Japs were concerned, and were practically dead when we first saw ’em.”
“Didn’t they chase you?” Laumer asked.
Mackey shook his head. “What for?” He sighed. “I don’t know. They couldn’t feed us, they’d decided not to… eat us, and they damn sure didn’t want us. Maybe they figured killing us was a mercy.”
“So, sixty-odd survivors,” Sandra said hopefully.
“No, ma’am. Not now. Some were wounded, and others just… died. Too far gone, I guess. I’ll give Okada’s people that. They did their best to save us. Took pretty good care of us, as a matter of fact.” He passed Okada an almost-apologetic glance. “I was mainly mad about that ‘happy East Asia’ bunk he was spouting earlier…” He considered. “I guess there’re maybe forty-five of us left, or there were. He brought Orrin and me along to prove his story, and because we were some of the fittest officers for travel. Sergeant Cecil Dixon-he’s the other man-saved us too many times to count. We insisted he come too. There’re other guys in better shape than us; some Filipino Scouts, some Army footsloggers”-he shook his head-“and those China Marines. Weird ducks, but talk about survivors! We left them in charge.”
“No other officers?”
“There are; even a captain and a major, but most are in pretty rough shape. Everything from dysentery to malaria. Some of them are probably goners too, unless you have quinine.”
Sandra shook her head. “No quinine, I’m afraid, but we have other things that may help. We’ll do everything we can.” A bolt of terror suddenly slashed through her. “Commander Okada! Malaria!”
Okada was already nodding grimly. So far, the mosquitoes of this world, at least in the areas they’d touched, didn’t carry or transmit anything they’d noticed. Animals and ’Cats did get sick with evident viruses, but nothing seemed to pass to humans, or vice versa, and mosquitoes left nothing but large, itchy welts that sometimes got topically infected. Some of Walker ’s crew had suffered from malaria before, but there’d been no recurrences. Sandra theorized mosquitoes here had evolved a means of “decontaminating” the blood they took. After all, passing diseases among one’s food supply seemed a rather illogical evolutionary adaptation. Or maybe it wasn’t that at all. Maybe something in the diet here, perhaps even the various inebriating or curative products derived from the amazing polta fruit once again played a role? Regardless…
“Those with diseases of that sort are kept inside at all times, smeared evident protective lotions, and surrounded by a cordon of smoky fires.” Okada said. “It is all we can do.”
Sandra noticed he didn’t blame the sick men for this new threat to “his” people. Furthermore, he’d already considered the risk, and he took it anyway. That spoke well for him.
Throughout this exchange, Saan-Kakja had remained silent, absorbing all. Like her friend Rebecca, she was a mere youngling, even by her people’s standards; yet she’d displayed a level of maturity, wisdom, and determination far beyond her years in many respects. She continued to do so now by cutting to the heart of the matter.
“You have made your report… Mr. Okaa-daa. Forgive me if I’m not yet familiar with this new title you claim. I will try to learn how to speak it. You have my gratitude, and that of the Alliance as a whole, I’m sure. Not only have you rendered assistance to friends of our friends, but you bring warning of this… rogue force that wanders waters the Alliance considers its own. As I said before, we must decide how this news affects our priorities-and what we can do for you in return for this service.”
“With respect, Your Excellency, I might make a few recommendations-and a request.”
Saan-Kakja glanced briefly at her advisors and bowed her head.
“First, beyond a perhaps-increased patrol, equipped with the wireless gear you possess, we were not challenged short of your harbor defenses ourselves,” he inserted pointedly, “you should not significantly alter your plans. I understand you suffered sorely from the tsunami that also lightly affected my land, and in addition to the Grik menace, you also confront a new enemy in the east.”
“That is true,” Saan-Kakja conceded, “and with the demands of war and disaster, few resources have been spared for patrolling waters we considered secure. That must change. But surely, with this ‘Hido-i-aame’ full of murderers on the loose, we cannot ignore it!”
“You must not,” Okada agreed, “but it is alone and isolated for now. I trust you have monitored no transmissions of unknown origin?”
Shinya’s face reflected some doubt, but he shook his head. “There’s always… noise that sounds tantalizingly like communications, but nothing definitive from any but expected sources. If Hidoiame or her consort transmitted, they’d be heard.”
