Up Country Part 24

"K-I is usually a prefix-ki-cop is stingy, ki-cang is carefully, ki-keo is to bargain or complain."

"Could this just be a made-up name?"

"Could be. Doesn't sound like a place name."

I looked back at the screen and saw: Acknowledge. Acknowledge.

I replied in the military style: Affirmative Affirmative, which has different shades of meaning, depending on who's talking to whom, and how the conversation is going. In this case, it meant: Yeah. Yeah. I added, to see what he'd say: I added, to see what he'd say: Do you want me to research the location of this village? Do you want me to research the location of this village?

The reply was immediate: Negative. Do not ask and do not look at maps. Maps are inaccurate and many villages have the same name. We will contact you if and when you get to Hue. Negative. Do not ask and do not look at maps. Maps are inaccurate and many villages have the same name. We will contact you if and when you get to Hue.

I replied: Roger. How are you making out with names of suspects and name of victim? Roger. How are you making out with names of suspects and name of victim?

Karl replied: Narrowing list. Narrowing list. Then: Then: If at liberty, where will you go tomorrow? If at liberty, where will you go tomorrow?

I replied: Narrowing list. Narrowing list.

He answered me: Colonel Mang wants an itinerary and so do we. Colonel Mang wants an itinerary and so do we.

I looked up at Susan and asked her, "Where would be a good place to go from here tomorrow to kill a few days?"

"Paris."

"How about a little closer to Saigon? Someplace where Westerners go."

"Well, Dalat, the French mountain resort. The rail line is still blown up, but you can get there by car or bus."

"Okay, any place else?"

"There's the old French beach resort of Vung Tau."

"So, I have my choice of the mountains or the beach. Where's Vung Tau?"

"A little south of here. I can take you with my motorcycle. I go there on weekends."

"I need to head north."

"Why don't you call your travel agent?"

"Come on. Help me out."

"You didn't want my help."

"I apologize."

"Say please."

"Please." I couldn't believe I'd gotten myself in this situation; hounded by a Vietnamese version of Lieutenant Colombo, apologizing to a sulky upper-middle-cla.s.s snot, and Karl shoveling s.h.i.t at me over the Internet. Where is my M-16 when I need it?

I calmed down and asked Susan, "How about Nha Trang?"

She nodded. "Not bad. Not too far, nice beach, and lots of places to stay. Do you know it?"

"Yeah. I actually had a three-day in-country R&R there in '68." I asked her, "Are there any Western tourists there?"

"Usually. It's still warm enough to swim there. You won't stand out, if that's what you mean."

"That's what I mean." I also meant I didn't want to wind up in some G.o.dforsaken place where the fuzz could pick me up without any of my compatriots around to witness it. But that was negative thinking. Visualize success. Visualize success. I asked Susan, "Can I get there easily?" I asked Susan, "Can I get there easily?"

"I can get you there, and I can find you a place to stay. Money talks, and I have a good travel agent who does business with the firm."

"Okay. Nha Trang. Thanks."

I started typing, and she said, "Tell them I'm going with you."

"Yeah. Right." I typed: My intended destination is Nha Trang-unless transportation or accommodations are not available. If it changes, Ms. W will let you know ASAP. My intended destination is Nha Trang-unless transportation or accommodations are not available. If it changes, Ms. W will let you know ASAP.

Karl replied: Understand. Suggest you stay in Nha Trang or alternate until Hue rendezvous. The less movement, the better. Fax Ms. W your Nha Trang or alternate address when you arrive. Instruct her to give it to the consulate. Understand. Suggest you stay in Nha Trang or alternate until Hue rendezvous. The less movement, the better. Fax Ms. W your Nha Trang or alternate address when you arrive. Instruct her to give it to the consulate.

Susan said to me, "Did you tell them?"

"I did. They said flat out no."

"You didn't ask them. Tell them you need a guide and interpreter."

