'See! Just one vest.'
'Well, you're not going anywhere dangerous,' he said, zipping his bag shut.
'Everywhere dangerous,' she sighed. She walked to the window, staring at the cityscape. Tim watched her. She wore a black cardigan over a tight-fitting black dress. Her hair was down, yet even in the upheaval of the last few days she'd found time to curl her hair. He walked up behind her; looking at her reflection in the window.
'Hey.' He put his hand on her shoulder. She put her hand over his, caressing it.
'When you leave here, you will go back to your life,' she said, 'I will have nothing.'
'That's not true. You're a self-made woman with her own house and business.'
'How can I work? I work for visiting businessmen. They won't come anymore. Money is no good now. My house is rented. If the owner returns he will eject me.'
'You'll be okay. I'll make sure of it. We'll get you work doing something with the Chinese. You speak four languages. They can use you.'
She turned to face him. Her eyebrows pressing down, and nose twisted in distaste. 'My own people will hate me as a traitor.'
He held both her shoulders, looking into her eyes. 'I'll see that you'll be okay. I promise.'
'Take me with you,' she said quickly.
'What?'
'To Scotland. I will be your wife.'
'Nancy, I don't see how...' he sighed. He knew he should've kept it professional. He'd enjoyed her flirtations. Possibly even led her on.
She lurched forward, touching her lips against his for just an instant before pulling back to gauge his reaction.
'Nancy...'
She pressed herself against him. Her arms squeezing around his torso.
'I know you like me. I know you have a girl. You don't love her well. That is why you don't marry.'
'Nancy, this is insane.'
Her right hand slid down his ribs and down the front of his trousers. Her lips touched his neck. He stood still with hands cupping her shoulders. He couldn't push her away. He thought of Gail and their phone call. He closed his eyes. He heard his fly being unzipped, and Nancy's hand explore.
He snatched her wrist. She jolted and gasped. He didn't pull her hand away just held it fast. He looked into her eyes. She looked frightened, desperate. Her pupils seemed to fill her eyes.
She pulled away from him. Moving to the middle of the room she stood, raising her chin like a proud woman insulted. He was about to apologise when she dropped her cardigan from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Lifting the hem of her dress she peeled it over her head and tossed it aside. He watched her unfasten her bra. She was beautiful. Her stomach and legs muscles well defined from hours at the gym. Her breasts small, dark nipples erect.
'Are you going to let me stand here like this?'
Striding forward, he put his arms around her and lifted her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. He carried her to the bed.
Huy
20th March, 16:30
'See, I told you the Co-op mart would be shuttered,' said Dũng.
'Shut up!' Huy shoved his friend's shoulder. 'I'll take a look. Shout if anyone comes.'
He jogged across the road and up a few steps to the iron shutters covering the doors. He checked the corners of the gate, running his fingers up the sides, shaking his head in frustration. 'It's not good. We'd need a crowbar.'
'Maybe we should just go to the food distribution point,' Dũng called out. He stayed at the crossroads. Crouching behind a graffiti covered traffic light control box.
'Bro, you're looking frigging suspicious hiding there!'
'We're the only people out here. I look suspicious anywhere!' Dũng shouted back.
Huy trotted back to his friend. Staying alert for trouble; they'd only seen two other people in the ten-minute walk from the apartment to the Co-op. It had been a nervous journey, cautious of any noise or sight of movement.
'Let's get out of here, bro.' He placed his hands on Dũng's shoulders, steering him away. Dũng resisted the movement, turning back toward the Co-op.
'What about next door? It's a Lotteria.'
Huy hadn't considered the fast food joint as a potential place to scavenge food. The Lotteria was glass fronted with no security gate, but it was right on the corner of the junction where they could easily be spotted. It looked dark inside. Red chairs were stacked on top of tables. The windows partially covered with posters. If not discovered on entry they would be well hidden from passers-by. It was a surprise nobody had robbed the place already. He grimaced, weighing the risk.
'What do you think?' Dũng prodded.
'I'm thinking!'
