Targets: A Vietnam War Novel by Don McQuinn

Author:Don McQuinn [McQuinn, Don]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780990348962
Publisher: Raven's Call Press
Published: 2017-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Willy and Ordway stopped at the corner, leaning against the wall of the Rex BOQ, watching the activity in the park that divided Nguyen Hue. To their right front, beyond the looming Vietnamese Marine Memorial, the Senate building cowered behind its concertina wire, an anti-climactic dot to the exclamation point of Le Loi Boulevard. Closer, the fountain at the intersection danced in the sun, its splashing a delight to the eye and denied to the ear by the traffic. A tired breeze brought them the smell of sunbaked dirt freshly watered. Miller paid no attention, but Ordway closed his eyes and was overwhelmed by memories of lawn sprinklers and shaded porches. His tension refused to be so easily dissuaded and his eyes popped open.

“You see him?” he asked.

“He said to be here. He’s around,” Miller answered, filtering apprehension from his voice. He thought of every name he’d ever heard and called them down on Mantell. Where the hell was he?

A black trooper in fatigues approached them, his face half-hidden by huge reflective shades.

“You Miller?”

“Yeah. Who’re you?”

“This your honky?”

Ordway leaned away from the wall and half turned to Miller.

“I told you this was a bunch of shit. I knew we’d run into a bunch of heads.” He turned back to the stranger. “You just blew it, asshole. The fucker you work for can’t move his stuff without Willy and Willy can’t do a fucking thing without me, and you piss me off. The deal’s a bummer.”

Miller’s knees trembled. “What?”

“I said fuck it, Willy. I don’t have to put up with this asshole, even if you want to. Fuck him!”

“Hey, man, hey, hey. Just be cool, man.” The trooper put a careful hand on Ordway’s shoulder. “I wasn’t thinkin’, you know? Like, I didn’t mean no harm. I didn’t know you was so tight with the brother here, you know? Just be cool.”

Naked fear reverberated from the man’s manner. Miller had been there himself, known the feeling of looking down a tunnel with a beating waiting at the other end. Ordway had put them in good position.

“It’s OK, buddy,” he said, playing the game. “He didn’t mean nothing. We can go along, see what’s on.”

Ordway stepped away from the guide’s hand. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself.”

Miller sidled a few inches closer to him, afraid to interfere and afraid Ordway would push too hard. “Let me handle it, OK?” He got between Ordway and the stranger. “What’s the deal?”

“You follow me,” the man said, glad to deal with Miller. “Let me get ten, fifteen yards ahead and you follow. Don’t make no signals and don’t go lookin’ around. Anything funny and we got people around to put a stop to it.”

“Anything funny?” Miller was contemptuous. “Shee-it. We’re here to take care of business, man. Go ahead and take your lead. We’ll be behind you.”

The man moved off, to any observer no more than another GI enjoying some free time in the city. Miller and Ordway trailed him, wondering how many of

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