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Chapter 6: The Arrival of the Troops
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CHAPTER 6 THE THE ARRIV ARRIVAL AL OF OF THE THE TROOPS TROOPS The whole town was in a state of silent excitement. This was the day when the troops were coming. They were expected to arrive in the afternoon, and the people were anxious. We were waiting at the Gosen station, but, as we had regained confidence in our English, we felt less nervous and more composed . I would never be scared by the number of soldiers; I was determined. About 750 men were to arrive on the first train that was due at one o’clock. At long last it pulled into the station. At first there was no stirring among the passengers. Then a few men got out of the first carriage. It was Col. Payne and his staff, who got into a jeep waiting at the wicket—I did not notice it till then—and went away. Yet, there was no movement in the train. Soldiers were sitting still, with some fellows fast asleep. A few soldiers noticed me, got up and opened the window. “This is the station where you get down,” I told them, “Please tell the others to get ready”. “Oh, she speaks English!” a soldier remarked. “What is she? What? In-ter-preter, Interpreter. Good!” “Hello!” “Hey! Is this Muramatsu?” I was showered with questions. But I had no time to answer them all. I went from one carriage to the next telling the soldiers to get ready. In olive-colored uniform and helmets, they all looked alike. I couldn’t tell officers from men, so, I just told whomever was nearest to go across the tracks to the far end of the station where the train for Muramatsu was waiting. In a minute or two, the platform was swarming with soldiers. They all had big bags; some of them carried them on their shoulders , and some dragged them along. Mr. Kuno, Miss Kato and I got on one of the carriages. Everybody seemed to be talking now. Some were singing. They all looked happy knowing they were nearing the end of their long journey. “How long does it take to where we get off?” A soldier approached us and asked. “It’s only about seven minutes.” “Is the barracks far from the station?” “No. About twenty minutes. A nice walk.” While we were engaged in talking, we were already in Muramatsu . “Here we are!” And again, they turned into a silent mass of olive-colored uniforms . In front of the station, they formed lines and with “Tention!” “Forward, March. Hup, two…”, which sounded novel to my ears, they marched away, platoon after platoon, towards the barracks. When I went upstairs to the president’s room, I found some officers and interpreters having tea in the room. Among them was a Lt. Grotious. He did not impress me very deeply just then, but he later became my good friend and pal. 32 ...