Promises Never to Be Forgotten

By Linda Kirk

Defying the hardships of War World II, Renee Gilbier leaves the safety of Hawaii to return to the Solomon Islands deep in the War torn Pacific.
It is 1943; and even though her journey has just begun, a chance discovery of a lost, merchant schooner belonging to her fathers trading company, flings her head on into her past and two men shrouded in mystery, longing for her and a lost treasure of gold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524553654

Linda Kirk

Linda grew up on a family owned farm in Western Colorado. Even though she loved her home in Colorado, Linda found her love of boats and history shadowed her throughout her life. Eventually, Linda married a Navy serviceman who had served aboard a aircraft carrier during the Vietnam conflict. Her love for over 40 years. The love of sailboats that her husband and she shared, took them from the lakes of Colorado to the waters of the West Coast of the U.S., Canada, and the waters off Mexico. As the mother of two children and as a Safety officer for a construction company, Linda started the hobby of writing stories and sharing them with friends and family. Upon the urging from others, the story Promises Never to be Forgotten. came to be.

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Copyright © 2016 by Linda Kirk.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2016917683

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5245-5366-1

       Softcover       978-1-5245-5367-8

       eBook       978-1-5245-5365-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/17/2016

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

To my Special friends, Family, and loved ones..

And my horses, Plaudit and Dolly, who always waited for me..

And Bul..

CHAPTER 1

O N NEW GUINEA Island off the Gulf of Papua, Renee’ Leilani Cane stood outside the chain-link fence that surrounded the Marine airfield at Port Moresby. The sun was hot overhead, and there did not seem to be a breath of fresh air anywhere. She knew she was too far inland to feel any breeze off the gulf water that lay beyond.

What this particular airfield was called, or the squadron numbers that operated out of here, she didn’t know, nor did she really care. Like this airfield and so many others she had seen here in the South Pacific, the airfields would appear overnight, and to her they looked all the same.

This life before her eyes, she had left behind six months ago when she had departed the South Pacific and the island of Le Vella. The island of Le Vella belonged to the small Pacific island chain called the Solomon Islands, a group of islands that used to be very dependent on her father’s trade company for their livelihood; that was, before the war. Renee’s destination had been Stateside to live with her late husband’s parents. Her husband, William Cane, had been a Marine fighter pilot of the 299th, stationed on Le Vella. William Cane had been reported missing in action over the island of Bougainville and presumed dead at the hands of the Japanese like others of his wartime trade.

Renee’ stood in her pink-flowered Hawaiian dress and sandals, looking up at the communications tower that stood a short distance from the runway. It stood there alone with a few forgotten palm trees away from the airstrip. The salt-tarnished tin roof of the tall handmade tower reflected the hot tropical sun as a reminder to the intensity of the sun’s heat that radiated around her. She had missed that heat.

All the time she had been in the States, it had seemed cold to her. But now here, her body seemed to seek the warmth around her unlike those she saw inside the open watchtower. There she could see the shadows of the men on duty who didn’t want the sun as they watched the sky around them with their binoculars.

From there she looked at the large hoist apparatus behind the tower, half hidden by the trees. If she hadn’t known what it was, she probably would never have spotted it. It looked as if it, too, was built from coconut logs, just like the one she had known in Le Vella. With the block and tackle hanging from the upper brace, there was only one use for it. She knew its use was for lifting the tail end of fighters to position them for bore sighting the .50-caliber guns on the Corsairs and the other fighter planes here. From past experience, she knew that the fighters had to have this done frequently. The .50s had a bad habit of moving slightly in their wing mounts each time they were fired.

At one time or another, she had helped alongside with the mechanics. Their jobs were to help reload the wing guns when the crew was shorthanded. It had been unorthodox for her, a woman, doing this job. Even her presence there at the small base with the Marine squadron Morgan’s Cutthroats had been against regulations, but that island had been her home first before the Japanese or the VMF 299th had been stationed there. The 299th Morgan’s Cutthroats had been William’s squadron.

Not far from the yard, Renee’ glanced to the shacks that belonged to the mechanics and their chiefs. As always, there was one or two fighters with their wings folded up and cowlings removed, exposing the bare bones of their powerful engines. And on ladders to reach these mighty engines were the personnel that kept the craft airborne.

Even from where she stood by the fence, Renee’ caught the odor of oil and grease as it drifted on the slight breeze across the airfield to her. She paused for a moment to study the mechanics with their helpers busy at work. At least here, it looked as if they had plenty of spare parts, oil, and hands to keep these machines working. She remembered on Le Vella, it had been a major problem to get spare parts to keep the squadron flying. The mechanics there worked day and night under the lights, trying to keep enough of the Corsairs in the air. Sometimes, even the pilots had to work on their own planes to have them ready for the next day’s mission. She knew that because she had been there. She, too, would be up all night, up to her elbows in grease and oil helping the mechanics. Everyone had to pitch in; otherwise, the squadron could have been disbanded and everyone relocated. And that was one thing that everyone fought against. Morgan’s Cutthroats along with some of their maintenance crew were a family. They worked together and they played together. They were a tight group of men. And she had been adopted into the circle of friends as William’s girl. No one bothered her; William saw to that, and so did his friends. She worked with them, even played baseball with them. She would cook and clean for most of them. But no one took advantage of her. They were happy to have her there, even though it was against the rules. And she was happy to be there, even though it was a long way away from her homelands of Hawaii and Java.

The squadron was her family, and it was nice to have a family again. Especially William. She had been alone on the island for several months while the Japanese had occupied it. It was out of pure animosity for the Japanese that she had managed to survive there alone in the caves and jungles.

