JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS , livre ebook

Outskirts Press - Charles Ray Brady

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207 pages

English

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TANFORAN RACETRACK HORSE STALLS DESTINED TO BECOME HOME FOR JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNEES! On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy inflicted a serious blow on the United States military assets at Pearl Harbor. For Ben Okura, a Japanese American boy living in California, his life as he knew it was to change drastically. President Roosevelt ordered all Japanese Americans living along the west coast of the United States sent to internment camps. Ben’s new life was to begin at the Tanforan Assembly Center. He and his mama were now separated from everything they had known and loved. His life had already been turned upside-down and he thought it couldn’t get worse. Ben found himself being trapped and manipulated by strange people who, for some reason, were out to get him. In his wildest dreams, he never could understand why he was now being hounded by the FBI as a supposed traitor. Ben began to believe his new problems could all be traced back to mind-bending meetings with a strange man held in what was to become the mysterious barrack 49, apartment 1. Ben began to doubt his own sanity. Who is Ben Okura really?

Sujets

Historical

World War II

Fiction

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Publié par	Outskirts Press
Date de parution	03 février 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781478797081
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS Mysteries at Tanforan and Topaz All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2022 Charles Ray Brady v3.0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-4787-9708-1
Cover Photo © 2022 www.gettyimages.com . All rights reserved - used with permission.
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
CHARACTERS OF NOTE IN THIS BOOK
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
DEDICATION
To my wife, Carolyn Seals Brady, who is my main supporter and cheerleader for my hobbies which include landscape painting, music, and writing books. She is a terrific help with them.
For my mom, LaDora Mendenhall Brady, who really wanted a girl but got me instead! She expressed her gratitude for me many times and said I was just as good to her as a daughter would have been. To my dad, James Mitchell Brady, the unsung hero who worked hard to always provide for us even during difficult times.
To my children James, Margaret (Young), Robert, and Brent as well as their wonderful families; and, my son, Shaun, who has been a sounding board for my writing and has always encouraged me. I hope this book will provide insight to my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren as to who their Grandpa Brady is and how he thinks.
It is my hope that each person who reads this book will follow your dreams. Never let others define your character. Be the master of who you are and take your life down an honorable path.
CHARACTERS OF NOTE IN THIS BOOK
Mrs. (Valerie) Okura A recently widowed Japanese American woman living in San Bruno, California and raising Ben Okura. Ben Okura (17) A Japanese American young man and an only child.
Mr. and Mrs. (Doris) Jamison Caucasian family raising two children while living in San Bruno, CA. Longtime close personal friends with the Okura family. Brent Jamison (17) Ben Okura’s best friend since they were young children. Julianne Jamison (16) Brent’s younger sister and someone Ben Okura likes very much.
Dr. (Alex) Brimley Family doctor to the Okura and Jamison families. He is also their Mormon bishop.
Mr. and Mrs. (Corrine) Modesto Spanish family living in San Bruno, California who lost their oldest son, Juan, during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Anthony Modesto (17) After finding out his brother was killed by the Japanese, he lost control and instigated a vicious attack on Ben Okura.
Mr. (Alan) and Mrs. (Misoka) Tanaka Japanese American family living in San Francisco, California who met Ben and his mama at Tanforan. Amaya Tanaka (23) Single young adult and only child. She was working in her parent’s dry cleaning business when Executive Order #9066 was implemented.
Mr. (George) Nakamura Japanese American who met the Okura family on a bus taking them to Tanforan.
Agent Neff FBI agent stationed at Tanforan where Japanese Americans were held until they could be placed in a relocation camp further inland.
CHAPTER 1
"Mama, what is the number of our new home or barrack where we live now?"
"I can see your memory is about as good as mine. I would have expected yours to be much better at your young age," his mama laughed unusually quick witted considering their depressing circumstances. "I did write it down on a little match book which was laying on the table while I was talking to the soldier, and I put it in my pocket. I suppose that was my first mistake. Let me see if I can retrieve it from the odds and ends I’ve collected. I think it’s right here. Yes, here it is," she said retrieving the matchbook from her pocket. "I had a really dull pencil. It doesn’t show up very well on the glossy finish of the matchbook cover. Can you tell what I’ve written on it Ben?"
