Under the Sun Read online

Strickland stoops and unties the macaque’s collar and the monkey springs up onto the windowsill and baring his teeth in a grimace, he takes one final look at the scene and flees. The pilot sees that the captain’s kimono is soaked crimson, the bloody dagger on the floor beside him.

  ‘My God! What have you done?’ he says, kneeling before his friend.

  ‘I have just one request,’ the captain whispers, indicating the katana in front of him. ‘If you would grant me the honour.’

  The pilot looks at the sword and recoils in horror, as though he has been asked to pick up a snake.

  ‘No, Hayama, I can’t. I cannot do it.’

  ‘Please … you must,’ and his friend looks beseechingly at him.

  Strickland knows that he is in agony, his brow is twisted with pain. Yet he cannot bring himself to pick up the sword.

  ‘No … no, I can’t.’

  The captain realises the Englishman is struggling against his better nature, but he wants him to understand he is doing the right thing. That it is his destiny. Hayama looks at the man who has been so many things to him and he remembers something else. The words of the little friar.

  ‘In the evening of life we shall be examined in love.’

  Strickland gazes into his friend’s eyes, eyes that are filled with pain and the realisation of what he has to do dawns upon him. It is the final act of friendship. Hayama nods and smiles, and leaning forward, he begins to pray. The pilot picks up the katana and gets to his feet. The sword is weightless in his hands. It has become part of him. He raises the blade above his head and brings it down upon the captain’s neck, decapitating him with a single blow.

  The Englishman cannot recall what happened next, it is as if he has been inhabiting a dream. He finds himself alone upon the beach, walking barefoot across the burning sand. In his hand he holds a sword. The surf booms in the distance. He looks out across the water and sees the blue band of the horizon quivering like a violin to the sea’s music.

  About the Author

  JUSTIN KERR-SMILEY was born in 1965 and brought up in Scotland. He was educated at Ampleforth and read history at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. As a foreign correspondent he has reported from Northern Ireland, the Balkans and South America. He has also had articles published in The Times, the Spectator and the Guardian. Under The Sun is his first novel.

  Copyright

  First published in the United Kingdom by Reportage Press.

  Published by Arcadia Books, 2012

  This ebook edition first published by Arcadia Books in 2012

  All rights reserved

  © Justin Kerr-Smiley, 2012

  The right of Justin Kerr-Smiley to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN 978–0–9573304–3–6