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f gnarled roots but centipedes and leeches。 A creeping sense of panic had overe him and； without thinking further； he called for his men to backtrack with him until they had returned to the camp area。 He found the pipe half…buried in the silty soil and； brushing it off； was about to order his men out when he heard the first of the rolling reports。 The ground shook as if in an earthquake。 Southward； they saw the violent geysering of earth and foliage； stained red。
Silently； the Colonel waved them out and they crept forward； zigzagging through the dense jungle only to find the entire pany ripped apart； those who had not been caught in the cleverly planted minefield had been taken by sniper fire。 The Colonel felt in his pocket for the pipe。 The brier was warm under his calloused fingers。 He hefted his Sten gun and took his men west； through the stinking mangrove swamp； skirting the bloody deathscape； before turning south again。 In the dead of night they came upon the Japanese encampment from the rear。 They took the perimeter guards out without a sound； stringing them up in the trees as mute witnesses。 The Colonel sent half his men into the southeast。 At 0400 hours precisely； the Colonel and his men opened fire from their position just south of the encampment。 Lead sizzled the air and the Sten guns smoked merrily。 Fully half the encampment went down under that withering fire。 The other half were not so fortunate。 They retreated directly into the line of fire of the second contingent of the Colonel's unit。 Caught in a crossfire； they danced like psychotic marionettes until their bodies literally disintegrated。
At another time the Colonel might have thought it a terrible waste of precious ammunition； but not that searing blast furnace night； a Walpurgisnacht。
'Satsugai；' the Colonel said calmly； the war still vibrating behind his eyes as he languidly blew out a cloud of aromatic smoke； 'you know the history of your country as well as anyone； I daresay。 munism is not a reality for Japan； you know that。 There is far too much tradition against that kind of idealized egalitarianism。 The idea of muneizing Japan is ludicrous； the people would never stand for it。'
Satsugai's face held a hint of a steely smile。 'Whatever I believe is of little importance； hai？ It is what the Americans believe that matters。 They understand the munist menace； they know that we of the zaibatsu are this country's greatest bulwark against munism。 You can't fight it with liberal reform。 Your MacArthur found that out in 1947。'
The Colonel's eyes blazed。 'We all had high hopes for the future of Japan； then …'
'Hopes； Colonel； are for the naive；' the other said blandly。 'Realities must be faced。 The mainland is only just across the genkainada from Fukuoka。 Their threat is quite real； I assure you； they will never stop trying to infiltrate； to subvert the government of Japan。 That's why we require firm measures and the strictest enforcement of regulations。 Liberalism cannot be tolerated here。 Surely you can recognize that。'
'I see only a country being twisted for the ends of certain interests； just as it was during the war。'
For a moment the eyes of the two men locked and it was as if sparks flew from the dynamic friction of the contact。
'If things had been the way they are now in 1873；' Satsugai said softly； 'the seikanron would never have gone down to defeat。〃 He was speaking of the Genyosha's advocacy of a military campaign against Korea in that year。 Its failure to be passed instigated the first overt act of violence by the Genyosha against the Meiji government； an attempted assassination of Tomomi Iwakura。 'Do not forget； Colonel； that if the seikanron had met with success there would have been no fighting in Korea； the munists； when they came； would have been bottled up in Manchuria。 As it is' … he shrugged … 'the Americans hurl themselves from war to war without any whole…heartedness。'
'How do you mean？'
'It's obvious； isn't it？ You yourself fought in the jungles of the Asian continent。 There American tanks and artillery and even large…scale bombing are not the answer。 The munists are far too well organized and； in any event； they have a virtually inexhaustible supply of men。'
'Vietnam is no concern of ours。' The Colonel's pipe had gone out but he appeared not to notice。
'Excuse me； my dear sir' … Satsugai crossed his legs； smoothing down the centre creases of his worsted trousers … 'but in that I must say that you are most certainly wrong。 If Vietnam falls； Cambodia must certainly be next and then what happens to Thailand？ No； the so…called Domino Theory is all too real a possibility； a chilling one； at that。'
The Colonel appeared to be half asleep。 His cold blue eyes were hooded； the irises dark beneath。 His cold pipe was still stuck firmly in the corner of his mouth。 He listened to the hypnotic rattle of the rain against the windowpanes； on the eaves； his thoughts filled with history。
So much idealism。 It had started out that way； in any case。 But MacArthur was such a paranoid bastard。 By 1947； the time of the American 'reverse course' in Japan； the United States was no longer so desirous of strict war reparations as such。 After all； Japan was demilitarized； that was enough。 What began to concern them more and more was that Japan should bee their watchdog against munism in the Far East and to this end they began two separate but contiguous courses of action。 First； they restored many of the formerly suspect powerful right…wing politicians and businessmen to power and； second； they poured millions of dollars into the Japanese economy until now over 80 per cent of the old prewar structure and industry were back in operation。 In doing so； they allowed a totally Japanese…inspired campaign to scour out suspected munists and leftist radicals； doing what they had done in Spain and Iran and South America。 Over and over。 Only this time； it had hit home。
Outside； the wind had picked up； throwing the rain in hard brittle bursts against the windowpanes。 There was no colour left in the low sky。
That small but intrepid group of men so full of enthusiasm in 1945； certain that their far…reaching vision for a truly democratized Japan； free from feudal encumbrances； was the correct choice for the country。 How naive we all were！ the Colonel thought sadly； echoing Satsugai's words。 All of them； all my friends are gone now。 He watched the rain streaking the glass like tears； cold and forlorn。 A violent eddy of wind caught the wet leaves that had fallen since Ataki had last been at the house； sent them skimming through the air； whirling and spinning like miniature airships of alien design。 In his twenty…three years in the Far East； the Colonel had never felt more of an alien than he did now。 His isolation seemed to him both plete and irreversible。 One by one； the members of that inner circle of minds linked in friendship； that core of policy advisers to MacArthur； were either transferred or dismissed。 In truth； they were unaware of the political machinations that went on around them or of the increasing instability of MacArthur himself。 Still； they had hung on tenaciously； even after the reversal in 1947； hoping against hope that their bined influence could help stem the tide and return the new Japan to the beginnings of democratization。 Now； in retrospect； it was so obvious； easy to see just how impotent they had been all along。 Policy had been determined on the other side of the world and they were expected to implement； not ment。 No one had told them that in the beginning。 Terlaine had spoken out and had been summarily dismissed； McKenzie had been crushed； transferred back to the States； and Robinson had left two years ago； retired； having been ground down into the dirt as long as he could take it。 Only the Colonel remained； the iron man； outwardly the same。 But inside he was sick at heart and terribly disillusioned。 He could not bear to believe that his life's work had been utterly meaningless； that what he had fought for so long and with such unwavering intensity would never bee a reality。
But the Colonel could not give up； even now； it was simply not in his nature to contemplate such a thing。 He had thought that he had been cle