Page 66 of Cry Havoc

“Last year we had the VC and NVA on the run. I’m thinking a massive country-wide assault could be in the works. With the Tet New Year celebrations starting tonight, about half the South Vietnamese army is on leave.”

“You said country-wide, but these maps are just in the North,” Tom said.

“I’d guess he’s not the only one. He just happened to be the one that got caught.”

“NVA thought they could move him so close to an American FOB because we were not supposed to be operating that night.”

“That’s right. I checked, and you did not submit a mission approval message to Saigon. Your CO covered for you after the fact.”

“How do you know that?”

“Not my first rodeo.”

“That means someone in Saigon was deconflicting U.S. missions against infiltrators from the North? Captain Lam?”

“Appears so. There are almost certainly more.”

“Fuck, why are we still sharing information?” Tom asked.

“By, with, and through our Vietnamese counterparts is the name of the game these days.”

“Politics.”

“And now we can’t ask Lam because he’s dead. Nor can we ask the prisoner, because Captain Lam executed him,” Serrano said.

“The NVA took a big risk and burned one of their assets to ensure Colonel Trân did not make it to the interrogation center. Whatever he knew, it was important enough for him to take it to the grave.”

“I think we know what’s coming. Jack Singlaub shares my concern and has raised it with Westy,” Serrano said, referring to General Westmoreland.“He’s preoccupied with Khe Sanh, which has been under siege all week. Press in the States is already calling it ‘America’s Dien Bein Phu.’?”

“They better be fucking careful, or the whole country is going to look like Khe Sanh and Dien Bein Phu,” Tom said.

“What do you know about Captain Lam?” Quinn asked.

“Captain Lam was from Nha-Ky-Thuat.”

“The Strategic Technical Directorate, our ARVN SOG counterpart.”

“That’s right. That means he knew you were escorting your prisoner to CMIC.”

“And now we are at a dead end.”

“Quite literally. He didn’t say anything else?”

“No,” Quinn said. “Tom, anything come to mind?”

Tom shook his head.

“What now?” the SEAL asked.

“I’m going to get a cable out through the station to Langley. For some fucking reason the seventh floor, and even some of the assholes at the station, refuse to accept the fact that this country, including right here in Saigon, is going to get hit, and it’s going to get hit soon. Get some rest. Let me know if you need anything; I’ll be talking with Jack regularly. The field hospital should be preparing Amiuh for transport. We’ll get you to Kontum. In the meantime, where are you staying? House Ten?”

“Yeah,” Quinn responded.

“Well, if you actually want to get some rest, we’ve got a few places scattered around Saigon. Clean, quiet, safe. Let me put you up in one.”

“That actually sounds good,” Tom said, looking at Quinn, who nodded in agreement.

“The booze will still be at House Ten on your next trip. Tonight is T?t Nguyên Ðán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year to mark the coming of spring. There will be huge celebrations over the next three days. Things are going to be lively. What else do you need?”