Shock of War

And yet, the slavishness of the original plan — or what Zeus interpreted as the original plan — spoke volumes as well. If you had such little regard for the Vietnamese, why not simply launch the attack as soon you were ready? What was it that the darkness gave you, really?

“The beauty of waiting twenty-four hours is, you don’t change anything, just the calendar,” said Zeus when Perry remarked that the timing seemed to coincide with what had been planned the night before. “D + 1 is now D. All the times, etc., are the same.”

The mood inside the command complex was glum. Perry left them, presumably to talk personally to Trung. Zeus sat next to Christian, but made sure to keep his eyes fixed in the other direction.

Perry and Trung weren’t there for the start of the staff briefing. A Vietnamese colonel gave a situation report with only a large map for a reference. In Zeus’s experience, intelligence briefings of outsiders fell into one of two categories:

1. The superoptimistic kind, like the one telling Custer there were a few Indians ahead, and

2. The seriously pessimistic kind, where Sitting Bull’s ancestors’ failure to make the proper prayer to a minor god several eons ago would hang heavy over the battlefield.

This briefing was a fine example of category one. The forces under General Tri, said the briefer, were resisting fiercely. No inch was being given freely. The Chinese were stalling all along the roads they had taken.

That was the strategy? Fight for every inch? They were just making it easier to be annihilated.

Zeus walked over to the side of the room as the officer continued. There was a large steel pot of tea there. He would have greatly preferred coffee, but at this point any caffeine would do.

“Do you agree with this interpretation?” asked the interpreter.

Zeus looked over and realized that everyone was looking at him. “I’m sorry?”

“The assessment,” said the interpreter.

“The Chinese are attacking as we predicted,” said Zeus. “They’ll be at Tien Yen by morning.”

“We will stop them beforehand,” answered the briefing officer, using English and not bothering to wait for the interpreter. “The attack will wither and die.”

There was no sense arguing with the man. He seemed genuinely to believe what he was saying.

Christian asked a few questions, trying to get some information about the Chinese infantry units that were accompanying the armor. The Vietnamese couldn’t give detailed answers, another bad sign.

Zeus blew on his tea to cool it. He thought of Anna, then pushed the image away.

Briefing over, the Vietnamese officers left.

“You still mad?” said Christian when the room was empty.

Zeus just stared at him.

“Look, I was out of line,” said Christian. “I apologize.”

God, he really has changed, thought Zeus.

“It’s all right,” he told him.

Christian got up and went to get himself some tea.

“Thanks for getting us out of China,” he said.

“Yeah.”

Christian grimaced. “That… I screwed up. I lost my head. I was tired; I felt like I was possessed or something. I’m sorry… I just about got us killed.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad we got through it. Thanks.”

Zeus nodded.

“This tea sucks,” said Christian. “We should find some coffee.”

“I’m for that.”

They sat silently until General Perry came in a few minutes later.

“Lost in thought, gentlemen?” said the general.

“Trying to figure out where we can get some coffee,” said Christian.

“Well at least you’re not fighting,” said Perry with a sour face. “We’re making progress.”

“Sir, that was my fault,” said Christian. “I was an idiot.”

“It wasn’t anything,” said Zeus softly. “I was a jerk, too.”

“Vietnam may be lost, but there’s hope for the U.S. Army,” said Perry. His tone remained stern, sour even. “Zeus, General Trung would like to speak to you. I think he wants to apologize for yesterday.”

“He doesn’t have to apologize.”

“He knows that. Be gracious.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s our next move, General?” asked Christian.

“Watch and wait,” said Perry. “If they want our advice, they’ll ask.” “How about the A-10As?” asked Zeus.

“Even if they were coming, which they’re not, it may be too late,” said Perry.

* * *

General Trung met Zeus in a small office on the lowest level of the complex. It was bare, even by Vietnamese standards. There was nothing on the cement walls, and the only furniture was a solitary wooden chair. Trung stood behind it as Zeus entered. His eyes had deep rings below them, circular welts that seemed to penetrate far into his face.

“General Tri was in error,” Trung told Zeus. “I deeply apologize.” He bent forward.

“General, there’s no need to apologize,” said Zeus. “I wasn’t offended. I understand the stress very well.”

Trung straightened.

“We’re guests here,” continued Zeus. “Some people may not want our help. It’s not a problem.”

“Thank you, Major, for your understanding.”

“General, I have a question,” said Zeus. “Do you believe the Chinese are aiming at Hai Phong?”

“It would seem a logical conclusion.”

“Why did you put your forces in Son Duong then?”

“Do you have a better suggestion?” asked the general.

“I certainly don’t know the tactical situation of your forces and bases as you do,” said Zeus. “I was just curious. You have a large force there, and it’s going to waste.”

A faint smile appeared on Trung’s lips, but it slipped away quickly.

“Curiosity in a commander is always a good thing,” said Trung. “I wonder, Major, would you like to tour the battlefield? By plane, I mean.”

“I’d like to, yes.”

“I would be grateful for additional insights. Captain Thieu will be your pilot.”

Thieu had taken Zeus west to scout the Chinese advance in a jet trainer a few days before. He was an excellent pilot. His plane, though, was a little shaky.

“I’d be happy to fly with him,” said Zeus.

“It will be arranged for first light,” said Trung.

19

Hanoi

Harland Perry was too young to have fought in Vietnam; his introduction to combat came as a very green lieutenant in the Kuwait War conducted by the first President Bush. But the Army that he joined had been molded by men who had been through Vietnam and the dreadful years immediately afterward. Many of their lessons stayed with him, including one about how easy it was to get sucked into a conflict you had no intention of fighting.

Like this one.

Perry’s original mission of fact-finding made enormous sense; by offering advice to the Vietnamese, he had in