaka muttered to himself. ”We should have listened to the Germans last year. No more. Next, we deal with you Jews!”

The younger Kempeitai officer barged into the operating room, bearing a black bottle of ether in his hand. He raised it up to show it to Franz. ”Is this what you need?”

Stunned by the threat Tanaka had just uttered, Franz could not even respond.

”Yes,” Sunny said as Liese hurried over to take the bottle from the officer.

Tanaka craned his neck to address the young Kempeitai man in clipped j.a.panese. The officer nodded and turned to Franz. ”The colonel has ordered me to stay and observe.” He glared at him. ”To make sure everything is proper.”

Robotically, Franz turned back to Liese. ”Please begin.”

Liese's hand shook slightly as she applied the ether mask to Tanaka's face. She tilted the bottle, allowed four or five drops to fall and waited. In a matter of seconds, Tanaka's eyes began to flutter. Liese added two more drops. She brushed a finger over his eyelashes and watched for a response. None came. She looked up at Franz. ”He is asleep, Herr Doktor.”