mac.thepearlharbormurders-第5章

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　one　guy　or　another；　and　he　never　seemed　to　get　his　turn。
　He　would've　loved　to　have　one：　she　was　a　stunning　girl　in　her　early　twenties；　with　black　hair　and　a　slender；　curvy　form　made　obvious　by　a　formfitting　pink　bathing　suit；　petite　at　five…two　or　…three；　with　wonderful　high　cheekbones；　a　flawless　plexion　and　full　lips　that　always　seemed　poised　to　pucker　into　a　kiss。　Her　father；　back　home　in　San　Francisco；　was　Japanese；　but　her　mother；　also　in　Frisco；　was　white；　and　the　Eurasian　bination　was　exquisite。　If　he　hadn't　known　of　her　Japanese　blood；　Hully　would　never　have　guessed　its　presence；　her　dark　eyes　lacking　the　distinctive　Asian　almond　shape；　still；　something　exotic　lurked　in　those　features。
　Before　his　father　showed　up　for　tennis；　Hully　sat　hugging　his　knees　on　the　sand；　next　to　Pearl；　and　they　chatted。　She　was　on　her　back；　half　sitting；　leaning　on　her　elbows。
　〃I　suppose　Bill's　got　your　dance　card　filled　tonight；〃　he　said。
　Her　smile　was　lazy　yet　dazzling　and　as　white　as　her　name。　〃I　only　get　to　dance　on　a　few　songs…I　have　to　sing　for　my　supper；　you　know。。。。Is　Bill's　father　going　to　be　here　tonight？〃
　Colonel　Kendall　Fielder；　chief　of　Army　intelligence；　was　a　good　Mend　of　the　elder　Burroughs；　and　frequently　stopped　by　the　Niumalu。
　〃I　think　so；〃　Hully　said。　〃He's　a　regular　at　these　luaus。〃
　She　seemed　troubled。　〃I　hope　the　colonel　won't　mind　seeing　his　son　dance　with　the　likes　of　me。〃　〃He'll　only　be　jealous。〃
　The　smile　returned。　〃If　Bill's　father　breaks　us　up；　how　about　catching　me　on　the　rebound？〃
　Hully　felt　his　heart　race…foolish　though　that　was。　〃Why　wait？〃
　She　shrugged；　stared　toward　the　vast　blue　of　the　ocean；　visible　through　an　opening　in　the　palms　and　across　a　stubby　fence　guarding　a　short　drop…off。　〃I　don't　think　your　father　would　like　me　much；　either。　He　always　growls　at　me。〃
　〃He　growls　at　everybody。　Anyway；　he　doesn't　think　for　me…I'm　free；　wuh　。。。〃　He　paused。
　〃White　and　twenty…one？〃　The　smile　was　sad　now；　but　no　less　lovely。　〃Don't　kid　yourself；　Hully。　These　are。。。　precarious　times。　You　know　Colonel　Fielder　well；　don't　you？〃
　〃Fairly　well。　He　and　my　pop　are　tight　as　ticks。〃　The　lovely　dark　eyes　tightened。　〃Do　you　think　you　。。。　or　your　father。。。　could　introduce　us？　I'd　really　like　to　talk　to　Colonel　Fielder。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　could　meet　him。〃　A　strange　sense　of　urgency　throbbed　in　the　girl's　voice。　〃I　really　need　to　see　him；　alone。。。。　Would　you　help　me？　Perhaps　speak　to　your　father；　and　ask　him　to　arrange　a　meeting？〃
　〃Well。。。　sure。〃
　Hully's　heart　wasn't　racing　now。　The　breathtaking　Pearl　simply　wanted　his　help　so　she　could　make　her　case　to　her　beau's　father…which　no　doubt　meant　Bill　had　finally　popped　the　question。　And　Hully　felt　sad　for　her；　sorry　for　her；　because　he　knew　how　the　colonel　was　likely　to　respond；　in　this　climate　of　war　clouds；　to　the　notion　of　his　son　marrying　a　nisei。
　Then　his　father　had　arrived；　and　Hully　hopped　up　from　the　sand　and　joined　the　old　man　on　the　court。　The　tantalizing　aroma　of　the　nearby　roasting　pig　offered　a　distraction　almost　as　bad　as　Pearl　in　her　pink　bathing　suit；　and　Hully　again　lost　to　his　old　man；　two　sets　to　one。
　As　he　and　his　dad　headed　back　to　the　bungalow　for　cool　showers…the　Niumalu's　acmodations　lacked　water　heaters；　typical　here　in　this　land　of　perfect　temperatures…Hully　told　his　father　that　he'd　put　them　in　for　the　luau。
　They　were　moving　past　hedges　of　hibiscus　and　morning　glory　flowering　beneath　poinciana　and　jaca…randa　trees。
　〃I'd　rather　go　to　the　wrestling　match；〃　O。　B。　grumbled；　〃and　eat　hot　dogs。〃
