by Tom Wilson
The Bear looked at her in amazement, ears still clutched firmly. "You refuse to what?"
"Oh, shut up." She pulled him forward and kissed him.
"Leggo my ears," he pleaded.
She kissed him again. "I made up my mind last night when you were being such a jerk over Liz. I wasn't about to let you anywhere near her because she was screwed up, and I was afraid you might enjoy consoling her too much. Too bad, big fella."
Was this woman serious? "Let go, dammit!" She yanked and he howled, only half kidding. His ears hurt!
"So you aren't going to curse any more today, and maybe sometime soon you can show me what I've been missing."
She was looking at him with a soft but calculating expression.
He remembered her remark about the mating game and felt a surge of bachelor's panic. "I've been married. It wasn't any good so I'm never going to get that involved again." he warned. He couldn't believe he was making excuses.
"You're foolish to say never," she said smugly.
He remembered how heated the mutual mauling had gotten the night before, how responsive she had been. "Maybe we can work out a compromise," he said.
"First, tell me you'll stop cursing like a truck driver when you're with me."
"I can't make that promise." He thought of her body, of being the first with her.
"Will you try?"
"Yeah, I'll try." His voice was gravelly. He was becoming so aroused he'd have agreed to anything short of treason.
Julie Wright released his ears, sighed, and smiled demurely. "Then the rest is up to me, isn't it."
The Bear rubbed his ears gingerly as she traced his face with a gentle finger. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he worried about what he might be getting into.
06/1640L—Bac Can, Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Xuan Nha
Xuan found himself slipping into one of his infrequent black moods as he arrived two hours late at the city of Bac Can. The mood had been detected by his staff officers who judiciously kept their silence and distance. They had been witness to them before.
Theirs was a small convoy on the heavily traveled highway. Xuan Nha led in his utility vehicle, with the chief Russian adviser and his intelligence and communications officers seated behind him. Following was an armored personnel carrier carrying Quang Hanh's communications platoon. Next was Tiger battalion's rugged command vehicle, a Soviet-built APC with Xuan's logistics officer accompanying Maj Tran Van Ngo. Strung out behind were three six-by-sixes carrying a company of combat engineers ready to survey what they were now calling the Wisdom complex.
Xuan disliked being out of radio contact with the Hanoi command center, especially with the improved weather conditions and the probability of American bombing raids. That was one reason he had ordered Sgt Van Ng to drive faster. He disliked idle time, and just north of Thai Nguyen they had been delayed by road construction gangs. The road was in poor condition due to heavy truck traffic from the Chinese border. They had been bounced about and bruised by the increased speed, but when Major Gregarian suggested they slow down Xuan told Sergeant Ng to drive even faster.
They slowed finally as they drove into the heart of the small city, then into a town square with administrative buildings on one side and three military barracks on the other.
An assemblage of people had gathered near the entrance of the most imposing building, preparing for some event. A welcoming party? They drove up before them.
Xuan pointed to the barracks closest to the large government building, issuing orders to Lt Quang Hanh. "Set up your radio in there and establish contact with headquarters. Immediately."
As the utility vehicle came to a stop, Quang Hanh jumped out and hurried back to the APC hauling his technicians and radio equipment.
Xuan looked at the gathering. When he had picked this area for the training site, he had told Major Wu to research the backgrounds and credentials of the local politicians. He turned toward Wu directly behind him.
Major Wu leaned forward. "The fat one is the mayor, a recent appointee. He comes from Cao Bang, near the Chinese border. The party approved the appointment, but said we should scrutinize him closely, especially if we are to establish an important facility such as Wisdom nearby. The choice will be yours, comrade Colonel."
Xuan grunted. "Is his loyalty questioned?"
"A widower. He married a young Chinese woman last year. She and her family are practicing Christians, and the party believes she is in contact with church organizers."
Xuan examined the obese mayor, then nodded. "Go on."
"The mayor's assistant is from Saigon, an immigrant from 1954. There was not much to learn about him. Too little in fact. He will be replaced."
