War of the Eagles (20 page)

“What ya going to do with that eagle, Bob?”

“I don't know. I haven't had any time to think about the bird. I've got other things to take care of.”

“Let Jed and his friend out there take care of it, okay?” George requested.

“What ever … I mean, thank you, I would appreci–ate that.”

“Jed, quit pretending you're working and go on out–side and watch the eagle. Don't get too close. Have to let it calm down some before you try to move it back.”

I went out the door and found Tadashi sitting on the edge of the boardwalk, close by Eddy. Except for the two of them, there wasn't another living soul in sight.

The rest of the base was completely deserted as every single man was in his barracks.

“Are you okay?” Tadashi asked.

“Mostly.”

“I saw what he did to you … I couldn't believe it.”

“I'm okay, really. Old Toshio hurt me worse than this,” I reassured him.

“And Eddy … nobody has a right to do that … bad enough he's tied up, but to be humiliated like that …”

“He looks like he's okay.”

“Maybe he's not injured, but what about his spirit?”

Tadashi asked.

“You sound like my Naani.”

“Maybe because she's right! You can't just chain up a creature like that, take away its freedom and dignity and stop it from going where it belongs and …” He stopped and rose to his feet. “And do you know the worst part, Jed? If they hadn't stopped me from carrying a gun … if I had a rifle with me … I would have shot Murdock.”

I put a hand on the strap of my rifle and looked up into Tadashi's eyes.

I knew he was telling the truth.

.14.

The vet asked, “How's its appetite. Is it eating okay?”

“I guess so,” I answered, “but it's like I said, he's get–ting more particular. If I can't get him rabbit, and if it isn't a fresh kill, he won't eat it.”

“He used to like it cooked in a stew,” Tadashi said play–fully, kidding me about my Naani's insistence that Eddy was my grandfather. Of course, neither of us took her seriously, but we both had spent a number of evenings sitting off to the side and listening to her tell Eddy his old Haida stories. The stories were interesting, although the most interesting part was how calm Eddy got. He just sat there, his head cocked to one side, not moving.

“Cooked in a stew?” the vet asked.

“Nothing, he's just joking around.”

“Joking … I see. It's good he's eating. He's certainly gained weight since the first time I saw him. I just wish he'd eat the mouse, so I could examine him.”

The vet had once again stuffed some sleeping cap–sules in a mouse and given it to Eddy. This time rather than eat it, Eddy just ignored the bait.

“And it would be better if he was on a longer tether so I could see him move more.”

“He was,” Tadashi answered. There was an edge of bitterness in his voice.

“Was?”

“Yeah. They had to shorten his line because he was jumping out at people when they came too close.”

“Was he flying at them or running?” the vet inquired.

“Sort of running … with his wings open, I guess. Is that bad?”

“Not good. Does he flap his wings a lot, like he's exercising them?”

“Yeah, he does that!” I answered enthusiastically. “Some–times he beats them so hard you can feel the breeze.”

“But he doesn't do it as much as he used to,” Tadashi added.

The vet gave a questioning look and I knew I had to explain things more.

“There was this problem with Eddy last week.”

“But it wasn't Eddy's fault or anything,” Tadashi said, defending him.

“Yeah, it wasn't his fault. It's just … he got tossed around by some of the men and ended up in the show–ers and …”

“That's cruel! I hope those involved were severely punished!”

They were,” I answered, and Tadi and I exchanged a smile.

Murdock was shipped out of camp a few days after the incident. He would have left sooner, but they had to wait for his injuries to heal a bit. I wasn't there, but I heard all about it afterwards. Patterson had told him to pick on somebody more his own size, and Murdock said Patterson was closer to his size and took a swing at him. It ended with Murdock lying in a pool of his own blood with a busted nose and a fractured jaw. I was shocked; Patterson was so quiet. But my mother said she always knew there was strength there. Needless to say, Patterson could always come into the kitchen any time he wanted for an extra portion of meat or a bigger piece of pie.

“Do you think he could have re-injured his wing?”

“I don't know,” I said quietly, although that was my fear all along. “Maybe I can go out and get a rabbit and you can put some more pills inside and …”

“I don't have time for that,” the vet interrupted. “Be–sides, there's a limit to what I can tell in an examination.

I think the wing is as good as it's going to get. Only way to really tell is to see him fly.”

“You mean we're going to release him?” I asked.

“We can try … I just don't know if it's the best thing.”

“Why wouldn't it be the best thing?” Tadashi asked.

“From what you two have said, I'm sure it can fly, at least a little. But I'm doubtful that it can fly well enough to survive.”

Tadashi frowned. “I don't understand.”

“For an eagle to survive in the wild it has to be in perfect shape. If there are any problems, it won't be able to catch food and it'll get weaker and weaker … a slow and painful death.”

“But maybe he can,” I argued.

“Maybe. But are you prepared to take a gamble like that?”

“What other choice is there?” I asked. “He can't stay here forever.”

“I was speaking to the major about one other op–tion. I have a colleague who works for the zoo down in Vancouver and they recently lost one of the bald eagles in their exhibit …”

“You want to put Eddy in a zoo?” I asked in disbelief.

“We'd be assured the eagle would be all right. He'd be well fed and cared for. Research even shows that zoo animals live longer than those in the wild.”

“That's no way to live, all caged up,” Tadashi said.

