Edge of War

“You got a plan here, lady?” asked Kerfer. He had taken his gun out and squatted next to her, ready.

“A friend is going to pull them hack.”

“He is, huh?”

The soldiers walked through the field slowly. Stevens dropped back behind a warehouse to avoid detection. Meanwhile, a second troop truck arrived, parking up by the buildings across from the airport. Those soldiers began searching there.

The commander of the unit, a Vietnamese lieutenant, walked on a beeline toward the tree. A communications man walked with him, while a pair of soldiers lagged behind, rifles in hand.

“If we can grab the louey, maybe we can set up a hostage situation,” said Kerfer.

“Just hold on,” said Mara.

“I don’t know that that’s going to work, spook.” Kerfer put down his gun and took out his knife. He turned to Josh. “You know how to use that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Just hold on,” said Mara.

The soldiers were ten yards away when the communications man suddenly stopped and reached for the controls of his field radio. The private listened for a moment, then handed the radiophone to the lieutenant. He was so close Mara could see his face, even smell his sweat. If the wind shifted suddenly, he’d smell theirs.

“Toi hieu!” he said loudly. I understand!

He reached for his pistol. Mara felt her stomach knot.

The lieutenant fired into the air. Mara felt Kerfer’s body coiling, ready to attack.

“Back to the truck!” the lieutenant shouted in Vietnamese. He turned abruptly. “We are needed at the port! Back to the truck!”

* * *

Stepping onto the golf course was like stepping onto a mattress. Jing Yo’s feet sprang up with each step, his energy increasing.

He worked to control it. Too much excitement would cloud his mind.

Jing Yo took his submachine gun out of his backpack, trying to balance caution against readiness. Then he ran into the woods lining the northern edge of the course. He spotted a building to his left, a large mansion or clubhouse. He changed course to avoid it, trotting through an open field, then past a narrow band of trees to the highway.

The road was empty. The airport sat a half mile beyond, at the top of the hill above a patchwork of fields and houses.

Jing Yo readjusted the strap holding his submachine gun, making it easier to tuck down near his leg behind the RPG box, then dashed across the road.

* * *

“Why didn’t you use that magic cell phone before?” Kerfer asked.

“We didn’t need it until now,” Mara told him. “I might have used it on the train, if you’d given me a chance.”

He scowled at her, then began checking in with his men, making sure the soldiers had gone.

Thirty-two more minutes, thought Mara, checking her watch. A few lifetimes.

“You feeling good now?” she asked Josh.

“I’m ready.”

Mara leaned over to M? and asked her in Vietnamese if she was all right.

“Vang,” said M?. Yes.

“The helicopter I told you about — it’s coming. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“We will fly to a new home. Okay?”

“Josh,” said M?, grabbing him. “He will come with us?”

“Yes,” said Mara. “Okay?”

“Yes. I am ready.”

“We won’t let the bad men hurt you,” said Mara.

M?’s chin began to quiver. Mara glanced at Josh, who tucked M? close to him.

“We got somebody moving up through the fields,” said Stevens over the radio.

“A soldier?” asked Kerfer.

“I don’t know. Maybe a militia guy — has a lighter shirt. Khaki. Carrying something. Could have a weapon. I don’t have an angle. Ducking into one of the lanes. Shit, I lost him.”

“Hold your position,” said Kerfer.

“Where is he?” Mara asked.

Kerfer pointed toward the house that sat on the edge of the hill to their right. “Gotta be looking for us,” he said.

“I agree.”

“Probably avoiding the rice paddy,” he said. “If he keeps going straight, he comes out right over there, across from the houses. Stevens is back this way.” He pointed to the left, meaning beyond the rice paddy.

Mara glanced at her watch. If they took him out now, would the helicopter arrive before the police? Or before whoever had just helped them changed his mind?

“He may just be a scout,” said Kerfer. “If he’s not armed and alone. We should still take him out, though.”

“Shooting him will complicate things,” said Mara. “Is he close enough to grab?”

Kerfer touched his radio control to transmit. “Hey, Stevens, can you grab this guy without too much fuss?”

“Negative. He’s out of sight. Good fifty yards away anyway.”

“Can you sneak up behind him?”

“If he’s armed, what do you want me to do?”

Kerfer turned to Mara.

“Watch him until the helicopter gets closer,” she said. “Or until he’s a threat. There’s too much time for the soldiers to come back.”

“Yeah, okay, I agree,” said Kerfer. He hit the radio. “Stevens, can you parallel him?”

“Yeah, I’m on it.”

“All right. Keep him in sight.”

“See, you can cooperate,” Mara told Kerfer.

“Don’t get too comfortable with it.”

* * *

Jing Yo heard the dog yapping in the backyard as he turned out of the alley. He had been planning to go over the fence there but decided to try the next yard instead.

His heart was pounding. He needed to calm down. He needed to work out a plan.

He’d get onto the airport grounds, find a place to hide the grenades and stow the guns. Then he would go to the terminal. He’d go inside, posing as a maintenance worker.

First, he needed a uniform.

He’d find a worker outside. He’d kill him quickly, with his hands. He’d take his shirt, and pants if necessary.

They’d be in the terminal. He could take them there, or he could take them on the helicopter when it arrived.

Either way.

A grenade into the motor of the chopper as it took off would be very efficient.

Two grenades into the terminal would be almost as easy.

And then?

Should he go to Hyuen Bo? They might be able to escape in the boat.

Difficult.

It would be easier for her if he disappeared. She would be killed if the Vietnamese caught him.