　Hully　knew　his　dad　wasn't　kidding：　they　frequently　attended　the　professional　wrestling　bouts　at　several　local　arenas；　particularly　when　the　champ；　Prince　Ali　Hassan；　was　peting；　as　he　was　tonight；　O。　B。　found　the　sport　〃hilariously　exciting；〃　relishing　what　he　termed　the　〃sweaty　theatricality〃　and　〃hokey　sadism。〃　
　〃You　know　a　lot　of　your　Navy　and　Army　pals　will　be　here；〃　Hully　said；　opening　the　bungalow　door　for　his　dad。　Nearby；　orchids　bloomed　in　coconut　shells　hanging　from　a　monkey　pod。　〃The　brass　always　turns　out　for　these　Niumalu　luaus。〃
　〃I'm　sure　there'll　be　the　usual　quota　of　admirals　and　colonels；〃　O。　B。　said；　stepping　inside。　〃These　admirals　are　so　plentiful　they　get　between　your　feet　and　in　your　hair。　I　have　to　b　'em　out　every　time　I　e　home。〃
　〃What　hair？〃　Hully　asked；　good…naturedly。　〃Anyway；　you　love　those　Navy　guys。〃
　〃pared　to　the　Army　brass；　sure；〃　the　old　boy　said；　flopping　on　the　couch。　〃Our　Navy　is　great；　but　that　Army　of　ours　is　undermanned　and　underequipped；　if　you　ask　me。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　asking；　Pop；〃　Hully　said；　sitting　next　to　him。　〃Anyway；　Fred　said　for　us；　the　luau's　on　the　house；　as　usual。〃
　〃Because　I'm　a　celebrity。　You　know　notoriety　gives　me　a　royal　pain。〃
　Hully　also　knew　his　father　had　once　loved　publicity…it　was　the　adverse　publicity　surrounding　the　Burroughs　divorce　and　remarriage　that　led　to　this　new…found　phobia。
　〃Anyway；　I'm　unquestionably　the　world's　poorest　conversationalist；〃　O。　B。　said；　folding　his　arms。　〃I'm　as　bad　a　listener　as　these　idiots　are　lousy　talkers…average　man　or　woman　has　little　or　nothing　worth　saying；　and　spend　much　of　their　waking　lives　saying　it。　They　exercise　their　vocal　organs　while　their　brains　atrophy。〃
　Hully　was　used　to　such　rants。　Calmly　he　said；　〃I'm　not　going　to　the　wrestling　match；　Pop。　Anyway；　you're　a　great　conversationalist；　and　some　very　interesting　people　are　bound　to　be　there。　You're　just　not　used　to　socializing　sober。〃
　Burroughs　gave　his　son　a　blank；　almost　stunned　look；　then　the　old　man　burst　into　laughter。
　〃You　got　me；〃　he　said。　'Take　your　damn　shower…　you　smell　worse　than　I　do。〃
　Hully　took　his　shower。
　He　was　amused　by　his　father's　cantankerousness；　and　delighted　by　how　the　old　man's　despondency　had　faded　over　the　last　month　or　so。　Frankly　amazed　by　his　father's　new　lease　on　life；　Hully　had　marveled　the　other　day　when；　walking　back　to　the　hotel　along　a　fence　line…；　his　father　had　jumped　up；　swung　a　leg　over　and　dropped　down　nimbly　on　the　other　side。　The　younger　Burroughs　had　stood　there　flabbergasted：　the　fence　was　chest…high；　and　Hully　knew　he　couldn't　have　vaulted　the　thing。
　Perhaps　it　was　time　to　get　back　home；　to　his　mother；　in　the　house　in　Bel　Air。　He　was　well　aware　she　suffered　from　chronic　alcoholism…he'd　witnessed　her　incessant　drinking　since　his　childhood。　Her　periods　of　sobriety　were　now　very　short…a　week　or　two…followed　by　ten　days　to　two　weeks　of　a　bender　resulting　in　delirium　tremens　and；　ultimately；　a　doctor's　care。　Hully　knew　the　affliction　would　follow　his　mother　to　the　grave…　if　it　didn't　send　her　there；　first。
　Nothing　remained　but　to　try　to　make　her　life　as　happy　and　as　free　of　worry　as　possible；　and　to　keep　her　from　injuring　herself。　Shortly　before　he　left；　he'd　fired　a　maid　and　driver　who　were　aiding　and　abetting　his　mother's　bingeing；　and　taking　advantage　of　her　financially。
　Truth　was；　he　was　enjoying　himself　here　in　Hawaii；　and　dreaded　going　back　home…he　loved　spending　time　with　his　father；　adored　Waikiki　with　its　gentle；　flower…scented　breezes；　and　had　enjoyed　several　brief　romances　here　。。。　even　if　Pearl　Harada　hadn't　been　one　of　them。
