Episode 72

ODA 1211, A Co, 2nd Btn, 1st Special Forces Group

“I DO NOT GIVE A FUCK WHO THEY ARE! I WANT THEM THE FUCK OUT OF MY COUNTRY!”

Park, the CIA operative, was taking the abuse with relative calm. Peters and Smith had withdrawn a few steps once it was clear that the pudgy general wasn’t a real threat to anyone.

Smith leaned over and whispered to Peters, “He speaks English well, doesn’t he?”

Peters chuckled. “From the way he talks, I would have guessed you taught him.”

“Nah, too many F-bombs. You gotta get creative with that shit.”

Peters decided that the conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere. Stepping up to Park’s side once again, he addressed the General in Korean, “General, with all due respect, this gets us nowhere. You have something we want and we have something you want. We should proceed to business. Don’t you think?”

The general blinked a few times. Clearly not expecting a white US Army officer to speak his language. “Captain… It is Captain, yes?” When Peters nodded, he continued. “While initiative is supposedly a virtue of the US Army, I can assure you that we do not encourage such in Choson. No, it is very dangerous.”

“With respect, you expected to get something from us, yes?” The general nodded. “And so you shall receive it. However, you must do something for us. Surely this is not unexpected.”

“No, certainly not. But having you here is madness. You will be found out. The entire army will come to kill you.” The pudgy general was becoming agitated again.

“There is no need for that. If you help us, we will remain here until AFTER you are gone.”

“Yes? You bargain with me? Do you know who I am? Lesser men do not bargain with me! I say what we will do.”

“Sir, what do you suggest? You clearly cannot go on your way now that you know we are here. We would prefer not to proceed without your help, but we have our orders. One way or another, we will carry them out.”

“I am a man of my word. I have the documents agreed to. It is you who have broken our agreement. No, we must have a new agreement. Payment must be made. Yes, reparations for your lack of faith.”

Peters absently rubbed his wrist and eased his watch around to a more comfortable position. “I don’t carry cash into combat zones, sir.” That was a lie. He had once carried almost a million dollars to bribe a Taliban warlord. But that was another time.

“It is the spirit of the agreement, not the amount. I am not a mercenary. I am a man of honor.” The little man paused. “I see you are a man of fine tastes. Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Twenty four jewel.”

Peters glanced down at the Rolex on his wrist. Most special operators wore them. They were rugged, reliable, and they just looked cool as hell. “This, sir, is precious to me. It was my father’s.”

“Then I will accept it in lieu of one million US dollars.”

“You drive a hard bargain, sir.” With a sigh, he slipped the watch off his wrist and gave it to the gloating general.

After Park had packed the now happy General and his family off to another building on the farm, Peters and Smith were able to examine the intelligence that the CIA had manage to procure.

“This is a goldmine. Look at the contingency plans here.”

“It’s almost too good. There must be at least ten of them. We can’t plan for all of them.”

“Yes, but look here. Pak is on the list of authorized commanders. He can execute these contingencies.”

“Yeah, so?”

Smith grinned. “So, we tell our little buddy which one to fire. We know they will do that one so we know how to counter.”

“Ah, man. That’s gonna cost us.”

“Was the Rolex real?”

“Hell yeah. Paid for it outta my own pocket last year in Geneva. No way the general signs for a new one.”

“What are you going to offer him?”

“Dunno.”

Much later, Peters asked Park to bring the General back to the barn. Park had managed to get a few shots of Soju into him and the earlier tension had evaporated.

“So, Captain, you see now? You see I am a man of my word?”

“Yes, General. Thank you very much. However, I have a new request.”

“A new request?”

“Yes. But first, let me tell you about a small estate that I know about in Boca Raton. You will love Florida, I guarantee it.”