Renee’ stopped to listen as she found herself looking across the airfield. From where she stood, she could hear the men across the airstrip as they worked. Even the occasional familiar clang of a tool being dropped into a tool box touched a part of her. All of these sounds and smells were not strangers to her life. Looking back to that time, these things had become a part of her.

She remembered the chief mechanic, a big man. But his name she couldn’t recall just now. He was always rigging this and that to keep what he called his birds up. Renee’ had to smile, remembering a time when the man said something about a plane in the squadron having more parts in it that were made for a Jap Zero than its own.

But Renee’ made herself push those memories away. They were of a different time; they were memories that belonged to a past that she had been forced to move past. She knew it was better not to remember those familiar faces, for they were probably long gone by now, like so many she had known.

Turning, she looked beyond the fence as she studied the six approaching dark-blue Corsair fighter planes. She smiled to herself as she watched the giant props spin to these mighty warbirds as they taxied in a line toward her.

She was surprised how loud their engines seemed to her now. How could she have forgotten the sound of those mighty engines that powered those planes? Again, she smiled seeing the five gun ports for the gun barrels on each wing taped shut, knowing that these birds carried only six guns total. The taping of the gun ports was common practice; it kept the fine coral sand from entering the gun barrels on takeoff. Where this practice of indicating false gun ports started, she didn’t know. But she knew from before, several of the squadrons did it for show.

She watched as one by one the Corsairs started their taxi out onto the white coral runway before her. As the Corsairs started their turn, Renee’ watched and listened to the mighty fighters. She recalled the name she had been told the Japanese pilots had given the dark-blue birds. These deadly birds had been renamed as the Whistling Death.

Renee’ moved her hand to her eyes to shield them from the coral dust that the squadron of F4U Corsairs were kicking up with their mighty three-bladed props as they turned. Even from this distance, she could feel the prop blast against her as it pressed her long cotton dress to her body with air and dust. She closed her eyes, finally, but the mighty roar of their Pratt & Whitney engines filled her head. With her eyes closed and the sound of the Corsairs inside her head, she could have easily placed herself back on the island of Le Vella six months ago. Her throat tightened as she fought back the tears behind her closed eyes. She could still see William climbing onto the gull wing of his Corsair, then turn back to wave to her one last time as she stood off at a distance watching.

Then with the sound of the batteries and then the mighty whine from its engine as the prop started to turn, she had watched him taxi out for the last time to join the others of the 299th. What the mission was, for sure, she didn’t know. All she could remember was that it might have been to escort bombers that time. Sometimes the squadron, on other missions, they made the bomb runs by themselves. As it had always been then, it was to soften up Bougainville’s defenses for the Allied ground forces coming in from off the Slot.

Opening her eyes, she watched the dark-blue fighters take turns starting down the runway one by one. With a cloud of dust following each one, she watched as they lifted into the air with a mighty roar and brought their landing gear up one by one to start their journey in a northeast direction.

Renee’ watched through the coral dust and tears as the mighty blue birds climbed higher into a cloudless blue sky. The Corsairs then looked as they had looked before. Like large birds, the warplanes seem to float on an updraft of air higher into the sky. Renee’ wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

Over this fragment arm of land, she thought as she watched the aircraft shrink away. Maybe to the west coast of New Guinea and Buna, she thought. These planes were probably part of a squadron rotation out of Buna. This squadron would probably be flying bomber escort for the B-17s and 25s over the Solomon Sea to New Britain in the near future.

She was glad that she hadn’t seen any of the pilots’ faces, for she was sure some of them would never return. Especially if they were headed for New Britain and Rabaul, for she knew New Britain was still probably the next island on the path to Tokyo.

Turning, she reached down to pick up her suitcase and then moved away from the fence, but not before she came face-to-face with an armed Marine guard.

What are you doing here, miss? This area is off limits to civilian personnel! Renee’ looked at the young kid behind the uniform and rifle.

I was leaving, she answered as she moved to step away.

As she walked away, she wondered how much out of place she had looked standing there in her pink-flowered dress. There Renee’ looked over her shoulder at the young guard as he stood there by the fence watching her.

It was 1943, two years after Pearl Harbor. Midway had come and gone, and the push toward Tokyo was on with all its might. Now, she thought, only Rabaul remained before the United States, and the Allies had a major foothold in the South Pacific on its march toward mainland Japan. But one didn’t look too far into the future nowadays. It was a day-by-day thing. Too much death. Circumstances made life too short to look that far ahead.

Outside the Quonset hut she had been directed to, Renee’ stood with her suitcase still in her hand. Behind her, a military jeep sped past her, kicking up the dusty sand from the road that followed the row of Quonset huts that made up a small part of the Marine base.

Taking a deep breath, Renee’ walked up to the path that led to the hut’s door. Taking the doorknob in her hand, she heard someone working on a typewriter inside. Holding her breath, she stepped through the doorway and into the dusty office beyond.

Inside, Renee’ found a woman dressed in a tan Marine uniform seated behind a small wooden desk. At first glance, the woman didn’t seem much older than herself with her dark hair tied tightly behind her head in a knot. The woman seemed so absorbed with her typing that she seemed unaware of her presence.

Moving into the room, Renee’ closed the door behind her. She then glanced to the ceiling, seeing the large fan spinning above her. But even though the fan was working, she felt no relief from the stuffiness inside the room. Looking back toward the woman, Renee’ walked under the fan till she stood in front of the small wooden desk. It was only then did the typing hesitate and the woman became aware of her presence. As she waited for the woman to stop her typing completely, Renee’ glanced to her right at the two metal file cabinets that stood against the hut’s curved walls. As she turned back to the woman, Renee’ caught a frown on the woman’s face as she stopped her typing to look up from her work. Renee’ wondered if the woman had only acknowledged her presence because she had blocked the draft of air created from the fan she now stood under.

