Read Online P. O. W. by Donald E. Zlotnik - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donald E. Zlotnik
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duty.
Spencer waited until James had turned his back and quickly handed the open can of fruit cocktail to the colonel.
“Thanks, Spencer!” Garibaldi was starting to get the first symptoms of scurvy. His teeth were already loose, and his gums
would bleed if he just pressed his fingers against them.
Spencer held the can of sliced peaches in his hand and read the label. His mouth started watering in anticipation. He stopped
himself from punching a hole in the lid and handed the second can over to the colonel. “Here… for later.”
“I can’t take both of them, Spencer… I just can’t.” Garibaldi shook his head.
“Please… I don’t think I could stand looking at you if all of your teeth fell out!” Barnett smiled. “Here… please take it.”
Garibaldi hesitated and took the food that was medicine to him. “Spencer, when we get back to the States, I promise you… I’m
going to buy you a
case
of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail!”
“It’s a deal.” Spencer looked over at the guards. “You’d better hide the can; here comes a guard.”
The NVA beckoned for the POWs to get dressed for the return trip to the camp.
Lieutenant Van Pao was waiting for them when they returned from the river. She waited until Garibaldi had helped Barnett into
his cage and then called him over to where she stood. She was very angry at how badly Barnett had been beaten by James, but
she had to assume the responsibility because she had given her permission. It was the last time, though, that she would allow
James to touch one of her prisoners.
“Colonel Garibaldi, ma’am.”
“Colonel, come with me to my office.” She whirled around and walked rapidly back to her office. Garibaldi relaxed when he
saw that she entered the building from the side where she worked and not the end of the structure where she did her interrogations.
Van Pao took a seat and opened a cardboard sundries box that was normally issued to American troops. She removed a carton
of Marlboro cigarettes and placed one of the packages on her desk. Garibaldi watched the NVA officer light up. He realized
at the same time that someone must be supplying the NVA with American supplies, for the popular sundries package to be there.
The American troops liked them in the field because the sundries boxes included free cigarettes that were fresh, not like
the C-ration cigarettes that were always stale and tasted funny. The packages also contained candy and shaving equipment.
“Would you like a cigarette, Colonel?” Van Pao smiled and offered the pack.
“I don’t smoke, ma’am.”
“Candy?” She held out a small carton containing twenty-four Chuckles.
“Sure…” He took the package and started opening it to remove one of the smaller boxes of the popular red, yellow, green, black,
and orange candies.
“Keep them all.” She waved back the offered package.
“Thank you.” Garibaldi’s thoughts flashed back to the river when Spencer asked James what the price was for the offered food.
“I would like a small favor from you.” Lieutenant Van Pao became all business. “Spencer Barnett has some information that
I need, and I want him to talk before our division staff sends a certain officer here to interrogate him.” She leaned forward
and spoke slowly. “This officer is known for his cruel methods of extracting information.”
“What would you like to know?” Garibaldi already knew the answer.
“His reconnaissance team hid some secret sensor equipment along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We have found half of it, and we
will
find the rest… it’s all just a matter of time. There is an engineer company assigned to that task.” Van Pao inhaled a deep
breath of smoke and leaned back in her chair. “He can make living here a lot easier on himself if he cooperates…. He makes
me look good, and I can make
both
of your lives much, much more tolerable here in my camp.”
“I’ll talk to Barnett.” Garibaldi knew that Spencer
Spencer waited until James had turned his back and quickly handed the open can of fruit cocktail to the colonel.
“Thanks, Spencer!” Garibaldi was starting to get the first symptoms of scurvy. His teeth were already loose, and his gums
would bleed if he just pressed his fingers against them.
Spencer held the can of sliced peaches in his hand and read the label. His mouth started watering in anticipation. He stopped
himself from punching a hole in the lid and handed the second can over to the colonel. “Here… for later.”
“I can’t take both of them, Spencer… I just can’t.” Garibaldi shook his head.
“Please… I don’t think I could stand looking at you if all of your teeth fell out!” Barnett smiled. “Here… please take it.”
Garibaldi hesitated and took the food that was medicine to him. “Spencer, when we get back to the States, I promise you… I’m
going to buy you a
case
of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail!”
“It’s a deal.” Spencer looked over at the guards. “You’d better hide the can; here comes a guard.”
The NVA beckoned for the POWs to get dressed for the return trip to the camp.
Lieutenant Van Pao was waiting for them when they returned from the river. She waited until Garibaldi had helped Barnett into
his cage and then called him over to where she stood. She was very angry at how badly Barnett had been beaten by James, but
she had to assume the responsibility because she had given her permission. It was the last time, though, that she would allow
James to touch one of her prisoners.
“Colonel Garibaldi, ma’am.”
“Colonel, come with me to my office.” She whirled around and walked rapidly back to her office. Garibaldi relaxed when he
saw that she entered the building from the side where she worked and not the end of the structure where she did her interrogations.
Van Pao took a seat and opened a cardboard sundries box that was normally issued to American troops. She removed a carton
of Marlboro cigarettes and placed one of the packages on her desk. Garibaldi watched the NVA officer light up. He realized
at the same time that someone must be supplying the NVA with American supplies, for the popular sundries package to be there.
The American troops liked them in the field because the sundries boxes included free cigarettes that were fresh, not like
the C-ration cigarettes that were always stale and tasted funny. The packages also contained candy and shaving equipment.
“Would you like a cigarette, Colonel?” Van Pao smiled and offered the pack.
“I don’t smoke, ma’am.”
“Candy?” She held out a small carton containing twenty-four Chuckles.
“Sure…” He took the package and started opening it to remove one of the smaller boxes of the popular red, yellow, green, black,
and orange candies.
“Keep them all.” She waved back the offered package.
“Thank you.” Garibaldi’s thoughts flashed back to the river when Spencer asked James what the price was for the offered food.
“I would like a small favor from you.” Lieutenant Van Pao became all business. “Spencer Barnett has some information that
I need, and I want him to talk before our division staff sends a certain officer here to interrogate him.” She leaned forward
and spoke slowly. “This officer is known for his cruel methods of extracting information.”
“What would you like to know?” Garibaldi already knew the answer.
“His reconnaissance team hid some secret sensor equipment along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We have found half of it, and we
will
find the rest… it’s all just a matter of time. There is an engineer company assigned to that task.” Van Pao inhaled a deep
breath of smoke and leaned back in her chair. “He can make living here a lot easier on himself if he cooperates…. He makes
me look good, and I can make
both
of your lives much, much more tolerable here in my camp.”
“I’ll talk to Barnett.” Garibaldi knew that Spencer
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