CHAPTER 28

Summary

Attorney Alvin Hooks cross-examines Kabuo. He asks Kabuo why he didnÂ’t come forward earlier with this information. Hooks questions whether Kabuo intended to come forward. Kabuo said that when he was arrested silence seemed better, and it seemed better to wait until he had an attorney. However, Kabuo did not tell the sheriff this story even after he had an attorney; he continued to claim he knew nothing of the incident. But, Kabuo now claims that the story he is telling is true.

Regarding why he had two batteries in his boat well even though he had given one to Carl, Kabuo answered he had an extra one in his shed, which he installed in his boat prior to the sheriff searching it. Hooks remarks that Kabuo is a hard man to read with his expressionless poker face. The judge stops him before he can continue, and Hooks ends his questioning.

As Kabuo steps down from the witness stand, he stops to gaze at the snow for a long moment. The citizens see a proud, strong Japanese man before them. They are reminded of photographs of Japanese soldiers noble and dignified, but with no softness about him. They decide that he isnÂ’t anything like them.

Notes

Prosecutor Alvin Hooks attacks KabuoÂ’s truthfulness and plays on the juryÂ’s prejudices. In the previous chapter, Kabuo believes that truth does not matter because the citizens will not believe the words of a Japanese man. This is what Alvin Hooks immediately attacks, KabuoÂ’s truthfulness. KabuoÂ’s silence and failure to tell the sheriff his account of events works in Hooks favor. Hooks also attacked HatsueÂ’s truthfulness when she took the stand. Hooks plays on the juries prejudices against the Japanese. KabuoÂ’s demeanor reinforces these prejudices. KabuoÂ’s prideful stance sets him apart from the citizens and jury. They cannot relate to him and feel that he is not like them.

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