With Every Letter Read Online Free PDF Page A

dangerous. And if not too dangerous, too disruptive. Seven years old, and no one wanted him. That hadn’t changed.
    Newman raised his head and looked Tom in the eye. “I saw something in you I liked. I saw goodness. I saw intelligence. I saw ingenuity. That’s why I took you. But now I need to see something more. I need to see you lead these men with authority. This is life and death, Gill.”
    “I won’t let you down, sir.”
    “For heaven’s sake, if you won’t use your name, at least use your rank. That’s why you have it, so the men will obey your orders instantly.”
    “They will, sir. I guarantee it.” They’d obey because they liked him and wanted to please him, not because they feared him.
    Captain Newman grunted. “I’ll hold you to that. Now go get some sleep. You won’t get much, if any, tomorrow, and from then on, who knows?”
    “Thank you, sir.” Tom left the cabin. He climbed stairway after stairway until he reached the deck, and he drew in a bracing breath of cold sea mist. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
    He pulled on his overcoat and turned up the collar. The cold gave him an excuse to hide his face until his smile returned.
    His men would follow him. They had to. After the war, he’d need a solid recommendation from Newman to get a job. The name MacGilliver rubbed the luster right off his engineering degree.

    His chest filled with unbearable, unallowable heat. Dad hadn’t thought about what his actions would do to his family. Tom had to bear the burden of his name for the rest of his life.
    His breath steamed in front of him, and he blew it off, blew it all off. He had to. Lord, help me keep control. Help me lead my men. Help me prove myself .
    He headed toward the bow of the ship. Despite Newman’s advice, Tom wouldn’t get much sleep tonight.
    A sharp burst of laughter ahead of him. Two men pushed a third man, jeering him.
    Tom paused, and his hands clenched in his coat pockets.
    “You heard me, chopsticks. Whatcha doing out at night? Signaling your buddy Adolf? Telling him our plans?” Hal Weiser, the lunkhead.
    Larry Fong held up one hand and walked away at a brisk pace. He laughed too. “I’m one of you. American through and through.”
    “That’s what all spies say.” Who was that with Weiser? Sergeant Lehman? He shoved Larry, made him stumble.
    Tom dashed forward, a grin on his face. “Hey, guys! Sergeant Fong, there you are. I’ve been looking for you. Weiser, Lehman, get some sleep while you can.”
    Weiser’s fingers worked by his side. “We’re just having fun.”
    “Yeah, but it’s late. Good night, boys. Fong, I need to go over something with you.” He put his hand on Larry’s shoulder and led him toward the bow.
    Weiser and Lehman grumbled, but they didn’t follow.
    Larry’s muscles remained tense.
    Tom jiggled his shoulder. “Never mind them. They flunked geography.”
    A harsh laugh. “Great. Put that on my tombstone.”
    “When they see they can’t rattle you, they’ll leave you aloneand find other prey.” Tom stepped up to the bow and leaned his elbows on the railing. “Looked like you smiled the whole time. Do you ever stop smiling?”
    Larry cocked one eyebrow. “Do you?”
    “No,” Tom said with a laugh.
    “Me neither. I don’t dare.”
    Tom gripped his elbows. He had to be cheerful to show people he wasn’t a killer. Larry had to prove he wasn’t the enemy. “Has it always been like this for you?”
    “Not much in San Francisco. A bit at Cal. But when the war started, it got bad. That’s why I joined up. It didn’t help.”
    “Give them time. When they see what you’re made of, you’ll win them over.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not. In the meantime, I’ll serve my country as best I can. At least I’m not locked in a relocation camp like my Japanese friends. Just as American as I am, not that I can say that out loud.”
    Tom nudged his arm. “You just did.”
    “You’re different. You understand.”
    “Yeah.” Tom understood more