It has been a long time since I posted. I have been dealing with real life issues as well as writer's block on the next chapters. I will update as soon as I can. In the meantime, here's an incident from Audrey's first tour in Vietnam
June 1965
Saigon, South Vietnam
Audrey and Mary Ann were 4 months into their tour in Vietnam against the Neuroi. The pace of missions had been driving them hard, often flying 2-3 sorties a day. Their squadron, the 166th Air Support, had been hit hard with losses, as the Neuroi were fiercely fighting back against the close air support strikes. Over a third of the squadron had been lost in combat, and that, along with the pace of missions took its toll on the remaining Witches. As replacement Witches, Strikers and material flowed in, the 166th was rotated back to Da Nang, and put on a one month stand down as the new Witches and equipment were integrated with the rest of the Squadron.
One side effect was that the remaining Witches were granted passes as a way to help them relax and refresh themselves. Audrey and Mary Ann were each given a 4 day pass! Both were excited. This was their first chance tour a foreign country (Canada didn't count) and they both decided to explore Saigon.. Both were cute 14 year old girls who just happened to be Strike Witches, so hitching a helo ride from Da Nang to Saigon proved easy
The jeep drive from the Embassy where the helo landed, was an experience. Saigon proved to be more crowded, noisy, chaotic and colorful than either Audrey or Mary Ann had ever experienced before. It was also very hot and muggy, as only a Saigon summer day could be. By the time they arrived at the AFRC hotel, both of them were tired, hot, sweaty, sticky and just not feeling well. Both Audrey and Mary Ann felt a lot better after each of them took a hot bath and changed.
Coming down to the lobby, the two girls went into the bar, accompanied by a bouncer. By Liberion Armed Forces Regulations, Witches between the age of 14 and 16 were allowed in the bars of any Liberion Armed Forces establishment, but had to be accompanied at all times by designated establishment personnel. They would not be allowed alcoholic drinks until they turned 18. They took seats at the bar and waved at the bartender.
The bartender was named Jean Michel, a Gallian who had been in Vietnam for many years. Rumor had it that he had been a member of the famed Gallian Foreign Legion, who had escaped from a Neuroi prison camp after the Legion's heroic stand and fall at Dien Bien Phu. He was stocky, muscular, with dark hair and eyes and an unmistakable burn on his left cheek, reputedly from a close encounter with a Neuroi beam weapon.
Jean Michel came over to Audrey and Mary Ann. He wiped the bar in front of them and smiled. "What would Mademoiselle like to drink tonight?" he asked in Gallian accented Brittanian.
Mary Ann spoke up brightly. "We heard there are some really great places to taste Vietnamese cuisine. Can you recommend any?"
Jean Michel thought for a moment. "There is one place that is supposed to be very good. It's on a street on the opposite side of the square here. They take Liberion dollars too. If you want, I could show you the way."
Audrey responded, "We don't want to take you away from your work..We can find it ourselves and it will give us a chance to explore some on our own. Thank you!"
Audrey and Mary Ann dashed out of the hotel and into the square. They soon became engrossed in all vendors lining square. The plethora of different items from clothing to jewelry to electronics was astounding. Mary Ann started haggling with an old man and after several minutes, came away with a new Sonny tape recorder for only twenty dollars.
They both continued on, so enthralled by all the activity around them, that they weren't looking where they going. They soon found themselves on a narrow, dark, almost deserted street. Turning back the way they came, didn't disclose any familiar landmarks. Night was falling and the street got dark and even more narrow.
A group of men emerged from one of the buildings, and started approaching Audrey and Mary Ann. The girls backed away from them, until they realized there was another group of men behind them.
As the men surrounded them, talking excitedly among themselves in Vietnamese, Audrey and Mary Ann turned back to back, as the men closed in on them.
As the men reached for them, both girls connected with their familiars, a red fox for Audrey, a badger for Mary Ann, and they threw up their shields, knocking the men away. The girls were tired and hungry as it was, and the heat and humidity of the day was further draining them. Exhausted as they were, it was only a few minutes before their energy and magic faltered. Their shields failed, and the men closed in and one of them grabbed Mary Ann's arm.
Mary Ann screamed and tried to kick one, but got slapped hard in the face. Audrey rushed to her rescue, punched the guy who grabbed Mary Ann in the face and kicked him in the groin. He let go of Mary Ann's arm and collapsed to the ground in pain. Audrey pulled Mary Ann back to her as the men began to close in on them again.
There was a loud commotion up the street and everyone turned around to see. what was going on/ Stepping into the dim illumination of the solitary street light, was a man, dragging one of the men from the crowd by his collar. The man being dragged was dropped against the lamp post and the other man stepped into the light. He was tall and broad shouldered, with impeccably groomed dirty blonde hair. Square wire rimmed glasses gave an intellectual air to the hard planes of his face. The eyes behind the glasses were a cool poised blue. He was wearing a gray suit with a white shirt and black tie. He was carrying an umbrella.
