the feel of the ground under his feet, sensing hidden noise-making traps and rough spots before they even were visible. After a while, I began following in his footsteps ? quite literally, having already observed that his choice of path was invariably the best one.
We made good time over the relatively low-rolling hills, and soon Yuri stopped us for a quick, whispered conference. 'There are guards from this point on,' he explained quietly. He pointed at two of his men. 'They will go on ahead ? clear the path.' He gazed over at me with a concerned expression on his face. 'You realize, if we have to use force to get close enough to observe, it will simply make time all the more critical for your decision. Once alerted, they will begin moving the site, perhaps to some location inside China. That would pose an entirely different set of political problems for both of us.'
I nodded, acknowledging his concern. 'You've gone to an awful lot of trouble, Commander Kursk,' I said. 'I'm not sure I agree completely with your reasoning, but I'll try to see that it doesn't go to waste. If what you've said is true, then it's in both of our best interests to put an end to this quickly.'
Yuri nodded, apparently satisfied. I had promised him nothing, just a hard, honest look at the facts. He seemed convinced that once I understood what was truly at stake, I would do as he wished. The possibility of learning about my father was just an added bonus in the package.
We moved out low to the ground now, crouched and sometimes crawling, seeking the deepest cover the jungle had to offer. We snaked our way up another hill, now moving at virtually a crawl.
Suddenly, I heard noise off to my left. Two men, moving heavily through the brush, not taking any particular precautions against being observed.
A Chinese patrol? I realized that by asking that question to myself I had already acknowledged the probable truth of what Yuri had explained. Chinese had been the first word that flashed in my mind ? not Vietnamese.
I saw Yuri motion, and two men peeled away from the column toward the noise. Their guns were still slung across their backs, and each carried a large killing knife in his right hand. They disappeared from view quickly as the jungle absorbed them.
I could hear voices now, faintly discernible. I felt as though someone had slammed me in the gut, knocking all the air out of me.
I stood up, oblivious to the protest of the Cossack in front of me. 'Stop ? they're American.'
A shot rang out, and I heard a shrill yelp of pain. My blood ran cold.
'Damn it, Gator, I told you-' The voice broke off suddenly, but I recognized it.
'Bird Dog?' I shouted. 'Damn it all, that can't be you!'
Sudden, deadly silence extended over the jungle. The Cossack soldier was at my side in an instant, his knife out now and gleaming in the sun. We had no language in common, but his intent was unmistakable. He'd arrived at the same conclusion I would have in his position ? that the odd American officer he'd been chaperoning through the jungle had betrayed them. That this was a trap, somehow arranged to lead the Ukrainian-Cossack contingent into a deadly, killing cross fire.
He was ready to die, I saw that in his face. But equally clear there was his grim determination that if he was going, so was I.
'Wait,' I said, holding up my hands to show that they were bare. 'You don't understand. Those are my people. Americans, yes?'
A look of uncertainty crossed his face. The blade did not waver. Nor did he look behind him. I could see Yuri approaching now, moving quickly and altogether too noisily through the brush. 'They're Americans,' I repeated. 'My people ? I know that man.'
Yuri hissed, clearly not believing me. I had to admit that it sounded pretty improbable myself. What were the odds that two Americans, and ones that I knew personally at that, would be in this very same spot in the jungle? Astronomical.
'It's Bird Dog Robinson and Gator Cummings,' I said rapidly. 'They were on my ship, they're F-14 pilots. Maybe they were shot down, something like that. I don't know why they're here, but I do know I recognize that voice.'
Yuri was silent, assessing the possibilities. It was clear that he found my story as improbable as I did, but something in my face must have convinced him. Finally, he turned and muttered to the Cossack something low and unintelligible. The man nodded once, then slipped away quietly. Yuri turned back to me. 'I told him to bring them to me,' he said. He studied me, searching for any sign of uncertainty. 'If they are who you say they are, then there will be more explanations. Immediately.'
'I have not betrayed you,' I said, as calmly as I could. 'How could I have arranged this, do you think? We are not nearly as Byzantinely intricate on our plans as your people are. You know that already.'
Yuri nodded, still not looking convinced.
'Who was shot?' I asked. 'One of my men?'
Yuri shook his head. 'I do not know. But we will find out very shortly.'
'Let me talk to them,' I urged. 'They may try to take cover, fight back. If I let them know I'm here, they won't.'
Yuri appeared to consider that for a moment, then he nodded. 'Call to them,' he said. 'Tell them to walk toward the sound of your voice. I have ordered my men not to kill them immediately ? not until we understand what is happening here. You understand, by doing this, you will lead them to us. If this is a trap, they will both die. Before your eyes.'
I nodded, accepting the bargain. I took a deep breath, 'Bird Dog, Gator ? it's Admiral Magruder. Tombstone.'
The silence persisted. I could hear no one moving in the brush, not even my Americans, who were as unskilled as I in the jungle.
Still no answer. 'Look, what does it take to convince you?' I shouted. 'I'm not under duress ? you know I was on Jefferson, know I left there with an F-14 for the mainland. Maybe you don't know why I came ? maybe that's what's got you worried. They told me there were traces of my father's time in a POW camp here. I've been tracking them down. That's what I'm doing in the jungle, Bird Dog. Gator, talk to him ? make him listen to common sense. You always could do that.'
Still no answer.
'What do you want me to do, recite the Chargers starting lineup for you? That only works in the movies, Gator. Bird Dog, remember Callie? Remember how you wangled your way out to Jefferson while you were supposed to be at the War College? And Gator, I know something about you too ? that half the time, you're about ready to strangle that young pilot of yours. He's gotten you into more fixes than anyone else around, and you keep bailing him out. But you love him like a brother, don't you? I know you do ? I can see it in your face.
'Bird Dog, you were popcorn officer back when I was in command on Jefferson. You remember that? You used to come up with the most god-awful concoctions. Like putting pineapple syrup in the popper. I was so glad when you were promoted ? at least we could go back to having decent popcorn in the ready room.'
By now, I figured they were convinced that I was who I said I was. The only question remaining in their mind would be whether or not I was under duress, being held under gunpoint by Vietnamese forces simply to lure them out into the open. I turned to Yuri. 'I have to go to them,' I said. 'They're not going to believe that I'm operating under my own free will if I don't. And I need something to convince them.' I held out my hand for his rifle.
Yuri scowled. 'How do I know this is not a trap?'
I stared back at him levelly. 'You don't. All you have is my word ? and the fact that I've trusted you so far. Now give me the rifle.'
Finally, after an apparent inner struggle, Yuri handed over his AK-47. I took it in both hands, held it out in front of me, and walked toward the place where I'd last heard the noise. 'Bird Dog, Gator ? look. I'm coming toward you. There are some men moving up quietly on you. And I want them to hold still. Tell them, Yuri.'
Back behind me, I heard Yuri shout out some commands in Ukrainian. I could discern no change in the bushes, but I was certain that he had told them to halt their advance.
'Look out, you can see me,' I called. 'I've got a rifle in my hands. Would I have a weapon if I were under duress? Yeah, it could be unloaded ? but it's not.' I pointed the weapon up at the sky and pressed the trigger briefly. A small spat of gunfire followed. 'See? C'mon out, guys. You have to know that I wouldn't do this, not even if I were under duress, if it meant your lives.'
Finally, a noise from ahead, maybe forty feet away. Two figures rose slowly, one propping the other up. I saw