Can I help you? the woman Marine asked in an authoritative voice.

Renee’ didn’t answer right away, but instead she glanced around the small office one more time. This, too, brought back too many memories.

Can I help you? she asked again. Renee’ put down her suitcase beside her on the rough wooded planks that made up the floor beneath her sandaled feet.

I was told to come here to see a General Ramsey? she replied as she looked back at the woman. Above her, Renee’ could still feel the air around her move from the fan above her. But still the office seemed stuffy as she nervously glanced at the gray metal walls around her. The sweat on her brow felt cool to her skin as the air rushed down upon her. But the woman drew her attention back, as the woman forced her chair back away from the desk with several hard rubs upon the plank floor. Carefully the woman rose until she stood behind the desk, straightening her wrinkled tan skirt.

Renee’ then noticed the woman again quickly straightened her uniform as she moved from behind the desk toward her.

Your name? she asked.

Mrs. Renee’ Cane, she answered back directly.

The woman sort of smiled as she again gave her the once-over. Renee’ was sure her flowered island dress stood out being here on a Marine base.

I’ll tell General Ramsey that you are here. She directed. Do you have papers? she asked as she moved toward her.

Renee’ reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a folded piece of military stationery. Giving it a quick glance, Renee’ handed the letter to the woman.

The woman directly took the letter from her hand and glanced at it. Then looking back at Renee’, she turned and headed toward the door that led to the back of the Quonset hut.

The woman disappeared behind the door with only a quick knock to announce her entrance. The door was shut immediately behind her. Beyond the door, Renee’ could hear the woman’s voice along with a man’s deeper voice. Renee’ could make out the words saying that she was to be sent in directly. Moments later, the woman again appeared from behind the door. Only this time, the door remained open. The woman exited the room but motioned her in the direction of the now visible office beyond. As Renee’ started to reach for her suitcase to go for the door, she heard the woman instruct her to leave her things by the desk.

The first thing Renee’ saw as she started toward the doorway into the room beyond was the paper-covered metal desk sitting in the middle of the small office, and on the front left corner of the desk sat a seasoned officer leaning back onto it. Just as she had stared at him, he looked back at her as she entered his office.

Inside the doorway, Renee’ stopped. With just one glance, she saw the officer to be a general by the three stars on his right collar. In his hand was her letter.

Standing there, she heard the door to the office close behind her and then the rake of the chair as the woman outside in the office sat back down to her desk.

We were not expecting you so soon, Mrs. Cane, spoke the general as he stood up from the desk.

I was expecting General Tye, General, Renee’ answered, looking back at the general.

And so he will be here directly. Like I said, we were not expecting you so soon.

Renee’ caught a hint of irritation in his voice, making her feel this wasn’t going to be a pleasant meeting.

She studied the general as he stood in his office. Ramsey was tall, six feet, she thought. A big man, but not fat. His hair was gray; but from what she could see, it had been dark. Anyway, what was left of his hair, there wasn’t much left on top his head.

At first glance, she knew he wasn’t a quick-made general. This man was a seasoned officer to the core, and there was no clumsiness in his manner anywhere. The expression Ramsey carried on his face was that of absolute authority, and nothing else. He was a spit-and-polish Marine from head to foot.

Renee’ had been around a few officers in the time she had spent with the 299th. Some officers she had known were by-the-book soldiers, do or die, while there were other officers who didn’t care. These so-called rebel officers didn’t care; their only concern was to get through the war alive. But General Ramsey fell in a class all by himself, and that worried her. This man was someone she knew she didn’t dare mess with. There would be no conning him. And she had the feeling he was not looking forward to this meeting with her either. There was a look in his eye that made her feel like he could see right through her and know everything about her in one glance. There was no second chance with his man. She knew he had already made up his mind about her as soon as she had stepped inside his office.

In the letter, General Tye said he wanted to talk with me, she started.

General Ramsey nodded his head and then motioned to the old couch that was pushed up against the wall in the Quonset hut office.

Yes, I know. But while we wait for General Tye, why don’t you sit down and rest? I know the flight from Hawaii can be a long one.

Renee’ looked at the old stuffed couch on her right that lined the full wall of his small office. To her it looked like it had been used as a bed more than once. But as tired as she was, it looked a lot more comfortable than the hard seat she had been sitting on for God only knows how long on that plane she had just gotten off of.

Hawaii was home; her roots were there. A lot of memories still lived there in her heart. Hawaii was the home of her other family, some of whom had cried when she boarded the plane to fly here.

But something inside her told her she had to go back to Le Vella, even if it was against her family’s wishes. It was as if she had left a part of herself on Le Vella. Maybe later, when she found what she needed, she could go back home to Hawaii and be at peace there again.

It was only across New Guinea and the six hundred miles more across the Solomon Sea until she would be at Le Vella, or what was left of it and her memories. She looked at Ramsey and told herself she had every right to go back. She gathered her strength, thinking there was no reason she couldn’t go back there. The island had belonged to her father, and now it belonged to her.

You know, Mrs. Cane, this is a rather strange situation we have here. I know only a handful of people who would come back here if they were given the opportunity to return Stateside. And according to General Tye, you wrote him asking for papers to return here, or should I say Le Vella.

Renee’ nodded her head as she looked at General Ramsey. Le Vella is mine. I want to go back.

The general nodded his head. I’m aware of that, Mrs. Cane.

Ramsey then stepped along his desk, back around to where he could seated himself behind it.

