Ninety Days by Sonny Gratzer

Author:Sonny Gratzer [Gratzer, Sonny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781475986181
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2013-05-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

19

Tanh and Marion verbally sparred with each other. Seated in the Asian’s dank, dimly lit bunker, each seemed reluctant to place his complete confidence in the other.

On another of their jaunts through the mountain jungle on that day, Tanh had surprised Steve. He had stopped abruptly and said, “We will talk tonight about what you mentioned before, Colonel.”

With those few words, Tanh walked on again over the open path with his hands clasped behind his back, as if he had no cares in the world. Steve stood dumbfounded, astonished, disbelieving Tanh’s words. He ran to Tanh’s side, started to grab Tanh’s arm, and then stopped his action. He knew the hidden guards would misinterpret his movement.

“You mean about getting out of here, Major Tanh?” He feared the answer would be negative.

“Yes, that is what I mean. I am ready to help you. Keep walking, Colonel. Act as you always act,” Tanh chided, suddenly afraid himself that the guards might understand their manner. “We will talk tonight. You will be brought to me.”

When they returned to the compound, Steve could not think of anything else. He could not eat. He went through his exercise program for the second time that day and waited for one of Tanh’s men to bring him to their rendezvous in Tanh’s bunker.

When a guard finally called him, Steve tensed. He felt as if he was walking into a trap, and he walked warily, expecting something to happen with the guards. He faced Tanh minutes later, still not convinced he was not being trapped.

Tanh saw Steve’s apprehension and relaxed. The strain was of two antagonists meeting finally for the handshake to erase a long-standing feud. Tanh had reached the point of no return, and he knew he must initiate the proceedings.

“Colonel, I know this is difficult for both of us. Please be easy.” Tanh tried to alleviate the tension both felt in this decisive moment. “I have given much thought to your idea. Shall we talk?”

Steve saw by Tanh’s expression, the friendly understanding in his eyes, and realized that Tanh spoke honestly. His fears vanished. He decided to trust Tanh.

“Major Tanh, do you mean what you say?”

“Yes, I mean what I say.”

“Let’s shake on it then.”

Almost comically, both men rose and extended their hands across the rough-cut table, sealing an agreement like two thieves.

Steve got to the point immediately. “Major, the way I figure it, if we can take one of our daily walks alone, we can get at least a three-hour head start. Can you order your men to leave us alone when we walk?”

“That is not hard. My men trust me and will do what I say, as your men would do for you. I have thought much, too, and I think we can get no more than three hours. I agree with you. I have a route planned. I want you to look at it.”

Tanh reached for a small nonmilitary road map of Southeast Asia that showed all of the major road networks of North and South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and some of Thailand.

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