Settings of a short story October 7, 2015 by Montago Burgess

Setting: small,dimly lit room aboard a Japanese battleship. A small dying light cast shadows upon the walls and ceiling. The room is rather cluttered with a double bunk bed,sink and luggage area taking up most of the space.Hot and humid aboard the ship men practice military drills and exercises.Two Japanese men sit in the room labeled b13 by a plaque outside the door.Japanese propaganda hog the little wall space on the in the room,wilted by the intense heat of the ship,they reflect the occupants mood.One of Japan’s biggest allies,Germany, has been defeated by American imperialists.The door is tightly closed and locked.(x) leans against the sink a worried,fretful expression on his face.Two feet away (y) lays idly on the top bunk the ceiling a mere 6 inches above his head.He stares at (x) with an expression of amused perplexity.

(X)(speaking in an urgent frightful whisper,barely audible over the groaning ship and distant military drills):

(X)”Am I….are we going to be exposed?we can’t stay here (z) knows!We have to flee!”

(Y)(y could not tell if it was the intense heat that made (x) sweat so profusely or his extreme agitated state.He almost felt sorry for him.He figured it’d be best not to tease him as he looked like he might break down at any moment.He tried to contort his face into one of utmost seriousness and said gently and calmly:

(Y):”Flee?Flee where?We are in the middle of the ocean!Calm yourself friend. (Z) cannot speak freely as he is just as guilty of treason himself.He knows I know of his crimes.As we are both of the same rank he needs more proof than just his honor alone.As for us being exposed I certainly don’t plan on dropping my pants.I hope you don’t either,for that matter.”

(X)looked at him blankly for a moment.Then he let out a relieved laugh.He said almost cheerfully,no longer whispering he said:

(X):”You are right (y).I apologize for getting you so worked up.Come let us drink.(a) still has some sake from our leaving”.

(Y):”let’s!”.He said with a cheer to rival (xs) own.(y) reached the door in several steps.upon the mens faces were happy smiles of anticipation.they had only been at sea for three months and yet they yearned for their wives,children and homeland.

As (y) unbolted the door and threw it open he was roughly grabbed and pinned to the ground.A second later he heard (xs) strangled cry and a hard thump as (x) was thrown next to him.An officer quickly slammed his knee in the small of (xs) back causing him to grunt in pain.(y) felt a rising panic and suddenly he felt someone pull him up roughly tearing his shirt and making him stumble at little.as he caught his bearings he quickly glanced around the small corridor of the ship.Then he saw someone who made his heart stop.

It was (z).Not only had he been promoted but he was accompanied by two senior officers (s) and (q).Normally the sight would have been shared with a tiny amount of envy for (zs) promotion and more than a little disgust for his presence. This time it was accompanied by fear and anxiety. In (zs) hands was a intricate box.In it was the letters (x) and (y) had sent to various commanders,captains and generals of the united States.Japan’s defeat was certain and yet the Emperor would not surrender. They had hoped that when it finally did come they would be offered leniency for their cooperation. Both had committed horrible brutal crimes.

(Q) began to speak but (y) could not hear him.The penalty for treason is death.He could only think of the wife he’ll never be able to hold,the children he wouldn’t see grow and the homeland of which he would never return.