Dreams of the Red Phoenix by Virginia Pye

Dreams of the Red Phoenix by Virginia Pye

Author:Virginia Pye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unbridled Books
Published: 2015-09-23T16:00:00+00:00


Fourteen

From all the way across the courtyard, Shirley could see Japanese soldiers standing at attention in front of her home: the young one who had swept her back steps and a second one who also looked familiar. Major Hattori paced the verandah, his hands clasped behind his back. During her afternoon expedition into town, she had been surprised to find few signs of the Japanese Imperial Army. Weeks before, they had swarmed in, worse than locusts descending on an already weak harvest, and attacked and ravaged the town before swiftly moving on, she hoped, to the next province. And yet, here were three of them in the mission compound. She wanted to stomp up her front steps and give the major a piece of her mind. But instead, she clenched her fists as she wove through the Chinese camps beneath the fruit trees. Their cooking smells soothed her now in a familiar way, but she was not to be calmed. She spat on the ground as the Chinese did to clear ill humors, knowing it was fury she must expel. She stepped through the moon gate, skimmed the steps, stopped before the stone-faced officer, and offered a crisp, perfunctory nod.

“Good evening, Major Hattori. It’s awfully late in the day to be paying a visit.”

He gave an abrupt bow. “I wait for you, Mrs. Carson.”

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but I’m not available at the moment. My head is spinning, and I haven’t eaten all day. My son has taken a wrong turn, and I have many mouths to feed. I must get on with my evening plans.”

“We will meet now,” he said. “We know you have Chinese under roof. We suspect some are soldiers. You offer them not only food but medical help, too. Our general is aware of all this. You should be punished. But that is not why I am here.”

“Oh, really?” she said nonchalantly, trying to hide her alarm.

“Also, I am not surprised you lose your son. You are very bad mother.”

Shirley let out a gasp. “You do seem to have theories on many topics, Major. And in addition to everything else I’ve been through today, you seem interested in chastising me. Are you a parent yourself? If not, I suggest you hold your tongue.”

The major’s grip tightened around the holster at his hip.

“Please,” she tried again, “let’s speak tomorrow. I’ll be much more civilized then. Are you available to come for tea? Let’s say four o’clock. Now, good evening, Major Hattori.”

Before he had a chance to reply, Shirley spun around, opened the heavy door, slipped across the threshold, and shut it behind her. As she pushed the iron bolt into place, her heart beat so loudly in her chest she worried he could hear it on the other side. She was certain he would start pounding at any moment, but as she stood with her ear to the carved rosewood, his boots retreated down the porch steps, leaving her surprised by her easy victory.

Shirley took off her sunbonnet and headed to the coat rack.



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