mac.thepearlharbormurders-第37部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Small　victories；　in　so　large　a　defeat。
　With　the　exception　of　the　occasional　scurrying　Oriental；　disappearing　down　an　alley　or　into　a　doorway；　the　streets　and　sidewalks　of　Chinatown　were　deserted。　The　rows　of　shops　and　cafes　were　as　abandoned　as　an　Old　West　ghost　town；　lacking　only　tumbleweed；　the　hustle　and　bustle　of　the　Aala　Market…where　Sunday　was　just　another　day；　any　ordinary　Sunday；　that　is…replaced　with　an　eerie　silence；　deserted　stalls　filled　with　fresh　fish　whose　dead　faces　stared　with　mute　curiosity；　as　if　to　say；　Where　is　everybody？　Under　a　sky　black　with　storm　clouds　of　war；　the　smell　of　burning　could　be　detected：　not　the　acrid　stench　of　fuel…oil　fires　from　the　harbor；　but　the　crackling　scorch…scent　of　refuse　disposal；　mingled　with　the　unmistakable　smell　of　fear。　All　around　Chinatown；　in　metal　drums　or　（as　at　the　Consulate）　washtubs　or　in　backyard　bonfires；　issei　and　nisei　were　burning　books　written　in　the　Japanese　language；　as　well　as　Rising　Sun　flags　and　pictures　of　the　emperor　and　photos　of　family　members　in　Japan；　even　apparel　like　kimonos　and　getta；　they　were　burying　samurai　swords　and　family　heirlooms　in　their　backyards…doing　their　frantic　best　to　nullify　any　signs　of　Japanese　influence　and　culture　in　Honolulu。
　Burroughs　found　in　Japanese…dominated　Chinatown　nothing　to　confirm　the　long…held　local　apprehension　that…in　the　case　of　war　with　Nippon…Oahu's　Japanese　would　e　charging　into　haole　neighborhoods　brandishing　guns　or　even　samurai　swords。　Nor　was　there　any　sign　of　them　skulking　off　to　plant　dynamite　satchels　and　mines　under　bridges　and　piers　or　at　military　installations　and　electric　lines。　And　predictions　that　your　own　maid；　your　neighbor's　houseboy；　the　cop　on　the　beat；　the　farmer　down　the　road；　the　nisei　Hawaii　Territorial　Guard　members；　would　band　together　against　〃Americans〃　（which　they　of　course　were　themselves）　hardly　seemed　to　be　materializing。
　The　distant　echo　of　explosions　provided　a　thunderous　backdrop　as　Ed　Burroughs　and　his　son　walked　by　the　sampan　dock；　where　the　blue　boats　bobbed；　unattended。
　〃So　much　for　a　fifth　column；〃　Burroughs　said　to　Hully；　looking　around　at　the　desolation；　as　they　approached　the　small　grocery　near　the　Aala　Market。
　〃I'd　feel　better　about　this；〃　Hully　said；　clearly　a　little　nervous；　〃if　Agent　Sterling　were　at　our　side。〃
　Burroughs　held　up　his　palm；　where　the　tiny　German　automatic　nestled。　〃We'll　be　fine。　Sterling　has　his　own　job　to　do。〃
　〃Well；　the　door's　open；　anyway；〃　Hully　said；　and　brushed　aside　the　hanging　black　beads　and　gestured；　politely；　for　his　father　to　go　in　first。
　The　writer　stepped　inside；　Hully　right　behind　him。　The　wooden　storefront　was　unattended；　the　place　had　a　curious　fragrance；　similar　to　incense…though　to　Burroughs　the　unfamiliar　scent　suggested　decay。　His　son　had　told　him　about　the　shop；　but　Burroughs　was　not　prepared　for　how　little　the　〃grocery〃　had　to　do　wife　his　American　preconceptions。　He　glanced　around　at　the　walls　of　shelves　lined　with　jars　and　baskets　of　strange　herbs；　roots；　dried　seaweed；　and　other　exotica。
　〃I　guess　he's　out　of　Ovaltine；〃　Burroughs　said　dryly。
　With　his　left　hand；　Burroughs　slapped　the　〃Please　Ring〃　bell　on　the　counter；　which　stretched　along　the　left　of　the　shop。
　A　door；　opposite　the　beaded　one　they'd　e　in；　cracked　open；　apparently　from　a　rear　storage　area。
　〃Shop　is　closed；〃　Yoshio　Harada　said。　Then　he　recognized　them；　and　the　grocer　stepped　into　the　storefront；　closing　the　storeroom　door　behind　him。　He　half　bowed。　〃Burroughs…san　。。。　Burroughs…san；〃　he　said；　acknowledging　them　both。
　〃The　door　was　open；〃　Burroughs　said；　nodding　toward　the　beaded　entry。　〃Sorry　to　drop　by　unannounced；　but　this　is　an　extraordinary　morning；　wouldn't　you　say；　Mr。　Harada？〃
　Nodding　again；　the　diminutive；　trimly　mustached　man…in　a　white　shirt；　grocer's　apron；　blue　trousers；　and　sandals…shuffled　behind　the　counter　at　the　left；　the　shelves　rising　behind　him　provided　a　bizarre　backdrop　of　gnarled　roots；　shark　fins　and　seahorse　skeletons。
　〃A　terrible　day。〃　Harada　was　hanging　his　head。　〃I　am　ashamed　to　be　Japanese　on　this　day。〃