But your husband’s family is stateside in Ohio, if I am correct. I’m sure they didn’t want you to leave and come back here? There is a war going on here.

Renee’ shook her head. I’m quite aware of that, General Ramsey. But they were William’s family… not mine.

Ramsey didn’t answer back directly but, instead, just stared at her. Nervous, Renee’ raised her hand to ran her fingers through her hair.

I see, Mrs. Cane. General Ramsey returned as he continued to study the young woman in front of him for a moment more before he glanced back down to Tye’s letter he still held in his hand.

Renee’ Cane, the wife of Captain William Cane, was a very attractive young woman, thought Ramsey as he studied her across his desk. There was no missing how pretty she was dressed in the pink Hawaiian dress with her shoulder-length blond hair and dark-brown eyes. Renee’ was of medium build, nothing fancy, but far from plain. It was no mystery why any young Marine captain would fall for this American girl so far away from home.

Ramsey watched Renee’ Cane as she turned and stepped over to the couch where she then sat down.

Looking at her, it was obvious why this young lady seated on his couch in his office didn’t fit in, on a farm in Ohio. She didn’t belong there; she wasn’t the type. But what made him wonder was how a young woman like her could accomplish the task she had been recommended for by one of his most trusted officers.

It was now up to him to decide if she had what it took to do such a job. And that had been the only reason that he had Tye answer her letter and send for her from Hawaii.

Looking at her, it was hard to believe what Tye had briefed him about this young woman’s background. From her records, he knew she had been born on a boat somewhere in the South China Sea. It was obvious why she was here in the Pacific with her father, a trader in these parts. Renee’s mother had been an American woman. By the file he had on his desk, her mother had died in Hawaii when Renee’ was just a child. Renee’ was then raised by a trusted Hawaiian family till she had reached the age of fourteen. She was then taken from Hawaii by her father to the family’s plantation in Java. She had remained with her father in Java, helping him with his business until the war broke out. But from what it read in the report, her father had waited too long to leave Java before it, too, had been invaded by the Japanese after Pearl Harbor.

He had been told by Tye that Renee’ and her father, Shawn Gilbier, had traveled to Le Vella to hide the war out. If he had it right, they had tried to flee her father’s plantation in Java when the Japanese took Java from the Aussies. Her father was then killed by the Japanese when Le Vella was captured. With her father dead and their home on Le Vella burned to the ground, Renee’ had continued to live in a mine of some sort in the hills, dodging Japanese patrols until the Allies had taken Le Vella back.

How Tye knew about all this was unknown to him. But a lot of things go on without his knowledge, like how this woman was allowed to stay on Le Vella, a Marine military base, with the commanding officer Major Morgan’s knowledge. And then her getting married to the 299th’s squadron’s captain to boot.

But what could be said concerning Morgan’s outfit? Morgan’s 299th was under General Tye’s command. Tye was loose with his squadrons, but Morgan’s outfit was always very successful in getting their assignments done. All of the 299th were aces, with a few of the pilots double aces, so their kill rate was high. There were several other squadrons now working the Slot, and there was only one other squadron worse than Morgan’s outfit. That other squadron was enough trouble by itself to make Morgan’s band look good in the eyes of the military.

But looking at Renee’ Cane, he knew there was a lot wrong with this whole situation. There was a lot more to her than what showed in her file and behind what General Tye knew.

He was pretty sure she could do what the mission demanded, if his guess was right. It was just a question of whether she would do it after he got all the right answers from her.

Outside in the office beyond, Ramsey heard someone enter the outside room. Glancing at his watch, he knew it was probably Tye. Seeing the door to his office start to open, Ramsey put the letter on his desk and pushed himself out of the chair. As he stood, he acknowledged General Tye as he entered the room.

Ramsey watched as General Tye looked at him and then to the couch where Renee’ was still seated. Seeing her, Tye paused and reached out his hand to her as if to reach out to an old friend. But there was no missing the pain he saw in Tye’s face as he spoke her name out loud. Ramsey wasn’t accustomed to seeing this much emotion from his friend, and Tye was an old friend. Seeing Tye now, Ramsey wondered why his friend could have recommended this young woman for this mission at all. Not unless Tye believed that their only hope was this Renee’ Cane.

Renee’ looked through tears in her eyes at her friend as he stood there looking back at her. She could still see the hurt in his eyes, much like what she remembered when William had been reported missing. General Tye had been their friend from afar. If it hadn’t been for him and Morgan, she would have been sent away, and William and she would probably never have been allowed to be married.

For several more moments, Renee’ continued to look up at General Tye before she stood up from the couch and took his outstretched hand in hers.

Why did you want to come back here, Renee’? Tye asked as he closed his hand around hers. What went wrong?

Renee’ half smiled in return. It just wasn’t meant to be, General Tye. It didn’t work out very well.

She paused as she watched the expression on General Tye’s face. The disappointment was very plain.

But why back here of all places? Tye asked. Why didn’t you stay in Hawaii?

She glanced from Tye to Ramsey and then back to General Tye. I don’t have any other place to go, except for there. Renee’ lied as she remembered her last glimpse of her island home as the transport she had been on left Hawaii. She had to do this, and her family there understood that.

General Tye shook his head. Renee’, you know better than this. You know as well as I do that this damn war could take a right turn any moment, and God knows what could happen then!

She studied Tye and then looked back at Ramsey. Then why did you let me come back?

Tye again glanced toward Ramsey and then back to her.

If you were smart, you would turn right around now and go out that door this very minute!

She didn’t answer him. She knew he was right, but she wanted to go back to Le Vella. Turning from General Tye, she glanced back at Ramsey. There she watched him as he picked up the letter back from his desk.

