Watkins knelt by the lieutenant. 44A sucking chest, huh?" he asked, looking at die wound.
Gibson held the plastic over the hole with one hand and pointed to one of the Vietnamese packs. 44Get me something to wrap around him."
Watkins shrugged his shoulders as he stood up. 4 4Aw shit, sir, just finish him. It's a long way to a PZ and we'll have to carry his ass."
Gibson looked into the eyes of the Vietnamese soldier. He felt no hate for the suffering man. To kill him now would not be for revenge. It would be murder. Gibson looked at Watkins with a cutting glare. 44Do what I said."
Southern Liberation Forces Headquarters
Lieutenant Colonel Sy tossed a booklet of papers on the desk and sat down beside Colonel Chinh. As I promised, comrade, there will be no surprises during the general's political meeting. Enclosed in my report are the topics to be covered by all the party members. He will have no surprises."
Colonel Chinh picked up the packet but was preoccupied as he looked at the map across from the table. He tossed the report down and sighed. "No surprises from our members but the Americans are surprising us."
Sy could see the colonel was upset about something and spoke softly. "Bad news, comrade?"
Colonel Chinh leaned back in his chair and bowed his head as if he was tired.4 'We received a report that one of our experienced indoctrination teams was wiped out and that that led to the loss of a local and a district headquarters. It seems the Americans still have some fight left."
Sy's eyes widened at the news. "Our agents did not report signs of any larger operations."
Chinh shook his head. "It was not a large operation. A small unit of commandos was responsible. We are helpless against them. Our agents tell us of the buildup in bases for large operations, but of these small units we know nothing. They don't need massive helicopter support, fuel, ammunition, or weeks of planning. There is nothing for our agents to see or hear."
Sy saw through the colonel's distress. "You are worried about tomorrow's journey to the fortress?"
Chinh rose from his chair and faced the map. "No, the trip should be safe enough. I have sent units ahead to walk the trails, but I am worried about these commando units. They are the American forces' eyes and ears. They could be anywhere, so once you arrive at the mountain base, place a radio security team into operation and monitor the American radio frequencies night and day."
Sy nodded and made himself a mental note. "I will see to it, comrade."
The senior colonel sat down and lowered his voice. "Between just you and me, this trip is useiess. If it was not for the need of the general to be free from these tunnels I would advise him to hold the Directorate meeting later."
Sy smiled. "But is it not worth the trip for the general to pull Sang's tail and make him squeal?"
Chinh laughed and sat back in his chair. "Yes, I suppose that is another good reason. Sang leads the Second Division fearlessly, but he is too political. The general needs to put him in his place. You must remember every detail of their discussion and tell me of it as soon as you return. It should be worth many nights of laughter." Chinh's twinkling eyes lost their luster as he erased his smile and looked at Sy. "You have much to do, so I will say farewell now. Take care of yourself and watch out for our general. Two weeks without you to pester me is a long time, and I will miss you."
Sy shook the older man's hand, knowing he thought of him as a son. 4'I will be cautious and take care of our general. I will miss you as well, so take care of yourself and don't find anyone to pester you until I return. Farewell, my friend."
Colonel Sy walked out of the planning room into the tunnel corridor, where Private Nuu was waiting for him. Sy smiled and motioned for the soldier to follow him. 44I am happy to see you received my message."
Nuu lifted his pack from the floor and hurried to catch up. 44Yes, comrade Colonel."
Sy kept his fast gait and spoke over his shoulder. After talking to you the other day I thought of something you might like better than patrolling the valley. I talked to Sergeant Thong, General Due's orderly, and he said he needs an assistant. We are leaving tomorrow on a long march and the sergeant needs help. Do you think you would like such a position?"
Nuu was elated at the chance of leaving the security force. Anything would be better than killing farmers. 44Yes, comrade Colonel. I would be honored to help a man who is the orderly to the general."
Sy stopped and turned around as if reading the soldier's thoughts. 44You realize eliminating security risks is necessary, don't you?"
Nuu lowered his head. 4'They were just farmers."
Sy couldn't help but smile at the honesty of the boy. He hadn't yet been indoctrinated to give only answers his superiors wanted to hear. Sy pointed to the last room just ahead. 4'There is much you don't understand, but you will. Sergeant Thong is in that room waiting for you. The sergeant is gruff, and his ways are a litde particular, but he is a good teacher. Learn from him, and your days in the headquarters will be fruitful."
Nuu looked at the colonel with a questioning gaze. "Thank you comrade Colonel. ... But why do you help me?"
Sy put his hand on the small soldier's shoulder. "Because, my friend, you were happy, and I took that away from you when I brought you here. Perhaps you can find your happiness again by working for the general. He is our hope for the future. Good luck to you."