“It's better to live that way than not live at all,” the vet countered.

“Shows how much you know,” Tadi muttered under his breath and then turned and walked away. I started after him.

“Jed!”

I turned around. It was the major, walking toward Eddy and the vet. Good, I needed to talk to him about Eddy going to a zoo. I arrived in time to hear the end of their conversation.

“… if you can report to my office after you've finished your examination, I would appreciate it,” the major said. He turned to me and he had a deadly serious look on his face. “Jed, we need to talk. Please come with me.” The major started walking back towards the mess. I fell into step beside him.

I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew what he wanted to say: Eddy was going to the zoo. My mind was filled with a rush of feelings and thoughts. It wasn't fair! He couldn't just send Eddy away without even dis–cussing it with me. After all it was me who was feeding the eagle and watching out for him and putting out fresh water and … “Jed, I have something important to tell you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You do?” he questioned.

“Yeah, the vet told us already.”

“The vet? How would the vet know?”

“He told us somebody he knew at the zoo would take Eddy,” I answered, suddenly confused by the question.

“Oh … the eagle. Yes, the vet has mentioned the zoo as a possibility, and I will seriously consider his opinion, but this isn't about the bird. It's about Tadashi.”

“Tadashi?” Suddenly the sinking feeling got worse.

“I'm sorry to have to tell you this … he'll have to leave the base … he can't be here any more.”

“But …” I wanted to ask why, but of course I already knew.

“I wanted you to know before I told your friend … I know how close you two are, and I thought it would be good for you to be there to offer him support. A complaint was filed with the area Commander, and I've received orders to discharge him. I have no choice, Jed.”

“But you're in charge …”

“I'm in charge here. We all have somebody we have to answer to … I am truly sorry, believe me.”

Suddenly Eddy didn't seem so important.

“Jed, why don't you go in and see your mother. I've already discussed it with her and maybe you can talk to her while I inform Tadashi.”

“No, you can't.”

“I know this is difficult, Jed, but it must be done.”

“I know, sir … it's just you can't tell him. He's my friend and he's here because of me … it's me who should talk to him.”

The major looked me squarely in the eyes and nodded his head slowly. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I know I don't want to, but I'm the one who should.”

He put a hand on my shoulder and the look on his face confirmed I was doing the right thing.

“Can I tell him at the end of the day?”

The major shook his head. “He has to be off the base almost right away. A meeting is being held here this morning to coordinate all services. The area command–er is chairing the meeting. It has to happen now.”

“Well? Is Eddy going to go to the zoo?” Tadashi asked.

“We didn't talk much about him.”

He gave me a questioning look. “Funny, from your expression it looks like he told you to come over and shoot Eddy.”

“It isn't about Eddy.” I paused. “It's about …”

“Me,” Tadashi said softly.

“Yeah.”

“I can't work here anymore.”

“How did you know?” I questioned.

“I knew it was only a matter of time.”

“I'm sorry, Tadi. I'm so sorry.”

“I know, but there's nothing anybody could do about it. I almost feel relieved.”

“How can you feel relieved?”

Tadashi shrugged. “Well, you know, it's like when you're standing there waiting for the principal to hit your palm with the strap. You know it's coming and the waiting is the worst part.”

“How would you know about that? You've never got the strap before.”

“A friend of mine has and he told me about it … didn't he, Jed,” he answered and a smile creased his face.

“Yeah, I guess I have mentioned it before,” I admit–ted. “But you seem so calm about it.”

“How else should I feel?”

“I don't know. Sad or upset or maybe angry. I know I feel angry … so angry I feel like … like … quitting!”

“Not working at the base?” he asked.

“Yeah!” I answered, but instantly I wished I'd never said it. I was mad, but the last thing I wanted to do was not be here with my mother.

“Don't go and do anything stupid!” Tadashi protested.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me which I tried to keep off my face.

“Your quitting would only make it worse. Promise me you won't do anything like that, okay?”

I nodded in agreement. “Okay, I guess.”

Then I chuckled softly.

“What's so funny?” Tadashi asked.

“I was just thinking about how the major told me so I could give you support. It seems like it's the other way around.”

“Yeah, things work out strange sometimes. What did the major say about Eddy?”

“Not much, really. He's listened to the vet, but he hasn't made a decision yet. I'll talk to him later. It's just there are so many other things happening, it doesn't seem that important.”

“That's where you're wrong, Jed. It is important. No matter what happens, you gotta make sure they don't make Eddy live in a zoo. Nothing should have to live locked up like that. Nothing.”

.15.

I munched on a sandwich and watched Eddy tear strips off his lunch — a rabbit I'd picked off walking to school yesterday. It wasn't a fresh kill, but it was fresh enough for him to choose to eat it. I wanted to make sure I gave Eddy something big to eat before I left with my mother for her four days off. The new cook didn't seem to be interested in Eddy. She said feeding two hundred sol–diers was more than enough to keep her busy.

I still felt angry about Tadashi being gone, angry at the major. My mother explained it all to me, how Major Brown couldn't allow somebody designated as an Enemy Alien to be on the base. She said almost the same thing that RCMP officer had said to me about how he had to follow orders whether he agreed with them or not.

“Jed! Jed!”

I looked up to see Smitty running up the path. He was all arms and legs and ran like a cartoon character.

“Jed, have you heard?”

“Heard what?”