To My Sunflower - Chapter 108

Sean eventually found his way to the spy by noon. Following the directions the man had given him.

The spy was waiting for him at an abandoned shell of a building with a familiar suitcase in his hand. He was dressed in his Imperial officer’s uniform.

“How’s the arm?” The spy causally noted Sean’s half arm, held up by a bandage sling.

“I’ll live,” Sean said. He was able to function thanks to the medicine Tyne had given him earlier.

“That’s great.” The spy pulled out his gun and fired at Sean.

Sean’s acute instincts saved him from bullets finding their way into this body.

He sprinted around flying chips of wood and brick. Taking cover behind broken walls.  His senses were heightened. An intense focus to hone in on the spy that wanted to kill him.

The spy paused. A moment to reload his handgun.

“Come on Corpsman. You know by now that we can’t let you live.”

Sean slowed his breathing. He calmed his heart. Timed his breath to the footsteps and movement that wasn’t his own.

The spy sensed a heavy breath. The energy of another person in proximity. Around the corner. Behind the wall. He felt certain that was where Sean was seeking cover. He aimed his gun at the likely spot. It was pointed at air. A heavy blow to his head knocked him unconscious to the ground.

Sean sighed over the spy’s unconscious body. He quickly retrieved his handgun, wallet and the suitcase.

He ran to the river side, holding back his urge to throw up as he threw the gun into the water. It sank between body parts. He then sprinted to a modern hardwood building on a hill, which he had scoped earlier on his way to the meeting. The place was hidden around a bend. Sheltered from view by a cluster of other damaged buildings and walls. Its view of the river and roads towards the city gave him a vantage point to see any incoming trouble.

He hobbled to the building’s back room, where he was able to take shelter in undamaged space. The adrenaline rush had left him panting for breath and drained of energy. The sun’s beams along the walls made the air hot and stuffy.

Sean ignored his discomfort. He unclasped the suitcase and began to assemble the radio.

His instincts had warned him of a double cross. Especially when the man was parading too comfortably in an Imperial uniform.  The spy was great at being a spook, but terrible in keeping his quirks in check. That was a fortune miscalculation on Sean’s part who had a keen insight of body language.

“Shit, Tyne. You owe me.” He grumbled as he gulped down a handful of pills to keep his pain in check.

His mind ticked over a plan that he could sell to his superiors. He was worried about Tyne and Eiji. By now, he suspected the men were driving into a trap.

A few nobs and buttons were pushed. Sean held the handpiece to his ear. After a while, the radio hissed and cackled to life. He waited for a response. Another voice broke through the speaker of the handpiece’s receiver.

“Anders. Has the package been delivered?”

Sean gritted his teeth. He slow breaths to keep his wits.

“Sir. Anders failed. The package is still fair game.” He answered coolly into the mouthpiece.

A pause was felt from the crackling of the line’s heavy static.

“Identify yourself.” A deep voice broke through the static.

“Forgotten about me already. I’m offended.” Sean half joked.

“Corpsman Campbell.” The voice was level, but Sean detected tones of surprise.

“Sir.”

There was more static noises before the voiced returned.

“Seeing as Anders has failed. You are to carry out his next orders.”

Sean laughed into the mouthpiece.

“Corpsman Campbell!”

“Sir. In all due respect. There is nothing here for your orders to take shape.”

“What do you mean?”

“The city is destroyed. It’s all gone.” Sean’s voice drifted into sadness. “All of it.”

“City? You mean the enemy’s military bases are destroyed.” The voice eagerly asked and waited for confirmation.

“Sir. There are no enemy bases. Just a city full of civilians that’s now filling a river with body parts,” Sean said through gritted teeth. “It’s all gone. Levelled into ash. Women, children, elderly. No soldiers. All civilians. Dead.”

Heavy silence followed again. Sean felt certain the call was going to be disconnected. The voice returned.

“Your orders are to remain at Hiroshima. An occupation force will arrive in three days time. You’re to meet me there at O’twelve hundred and provide your report.”

Sean closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. “Major Schmidt. Sir. I won’t leave this place. By your orders. May I have permission to continue my cover as a German doctor?”

“That is permitted. Do what you must before our meeting.” Major Schmidt agreed before he ended the call.

Sean sighed as he hung up the call. “Well at least he didn’t ask about Tyne.”

His heart prayed that Tyne and Eiji were still alive wherever they had ended up.

“Stay safe and well.”

He carefully packed up the radio and hid the suitcase under a rubble of building debris where he felt no one was going stumble upon.

A new determination entered his heart. He headed back into the epicenter where he could provide his doctor services to people in need.