Xuan Nha didn't comment. Major Wu was well aware of his leader's displeasure over failing to capture the second pilot. Perhaps this was the reason he had done a good job with his latest task.
Still seated, Xuan nodded stiffly at the fat and officious looking mayor, then at his council assembled at the bottom of the steps to the building.
When his men were out, he dismounted and stretched, then turned to face the officials, still feeling ill-tempered. Local politicians were insufferable, hiding in the confusing maze of bureaucracies within bureaucracies instilled by ancient Chinese mandarins and continued by the French. Xuan despised their vast tomes of regulations. They could never expedite the simplest things, but they were very good at hampering any slight sign of progress.
"I am Colonel Nha," he announced to the bureaucrats. "My men will be staying here for the next few nights. I assume those are government quarters?" He gestured at the barracks.
One of them cleared his throat grandly. "We are sorry, comrade . . . uh . . . Nha, but we cannot provide the guest quarters as you requested in your call. They are being used by others."
Xuan frowned at the mayor. "I have fifty men here who must be housed. Those are barracks for soldiers, so we will use them."
The mayor winced at Xuan's rudeness, then curtly nodded to his spokesman. The assistant was lanky, tall, and effeminate. He cleared his throat again before continuing. "If you had let us know much earlier we might have accommodated you. We get many such requests from military convoys passing through the area, and cannot provide support for you all."
Xuan sighed, weary from the day's journey. He maintained a tone more reasonable than he felt. "We do not tell civilians of our movements because we are soldiers. Although the war has not previously impacted you here in Bac Can, that is about to change."
The administrator glanced at the mayor, received a nod, and spoke in a tone meant to discourage further discussion. "I am sorry, Colonel. If you must stay here, have your men make their camp outside the city. Perhaps we can find quarters for your officers if you apply to my office in the morning."
Xuan spat out words like bullets. "All of my men will be billeted here . . . tonight . . . now. Like all patriotic Vietnamese, you will be expected to do your part to bring victory. You are obligated to provide us with quarters and food."
"That is quite impossible."
Xuan ignored him. "Who is occupying the government quarters?"
For the first time the mayor spoke. "We have an important delegation from Hanoi, an industrial development group sent by the minister of economics." He spoke with authority, his voice rich with musical Chinese accents common in cities not far from the border. His voice grew sly. "Perhaps you would like to take the matter up with the ministry in Hanoi?"
"My men will take the barracks." Xuan started to turn away, the matter done.
The mayor glared. "You cannot do that," he said loudly.
For a moment Nha betrayed his rage with a terrible look, but just as quickly he regained the serene look. He spoke quietly. "I would like to speak with you alone, comrade."
"I am sorry, but we are leaving for a meeting with the industrial delegation. They are waiting for us in the hall next door. Perhaps later. Perhaps after," he added nastily, "you and your men have
set up camp outside the city."
Xuan felt the excitement of impending confrontation. He sighed, his look sad, then he spoke to one of the mayor's advisers. "You."
"Yes, Colonel Nha." The man was obeisant. Perhaps he had heard of his reputation.
Xuan motioned to the toadying administrator. "Go and begin your meeting with the group from Hanoi. Local industrialization is important to the war effort, and the meeting should not be delayed due to the incompetence of your mayor."
Both the mayor and his assistant looked aghast.
Xuan turned to Major Wu. "Get two good men. Armed."
The mayor tried to object, but Xuan Nha ignored him. Wu picked two combat engineers and looked to Colonel Nha for reassurance.
Xuan nodded. "Direct the other men to move into the barracks. Move the delegation's belongings onto the street. I'm sure they will be able to find other lodging."
"Yes, comrade Colonel," said Wu, his thin lips curling to a smile.
"I'll be with you shortly, after I speak with the mayor."
Majors Wu and Tran Van Ngo began to organize the move into the barracks.
The mayor still argued but now was noticeably nervous.