'They probably got loads of stuff in the kitchen.'
'Yeah,' Huy mumbled, 'stupid burgers and junk. I never eat that crap.'
'You do too! You eat burgers all the time. Anyway they don't just have beef. They got rice, shrimp and fish too.'
'I meant I don't eat those burgers. I like the ones from that American bar.'
Dũng screwed up his features, his jaw jutting in exasperation. 'You want to be fussy when we're out of food at home?'
'No. I just don't want to die for a frigging Lotteria burger.'
'Fine.' Dũng turned and started to walk away. 'Let’s go to the food distribution point.'
'Bullshit!' Huy shouted, 'the Chief told us those things are a trap to find out who's still in the city. They arrest loads of people who go there too.'
'How does she actually know that?' Dũng turned, walking backwards.
'Because that's what they're saying on Radio Free Hanoi.'
'Well, what do you want to do?' Dũng backed onto the road, not bothering to watch out for traffic.
Huy turned to the Lotteria. Tucking his thumbs into the waistband of his jeans. He was hungry, and in truth he couldn't remember what Lotteria tasted like. 'Fine we'll do Lotteria. Watch the street, bro.'
Dũng moved back to the traffic light control box. Huy jogged toward the Lotteria.
'Pssst, hey!'
'What?' Huy snapped
'How are you going to get in?'
'Let me worry about that.' Huy swiped his arm as if to slap Dũng from across the street. 'Watch the road!'
Huy peered inside the restaurant. It was definitely empty. He could see the till, menu signs and stacked chairs. Everything was orderly. It was likely that the place had closed before the troubles got too bad. Nobody was selling anything anymore- even at black market prices. Since the recent fighting few dared venture outside. Money became worthless and business came to a halt overnight. Despite the efforts of the Chinese, they'd failed to pacify the city. They couldn't pass themselves off as friends, they were a military dictatorship.
Huy looked around again, the street was silent. Eerie even. The only sounds were from birds. He pulled up the hem of his vest, taking the handgun from his waistband.
'Bro!' Dũng hissed.
'What?'
'Don't shoot the glass out, man!'
'I'm not! Just watch the street!' Huy shook his head. 'Don't call me unless you see something!'
Kneeling, he set the weapon down and pulled his vest off over his head. Pinning the vest against the window with his left forearm, he held the gun by the barrel, wielding it like a hammer. Figuring the vest would go towards muffling the breaking glass; he remembered seeing something similar in a movie.
He placed the base of the gun's handle on the vest then made a little tap, producing a dull vibration, barely audible. He smirked at his ingenuity. He brought the pistol back to his shoulder and gave it a thump. He felt the vibration through his forearm this time. Tensing his bicep, contracting his fingers tightly around the barrel he brought his arm back as far as he could, took a deep breath, then swung his arm in an arc with all the force he could muster.
The splintering glass was louder than he expected. He let out his breath slowly. He glanced over at Dũng who had ducked behind the traffic light control unit. It did little to conceal him.
He removed
the vest. The glass was shattered in a spider web pattern. He reasoned it would take another two or three strikes to break through. Pressing his palms across the cracked glass he pushed. It didn't give way. He decided against kicking it on account of the soft trainers he was wearing. He wrapped the vest around his fist. Pulling the material tight, took a deep breath and punched the pane.
Glass fell with the din of a hundred dropped tea sets. He pressed his back to the pillar beside the door. Sure that the sound will have been detected. He cursed under his breath, waiting, not daring to move. His eyes searching the street. His ears straining to hear shouts of alarm... nothing.
The bottom half of the pane had shattered; leaving a space big enough to crawl through. Putting his pistol back into his waistband he unwound the vest from his fist. Diamond sized shards of glass fell away. He'd suffered scratches and had to pick two small pieces of glass from his fingers. Flexing the digits, he satisfied himself that he was not significantly injured. He then picked away fragments of glass from the pane that threatened to cut him as he crawled through.
'Shall I come over?' Dũng called, his voice hoarse as he tried to whisper loudly.
