This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War II

Alex writes to Frank again on January 19, 1945, even though Frank still has not written back. Alex’s battalion has been detached from the 442nd and they are somewhere in the French Alps. Alex has only noted down the names of the towns they passed through so that he may tell Charlie later. He describes the difficult journey up the mountain, during which Alex spots a German railway gun on the opposite mountain and thus enables the artillery unit to destroy it. Their captain gives them leave to go to Nice, where Charlie’s family used to vacation in the summer. Alex asks Frank to go through Charlie’s letters and find the return address from her letters sent on vacation. Alex finishes the letter without bothering to censor anything, knowing the Army will do that for him. He wonders why Frank hasn’t written in all these years.

Frank finally writes to Alex in a letter dated February 22, 1945, and apologizes for not writing back for so long. Mr. Maki has finally been brought to Manzanar, and Frank knows it is because of Alex’s influence. Nursing Mr. Maki back to health has given Mrs. Maki a new lease on life. Frank calls Alex a hero and explains that he has not written until now because he was ashamed of himself.