Novel Without a Name

The North Vietnamese launch a new military campaign; Quan’s unit prepares for the upcoming battle. One of Quan’s unit, Thai, pulls him aside to tell him about his brother’s death in a battle where an entire North Vietnamese platoon was destroyed because a single political officer wanted to advance his own career and falsified a report about the situation into which the platoon was heading. The next day, Quan’s platoon is hit with malaria; “[b]y the eighth day, the sickness had struck a third of the company” (233).

Less than two weeks after malaria strikes, Quan’s unit is ordered to move out and prepare for battle, regardless of being unwell. On the road, Quan’s unit catches a deserter, whom they bring with them. They reach their rally point and head into battle, emerging victorious but sustaining heavy losses: “Out of my hundred-strong company, only Thai, myself, and seventeen soldiers survived […] In spite of it all, we were the victors” (237).

Quan is ordered to lead four prisoners to the base with his remaining unit. They are stalled by the onset of the rainy season. While watching the prisoners, Quan notices that one in particular reminds him of Hoa’s younger sister, Hien.