I typed: I will attempt to keep to the itinerary I give to Mang until the time I leave Hue for Tam Ki. The missing days between Hue and Hanoi may cause some problems when I show up in Hanoi. I will attempt to keep to the itinerary I give to Mang until the time I leave Hue for Tam Ki. The missing days between Hue and Hanoi may cause some problems when I show up in Hanoi.

Karl replied: If you're still having a police problem when you get to Hanoi, contact Mr. Eagan at emba.s.sy. But do not go to emba.s.sy unless instructed. Acknowledge. If you're still having a police problem when you get to Hanoi, contact Mr. Eagan at emba.s.sy. But do not go to emba.s.sy unless instructed. Acknowledge.

Roger. I pictured myself living in the American emba.s.sy for five years while the State Department negotiated my safe departure from the Socialist Republic. This really sucked. I asked: I pictured myself living in the American emba.s.sy for five years while the State Department negotiated my safe departure from the Socialist Republic. This really sucked. I asked: Should I contact you from Hue-directly or through Ms. W? Should I contact you from Hue-directly or through Ms. W?

The reply came: Negative. If you don't check in at the designated hotel in Hue, we will know and will a.s.sume a problem. When you do check in, you'll be instructed regarding further communication. Negative. If you don't check in at the designated hotel in Hue, we will know and will a.s.sume a problem. When you do check in, you'll be instructed regarding further communication.

Instructed by whom?, I asked.

Karl replied: You'll be contacted. You'll be contacted.

I typed: Anything further regarding my Hue contact? Anything further regarding my Hue contact?

Karl responded: Negative. Do you understand your rendezvous times and places? Negative. Do you understand your rendezvous times and places?

I answered: Affirmative. 32 down. The word was rotisserie. Affirmative. 32 down. The word was rotisserie.

Karl replied: The word had nothing to do with it. Do you understand your instructions? The word had nothing to do with it. Do you understand your instructions?

I replied: I do. :) I do. :). I added: Hey, I saw the Cu Chi tunnels, Highway 13, the Michelin plantation. Good tank country. Did you have fun? Hey, I saw the Cu Chi tunnels, Highway 13, the Michelin plantation. Good tank country. Did you have fun?

Karl replied: :( :(I typed: We should come back together. We should come back together.

He replied: I'll think about that. Remember, we need to know what happens tomorrow re Mang. Are you confident in Ms. Weber's understanding of what she needs to do? I'll think about that. Remember, we need to know what happens tomorrow re Mang. Are you confident in Ms. Weber's understanding of what she needs to do?

I replied: She's very savvy, resourceful, motivated. Give her a raise. She's very savvy, resourceful, motivated. Give her a raise.

He replied: I have nothing further. You? I have nothing further. You?

Yeah. What the h.e.l.l is this all about? But I typed: Cynthia? Honolulu? Cynthia? Honolulu?

I waited for the reply, and it seemed a long time before it came up on the screen. It said: We have not been in contact with her. But your travel arrangements are made from Bangkok to Honolulu, then Maui. We have not been in contact with her. But your travel arrangements are made from Bangkok to Honolulu, then Maui.

I typed: Contact her. Contact her.

Karl's reply was: She's on a case. But if she intends to meet you in Honolulu, the army will approve her leave quickly, and get her to Hawaii. She's on a case. But if she intends to meet you in Honolulu, the army will approve her leave quickly, and get her to Hawaii. He added: He added: Focus on mission. Focus on mission.

I typed: Let me know by Hanoi. Let me know by Hanoi.

He replied: By Bangkok, latest. By Bangkok, latest.

I replied: Roger. Roger.

Karl sent me an early valentine: Good luck, Paul, G.o.d speed, and safe home. Good luck, Paul, G.o.d speed, and safe home.

I sat at the keyboard a long moment, knowing this might be the last message from home for a long time. I knew that feeling, from the last two times, when I spoke to my parents on a special radiophone that the GIs could use about twice a year. I typed: I'm glad I came back. I'm confident I'll be successful and home on time. Love to Cynthia. I'm glad I came back. I'm confident I'll be successful and home on time. Love to Cynthia.

Karl replied: Roger. Further? Roger. Further?