'No. Stay on lookout.'
He shook the remaining glass from his vest, and pulled the garment back over his head before crawling through the entrance he'd created. Smaller fragments dug into his hands and knees as he scuttled through. Once inside he stood and brushed his jeans down with his palms.
It felt eerie inside the restaurant. Although the place looked deserted, who knew who, or what could be lurking. Keeping low, he scurried to the service counter and scrambled over it. He crouched low. Eyes searching frantically for signs of food.
He picked up the nearest soda pump nozzle. Squeezing the trigger produced nothing. He picked up the next with the same result. Dropping it to the floor he pulled open cupboards where he found stacks of paper cups, napkins, cooking utensils. Nothing edible.
The preparation area was clean and sterile looking. Stinking of cleaning products. Deep fat fryers, stoves and grills were all bare. He cursed to himself. Then he noticed the large silver door at the rear of the restaurant; a walk-in freezer.
He jiggled the freezer's long handle. Fearing it would be locked; relieved when it moved in his hand. He pressed down and swung the door open.
Inside it was lined with metal shelving and stacked floor to ceiling with boxes. He took the corner of one of the nearest boxes and dragged it to the doorway. He eased the door against the box. It held, only constricting slightly under the pressure of the heavy door. Satisfied he wasn't going to get locked in the freezer, he returned to his booty.
Some boxes were open. He looked inside the nearest; finding it full of frozen bread rolls in packs of 8. The next box was also bread rolls. It was only then he noticed the content was marked on the sides of the boxes.
He paused to think. He couldn't fit a box through the broken doorframe, and they were too cumbersome to carry all the way home. Ripping open and emptying various boxes, he selected four bags of bread rolls, three bags of chicken burgers, and one containing shrimp balls. He left the freezer; kicking the box aside so the door could close.
He noticed another door which he hoped led to a storage area where he might find rice and other supplies. Heading to the door he halted after two steps. He heard the purr of an engine. A big engine. He hadn't heard it from inside the freezer, but it was nearby. Squatting, he placed his loot the floor. Dũng should have alerted him. He must've heard the vehicle approach.
His fingers closed around the handle of his gun. Drawing it, he flicked the safety release with his thumb. He dared peer over the counter. The posters on the windows obscured his view. The engine's rumble seemed to be coming from where he'd left Dũng.
Moving slowly, he climbed onto the service counter; laying prostrate on its surface, then lowering his legs over the far side and dropping to the floor. He Crawled between tables to the nearest window. From this vantage point he could see the crossroads. An armoured vehicle was parked right where Dũng had been standing. He could see one soldier in front of the vehicle, with his back turned to Huy.
Clenching his fingers around the pistol grip, he sucked his teeth deciding on his next move. He could shoot the soldier, but there'd be others. He crawled toward the restaurant entrance. Hoping he might get a better look. He slid his hands and knees across the floor until he reached a blue pillar near where he broke in. He pressed his body against the pillar, looking around it he could see a little more.
Two soldiers stood at the rear of the APC. They seemed to be talking to someone- probably questioning Dũng. They were certain to search him and find his gun. Huy grimaced. If Dũng hadn't been hiding behind that stupid box, they might not have stopped. Or maybe it was his fault; if he'd told Dũng to follow him into the Lotteria, maybe they'd have not been discovered at all.
He held his gun ready. Taking deep breaths. He had six bullets. They'd have to count. Maybe he only needed to draw their attention so Dũng could take the chance to escape. In desperation his mind raced. There had to be better idea. The soldiers he could see were all turned away from him. He could rush to the side of the vehicle, edge his way to the rear to get point blank shots at them. That just left one at the front and however many more were out of sight. There'd been four soldiers when they attacked the roadblock. If there were four here, he could only afford to miss twice.
His legs ached, he realised all his muscles were tensed. His legs trembled as he tried to relax his muscles.
Clang!
