Episode 71: Terse

Mia showed the doctor to the door and in a low tone asked "Bác sĩ là anh được chứ?" (Doctor is he okay?)  The doctor, turned and in a terse tone replied "Những gì hiện nó vấn đề, ông là một người nước ngoài? (What does it matter he's a foreigner?)  Mai was rarely spoken to like this and although not accustomed to it, she shot back "Người đàn ông này là một khách mời quan trọng của Hội đồng cách mạng, vì vậy giữ lưỡi của bạn! (This man is a guest of the Revolutionary Council, so hold your tongue!") 

The doctor turned and walked to the elevator feeling slightly embarrassed that this beautiful and now obviously well connected woman had just put him down so fiercely...

Bill was feeling better that he was out of the heat and lying down, the sedative the doctor had given him was starting to take affect.

Mai walked back into the bedroom and smiled her most beautiful smile as she sat on the bed she kicked off her heels, flipping her legs around she curled into Bill and ran her hand over his handsome face.  "You need more rest baby" she said as Bills's eyes began to flutter and close, his breathing became deeper and steady as he fell asleep.

For the longest time Mai just lay there looking into his face, she felt a deep and warm feeling of love for this man, something she'd never felt before.  She did not questioned it, but merely basked in its strong glow.  

Finally she felt at peace...

Episode 70: Coup d'etat

As Lea made her way back to the line she began noticing a greater military presence than she had expected in the terminal.  As she turned around she saw that these were special forces troops clearly identifiable by their deep red berets, and full battle dress.  More soldiers were now streaming into the terminal building and she could feel the tension begin to rise around her, as the noise level increased significantly.

Within a couple of minutes the loud speakers came to life with an announcement firstly in Thai, French, then English. Although generally meant for flight arrival and departures announcements today it was the bearer of bad news...    

"Please remain calm...a state of emergency is now in force across Thailand, a state of martial law now exists. Please remain calm...the military leadership has taken control of the country and will advise you when the situation is stable."

There was real panic in the air and although Lea had never been in a situation like this she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prickle and stand on end.  

"I wished he was here, he'd know what to do" she thought anxiously...

Episode 69: Hanoi or bust

Lea had finally gotten to Bangkok and now needed to re-book a flight onto Hanoi.  She felt torn as a big part of her didn't want to carry on to Hanoi, but rather to stay in Bangkok with Alessio. 

Her conscious was conflicted, how could she possibly make it work with Bill now that she had been unfaithful to him she wondered...  There was only one thing for it, she would tell him everything when they met and see how he reacted.  Perhaps there would still be time to get back to Bangkok to Alessio if things didn't work out with Bill.

As she made her way to the ticket counter she noticed the incredibly long lines of people all waiting... 

Lea walked to the front of the cue and enquired as to how she could rebook her flights, the harried ticket agent said that she'd have to get in the line like everyone else.  "I have a first class ticket for god's sake surely you can do something for me now" she said he voice noticeably higher.

The agent looked at her and said in a steady tone "Madam, please get in line and we will serve you as fast as we can".

Lea felt like she was in quicksand...when was she ever going to get to bloody Hanoi she said exasperatedly to herself.

Episode 68: Again

John was aghast at what Phuong told him as they walked slowly toward the Star cafe.  The roughing up and then kidnapping of a foreign journalist was beyond the bounds of decency, and even though he'd been on overseas assignment a number of times during his early career he had never felt the need to worry about his own personal safety.

Phuong wrapped up the abridged version of events for John, but he had decided to leave out the connection to Hanoi Rose as that would likely mean Bill would be sent back to London in disgrace. Phuong's sanitized version of events ended by telling John that Bill had gone to the countryside for some rest to regain his strength.  With concern etched into John face he asked where he'd gone and how long ago.

As if John wasn't already concerned enough with one of his key journalists being tortured and brutalized, his attention now turned to Lea.  Phuong had not heard from Lea and wasn't even aware that she was be assigned to the Hanoi desk...

John was perplexed, she had left two days ahead of him...but where on earth was she?  

His emotions lurched once again...

Episode 67: Losses

Mai's story filled in many of the gaps that Bill didn't know about her life, going into great detail about her childhood with her parents until their untimely deaths during the bombing raid on Hanoi in 1971. 

Bill brushed away the tears from Mai's cheek as she cried for the loss of her parents... He held her to his chest with his arms wrapped around her as she sobbed uncontrollably, the tears tumbling from her cheeks onto his shirt.

After regaining her composure she then went on to explain her adolescent years spent living with Uncle Duong, and although he was kind to her he could tell that the sense of loss was almost unbearable for Mai and that she had hidden the grief even from herself until now.