“I’m sure they can transmit,” Okada said, “Even Mizuki Maru has serviceable, if antiquated communications gear.” He blinked. “I’m frankly astonished they didn’t take it with them, or destroy it. Possibly, they were still somewhat overwhelmed. Regardless, you can be sure they’ve been monitoring your transmissions. Most likely, your code is secure, but they will recognize it as an American code. They will be cautious. They have no idea what they face, and no real understanding of their situation beyond what the people of Ani-aaki tried to tell them.”
His face clouded. “They will search for a place to stop, refit, consider their circumstances-much as we… or the American destroyers did when they arrived. Though powerful, I doubt they will seek heavily populated areas, at least with the same aggression they displayed at my Home. That said, even with the tanker, one of their most pressing concerns will be fuel, and that narrows the regional choices their commanders might make. The American defenses at Tarakan Island should be strengthened, for example. It was well-known in our world to be rich in petroleum. If they arrive here, or at other well-defended Allied ports, they could stand off beyond the range of your heavy guns and do much damage to your forts, but not enough to survive a forced passage, I suspect. Hidoiame is no Amagi. Consider her a more modern, more capable version of Walker. Even she couldn’t enter Maa-ni-la if you didn’t want her to. If Hidoiame does come seeking assistance, enters within range of your guns, you will know her. You can pound her to scrap or force her surrender, and capture the murderers aboard. In any event, as long as she does not slip so far away as to join your”-he paused, and his jaw muscles worked-“ our enemies, there are only so many places she can hide without our learning her whereabouts.”
Saan-Kakja blinked. “And should we learn her whereabouts, what do you propose we do?”
“I have a request, several actually, but they all serve the same end. First, I beg membership in the Grand Alliance on behalf of my people. I understand there are elements who desire to create a more formal-even permanent-union of the member states, and I-we-do not wish to be considered part of that faction at present, but I will guarantee loyal service for the duration of the current hostilities, however long they last. To facilitate that service, I beg that a medical mission be sent to Yokohama to tend those injured in the recent invasion, and to transport the former prisoners back here where they may be more properly tended, and perhaps employed by the cause. Finally, I ask that Mizuki Maru be immediately moved into your new dry dock so she might be properly repaired and sufficiently modified with increased bunker capacity, armor, or protective structures for her machinery, and as much of Amagi ’s salvaged secondary armament as can quickly be dispatched here from Baalkpan. These modifications will be undertaken with an eye to retaining Mizuki Maru ’s original, helpless appearance.”
Saan-Kakja hesitated only a moment. “O-kay,” she said, and the col- loquialism sounded strange from her lips. “The work you speak of will require considerable time and resources, but I will grant them if you tell me… why I should?”
Okada took a breath and his eyes flashed. “I’m sure you already suspect the answer, Your Excellency. Hidoiame is a threat to the Alliance. Moreover, her officers at least are responsible for the murder of helpless prisoners and more than a hundred People of Ani-aaki who were under my protection. I desire that my first assignment as a member of the Grand Alliance be to hunt down and take or kill Hidoiame and the tanker accompanying her, as well as everyone aboard them.”
“Very well, Mr. Okaa-daa. I accept your offer, your counsel, and your request.” Meksnaak stirred himself to protest, but Saan-Kakja silenced him with a glare. “It will be done,” she said. “I will request the arms you ask in my next dispatch to Chairman Adar. I don’t know what remains to be spared, but there should be something. A new frigate is currently being coppered in the dry dock, but the task will be complete in a few days. Your… Maa-ru will be the next ship to go in.” She looked at Shinya and Lelaa. “Second Fleet will depart as scheduled, but remain extra vigilant for this Jaap destroyer.”
“Thank you,” Captain Lelaa said. “Maybe we’ll find her. With our planes and long-range guns from Amagi, I hope we do! She can be no match for the mighty Maaka-Kakja,” she boasted.
“You’re probably right,” Okada said, but added ominously; “unless she has torpedoes!”
That thought sent a chill through everyone. It had been so long since Walker had anydoes, they’d almost forgotten about the weapons. There were few enemy targets worthy of the complicated machines. Bernie Sandison
