Chapter 14

“This is crazy!” Beatrice shouted in Genny’s ear.

The agent had caught up, but let Genny lead as they dodged through the temple grounds. Now, they were holed up by the water cistern below Gropura II. They were twenty meters below the main temple level. She’d worn low-heeled shoes knowing they’d be walking around the site, but wished she’d worn sneakers. She tore the slit in her skirt a little higher, she should have slit both sides.

“The Thai Army is about to storm the entrance,” Frank arrived with Peter close beside him. Then he pointed to the north. “And the Cambodian reinforcements are going to be coming up the road to the west. That’s where we have to get, but you are leading us down to the east. Why?”

“Because we aren’t using either road.”

Genny focused on Frank, knowing it was him she had to convince.

“There are a few dozen Cambodian fighters near the entrance gate. They hold the high ground above the entrance stairs. These are veterans, if the Khmer people know anything, it is war. The Thais may be a better equipped, more modern army, but the Khmer will hold their ground for a long time despite being vastly outnumbered.”

Frank nodded as he acknowledged her assessment.

“And the nearest reinforcements are probably in Angkor Wat. That’s an hour away, even under the very best of conditions, which these roads do not ever have. The nearest air assets are in Phnom Penh, an hour away, if they even are aware of the attack.”

“They know. If Beale tells them. I reached her and she’s enroute overland.”

Genny felt better for that. But overland meant Emily was still in Vietnam and would be at least an hour away.

“We need to keep the President safe from the Thai Army for at least an hour and I know only one way to do that.”

She could see Frank weighing factors.

As if on cue, the hijacked Cambodian fighter plane made one more strafing run, this time clearly firing hard on the Cambodian positions at the Gropura I entrance. Then, the Cambodian return fire must have scored a hit, as the Thai forces would probably be missing the hijacked plane on purpose, just firing for show. The jet wobbled in the sky as if it had stumbled and tripped, then it caught on fire. Moments later, well into Thailand, the pilot ejected and a white chute opened up almost immediately.

“Bastard!” Beatrice cursed beside her.

“You need to decide now!” Genny ordered Frank and gritted her teeth. She did know what was best.

Frank looked at the President.

“Hell of a woman you chose, Mr. President. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, I know.”