General Ramsey shuffled his feet slightly, and General Tye turned to look at him out of the corner of his eye, only to turn back to her.

Renee’, I want you to meet Gen. Steve Ramsey. Right now he is one of the heads of operations for this area.

Confused, she turned from Tye back to General Ramsey. He smiled at her, but she turned impatiently back to Tye. There was something going on here. Tye had allowed her to come back this far. But she had a feeling inside of her that this wasn’t what she had thought it was going to be.

Oh, OK, Ramsey. Go ahead. Tye motioned with his hand toward her. Tell her. Tye’s voice ended on a bitter note. But if she refuses, Tye continued, that is the last I want to hear of this crazy notion of yours!

Tye then looked back at her. I just wished things would have worked out, Renee’, and you would not have wanted to come back to this place.

Well, since we have moved past that, General Tye, I think we can start with business. Renee’ turned to look at Ramsey. She didn’t like at all what she was hearing. It sounded almost as if a trap had just been sprung on her and she felt the fool to have stepped into it so easily.

What business, General? And what does this have to do with me? she demanded back to Ramsey.

Ramsey in turn lowered his dark eyebrows at her. Well, I see you were right, Tye. She does have an attitude. The only thing I question is where her loyalties really lie.

Still standing, Renee’ turned to look at her friend, General Tye, and then back at Ramsey. And what makes you question my loyalties, sir? she questioned right back. I’m an American, the same as you two.

Ramsey looked at her and then at Tye. Yes, that is true, he answered as he looked back at her. You were born of American citizens.

Renee’ nodded her head. But what does that matter? All I want is to go back to my island.

Ramsey lowered his eyebrows again. Yes, your island. I saw that it did belong to your father and a partner?

Renee’ shook her head. I don’t know what you are getting at, but Hornsby had nothing to do with our home. Anyway, I think he’s dead, she spoke. He disappeared after we left Java, right when the Japanese overran Java.

Ramsey looked at her over her letter. You were there?

At the very beginning, I was, she replied. Why?

Ramsey looked at her, studying her. But he said nothing; instead, he looked back to his desk.

Renee’ turned to look at Tye. But when she did, Tye just lowered his eyes.

Turning, Renee’ looked back to find Ramsey now watching her.

"My father took me on board the Tiki, his trade schooner, and we slipped away in the night before the Allies lost all their ships in the Java Sea."

You said your father and you slipped away. How do you know about the battle in the Java Sea?

Renee’ looked at Tye and then back at Ramsey again. What are you saying? she questioned back at him. I know because we heard what happened after we got to Le Vella. She paused as she looked at Ramsey. We saw the smoke from the burning ships that next morning. The Japanese were so intent on the fleet, they looked right over us as a native boat!

A grin appeared on Ramsey’s face as he looked from her to Tye. Did you hear that, Tye? The Japs overlooked her father’s vessel. But then he turned back to her. Are you sure, or was it because your father’s boat was meant to escape because of his connections in Tokyo?

Renee’ stared at Ramsey, stunned by his remark. She shook her head as she looked back at him. What, may I ask, are you implying, sir!

Again, the general raised his eyebrows at her. Do I need to ask you about your family’s connections in Tokyo? he questioned.

It’s in your file, Renee’, stated Tye. I had nothing to do with it. When you married Captain Cane, your situation automatically called for an investigation. Tye then paused. Even Sakaida.

Looking away from Tye, Renee’ slowly looked back at Ramsey.

General Ramsey, those connections in Japan were made before Japan even thought about signing up with Hitler. I knew of other people in the military who have had connections with Japan. And, yes, I know several families in Japan. Some of whom are a whole lot nicer than the family I just left stateside! She snapped back at Ramsey, hoping to make a point to him.

But there Renee’ stopped, trying to control the anger building up inside of her. She knew it wouldn’t get her anywhere, and now was not the time to be doing so. She had to be smarter than Ramsey.

Again, she looked at Ramsey. And then very carefully, she answered Ramsey’s question. Sakaida had nothing to do with my escape from Java, she stated firmly back to the general, . . . if that is what you are implying, General. Everyone was running scared in Java. I know. I saw them in the streets. The Allies were surrendering as soon as the Japanese had landed. It was a total walk in the park for the Japanese to take Java from the Australians.

Ramsey looked at her and again studied her for several moments.

"I know what happened in Java, Mrs. Cane. But… you mentioned the name of your father’s schooner, the Tiki? Am I correct?" he asked as he shifted his weight slightly from one foot to another.

Renee’ nodded her head. "Yes, I did. The Tiki was my father’s schooner. She was a two-masted topsail schooner. Why?"

"Then may I ask about the trade schooner China Rose?"

"The China Rose? Renee’ asked. Why?"

Renee’ studied Ramsey. "I don’t understand what is going on! What are you after? What has anything to do with China Rose or the Tiki?" she questioned as she looked at the general and then quickly back at Tye.

"I want you to tell us about what you know about the China Rose and the Japanese?" Ramsey questioned.

Renee’ quickly turned back to Ramsey.

Why don’t you tell us about that boat, Mrs. Cane?

Renee’ shook her head. I don’t think I’m going to tell you anything more until I know what is going on, she returned.

Stepping forward, Renee’ stopped a few feet from Ramsey, looking directly into his face. Renee’ watched as Ramsey looked from her to Tye and then back to her. What she saw, Renee’ liked even less when he looked back at her.

Renee’, said General Tye from where he stood, . . . please, just answer the general’s questions. It’s very important.

Turning, Renee’ looked toward General Tye. She didn’t like the anxious look she found on Tye’s face as he looked back at her. Slowly, she looked back at Ramsey.

