Blog 81 posting

Another tidbit from the first novel of the Tessera Trilogy, Golden Gate. 

Comrade Thanh knew it; knew they were pinned down, with no easy way to escape. That last salvo of mortar rounds had caused mainly shell shock, disrupted his men, and inflicted few injuries. He sensed disorientation in his men’s movements. Other VC, from further down the island and harassed by the earlier salvos, were moving to his position alongside the rice paddy. This reinforced his position, his chance to break out.

“They’ll be weakest there,” pointing to area ahead and to the riverbank on his right. “Throw grenades to shock them, and we can rush through. We can be clear in an hour. Forward!”

Tooley and Hung looked up – “It’s starting! I hear it, Hung - increased rifle fire and grenades.” Hung knew and whispered, “This can only mean they are breaking out! Damn, our weakest point, and our least experienced Sergeant there.”