The Storm We Made: A Novel

Master Akiro promises to release Abel from the chicken coop and give him toddy if he can kill Brother Luke for the boys’ entertainment. Abel is initially hesitant to do it, but he eventually bludgeons Brother Luke with a rebar out of retribution for all the boys he kidnapped and brought to the work camp, especially Freddie. Abel drinks the flask of toddy and blacks out, only remembering what had happened after Freddie comes to look after him. Freddie thanks Abel.

Abel becomes haunted by the act of killing Brother Luke. At the same time, Japanese soldiers start to abandon their posts, discouraged by news of the atomic bomb. The camp allows for more entertainment as the remaining boys and soldiers drink and enjoy music. Master Akiro is among the officers who remain.

Abel continues to drink enough toddy to black out. Each time he gets drunk, he ends up back in the chicken coop and Freddie comes to retrieve him. Abel realizes that he keeps coming back because it was where Master Akiro raped him. Freddie, who doesn’t claim to know about the rape, assumes it is because of Brother Luke.