He jerked in fright when he heard the metallic thump. He dropped flat to the floor. At first he'd thought it was a gunshot, then realised it as the sound of a steel door being slammed shut. He looked up; he could see the side profile of the APC. No sign of Dũng or the Chinese. He waited. All his senses directed toward detecting any movement or sound from the vehicle. Its engine revved. It rolled forward. Accelerating, in a second it was past the window and out of sight before he could think what how to react.
He scanned the roadside. Hoping to find Dũng, stupidly hiding behind the control box. Nothing. Darting through the entrance ignoring the sharp stabbing pains of tiny glass fragments penetrating his hands and his knees and the burning scratch along his back as he rushed through the gap without ducking low enough to avoid one of the longer shards. He ran into the road. the enemy vehicle was already at the next junction. Looking about frantically he could see no sign of his friend.
'Dũng?' He shouted. No answer. The vehicle was vanishing into the distance. He started into run after it. 'Dũng?!'
He raised his pistol at the retreating transport. Squeezing the trigger as he ran; once, twice, a third time. Safe in their steel clad vehicle, the enemy either ignored or didn't notice his gnat-like attempt at stalling its progress. He threw the weapon aside: pumping his muscular arms so he could run faster. Sprinting as fast as he could. They were almost out of sight. He had to go faster. He stumbled. Gravel scraping his palms and elbows as he tried to break his fall.
He pushed himself up onto his knees. Both his palms were raked red and flecked with specks of gravel. He caught a last glimpse of the vehicle as it shrank into the distance.
'Dũng! Come back! Dũng!'
Then he was alone in the road with only the birds to hear his anguished cry.
Tuấn
21st March, 10:00
'Can he be trusted?' Tuấn said.
The boy hung around the workshop most of the time. It was impossible to hide the group's intent from him, but did he understand what they were up to? Would he betray them for five dollars?
'He's a good kid.' Lâm leant back, pushing his chair onto the back legs which bent dangerously.
'What does that even mean? A good kid?' Minh said, looking up from where he sat with Thuỳ, fiddling with the old radio.
Lâm lit up a cigarette. Taking a couple of puffs while considering the question.
'Well?' Minh persisted, 'a good kid doesn't mean we should trust
him with our lives.'
'We're already trusting him with our lives,' Tuấn said, 'he could've turned us in any time. He must know were involved in something.'
Minh shrugged. 'Maybe he's stupid. He doesn't say much.'
Nobody really knew what went on in Dac’s head, but Tuấn doubted he'd turn against Lâm. Yet, what did they really know about him? His hands and feet were always dirty, but he owned at least two sets of clothes and managed to keep his hair trimmed. He fidgeted constantly. He disappeared sometimes for hours. He never volunteered information. Tuấn heard him speak perhaps twenty words in the days since they met. His meekness allowed him to blend into the background- the perfect spy. The Chinese were unlikely to suspect him. He could operate right under their noses.
'I don't think we should be using a child,' Thuỳ said.
'He's in the same danger as everyone else in the city whether he helps us or no,' Minh said in a matter of fact tone.
'There it is!' Thuỳ leaned toward the radio, putting her ear close to the speaker. There was a faint sound of a voice but crackling interference drowned it out.
'I don't think we're going to get it today,' Minh winced as he tried to turn the dial through infinitesimal degrees so as not to miss the signal.
'How do the Chinese block the signals?' Thuỳ said.
'They transmit on the same frequency,' Lâm said, lighting another cigarette. 'Several days ago I saw a truck with a radar dish on the back. Bet they got loads of those about transmitting interference or propaganda on the same frequency Radio free Hanoi uses. That's why Hanoi changes frequency all the time.'
'Cat and mouse,' Minh adjusted the radio antenna. Still only crackling and static came through the speaker.
Tuấn sat in a plastic chair near Lâm. He watched Thuỳ. He had thought to say something about her conduct in their initial operation, but they'd all been scared. He and Lâm pissed themselves. They'd tried to fire weapons with the safety engaged. It was a mess. Success was down to surprise; otherwise they'd all be dead. Although the others praised it as a victory, Tuấn silently scolded himself for the failures.
The March of the Dragons Page 22