　A　hundred　guests　had　descended　upon　the　Niumalu　by　sundown；　far　more　than　the　relatively　few　residents　of　the　thirty　cottages　scattered　about　the　tropical　grounds。　The　tables　in　the　dining　room　had　been　rearranged；　fit　together　picnic…style；　but　Hully　and　his　father…and　another　forty　patrons；　inclined　toward　a　more　authentic；　traditional　presentation…sat　like　Indians　on　the　lawn　on　lau　hala　mats；　gathered　around　a　long　narrow　spread　of　food　exhibiting　great　variety　and　color；　including　the　exotic　likes　of　lomi…lomi　（salmon　rubbed　and　raw；　mixed　with　shaved　ice；　onions　and　tomatoes）；　ti…wrapped　breadfruit；　yams；　bananas　and　beef；　opii　（raw　limpets）；　pipikaula　（Hawaiian　jerked　beef）；　limu　（dried　seaweed）；　laulau；　parcels　of　pork　with　salted　butterfish；　and　two　kinds　of　poi；　one　made　from　breadfruit；　the　other　of　taro。　And　chicken　and　mahimahi　and；　of　course；　the　delicious　shredded　pork　from　the　imu。　Eventually　noupio　（coconut　pudding）　was　served；　but　it　took　a　long　while；　and　a　lot　of　serious　eating；　to　get　there。。。。
　Hully　and　his　father　both　capitulated　to　having　wine　with　their　meals；　passing　on　the　stronger　stuff…oke；　short　for　okolehao；　ginlike　booze　derived　from　ti　root　and；　according　to　O。　B。；　〃every　bit　as　good　as　horse　liniment。〃　Free…flowing　oke　and　wine　made　the　evening　even　more　festive；　and　casual；　and　it　was　plenty　casual；　with　even　some　of　the　admirals　and　colonels　wearing　the　currently　popular；　colorful　silk　〃aloha〃　shirts；　the　women　in　loose…fitting；　equally　colorful　muumuus；　or　the　occasional　kimono…Japanese　fashion　and　culture　were　much　admired　locally；　despite　the　threat　of　war。
　In　fact；　the　top　brass　themselves　were　here　tonight…　Admiral　Husband　E。　Kimmel；　mander　of　the　Pacific　Fleet；　and　Lieutenant　General　Walter　C。　Short；　mander　of　the　U。S。　Army　ground　and…air　forces。　Kimmel　wore　a　white　suit　with　a　light　gray　tie　that　vaguely　invoked　his　Naval　dress　whites；　while　Short　was　in　a　red…and…yellow　aloha　shirt。
　Hully's　father　knew　both　men。　Kimmel　and　Short　sat　almost　directly　across　from　O。　B。…the　two　most　powerful　military　men　on　the　island　had　arrived　together；　with　petite；　attractive　Mrs。　Short　（it　was　well…known　that　Kimmel　had　left　his　wife　on　the　mainland；　so　as　not　to　be　distracted　in　his　Hawaiian　duty。。。　even　if　his　name　was　Husband）。
　As　usual；　Kimmel…whose　strong　voice　was　touched　with　a　Kentucky　bluegrass　twang…seemed　unfortable　in　a　casual　setting；　his　broad　brow　troubled。　The　admiral　was　in　his　late　fifties；　five　feet　ten　inches　of　pact　muscle　and　bone；　his　dark　blond　hair　graying　at　the　temples；　with　clear；　direct　blue　eyes；　a　slightly　hooked　nose；　and　a　sternly　set　mouth　and　chin。
　Short；　on　the　other　hand；　was　affable　and　easygoing；　and　the　close　friendship　between　the　admiral　and　the　general　puzzled　many；　as　they　would　seem　personal　and　professional　opposites。　A　slim；　wiry　five　feet　ten；　in　his　early　sixties；　Short　had　a　thin；　delicately　boned；　sensitive　face　with　deep…set　eyes　under　frequently　lifted　brows；　with　a　high…bridged　nose　and　a　thin　upper　Up　and　sensuous　lower　one。
　〃Ed；〃　Short　was　saying；　helping　himself　to　two　fingers　of　poi　（no　utensils　allowed　at　a　luau）；　〃how　did　a　fellow　with　a　military　background　like　you　wind　up　an　artiste！〃
　〃Nobody's　ever　accused　me　of　being　an　artist　before；　General；〃　Burroughs　said；　nibbling　a　chunk　of　banana。　〃Biggest　disappointment　of　my　life　was　when　Teddy　Roosevelt　turned　me　down　for　the　Rough　Riders。〃
　Short　frowned　and　smiled　simultaneously。　〃I　thought　you　were　in　the　cavalry…the　'Bloody　Seventh；'　who　fought　at　Little　Bighorn　and　Wounded　Knee。〃
　〃That's　true；　but　the　press　agents　would　have　you　believe　I　fought　side　by　side　with　Custer。〃
　〃Maybe　that's　what　happened　to　your　scalp；〃　Hully　kidded。
　His　father　laughed　at　that；　continuing；　〃The　only　Indians　I　came　in　contact　with；　at　Fort　Grant；　were　Indian　scouts。　No；　my　cavalry　career　was　undistinguished；　General。　A　flop　like　everything　else　I　ever　tried。〃
　〃Edgar　Rice　Burroughs；〃　Kimmel　said；　putting　some　pomp　into　the　name；　〃a　flop？　That　seems　unlikely。〃
　〃Admiral；　I　have　sold　electric　lightbulbs　to　jan