Episode 49: Accused

Within minutes of arriving inside the Citadel which was Hanoi's military headquarters the prisoners were led one by one from the vehicles that had transported them from the Old Quarter.  Mai was helped from the car by an awestruck private and then shown to an adjacent building, whereas Anh was led purposefully toward a large doorway by the officer in charge.  Trung and his cohorts were roughly taken from the back of the truck and pushed single file toward the main barracks building.

Anh was led into the basement, along a corridor and then into a dimly lit interrogation room.  Once seated the accompanying officer offered Anh a cigarette which she snatched just a little too forcefully from the outstretched pack, she smiled malevolently knowing that in just a few short minutes she would be free to go, and that this half wit would be severely punished by his commanding officer for taking in one of Hanoi's most important residents into custody...he had no idea who I am she thought as she smiled inwardly.   

The minutes ticked slowly by as Anh held her gaze at the officer, who unblinkingly returned it just as maliciously.  Eventually she could hear the sound of footsteps in the corridor, then stop before the door burst open.  General Binh stood in the doorway and surveying the scene then motioned for the officer and the guard to leave the room at once.  Once they had retreated into the corridor the General turned on Anh, and without smiling walked toward her and slapped her hard across the face.  Anh was rocked by the hard blow across her cheek and was lucky to not be knocked from her chair.  

Anh had been caught completely off guard by the turn of events, not only had she expected General Binh to apologize and release her at once, but now also that something else was afoot.  Now it was Anh's mind who was racing, normally the military kept out of her affairs as long as she continued to pay her tribute, but something was different this time...

Tôi không có thời gian cho việc này (I have no time for your games!)  Các nhà báo Úc ở đâu? (Where is the Australian Journalist?)

Rarely had Anh been intimidated, but General Binh was an imposing figure, not only tall (almost 6'2") but also powerfully built.  His most recognizable feature was the enormous scar that ran across his nose and left cheek.  Rumor had it that he'd received it when the fin of a rocket propelled grenade had narrowly missed him but badly sliced his face during the Tet Offensive in February 1968.  This highly decorated hero from the American war was the stuff of legends and no one messed with General Binh.  

He ran the Hanoi military district with an iron fist and now a tremor of fear ran through Anh as he stood before her and slammed his fist hard on the table, the impatience visibly seething from every pore and sinew of his being.

All she could do was look into his cold eyes to know at once that this was a life and death moment...