Chōhei Kambayashi: Yukikaze

Every time after that when he tried to get a more concrete answer out of her, she’d duck the question. Rei suspected she was working secretly with the authorities of their huge organization to destroy the evidence. The chances of that were slight, but if it were true it would be convenient for Rei.

The frame of the prototype doll was completed five days before the commandant of the Japanese air force was due to arrive. Rei went to report this to the general. Walking into the SAF deputy commander’s spacious office, Rei saw a severed head sitting on the large desk and blanched in disgust. He knew it was a doll’s head, but it looked very lifelike. On top of that, it had the face of his former electronic warfare officer, the one who had got himself killed.

“That’s the height of bad taste, General.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. It’s an honor, sir,” said the head. “Yes, Your Excellency. It’s an honor, sir.”

The general unfolded her hands and pressed the nape of the doll’s neck to silence it.

“I’m making our honored dead into our honor guard. Don’t question my decision.”

“The body frames have some slight defects. I thought you’d want to know,” Rei said, still standing. “We’d planned to use stronger materials but ended up having to use cheaper ones.”

“It can’t be helped. For this batch, getting them ready in time has to take priority. Get them on the production line as soon as you can.”

“Roger that.”

“Wait. We’ll be receiving the preliminary hearing’s decision the day after tomorrow. I think you’re going to be all right.”

“If they’re saying that wasn’t a Sylph I shot down, then what—”

“If it wasn’t a Sylph, it was a bitch. It had to be a JAM. We’ll have a short meeting about it tomorrow. Dismissed.”

THE MILITARY JUDGE pronounced Rei clear of charges in the same conference room that the preliminary hearing had been held in.

“We have found no physical evidence of misconduct by the accused.”

“I’m innocent,” Rei said, standing. “I want that made clear. The site where that plane was shot down must be in the combat record. If you’d investigated the wreckage I’m sure you would’ve discovered that it was a JAM unit. So what are you playing at?”

“If you are making any accusations against this court, we are more than ready to address them.”

“We have no objections,” General Cooley said smoothly, rising to get Rei under control. “The lieutenant is currently in an emotionally unstable state.”

“Lieutenant Fukai, if you would please sign here of your own will and volition, we can end these proceedings.”

Although he wasn’t satisfied, Rei decided he’d rather not deal with any more of this annoying bullshit and signed the document they handed him.

“Court is adjourned,” the judge declared.

The general told him to come to her office, wherein she proceeded to chew him out for his behavior.

“I told you to say as little as possible, and you go and say that to them?!” She paused in mid-rant. “Coffee?”

“No, thanks.”

“I did tell you that, didn’t I?”

“But, General, why didn’t they make an onsite inspection?

It’s not that far away. If they found a piece, just one piece of that plane, it’d prove that I was innocent—”

“Shut up at once,” the general said in a tone of voice that was low but oddly charged with emotion. “It doesn’t concern you, Lieutenant Fukai. As of today, you are a first lieutenant. You may go now and resume your current duties. Any questions?”

“None,” he replied, and saluted.

WITH ONE DAY to go until the big show, they had completed thirty-six dolls. The birth of ghost soldiers, all in uniform. The robots had been brought from the factory to the maintenance floor for a test run. Major Booker attached a wireless mike to his breast to transmit his commands.

The Boomerang Squadron stood, or slouched, inside the glassed-in briefing room. Most of them regarded this strange corps without any expression, although some wore faint smiles. Rei walked along the standing ranks of the dolls, pushing the main power switch on the nape of their necks, and couldn’t help shuddering at the coldness of their skin as he did so.

“Salute!” the major ordered. The dolls obeyed.

This was met with applause, laughter, and catcalls.

“Controlling these guys is kinda hard… Column, right! Forward, march! Boomerang Squadron, how about showing some gratitude for our replacements?”

The dolls were taken up on the huge elevator to the surface, where they were bathed in sunlight for the first time.

Rei came along as well. The dolls marched out toward the side of the receiving hangar at the base of the runway. And then one fell. Its arms and legs continued their marching motion even after it had fallen. The dolls coming up behind it began to fall as well.

“No, no, no! Shit! All units, halt!”

Upon the major’s order, the chaos instantly ceased. Booker sighed and then sat down on a toolbox.

“Looks like we’ll have to cancel the march.”

Rei, who had watched all this without a word, let out a sigh as painful as the major’s.

“This world really is incomprehensible.”

“Did you say something?”

Rei shrugged his shoulders as he leaned against a power supply truck.

“I’m talking about the hearing. I just don’t get the general’s attitude. And I don’t get why she’s on my ass all the time.”

“It may not have been a Sylph or a JAM. I saw the pictures taken by your gun camera too, and although it looked like a Sylph, I can’t say for sure if it was one or not.”

“What do you mean?” asked Rei, still brooding.

“It’s possible it could have been a trespasser from Earth. A unit that entered the Passageway in violation of international law.”

“Why would they do that? What could they possibly be after in this place?”

“Look at this green land, this sweet air. If an Earth nation sent a spy plane, they couldn’t exactly complain about it being shot down. If it became public knowledge they’d have to face international censure. On the other hand, Faery isn’t a sovereign state, so if we make noise about shooting down a plane from Earth it would cause big trouble for us as well. We don’t know what the truth is. It probably was the JAM. You should just forget about it.”

“I don’t understand at all.”

“Don’t worry about it. Gimme a hand here. We need to get these dummies back up again.”

“Sure. The thing is, this scar on my forehead from shooting down that unknown hasn’t gone away. And my partner is dead.”

“How about this scar on my cheek? And everyone has to die sometime.”

THE FAF METEOROLOGICAL Corps had forecast that the weather would worsen soon but should hold out for the ceremony. The guest of honor came through the Passageway and arrived at Faery Base. The sudden change of environment was probably hard on his old body, but the commandant was known for his love of pomp and circumstance and wasn’t about to let it get the better of him.

Since Rei and Major Booker were in charge of preparations for the ceremony, they excused themselves from attendance and headed for the grassy field by the receiving hangar on the surface. Rei brought a portable broadcast monitor with him while Booker carried his hobby boomerang. The grass was soft and the air was warm. If you excused the lack of a blue sky, it was as perfect holiday weather as you could ask for. After dozing off for a bit, Rei was awakened by the major.

“What?”

“It’s about to start. Turn on the monitor.”

“What…? Oh!” Rei sat up.

The ceremony was apparently being held in the plaza near the control tower, far away from the field they were sitting in. The runway was huge. As they turned on the monitor, a recording of a military band playing the FAF march blared from it.