“We come back another night.”

Dzung smiled hopefully. “So, we would have to wait here in Bangkok until our target makes himself available?”

“He will be here tonight,” said Manh.

“For sure?”

“Not for sure. But you should count on it.”

“No,” said Dzung, “I think I will not count on it.”

He watched Manh carefully, torn between the hope that the moment might indeed never come and the sure knowledge that if it did he would carry out his duty. There was indeed no other option in this place of dust and hogs, unless he wished to die himself. And wasn’t that the essence of combat anyway, to kill so that you yourself might live?

They were very near the river. Manh scolded him. “Why are you saying that to me?”

Dzung forced a grin, making light of it. “He should take his time, Manh. We could go to Patpong again. And in the end he will only die anyway.”

They reached the river. Manh stopped, looking curiously back at Dzung. “You are the calmest man I have ever worked with.”

“I’ve done this many times before,” said Dzung. “So stop worrying.”

“Not this,” said Manh.

“No, but this is easier than combat.” Dzung shrugged at Manh’s surprised expression. “Here I will be in control. I will have a target and after I finish with my target I can leave. Do you know how long combat lasts? You can never leave. Combat lasts forever.”

“If you make even one small mistake you will be dead.”

“So you care about that, Manh? That I might die?”

“If you die, I will never have known you,” Manh said flatly. “I will have disappeared. You have no identification papers with you. Your fingerprints are not recorded. Your pistol will be traced to the old West German Army.” He smiled, pleased with himself, looking out at the river as he spoke. “From your stylish haircut, maybe they will think you are a Vietnamese who came to Bangkok from America.”

“Yes,” agreed Dzung. “I know all that. But you do care? That I might die, I mean?”

Manh turned back to Dzung for a long moment, saying nothing. Then he put a hand on Dzung’s shoulder. “Why do you think I am preparing you so thoroughly? From the moment you shoot your target, our mission is a success. The rest of it is taking care of you.”

“I am surprised at myself, but I believe you,” said Dzung.

“I told you the night your baby died that I would take care of you.”

“No,” corrected Dzung. “You said you would take care of my family. No matter what happened to me.”

“Well, I will take care of you,” Manh said, his face slowly working into a warning grin. “But if you screw things up, it will be my duty to disappear.”