Whatever she had stepped into, Renee’ knew it wasn’t good. She had made the mistake. After everything she had been through, why did she think this would turn out any better? But it seemed now she didn’t have much choice in the matter. If anything, what would they know of the China Rose’s past and herself? That had been a long time ago. It was Sakaida, if anyone, whom they were after from her.

Then stop beating around the bush! she spat back at Ramsey.

"OK, then tell us all about the China Rose!" Ramsey roared back at her.

That boat, as you put it, belonged to my father’s partner, Hornsby! she returned. Eric Hornsby, if you must know! she returned back at Ramsey.

Renee’ paused there, almost glaring back at Ramsey. Anything else? she demanded.

Keep on, don’t stop there! Ramsey replied, matching the bitterness in her voice.

Renee’ didn’t miss a step as she looked back at Ramsey. Hornsby was a greedy bastard, if you must know. He was a hard old salt, with a rum bottle attached to his hand. And he took his pleasures wherever he could find them! Renee’ glared back at Ramsey, making sure he understood every word she had said.

Why? Did you find the bastard? Is this what this was all about? she demanded.

Ramsey shook his head as he grinned at her. "It seems that Hornsby’s boat, the China Rose, found us. It was found on New Britain, Mrs. Cane."

New Britain? Renee’ paused for a moment, trying to understand the events that could have led to this. But then looking back at Ramsey, she found him still staring at her. It was as if he was waiting for an explanation from her why the China Rose was found on New Britain.

Renee’ shook her head. "General, if you must know, the last time I remember seeing the China Rose or Hornsby was in Java. The Tiki and the China Rose sailed the same night to escape the onslaught of the Japanese invasion."

Ramsey looked at her as he seemed to study her. Only then he glanced to Tye and nodded his head.

Anything else, Mrs. Cane? he questioned back at her, seemingly unaffected by their exchange.

Renee’ stepped back a moment, trying to gather herself. She shook her head. We were on our own. Hornsby went his way, and my father took me another. All I know was that the bastard said something about heading south toward Australia. My father, instead, decided to head toward Le Vella. My father thought Australia would be next for the Japs.

Ramsey stood there and looked at her. "Go on, Mrs. Cane. I want to know everything you can tell me about the China Rose."

Renee’ looked back at him as she tried to decide if she wanted to tell Ramsey any more. She wanted to know what he was fishing for. He wanted something more from her, but she wasn’t sure if she was going to say anything more unless she had an idea of what he was waiting for.

Go on. I’m sure you can tell me more about what happened when you and your father slipped away from Java.

Again, Renee’ looked at him as she thought about that night.

"There was no moon that night. After we slipped out, I never saw the Rose again or Hornsby for that face. That’s all I know."

How did your father get his ship by the Japanese ships outside the harbor? It couldn’t have been done very easily with a boat that size?

Renee’ again looked at Ramsey. She hated him more with each question he asked. This, as far as she was concerned, had turned into more of an interrogation.

Tell me this, she went back at Ramsey, "what does that have to do with me wanting to go back to Le Vella, General? That happened a long time ago. No one cares. My father is dead and the Tiki is gone."

It makes all the difference in the world, Mrs. Cane, Ramsey answered. Not knowing what to do, Renee’ looked away from the man.

Renee’, just answer the general’s questions, will you, please? spoke General Tye from the door where he still stood.

Again, Renee’ looked back at Ramsey. This time she took deep breath, trying to control her anger.

"No one helped us, if you must know! My father sneaked the Tiki out of the harbor that night using sail, and if my father had not known the waters around Java, we would have been killed by the Japs after we had run aground on the shoals that lay off the harbor and Java’s coast!"

She watched Ramsey, and he looked back over his shoulder to his desk.

What a strange set of events, she thought, that now that she would be asked these questions and about the Rose. She had tried long and hard to forget Hornsby and what he had done aboard the Rose. And now it was all being brought to the surface by a man she hardly knew.

But now here in Ramsey’s small office, it looked to her that Eric Hornsby had done something. Something they were fishing for. But what? she asked herself. From what she could remember of the last days there in Java, her father had made up his mind to go to Le Vella and Hornsby had taken his Rose the other.

Hornsby had been dead set on sailing south to the Aussie coast. But it now looked as if he may have followed them. But to New Britain then?

It was probably a deadly choice for Hornsby, and maybe now an even dangerous choice of hers wanting to go back to Le Vella.

She looked at Ramsey again, trying to figure out what his game was. Surely, they were not going to hang her for treason for places she had been with her father before the war. But then maybe it was her connection with Hornsby and New Britain that had put her here.

She knew New Britain, all right. She had been there several times aboard the Rose and she knew where Hornsby might had taken the Rose if he had gone there. Maybe that was it.

If she were running in those waters, Renee’ knew New Britain would be where she would hide the Rose to keep her from the Japanese. And that would have been the Dog’s Hole.

Again, she looked at Ramsey. "Who brought the Rose back, and is she here?" she asked. Ramsey didn’t answer her immediately. Instead, he looked at her for several minutes before he answered.

A captain in the Air Force. A captain C. Freeman, Ramsey answered as he glanced to Tye.

Captain Freeman is an escaped prisoner from Rabaul.

Renee’ shook her head. No way! She shook her head back at Ramsey.

"No one can sail the schooner like the China Rose alone. You’re lying to me!" she challenged Ramsey.

Ramsey had just stepped onto her ground. And she was sure she had forgotten more about a ship like the Rose than Ramsey would ever know.

"The Rose is a two-masted trade schooner! She takes a crew!" She returned back at Ramsey. In turn, Ramsey drew a deep irritated breath as he looked to her.

