"Pearl Harbor? Didn't their attack succeeded?" I asked.
"If the devils really did attack Pearl Harbor, you and I might belong to the island nation today," Dahai told me.
"What do you mean?"
"Under those circumstances, do you know why they attacked Pearl Harbor?"
"How would I know?"
"The devils had things they were afraid of - the embargo on steel and oil. America cut off the supply and restricted the devils from crossing the sea for battle. Japan is surrounded by the sea so the devils came up with the plan to bomb Pearl Harbor. They wanted to turn the situation around."
"I don't understand. How would attacking Pearl Harbor solve the problem?"
"What will America need to defeat the devils? They're separated by an ocean."
"Battleships and fighter planes?"
"What do these machines require?"
"Oil?"
"We have no idea how the devils found out, but Pearl Harbor was filled with fleets and battle planes so the fuel depot had to be nearby. If they dropped a bomb on the depot, wouldn't the whole Pear Harbor disappear with it? Without fuel, how would America cross the ocean to retaliate?"
"I get it now, but didn't Pearl Harbor still get bombed?" I asked.
"The target was the fuel depot and the fleets, but none was ultimately hit. Despite that, America still retaliated with three atomic bombs. Have you thought about what was this dependent on?" Dahai asked, looking at me expectantly.
My mind was full. Box? Telegraph? Us?
"The three uniforms!" I shouted.
"Good. You're not brainless after all. Our ancestors were shocked when the traitor read the message. It was just a declaration so the devils that were captured could not object. If it did succeed, however, history would've been completely rewritten."
"What did our ancestors do?" I asked impatiently.
"Remember what Dawu's ancestor was good at?"
"Wireless stuff?"
"Our ancestors said that there used to be a wireless intercom, about the size of half a man, right where the uniforms are now.
"Wireless intercom?" I repeated, somewhat astonished. The secret was about to be unraveled.
"Our ancestors deeded this property in exchange for a transport aircraft, but the deed got lost in a battle. They didn't share much in details but they emphasized that it was a transportation craft and not a battle plane."
"Wait, for transportation? They went to Pearl Harbor?"
Dahai flipped his lighter on, revealing his silhouette against the flame.
It died out slowly and the sparks fluttered about in mid-air.
After a short silence, he said, "Dawu's father was the commander. He borrowed a high-ranking pilot from the Red Army and put on the devils' uniforms together with the pilot and Big Beard's ancestor. They set out in December 1941, crossed the Pacific Ocean, and kept watch."
"Then what happened?" I urged.
"That's all to the story."
"The f*ck?" I was stupefied.
"I did some investigations but there was too little information. Dawu's grandfather probably relied on the communication channel on the plane and used the wireless intercom to release the target location of Pearl Harbor bombing. This changed little, of course, since the devils still managed to succeed. The fuel depot and carriers weren't destroyed, though."
"Oh my God," I exclaimed.
"This is just my guess, but I think there's more to it because the story ended so abruptly. Also, the overemphasis that they were just in a normal carrier plane is highly suspicious. I'll even go as far as to say that the plane carrying the bomb wasn't the devils' fighter plane but Dawu's grandfather's. There were supposed to be three bombs but he changed it to two somehow. None of us can be sure, however. The whole affair was made a secret so it was difficult for us to talk about it as well."
"What happened to Father Dawu and Big Beard's forefathers? And the pilot?"
"No news, no return. They disappeared together with the uniforms. Probably under the ocean by now."
"That's..." I trailed off.
"Why does this have to be a secret? What would the devils think of this if revealed? And how would America see us then?"
"We took the lead and bombed Pearl Harbor? And failed?"
"It's all in the past, but this secret must be kept forever. It must be passed down, however, and I'm doing just that."
I nodded but the room was dark so he might not have seen it.
Dahai stubbed out his cigarette. "Now you know so you'll have to stay here."
"Alright."
I looked at the metal door. What was beyond was now before my eyes.
Truth often lies in the hands of a few, as they say.
Epilogue .
The sky lightened gradually.
I'm sitting outside the church, looking at the Fathers carrying the tools back inside.
I tore my clothes to shreds and messed up my hair before running over to them in a pitiful manner.
"What happened, Luqiao?" Father Big Beard ran toward me, shouting, after hearing my approaching footsteps.
I panted, "When I closed the door last night, there was a bunch of foreigners who barged in and grabbed me. It was so frightening and I didn't know what they were saying. I escaped when they bought breakfast. Let's call the cops..."
"We can't do that," the Fathers reject the idea in unison.
"Why not? Who are these people?" I asked.
"Loan sharks. I owe them money. It's fine, go back in. You must be in shock. How about you take some rest over at Dawu's house?" Father Big Beard suggested.
"You owe foreigners money?" I asked.
"You didn't understand what they were saying, did you? It must be them. They probably wanted to kidnap you for a ransom. Since you're back now, it's all good. Don't think too much about it. I'll bring you out for a nice dinner tonight," he continued.
"Aren't you in debt? Where are you going to get the money for good food?"
"I'll settle it. Stop asking or no more dinner for you!" he said sternly.
I pursed my lips before lowering my head and breaking into a grin...