Sweden by Matthew Turner

Author:Matthew Turner [Turner, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, vietnam, japan
ISBN: 9780998642314
Publisher: The Mantle
Published: 2018-07-09T23:31:14+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Harper and Natsume arrived back from their walk just as it started to rain. No sooner had they dried themselves off than Natsume excused himself, explaining to Harper that he had to go to the office to make a phone call. Probably a report to his handlers in Tokyo, Harper thought. As he stood by the window of their room staring out at the rain, Harper contemplated the young Beheiren operative. He seemed friendly enough, certainly compared to the dour individuals who had interviewed him back in Yokohama. But when Ikeda mentioned his war service something seemed to come over Natsume. Harper had tried not to let it bother him. He prided himself on his self-control and his ability to project a cool, calm exterior. But Natsume’s disrespect for Ikeda’s sacrifice and his holier-than-thou attitude tried his patience. He wasn’t proud of his outburst earlier, but he was glad he had brought the matter into the open. He hoped that he and Natsume could start afresh. If for no other reason than that his future depended on it.

In addition to his strained relationship with his handler, Harper also had to cope with the fact that he was already missing Yumi. After weeks living in her apartment, he had gotten used to seeing her off as she left for classes or work each morning and having to face the rest of the day on his own, but always in the knowledge that she would return again in the evening. Now it was different. Despite the promise he had made to her at the restaurant in Tokyo, that he would return some day, he knew it was unlikely they would ever see each other again.

They had met at a club in Yokohama’s main shopping district of Isezakichō. It was one of the places Lerner, the air cavalryman he met at the hospital in Kishine, had taken him to back when he was still on crutches. They invited two young women who were passing their table to join them. The women were both around the same age—Harper guessed they were in their early-twenties. Eiko, the prettier of the two, wore a skirt and a white blouse, while Yumi had on slacks and a red sweater. They barely had time to introduce themselves before Lerner asked Eiko to dance, leaving Harper alone with Yumi. At first he was annoyed at being left with the plainer of the two women, but as he chatted with Yumi he found himself relaxing and enjoying himself. She told him she was a university student, but that she worked most days as a waitress at a restaurant not far from the club. Harper felt comfortable in her presence. Her English was good, and the conversation flowed freely. Despite her somewhat homely appearance, there was something unique, intangible about her. After they left, Harper regretted not having asked if he could see her again.

It was soon after this that Lerner was sent back to Vietnam. A few days later, Harper was moved to another ward, this one for patients who needed less care.

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