Chapter Thirty-Eight

Since 99.99 percent of the escape occurred in total darkness, Face didn't really have too many visual recollections of leaving North Vietnam.

He could, however, distinctly recall the crazy conversations they carried on along the way.

Like the one they had while tooling down the tracks in the General's car, for instance…

"It's no use. I can't see a thing out there. Least of all, anything resembling an airfield. How far down did he say it was?"

"He didn't. He just said to turn left onto the tracks…it would be on the right side…and to just proceed until you come to it."

"Great! That means we could have passed it already!"

"Don't worry. We didn't pass it."

"How do you know we didn't pass it?"

"Because he gave me a sign to watch for and I've been watching for it."

"A sign, huh. What's it say? North Vietnamese Airfield Next Exit?"

"You see the horizon out there?"

"Yeah…and that's about all I can make out, too."

"Well, he said to watch the treeline on the horizon."

"Why?"

"He said, when you don't see the treeline on the horizon anymore, then you'll know you've found the airfield."

"Oh."

Or the conversation the three escaping POWs had while carting their 'dead man' along the edge of the large, open clearing that served as a North Vietnamese Airfield…

"Not exactly LAX, is it. You sure this is the right place? I don't see any planes."

"Neither do our B-52s."

"I don' wanna see no 'planes', man! I'll jes stick ta the General's car an' meet yah all somewheres down the line."

"The VC keep the planes hidden under camouflage netting. They're real small…mostly WWII vintage, single and twin engine prop' jobbies. They only use 'em to fly in military supplies from China. But, we ain't interested in beating the bushes for a plane, anyway."

"Yah mean, this plan don' include takin' no plane rides?"

"Nope!"

"Then, what're we doing here?"

"What we're interested in, comrades, is a Russian helicopter."

(Groan) "Man, that's jes' as bad as a plane!"

"A Russian helicopter? What makes you think there's even one here?"

"Because the Colonel said that he saw several of them on the aerial reconnaissance photos of this field. Would you believe he studied aerial recon' photos for over two months—before he even stepped foot in Vietnam?"

"Actually...we would."

Or the one the three 'comrades' had while huddled around one of the Russian helicopters they'd discovered concealed beneath piles of brush…

"Your Colonel Smith wasn't kidding when he said security would be lax around here, was he. I'm beginning to think it's nonexistent."

"He said the guards patrol all day and then go underground at night. This one's a little better. This tank's ¾ full and the other side's ½ full. We may as well go with this one. Sergeant, set the Colonel down inside and then start whipping brush. Lieutenant, rip the sleeve off your shirt for me, will you…"

(Profound silence, followed by the sound of cloth tearing)

"Thanks. Now we need to borrow a boot lace from somebody…"

(Sound of bootlace sliding through eyelets)

"Great. Now take the dry end of my dipstick, here, wrap this cloth around it in a tight wad and then tie the wad in place with the lace…"

(More silence)

"You got it on there nice and tight?"

"As nice and tight as I can get it."

"Good. Now dip it in the fuel tank, so I can put the cap back on and we can get the hell outta here."

"Wait a minute…Why are we making a torch?"

"A torch? Man! We cain' go lightin' no torch!"

"Yes we can. I found a cigarette lighter between the cushions in the back seat of the General's car. Here…take it. The matches I got from Lynduck got kind a' soggy."

"What do we need a torch for?"

"Hey…I've never flown a Russian helicopter before. I've never seen the outsides, let alone the insides, a' one before. So, I'm gonna need a light to familiarize myself with the controls."

Long, dread filled silence)

"Relax, comrades! My Grandfather was Russian. I got Russian blood in me. Besides, if it can be flown, then old 'Howlin' Mad' Murdock can fly it!"

(Another, even lengthier period of dread filled silence)

No doubt about it! Colonel Smith definitely knew was he was doing when he told them to leave out the why's and the what for's.