NIGHT STALKER OF VIETNAM

Major I asked them to come with us; they refused. I don't think they will come out until they do what they've set out to do."

"Do you have any idea what I am going through? I have the newspapers screaming at me. Congress is screaming at me. And last but not least, the President of the United States. How do I tell them we can't capture them and bring them out."

"Not my problem, Sir!"

"Now let's talk about the enemy. They have a price on his head. They have so many men looking for him it is unbelievable. Yet Tim and Nge keep on killing everyone they send out on patrol. The patrol is found with their throats cut. I lost count of how many throats they have cut. If the papers got a hold of this, they would have a field day. War is one thing-this is revenge."

"Major, I saw Tim with his shirt off. If the papers had a picture of that, 'war criminal' would be in their vocabulary. I don't know how he could take that torture. Remember, he was just a kid when they did it to him. I think he's a hero. Fuck everybody else."

"I'm sorry, gentleman. I'm glad your back. Maybe you're right. After you finish your lunch, get checked out by the infirmary."

When they finished their lunch, the Commander and the others got themselves checked out. They made out their reports and gave them to the Major.

They watched as the Major read them. His eyes told the story without saying a word.

"Christ, these two men have killed more people than the whole Marine Corp. God only knows how many men they saved. The only thing I know for sure is that kid worked the deck of a carrier. He was never trained to survive by the Navy. This guy is a killing machine. He should be working for us. No, he is working for himself. We have to bring him out. Has anyone got any suggestions? I have to be in the General's office in an hour. What the hell am I going to tell him?"

"Sir, you will find it in my report where we went back for him."

"Back for him-you almost got your whole command killed. Plus you almost got shot down by one of Charlie's rockets. I'd say Tim and Nge saved your asses. Just shut up. I don't want to hear your excuses. You have the nerve to tell me you went back to help Tim. I think they could have finished Charlie off by themselves before you even got there. Now, just get out of here! I have to get ready to go to battalion."

"General! You have a call on line two. It's Major Wentworth."

"I want to talk to you, General. It's about the pilots and Tim."

"Get down here right away, Major. I will wait for you."

The Major went in a chopper with the two Navy flyers to headquarters, and they were escorted to the General's office by two Marines. The Navy Commander laughed, "I've never had so many escorts."

"General, the Major is here with the two Navy flyers."

"Send them in."

"Sit down, gentlemen."

The General read the reports slowly. Then he looked up at the men and said, "First of all, I'm glad you're back. I guess we can thank Tim for that. From these reports, you're lucky to be alive."

"Yes Sir, we are. Tim and Capt. Nge are something else."

"Commander, tell me about this Tim. Just what is he really like. I don't mean this entire hero shit. I know what he's done. What do you think of him personally?"

"The man is a killing machine. Wherever he goes, someone dies. He uses that knife like no one I have ever seen. He is more than an expert when it comes to using that knife. He is cunning and quiet. You don't see him until it's too late-then you're dead. He doesn't hesitate to kill. He is quicker than any man I have ever come across in my whole military career.

"As you have already read he was severely tortured. I saw him without his shirt. There isn't an inch of his body that doesn't have a scar on it. Major Tran sure did a job on him. And that's why you will never get him out until he is ready."

"How about Nge. Can we get him out?"

"No Sir. Nge is the same as Tim. They are the perfect partners. I'm sorry. You will have to wait until the war is over, or until some other reason brings them out.

"Actually, if I had to describe the two of them you wouldn't like it."

"Go ahead, tell me what you think."

"Well Sir, the two of them have been in the jungle so long that they have become part of it. They are animals preying on everything in sight. I know that's a hard description to say about anyone, but it's true. If they were stateside, God knows what they would be like. I wish I could describe them in a different way, but I just can't. They are dangerous. I met them both. Up close Tim looks like a kid. Inside, he is the most dangerous man I have ever met. I've seen him use that knife. He scares me. Killing comes naturally to him. Nge is the same way."

"Thanks for being honest with me. We still have to get them out."

"If you try, make sure you have enough body bags ready. You will need them. I think when they finally meet up with Major Tran, things will be different. I hope so, anyway."