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empty　hands。
“You　could　trade　the　uranium　for　a　hospital　bed　or　safe…passage　home。”
“No。”
Finn　accepted　it。　He　had　expected　no　less。
“What　do　you　think　you　can　do　with　the　uranium？　Japan　doesn’t　have　the　ability　to　turn　it　into　a
bomb。”
For　a　long　moment　Kestrel　said　nothing。　Then；　“The　uranium　will　be　returned　to　America　when
Japan　is　offered　something　less　degrading　than　unconditional　surrender。”
“That　won’t　happen。”
Kestrel　became　very　still；　his　expression　as　opaque　as　his　eyes。
“I’m　not　taunting　you；”　said　Finn；　switching　to　Japanese。　“I’m　merely　weighing　time　against　the
fall　of　cherry　blossoms。　The　world　has　moved　much　faster　since　you　saw　two　dawns　rise　over
Jornada　del　Muerto。　The　bomb　may　be　more　merciful　than　any　other　choice　your　nation　has。”
Wind　hissed　through　the　silence。
“Listen　to　me。”　Finn　spoke　in　English　now；　his　words　as　plain　as　the　rings　of　water　next　to
Kestrel’s　bed。　“If　the　uranium　is　not　in　my　possession　before　dawn；　America　will　be　committed
to　invading　Japan。”
Finn　paused；　but　Kestrel　neither　moved　nor　spoke。
“Japan　will　fight　to　the　last　child；　hoping　to　drive　the　cost　of　unconditional　surrender　so　high
that　America　will　accept　a　lesser　peace；　one　with　room　for　Japanese　pride。　But　that　won’t
happen。”　He　paused　momentarily；　remembering　Okinawa；　green　jungle　and　sea　and　dying
children。　“Russia　will　conquer　China　on　the　way　to　declaring　war　on　Japan。　When　Japan　is
crushed　–　and　that　is　inevitable　–　Russia　will　demand　part　or　all　of　Japan　in　payment。　At　best；
Japan　will　be　like　Germany；　divided。　At　worst；　Japan　will　belong　to　Russia；　a　subject　race　with
neither　pride　nor　future。”
Finn　waited。　Kestrel　still　did　not　speak。　Wind　keened；　filling　the　silence。
“Do　you　believe　Russia　is　your　ally？”　asked　Finn。　“Do　you　know　that　Russia　has　refused　to
approach　America　to　sue　for　peace　on　Japan’s　behalf？　Russia　doesn’t　want　the　war　to　end　yet。
Russia　wants　America　to　invade　Japan。　If　the　war　continues　long　enough；　Russia　will　rule　the
world。”
“But　I’ve　seen　what　the　atomic　bomb　can　do！”　said　Kestrel。　He　leaned　forward；　and　his　voice
was　resonant　with　suppressed　emotion。　“Japan　will　be　bombed　into　unconditional　surrender。

How　is　that　different　from　being　subjugated　by　the　Russians？”
“If　there　is　an　invasion；　Japan　will　surrender　to　a　conquering　army。　If　there　is　an　atomic　bomb；
Japan　will　surrender　to　the　sun　–　there　can　be　no　loss　of　face　in　that。”
It　was　the　same　thing　Kestrel　had　told　his　superiors　in　Japan；　but　it　was　a　bitter　thing　to　hear　on
an　enemy’s　lips。　No　man　can　fight　the　sun。
“America　would　occupy　Japan；”　said　Kestrel；　feeling　anger　fight　with　fever　for　control　of　his
body。
“But　America　won’t　insist　on　destroying　Japan。　Even　now；　we’re　rebuilding　our　former　enemies
in　Europe。　What　is　Russia　doing？”
“Perhaps　Russia　is　wiser。　What　she　exterminates　now；　she　won’t　have　to　face　in　the　future。”
Finn　smiled　narrowly。　“I　agree。　But　which　country　would　you　rather　see　defeat　Japan？　That’s　all
that　is　left　to　you；　Kestrel　–　a　choice　of　conquerors。”
“Japan　signed　a　Neutrality　Pact　with　the　Russians。”
Finn’s　laughter　was　hard；　humorless。　“You’re　not　stupid　or　naive。　Don’t　pretend　to　be。”　Finn
looked　at　his　watch。　“You　have　three　minutes　to　choose　your　conqueror。”
“You　don’t　know　what　you　ask！　Have　you　seen　what　that　bomb　can　do？”
“I’ve　seen　Japanese　mothers　murder　their　own　children　rather　than　surrender。　Is　the　atomic
bomb　worse　than　that？”
Kestrel　closed　his　eyes；　fighting　to　control　himself。　How　could　he；　one　man；　choose　his　country’s
future？　What　Finn　asked　of　him　was　impossible。　His　anger　drained　into　an　anguish　worse　than
any　pain　he　had　known　before。　Yet　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　calm。
“If　I　choose　Russia　as　Japan’s　conqueror；　I　suppose　you’ll　torture　me　to　find　out　where　the
uranium　is。”　Kestrel　contempt　was　plain　in　his　smile。
“I　don’t　have　time　to　break　you；”　said　Finn　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。　“I’ll　have　to　kill　you。”