"We shall proceed to your office," said Xuan. It was not a request. He motioned the two soldiers toward the assistant who had addressed him. "Bring that traitorous dog." The two armed men cut the assistant from the council members, roughly shoving him forward. When the mayor looked about for support, a municipal policeman judiciously looked away.
"You!" Xuan snapped at the policeman. "Keep everyone out of the building. No one shall enter while we are talking."
"Yes, Colonel."
Xuan Nha nodded abruptly at the mayor. "Lead the way!" he barked.
The mayor walked up the steps of the administrative building, trying to muster as much dignity as he could. Xuan, the two soldiers, and the assistant followed. At the top of the stairs Xuan motioned for them to wait, then turned to the council. They stood gawking, their composure and aplomb lost.
"Go about your business, comrades."
The group hurried away toward the meeting hall.
They went inside to the mayor's sumptuous suite. A male secretary gawked at the armed men from his desk in the mayor's outer office.
"Out!"
The secretary fled.
Xuan turned to the two men holding the arms of the assistant, who was trying to show a conciliatory smile. "Keep the traitor dog out here waiting. I'll tend to him shortly."
Xuan closed the private office door behind them, facing the mayor with sadness. He took his time lighting a Salem cigarette with a Zippo lighter he had taken from the body of an American pilot his men had shot down. It was one of the few trophies he'd allowed himself.
The mayor blustered, his voice rising. "My appointment as mayor was approved by First Minister Pham Van Dong."
Xuan filled his lungs with smoke, then slowly exhaled.
The mayor regained a degree of boldness. "I was not told about you, Colonel, that you could come here and tell my council what they are to do, how to conduct meetings, who should be removed from the guest quarters!"
Xuan quietly let his mood smoulder.
"It is difficult enough to manage . . ."
Xuan jerked his pistol from its holster and placed it on the desk. The mayor's mouth snapped shut and he stared at the scarred automatic, a Chinese 7.62mm Tokarev.
"So you will remember in the future," Xuan said evenly, "I am Colonel Xuan Nha of the People's Army, commandant of rocket and artillery forces."
The mayor started to speak again, but again Xuan interrupted. "We are surveying the area north of Bac Can to establish a military installation for purposes which are none of your concern. I am sure you will cooperate." Xuan motioned for the mayor to sit.
The mayor settled slowly behind the old French desk as Xuan fingered the pistol and stared down at him with his lazy eyes. "While we are in Bac Can, and every time we visit you in the future, I will expect appropriate treatment both for my men and for myself."
The mayor followed the pistol as Xuan slowly pointed it at the mayor's right eye. He sucked in a great breath, mouthed a fearful "O."
Xuan slowly lowered the pistol. "I do not like interference in my official duties. You do, in your wisdom, understand me?"
The mayor nodded vigorously. "Yes," he said, gushing words. "You will receive our very best hospitality, Colonel. I apologize for any misunderstanding."
Xuan mused, knowing he must train this bureaucrat well to avoid future problems. "Bring him in!" he bellowed to his men outside.
The soldiers opened the door and pushed the mayor's assistant inside. He stumbled, bobbing his head in deference to both Xuan and the mayor.
Xuan raised his pistol, again aiming for the right eye.
The assistant began a shriek. The roar in the closed room was deafening. The body dropped like a sack, convulsed, and drummed its legs mightily. Blood splattered against the walls, furniture, and the mayor's desk.
The mayor cringed into his chair, his eyes bulging in shock. Xuan motioned and his men departed. He bent, picked up the ejected cartridge, and examined it closely. The firing pin had indented the very center of the primer. He was pleased, for his armorers had recently worked on the pistol.
"I will expect my men to be provided for. Perhaps you could find some women to cook and serve them a good, warm meal."
"Certainly, Colonel," the mayor whispered, trying to smile, ignoring the body as if it were not there. "What else do you wish, Colonel?"
"I will now meet with my officers. Please ensure that the food is ready in, perhaps, one hour."
The mayor jotted a note with a badly shaking hand. "Yes, yes."
Xuan's black mood was diminishing. He was quite enjoying himself. "My men will stay at the barracks."
