It is like reality has been reversed, like one of those parallel universes where a cold wind freezes you in a hot country, where ghosts living on nothing at the to of a concrete shell continue to do the same futile Sisyphus job they did in life, where the subservient servant shouts orders, and a man who can type sits at the controls a d flies a plane. You have conjured a bubble for us.
Thanks Darcy -- as a lifelong fiction editor that is a great compliment to hear your comment "what a story". I don't think I could ever make up people like the Embassy-CIA group in Hue or the ICC men in their penthouse on the Perfurme River -- forgotten by all.
Great short story Hugh! Very well written. Every word is helping to 'paint a picture' in the mind of the reader. The American pilot certainly was a real character, obviously delighted to see an Aussie! It must have been one of the best experiences you had in Vietnam, being a co-pilot.
I never thought of myself as a "co-pilot" but I guess I was! There were lots of small, tiny happenings like that in 13 months in a war, each memorable in their own way.
I'll tell some more of them some day soon. Happy New Year Peter!
It is like reality has been reversed, like one of those parallel universes where a cold wind freezes you in a hot country, where ghosts living on nothing at the to of a concrete shell continue to do the same futile Sisyphus job they did in life, where the subservient servant shouts orders, and a man who can type sits at the controls a d flies a plane. You have conjured a bubble for us.
Thanks for joining my bubble -- and for interpreting it so well.
Hugh
What a story! I want to know more about that Embassy group, but I expect that's a novel.
Thanks Darcy -- as a lifelong fiction editor that is a great compliment to hear your comment "what a story". I don't think I could ever make up people like the Embassy-CIA group in Hue or the ICC men in their penthouse on the Perfurme River -- forgotten by all.
I have it all in my minds eye. The empty decrepit rooms, the tiny runway, the wall. The upgrade to copilot. Then pilot. What a good yarn!
I hadn't thought of myself as also the co-pilot -- but I was!
That's the ambition of all writers -- to have people see the scene in their mind's eye.
Sp thanks.
Hugh
How interesting, Hugh! What a crazy world. That was very evocative and also definitely makes me want to know more!
Thanks Adrienne -- I'm pleased I got across part of the craziness of the Vietnam war.
That's why I wrote my book on it!
Great short story Hugh! Very well written. Every word is helping to 'paint a picture' in the mind of the reader. The American pilot certainly was a real character, obviously delighted to see an Aussie! It must have been one of the best experiences you had in Vietnam, being a co-pilot.
I never thought of myself as a "co-pilot" but I guess I was! There were lots of small, tiny happenings like that in 13 months in a war, each memorable in their own way.
I'll tell some more of them some day soon. Happy New Year Peter!