THE NEW RONIN By Kurt Saxon
Chapter Two: THE SEVEN COMRADES
Off the main room was a smaller room containing a Shinto shrine. The shrine was simple and lent the room an air of serenity and tranquility. But there was also an underlying atmosphere of awesome power about the shrine which humbled the university students.
None of them were deeply religious. But the shrine stirred each of them in a way he could neither explain nor would admit to, to an outsider. Yasuo, the most sensitive, trembled under its influence. Takeo, the one most lacking in emotion, began to bow in its direction. Then he caught himself and straightened, hoping none of the others had noticed.
The old priest did notice, however, and to prevent his guests any embarrassment, invited them to assemble around the low table in the living room. As they whispered their strange impressions of the shrine, the house and the old priest, Kuwahara bustled about in his little kitchen preparing tea and cakes.
As he served them, they became more relaxed and talked easily to the old priest as he hung excitedly upon every word each of them uttered. They opened up to him as to no one else since they had gotten together.
Saburo told him of his dream to publish a newspaper or magazine. It would be so simple in its format, yet so penetrating in its analysis of events that anyone who could read could relate to every article.
The old priest gleefully assured him that his ambition would be realized. Moreover, he told him that the publication would have great power and influence. Saburo was thrilled and gratified. Despite his normal skepticism, he could somehow see the publication as never before. As Kuwahara encouraged him, the publication of his imaginings became to him a reality.
Yasuo, the poet, told the old priest of his wish to capture the essence of traditional Japanese art and literature. He believed he could modernize it so everyone could understand it, yet retain its original exquisite depth and beauty.
The old priest laughed gaily and said, "Yes, yes, Yasuo, you are the very one who can do it and you will. Our culture and traditions are filled with strength, nobility and beauty. But they must be modernized without losing the power our ancestors infused in them. Only then can our people truly appreciate and continue their heritage."
Yoshi then told of his fascination with computers, not only for storing data, but to make machines work better. He related his plans with Takeo to build a computerized motorcycle which anyone could ride with comparative safety. Takeo, a wizard concerning machinery, told of the gyro stabilizer he had designed. Coupled with Yoshi's machine-connected computer, the motorcycle would be impossible to overturn when moving. This would also give it more mobility at greater speeds. The old priest expressed his enthusiasm for the concept.
Hideki told of his ambition to be a detective like Sherlock Holmes. He wished to solve only the most difficult cases by the craftiest professionals in Japan's underworld. Kuwahara assured him his talent would be tested to its limits.
Tadashi then boasted of his own ambition to be the prime minister of Japan. He expressed a desire to prove that one could succeed in politics and still be honest. At that, Yasuo shouted with laughter. "Why, Tadashi, aside from your conversations with us, I've never known you to tell the truth when you could get away with an outright lie."
"You show your ignorance," snapped Tadashi. "A politician tells his electorate what they want to hear. And since he could not gain a majority without catering to the fantasies of the differing voters, he must entertain the hopes of the majority. But that is not lying. Lying is making statements to the disadvantage and subsequent loss to the listener. What you observe as lying in my conversations with others, is simply practice toward eventually beating my opponents at their own game."
The old priest spoke up, "I don't know if you will be prime minister, or should be. But your developing talent for convincing others of the rightness of your programs will help you in the adventure I believe you will soon embark upon."
Minoru, the economics major then spoke up, "I must agree with Tadashi. There is no perfect economic system, nor is there a sure thing in finance. But in the field of finance, one must often use a lot of wishful thinking to get backers. If he fails to convince potential backers that his project or product is a sound investment, an otherwise fortunate enterprise might fail totally. So in finance, as well as politics, truth is often simply a matter of foresight, backed up by cooperation and investment. In finance also, a lie is simply deliberate fraud."
After agreeing with Minoru, the old priest observed, "Is it not strange that although you each have different careers planned and are so unlike in personality, you are as close as brothers? How did such diverse characters as yourselves get together?"
Yasuo explained, "Well, before I met Takeo he was going with a girl, Kemiko. She is a quiet girl and very intelligent, not my type at all. But she is pretty and I was getting over a girl who left the university. So after talking to her for a few minutes while buying a notebook, I decided I would have her. Takeo is shy and was angered that someone would take away one of the few girls he could relate to. We had not met but he found where I roomed and came to beat me up. When I let him into my room, Kemiko was with me."