"Of course."
"I will stay at your house."
"My house?" The mayor's face dropped, his fat jowls quivering, then he fought to recover. Quickly he said, "I would be honored to have you as our guest."
Xuan absently tapped the Tokarev against his leg. "My officers and I will join you for dinner. We will eat precisely half an hour after the men are fed."
"Your officers?"
"There will be me and five others. One is a Russian. He's a pig like all Tay, but he is necessary."
An attempt at a smile. Words came rushing forth. "I will inform my wife. Her aunt is staying with us, helping during my wife's pregnancy. I will tell them to prepare special dishes."
"Nothing special! Remember the brave men fighting in the south who have so little to eat. We are soldiers and our needs are basic. Rice. Perhaps a little fish. Wine. Meat for the Russian. He's a pig, so give him pork."
The mayor wrote on his desk pad, which was sprinkled with blood. "We will do our patriotic duty, Colonel. It is an honor to have an important officer such as yourself staying with us." He was sweating, although the day was a relatively cool one.
Xuan looked at him and decided that he was likely waiting to get a messenger off to Hanoi regarding his and Xuan's relative powers. He drew a folded paper from the pocket of his uniform jacket and spread it before the mayor.
"Please note that I have unlimited power."
The mayor read the letter signed by General Luc ordering provincial officials to provide support as demanded by Col Xuan Nha. The letter read that his activities were vital to the defense of the people, and that noncompliance would not be tolerated.
The mayor bowed his head in the old act of obeisance.
Xuan reholstered his pistol and recovered his letter. "You will meet us in front of this building to escort us to your home."
In the nearest barracks, Xuan found Major Gregarian and Major Wu sitting at a table, chatting. Xuan had instructed his men to speak only Vietnamese in his presence, but the Russian's halting speech was difficult to comprehend. Fortunately, Gregarian could understand it better than he spoke it.
Lieutenant Hanh's radio paraphernalia w
as set up at one side of the barracks lobby, a thick wire strung outside to a generator and thinner ones out to various antennas. Xuan was briefed. The morning raid on the Yen Vien rail yard had been followed by another in the afternoon, and the marshaling yard had been left in ruins. Hundreds of tons of war materials destroyed or damaged. Carrier-based planes had attacked fuel barges being towed up the Hong River from Nam Dinh, and twelve of those had been lost. At least two aircraft had been shot down, both of them by antiaircraft artillery. One pilot dead at Yen Vien, and two Navy pilots being pursued near Binh Luc. Two other aircraft had been hit, but it wasn't known if they had made it back to their bases.
Xuan grunted. Only two enemy aircraft destroyed? Increasingly, bombs were being released on target as the Americans learned to cope with the defenses. The tremendous number of promised rocket systems and MiG's would surely make a difference when they arrived, but Xuan Nha believed that the real difference, the thing to break the back of American air power, would be the concept they were calling Wisdom.
Xuan Nha walked to the table where Gregarian and Wu talked and took a seat. "The mayor had graciously invited our officers to eat at his house," he said.
"Your conversation with him was convincing," said Major Wu, showing a careful smile. Xuan Nha felt more gracious toward his wife's nephew as the foul mood continued to abate. He thought about the glowing messages that Wu sent about Xuan Nha's achievements to Lao Dong party headquarters. If another political officer were assigned, would he be as helpful?
Xuan looked at the map spread before them, and listened as they continued to discuss the red X's that Xuan and the Russian had made before they had left Hanoi. All would make good locations for the new command and control complex.
"The nearest location is here, in these flowers," said Nicolaj Gregarian, his finger on the map.
Wu shook his head. "Trees, Major, not flowers."
"Yes. Trees."
Xuan looked at the map location. "I believe that one will prove best."
Gregarian agreed. "The P-50 radar can go on this elevation here, and the command-and-control building here. We can place the P-2 acquisition radar on this elevation, and," moving his finger again on the map, "hide the engagement radar and rocket launchers in the trees."