Last Words

Writing a story for a writing contest, I would like folks to see it. So I post it here.




Last Words



The fires had died down long ago, but the smell of smoke still lingered in the cell. Rod had grown used to it after a day, but sometimes the scent would catch his attention and he’d feel pangs of guilt.

The cell window looked out on the runway of the military base, a constant reminder.

There was a knock at the cell door. Rod set aside the can of beans he’d been eating from – his last meal - and rose from his cot. He was ready, at peace with his actions and the reasons behind them. He was ready to die.

The door opened and a uniformed guard walked in. Rod expected Colonel Wilson to follow, to lead him to the firing squad, but was unprepared for the man who followed. This white haired man was shorter than Rod by several inches, wore a suit and was sweating from the hot day on Tinian.

Rod saluted sharply, using the protocols of the army to help maintain his composure.

The visitor spoke. “As you were, Captain Henry.”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Rod replied, falling into an at-ease stance. He couldn’t bring himself to relax.

Harry Truman had come to his cell. Rod was reeling at the implications of this unexpected visit.

“Have a seat, Captain. Talk to me.” One of the guards brought in an extra chair and President Truman motioned for Rod to sit while he took a seat as well. Two guards stood by the door, unwilling to leave this visitor alone with a condemned criminal, but the President ordered them away.

Rod Henry waited for his Commander-in-Chief to address him.

“Son, I hear you’re in some trouble.” This was such an understatement that Rod had to smile, looking down at the plain wooden table as he did so. It wouldn’t do to be disrespectful.

“Yes, Mr. President. I’m to be executed today. My court-martial was completed last week.” Rod hesitated, then added, “but I’m sure you knew that already, sir.” The President’s demeanor made Rod feel oddly relaxed.

“Yeah, I’d heard about that. I know what’s coming for you today. And I’m not here to stop it.”

Rod was surprised to feel disappointment. Clemency hadn’t even occurred to him, but this man’s presence had given him hope. But Rod knew better.

“I figured, sir,” Rod offered in reply.

Saying it out loud let Rod relax a little. He was in a military cell on an island too far away from home for him to really fathom, with the President of the United States, but for this moment, he felt alright.

President Truman stared at Rod, measuring. After a few moments, he said, “I’ve read your record. I know you’re a good soldier. So I had to hear from your mouth why you did what you did. So. Tell me.”

Rod looked down at the table again, gathering his thoughts. He suddenly realized he wanted this, to explain to this man, of all men, why this loyal soldier would willingly committed treason.

“I read the numbers, sir,” Rod finally said. “I knew what the other two bombs had done. When we bombed Hiroshima, I thought that it would be the end of the war.”

President Truman nodded, still measuring Rod with his gaze.

“But I read the numbers, and it got to me. That so many people could die with so little effort. But I accepted that one. But then Nagasaki, too, and I wondered why. Why did we need to massacre so many people who ain’t fighting? Again?” Rod felt himself starting to get emotional and looked down, calming himself, and Truman seemed content to wait.

Finally, Rod continued. “It was above my paygrade, so I just accepted that, too. And then I read those numbers. It gave me nightmares, sir.”

Rod was surprised when the President mumbled, “me, too, son. Me, too” Maybe this was why the guards were outside. Rod pretended not to hear and continued.

“So when a third run was planned for Kokura, I couldn’t stand it. I just couldn’t.” Rod realized he had started weeping. “So many more innocent people. I couldn’t let it happen, sir.”

Truman spoke now. “So you set fire to the fuel stores and watched it all blow. You crippled this base.” Rod was having trouble reading the President. Was he angry?

“Yes, sir. I did. I made sure no plane could leave with that damn bomb.” Rod straightened as he said this, awash in the righteousness of his actions.

Truman sat and stared at him. It felt like forever. Finally, he spoke again.

“You may not have heard about it, since you were locked up. Two days after your act of sabotage, I called off the Kokura. Two days later, Japan surrendered. They were going to surrender anyway.”

Rod hadn’t heard. He was stunned.

“You saved a lot of lives, son, and that’s something to be proud of.” And Rod was, now more than ever. “But you still committed an act of sabotage against the US military. You committed treason. You know this has to happen, son. Right?”

“Yes, sir. I do.”

The President stood, and Rod Henry stood with him. But Rod said, before he could think better of it, “but I’d do it again sir. In a heartbeat.”

Harry Truman eyed him. Finally he held out his hand, and Rod, surprised, shook it. “Good. We always need men like you, to stop us from making the greatest of mistakes.”

The President knocked on the door and walked out. Rod remained standing after the door was close, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He was still standing when Colonel Wilson came for him.

The President watched from a window as Captain Rod Henry was led before a firing squad on the airport runway. But the Captain faced his death without fear. He now knew he did the right thing, saved thousands of lives, and the only cost was his death.

He died proud.

Savant Sequestration, Part 1

Part 1 - in which we are introduced to Henry Grant

Again with the first post

Traditionally, I'm supposed to give an introduction of myself here. The truth is that I created this blog for a specific use, and if you're here you already know me. So I'm writing this mostly so there isn't a big "No Posts" sign.

If you don't know me, congratulations on crashing my blog!