Bridge of Sighs

Allied Checkpoint Dog was full of activity. Attack helicopters buzzed overhead in the pre-dawn light, stopping to hover in advantageous positions above the narrow concrete causeway. A pair of American heavy tanks stood astride the checkpoint, their guns aimed towards the other end, where a squad of Soviet tanks stood poised to return fire. The machine gunners swept the causeway, making sure they could hit anything in that area if things got out of control. Carbon arc lamps mounted on towers illuminated the entire bridge, washing it out in harsh white light.

We were dragged from our cell by a pair of American military policemen, who arranged us out in front of the tanks - in clear view of the Northerners on the other side. We really were being handed over.

Well, Ayasa was. I wasn’t. I don’t know what impulse enticed my father to make me watch the whole thing. Maybe he considered it a kind of mercy. Maybe it was just supposed to be education.

My father stood up on the hull of one of the tanks with a radio in hand, aided by a step-stool. He scanned the other side with a pair of binoculars he held in his other hand.

“Alright, Okazaki! Same procedure as always!”

He shouted into the radio. There was an indistinct buzz of words back.

“First trade! The two spies for ‘K-1104.’”

A man holding a briefcase stepped forward, in front of the tank.

“To the center-line!”

At my fathers command, the man stepped forward and started walking. From the other side, I could see two figures in prison jumpsuits walking forward. The machine gunners scanned the causeway, looking for any sign of trouble.

I recognized one of the men coming over from the Northern side. It was Toshi- the man who had scammed Kanamaru. Toshio Arakawa, if this really was all connected. I didn’t recognize the other man- a foreigner. All three men stopped at the exact center of the causeway, where their paths crossed.

“Send up your man for the disk!”

An unarmed soldier stepped forward from the Soviet lines. He walked forward. The man with the briefcase opened it. The soldier picked up something from it - the disc, most likely, and held it in his hand for a few seconds. Then he made a signal to the Northern encampment.

“Prisoners, Walk back!”

Toshi and the other man started walking towards us. The man with the briefcase followed them. The soldier took the disk with him back to the North. My father muttered something to himself.

“Good. That takes care of Armageddon.”

There was a momentary pause in activity as the men who had walked out to the center clambered back towards the lines. A group of MPs escorted the prisoners through the blockade, back to the Allied side of the checkpoint.

“Now comes the difficult bit.”

My father got on his radio again.

“Now! The girl for the boy. Same Procedure. Same time. No troops!”

What sounded like a murmur of agreement squeaked out of the radio. The MPs holding Ayasa shoved her to the center of the line. My father addressed her directly.

“Miss Okazaki. Please walk straight to the center line. When we give the signal, walk straight forward to the other side. If you run, you’ll be shot.”

Back to his radio, he addressed the other side.

“Ready? Okay, send them out!”

Ayasa took this as her cue to begin walking forward. From the other side, I could see a boy in a worn out middle school uniform walking forward as well. Damn, they really had gotten Hiroki. The two slowly made their way across the concrete ramp. Everyone else stood still. Even the helicopters hovered in place, watching.

So was that it? Was that the last I would ever see of Ayasa? Her back turned to me, walking into the light of the rising sun?

No. Something in me deep down disagreed. It wasn’t a conscious decision- it was some kind of deep-seated reflex kicking in. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel such a thing again in my life.

I started running. The MPs had loosened their grip enough to let me slip out. I didn’t care about the machine guns that were trained on my back. I didn’t care about the throng of MPs that were sure to be chasing after me. I just knew I couldn’t let it end like this. I started sprinting towards the center.

I couldn’t hear what was going on back at the blockade. Maybe I had started chaos, or maybe they were all too stunned to act. I didn’t care. That wasn’t important now.

Ayasa was standing at the center-line, as directed. Hiroki was on the other side of the causeway, facing us. I caught a glimpse of his face. I could only describe it now as both horror and joy in equal proportion. Sorry, Hiroki, you’re my friend- but not who I was here for.

Ayasa turned around when she heard my footsteps. I was out of breath.

“Touma…”

“I’m sorry….I couldn’t do it this time…”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I couldn’t do it this time… but there’ll be a next time!”

“Touma…”

“I’ve still got a promise to keep!”

“They’re going to…”

“I’ll make sure…no matter what happens…there’ll be a world where you can live how you want. As Sayu…or whoever!”

“Look out!”

“I love you!”

I grabbed her shoulders. I felt our lips touch, just for the briefest moment.

Then I felt myself collapsing under the weight of the half-dozen MPs who tackled me to the ground.