Negative.

Out.

I signed off, deleted everything, and sat there awhile, then stood and went to the sideboard. I made myself a Scotch on the rocks and skipped the soda.

Susan asked me, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

She thought a moment and said to me, "If you're not able to travel tomorrow... if they keep you here for a few days, I can make a business trip for you. Meet someone, or whatever."

I looked at her and smiled. "Thank you. That's a very nice offer, but it's a lot more complex than that. Okay, how do I get to Nha Trang?"

"I'll e-mail the company's travel agent and see what I can do." She sat down at her desk. "Do you want me to try to book you a room somewhere, or do you want to wing it?"

"I'll need to give Mang an address."

"Not necessarily. Every major town has an Immigration Police office. Basically, they watch foreigners. So, if you tell Mang you have no address in Nha Trang, he will tell you to report to the Immigration Police either on your arrival, or after you've found a place to stay."

I thought about that, then said to Susan, "I'll find a place to stay when I get there." I added, "In fact, I'll try to find the R&R hotel on the beach that the army took over during the war. That should be a nostalgia trip."

"Should be. What was the name of it?"

"Don't remember. An old French place. But I'll recognize it. In any case, I'll fax you here after I check in to someplace. If I don't contact you within twenty-four hours of my departure from Saigon, contact my firm."

"I'm here to help." She turned her attention to her computer and started typing. She said, "I'm asking my travel agent about a train or mini-bus reservation to Nha Trang for tomorrow. Planes have been booked for months. I'm offering twice the ticket price, which is already quadrupled for foreigners. Okay?"

"It's not my money."

"Good." She continued typing and said, "I'm also asking her about a private car. There's also a hydrofoil to Nha Trang, though I'm sure everything's booked. But we'll get you to Nha Trang, even if I have to put you on the torture bus."

"A private car sounds like the way to go. Money is no object. Will this travel agent get back to you ASAP?"

"She's in at 8 A.M. A.M.-Saigon starts early. You'll be seeing Colonel Mang at about that time. I will meet you in the lobby of the Rex, and we'll see if you need to go to Nha Trang, or the airport and home." She added, "And if you're not at the Rex by, say, noon, then I know who to contact."

"Do you mind if I give the instructions?"

She looked up from her keyboard and said, "Mr. Brenner, this is not rocket science, and I learn fast. I've taken the responsibility of getting you out of Saigon, or reporting your detention or expulsion. Let's do this my way."

My goodness. Ms. Weber really was a different lady in her office. Or maybe she was a little miffed at me for not wanting her along on the trip.

She continued banging away at the keyboard and said, "I'm now e-mailing my boss, Jack Swanson, saying I won't be in until tomorrow afternoon."

It seemed to me that there was a lot of typing going on for these relatively simple messages.

Ms. Weber shut down her computer, stood, finished her drink, and said to me, "Let me take you to dinner."

"That's very nice of you. But I do have an expense account."

"So do I. And I'm going to tell you why you should invest in Vietnam. It's the Pacific Rim country with the most potential for growth."

I replied, "I've already invested enough in Vietnam."

She didn't reply, walked toward the door, and put her hand on the light switch. "Ready?"

I said, "Please print out the fax report and shred it."

"Oh... you're a real pro." She went to the alcove, printed out the fax activity report, and ran it through the shredder.

I took the camera and the exposed roll of film from her desk and said, "Please put this in your safe."

She punched the keypad on her safe, and I gave her the film and the camera, which she put in the safe and closed the door.

We left the office and walked around the perimeter of the suite. Susan pointed out the library, the conference room, and a lunch room that looked like a French cafe.

She said, "We treat ourselves well here. It's cheap, and it's a mental health perk. Here's the workout room and the showers." We entered a room with a few exercise machines. Through an open door, I saw a ma.s.sage table.

I thought we were going to our respective places of residence to clean up, but Susan indicated a door that said Men Men, and informed me, "There's everything you need in there. I'll be in the ladies' shower."

"If I need anything."

"Behave. See you here in the exercise room."