Kamikaze by Kit Sun Cheah

Author:Kit Sun Cheah [Cheah, Kit Sun]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Training was over.

The weary men returned to their barracks, turned in their training weapons, and cleaned up. The instructors left them well alone. Yamada found time for a long, relaxing bath.

The cooks pulled out all the stops for dinner. There was gruel, of course, but it was topped with bonito flakes, bits of century eggs, and fish slices. There were plates of cabbages, carrots and roasted sweet potatoes, so fresh they must have been harvested in the morning. There were bowls of seaweed miso soup, deliciously salty, and, incredibly, mugs of beer.

It was almost like home.

After the meal, the newly-minted bushi gathered in the square for their last parade. William Marshall, silhouetted against a roaring bonfire, presided over the proceedings.

“Gentlemen, congratulations!” Marshall said. “You have completed your training and are now full-fledged soldiers. Well done!”

He clapped. Everyone followed him in applause, first in drabs and drabs, then as a storm of unrestrained noise. When the last of the applause died down, he continued.

“All of you were taken against your will. But all of you have made the best of your current situation. Many of you are strangers to each other, but in the past few weeks, you have become brothers in arms.

“Soon you shall descend into the abyss to face the enemy in battle. Just beyond the dungeon door lies a hell that no man ought to face. Soon, you will face monsters and demons out of nightmares.

“However, know this: you are ready for them. Whatever the dungeon vomits forth, be it some monstrosity from the deepest abyss or a horrific trap or an as yet some unknown demon, you are ready. And by the grace of God, we will triumph.

“Gentlemen, we have come from all nations and all creeds. But from this day forth, we are all united in one mission: victory! Victory is our purpose, and victory we shall obtain. Dedicate yourself to this singular objective, and victory is inevitable.

“Gentlemen, we are the finest warriors mankind has to offer. And we will show the Devil the error of his ways.”

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