按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Rather enjoying the wind rustling his hair； Hully asked； 〃What good does radar do if you're not using it all the time？〃
〃None…that's Frank's point。〃
Just ahead was the entrance to Fort Armstrong； one of five Coast Artillery Defense Batteries on Oahu。
〃You said civilians were giving him crap； too；〃 Hully said。 〃What do civilians have to do with it？〃
〃Plenty； when it's the governor。 Him； and the National Park Service。 They won't let Frank put his radar setups on mountain peaks； where they'd be most effective…it might ruin the view。〃
〃Hell；〃 Hully said； snorting a laugh。 〃I can see why Colonel Teske is frustrated。〃
〃So can I； son； but he's still wrong about a Japanese air raid on Oahu。 And most military personnel； and informed civilians； agree with me； in considering that a remote possibility。〃
They were nearing Kewalo Basin； home of sampans in the water and out…several Japanese boatbuilding firms sat along the artificial harbor with its fleet of marine…blue sampans； blending with the water they bobbed in。
〃The threat here；〃 his father said； casting an eye toward the man…made Japanese harbor； 〃isn't from above…it's from within。〃
〃Sabotage。〃
He nodded； his expression grave； his thick hands tight on the wheel。 〃I know you don't agree with me on this； Hully； but you can't deny the reality…better than one out of three Hawaiians are of Jap heritage。〃
〃e on； O。 B。…the majority of them are hardworking； conservative souls…〃
〃With relatives living back in Japan；〃 his father finished。 〃A good number of these issei and nisei are Japanese citizens。。。。〃
Issei were first…generation immigrants； ineligible for U。S。 citizenship； and nisei were born in Hawaii； and as such were U。S。 citizens。
Trying to rein in his irritation； Hully said； 〃The nisei hold dual citizenships； Pop。 You know that。〃
O。 B。 frowned over at his son。 〃Yes； and if war breaks out； what flag will they serve under？〃
Hully gave his dad a sarcastic smile。 〃And I suppose you think sweet Mrs。 Fujimoto is just waiting for a signal from the homeland to slit our throats in the night。〃
The junior Burroughs was referring to their efficient； kindly； obviously loyal maid； who happened to be the mother of a friend of Hully's； it was his close friendship with a nisei that had got these occasional near arguments going between father and son。
Despite the absurdity of it； O。 B。 said； 〃How do you know she isn't？ How do you know your friend Sam won't stab you in the back？〃 〃Because he's my friend； Dad。〃 This was an old argument； and father and son fell into an awkward silence； punctuated by the whistle of wind and the flaglike flapping of white linen。
Along this stretch of the Ala Moana； a fantastic； breathtaking view presented itself； including Punch Bowl and Round Top and Tantalus and Kaimuki and Diamond Head； the tower of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel peeking over the tops of coconut and date palms like a kid over a fence。
Finally Hully said； 〃Jeez； Pop； I never saw so many women in one place in my Me； as on that dock today。〃 His father nodded。 〃Wives of servicemen； mostly； I suppose；〃 Hullysaid。
〃Some of 'em。 Most of them were prostitutes。〃
Hully； not sure his father was serious； looked at him； saying； 〃What？ Really？〃
But O。 B。's expression was matter…of…fact； so was his tone。 〃Sure。 And that's the only thing that makes me think Frank Teske might not be entirely nuts。〃
〃Why is that？〃
〃Well； when the prostitutes around a military base panic； and start headin' for the mainland； you gotta wonder…who is more sensitive to the military mind than a hooker？〃
They were rambling across a long wooden bridge over the Ala Moana Canal； which emptied the city's waste water into the ocean。 Their lodgings would be ing up soon； and when the wind blew from the south； no one went down to the hotel's beach to swim… at such times O。 B。 tended to refer to the otherwise fortable Niumalu Hotel as 〃Hovel…on…Sewer。〃
Soon they were passing what appeared to be an old Southern mansion set stylishly among the lush shrubbery； but it was actually a Japanese teahouse called Ikesu Villa。
'Take that place；〃 O。 B。 said with a nod。 〃It looks American； but it's Japanese through and through。〃
Shortly after； at a fork in the road； Hully's father turned right； into that part of Waikiki which still most nearly remained in its native state。
〃You know；〃 O。 B。 said reflectively； the antagonism suddenly gone from his voice； 〃the funny thing is。。。 this is as close as I've ever been to war。 I've always been the kind of guy who's late for the thrill…I always seem to get to the fire after it's out。〃
Hully took a long sideways look at his rugged； bronzed fattier…a man's man who had been a cowboy and a gold miner； who had served the United States Cavalry in Arizona； who had sailed the Panama Canal。 But who…as the creator of Tarzan…had never been to Africa； and not so long ago； when MGM announced its next Weissmuller epic would be shot on the Dark Continent； Hully's pop had been invited to acpany the expedition。。。 only the war in Europe and Africa had changed all that。 Africa was off。
〃And now I'm too old；〃 his father was saying； wheeling into and up the Niumalu's crashed coral drive。 〃One last war； and I'm too damn old。〃
For the first time in several weeks； Hully heard the familiar despondency in his father's voice； reminding him why he'd e here for mis 〃vacation〃…a fear in his family that his father might be contemplating suicide。
And wasn't mat ironic； Hully thought： what a Japanese thing for O。 B。 to be considering。
TWO
A Nazi at the Niumalu
The mile of romance； the Tourist Bureau called it： that white stretch of sand known as Waikiki； extending from the Halekulani Hotel and the adjacent inns and cottages to the concrete War Memorial Natatorium in whose saltwater pool that former screen Tarzan； Buster Crabbe； had set records； warming up for the Olympics。
Only one major beachfront hotel rested outside those limits； sequestered from the rest of Waikiki by Fort de Russy： the Niumalu； literally Spreading Coconut； loosely Sheltering Palms； of which the lavishly landscaped grounds； six acres' worth； certainly had their share。。。 and the hotel's hand…lettered sign was rather informally nailed to one leaning palm； establishing a casual tone that permeated the place。
Thirty clapboard guest cottages were scattered about the Niumalu's pleasant jungle； with all crushed…coral roads leading to an impressive if squatty…looking white stucco main building typical of the Hawaiian style of architecture prevalent since the late twenties； with its lampshadelike double…pitched roof； and a porte cochere supported by columns of lava stone evocative of leopard spots。
The lodge； as the guests referred to the central building； had an open interior with a central rock…garden courtyard just off a nightclublike dining room with a large dance floor and bandstand。 The lobby's large； missionlike arched portals also looked out onto the courtyard； and the effect was open and airy； the wicker furnishings adding to a porchlike effect。
Edgar Rice Burroughs had been Very happy here； with his wife Florence…his second wife…and he had thought she felt the s