assist the That army in putting down the insurrection; whether or not the U.S. Navy pulled copies of the data for other purposes was, of course, up to them.
After almost an hour of discussion, Duong leaned forward, steepling his fingers. 'I am inclined to accept your offer, Admiral,' he said at last.
'Particularly if the RTAF has the primary responsibility for protecting your people. Your… your TARPS aircraft could be based at an airfield in the area where we could provide ground security as well.'
'That would be satisfactory,' Magruder said. 'I would suggest that we provide you with two aircraft, though, one to carry the TARPS, one as wingman.' Flying wingman formations was basic to U.S. air tactics, and Magruder didn't want the entire responsibility for protecting the TARPS plane to rest with their That hosts.
Duong nodded. 'Two aircraft could hardly be interpreted as major American assistance,' he said. 'And the air base I have in mind is somewhat remote.'
'Where is it?'
'North of Chiang Mai. It's a small military base called U Feng, about twenty kilometers from the border.' He turned to face his aide. 'Colonel, you were just stationed there, were you not?'
Kriangsak nodded. 'Yes, sir. Headquarters staff for almost two years.'
'Then you will have all the information these gentlemen need. I'll leave that to YOU.'
Whom to send? Magruder wondered. Properly, this should have been a volunteers-only mission, since whoever went would be missing out on liberty in Bangkok. That alone could qualify U Feng as hardship duty.
For a recon flight like this, though, he wanted someone with plenty of experience flying the electronics-laden pod. Most Tomcat drivers were familiar with TARPS, but some had more experience than others. The name of Lieutenant Commander Matthew Magruder came to mind.
Magruder smiled. Simply ordering his nephew to take the U Feng mission might solve several problems at once. He'd heard the rumors and jokes about VF-95's skipper, winner of the Navy Cross, the fair-haired admiral's nephew.
It was impossible to avoid the ugly specter of favoritism in a situation like this, and ever since Wonsan, Magruder had been wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to have Tombstone transferred to another command. Maybe the rumors could be scotched if it was Tombstone who was ordered to fly up to U Feng for fun and games in the jungles of the Golden Triangle.
So, Tombstone and his RIO, plus one other Tomcat and crew. A week at U Feng should be sufficient to map most of the threatened border area.
He hoped Tombstone would understand. A week at U Feng wouldn't exactly be a pleasant break from shipboard routine.
Tombstone, Batman, Nightmare Marinaro and Price Taggart all sat in the synthetic leather chairs of the Ready Room, sipping Cokes and swapping stories. They were on Alert 15, but it had been a quiet night so far and only twenty minutes remained in the watch. The atmosphere was relaxed, full of joking and good-natured banter.
They laughed as Tombstone wrinkled his nose. 'Come off it, Batman, you don't know what the hell you're talking about! You've never even been there!'
'Hey! Trust me, man! Trust me! I used to go out with this blonde back Stateside, y'know? An airline stewardess for TWA! Tits like you would not believe! And she told me that the Airport Hotel was where the stews hang out whenever they're in town.'
'Bull!' Nightmare said, grinning. 'You're saying your girlfriend told you where to pick up Western girls when you were here?'
'Hey, she didn't know I was going to be in Bangkok when she told me! We were in bed at the time, as I recall… and she was kind of under my spell, know what I mean?'
Tombstone shook his head. 'Maybe you'll run into her when you're there.'
'Not likely. She quit and married a lawyer from Duluth. Great tits, though. The Batman flies first class, all the way!'
'Delirious again, poor boy,' Price said sadly. He picked up an empty soft drink can by Batman's elbow and shook it lightly. 'Too much sugar.
Makes 'em hallucinate.'
'Must be,' Tombstone agreed.
'Shit,' Batman said agreeably. 'You two clods are just jealous! There you'll be, off on the frontier with gomers and alligators for playmates…'
'Right on,' Nightmare said. 'Ol' Batman and me are gonna be making the rounds in Patpong while you two are slapping mosquitos out in the jungle!
Don't worry, though. We'll remember you to the girls…'
'You want to kill them or shall I?' Price asked Tombstone.
'Aw, let them live. They both had deprived childhoods.'
'Deprived of nookie,' Batman agreed. 'We're making up for lost time.'
Tombstone snorted. 'Perhaps I should remind you that you guys are still going to be working. That's Working…' He dragged the word out cruelly.
'You know… flying? With an airplane? Working with the Thais?'
'That's it, man!' Nightmare said. 'Working with 'em by day and playing with 'em by night! Some of those That babes-'
'Uh uh,' Batman said, shaking his head. 'Not me. None of this here local gook poon for yours truly! That's why I'm for the Airport Hotel!'
'So what's wrong with local girls?' Price asked. 'You prejudiced or something?'
'Nah. I just want a gal in my league, is all. You know how stews just love fighter jocks…'
'You'd be a natural with your medal, Stoney,' Nightmare said. 'You go into the bar, see? You sidle up alongside a lonely-looking lovely, and you quietly let slip that you are a genuine American Naval hero, winner of the Navy Cross…'
'… and all of a sudden you've got twenty gorgeous girls,' Batman finished for him. 'All rubbing up against you in their low-cut gowns, just begging you to take them back to their room!'
'Sounds crowded.'
'That, my friend, is the true and deep tragedy of the American hero.
Alone… unloved… unappreciated, he nevertheless must bear the slings and arrows of misfortune-'
'That's 'outrageous fortune.''
'Y'know, Stoney, now that I think about it, maybe you should let me borrow that fancy ribbon of yours. I could put it to real good use!'
'Yeah!' Nightmare snickered. 'It's gonna be wasted up in that jungle!'
Tombstone laughed, but the reminder about the medal brought a small stab of guilt. He still felt uncomfortable with the whole hero idea and wished the others would drop the subject.
'Well, Stoney,' Batman said slowly. 'I'll tell you. I will be thinking of you while you're up at that remote, jungle outpost. I truly will. And the first stew I get in the sack, I'll slip in the old salami and say, 'Stoney, this screw's for you!''
'Your generosity is overwhelming.' He looked away from the group, toward a large, mounted photograph on one paneled bulkhead. Taken from another aircraft, it showed ten aircraft from VF-95 flying in formation toward the camera, with the bow-on Jefferson astern and below.
The squadron.
Despite the banter, Tombstone had been looking forward to his assignment at U Feng ever since CAG had told him about it that afternoon. He was not one for nightlife, and he didn't feel the driving need to bed and boast that seemed to animate the others. Batman, perhaps, was more typical in that respect. At least he followed the aviator's party line.
Well, he could have his stewardesses, and welcome. Tombstone was eager to see something of a mystic land that was more fairy tale than fact.
One thing was certain. His assignment to U Feng was going to give him a week away from the ship. A week