“But　then　you　would　lose　the　uranium　forever。”
“So　would　Russia。”
For　the　first　time；　Kestrel　looked　surprised。　“Russia？”
“You　should　have　killed　Masarek’s　woman。　She’s　here；　in　Manzanar。　And；　unlike　Japan；　Russia
can　take　that　uranium　and　turn　it　into　a　bomb。”　Finn’s　smile　was　grim。　“You’re　not　the　only　one
making　choices　tonight。”
“A　choice　of　evils；”　Kestrel　hesitated。　Pain　seeped　into　his　voice。　“That’s　not　much　choice　at
all。”
“It’s　the　only　kind　men　get。”　Finn　glanced　at　his　watch。　“Two　minutes。”
Takeo’s　Apartment；　Manzanar
42　Hours　47　Minutes　After　Trinity
Ana　hesitated　in　front　of　the　barracks　door；　torn　between　the　cold　wind　and　her　father’s　anger。
She　pulled　open　the　door。
Vanessa　lunged；　grabbing　Ana’s　hair。　The　silenced　gun　was　like　a　cold　finger　laid　along　Ana’s
neck；　seeking　a　target　in　the　room　beyond。　Her　eyes　moved　quickly；　seeing　everything。
At　the　first　sound；　Finn　had　thrown　himself　aside　and　reached　for　his　gun。　He　never　heard　the
bullet　that　hit　him。　A　searing；　paralyzing　pain　went　through　his　left　shoulder。　From　the　corner　of
his　eye　he　saw　the　gun　turn　on　him。　He　felt　the　sinking　agony　not　of　fear；　but　of　helplessness。　He
gathered　himself　for　a　futile　lunge。
“Run；　Ana！”　yelled　Kestrel　in　Japanese　as　he　heaved　the　water　pitcher　across　the　barracks；
ruining　Vanessa’s　aim。
But　Ana　could　not　escape　Vanessa’s　grip。　The　Russian’s　gun　centered　on　Kestrel　rather　than　on
Finn。　“Don’t　move！”　she　commanded。
Ana　stared　at　Finn；　then　at　Kestrel。　“I’m　sorry。　I　didn’t　know　she　was　behind　me。”
“Speak　only　Japanese　to　me。　That　way　at　least　one　of　our　enemies　will　not　understand。”
“What’s　he　saying？”　demanded　Vanessa　harshly。　“Tell　him　to　shut　up！”

Finn’s　eyes　flicked　from　Kestrel　to　Vanessa　as　his　hand　moved　by　increments　toward　the　gun　in
the　small　of　his　back。　Vanessa’s　blue　eyes　shifted。　The　gun　muzzle　twitched　toward　him。
“No　one　leaves　Manzanar　unless　I　personally　give　the　OK；”　said　Finn　calmly。
The　gun　muzzled　hesitated。
“There　are　patrols　out　on　the　camp’s　perimeter；　and　the　highway　is　blocked　in　both　directions；”
he　added。　“Without　me；　you’re　dead。”
The　satisfaction　he　took　from　his　words　was　clear　in　his　voice。　He　was　not　bluffing；　and　Vanessa
knew　it。　Her　expression　became　as　smooth　as　a　graveyard　angel’s。　She　looked　away　from　Finn；
toward　Kestrel。
“Ask　him　where　he　hid　the　uranium；”　Vanessa　said　coldly　to　Ana。　When　Ana　did　not　speak
immediately；　Vanessa’s　fingers　dug　deeply　into　Ana’s　hair　and　twisted。　“Ask　him！”
“What　are　we　going　to　do？”　said　Ana　in　Japanese。
“Say　nothing；”　answered　Kestrel。
“Well？”　demanded　Vanessa。
“He　won’t　tell　me；”　gasped　Ana；　her　face　distorted　by　pain。
“I’ll　kill　you　unless　he　talks；”　said　Vanessa。　“But　once　I　have　the　uranium；　you’re　both　free。　And
I’ll　make　sure　no　one　follows　you。”
Ana　pretended　to　translate；　her　voice　thin　with　fear。
Kestrel　waited　until　Ana　was　silent。　His　face　was　expressionless。
“She’ll　kill　us　as　soon　as　she　has　the　uranium。”　The　flatness　of　his　voice　needed　no　translation。
“Tell　him；”　said　Vanessa；　“that　I’ve　changed　my　mind。　I’ll　kill　him　first；　then　you。”
Kestrel　listened　to　Ana’s　pleas　and　shook　his　head。　“No；　Ana。　Not　for　my　life。　Not　for　yours。”
Then　fear　raced　in　his　blood　as　he　realized　that　his　vulnerability　lay　in　Ana；　not　in　himself。
Vanessa　read　Kestrel’s　answer　in　Ana’s　tears。　With　a　final；　cruel　twist；　she　forced　Ana　to　her
knees。　She　laid　the　gun　muzzle　along　Ana’s　temple　and　took　aim　at　Kestrel。
“No！”　screamed　Ana。　“I　know　where　it　is！　Don’t　shoot　him！”
“Ana！”　shouted　Kestrel；　“No！”
“Where　is　it？”　Vanessa　whispered。
“In　the　desert；”　Ana　cried　out。　“We　buried　it　in　the　desert。”　She　did　not　look　at　Kestrel。　“I’ll
take　you　there。　Don’t　shoot　him！　I’ll　take　you！”
Slowly；　Vanessa　lifted　the　gun。　“Tell　him　to　get　up；”　she　said。　“He’s　coming　with　us。”
“He’s　sick；”　said　Ana。　“He　can’t　–　“
Vanessa’s　open…handed　slap　silenced　her。　“Tell　him！”　Vanessa　gave　Finn　a　cold　glance。　“You
too。　Get　up。”
Finn　stood；　testing　the　extent　of　his　injury。　Beneath　the　pain；　bone　and　muscles　were　intact。　Th