P. O. W. by Donald E. Zlotnik

Author:Donald E. Zlotnik [ZLOTNIK, DONALD E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780446566810
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2009-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Fool’s Gold Escape

The hut was clean and smelled of freshly split bamboo and new thatch. Colonel Garibaldi looked down at the woven mats covering the floor and saw that they were also new. The hut had never been used before. There were two cots, one at each end of the ten-by-eight-foot building. The only sign that the hut housed POWs was the chain with the leg brackets that was attached to one of the main bamboo poles next to each bed.

“Look at this!” Barnett held up the new metal plate in one hand and the knife, fork, and spoon in his other hand.

“Something is going on that doesn’t make any sense.” Garibaldi shook his head. “First, the new hooch with a roof!” He looked up at the shade-producing cover and closed his eyes in silent prayer. “It’s going to feel good sleeping at night and not get rained on or bake all day in the sun.”

“Why do you think they’re doing this?” Spencer sat down on his cot.

“I don’t know….” Colonel Garibaldi sat down across from the soldier. “I’ve been in a half-dozen of their POW camps, and I’ve never even heard of them allowing two prisoners to live together, much less given them all of these luxury items!” Garibaldi let his eyes sweep over the new blankets, eating utensils, spare clothes, water cans, and even a wash basin with a mirror attached to the wall of the hut.

“Well, I don’t know what they’ve got planned, but I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts!” Spencer stretched out on the bamboo-framed cot that had been padded with thatch.

Colonel Garibaldi jumped to his feet. “Someone is coming….”

Lieutenant Van Pao stepped through the low doorway and entered the hut smiling. She was followed by a small man wearing steel-frame glasses and carrying a dark brown leather satchel. “How are my Americans feeling today?” Van Pao’s smile spread out over her face.

“Very good, ma’am.” Colonel Garibaldi tilted forward slightly as a sign of respect and submission. He knew how to play the survival game well.

Barnett started getting up off his cot, but Van Pao stopped him by holding out her hand. “You may stay there, Spencer Barnett.” She had begun calling him by both of his names since he had survived the whole night in Mother Kaa’s cage without screaming even once. “Dr. Tam is going to examine you and the colonel and see if you need any special medical attention.” She motioned for the North Vietnamese doctor to start examining Barnett.

The doctor used Van Pao as an interpreter and asked numerous questions about his health and how he was feeling as he conducted the examination. He had Spencer strip down to his new black pajama pants and checked his heart rate and lungs. The doctor barked a set of orders and looked at the lieutenant. She smiled and closed her eyes halfway before translating the order into English. “He wants you to stand up and lower your pants.”

Spencer didn’t hesitate. He wasn’t going to give Sweet Bitch a second of pleasure by acting modest in front of her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.