The moment instantly evaporated with a loud knock on the door...

Episode 66: Leap of faith

Lea's thoughts had wavered all throughout the flight, but when the captain came on the intercom to announce that the flight was beginning its decent into the Don Muang international airport her stomach flipped.  

Should I stay with Alessio or go onto to Hanoi as planned...she closed her eyes and turned each scenario over in her mind.  Why was it so hard she thought to herself...

As the airplane touched down with a slight thud, Lea turned to Alessio and holding his hand leaned in and thanked him for being so kind to her during the past 48 hours. Alessio smiled his magical smile, "il mio piacere bella" (my pleasure beautiful) he whispered as he looked deep into her eyes.  

Oh my god Lea felt a moment of panic and indecision, he had to stop being so damn irresistible...

As the plane came to a stop, Lea stood to get her bag from the overhead compartment, but as quick as a flash Alessio had already retrieved it and placed it on the seat in front of her.  

"I hope you find what you're looking for in Hanoi" Alessio said in his strongly accented english, Lea could do little but blush.  The stewardess then began directing them down the stairs from the upper deck of the 747, and as they got to the bottom of the stairs Alessio turned and squared Lea's shoulders and said that if she changed her mind she could find him at the Hilton Hotel.

Lea blushed deeply and smiled, desperately trying to hold it together...

Episode 65: The visitor

John was unable to raise anyone at the office and so decided to go in early the next morning.  After a restless nights sleep he made his way to the office but found it locked. He checked his watch, almost 9:00 am and no sign of anyone.  What sort of bureau were they running out here he thought?   

Nothing could have prepared him for the heat and humidity in Hanoi, although he'd cut his teeth on foreign assignments back in the day he was ill prepared for this after being in London for so long.  The sweat accumulated in little beads on his forehead and arms, his handkerchief was already moist from wiping his brow and was uncomfortable to say the least.

At five minutes to ten, a middle aged Vietnamese man walked along the corridor toward him.  Phuong was not prepared for whomever was waiting outside the office, but just by the look of him observed that he was English perhaps someone sent out from London.

"Good day" said Phuong smiling.  John extended his hand, you must be Phuong said John smiling and shaking his hand strongly.  Phuong nodded and was surprised when he introduced himself at John.  But why had he come out to Hanoi?  

After opening the office, Phuong offered John a chair, any chance for a cup of tea ? John asked expectantly.  Phuong shook his head but asked John to follow him to the Star.  On the short walk to the Star cafe Phuong listened intently as John told him the reason for his visit to Hanoi. 

Stopping momentarily Phuong leaned in toward John and whispered to John that he had much to tell him, but to do this they must be outdoors.  

John was perplexed...

Episode 64: Traitor

Nhu Ha being kidnapped was no mere coincidence she thought, who ever was behind the kidnapping was also the same person who alerted General Binh about the Australian journalist.  

Anh chided herself for her impetuous actions, and wondered who had been working on the inside of her organization to alert General Binh, after all he was just a foreign journalist and Hanoi can be a dangerous city especially for foreigners...  

There was more, much more to this than met the eye and she vowed to get find the traitor and make a public example of them so that there could be no question of who controlled the Chợ Đồng Xuân and all that lay within.

She would show no mercy!

Episode 63: Confessions

When Bill got back to the room he was visibly shaken and pale...  Mai immediately called the reception desk and asked for a Doctor to be summoned at once.  Not to be trifled with, the receptionist quickly hung up and called the house doctor.

She then came to sit on the side of the bed and lovingly placed her hand on his cheek and caressed his chin, she smiled and looked deeply into his eyes and realized that he was troubled by something.

Bill grasped her wrist and said that he had something to tell her, her first thought was that he was going to divulge a part of his tortuous ordeal to her.  Her heart ached for him and the trauma he'd been through and so straightened herself and listened intently as Bill began to tell her the story of Lea.

For the next twenty minutes Bill told Mai the full story of Lea and the circumstances that had brought him to Hanoi, he left nothing out...  As he drew to a close he fully expected her to get up and walk away, but instead Mai sat staring at him.

She said "chúng ta đều có bí mật tình yêu của tôi" (we both have secrets my love...) before reverting to his native English. 

Bill was stunned that Mai had taken his confession in stride and that seemingly nothing had changed in her demeanour.  In fact, she leaned in and kissed him softly, looking deeply into his eyes she smiled and began to tell him the real story of Mai.

Episode 61: A moment of clarity...

