The Target(143)

They opened the rusted wrought-iron gate and made their way down the uneven grass path. They passed mostly old tombstones and grave markers. Some leaned at precarious angles; others were ramrod straight.

Near the end of the path and on the left was the newest gravestone here. It was white and resembled those at Arlington National Cemetery.

It was simple in design but powerful in its inspiration.

The inscription matched the design’s simplicity:

YIE CHUNG-CHA, WHO FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT UNTIL THE END



No one knew when she had been born or where. And no one knew how old she was. And while they knew the exact date of her death, there did not seem to be a good reason to mark her grave with that violent fact.

Reel stared down at the white stone and the hump of dirt. “That could be us down there.”

“It would have been, but for her.”

“We are like her, you know that.”

“There are similarities,” Robie admitted.

“How do you think she feels, being so far from home?”

“I’m not sure the dead are really concerned with that. And for her, North Korea wasn’t much of a home, was it?”

“I’m glad they didn’t send her body back. She belongs…well, I think she belongs here. It’s sort of just…right.”

“It’s peaceful enough. And after all she’d been through the lady deserved some peace.”

“Like you and me.”

“Yes,” agreed Robie.

“I didn’t know her, though I wish I could have had the chance. But I know beyond doubt that I will never forget her.”

“She’s left a piece of herself here. In Min.”

“And now she’s given Min the chance to have a life. We can help her with that life.”

“We have helped her.”

“I mean more than giving her to Jerome and Julie.”

Robie looked surprised. “Do you want to do that?”

“Yes. And not just because we owe it to Chung-Cha.”

Reel knelt down next to the grave and brushed a few leaves off the freshly turned dirt.

“It’s because, well…”

She rose and placed a hand over Robie’s. “It’s because it’s something people should do.” She paused. “Even people like us.”

“Even people like us,” agreed Robie.

They turned and walked off together as the light gave way fully to the dark.