Chapter 109 - Ground Zero

Sean sought refuge at an undamaged school. It was repurposed as a shelter and infirmary for the wounded. People were distrustful of his intentions at first glance. When they saw his arm in a sling and skills as a doctor. He was instantly placed in a position of importance as he worked with other nurses and doctors who had survived the blast.  

He had bound his arm to his bound so it was less of a hindrance. He had to rely on the hands of nurses to follow his orders for certain surgeries. Fortunately, the medical staff working around the clock with him were experienced.

It was around the last days of August when he saw the US Occupation drive their tanks and jeeps into what would've been streets of the town.

One of the jeeps stopped before the school.

Sean clicked his tongue at the sight of US Marines parade the school grounds in their pristine khaki-gray uniforms. A squad headed up the steps of the school's hall.  Obviously Nisei from their mixed Japanese-American features.

The soldiers slowly toured the place, civilly talking to staff and patients who were weary of them. Then they approached Sean who greeted them in as the German doctor he was pretending to be. One of them noticed his arm and asked what had caused it.

Sean smiled and sarcastically joked that it became the meal of a rabid dog. Of course, the soldiers were aware of his sarcasm. They ignored his slights and nationality, moving on to other people to survey. Sean suspected they had been ordered to provide a detail of the bomb's effects. As he was more than convinced by now that a bomb was what had destroyed the city.

He left his doctor's duty and refuge behind the following day.  Making his way to where the occupation had pitched their tents at the epicenter on destroyed ground. He was dressed as an innocent civilian in a brown tweed suit, which made his skin itch beneath the autumn sun.

Many hungry civilians were queuing before the white tents he passed. An uneasy feeling pained his heart at the sight of soldiers handing out their left overs. Some even half-eaten bowls of rubbish.

"War brings out the worst, doesn't."

He calmed his anger. Turned and made his way to the pristine white tents, which were pitched furthest from the crowds. He strolled past US personnel in the standard khaki uniforms; avoiding the civilian lines for the encampment beyond. 

"Halt, civilian!" A solider called out to him when he was close to the makeshift gates that acted as a blockade from the civilian riff-raft.

"You're not Japanese."

Sean half laughed at the soldier's observation. "Isn't it obvious by my kitty, soft brown hair and cute brown eyes."

"A wise-guy, huh?" The soldier clicked his teeth, annoyed by Sean's response that made him oblivious to Sean's American accent.

"Whatever your business is Civilian. It's not here. Turn around. Go back to where you came from."

"Happily do so. If you're so kind as to pass on a message to Major Schmidt. Corpsman Campbell was here and told to leave. I'll be on my way." Sean cheerfully responded to the soldier with a flourished bow. He turned to leave.

"Wait!" Another soldier called out to him. "Corpsman Campbell. The Major has been expecting you."

Sean groaned with disappointment.  He turned and faced the other soldier, who was also sporting a crisp fresh uniform and rank stripes of a sergeant.  

He followed his escort into the compound, ignoring the fleeting looks and curious glances from other soldiers he passed. Some of them held strong Japanese features. Those second generation who had decided to be Americans. He wondered what they thought about seeing the state of the country they could've been part of. 

It was all irrelevant as of now. The war had reached a conclusion despite whatever the final verdict was declared.

A few soldiers keenly watched his approach to the tent at the far end of the encampment. No one approached him, seeing that he was being escorted.

Sean waited outside the tent's entrance on orders of his escort. He gave a few of the handsome soldiers a wink and cheesy grin, which earned him scornful reactions. 

"You're to go inside." His escort gave him the permission to enter. 

Sean's assumed a moment to calm his heart and ignore the throbbing to his amputated arm as he coolly entered the tent.

He stood before a middle aged man in a spiffy new khaki uniform of a high ranking officer. His stiff peak cap held the emblems of a commanding officer.

"Corpsman Campbell." The man acknowledged Sean.

Sean gave the man a half hearted salute, not caring if it would put in the stocks for a week. 

"I'll ignore your poor form due to your injury." The man clicked his tongue as he leaned on the table that had maps laid out across its surface.

Sean observed the crowfeet lines around the man's small gray eyes. Many wrinkles creased his forehead, laughlines and neck. The man was old, likely because of the war. He held his stance, not willing to give the man reason to punish him.

"Your report."

"Do you want the unabridged truth or a sugar coated story?" Sean smirked.

"The truth."

Sean told his story. A version of the truth that would ensure Eiji retained his protective rights and Tyne granted an honorable discharge.

It was early evening when he was ordered to remain on camp. He would continue his duty under the orders of a US Marine who was assigned to photograph the effects of the war. 

He found his way to his assigned tent where a fresh squad of marines were playing a game of cards or leisurely resting on their cots. 

"You're the man that I met at the gates." One of the privates recognized Sean.

"Corpsman." Sean solemnly corrected the soldier.

"Take a seat Corpsman." One of the soldiers offered Sean with a gesture to his cot.

"Thank you for the offer, but no. I'd rather stand." Sean firmly declined that man's offer, holding back his anger. "My. It must be nice to lounge around and casually play cards."

"Why you?!" The soldier began to argue, feeling offended by Sean.

"DO YOU EVEN SEE WHAT'S AROUND YOU?!" Sean shouted with a voice that caused the men to pause. "Women, children, civilians. All dead. Sure, you may think, they're not my wife or child, brother or sister, but they could've been."

A tear escaped Sean's eye. "The river is a sea of dead. Even you would not have missed that."

The men backed down. No longer in the mood for fun. 

"Were you there?" One of the younger soldiers timidly asked him. He held features of a Japanese. 

"White." Sean answered him.

More tears fell as Kei's face graced his mind.

"Everything was taken by moment of white." He lowered his eyes. 

The tent held a heavy moment of silence. It was broken by a newcomer.

"Privates. What's going on here?"

"Joe. Um, this is the new member of the squad." The younger soldier introduced Sean.

Sean solemnly greeted the man as he wiped tears from his eyes with his one good arm.

"Yes. I can see." Joe's voice was level, but held a curiosity.  "Right. Let's get some shut eye."

Sean reluctantly laid on his assigned cot, feeling turbulent emotions that kept his mind awake the entire night. 

The next morning he was given a fresh uniform to wear, bearing the official stripes and badges of a corpsman. His orders were to follow Joe around the city, who would capture the effects. He made sure to lead Joe to the places that held the most devastation and impact. 

The man never showed his emotions on his face. Sean suspected that even the strongest and hardiest person would feel sorrow for what they were seeing. There was nothing to show off as a victory. Who would feel joyful at seeing a part of the world laying as a wasteland and in pieces.

As Joe toured Hiroshima with Sean, he was given context of the effects. He was determined to capture every part of the city until he ran out of film rolls.

Eventually, Sean was relieved from his duty and given an honorable dismissal. Joe was given orders to carry onto Nagasaki. 

This made Sean think of Tyne and Eiji. He didn't want to go back to America. Not until he had learned of what happened to them.  And especially when Japan was in desperate need of doctors.

He requested his right to decline, selling a compelling case to Major Schmidt of his benefits to remain in Japan as part of a medical convoy. Despite being a man of one and a half arms, the major agreed and gave him new orders to be part of a peace keeping convoy that would take him to Nagasaki then other regions around Japan.

Sean left Hiroshima with a medic team for Nagasaki. He prayed in his heart that Eiji and Tyne hadn't fulfilled their orders. 

"Please be alive," he whispered as his convoy truck drove the dirty roads out of town.