Tabata On The Orient

 I recieved a letter, about the eigth of October 1940. It read; as I remember so vivdly; 

 "October 1, 1940

 We have recieved information regarding the Philippines. The German Empire is giving aid for the Philippines; building them a fleet of battleships, carriers, and destroyers. The Emperor fears the worst scenario in our liberating of Asia. You, Lt. Tabata Shinji, are assigned to travel to the Philippines, uncovering information regarding the whereabouts of the construction. You are not to surrender by any means. If you are caught, you will not say anything regarding your tasked mission, do not fail your mission, the Emperor will be very disapointed.

-Hideki Tojo

 The tea I sipped, spilled out my mouth when my eyes saw the name of who wrote such a letter to me. For someone; a lieutenant of the army to receive the letter that with it carries great importance for my great country, my mind could not help but muster a grin of success. 

 A day after, at approximately 22:00, two officers of the Navy arrived to the doorsteps of my camp in Tuy Hoa. (A vietnamese city, or much rather, the French Indochinese city). Immidiately I stood up, as I had glanced and saw their rank surpassed mine. And bowed low. They said; "Lieutenant Tabata Shinji, we've been telegramed of the reason," he took a good look at me. "You must wear a suit, and not our uniform. It will draw too much suspicision otherwise." 

 From his hand, he tossed me a big soft bag. "Clean yourself then wear it. I want you at the Hiyadori by 22:30." I bowed once more and he left the tent with the sailor behind him. Swiftly, my hands grappled upon and opened the bag. Behind the electrical gaze of light that eluded off my only lantern, I saw a suit and pair of slacks, stained yellow by that light of mine.

 I ran outside; light in hand, the cold of the night, my eyes saw, did not hinder the other of the soldiers, drinking and eating with dazed eyes and dirtied by dirt and mud as was I. To the only available shower in a kilometer's radius. I took off every article of my clothing, then I swiftly shoved my whole body into the cold shower, I yelped suddenly for the 'steaming' cold grazed every part of my sooted body. 

 Dirt ran off and my hair felt less tangled and covered with oils of somekind. A sigh of relief washed over me as I warmed up to the cold. With a towel, my hands scrubbed all the muck and after that refreshing shower of mine, I dried myself with the same towel I used to scrub my body. 

 Still damp, I wore the suit and pants, the belt that came with I had used to hold my Nambu. Looking at myself on the puddle left by my swift shower, I reminisced upon my days in Nagasaki. I have yet wrote a letter to my lover, oh how is she doing in the midst of all this I wondered. But the call of duty reigns supreme as my first priority to worry even that. 

 I came out the building I showered in and out towards the night field of flies and insects, there were a pair of leather shoes inside of the bag I was given, they were a size too big, but I will not protest further of it. 

 "Hey! Shinji! What are you doing so late in the night with that kind of outfit?" The few soldiers eating over yonder called out to me. "We thought you were a frenchman!"

 I cried a nervous laugh; "Y-yes, yes you would." And did not elaborate more as I sped off towards my tent. My eyes gazed at my watch, "22:20." Not alot of time. Swiftly, I put all the things I thought I would need into the larger bag I was given along with the singular, mundane yet beautiful picture of my wife and I at the top of Inasa mountain.

 The hand ticked another minute and I sped off outside the tent, awaking some of the soldiers to which I eased them down when they saw it was just me. Confused they were to see me in a suit in the middle of war however. Then to the harbor I hurried off to which was not all too far from my encampment. To which there I saw in the mix of merchant ships of the Vietnamese and some other of my country's. A singular warship. 

 The light of the bridge that illuminated so brightly in the night I had focused my eyes upon as sillhouetes passed through the luminous shade at seconds a time. There was a lot of activity happening there I supposed. But no! My mind should not be wandering off at such a time needy. To which I ran fast and onward the Hiyadori, and on the pier I seemingly jumped onto the wood platform that connected the ship and the dock. 

 The sailors around the mid-deck, seeing me, stood in place. I saluted of course. Then, from the bridge, I saw the face of the man who had came to greet me at my tent minutes ago. "Ah! There he is, Shinji." He ran to me. "You were right on the dot, we were about to depart before you came." A sly chuckle. 

 "Ah, captain, I am sorry for not being as early as I could be." I bowed low.

 "Make yourself comfortable in the aft, there is not much room however." He sighed. "We'll be in a pier at Navotas at the day after tommorow."

 "Navotas, sir?" I questioned as my original mission was for Manila.

 "Going to Manila in one fell swoop'll arouse suspicion, lieutenant, it doesn't take an ant's brain to understand that." He turned around, leaving me to myself as he went to the bridge once more. 

*IMAGE FOR THE DESTINATION THE HIYADORI WILL TAKE (COMMENT)*

 I looked to the skies, where the stars twinkled so brightly above, my heart beated, awaiting that day. Wondering what it will be like to accomplish this mission of mine so darring and so important for the greatness of my country.