Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind

That from the nunnery

Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind,

To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase,

The first foe in the field;

And with a stronger faith embrace

A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you too shall adore;

I could not love thee, dear, so much,

Loved I not honor more.

-Richard Lovelace

To Lucasta, On Going to the Wars

Chapter 11

Loved I Not Honor More

A few days later

The sun burned down hotly on my head as I spoke with Deputy Director Harrison Kershaw, at a local payphone in Ciudad del Este. Gunny stood beside me, glancing around at the locals that occasionally passed us by.

"It's all arranged. You're to meet Ortega's men in front of La Casa De Amor. It's a bar on the outskirts of town. They'll take you to the rendezvous point to meet with Ortega. He'll question you. If he decides he can trust you, you've got the job."

"What job would that be, Sir?"

"Word on the street is that he's looking for a disgruntled US Navy employee willing to sell out. That's you, Petty Officer John Harris. You'll find out the details of what he has planned, if you make it through the interview process. You are to stand in front of the bar and wait there. You're also to come alone and unarmed or they will kill you, and anyone with you. That's all we were told."

"Anything else I need to know?"

"Yeah, just so you have an idea of who you're dealing with here, we've already lost three good agents trying to get Ortega."

"Thanks for the warning," I muttered wryly.

I hung up and peered at Gunny determinedly.

"It's all set."

After Gunny and I had arrived at the hospital, Mac informed us that Webb's condition had improved, giving her hope that he might make it through. Then, I informed her of the mission I'd been assigned.

After a rather heated exchange, Gunny, Mac and I stood inside Webb's room. A stony silence hung between us. Gunny shifted uncomfortably. The only sound in the room came from the machines giving out dripping measures of a narcotizing drug to the soporific Webb, pumping oxygen and keeping track of his heartbeat. Finally, Gunny cleared his throat, prompting Mac, who was staring me straight in the eyes reproachfully, to speak.

"Have you already forgotten the hell we went through because of the last CIA mission?"

"It's my job, Mac. It's also one of the reasons I was allowed to come down here."

"What time do you have to be there?" she questioned begrudgingly.

"Tonight at midnight."

"Why so late?"

"I didn't ask."

"How are you going to protect yourself without any backup?" Mac demanded.

"We'll be his backup," Gunny interjected dispassionately.

Mac's gaze turned from me to Gunny.

"He'll be wearing a mic with a transmitter, so we can keep tabs on him," he apprised her.

"They'll pat him down."

"It'll be under his watch band. They'll never see it."

She swiveled back and looked up at me.

"Harm, I could help you."

"Marines, always have to be in the middle of the action."

"Damn right, Harm! Now, let me go with you. I can hide in the back."

I shook my head firmly.

"Might compromise the mission."

"Harm, you…"

"Sorry, Mac. I have to do this alone. Besides, you'll be joining me if anything goes wrong," I said, trying to brush her fears away.

"I don't think you should go in there alone," Mac uttered dissuasively.

I had to give her one thing, she certainly was a staunchly obstinate woman.

"I'll be fine, mom," I stated exasperatedly.

"Webb's already told me that a friend of his died going after Ortega. Webb and I were almost killed, Gunny barely escaped alive--and only then because Webb and I went after him, all for these damn CIA missions. Besides, you have a knack for getting yourself into scrapes, and you know it, Harm," Mac rejoindered.

"Well, you know, Mac, I wouldn't be here if you had stayed out of trouble in the first place."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Harm?" she inquired indignantly, placing a hand on her hip.

"Could you two please stop? You're going to disturb Webb," requested Gunny.

"Sorry, Gunny," Mac and I grunted, our gazes still locked heatedly.

Mac turned and headed out of the room, tossing over her shoulder that she was thirsty, leaving Gunny and I there to discuss the details of the mission.

End of chapter 11