Part 24 (1/2)
Us.h.i.+jima felt a stab of alarm.
”How close is that?”
”That is why I am here, sir. In the east, the enemy has broken through our last defensive position. Reports have come that they are within a thousand meters, and we do not have the means to hold them back. Their tanks are ... unstoppable.”
Us.h.i.+jima felt a hint of a spark in Yahara's voice, said, ”And so, you have a plan?”
”I have a.s.sembled those troops who are positioned in proximity to this cave. It is a strong platoon force.” Yahara paused, and Us.h.i.+jima caught the meaning.
”A single platoon?”
”Lieutenant Matsui has volunteered to advance into the village of Mabuni. All reports indicate that the enemy has occupied the village. Sir ...” Yahara lowered his head. ”They will be here very soon. We must make some effort to distract them, and possibly to drive them back.”
”With one platoon?”
The cave shook suddenly, a deafening blast. Yahara stumbled, dirt falling on him, and Cho was there, at the doorway, shouted, ”They have struck the primary entrance. A direct hit!”
Cho moved back out into the narrow corridor, and Us.h.i.+jima followed. There was only silence, little movement, most of Us.h.i.+jima's guard already sent to the front lines. One man rushed toward him, emerging from the smoke, choking, a brief stumble. He held a rifle, dirt crusted on his face, made an attempt to stand at attention.
”The cave opening ... there is great fire.”
Us.h.i.+jima put a hand on the man, calming him.
”Return there. Gather up the troops you can find. Fire means a sh.e.l.l, or a bomb. But the enemy troops might follow. Be alert!” He looked at Cho. ”Probably from a s.h.i.+p, a lucky blow. But make sure the enemy troops are not coming at us on the cliffs below.”
Cho bowed crisply, moved away, the soldier following him. Yahara said, ”Sir, please. We must get you to safety. If the enemy succeeds in breaching this cave from the land side, you and General Cho will be most vulnerable. The shaft must be sealed off from that direction. The main entrance that faces the sea ... if you are correct, sir, and certainly you are, there is less danger there. The enemy will not come at us by those cliffs. We can defend that section with a minimal force.”
Yahara waited for a response, and Us.h.i.+jima chewed on the word.
”A minimal force is all that remains, Colonel.”
”Then perhaps, sir, we can make our escape by the routes that lead down the cliff. There are still boats, and in the dark we can make our way to sea.”
Us.h.i.+jima looked out toward the primary entrance, could smell the smoke from the blast, but there was no shooting, no other sound at all.
”Gather what troops you can, seal off the smaller openings that face the enemy.”
”Is that all, sir?”
Us.h.i.+jima looked into the eyes of the man he admired, knew that Yahara would find a way, would do whatever it took to secure the safety of his commander.
”I will not seek escape. I should not have to tell you that.”
Yahara looked down, and Us.h.i.+jima could see the emotion.
”What would you have me do, sir?”
There was a sound at the entrance to the room, and Us.h.i.+jima saw Cho, sweat on his face, his uniform ragged, covered in dust.
”You were correct. The enemy fired a lucky shot, probably from offsh.o.r.e. They are not on the cliffs.”
Us.h.i.+jima looked again at Yahara.
”Colonel Yahara has a gift of genius, wouldn't you agree? Has he not demonstrated a loyalty we should admire?”
Cho stepped into the small room, said, ”Yes. Without any doubt. His loyalty to the emperor is beyond question.”
”I am not speaking of the emperor. I am speaking more of this command. Colonel, it is essential that someone in authority survive this battle. Tokyo must know what happened here, in the kind of detail only you can provide. General Cho and I will face our duty soon enough. But you ...”
”Sir, I would not disgrace myself by offering myself to the enemy, or by abandoning this command.”
”There is no disgrace in following orders. You will make every attempt to escape this place, and make your report to the Imperial High Command.”
Cho rubbed his chin, nodded.
”Yes. I agree. This army has fought a gallant fight, and their story must be told. A full report must be made.” He looked at Us.h.i.+jima now, a stern glare. ”I would not be so hasty in judging this battle to be lost, sir. With all respect, of course.”
”I make no such concession. I only wish Colonel Yahara to make preparations, that if events call for him to make his exit, he be prepared to do so. You will carry out my order, Colonel.”
Yahara glanced at Cho, seemed to fight the emotions, kept his head low, then bowed.
”I will obey. But I will not make such a plan while there is still a fight to be made.”
Us.h.i.+jima looked up, reacting to the thumps above, the cave echoing with a new round of incoming artillery.
”Then make your fight, Colonel. For now, there is little else we can do.”
JUNE 22, 1945.
It was not yet midnight, but the lack of daylight meant very little inside the dismal cave. Above him the thunder of artillery had been replaced by new sounds, machine gun fire, sounds both familiar and foreign. He knew what was happening, that those officers still remaining who controlled enough men to make a stand were doing so right above him. It was a desperate attempt to drive the Americans off the hill. In the dark corridor, men had been a.s.sembled, a scattering of stragglers from various units close by, brought together by staff officers, the only officers these men could find. He knew that Yahara was there, could hear voices, the frantic words of men who were preparing for their last fight. Yahara was at his doorway now, the only light a candle to one side, and Yahara said, ”We are prepared, sir. Major Matsubara has given the instructions, and Lieutenants Tsubakida and Yab.u.moto will coordinate the effort as best they can. We have the advantage of darkness, and the enemy cannot withstand our will!”
Us.h.i.+jima waved him away, knew the plan was already in motion. There was nothing else to say. The commotion beyond his room increased, the men ordered out toward the main entrance. Us.h.i.+jima sat silently, stared at the flicker from the candle, thought, at least he did not call this attack a banzai. I would rather them die with dignity, killing the enemy. There is no glory in hurling oneself into the abyss.
He had no illusions that this attack would be successful in removing the Americans from so close to his headquarters. But his troops were still willing, had accepted their role in this horrible drama with as much honor as anyone could hope for. He glanced at his pocket watch, the dial reading just after seven o'clock, completely wrong. Wonderful, he thought. Even my timepiece fails me. He tapped it gently, useless, slipped it back into his pocket. There were no voices in the corridor now, the only sounds coming from above, the m.u.f.fled struggle rolling across the hillside a few meters above him.
JUNE 23, 1945.
He found sleep, the steady roar of the fight offering him a strange comfort. But now there were voices, and he lurched awake, blinked in the darkness, the candle extinguished. A light flickered outside, and he pulled himself up, straightened his uniform, the light close, illuminating his room. The voice came softly, one of his aides.