"You said it." She shrugged in agreement and continued.
"The key is Pearl Harbor and the Caucasian pilot. You could do a number of things to inflame the tenuous relationship between the two countries, but memories of Pearl Harbor gave this assault a life of its own."
"No question about that."
"After the attack," Susan went on, "we've seen a series of escalating incidents, including the JAL crash in Los Angeles and the attacks on the U. S. military."
Susan cocked her head and studied his face. "These attacks could be the catalyst that causes everything to spin out of control between us and the Japanese."
She waited for two giggling children to run by on their way to the beach. "The attack here was an efficient, well-planned operation that was almost flawless. Even with their bad luck, the person or persons who planned the attack had enough good luck to leave only a lukewarm trail."
"And you think that leads to Tokyo?"
Susan arched her eyebrows and gave him a self-assured smile. "There's no question in my mind."
"I hope you're right, but we're going to need something fairly solid to go on."
She nodded in agreement. "Let's take a minute to talk about the helicopter."
"Okay."
"The two men who were in the JetRanger didn't have any identification on them and they were burned beyond recognition. Because the crash was so violent, there is some doubt about trying to match dental records. So we can only hope that we can trace the helicopter to the owner."
"I checked on the JetRanger," Steve said glumly, "and that's another dead end. The helo was purchased from a Brazilian mining enterprise called Vale do Rio Doce. The corporate entity that purchased the JetRanger paid cash, the company no longer exists, and the FAA and Bell Aircraft files indicate the helo was destroyed five months ago near Lima."
He let hisg lance drift to a bird that was feasting on crumbs at an adjacent table. "I just can't put any of the pieces together.
This is one of the craziest cases I've ever heard of, let alone been involved in."
She followed Steve's gaze to the colorful crumb-snatcher hopping around near them. "It only sounds crazy because you don't think like a Japanese."
Steve nodded and turned his attention to Susan. "Maybe you're right."
Susan smiled warmly. "Let me give you some background information about the Japanese and how they think?"
"Sure," he agreed and noticed her assertion of pride.
"When I was a child, my grandmother read to me on a daily basis," she explained, touching his hand for emphasis. "She spent many hours instilling the history of Japan in me. What became clear was that the Japanese people have always been a determined race with strong motivations and traditions. They are a sensitive people, and emotions sometimes play a greater part in their actions than rational reflection."
Steve gave her a questioning look.
"Think about it," she said convincingly. "They've displayed suicidal tenacity, superhuman intensity, unfailing courage in the most adverse conditions, and a zealous capability to withstand the pain and suffering necessary to make their country strong, efficient, and profitable."
He gave her a slight nod. "I understand what you're saying, and I admire them for pulling together as a nation, but what does that have to do with this situation?'.'
"Steve, there are a number of powerful Japanese leaders who have deep-seated desires for Japan to be an empire again — both economically and militarily — and I think someone may be trying to accelerate the growing rift between the U. S. and Japan."
"Susan," he began tentatively, "I don't mean to question your intuition, but the empire philosophy is what led Japan to disaster in World War Two. Surely the Japanese people haven't forgotten that significant piece of history."
"That's true," she conceded, "and they haven't forgotten — but it doesn't make any difference."
He furrowed his brow. "It doesn't make any difference?"
"No, it doesn't," she said sadly and glanced down. "The Japanese leaders — the core of men at the center of power — still want to dominate the world, including China and the United States."
The statement brought the conversation to an awkward halt for a few seconds.
"There's a big difference," Steve finally replied, "between wanting to dominate the world… and facing the reality of your real capabilities."
"That may make sense to you," she explained evenly, "but you can't convince the warrior mentality. They're a very proud people and they don't like being number two to anyone, especially to people who they consider to be intellectually and morally inferior."
Susan paused when she saw Steve's jaw muscles tighten.
"Now," she said more softly, "they're so close to being a major empire, both economically and militarily, that they can taste and smell the victory."
He cast Susan a fleeting look. "Victory — as in a shooting war with us?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "The United States is the only thing standing in the way of Japan becoming a colossal military power again."
"Susan, are you suggesting that Japan is going to provoke the U. S. into going to war?"
"It's inevitable," she answered evenly, "at some point in the near future. As their money and military grow, the warriors' egos continue to swell at an accelerated rate. Japan is not going to bow and smile to the Chinese or the Americans much longer — and I think someone wants to speed the process along."
Steve was momentarily speechless. He knew that even though the Japanese could now field a formidable military, they couldn't compete with the American aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. "You're really convinced that we're going to see Japan and the U. S. engaged in combat?"
"Sure. The Japanese have strong warrior traditions. From the Heiji and Gempei wars in the mid to late 1100s, to World War Two, the Empire has been involved in so many wars it's hard to recall all of them."
Steve indicated that he had a question. "You're talking about the Medieval Period?"
"Yes," came the dry response. "The civil wars took quite a toll on the losers, but they consistently regrouped, rearmed, and attacked again. Many of the losing factions rose from total defeat to strike down their former victors."
Susan gave Steve an icy look. "Believe me, the Japanese state of mind hasn't changed."
"I don't know what to say," Steve replied in his respectful way. "It's just difficult for me to understand Japanese thinking, especially after the horrors of World War Two."
"Steve," Susan countered with a smile, "the two cultures are polar opposites, with different foundations of logic and reason.
"The brave warrior of past battles," she went on with conviction in her voice, "is surfacing in the Japanese males who control the country. Japanese history is again coming full circle, and the U. S. is in the way, along with the military threat from China and North Korea."
Wickham was reminded of a recent briefing at Langley. "A number of knowledgeable people agree with your prediction." "Probably more than you think."
"Some of the analysts" — Steve let his eyes drift to the beach—"are convinced that an Asian Cold War would renew Sino-Japanese rivalry and lead to a shooting war… with the U. S. being drawn into the battle."
"That's why," Susan explained firmly, "the Japanese have quietly been rebuilding their military."
Surprised by the urgency in her voice, Wickham turned to see the intense look in Susan's eyes.
"Steve, when Japan capitulated to General MacArthur in 1945, it was the hardest blow the warriors had ever taken. They knew if they didn't surrender unconditionally that the Japanese race might be totally destroyed."
"That's why it's so difficult for me to understand," he explained and looked away for a few seconds before facing her.
"Why anyone in Japan would even think about armed conflict with the U. S. is beyond me. If things got out of control, which they would very quickly, the Japanese would run the risk of replaying the end of World War Two."