church. It's better to stay together and make do the best you can. There are always alternative arrangements. Naturally each situation makes its own demands, that's well known. And now you've left them both to serve your government in Vietnam. No doubt it's for the best. Still, young childrenâ
She's fine, Sydney said shortly.
That's what worries me, she said. A child in such a milieu.
Sydney nodded. He could not imagine raising a child in the middle of a war.
I thought you said you weren't military, Monsieur Armand threw in.
I'm not, Sydney said.
Yet you can stop the bombs.
Sydney said, The civilian representative has authority in his own sector. That's the way it's set up. Not in all circumstances at all times, but in some circumstances at specific times. Each situation is judged on its merits. Its contribution to the overall effort. As I said, I'll look into it when I get there. And I'll do what I can. Naturally Claude would like toâget on with his business without interference. If he intends to continue, as you say he does, with his wife and child. And perhaps there are ways he can help us out. It's a common effort after all. We're on the same side. And no one wants the Communists in charge. How many Vietnamese does he employ?
Monsieur hesitated, apparently making an effort to recollect. This was unsuccessful, for he shook his head at last and said, I have no idea.
A dozen? Two dozen? One hundred? It's a large plantation and would require many workers. A serious payroll.
I have no idea, Monsieur repeated.
But you were there, Sydney said softly.
For two weeks only, Monsieur said. We went to the beach at Cap St. Jacques. Dede took us into Saigon for lunch and sightseeing. We bought souvenirs. We went to the zoo. We didn't talk business.
Rostok had warned him that the interview would be difficult. They're not like us, Ros had said. They're not straightforward. They're not aboveboard. They're not interested in product, they're interested in logic. And when an idea visits them, it never leaves. When they have a grievance they'd rather nurse the grievance than settle it. With the French, everything was personal.
So there are all these factors, Sydney said. He took another swallow of wine.
In what way would Claude help you out? Monsieur said slowly, an edge to his voice. How would Claude fit into your war from his plantation? What do you expect Claude to do for you? He watched his wife rise and begin to collect the dishes, Missy moving to help her. But Monsieur put his thick hand on her forearm, indicating that she should remain to help with the translating.
I have not thought about that precisely, Sydney said. But it's not only our war, it's your war, too.
We are finished with it, the old man said.
But it's back, Sydney insisted. It's at Claude's doorstep whether he wants it to be there or not. And we're in it together.
Monsieur Armand hesitated, and then he said, You would expect him to collaborate, then? As a friend and ally.
Be helpful, yes.
Claude and the other plantation managers?
If they wished, yes.
And in return you'd stop bombing his rubber trees.
We're getting ahead of ourselves here, Sydney said.
Monsieur Armand allowed himself a wintry smile. You
wouldn't
stop bombing his rubber trees?
I would speak to the military command after I had the facts. And after Claude and I had a talk.
About how he might be helpful to you, Monsieur said.
Yes, Sydney said, thinking that he had gone further than he intended. His plan was to take things step by step but the old man across the table was intent on forcing the issue. So he decided to bring the conversation into more neutral territory, no more talk of collaboration. He thanked Madame Armand for the meal, superb in every way, surely superior to anything he would find in Vietnamâ
Thank you very much, she said, but Vietnamese cuisine is excellent, especially the fish.
You seem to have given quite a lot of thought to my brother, Monsieur
She's fine, Sydney said shortly.
That's what worries me, she said. A child in such a milieu.
Sydney nodded. He could not imagine raising a child in the middle of a war.
I thought you said you weren't military, Monsieur Armand threw in.
I'm not, Sydney said.
Yet you can stop the bombs.
Sydney said, The civilian representative has authority in his own sector. That's the way it's set up. Not in all circumstances at all times, but in some circumstances at specific times. Each situation is judged on its merits. Its contribution to the overall effort. As I said, I'll look into it when I get there. And I'll do what I can. Naturally Claude would like toâget on with his business without interference. If he intends to continue, as you say he does, with his wife and child. And perhaps there are ways he can help us out. It's a common effort after all. We're on the same side. And no one wants the Communists in charge. How many Vietnamese does he employ?
Monsieur hesitated, apparently making an effort to recollect. This was unsuccessful, for he shook his head at last and said, I have no idea.
A dozen? Two dozen? One hundred? It's a large plantation and would require many workers. A serious payroll.
I have no idea, Monsieur repeated.
But you were there, Sydney said softly.
For two weeks only, Monsieur said. We went to the beach at Cap St. Jacques. Dede took us into Saigon for lunch and sightseeing. We bought souvenirs. We went to the zoo. We didn't talk business.
Rostok had warned him that the interview would be difficult. They're not like us, Ros had said. They're not straightforward. They're not aboveboard. They're not interested in product, they're interested in logic. And when an idea visits them, it never leaves. When they have a grievance they'd rather nurse the grievance than settle it. With the French, everything was personal.
So there are all these factors, Sydney said. He took another swallow of wine.
In what way would Claude help you out? Monsieur said slowly, an edge to his voice. How would Claude fit into your war from his plantation? What do you expect Claude to do for you? He watched his wife rise and begin to collect the dishes, Missy moving to help her. But Monsieur put his thick hand on her forearm, indicating that she should remain to help with the translating.
I have not thought about that precisely, Sydney said. But it's not only our war, it's your war, too.
We are finished with it, the old man said.
But it's back, Sydney insisted. It's at Claude's doorstep whether he wants it to be there or not. And we're in it together.
Monsieur Armand hesitated, and then he said, You would expect him to collaborate, then? As a friend and ally.
Be helpful, yes.
Claude and the other plantation managers?
If they wished, yes.
And in return you'd stop bombing his rubber trees.
We're getting ahead of ourselves here, Sydney said.
Monsieur Armand allowed himself a wintry smile. You
wouldn't
stop bombing his rubber trees?
I would speak to the military command after I had the facts. And after Claude and I had a talk.
About how he might be helpful to you, Monsieur said.
Yes, Sydney said, thinking that he had gone further than he intended. His plan was to take things step by step but the old man across the table was intent on forcing the issue. So he decided to bring the conversation into more neutral territory, no more talk of collaboration. He thanked Madame Armand for the meal, superb in every way, surely superior to anything he would find in Vietnamâ
Thank you very much, she said, but Vietnamese cuisine is excellent, especially the fish.
You seem to have given quite a lot of thought to my brother, Monsieur
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