فصل 21

21

A New Day

Oliver led Enele and his men back down to the main floor, then down a side corridor to the east of the compound, where the loading gates were located. As he’d said, there were two trucks.

“Let’s drive them around front,” Enele said to Adam. “Oliver, Temo, and I will take this truck. You guys take the other.” “You’ll have to go around the side,” Oliver said. “There are puncture spikes all through that section.” Enele leaned out the window. “Follow me.” They took a circuitous route that led them out near the second checkpoint. Ahead of them the Proton had just docked, and men were walking up to the front gate. Enele and Adam drove the trucks forward to the first checkpoint. “Satini,” Enele said.

“Hey, boss.”

“Open the gate.”

“You got it, boss.”

They drove past the walking men, all of whom were carrying weapons or food.

“They’re exhausted,” Temo said.

“But still alive,” Enele replied. “Let’s keep them that way.” Enele and Adam backed the trucks up to the boat, and men climbed up on top of each flatbed while others started handing things up to them.

A soldier walked up to Enele’s window. “Is everything going to the same place?” “For now, yes. We’ll take everything through the side doors. Is this everything?” “No. We’ve got another boatload.”

“Then have them take everything off the boat before carrying them to the trucks.” “Aye, sir.” He walked away. A moment later Jimi Laafai, the Proton’s captain, climbed down to talk to Enele. One of the soldiers pointed the way to Enele, and Jimi walked up to him. “Enele.” He leaned up against the truck.

Enele shook his hand. “What’s the situation on the Pulse and Regulator?” “Bad and good. The Pulse lost half her munitions in the water. She had already broken in half when she hit shore. When the battleship exploded, the waves pulled the back section into the sea and we lost her. We salvaged everything we could out of her. That’s what the men are unloading now, along with our payload.” “And the Regulator?”

“She’s a tough old ship. I think we can salvage just about everything, some water damage, but minimal. We have about a hundred and fifty men with her right now carrying everything out. After I finish unloading, I’ll sail back and pick up the rest of the supplies, then bring everyone back with me. We’ll have twice the men unloading, so we’ll make quick work of it.” “You can carry everyone back?”

“Yes. I mean, we’ll look like a train in India with people riding on the roofs, but she’ll sail.” “How many did we lose?”

“Twelve. Twenty-six injured. I brought them with me. The injured ones.” “Who’s taking care of them?”

“We’ve got a doctor from Vaitupu.”

“How about the dead?”

“We’ve put them aside for now. You want me to bring them?” Enele thought. “Yes. I don’t like the message it sends to our soldiers by leaving them.” “You got it.”

“Do you have any blankets?”

“A few dozen.”

“Wrap them up and bring them back. We’ll leave them on the boat.” Enele looked back at the Proton. “Looks like they’re about done clearing her out.” “All right,” Jimi said. “Back to work. See you in a couple.” Jimi ran back to his boat while the men began filling the trucks.

“It’s going to take a couple of loads,” Temo said.

“Tell them to fill the trucks, then jump on. We need men to unload.” Temo nodded and climbed out.

“Where’d you get all your men?” Oliver asked.

“Some from Vaitupu. Some from Demeter. Some from Hades.” “No one leaves Hades,” he said.

Enele looked at him. “I did.”

“You came from Hades?”

“Sure did, mate.”

“Crikey,” he said. “No wonder you’re so tough.” Adam’s truck started and pulled out ahead of them, the headlights illuminating the way. The truck was piled high with munitions, and men were balanced on top of the cargo and the truck’s cab itself. Temo jumped back into Enele’s truck. “We’re loaded.” Enele started up the truck and followed Adam.

The trucks made two more trips before they had transported everything inside.

“You need to get some sleep,” Adam said to Enele as they walked back into the building. “The Proton will be another hour. We can handle this.” “I’m not going to sleep while my men work,” Enele said sternly. “And we won’t sleep until we have fortified ourselves.” Just then Nazil ran in the front door of the compound. “Enele! Enele!” “What is it, Nazil?”

Nazil had a large smile on his face. “Look who has come!” In through the door walked a soaked Captain Pio.

“Pio!” Enele shouted. He ran to him, and they embraced. Everyone turned and looked. They spontaneously broke out in applause. “How are you here?” “Once I knew my path was set, I jumped off the back of the boat and swam for the bottom of the sea.” “But the blast . . .”

“Yes, it tumbled me into the reef,” he said, lifting his arm to reveal the ragged, cut flesh. “But I’m here.” “Yes, you are.” Enele turned toward the rest of his men. “Behold the hero!” Everyone clapped again.

“This is a good omen,” Adam said.

“Yes,” Enele agreed. “It is indeed. Now let’s get the boats emptied and these doors locked.” * * *

In spite of their exhaustion, the Tuvaluans finished transporting all the munitions and supplies into the depository, finishing just an hour before sunrise. Enele had them place the machine guns up on the fourth floor, then met with his war council: Nazil, Zeel, and Adam, who were going through their inventory of weapons and distributing them around the compound.

“We have everything salvageable inside,” Adam said.

“All right. Let’s lock the place down. Have Raphe rouse his soldiers and tell them they’re on guard now.” Before going to sleep, Enele climbed back up to the fourth level and looked out over the ocean between Plutus and Nike. The rising sun cast a beautiful, rose-gold glow over the water as the sun rose from the sea. In other circumstances it was his favorite time of day—the promise of a new beginning. But now it seemed to hold only the promise of doom.