Nuu smiled respectfully. "I will do my best."
Wade lay on his poncho liner, absorbing the sun's rays and trying not to look at his watch. After all, she'd said there was no telling when she'd catch a flight.
Rose sat beside him and tapped Preacher. "Look what's comin'!"
Preacher sat up and stared in astonishment as Russian lumbered toward them in a bathing suit. His bull-like body was covered with thick hair. Rose grinned. "Man, you and me can make us bucoo big bucks. We put a collar on that hairy dude and hit the carnivals. We'll call him Russian, the Talking Bear."
Preacher rolled his eyes and sighed as Russian sat down beside him. "Russian, Rose is talking about you again."
"He always talk."
"Yeah, well, dig it, dudes, the Rose done scored big-time last night, didn't he? That's more than talk. I never done it on the beach before, man. It was a trip."
Woodpecker sat up quickly. "Really, on the beach?"
"There it is. I laid her out and . . ."
Russian growled. "Enough! No talk about such things."
Rose cocked an eyebrow. "Sure, Russian, but I gotta warn you, man, there's one dink broad running around that's got sand all inside her . . ."
Russian grabbed for the black soldier, but Rose anticipated the move and rolled away to his feet, laughing. "She's got sand in it! Beware, dudes! The Rose has created a new disease. It's sand- papered peckerl''
The team broke up in laughter as Russian tried to catch the elusive soldier. Rose suddenly came tp a dead stop as he looked up to the top of the sand dune. Russian caught up to him, but also froze when he saw what Rose was staring at. Wade raised up and smiled.
The small woman ran down the dune and jumped into his waiting arms.
"Well, I'll be damned," said Rose.
Russian smiled. "She is very pretty, no?"
Wade released Virginia and motioned Rose and Russian over.
Guys, meet Ginny.''
Virginia held both hands up and then pointed to the thin redhead.
You're Woodpecker, and you're Preacher. This is Thumper and you have to be Rose. And of course . . . Russian." She stepped in front of each man and gave him a little kiss on the cheek, but she hugged the startled Czech.
"I feel as if I know you all already. Matt wrote about each of you.'' She walked up to Thumper with a grin and spoke excitedly. "I have a surprise for you, but you have to turn around and shut your eyes."
Thumper looked confused but did as she requested. She whispered to Wade and he jogged up the sand dune and waved. The team gathered closer with questioning looks. A tall woman suddenly appeared on the hill and s
tood beside Wade.
"Okay, Thumper, you can turn around now."
When the big soldier turned around, he followed Ginny's gaze up to the dune. He couldn't believe his eyes. He stood there in astonishment for a moment, and then he began walking up the dune.
Mary Ann felt excitement rising in her chest. She hadn't realized how much she really missed him until that very moment.
Preacher exchanged glances with Woodpecker and turned to Virginia. "Very nice meeting you, Ginny. We're going to have to go; we're going to the PX and then in to see the city."
"Oh, do you have to?"
"Yeah, we gettin' sunburned real bad," added Woodpecker as he motioned Russian to follow them.
Rose didn't catch on and began to sit down when Russian yanked him to his feet. "We go now, crazy one."
"But, man, I wanna rap with Ginn ..."
"Now."
Wade joined Virginia as his men walked down the beach. "Where they going?" he asked.
"They're leaving us alone. Your team are neat guys. I can see already why you care so much for them. How are Mary Ann and Thumper doing?"
"Just fine. How in the hell did you meet her?"
"It's a long story. Come on, I've got to check in at the officers' quarters so I can get into a bathing suit."
"I can't go. Enlisted men aren't allowed up at that end of the beach."
"Matt, you're in a bathing suit, for heaven's sake. Nobody is going to stop you. Plus, I called and reserved one of the cabins just off the beach."
Wade grinned. "Are you trying to get me alone to take advantage of me?"
She put her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. "As you would say-4Yep!' "
J. D. Gibson wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave the radio handset back to the radioman. The team had moved for several hours before finding a suitable pickup zone. The bird dog circled two thousand feet above, and Lieutenant Foley had just called to say the Slick was only one minute out.
Gibson knelt by the wounded Vietnamese, who they'd carried in an NVA hammock tied to a cut bamboo pole.
Gibson knew the soldier was dying. The pallor of death on his young face had told him. He'd seen it too many times before not to know. The sickening, almost gray-white skin and the faraway look in the eyes were telltale signs. He recalled when two men in his old platoon had had that same color and expression. It was just a matter of time.
Gibson patted the soldier's hand as he studied his smooth face. The young man's eyes rolled slowly toward him. They were dull, with that look of acceptance.