"For some reason I can't explain, we were more attracted to each other than to Kemiko. He asked me if we had met before and I was thinking the same thing. But we are from different areas and had never seen one another before that afternoon. Anyway, I believer Kemiko wanted to be fought over. She grew more impatient as we grew friendlier. Finally, she accused us of being abnormal and flounced out."
"She later struck up a conversation with Saburo in the library. They began dating and one day when Takeo and I were having lunch in the dining hall, Kemiko brought Saburo to our table to show us 'what a real man was'. Saburo then went through the same routine of asking where he had met us before and sat down. Then Kemiko went off saying she couldn't understand what was wrong with her that she would lose two men to other men."
"I knew her feelings were hurt so later that afternoon I found her and vowed my undying love for her. We went together for nearly two months. Now she is back with Takeo. I'm now going with three delightful young ladies in my drama class."
Takeo then said, "I don't see anything strange in Yasuo's attraction to me. He is silly and frivolous. Opposites attract, you know. It's a law of physics."
"That could be," said Yasuo, offended. "Takeo has no sensitivity to the finer aspects of art and culture. But he is very good at explaining what he knows. After only one afternoon, he made me understand enough of the basic principles of higher mathematics that I passed the test."
"Having finally learned from him what I could not understand before, I showed him the mathematical principles of poetry and prose. That gave him a barely passing grade in literature."
Yoshi then spoke up, "It could be that our mutual attraction is because each feeds the other data that he otherwise could not grasp. We complement each other like computer banks, each with data foreign, but necessary to the other."
"That's it," said Hideki. "I was attracted to Saburo in our journalism class. Although different, detectives and journalists must often use deductive logic to collect facts to put together a case or report, whichever it may be."
"And I was attracted to Yoshi in our math class," said Takeo. "We saw a bond between us due to a mutual interest in the application of computers."
Tadashi expressed his attraction to Yoshi's knowledge of computers. "After all," he explained, "a modern politician cannot plan a campaign without data which must now be collected and computerized if it is to have relevancy."
"The same applies to finance, these days," said Minoru. "Also, my skill at finance will give Yoshi and Takeo the money to form their respective computer and engineering firms."
"You are all absolutely correct," said the old priest. "But in a university with thousands of students, are there not also thousands of proposed alliances to share complimentary knowledge? Two, three, four; yes, but among similarly inclined students. Do any of you know of any other group of up to seven so drawn to each other?"
"Of course, you are complementary in certain respects. But aren't most students? However, do they flock together inseparably as you do? The reasons you have given for your mutual attraction are convenient and made up. You make up these excuses because you can't grasp the true reason for your unity. And what of my recognition of you and the ease with which we communicate?"
"I know you. I have been waiting for you for years. At times I have been confused. I have mistaken others for you, my comrades, but my mind is clear now. Also, your being there just at that time and your quickness to help against our enemies shows me that you know, although you may not realize it yet. You know in your spirits and that's enough."
But, Sir," said Yoshi, "how could we be your comrades? We are all in our early twenties and we have never been to this region, so...."
"Yoshi," snapped Saburo. He waved his hand in a motion to humor the old priest.
To Saburo, the old priest said, "No my boy, let him voice his doubts. I am not offended. I thank you for your respect, though, which is rare in the young these days."
"But you do strongly remind me of my seven comrades with whom I served for eight years on an island base during the war. I think they live on in you. Because we are all eternal. You young men even have a strange resemblance to them."
The seven listened patiently, Saburo even leaning closer as if wanting to hear more. To him Kuwahara said, "Yes, my boy, there may be something to gain in humoring an old man. You planned a holiday and I promise you an adventure, both back in time and into the future."
"I will take you to an island where there are hundreds of thousands of tons of war material of every description. You can not only be wealthy beyond your wildest dreams, but you can finance a war against the internal enemies of our sacred nation. And if I am a mad old man, or senile, what have you to lose by going with me to the island I served on during the war? You are on holiday. Your machines are damaged. I heard one of you say to the other that it will take days to get them repaired. Two may have to be replaced. Days to get money from home. You are going nowhere for a while."
"If you wait here in town, you will just be attacked by those hoodlums from the karate school. So unless you want to spend your holiday loitering around the police station, you will come with me."
"I have no objection to a boat trip, under the circumstances, sir," said Tadashi. "And I have no doubt that the equipment is there. But we have all seen the American films of the taking of the islands. Whatever was there would have long since been destroyed by humidity and jungle rot."
