“All of them got out before your side took over? Every one of them? Where would they have gone so quickly?” Condley sensed the hopelessness of pursuing the matter further, at least at that moment. “Excuse me, Colonel, you are an honest man and I am not questioning your word. I am merely trying to think through this problem, so that I can advise my government.”

A small smile crept onto Colonel Pham’s face. A negotiation that could cause both of them serious trouble was taking place behind their friendly banter. Pham was wordlessly thanking Condley for not pursuing the matter to the point where either of them would lose face. “I have no idea who was in Ho Chi Minh City before April 30, 1975, but I have had many discussions inside our government since I started working on the issue of Americans who remain missing in action. I can tell you that there has never been a report of Americans anywhere in Viet Nam from that date forward, Mister Condley. So we must help your government solve the problem in a more constructive manner.”

“Except for Garwood.”

The name of a famous turncoat deserter hung between them like a bad dream that would not die. Garwood, a former Marine who had aided the enemy, had suddenly surfaced in Viet Nam several years after the war, asking to go home. Watching Pham’s face, Condley knew that he had subtly trapped the colonel. Pham had two choices. He could either take the bait and admit that others might have remained in Viet Nam, which was most likely the truth, or seize upon Condley’s offhand statement to end the discussion.

“You are right,” said the colonel. “Except for Garwood. A very strange man, Garwood. We did not know what to do with him because for a long time he did not want to leave.”

“And the others?”

“What about the others?”

“They wanted to leave?”

“There were no others, Mister Condley.”

Pham took another drink and then put away his bottle of water. He was thinking, avoiding Condley’s waiting gaze, his eyes searching forward to where the ball had landed a few minutes before. Finally he nodded, as if agreeing with some unknown counselor. “All right, I will be honest with you, because after many years of working with you I trust you. I know what I am supposed to say, but in reality I do not know the answer to these questions. I will try to help you. I will ask the question inside my government.” He turned to Condley now. “But please understand, it must be approached very carefully.”

“Thank you, Colonel. We don’t want an incident, but I have a duty to investigate the matter.”

“Carefully, Mister Condley.”

“Carefully. But thoroughly.”

“I will do my best. You know that.”

“You have always helped me more than I deserve, Colonel. That I know.”