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Show 160 CHAPTER II Despite its frailty Oji had weathered the typhoon: no houses down, though many sprung, A great deal of debris had been blown about, and the bay road was washed out at a couple of points, but within a week the breach was repaired. As for other developraants, damage was more permanent. The Detachments heard that the Smeads* house had been drastically remodeled: the bar ripped out and the chandeliers replaced. The fine wood had been left, since removal would have ruined it, necessitating some other material that was also hard to get. Nor did Smead come out unharmed. He was still exec, but under sufferance. The Colonel was said to have considered replacing him, and the reasons he refused were bandied about. Only one seemed credible: Ellen. Tomo had been fired. He hung around the Detachments for a day, looking insolently disconsolate and begging for help; then he disappeared. According to the houseboys he drifted to Tokyo, and during the remainder of their stay the Americans heard rumors: he went into the blackmarket on the large scale, found a "company," infiltrated Yokosuka, and was destined for a brilliant career. Now he looked back on Oji with the genial contempt of the sophisticate for the hometown: a good place to visit, but he wouldn't want to live there. |