"You are wrong, Tadashi," said the old priest. "Of course, your opinion is valid. But I'm in a position to know the material is in an excellent state of preservation. You must trust me."
With that, he arose and said, "I'm tired. Go take rooms at the inn and be here at first light tomorrow. I'll borrow a launch from a friend and we'll leave early."
After their dismissal, as they walked toward a small inn they had passed on the way to the old priest's home, Yasuo stopped them. "I know him. I feel toward him the same attraction and affection I feel toward each of you."
"We were drawn together. We've rationalized and made excuses. But now I realize I know each of you in a deeper sense than I could grasp. I know him, too. But not as a grandfather figure. I know him as I know you. The only difference between us is that his body is old."
"We all know him. Saburo; you know!" Yasuo shook with confused emotion. "Minoru Tadashi, Hideki, Yoshi, you know!"
"It doesn't compute," said Yoshi uncertainly.
Yasuo then grabbed Takeo by the lapels of his jacket and shook him. "Even you, you insensitive robot," Yasuo shouted, "You know!"
"As Yoshi said, it doesn't compute", replied the stone-faced Takeo.
"But you know," Yasuo shouted again.
"Yes," said Takeo, calmly. "I know, but I don't know
what it is that I know. I've got to sort it out. Now, take your hands off
me or I will break your head."
Tadashi took Yasuo by the shoulder and pulled him away from Takeo. "What say we all calm down. So we know him. But I'm not a mystic. There must be some logical explanation. And as for the trip, as the old man says, we've nothing to do for the next few days."
"I suggest we accomplish two things at once. We'll go to the police and get some background on him. At the same time, we can learn if there is anything illegal in the venture. We don't know where the island is or whether or not it is still under Japanese jurisdiction. Maybe such islands are off-limits, regardless."
"Well," said Saburo, "the police station is right down that street. I can see the sign."
When they entered the station they confronted the police captain, Mitsuo Fuchida. He was a pleasant man of about thirty-five who knew their problem and understood their wish to occupy their time while awaiting the repair of their machines.
"Boys," said Captain Fuchida, "I suggest you make the best of a wait in this dreary town. There is nothing for you to gain in going off with old Kuwahara, believe me."
Yoshi answered, "With all respect, Captain, why should we believe you?"
Patiently, Captain Fuchida explained. "For one thing, I've known that old man all my life. He's a kind of town grandfather. He was indeed a supply officer stationed on one of the islands. Near the end of the war, he suffered a severe head wound in a bombardment. The Americans found him dazed and unconscious of who or where he was. Their surgeons did the best they could for his body, but they could do nothing for his mind."
"After the war," he continued, "he was returned here and for two years was like a little child. In time, he came to himself for longer periods. But he was too crippled and his sanity too temporary for any regular work. He was deeply religious and the priesthood was where he fitted best."
"He believes his dead comrades have been reborn or their spirits are within other men somewhere, or something to that effect. So he wears his robes constantly so they will somehow be attracted to him. But his delusions are harmless and enough people go to him for ceremonies to give him a living.
"Over the years, he's told about the cave. So on a stinking tropical island, what would such a cave be like after two, ten, and now forty years? Dank, humid; anything still there would be rotted, mildewed, rusted. Worse, any munitions would be corroded; their explosives now being too unstable to touch."
"No, boys, let it alone. Let an old man die with his dream rather than from disappointment on facing reality. And reality says the cave does not exist as he remembers it."
"But, sir," said Yoshi, "we told him that after all this time everything in such a cave would be garbage. We are, after all, university students," he finished smugly.
"And he replied," said Saburo, "that this cave is different. He wouldn't tell us why, saying we would have to trust him."
"Of course he would say that," said the Captain, laughing. "My four-year-old says there's a giant in the benjo. I say a giant couldn't fit in the benjo and he says it's a different kind of giant."
"Even so," said Yoshi, "there's something about him and what he says. We want to go. Is there any law against such a trip?"
"Well, let's see," mused Captain Fuchida. "Is there a law against going to some worthless island outside Japanese jurisdiction, dying in a cave-in or being blown to bits? No, I don't think our experts in public safety have gotten around to that one."
"By the way," he continued, "do you believe you are the comrades he's been waiting for all these years?"
"We don't know," said Saburo, seriously.
As they left, the Captain muttered to himself, "University students. They don't know."
Chapter Three: THE VOYAGE
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