The Cover of War Read Online Free PDF

put her
arms around him. The way forward was clear: she would lead Military
Intelligence to Triet, report Tet in every detail, and then leave Saigon .
    She looked at
Danny. 'Let's get out of here.'
    'I'm beat-'
    'No.' She cupped
his face with both hands. 'I mean let's get out of Saigon . I love you, Danny. More than anything. Let's go anywhere. Let's
just get out of Saigon .'
    'So you are a communist?'
    'No, Danny. I
want us to have a life together. We can't have that here.'
    He looked out
the window.
    Her simmering
mind began to boil.
    * * *
    From the start, the thought that Amai was
somehow just toying with him had lodged in the back of Danny's mind. But now
she had confirmed her love. She had said it. He was elated. He wanted this more
than anything. But his journalist's eye could see something besides love in her
demeanor: her eyes were bright and sparkling, but the set of her mouth said
desperation.
    She kissed him
softly. She had the most beautiful lips; the most sensual kiss. Her hand
touched his face.
    'I love you
Amai, he said. 'Once I've done my job here , we'll leave the country.'
    'We need to go
soon - how's tomorrow afternoon.'
    'I'm going to
Ubon tomorrow. There's a story-'
    'How long.'
    
    'A week.'
    'Can you make it
sooner?'
    'I don't see
how. No.'
    He felt her
tremble. He drew her to him. She held him tight.
    Danny felt
drained. The day's hellish events had beaten him down, but then Amai had said
that she loved him and everything was different - And then there was the Weyand
story. Something told him that this could be his Pulitzer - his redemption.
    A week, he thought. If all goes well, I'll get the story and the girl.
    * * *
    Amai poured another wine. It foamed over
the rim of the glass. She drank the bubbles and poured another.
    A week in Saigon was too long. From the moment Triet
was arrested, Military Intelligence would be hunting her. A week would feel a
lifetime.
    Danny's absence
however, would buy her the time and space she needed to report Tet, without his
finding out.
    She realized
that she was clenching her teeth.
    She forced
herself to smile. I love Danny, she thought. And we're going to have
a life together.  
    Her smile
receded. If I survive.
    * * *
    Danny got into bed and Amai got on top of
him.
    She felt herself
getting wet. Sex would be a temporary distraction from her mounting dilemmas.
Danny was hard. She put him inside her and rode him slowly; sensually; deeply.
He loved her to be his cowgirl. Soon the fantastic sensations of lovemaking
took her focus off Tet; off capture; off Triet; off betrayal. She rode Danny
faster; harder; her skin slapping against his. It felt so good; so wild; so
free. He was lasting much longer than usual; hard sex usually made him come
quickly. Then he gripped her waist and his face twisted in pleasure. She loved
doing this to him. She loved him.
    She watched him
fall asleep. She didn't mind; he was exhausted - he'd had an awful day. He
deserved rest. Danny's breathing slowed as his sleep deepened. Amai's eye fell
on his satchel.
    The letter.
    She wondered
what secret it held.
    It didn't
matter; the letter would solve a problem. She could not just meet Triet
whenever she wanted; he called the meetings. But there was an emergency
procedure, if information of absolute importance was found.
    Amai got off the
bed and tiptoed around to Danny's side. The old floorboards groaned with her
movement and she cringed.
    I need that
letter.
    Danny stirred
and rolled over. She stopped.
    His eyes stayed
shut.
    She knelt beside
the bag, opened the drawstring, and felt inside. His camera slid out and hit
the floor with a thump. To her, it sounded like a gunshot.
    Danny's eyes
opened and he stared straight at her.
    Her heart
stopped.
    He said:
'Night.' And then rolled over.
    Amai's mouth was
dry. She put her hand back in.
    Got it.
    Amai took it into
the bathroom, which contained nothing more than a night bucket and a bowl of
water on a solid wooden shelf. She dared not light