"If I turn into another...Dig me up from under what is covering...The better part of me..."
Murdock had been hiding in a tree for two weeks before the VC finally discovered him. He'd gotten lost and disoriented in the jungle, and when he heard the VC getting closer to his position, he scrambled up a tree.
The VC who spotted him shot at him, and Murdock lost his footing and fell from the tree. He was dragged semi-conscious back to the camp where the operation had taken place weeks earlier. They threw him in a cell, where he was relieved to see that B.A. was alive and well - for the most part. He tended to B.A.'s gunshot wound, but before he could do much, the VC came back and dragged him off.
"Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, and amber waves of grain! For purple mountains majesty, upon the fruited plains!" Murdock sang at the top of his lungs. He knew it would irritate the men dragging him. He couldn't fight his way free, so annoying them was the next best option.
"America! America! God shed his grace on thee!"
One of the VC punched him, but it did not shut him up.
"And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!"
Murdock held the last note for as long as he could. The VC that hit him before delivered another punch. This one was square to the mouth, and shut him up.
"im lặng, kẻ ngốc điên."
Murdock spit out his broken tooth, and grinned as he was brought into a hut. Six more VC were waiting there. A string of Vietnamese ensued between the group, bits of which Murdock could pick up. He'd taken it upon himself to learn Vietnames, but he wasn't very good at it. He thought it better that he didn't know what they said... it would make him less afraid to die.
He felt himself being pushed into a chair and held there - not that he would be able to walk anyplace, anyhow... he was pretty sure he broke his ankle falling out of that tree.
"Who fired shot?" said one of them in the most broken English Murdock had ever heard.
"Tôi sẽ không bao giờ nói với bạn."
Suddenly he felt cold... and looked down at his torso. There was a knife sticking out of it.
"You will tell me, American!"
"I will tell you nothing," Murdock spat out.
The knife was pulled out of his stomach, and the VC reared his arm back to stab him again.
Murdock screamed and wailed, thrashing about in his bed. An orderly burst into the room, followed by Dr. Richter. The psychologist had been called an hour ago, when the screaming started.
"Mr. Murdock!" Dr. Richter screamed as the orderly held him down. Murdock started to settle. "Come on back, son... you're not there anymore. You're safe."
Murdock settled back on the bed, and opened his eyes. Rick, the orderly, was there, holding his arms. And Dr. Richter was there.
"Doc?"
Dr. Richter smiled.
"Are you all right, son?"
Murdock sat up, and scrubbed a hand across his face.
"I'm not sure."
Dr. Richter signaled for the orderly to leave them alone. Once Rick had gone, Dr. Richter turned back to his patient.
"What was the dream about this time?"
Murdock shook his head furiously.
"I can't tell you."
"We've been through this before, many times. You can tell me."
"Not this time, Doc. I can't tell you, and you can't make me."
Dr. Richter sighed. Some days, he thought he was making a breakthrough with Murdock... other days, it was like he regressed back to the day he came to the VA.
"How about we get you a sedative? Would that help?"
"No! I won't take a sedative!"
"Okay, okay, calm down, You don't have to take one. I want you to try and sleep, though."
"Can Billy sleep in my bed tonight?"
Dr. Richter smiled.
"Of course."
Murdock whistled, and Billy the invisible dog jumped up onto the bed and curled up next to him.
"Good night, Mr. Murdock. You know my phone number, if you want to talk."
"Okie dokie, Doc. Night."
Dr. Richter left him.
Murdock petted Billy and curled up under the covers. There was no way he'd be getting much sleep that night. He didn't want to go back there, not again.
Not ever.
Vietnamese Translations:
im lặng, kẻ ngốc điên = shut up, crazy fool
Tôi sẽ không bao giờ nói với bạn = I will never tell you