Roppongi, p.28
Roppongi,
p.28
He was released in early 1995 after being deemed legally sane.
84
March 20th, 1995
Aum Cult Factory #1 Shibuya, Japan
“Do not puncture these until you are about to leave the train. Any earlier will mean death.”
Ikua Hayashi, prominent senior doctor at the Ministry of Science and Technology as recently as one month ago, now sits in the dank warehouse in Shibuya that is Aum Cult Factory #1. The words from Shoko Asahara leave no visible impression on the thirty-eight-year-old father of three. He would carry out his mission and do it with the utmost precision.
“You have the umbrella and the masks?”
A nod from Hayashi. Expressionless.
“The car is in good working order?”
This question directed at Shigeo Yokoyama, former bank clerk, father of two, and getaway driver for Hayashi.
“It is working perfectly, Divine One. We will not disappoint. All glory to The One.” The two men leave without further conversation. Everything understood. Their responsibilities clear. Failure neither an option or acceptable in any way. Repercussions would fall on their families. The dire consequences of failure clear.
They arrive at Shibuya Station now. Walk to the newspaper stand. A copy of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun purchased as planned. The lethal plastic bags placed inside the newspaper. The umbrella and the mask not unusual. Japan a very phobic country when it came to germs or weather. A chance of rain in the early morning forecast. A good sign. Asahara mentioned it at the briefing. Hayashi steals a quick look at his watch, 7:30. He enters the Roppongi bound train. Roppongi, symbol of all that the West had corrupted in Japan. The young women with their American boyfriends. The lust. The money. The disregard for all the old ways. This would change soon, thinks Hayashi as he stands with the newspaper in one hand and the umbrella in the other. The usual crowd on the train. Hayashi notices the little girl. About five. The same age as his Yumi. What was Yumi doing now?
Would this little girl be alive tonight? He blocks an image creeping into his consciousness of his Yumi now on the train, pleading for her daddy to come home.
Don’t kill anyone, Daddy.
Hayashi takes the newspaper out and casually lets it drop to the floor just as the train enters Ebisu Station. He rapidly punctures the paper and the sarin bags. The doors open and he begins to leave the train.
“Mr. you dropped your paper, I can get it for you…”
The little girl. Inches away from the paper and the sarin. The little girl is now Yumi. Hayashi envisions her writhing on the floor of the train. Yellow liquid pouring out of her mouth. Her eyes dilated. Unable to breathe or to scream. Then motionless.
Hayashi kicks the newspaper out the doors just as they are closing. The paper and the sarin, now leaking, lands on the Ebisu Station platform.
“Don’t bother the man, Yuko. I’m sorry, sir…”
Hayashi pushes past the woman. In an instant he is in the next car.
What have I done?! My family? What will become of my family. I failed!
The doors open at the Roppongi Station. Hayashi almost knocks over several people as he rushes out. Many would remember him later when they watched the carnage on the evening news. He dashes out of the station to the getaway car outside.
“In what appears to have been a coordinated act of chemical terrorism, five stations of the Tokyo Metro system were attacked simultaneously this morning. As of 8 PM tonight, eight people are dead and hundreds have been injured. Early, as yet unconfirmed police reports, indicate that at least three members of the religious zealot group called ‘Aum Shinrikyo’ whose leader, Shoko Asahara, pictured here, have been arrested in connection with these attacks. Asahara himself is still at large. Further updates as they come in. This is CNN reporter Bernard Shaw reporting from Tokyo.”
“Shoko Asahara founded Aum Shinrikyo in 1987. The doctrines of Aum Shinrikyo are based on ancient yoga and primitive Buddhism and require worshipping the Hindu God Siva, believed to preside over both destruction and creation. The sect has tried to build its own ‘kingdom’ within its controlled compound facilities by establishing ministries and agencies under Asahara, its paramount leader. Among these, the sect ‘Science and Technology Agency’ consists of scientists who graduated from prestigious universities in Japan. It is divided into several teams specialized in chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. This organization provided the technical information required to synthesis the sarin.”
JAPAN TIMES, 1995
EPILOGUE
SEPTEMBER 2001
“What did you think of the strip club last night, my brother? The clubs in Boston are much better than the ones in Florida, I believe.”
The young Arab man changing the subject at hand. A trick to relieve the stress. Al Qaeda had taught the lessons well.
The polo-clad Reaper did not reply at first. It was almost as if he never heard the words of his young Saudi Arabian friend. Of course they had been friends since childhood. Carefree times, he thought for just a moment but then came back to the present. Important to stay in the present. Wasn’t that part of the training that had led up to this moment? Occupied now with the newspaper.
“I am reading a very interesting story from the Japan Times. Yes, interesting. Did you know that years ago there was a group in Japan that fought the Infidel?”
Not waiting for an answer. Continuing now, “A story about the Cult leader Asahara. The One, they had called him. Very elaborate. They used chemical gases, sarin and ricin. The complexity. It amuses me.”
“Yes, but… “
“All passengers departing…”
The flight boarding call cutting off the young man’s reply. They must go now. Technology, so over rated, thought the polo-clad Reaper as he passed through security. The passport perused by the fresh faced attendant.
“And did you enjoy your stay in Boston, Mr. Atta?”
“Oh yes, very much. Thank you.”
Then with a silent smile that the Logan Airport Screener would see for the rest of her days, Mohamed Atta boarded American Airlines Flight 11.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Cox is an acclaimed author, playwright and actor. His solo show, Love, Madness, and Somewhere in Between was praised by critics and audiences alike at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival while his debut novel, Silver or Lead, a psychological thriller, published in April 2022 is receiving rave reviews. Roppongi is his second novel.
James witnessed a terrorist attack in Tokyo, Japan, while serving in the U.S. Navy and brings real authenticity to this novel of love and redemption set against a background of global terrorism in 1990s Japan. James currently resides in Phuket, Thailand, where he is researching his next novel.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed Roppongi, please leave a review online—anywhere you are able. Even if it’s just a sentence or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
James Cox
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James Cox, Roppongi
