Blows in the face were not uncommon. Aritomo didn’t belong to the faction among Navy officers who considered this tradition to be meaningful. He didn’t employ beatings, as was his freedom of choice as an officer.
But who was he to fundamentally question the traditions? That was indeed the job of an admiral.
“No rumors? Normally, lower ranks know more about everything than we do,” Aritomo insisted.
Sarukazaki grinned, showing his immaculate white teeth, which Aritomo secretly envied. He took a last drag from his cigarette before dropping the shimmering rest to the floor and putting it out with the heel of his shoe. As a smoker, it was difficult for him to forgo his addiction for weeks while confined in a submarine, aside from those spells they stayed above water.
“Security measures have been stepped up, there are extra guards, and our commander is dripping with joy – I suspect we expect a really high visit to celebrate our maiden voyage. Probably someone from the highest ranks of Admiralty, if you ask me.”
Aritomo nodded. This supposition did indeed fit well with his own speculations. “Then we should be ready,” he said, taking in the cool evening air before turning around. “I’ll try to find sleep now. I suggest you do as well, Ittoheiso Sarukazaki.”
The man stood tight and saluted with a smile. “Yes, Sir.” With that he turned away and disappeared in the darkness.
Aritomo paused a moment longer before following his own advice. If it was true what the man had told him – and that something was in the works there was no doubt –, he would need all his energy tomorrow in order to make the necessary preparations.
And to endure the slimy anticipation of his commander.
If he liked it or not, now was time to endure some privacy.
2
“Men, we have a great time ahead of us!”
Kaigun Daii Tako Inugami teetered on tiptoe, and almost smiled at the crew in front of him. This was unlikely – Inugami never smiled –, but he radiated such a sunny enthusiasm that no one really wanted to believe.
The thirty crew members under the command of the lieutenant had gathered in one of the classrooms. The fact that they were allowed to sit down right away spoke for the exceptional good humor of their superior. Normally, he gave a speech without worrying about the well-being of his men. Inugami himself liked to stand and endure, a passion that was not shared by everyone.
“I received the news a few days ago that the maiden voyage of our new boat will receive the utmost attention. I’m not talking about the Admiralty here – although of course they are very interested in the results –, but I mean the very highest attention.” Inugami leaned forward and lowered his voice to a devotional volume. “His Imperial Highness, Prince Isamu, will accompany us on our journey.”
Silence descended across the room. Inugami apparently enjoyed the awesome horror sparked by his news. Aritomo felt contradictory feelings. Of course, to be visited by the second son of the Tenno, to be able to enjoy his presence more than with a fleeting glimpse, that was more than an honor, it was an event of which they would all tell their grandchildren and grandgrandchildren. Aritomo was filled with deep reverence for the imperial family, and he was delighted to attend the military parade for the inauguration of the current Tenno two years ago. Isamu was born shortly after Hirohito, the crown prince and heir to the throne, and his mother was an imperial concubine, just as Tenno Taisho himself was the son of a concubine. There was nothing honorific about that, and their wives had quickly recognized these sons as legitimate members of the family. Isamu was thirteen years old and enthusiastic about anything to do with ships. As he knew, unlike his brother, he didn’t visit the Gakushuin School, where the nobility’s offspring was commonly educated, but had been enrolled at one of the preparatory cadet schools, to be able to embark on the career of an officer. One never saw the young man in public in any other attire than in the uniform of a cadet, and no one doubted that he would once become an important military leader.
Besides, he was considered reserved and reclusive, almost shy, always in the shadow of his older brother, only a few months his senior, who would most likely follow on the throne. Some said he was jealous, but that was just rumors. But the descriptions of the young man as very calm and withdrawn, rather slow and deliberate, persisted so much that Aritomo was ready to give them at least some attention.
He cleared his throat.
“But Lieutenant, is that wise? Such an illustrious person on the maiden voyage of a new submarine? Is he not putting himself in unnecessary danger?”
Inugami gave Aritomo a dismissive look before settling for an answer.
“Maiden voyage or not, we’ve checked the boat extensively already. It works flawlessly, as the tests have proven. The young prince has made an explicit request, and it should be our highest aspiration to fulfill it. A few hours aboard our new and big boat can’t be a big risk.”
Aritomo bowed his head. “I understand. Will the Imperial Highness come to us alone or with company?”
“No, of course not alone,” Inugami replied in a tone that clearly expressed how stupid he considered at the question. “His personal tutor will accompany him, as well as two bodyguards. We will not travel far. It won’t be a problem to accommodate four additional men for the duration of the journey.”
“Of course not,” Aritomo confirmed, saluting.
“I want the boat to be cleaned thoroughly today, so thoroughly that there’s nothing left to clean.” Inugami turned to everyone. “I expect the very best effort! I will make a very, very strict inspection tomorrow morning, before the highest guest visits us! Everything must be absolutely flawless! If I recognize sloppiness, this will be severely punished! And I expect absolutely perfect behavior and one-hundred per cent discipline on board! No one fails in anything, everyone works with focus and diligence! Second Lieutenant Hara, you oversee all of this. Report to me regularly. Punish them if there are omissions. I set the highest standards!”
Certainly, there was no doubt about that, Aritomo thought to himself but otherwise only stood stock-still, making the servile impression his superior expected of him.
The briefing was somewhat lengthy, as in addition to the expiration of the maiden voyage – it should take a total of about two hours, including about an hour under water – Inugami’s repeated admonishments to be aware of the particular situation and appropriate behavior took a lot of time. Even a deaf soldier with low intellectual abilities would have understood it by now and the crew of the boat really wasn’t made up of fools. When the grueling session was over and Inugami left Aritomo, the very attentive observer could see relief in the faces of the men. The captain had no eye for it, because he said goodbye with an urgent appointment in mind. Aritomo had no doubt that he had much to discuss with the leadership of the base to prepare the arrival of the highest visit in full, leaving nothing to chance. On the other hand, it left him with the exhausting work that was now required – the re-examination of all equipment aboard the submarine and the detailed and very, very thorough cleaning. This was an activity no one liked, and so the mood among the men was not half as euphoric as Inugami surely expected them all to be.
But actually, that didn’t matter.
Whatever the circumstances, Aritomo loved to be on the boat.
When he saw it lying in the water in front of the wharf, dragged out of the workshop for presentation, his heart pounced. The mighty body of the