One the men broke away from the group surrounding Audrey and Mary Ann, and ran at the man in the suit, screaming inarticulately. His hands reaching for the man in the suit's neck, he stopped cold when his face met an iron hard hand. He then collapsed in agony as an umbrella handle buried itself into his gut. As a last gesture, an expensive shoe kicked him aside.
The man in the suit walked confidently up to the group that had Audrey and Mary Ann trapped. He apparently identified one man as the leader of the mob, and began speaking to him in fluent Vietnamese.. The leader answered back angrily, but the man in the suit kept speaking. After a few minutes of calm speech from the man in the suit and angry responses from the leader, the leader seemed to visibly wilt. He turned around shouted something to the mob, who backed away from Audrey and Mary Ann.
The man in the suit strode up to the girls. He leaned over slightly, and asked, "Frauleins, are you all right?" in Karlsland accented Brittanian. Both Audrey and Mary Ann both nodded, not being able to speak at the moments.
He seemed sigh in relief. "Come then, let us leave this place." he said, gesturing down the street. Audrey grabbed Mary Ann's hand and tugged her in the indicated direction, until Mary Ann started walking on her own. The man in the suit turned and followed them closely.
As the three of them were walking, the baritone voice behind them asked, "Frauleins, are you staying at the AFRC hotel?"
Without turning around, Mary Ann finally found her voice, and answered "Yes, we are".
"Gut, I will guide you there." he said, calmly.
By this time, curiosity finally got the better of Audrey. She turned around to look at their rescuer. "So who are you and what are you doing here?: she asked, a little sharply.
The man in the suit smiled. He straightened up and bowed slightly, "Please forgive my poor manners. I am Peter Von Luck, and I am a member of the Karlsland Embassy staff. I just happened to be passing when I saw you frauleins in distress.." he said.
He continued walking, and looked back at Audrey. "Shall we go? I need to speak with Jean Michel." he asked. Audrey shook her head and followed him and Mary Ann.
Arriving back at the AFRC hotel, all three went into the bar. Peter waved towards the bar and called out "Jean Michel!" Jean Michel saw Peter and cried out , "Bon Jour, Herr Von Luck!" They soon settled into a lively conversation that neither Audrey or Mary Ann could understand, since Peter was speaking Karlslander and Jean Michel was replying in Gallian. They could only assume the conversation was about them because of the way Peter was gesturing towards them, and shaking his head. Jean Michel responded with laughter at most of what Peter said.
Finally, Peter straightened and shook Jean Michel's hand. He turned to Audrey and Mary Ann and said, "I am glad you are safe aned untouched. It would have been a tragedy if two of the Strike Witches from Liberion fighting against the Neuroi were kidnapped and sold into slavery." Both Audrey's and Mary Ann's eye went wide with shock. "I would advise staying close to the hotel for the rest of your stay. Have a nice visit in Saigon. Auf Wiedersehen, Frauliens." He straightened up, bowed slightly and disappeared into the bar crowd.
Jean Michel came and poured a couple of Cokes for the girls. Mary Ann grabbed his arm and asked excitedly, "Is Peter really a member of the Karlsland Embassy staff? Isn't he some kind of spy? Is he really that dangerous?"
Jean Michel rubbed his chin, his callouses rasping against his beard. He started speaking slowly, "Mademoiselle, Herr Von Luck is indeed a member of Karlsland's Embassy staff. He is an officer of Karlsland's Luftwaffe, assigned as a military attache' to the embassy. The Ambassador designated him as his Special Assistant. What he does there, I do not know. But he always seems to pop up when and where he's needed. He often comes into possession of vital bits of information and he seems to know everyone and what they are doing. A spy? I cannot say. But I would heed his advice, which he does not give lightly. If you stay in and around the hotel, I will guarantee your safety and well being."
Both Audrey and Mary Ann finished their Cokes and went into the hotel restaurant to get some dinner. They ate quietly, and went back up to their room when they finished . It had been a harrowing day. The thought that they could have been sold into slavery was frightening.
As they got ready for bed, Mary Ann said, "Wasn't it exciting that we got rescued by a real life spy?"
Audrey replied. "You heard Jean Michel, he's not a spy, just a 'Special Assistant to the Ambassador'"
Mary Ann exclaimed, "But you heard what else Jean Michel said!. He knows everyone and what they're doing! He turns up when and where he's needed! He gets vital information! And 'Special Assistant to the Ambassador' is just the kind of title a spy would have! He's got to be one, just like James Bond!"
Audrey groaned. Once Mary Ann got convinced of something, nothing could change her mind. "Go to bed, I'm tired after today!" she snapped as she turned out the light and rolled over.
But Audrey couldn't help wondering, When and where would Peter Von Luck appear, and would she see him again?