TheGlowofGloryandTheGripofDeathBeinghitbyanartilleryshell,Kenji'sbodyhitsthegroundonthebattlefieldofIwoJima.Hisheadisleveledontheslopeofacrater;withhiseyelidscramping,hissightfixesontheblurringsky.Inhisears,theexplosionshavediminished,andinhiseyestheflyingbulletsmoveasslowlyasaturtle.Thedistortedimageoftheworldandthewargraduallybecomesvagueandfallapart.Yetseverepainstormsthroughhisbodyandhismentalisoneofutterconfusion;histwitchingeyesarestillopenwithaflaminggaze;histhoughtsfullofabomination.Kenji'smindrevertsbacktotheletterheleftforhiswifebeforeleavinghome;hesomehowknewhewouldnotsurvivethewar,yethewasdeterminedtofightwithallhisstrength.Hewantedtohavenoregretsnorleavehisfamilywithanydisgrace.Thatmayharmtheirreputation.1HebelievesthathisancestorswillguidehimtotherightpathtobecomeagreatJapanesewarrior;hisspiritforeverexists.Yet,shellsandbulletsarestillflyingoverthebattlefield,andnearthecraterfallsanAmericansoldier.He'snotdead,butinjured."Chris,you......you......youdon'twanttodie......doyou"thesoldiermoanstohimself,"you...youhave......awifetocareforand......andasontoraise.""But.......butwhatcanI......canIdonow?Myleg......can'tmove,and......Ihave......beenshotinmy......inmyarmandmyleg.HowcanI......howcanIsurvive......fromthisperfecthell?""ThosegoddamnJapanesethugs.Damn......Damnyouall!"Chrisstartsgroaningandcryingontheground,jerkinghisbodyuncontrollably.KenjisensesChris'fall,andsubconsciouslyfocuseshiseyesontheinjuredAmericansoldier.Kenjipicksuphisgunthatliesonhissidewithhisinvisiblearms,andstandsupwithhisinvisiblelegsasstrongasthoseofayoungox,andheisnotafraidofthebulletsortheshellsthatpiercethroughhisflesh.Hefeelsasifheisthestrongestpersonintheworld,andhislastdutyistoendthelifeofthisAmericansoldier.Withtearswashingoverhisface,Chrisseestheheadofevilglaringathim;deathgripshimwiththemostterrifyinghand--murderthroughtheglareofthedead.Hefeelsbeingstabbedatthebackofhisheartbyathousandknives.Overwhelmedbyfear,hestrugglesafewinchesbackdespiteofhiswreckedlegandhisbleedi