As we walked — we were still in civilian clothes so it couldn't be called marching — into the Army Air Corps preflight school, there were men who had preceded us, lying on bunks, in tents with the sides rolled up. As we were herded down the company street, these “old timers,” who had just arrived that morning, all shouted, “You'll be sorry!” Of course the next morning we were doing the same thing to the new batch of bewildered, hopeful “flyers”, as they made their way past the rows of tents in which they were now lounging.

When my mind returned from this little journey into the past, Bad Guy interrogator was on his way out the door.

Li Chin-tsu was a person whose job title appeared to be that of nurses' aide. He was short and wore double-thick soles and heels on his shoes. I'd guess he did this for the added height. It did serve to give him a very identifiable sound as he thumped about the hospital with short quick steps.

Li was not overly friendly, but his approach toward me was very relaxed, indeed. On one occasion, when I awoke during the night, I couldn't roll over because of an obstruction in my bed. I turned my head to find myself staring at a pair of shoes — Li's shoes! He was lying full length, with his head at the foot of the bed, sound asleep. He was on night duty and chose this place to sneak a few winks. Of course, he'd come to know the guard on duty as a rather relaxed individual himself, so Li felt safe.

This rather free-spirited medical worker had one other pronounced trait. He was curious — very curious. This facet of his character was the reason his path crossed that of Bad Guy, one memorable day.

I was being “interviewed” by a high ranking officer, a colonel or a general (obviously I was not well versed on Chinese rank insignia), who was using Bad Guy as his interpreter. It was the day following the amputation of some fingers and part of my foot. I suspected they were trying to take advantage of any depressed state which might have resulted from my losses. I was lying in bed and the interrogators were standing beside it.

The ominous atmosphere had been created, and I had just been told again that my future looked very dark when I heard familiar footfalls approaching along the hall. I suddenly realized that my water pitcher hadn't been freshened that day and that, in all probability, using this as an excuse, Li Chin-tsu was going to perform the task, no matter what.

The door flew open and Li marched in without hesitation. He went directly to the nightstand, passing between me and the two suddenly silent, perplexed army officers. He looked at neither them nor me, as he picked up the pitcher and retraced his steps, closing the door behind him.

An attempt was made by my two inquisitors to reestablish the lost mood. They hadn't a chance. I knew what was about to happen next. The anticipation I felt was not for what they might do or say to me, but for the reappearance of Li, whose coming I awaited with barely submerged amusement.

The two had almost reached the you'll-be-sorry's, when I heard the rhythmic clumping which heralded the return of the “little disrupter”. The previous scene was replayed with only a minor variation in the roll of the water pitcher. It returned, as Li entered, and was left on the nightstand.

Li, a bit player, had succeeded in capturing an entire scene with two very brief walk-ons and not one line.

The result was devastating. The two officers remained only long enough for the general (or colonel) to stand at the foot of my bed, shouting threats about my being taken to a place where I would answer questions. Mixed among these threats was the following: “We are not going to handle this like your government would!”

I asked, “What do you mean by that?”

He shouted, “You'll see!”

I couldn't believe he'd said that!. Having been stated as a threat, it implied that he felt the U.S. government was more lenient toward their prisoners.

During this tirade he was so angry he sprayed the foot of my bed with saliva, which was the one thing the interpreter did not duplicate, as he strove to accurately mimic his superior.

Was Li simply performing his duties, blindly? Was he only curious about what was certainly being overheard in the halls? Or was this a conscious, successful attempt to disrupt the process? In any event, why did he get away with it, as he apparently did? ” 'Beats me!