The Lonely War by Alan Chin

Author:Alan Chin [Chin, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Gay, Fiction, General, Literary, Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9781613724590
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2009-11-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

May 16, 1942—0100 hours

ANDREW strolled through the camp gates, kicking a stone as he went. He booted it three or four feet up the path, ambled to it, and kicked it again, repeating, repeating. His thoughts still lolled in Tottori’s quilts. He knew he would never go hungry as long as Tottori was commandant, and he would have no problems from the guards; they would treat him with respect, at least to his face. Yet, he would always regret what he had gained and what he had lost. His losses seemed immense: the camaraderie of the Pilgrim’s crew, Mitchell’s friendship, the joy of sharing a coconut with his unit. He was an outcast henceforth.

Other prisoners tramped about as if sleepwalking, moving fast or slow, forcing their way through the night, mangy as stray dogs. They were restless but without impatience, without happiness or sadness, without curiosity, moving from here to there, alone in a crowd where they were never and always by themselves.

Someone stepped onto Andrew’s path to block his way. Andrew stopped and gazed into the shadowy face of Lieutenant Fowler.

“I saw you and that degenerate march to the commandant’s quarters. Are you the new camp stoolie, or are you letting the head Jappo bugger your arse in exchange for food? You’ve been in camp only two days, and you’ve already sold your soul.”

Andrew’s mind struggled to engage this new obstacle. He saw the hate embedded in those colorless eyes. It was pointless to defend himself, he knew. This was the first salvo in a battle that would involve everyone. Regrets were equally useless. He had made his decision; there was no turning back. But all the same, his anger swelled, choking him. He was not fuming at Fowler, but at his situation, his lack of control within the chaos.

Fowler smirked. “You’re the lice who cling to the conquerors’ pubic hairs. Shameless. One thing about selling out: there is always a reckoning. You’ll pay, and I’ll see to it that you pay dearly.”

Andrew understood that Fowler meant to destroy him, and it would be all too easy. His destruction would feed the hate that raged in Fowler’s heart. Andrew also realized that his own destruction, his death, was the cleanest solution to this quagmire. Fowler’s hatred could very well be his only ally.

Andrew’s fury evaporated. He even grinned. “I’ve already paid, thank you very much.” He stepped around Fowler and hurried toward the hospital.

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