　〃No　kidding？〃　Burroughs　leaned　a　hand　against　the　counter；　his　other　hand；　with　the　little　gun；　was　behind　his　back。　〃I　heard　you　used　to　have　the　emperor's　picture　on　display。〃
　Head　still　bowed；　he　gestured　with　both　hands；　as　if　disgusted。　〃I　threw　it　away；　many　weeks　ago。　We　work　so　hard　to　be　accepted…to　be　good　American。　In　one　morning；　all　is　undone。　I　am　angry　at　Japan。〃
　A　faraway　explosion　seemed　to　punctuate　his　sentence。
　The　little　grocer　shook　a　fist　at　the　sky。　〃Dirty　Japs！〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　Burroughs　said；　chuckling。　〃If　Weiss…muller　was　as　good　an　actor　as　you　are；　Harada；　I'd　be　a　happy　man。〃
　Harada　looked　up　at　the　writer；　blinking。　〃Who？　What？〃
　Moving　closer　to　the　counter；　Hully　went　into　their　prepared　spiel。　〃We've　just　e　from　the　Japanese　Consulate；　Mr。　Harada。　General　Consul　Kita　says　you　and　Morimura　are　buddies。〃
　Harada　frowned　in　apparent　confusion。　〃I　know　no　one　named　Morimura。〃
　〃How　about　Yoshikawa？〃　Burroughs　asked；　innocently。　〃A　rose　by　any　other　name。。。　You　see；　I　thought；　what　with　bombs　dropping　and　all；　you　might　be　just　the　guy　to　help　get　the　vice　consul　out　of　the　limelight。〃
　The　grocer　shook　his　head。　〃I　know　nothing　of　what　you　speak。〃
　〃Well；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃to　tell　you　the　truth；　we　were　bluffing。　Kita　didn't　mention　your　name。　Matter　of　fact；　I　doubt　Kita　even　knows　your　name；　unless　the　Consulate　buys　seafood　and　vegetables　from　you。〃
　〃They　do　not。〃
　〃After　all；　Kita's　not　the　espionage　agent…he'd　likely　be　kept　out　of　the　know；　for　security　reasons。　It's　Morimura…that　is；　Yoshikawa…who's　the　spy　in　the　woodpile。〃
　Harada's　frown　no　longer　seemed　confused；　though　his　words　continued　down　the　path　of　denial：　〃I　understand　none　of　what　you　say。〃
　〃There's　no　fifth　column　in　Oahu；〃　Burroughs　said　with　a　grin；　which　quickly　vanished。　〃But　there　is　a　tiny　network　of　real　spies。　That　radiophone　call　was　a　signal　that　this　Sunday　would　make　a　fine　morning　for　a　surprise　party。　Your　niece　knew　something　was　up…　more　importantly；　she　knew　you　were　an　agent；　just　like　Otto　Kuhn；　and　Morimura。〃
　Now　the　mask　dropped　and　a　tiny；　but　very　nasty　smile；　etched　itself　on　the　bland　features。　〃Are　these　things　you　can　prove？〃
　Burroughs　shrugged。　〃Hell；　I'll　leave　that　to　the　FBI。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　at　Hully。　〃My　son；　here；　is　the　one　who　really　put　it　together。〃
　Hully　said；　〃I　couldn't　stop　thinking　about　Morimura　bawling　Pearl　out…she　wasn't　one　of　his　conquests；　he　wasn't　her　type。　Why　would　she　even　know　him？　Then　it　came　to　me：　through　you。。。。〃
　〃As　the　grocer　making　deliveries　to　the　Niumalu；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃you　could　easily　maintain　contact　with　your　German　'sleeper'　agent。　And　Pearl　was　aware　of　your　relationship　with　both　Kuhn　and　Morimura。　After　all；　she　lived　with　you；　up　above　your　shop；　before　she　moved　to　the　Niumalu；　so　she　knew　you　and　Morimura　were　in　league…and　she　knew　or　figured　out　that　he　was　an　espionage　agent；　she　even　knew　his　real　name。　She　got　wind　of　something　big　ing　up；　and　she　was　going　to　turn　you；　and　Morimura；　in　to　military　intelligence。。。　to　show　her　loyalty　to　America。〃
　'To　prove　herself；〃　Hully　said　softly；　sadly；　〃to　her　boyfriend's　father。〃
　Harada　held　out　both　empty　palms　and　shook　his　head；　smiling　as　if　this　was　all　too　far…fetched；　too　absurd。　〃And　you　think　this　。。。　Morimura。。。　killed　my　niece？〃
　〃No。〃　Burroughs　twitched　a　smile；　nodding　right　at　the　grocer。　〃I　think　you　killed　her。　I　know　you　killed　her。　You　confronted　her　about　what　you　considered　her　disloyalty；　to　her　family；　to　Japan；　and　she　told　you　she　was　going　to　Colonel　Fielder；　to　tell　him　everything。　You　struck　her　down；　with　a　goddamn　rock；　crushed
　her　skull…then　Morimura　helped　cover　it　up；　by　calling　Kuhn　and　having　him　finger　the　wrong　man。〃
　Now　the　grocer　folded　his　arms　and　his　chin　raised；　his　tone　was　quietly　defiant；　now。　〃I　would　take　offense　at　these　accusations；　but　they　are　。。。　foolish。〃
　〃Oh；　there's　more。　You　got　to　thinking　about　your　niece's　close　friend；　that　homosexual　musician；　and　got　worried　that　she　may　have　talked　to　him；　shared　what　she　knew。　Or　perhaps　she　bragged　to　you　tha