Captain Freeman wasn’t by himself, Mrs. Cane. Several others were with him that were able to help him get the boat away from New Britain. Captain Freeman was just the one who knew how to get that overgrown wooden bathtub away from New Britain and away from the Japanese.

Renee’ again went back over what Ramsey had said. She wondered how this man could get the Rose across the shoals off the Dog’s Hole. They must have left the Hole at high tide and had some luck; otherwise, they would have put a hole in her bottom.

But then it hit her, what Ramsey had said. He had said prisoners, escaped prisoners from Rabaul. Looking at Ramsey again, there was a question she had to ask. No one had mentioned William to her, which meant only one thing—William had not been with them.

Renee’ looked over her shoulder to Tye. Seeing him as he looked back at her, Renee’ knew Tye understood. She watched as Tye looked down to the floor in front of him and slowly shook his head.

Renee’ turned and slowly looked back at Ramsey.

Renee’ may have looked at Ramsey, but she didn’t see him as he moved back to his desk and to stand beside it.

Renee’ slowly lowered her head as she looked at her hands clasped in front of her. Was that what this was all about—William? she asked herself.

Ramsey had said nothing of her husband. It wasn’t fair, she thought, thinking of all those Cutthroats who had escaped or returned home. But her William had not been chosen to be one of them.

Mrs. Cane?

Renee’ raised her head to look at him, trying to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes.

I know what you are thinking, but I’m sorry your husband wasn’t with those who escaped. We have already questioned the captain, and he doesn’t’ remember your husband to be from the group he was being held with. Ramsey paused. Renee’ recognized the false concern in his voice.

But there is still a chance. We know from intelligence that the Japanese hold their prisoners of war in underground tunnels all over New Britain.

There is a chance that he is still being held there, Renee’, General Tye spoke.

Renee’ shook her head, trying to put aside the hope that they were trying to build up inside of her, because the hope she felt was two-sided. She wanted him alive so much, yet if he was still there… if it was true what she knew, William was safer if he were dead.

Renee looked back at Ramsey straight in the face. Now, she thought, it was her turn to take control of this so-called meeting. They couldn’t use William against her. If the China Rose was involved, she wanted to take possession of it. The schooner belonged to her; it was one of the last things that was left of her father’s possessions except for Le Vella.

General, are you arresting me for being a traitor because Captain Hornsby’s boat was found on an enemy-controlled base?

Ramsey shook his head back at her.

Then where is my boat? I want to see it. I want it back! she demanded back to Ramsey.

In return, Ramsey silently stared back at her. His face never faltered as he looked at her. It was as if he knew what she was trying to do.

I don’t think you understand this situation, Mrs. Cane. Right now, that boat belongs to the military, not you, Ramsey stated bluntly back to her.

Sir, I don’t think you understand. She belongs to me, not you! And I demand to see her!

Ramsey just shook his head. You can’t play that game. You, my dear, are under investigation for being an enemy of the United States. You could now be classified as a spy for the Japanese with your connections and trading with an enemy of the United States. You, Mrs. Cane, with your request that General Tye let you return to Le Vella has caused a lot of questions to arise higher up, Ramsey returned. You were given free choice to walk out of here, remember?

Then what are you going to do with me? she demanded back. You’re wrong, and you know it! she spat at him, and she then turned back to look at Tye.

So what are you going to do with me now, since you hold my fate in your hands? she spoke as she turned back to Ramsey.

Ramsey stared at her a few moments and then turned back to the desk and pulled from underneath other papers there what looked like a map as he held it up for her to see.

What we want is information, Mrs. Cane. And then the use of that boat.

Renee’ felt the anger inside of her boil as she looked at Ramsey. Yes, she had been right about the man. And she just walked right into his little trap.

Why do you need my permission, sir! she demanded. You have my schooner. What else do you want?

Ramsey shook his head slightly, either out of discouragement or irritation, she didn’t know for sure. But she didn’t like it.

What do you know about the shoal reefs around New Britain, Mrs. Cane? he questioned harshly as he pointed to the map on the paper he was holding.

From your file, I know that you and your father used Simpson Harbor and the waters around New Britain as a stopover on your trade route from Java, Australia, then to Japan. Ramsey then angrily traced the route with his finger over the map as he held it up in front of her.

Renee’ studied General Ramsey for several long minutes before she decided what she wanted to do.

It had to be the Dog’s Hole the man was fishing for. Otherwise, why were they so interested in her father’s knowledge of the shoal waters around New Britain and not just Simpson Harbor? How did he know about her father’s and Hornsby’s trade routes? It was obvious that they had put a lot of work into her father’s business. This Freeman chap must have realized how important the shoals around New Britain were and told Ramsey.

But Ramsey hadn’t said anything about where this chap had found the Rose. He was waiting for her to spill the beans about the Dog’s Hole to him. No, she wasn’t going to play the game.

"Why do you need that information from me? If this Freeman chap got the China Rose through those waters once, he could probably find his way back." Ramsey shook his head angrily back at her.

Our people have already tried, Mrs. Cane, Ramsey stated back to her.

And that is why you needed me? she answered back. And that’s why you allowed General Tye to let me come back this far. Isn’t that right? You have used William and you have threatened me with my background to make me tell you everything I know about New Britain.

For several more long moments, Ramsey looked back at her with his dark, hard eyes. Mrs. Cane, we need your help, he started, speaking in a quiet tone. A tone again she didn’t like.

The Japanese made a mistake with the tunnel they used to hold Freeman and his group. It seems that this tunnel they used led to a hidden cove in the cliffs on the side of New Britain. They blocked off the tunnel, thinking it could be used like a prison tunnel, but Freeman and his group found a way out, and that is where they found your father’s, partner’s boat, anchored in this hidden cove.