Bill woke with a start, his mind had been searching for something for the past day or so but he couldn't quite grasp what it was.  His ordeal at the hands of Trung and his thugs has addled his brain to the point where he could only think of survival and had seemingly erased all other vestiges of his memory.  He desperately wanted to call Phuong, for surely his old friend would know what was making his mind restless but it was 3:00 am and he knew better than to disturb the man who had saved his life.

Instead Bill spooned into Mai and held her to his chest and kissed the nape of her neck pausing between soft kisses to breath in her scent, but even this couldn't distract him from what churned through his minds.  He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the night unable to quite grasp what was deep within his subconscious...

The following morning they had decided to take a picnic lunch out to the Thien Mu Pagoda just 5 km from the Citadel on the banks of the Perfume River, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the river and surrounding jungle, Bill stood beside Mai on the sidewalk outside their hotel.  

It was a relatively busy morning, although this was the first time they'd made it out of their room before 1:00 pm it was difficult to gauge whether it was busy or this was normal, when a car stopped and deposited an attractive blond westerner some distance away. Bill sensed something about this woman that reminded him of his past, but was struggling to get his brain thinking but then out of nowhere he realized that Lea was on her way to see him in Hanoi.

The first thing Mai felt was a tug on her hand that Bill had clasped so tightly all of a sudden, she turned to see him unsteady on his feet and looking a little woozy.   "Are you okay?" she asked, starting to feel concerned.

Perhaps its too soon and led him back inside the sanctuary of the hotel grounds.  Bill's memories had flooded back to him, as he tried to comprehend the timeline and expectations of the last call he'd had with Lea.  

Episode 62: Tortured soul

Once back in her seat Lea fell into a deep sleep, aided but their shattering orgasms and the complete feeling of ecstasy.  Lea woke some four hours later, opening her eyes she turned toward Alessio's to see his beautiful brown eyes staring intently upon her, he smiled his easy smile the one which Lea knew she was falling in love with...  

She couldn't help but feel the sense of dread at having to say goodbye to Alessio in Bangkok.  On the one hand she'd reasoned that whole reason for the trip was meant to win back Bill.  

One moment she'd be resolute and determined to go to Hanoi and see Bill...and the next, well, the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach told a far different story.  This was the one which tortured her soul and conscience to the point of distraction.

Alessio whispered "buongiorno bellissima" as he reached his hand to cup her chin and leaned into to kiss her lips so tenderly that Lea thought she might pass out.

His dashingly good looks and cultured, charming disposition combined with the way he carried himself was making her decision of leaving him in Bangkok almost impossible to imagine.  Her mind was racing...what if things didn't turn out with Bill...would she ever be able to forgive herself for walking away from Alessio.

She breathed deeply, smiled her winningest smile and leaned into the passionate kisses...

Episode 60: Wrath

Anh's reaction to seeing her mother safely ensconced back at her stall was one of relief. Nhu Ha rose from her squatting position, and putting her hands together greeting her daughter, their foreheads touching softly as they whispered their greetings to one another.  

Anh enquired after her mothers health and well being, to which Nhu Ha smiled and nodded as she began to ladle some phò into a bowl from the small pot on the brazier. She then placed a small handful of beansprouts and garnishing's into the warm liquid passed it to Anh who now also squatted beside her mother. When her father Quang shuffled toward them a few minutes later he recognized Anh squatting beside his wife, and at once his lined and leathery face broke into a broad smile.

It had been many years since Anh had eaten with her parents at the market stall, in fact since taking control of the Chợ Đồng Xuân from her bourgeois predecessor, but if nothing else the last few days had taught Anh that she knew what was important to her.  

Later that afternoon Anh was in her apartment overlooking the market when a battered and bruised Trung along with his three most trusted lieutenants reported in. He told Anh that they had forcefully conveyed the message of the new tribute to the stall owners who were less than thrilled at the change, he only had to hand out a beating to one truculent owner and the rest quickly fell into line... 

Trung then went on to tell Anh of the treatment meted out to them by the soldiers at the barracks, and smiled vengefully that scores were still be settled on that front but at a future time.  They all looked sheepishly at their feet when Anh questioned them as to the state of the Australian journalist.  

He is in the hospital recuperating they mumbled...Anh anger rose at once 

Những gì bạn đã phát hiện ra? (What have you found out?) she demanded looking squarely at Trung.  

Trung averted his eyes and shifted uneasily, before saying that the Australian had left the city earlier that day.  Anh smiled, but sensed that he wasn't telling her everything and so pressed him for details.  Trung was trying to find a way to tell Anh what he knew would be devastating.