Chapter Three
The Northern Mariana Islands
The Dock of Tinian
July 26, 1945
15:10 hours (3:10pm)
The sun shone bright upon the uranium of the Hiroshima Bomb. The glittery brightness bounced off it and into Tom’s suddenly blinded eyes. He put his hand over his eyebrows as if he were saluting to a soldier.
Tom knew that thousands of innocent people would die when the bomb was dropped. And that it was a mere warning that the Allies would come for Japan if they didn’t surrender soon.
And Tom thought that the bomb was being unloaded at first, but was disappointed to hear that it wasn’t the bomb. Just the uranium and parts for it. He guessed that maybe Captain McVay had misspoken when he told him to safely deliver the bomb to Tinian.
Tom grabbed his canteen and took a sip of water, before closing it and putting it away, because he just realized that he had not had anything to drink all day.
Steve stood next to him, also watching the bomb being unloaded from the ship.
They stood in silence, as neither of them wanted to bring up what had happened earlier.
