Pearl Harbour - A novel of December 8th Read Online Free PDF

just as I was caught in the naval cutbacks, and friends at the Admiralty arranged it. Curious assignment, I can assure you. Lot to learn about these people. A lot to learn, indeed, even as I teach these lads proper King’s English and jump down on their predilection for Yankee slang. Blast all, but I wish films had remained silent. Your movies are quite the rage here in Japan, and they are all trying to imitate your gangster talk.”
    James smiled and didn’t ask any more. Just as his own visit was so “casually” arranged to this place, he could sense that there was more behind Cecil’s posting than met the eye.
    “Glad, though, you got here early as I requested, once I learned you were coming,” Cecil continued enthusiastically, “give us a chance to talk before your speech, and also for you to have a look around before scooting off.”
    “My ship departs day after tomorrow. I’ll have to catch the train back in the morning.”
    Cecil looked past James and smiled.
    “Ah, here’s one of the things I was hoping you’d get to see,” and Cecil gestured across the parade ground to an approaching column of cadets of the academy.
    A chanting in the distance interrupted their reunion, growing louder. Two columns of Japanese naval cadets, dressed in fatigue blues, came marching onto the parade ground at the double, running in that curious short step that seemed unique to the Japanese. White headbands adorned with the red circle of the rising sun were tied around the foreheads of some, while others wore the standard low-peaked cap.
    Cecil announced. “Damn all, James, watch this; it’s an eye-opener.”
    “What is going on, Cecil? They sound like a pep squad for a football game.”
    “Football?”
    “You know, our rugby.”
    “Silly game you play. All that whistle blowing and stopping and regrouping. Have at it, by God, until one side or the other caves.”
    “So that’s what we’re going to see?”
    “Just watch. I really wanted you to see this. It reveals a lot about these chaps. They call it ‘botashi.’ “
    He thought about the word for a moment, then shook his head.
    “They claim I know Japanese, but I’m not that good yet.”
    “Just watch for a moment.”
    The two columns approached the parade ground, each several hundred strong, and at mid-field separated. There was a momentary pause, the two sides lining up in block formations, bowing formally to each other. They about-faced, then went to the opposite sides of the field.
    At each end of the field a pole was going up, atop each pole a red pennant.
    “Now watch carefully,” Cecil said, his voice edged with excitement.
    The two sides gathered around the opposite poles. There seemed to be little debate; each side had one or two in charge, barking orders that James could not hear clearly.
    On each side the teams seemed to divide into two groups, a couple hundred stepping forward a few paces and lining up, a hundred or so staying back, gathering tightly around the pole with the pennant atop.
    “Get ready,” Cecil whispered, “this is all going to happen dreadfully fast.”
    A whistle blew. James could not see from where, and it was on.
    A thunderous shout went up from both sides and the forward teams charged with mad abandon, wild shouts, those with the headbands in the lead, waving their arms wildly, pointing to the other side. The field was perhaps two hundred yards across. Their speed was building with the charge, and James inwardly winced. These kids were about to run smack into each other.
    He could feel the tension with Cecil, whose hand was now resting on his shoulder.
    The two lines hit, and went right through each other. There were a couple of tackles, blows exchanged, but nearly all of them ran right past each other as if they didn’t even exist.
    What the hell kind of offensive rush was this? James wondered, but he was now so focused on the game he didn’t have time to analyze.
    Passing through each other, the offensive squads, with