Three Japanese officers, very shabby, sat in the hut reserved for the senior prisoners. Two were majors. One was a colonel. The colonel was speaking.
"My name," said Dugan, "is Tamazawa, Colonel Tamazawa Jotaro. I was executive officer of the Independent Mixed Brigade which was captured by the Russians at Eiko Bay. If we had managed to move south a few kilometers, we would have been taken by the Americans and I would be home now."
The mustached major bowed, "Perhaps it is better, sir, that you are not at home. Things are very bad in Japan just now. At least we eat food here in the Soviet Union."
Dugan closed his eyes for a long time, then opened them. "I do not believe it. The Americans are not that kind of people. You eat in this camp, yes, but you eat garbage. I tell you, I come from a camp where we Japanese did not eat at all."
The mustached major persisted. "You look plump, sir."
"That," said Dugan, "is because I am a colonel. The men gave me their good food and kept the worst for themselves. I could not accept that, so I escaped. I heard from other prisoners that yours is a model camp, and that men are occasionally selected for return home."
The clean-shaven major nodded respectfully. "That is the case. You should have a good opportunity. In the next year or two."
The mustached major said, "Sir, I don't see why you should go home first when I have been here just as long as you have."
"Don't you, Major?"
"No, Colonel," said the major. Then even he recognized the absurdity of using the title and refusing the respect. "Sorry, sir," he said. "I keep saying that we are all just citizens. When I get back to Great Japan I will be a good man again. I have been too long in Russia."