Renee’ didn’t remain silent to Ramsey’s speech, nor did she plea. Now she knew it was the Dog’s Hole for sure that Hornsby had taken the China Rose to. And if she knew Hornsby well enough, she knew he was probably dead. The old bastard, she thought to herself. Otherwise, no one would have been able to take the China Rose just like that.

And what do you think the Japanese did when they found this hiding place? Just leave it? Renee’ asked sarcastically. Knowing full well where Hornsby would have hid the ship, Ramsey had said nothing about the hiding place.

We believe the Japanese don’t know about the tunnel. Freeman and his group made sure they covered their escape by resealing their escape route. All we believe the Japanese know is that the prisoners had escaped.

Renee’ looked away. I’m just sure of that, General! she said as she turned back to him. The Japanese are so dumb.

Tye moved from where he was standing, crossed the room, and stopped to stand beside Ramsey.

Renee’, only a handful of our men were able to escape. We were hoping you would care about the others who are still there waiting for their turn to leave. One of whom could be your husband.

A hardness formed inside her as she stood there before Ramsey. It was a heavy feeling, a weight that became greater with every friend she had lost so far in this hell. They were using her, her past, and William to force her to do this for them.

Renee’ drew a deep breath to fight back the pain inside of her. Since William’s death, his mother had been the only one to inflict the pain she felt now. Inside of her, it felt as if someone had reached inside her chest and ripped at her very heart. They had no understanding of what it was doing to her, of using William like this. They were forcing her to have hope that he was still alive. But she didn’t want that hope. If Sakaida was there, it was better William was dead. She had seen too much blood and death to think of what Sakaida would do to him.

Overhead, the roar of the squadron of planes passed overhead. They were US Wild Cats, by the sound, but she still moved slightly to duck, looking up toward the ceiling of the Quonset hut. In her mind, it could easily have been Zeros mowing Le Vella.

Glancing back at Ramsey and Tye, she found them, too, looking toward the sound and then to her. But it was Ramsey with whom she locked eyes.

You don’t know what you’re asking, General, Renee’ spoke as she shook her head.

I think I do, Ramsey answered back forcefully.

I think your father had connections all over this area, clear to the Emperor’s Palace in Japan. I think you can take the schooner right back to where Freeman found it with your eyes closed, shoals and all. But what I think is that you’re afraid of this Sakaida, whose name keeps popping up!

She shook her head. He had nothing to do with our escape from Java, I told you that! He has nothing to do with this!

That is what you said, Mrs. Cane. And I’m sure he didn’t allow your father and you to escape Java, Ramsey stated back, shaking his head. But that isn’t what I’m implying. There is a lot missing from your background here! Ramsey pointed to the papers on his desk.

Your father must have been very tight with some important people in Japan to have the trade business in the area tied up for his own use. I don’t think your father was running from the Japanese at Java. With his business and connections, the Japanese would have spared him and his family. I think he was running from someone else in particular. Like maybe this Sakaida? Was that why he was killed on Le Vella and you, a woman, survived? Is this connection with Sakaida and you, Mrs. Cane?

Renee’ furiously shook her head. My father was killed by the Japanese army on Le Vella. He and the others died giving me time to escape! she shouted back.

Ramsey stood before her and looked her straight in the eye. According to Captain Freeman, Sakaida is one of the commanders on Rabaul.

Renee’ stared back at Ramsey, trying not to flinch at the words Ramsey had just spoken. She lowered her head, knowing his words were probably true.

Do you have any idea what Sakaida would do to William if he knew I was his wife? she spoke as she looked up to Ramsey.

Ramsey was quiet for a moment, but then answered. Yes, I’m afraid I do. Did you tell Captain Cane about this Sakaida?

Renee’ nodded her head. Yes, I did, she answered as she looked back at Ramsey. I told him everything. It was an arranged marriage between the trading company and Sakaida’s family. I wasn’t told about it then. I was only fourteen years old.

But your father backed out, didn’t he? Ramsey stated back at her. Renee’ reluctantly nodded her head.

Then why? Ramsey asked.

The war, she answered simply with a lie.

Ramsey had missed it entirely even though he thought he knew it all. But he didn’t. He had everything else, but he had missed how her father and Hornsby had continued to hold the trade with Sakaida’s family.

Ramsey looked from her, back to the papers on his desk, and then to Tye. He then took a deep breath, letting it go slowly.

What we have here is a bad situation, General Tye.

Ramsey then turned back to her. And I think that solves the mystery of what happened to your father’s partner. He went looking for Sakaida, probably looking to make a deal. My guess is he was going to trade you for favors with the Japanese.

Renee’ looked at Ramsey, his words striking a harden cord inside of her. It was private and deep. And it hurt. Quickly she looked away. After everything that had happened with Hornsby, why was she surprised about what Hornsby might have tried to do?

Ramsey turned back to Tye.

You better tell Freeman that the deal is off. Either that or we find someone else to sail that wooden bathtub to New Britain. Maybe she can show us how to get back into that hole on a damn map. From where he was standing, Ramsey threw the map back onto his desk, scattering papers everywhere.

The Dog’s Hole, Renee’ corrected sharply.

Ramsey turned back to her. It’s just another smuggler’s hole, he growled.

Renee’ shook her head, almost chuckling as she did.

"It isn’t. It’s a death trap if you don’t know what you’re doing. And if this Freeman chap gets the China Rose back in there, it will be by an act of God!"

Ramsey took a step back toward her. But if he did it once, then he can probably do it again. At least it would be a chance that some of these prisoners could be freed and returned home to their families.

"You don’t think I care about William. But I