"Ours was a highly respected household, and villagers going by on their way to or from the fields would seldom pass by without stopping to inquire about my father's health" (Chapter 1, p. 14).

"Now I want you all to listen carefully. There's going to be fighting here in Okinawa very soon. Life's not going to be peaceful for us any more. You must be prepared, so that when the time comes, you'll be able to keep your head and know what to do" (Chapter 1, p. 36).

"It was a scene straight out of hell. There is no other way to describe it. And sad and painful though it was, we could not afford to linger, and so we set off again trekking south" (Chapter 2, p. 48).

"I could not wait for the night to fall, and left my place of hiding. I ran from cave to cave calling out "Sister! Sister...