The Girl Who Ran With Black Tigers© Chapter 4

Excerpt of Chapter 4, "The mission That Never Was"

‘So, you still want to hitch a ride out there?’ With his other hand he made a gesture indicating the world around them somewhere far away.

‘Yah, I do.’ She answered softly.

‘Jesus… Marlyne, people are beginning to leave the country; there’s a bad omen hanging in the air. But you, you want to go out there and see for yourself…’ He hesitated and then continued. ‘You’re a bit of a mystery girl really, you know. You waltz in, play a bit of tennis; join a party sometimes and disappear. When someone finally makes out with you the gossip machine springs into action. But no one really knows anything about you or what goes on behind those beautiful eyes. No one knows where you are during the day or what you do. And now suddenly, you want to join the war party… Jesus Marlyne, I worry about you.’

She gave a barely perceptible shrug with her right shoulder and the expression on Marlyne’s face could have been interpreted as: Well, there you have it. But she remained silent.

‘I’m going to get a piece of paper.’ Steven said. I’ll write down what you have to do to get your ride.’ With that he walked to the bar, ordered two more drinks and came back with a pen and blank paper. He began to write down a few instructions and several names. When he was done he shoved it over the table to Marlyne.

‘Here you go… good luck.’

Marlyne read the note carefully and then looked up. ‘What? That easy? That’s all it takes?’

‘Well, a smile might help.’

‘And what do I do if the officer in charge also expects a bit of satisfaction behind the shed?’

Steven couldn’t help but laugh. ‘You’re not their type honey. They’re not into Western women. You’re scary to them; too tall, too voluptuous, too fit, too much tit and too much down there.’

‘Too much of what? Oh I see…’

They both laughed.

Marlyne finished her drink and then got up. ‘I should go home. Thank you Steven, you’re a good sport.’

‘Yeah, and you’re a tease.’

‘I know. Sometimes when needed I’m a tease and you deserved a good tease.’ Marlyne said and then firmly but briefly placed a kiss on his lips.

Looking up he smiled a sad smile. ‘Be careful. Look after yourself Marlyne. It’s not a game out there you know.’ He shook his head slowly and repeated the last words. ‘Not a game. Don’t become an adrenaline junky. It will come back to bite you later in life… providing you still have a life.’

‘I’ll be alright; I know how to look after myself.’

‘Yeah? Well start by going to the market and buy everything you can find. Jungle boots, American Olive Drab shirt and trousers, the Vietnamese ones won’t fit you… belt, water canteens, flash light. Buy it all. Don’t stand out. Look just like one of them, tie your hair back and hide it and when someone shouts: incoming! You don’t stand around like a dummy. You hit the deck, fast, you hear.’

‘I’ll remember that.’

‘I’ll miss you.’

‘I know… I’ll remember that too.’ Marlyne turned round and as she walked out, in spite of the heat, a creepy chill crept over her, like a premonition that she may never be back, for her life was about to change.

Late at night, in her bedroom, after the curfew sirens had wailed their morose warning, she stood in front of the window. Looking out over the river she saw a flash, then after a short while she heard a faint but clear boom. She followed a few random tracers hugging the pitch black horizon. Marlyne closed the curtains and glanced at the paper in her hands and the uneasy feeling came over her again. My god, what have I done? But she knew that what she held in her hand was more than a ticket-to-ride; it was a magnet drawing her into the unknown.