"Sorry mama. As you say, it’s difficult to read. My best guess is barrack 15, apartment 29. Does that ring a bell?"
"Yes, I’m sure you’re right. We lived at 29 Harold Road when your papa and I were first married. I remember, at the time, I thought it was strange we would be going to barrack 29."
"This is a strange phenomenon mama. Here are mud puddles we’re dodging as we walk along, and yet the buses we came on stirred up dust. Go figure," Ben commented.
"Yes, now you mention it, it does appear peculiar. Not a lot has seemed normal since we left our home today after leaving the Jamisons. It’s all very surreal."
"You certainly have a point mama. I bet, when they see this place, they’ll be just as disgusted as we are. We were at our own little home just a few hours ago, and now look at us. Can you imagine the government putting American citizens in such a disgusting place? Black tar paper is all you see everywhere, just tarpaper. Somebody sure made a mint selling it to the government. I’m afraid to find out what’s underneath the tarpaper or framework which is supporting it. The workmanship is already suspect on every set of barracks I’ve seen."
"I didn’t know there was this much tarpaper in all of California," she chuckled before she saw a frown from a passerby who’d seen the seriousness of the situation and found nothing amusing about it. "I should have told him how I really feel Ben. I could cry instead of laugh, but it wouldn’t do me any good, now would it?"
"No mama, you’re right as usual. There’s absolutely no sense in bemoaning the fact we are here because we’ll have to endure it no matter what. The stinky tarpaper, horse stalls as barracks, and the smell is enough to gag a maggot. Home sweet home," Ben repeated, his comment being as caustic as his surroundings were disparaging.
She found herself chuckling at Ben’s summary of their situation.
"You are funny Ben. It took me a moment to catch up to your way of thinking."
"They seem to have an abundance of eucalyptus trees on this end of the camp. I can’t say I’m fond of them, but nobody asked me what should be planted here or how I’d like my horse stall landscaped."
"We must be getting close son, but this certainly can’t be right," his mama observed.
"Maybe we’re boarding with a horse mama. It certainly smells like they are awfully close neighbors, if not roommates."
"Just as I suspected Ben. It’s easy to see what they’ve done. They simply enclosed some of the horse stalls and made them into these awful barracks," she said, her face showing disgust.
"I’m afraid we’ve arrived," Ben admitted, his jaw dropping as he read the information scribbled on a small plaque attached to the tarpaper stating they were standing in front of barrack 29. "I suppose the door down there marked 15 is our stall."
They approached their apartment slowly with fear and trepidation regarding what would greet them inside.
"Go ahead son, no use just staring. Open it up, and let’s see if we’re really boarding with a horse. I, at least, haven’t heard a whinny from inside yet," she said solemnly.
Even pushing the door open didn’t let much light filter into the small cubicle which was destined to become their temporary home.
"This ‘palace’ only has those two small windows on each side of the door and that’s it mama," Ben said with dismay.
"Well son, we now have something even a rich and famous movie star like Clark Gable doesn’t have."
"Well, he has a lot to be thankful for then, doesn’t he? They sure didn’t go overboard with furnishings either. There are only two cots in here and nothing else. I’m so sorry mama. This just isn’t right. They left dust, dirt, and linoleum pieces all over the place. They sure weren’t worried about offering a satisfaction guarantee with this joint."
"Oh son, I hope you can find a broom and dustpan to sweep this mess up. It smells like they just barely took the horses out before they nailed down this floor."
"Disgusting isn’t an accurate description of this roach hotel," Ben moaned taking a shallow breath. "Don’t lean against the walls because they’ve been whitewashed and are still damp. Let me unfold these cots so we’ll at least have a place to sit. No bedding. No nothing! What on earth are we supposed to do?!"
"I have a couple of pillows and some blankets in the large bag I made before we left home. They are tagged with our family number on them. We need to find out where they put our baggage and get it as soon as possible."
"Mama, I’ll go on a scavenger hunt and bring it back if I can. Stay here and try to rest while I have a look around."
"I’ll try son, but I’ll have to cover my nose to get any rest even though I haven’t slept very well the last few nights. Please ask someone where we can get a broom, dustpan, and something to put trash in."
"Everything here is trash mama. You can’t sweep up the whole camp, but I’ll see what I can do. Maybe they could destroy this whole place and rebuild it from scratch. I know it won’t happen. It is just wishful thinking on my part. I’ll go ask how to retrieve our baggage and try to round up some cleaning supplies too."
"Son, I hope and p