Fifteen long, boring days later, the Republic drew within three miles of Manila Bay. Zenji and Freddy had spent the trip walking from one end of the ship to the other, practicing eavesdropping, observing people, and slipping out of sight, trying not to be seen. Zenji caught Freddy more times than Freddy caught him.
“Got to get better at your spycraft,” Zenji said.
“Maybe we’re not going to be spies.”
“Then why are we hiding from each other?”
“Because we’re bored out of our minds?”
Zenji punched Freddy’s arm. What a wise guy. He liked him as much as Tosh.
As they approached the harbor, Zenji, Freddy, and every last man on the ship surged to the rails to gaze at the lush, green land with a coast that went on forever.
“This is an island?” Zenji asked.
“Luzon.”
Even at a distance he could smell the earth, and almost taste the rich thickness of salty tropical air born of shallow waters.
“The Pearl of the Orient,” he whispered.
Freddy whistled, low. “Almost as nice as where we came from, ah?”
Zenji agreed … but new thoughts were starting up. About machetes. Murders in the night. Ma’s words had scratched their way into the darkest corners of his mind.
Stop! Thinking like this will drive you crazy!
Still …
He nudged Freddy. “You think Filipinos carry machetes here?”
Freddy looked at him and burst out laughing. “Machetes! For a minute I thought you were serious.”
“No, no … just joking.”
Freddy kept chuckling. “Chop-chop.”
“Hey you!” someone behind them called.
They turned to see the CIP guy. Zenji had forgotten all about him.
“You boys enjoy your trip?”
“Yeah,” Freddy said. “But it was too short.”
The CIP guy snorted. “Follow me.”
Zenji tried to hide his excitement. Finally he and Freddy would learn why they were so important. The army didn’t go through testing and bringing them here just to have them read newspapers and listen to the radio. There had to be more.
The CIP guy led them up steel stairs to the bridge. It was deserted, except for a gray-haired man and the ship’s captain.
The CIP guy motioned them toward the gray-haired man, who was studying a nautical chart. “This is Major Thomas Harding, G2 operations officer, U.S. Army, Philippines Detachment. Your new boss.”
“Sir,” Zenji said.
Should he shake hands or salute? He chose to salute.
“None of that,” the major snapped. “Not with what you’ll be doing.”
“And what’s that?” Freddy asked boldly.
The major pulled two envelopes from his coat pocket and handed one to each of them. “You’ll find everything you need to know in these envelopes. But don’t open them now. You can do that onshore while you travel to your respective destinations.”
Zenji glanced at Freddy. “We’re not going to the same place?”
“The instructions will explain everything. Right now, we need to get you off this ship secretly. We don’t want any Philippine government officials to be able to identify you as having come in with all these troops, so we’re going to get you off before we dock.”
Freddy grinned. “I like it.”
The ship’s captain nodded to Major Harding. “The launch.”
The CIP guy hooked a finger toward Zenji and Freddy.
“Time to pack up.”
Zenji hesitated, looking at the major.
“Be careful disembarking,” the major said. “The launch will let you off in a secluded spot. Once onshore, read your instructions, then split up and catch a cab to your destinations. Make sure it’s a Yellow Cab. The others can be unpredictable. Act like you know the place. Never look at a map in public. You’ll stand out like the blinking lights on an ambulance.”
They left the bridge.
Freddy and Zenji grabbed their gear and the CIP guy took them to a part of the ship where the crew had fashioned a view shield and hung a rope ladder over the side.
Zenji looked down to the water.
Below, a burly Filipino stared up from a small launch. He was holding just off the hull of the ship, keeping pace as the Republic eased toward the harbor.
It was a long way down. And the ship wasn’t going to stop.
Zenji stepped back. “It looks dangerous.”
“It is dangerous, if you don’t focus on what you’re doing,” the CIP guy said. “Just take it slow and easy. We’ll lower your gear down after you. Just don’t fall in the water. The screw on this tub will eat you alive.”
“The screw?” Zenji said.
“The propeller. It’ll suck you right under and chop you up. Not a good way to go.”
Zenji’s hands trembled all the way down the loose rope ladder. It was the scariest thing he’d ever done in his life. Once he was safely in the small boat, he took a deep breath, amazed at what he’d just accomplished.
“That wasn’t bad,” he said when Freddy plopped down in the launch next to him.
“Piece of cake.”
The Filipino who skippered the launch was silent as he gathered their gear and secured it under the seats.
“What’s your name?” Freddy asked.
“Name,” Freddy repeated.
The guy rapid-fired some incomprehensible response, waving in the direction of the island. Then he laughed and headed over to the controls.
Zenji elbowed Freddy “You get all that?”
“Sure. He said last time he did this a guy fell in the water and the sharks got him. He’s looking forward to seeing that happen again. Maybe today.”
“Sharks?” Zenji glanced at the water.
“Man, you Honolulu boys are so gullible.”
“Not.”
Freddy shielded his mouth with his hand and whispered, “Watch out. He just picked up his machete.” He cracked up as the Filipino hit the throttle. The bow rose up out of the water, and flattened when the launch got up to speed and raced toward the mysterious island of Luzon.