Re:THE POSTHUMOUS WRITINGS OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW---recollection from the end of World War II to 1953

<Part 6>

I was filled with joy when I realized I was alive. I clearly remembered hearing a siren blaring in the air telling us it was noon. Though I was able to get out safely, I could not walk with pain in my feet. I limped out to the road where I saw a Chinese passing by, and asked him to inform the people in the coal-washing factory of what had happened. Soon, a lot of people came to see me, carried me to the office and then took me home on a horse-carriage. For more than a week, I suffered awfully from aching feet. Though the pain gradually got less, I was still unable to walk.

I had left my jacket in the shelter. A young worker went there to get it back for me, but he said, after his countless trials, he gave up on climbing up to the entrance. When one who comes to be on the verge of life and death, one can struggle through the situations with more power than what one seems to have.

My company helped fix my feet, one time by sending me to a hospital in Shenyang, a city of north of ours, and another time by asking a Chinese doctor to give me treatments in a hospital in Tetunishi area. In spite of all their help, my legs remained with little improvement, due to the deformation of my leg bones.　I walked with crutches, and took a horse- carriage hired by my company. While spending some time with no important work to do, I heard of a plan to start sending Japanese people back to their country. I told the staff members to let the younger engineers return home ahead of me, and that I would dare to be on the latter part of the waiting list. They left for Japan one after another.

In September 1947, since it seemed to be the last chance for us, I requested to go home with the other remaining Japanese people to go back home. But I was persuaded to stay for another half a year in order to help restore the facilities of our company. I had no choice other than to accept it.　I decided to let my family go home ahead of me and remain there alone. It was hard for my family to leave me behind, but at least it was a slight relief for them that my feet had recovered well enough for me to walk with a walking- stick instead of crutches. I felt the same way.

To see off my family, I went to Shenyang, a city about ninety kilometers north of our city, Anshan. My family was aboard an open freight car with other Japanese people. Each car of the train was tightly packed with people who were carrying large amounts of luggage. I waved goodbye to my family, and the train began to move. I was afraid this might be our last meeting with each other. I grew weak.
That night I stayed at a Japanese relocation center, and in the morning, went back to our city which looked entirely different with fewer Japanese on the streets.

Eventually, only three members of my factory including myself were left behind Mr. H. belonging to the coal-washing department, Mr. W. to the coke-oven, and me. All the remaining people counted to be about a hundred in the entire company, with their family members, the number was three hundred in total. About thirty of them were subjected to stay alone, letting their families go home ahead of them.

Since that time, political situations began to change. The leading power, Koumintang, had become unstable because of the rapid regional expansion of the Chinese communist forces.

With the political turmoil in this region, we could not even get started on the restoration operation for our factories, although we were forced to stay only for that purpose. One time we heard we might have to evacuate, escaping from our city which might be the field of a battle between the two forces.　　We were living in an extremely restless time.

by Anmitsuhime

To be continued to Part 7