How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Realizing that the white church would stand out brilliantly on the dark atoll, a marine named Fonnie Black Ladd ran in and yelled at the natives to get out. When they wouldn't move, he drew his sidearm. They scattered. (2.10.7)
Waving a gun in someone's general direction is the universal symbol for get the shmoop out.
Quote #2
One of the Japanese opened his shirt and pointed to his chest. He seemed to want the Americans to do the same. As Louie opened his shirt, he braced himself, expecting to be shot, but no shot came. The man had only wanted to see if they were armed. (3.17.13)
Because of the language differences between the Japanese and their prisoners, there is a lot of communication done with only gestures. Sometimes, this causes a lot of anxiety as to what these gestures actually mean.
Quote #3
The pretext for many of the outbursts was miscommunication. The captives and their guards came from cultures with virtually no overlap in language or custom. (4.18.20)
Miscommunication in any instance can be frustrating. Add a prisoner/guard dynamic and weapons to the mix though, and miscommunication can be downright dangerous.