Edge of War

ate.”

“Is this your daughter?” she asked.

M? hid her face.

“She’s adopted,” said Mara.

“She’s very cute.”

“Thank you.”

“She was an orphan,” said Josh protectively.

Mara sharpened her gaze, trying to remind him to keep the details fuzzy.

“Ladies and gentlemens, please,” said the manager, speaking at a small mobile podium at the front of the ballroom. “If I could have everyone’s attention.”

Mara pushed Josh gently to the side, edging away from the Australians. She reached for M?, who reluctantly climbed over to her.

“You’re getting heavy,” Mara whispered in Vietnamese.

“Can we have more cookies?” replied M?.

“Sshhh. I’ll get some.”

“You are all aware that there has been an attack — two attacks — on the city,” said the manager. His English was heavily accented, and Mara had to concentrate to understand what he was saying. “I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Please under-sand that this attack is a terrible breach of international law and we are doing everything we can to avenge it. Our forces are pushing the Chinese back this very moment…”

The manager kept glancing toward two men in business suits near the doors. It wasn’t too hard to guess that these were party or government officials, and the real audience of the manager’s speech.

“Tan Son Nhat International Airport will reopen in the morning,” continued the manager. “At that time, we will be providing free buses to the airport. The buses will be accompanied by some of our finest troops and police officers. There will be not reason for concern or alarm. Your safety is our utmost. Thank you. Thank you for staying with us. Please enjoy our snacks and beverages.”

Guests began shouting questions. The manager started away from the podium. Glancing at the men in the back, he changed his mind and returned to answer the questions. But most were about things he had no answer for — when the phones would be working, where the Chinese troops were, how planes would be available at the airport.

Mara felt her satellite phone beginning to vibrate.

“Come on,” she told Josh, signaling with her eyes.

One of the men in the suits called to them as they reached the hall. His English was crisp and, while accented, clear.

“Where are you going?” he said.

“We have to go to the women’s room,” said Mara. She held M? up slightly, as if she were the reason. M? kept her face buried in Mara’s shoulder.

“And you?”

“Me, too. To the men’s,” said Josh.

The man frowned but said nothing else. Mara heard his footsteps behind them as she walked across the reception area toward the hall where the restrooms were. She didn’t want to split up, but she had no choice; the man in the suit would most likely follow Josh into the restroom.

“Go to the last stall,” she told him. “I’ll tell Kerfer you’re there.”

“I do have to pee,” said Josh.

“Good,” said Mara. “Just go. Act normal.”

“Is she okay?”

“Just go.”

Mara gave him a peck on the cheek in case their follower had reached the corner. Then she pushed into the ladies’ room, took the first stall, and put M? down.

“Kerfer — if you can hear me — Josh is in the men’s. Send someone.”

She pulled the earset up just in time to hear him growl that they were already on it.

Mara pulled out her phone and dialed Bangkok. DeBiase came on the line immediately.

“Bad timing?” he asked.

“Hotel management is explaining how Vietnam is winning the war,” she said.

“How long will it take you to get down to Vung Tau?” he asked.

“Where?”

“The peninsula. Down where you picked up Starry when we were trying to get those RPGS over to — ”

“Okay, okay, yeah. I can get there. The airport?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s open? It’s got a really short runway.”

“That’s not a problem.”

“I don’t know when we can leave,” Mara told him. “They’re enforcing the curfew. We’ve heard gunfire outside on the streets. One of the SEALs heard rumors that the Chinese were sending paratroopers.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“I realize that.” Mara looked down at M?. The tired girl clutched Mara’s pants leg, her fingers squeezing the cloth so tightly her knuckles were white. “I’m not sure if we’ll be able to get gas. Or that our cars are still going to be there.”

“I have fresh cars for you.”

“How?”

“They’re clean, don’t worry.”

“Jess, I don’t know. That guy in the park — ”

“Mara, I’m every bit as paranoid as you are,” said DeBiase. “Waiting around in Saigon isn’t a great idea.”

No shit, Mara wanted to scream.

“We’ll have a big party when you get back,” added DeBiase. “Maybe I’ll even get my hernia done.”

“Tell me where the cars are,” she said finally. “I’m not sure when I’m leaving. I have to think about it. We’ll get there eventually.”

“I’m sure you will, darling.” DeBiase’s voice flickered with concern. Then he added lightly, “You gotta make the call. Go when you’re comfortable.”

* * *

Josh’s cheek stung where Mara had kissed him, as if her lips had somehow short- circuited his nerves there. He sat on the commode, waiting while the Vietnamese official pretended to wash his hands. Or maybe he really did wash his hands — the dryer whooshed on three times before the man left the restroom. A moment later, Kerfer came in, humming a tune.

“Going to the chapel, gonna get ma-a-ar-ried.”

It was such an incongruous song for the grizzled lieutenant that Josh started to laugh.

“Gonna get mah-ah-ahrried,” repeated Kerfer, going over to the urinals.

“Hey,” said Josh.

“Don’t forget to flush.”

Josh came out and washed his hands.

“Where’re the girls?” asked Kerfer.

“Went next door.”

“If you guys want to have a quickie, remember to hand the kid off to Squeaky first.”

Josh felt his face flush. He waved his hands under the dryer.

“Still hurt when you pee?” said Kerfer.

“Yeah.”

“Go ahead out,” said Kerfer, going to the dryer. “Squeaky’s out in the hall.”

“You think you have to stick this close?”

“Gives the guys something to do,” said Kerfer. “Otherwise they’ll end up with the same thing you got.”

* * *