Gibson thought of Brad Avant. He had died quickly and without pain. This young soldier, on the other hand, had experienced enough pain for all men, but he never said a word or even grunted. He took the pain inside, and he would die with it there. The pictures in his billfold were of a young, black-haired woman sweedy smiling-probably his wife or girlfriend. Gibson wondered if the worst pain for the man was knowing he would never see her again. But the dying soldier's eyes told Gibson his thoughts were more on the man who had shot him. They were asking why. Gibson could only shake his head. He didn't know.
The whupping of chopper blades could be heard in the distance. Sergeant Selando and Watkins began to lift the pole, but Gibson waved them back.
"Leave him here, let him die in peace."
Watkins began to speak, but the sergeant cut him off with a wave of his hand.
Gibson rose slowly, still staring into the eyes of the soldier, and raised his hand in a final farewell as the landing chopper's wind tore at his fatigues.
Mary Ann stretched out on Thumper's poncho liner and rose to her elbow to look at his heavy, muscular chest. Thumper lay on his back beside her, staring up at the blue sky.
"Thumper, I didn't want to come. I thought you'd forgotten me."
The big soldier sat up and looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry. I tried, I really did, but. . ."He lowered his head.
Mary Ann reached out and took his hand. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here now and want to hold you. I don't want to talk about the past-or future."
Thumper cast a lingering look at her, then lowered his eyes again.
"I don't want to hurt you again," he said. "You mean too much to me. I'm not sure why, but it's not the same as it was. Before when we were together I thought of you as a special friend. Time has made you more than that. I'm not sure I can handle it.''
Mary Ann sat up. "You're scared of me, aren't you? You think I'll ask something from you that you can't give?"
"Mary Ann, I've never told a woman I loved her. I always thought those words were special. I feel something for you that scares me to death."
"Don't worry, big guy, I haven't got wedding bells in my mind. I don't have anything in my mind but the next couple of days."
Thumper looked deeply into her eyes. "The trouble is, I can't think that way. I want to hold you forever, but I know I can't. I can't touch you, then forget you."
Mary Ann's lower lip quivered. 4 4I guess maybe I'd better go."
Thumper restrained himself from reaching for her. "Can we just be friends again?"
Mary Ann got to her feet and stared at the ocean. "No, I couldn't be around you without wanting you. You've gotten to me, too. I was willing to accept us making love so I could at least hold you a litde while. It was foolish to think I could just walk away. Being friends would be torment."
She threw her head back abrupdy, taking in a deep breath, and smiled. "It was good seeing you. Take care of yourself and don't lose any more weight, huh?"
She picked up her bag and began walking up the sand dune. Thumper didn't watch her. His body went rigid, and he clenched his teeth to fight the emotions that ached in his heart. He raised his head just as she disappeared over the dune.
Mary Ann!"
He jumped to his feet and ran after her. She kept walking, afraid to turn around and show her tears. He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.
"I can't let you go again. I ... I want you to stay. I want us to talk about a future together."
"We can't."
"The hell we can't! I'm going home in seven months. You're going back in four. Can't you wait for me for three months?"
"Of course, but. . ."
" 'But' hell! We can!"
"I don't know, Thumper. My God, why did I come? I wasn't expecting this. I thought... I thought we'd ... oh, hell. Don't stand there, damn you. Hug me!"
Wade lay in Viiginia's bed, propped up with a pillow against the headboard. Virginia rested on his bare chest.
"It's not a big farm but the land is good. My granddad wants me to come back and take over the place but I think I'll stay in the Army a couple more years to earn enough for college before I go back."
Virginia raised her head. "Somehow I can't imagine you in overalls and wearing a straw hat. Surely you plan on doing something other than just being Farmer Brown the rest of your life."
Wade smiled at her stereotypical description of farmers and draped his arm over her back. "I could never let the place go. It's been in the Wade family too long. I think I'll sharecrop it out and teach. I'd really like to help slow learners like I was. It doesn't pay much, but with the farm I can get by."
Ginny lowered her head on his chest, trying to understand. How could anyone love a patch of ground?
"Matt, you could do anything you want. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Surely your grandfather would understand that.''
Wade stared at the ceiling. "Ginny, the land is his life. It's all he knows. Roots are important where I come from, and the roots of the Wade family are in the land."
"Roots can strangle you. If it's not really for you, you should walk away and start a new life."
Wade thought of the long days his granddad had sweated on the tractor and of the small cemetery on Black Jack Hill. He answered in a whisper, "No, I can't walk away from that kind of responsibility."
Virginia raised up and looked into his eyes. "Like you can't walk away from your team?"
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the Last Run (1987) Page 27