Page 185 of Cry Havoc

Mama Bic’s was more than a bar. It was a place to rendezvous with those involved in the darker side of special operations. In the gloom of the dim lights, you could catch up with SF buddies and exchange news on who had been wounded, who had been killed, and who was missing in action, while also gathering information on various special projects. It was a recruiting ground. You picked up more intel about special projects in Mama Bic’s than you did on any of the FOBs.

Tom was there searching for his next assignment.

Serrano knew exactly what he was doing and had tracked him down before he made any commitments.

“So, Dvornikov was returned to the Soviets?” Tom asked.

“He was. And the crew of thePueblowill be released before the end of the year.”

“Well, that’s something. Though I can’t believe that fucker is free, and we still have POWs in Siberia.”

“The leak is plugged, Tom. The FBI arrested an NSA computer-type in Maryland with access to encryption keys.”

“Did he say why he did it?”

“The age-old reason,” Serrano said, nodding at a scantily clad bar girl swaying to the music on the dance floor.

“He should have just stopped by this place,” Tom said.

“Because of what you did, SOG Recon Teams stand a much higher chance of survival.”

“Well, it was never very good to begin with.”

“It’s a tough war, Tom.”

“And Eldridge?”

“You heard?”

“Yeah. Drowning. That was too good for that asshole,” Tom said, thinking of Amiuh’s dead body behind the wheel of the cargo truck.

“One might call it justice.”

“One might.”

“Listen, Tom. I know why you are here.”

“Yeah?”

“You are looking for another job. Don’t you feel like you have done enough in ’Nam?”

“Quinn gave everything for this country. So did Amiuh. I’ve lost too many good friends here.”

“And what? You want to be next? You want to join them? What is it with you?”

“I don’t know,” Tom said, looking into his beer as the cover band switched to an even worse rendition of “Break on Through.” “Maybe I’m trying to prove something.”

“To yourself?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. But I know what I’m good at.”

“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you.”

Tom took a swig of his beer.

“There’s another side of the Agency,” Serrano said.

“Oh, I’m now familiar,” Tom said.