‘‘It’s not a transport aircraft,’’ Clete said. ‘‘It’s a liaison aircraft, a small twin-engine aerial taxi.’’
Delgano looked at him dubiously. ‘‘In any event, even if it has a range of only six hundred miles it’s no problem. Six hundred miles is nearly a thousand kilometers. We should have no trouble making it.’’
‘‘I’m going alone, Capitán Delgano,’’ Clete interrupted. ‘‘There’s no way I’m taking you to Brazil with me.’’
Delgano considered that for a moment.
‘‘In that case, actually,’’ he said finally, ‘‘things may be less complicated than I thought at first. Let’s talk about Santo Tomé.’’
‘‘Why Santo Tomé?’’ Clete asked. ‘‘Why couldn’t I just fly directly here?’’
‘‘Across Uruguay?’’
Clete nodded.
‘‘It would be better to avoid crossing Uruguay at all,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘The Uruguayans patrol their border with Brazil, and we patrol our border with Uruguay, at least in the Río de la Plata estuary. Your chances of being detected would be far less if you crossed directly from Brazil into Argentina, and into Corrientes Province, not into Entre Ríos or Buenos Aires Province.’’
That’s the reason Graham ordered the team to be infiltrated through Corrientes Province. They’ll probably have to paddle across the river, but the idea is the same, less chance of being caught crossing the border.
‘‘OK,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Tell me about Santo Tomé.’’
‘‘The Second Cavalry Regiment is stationed at Santo Tomé,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘The commanding officer is a member of Grupo de Oficiales Unidos. More important, there is an airfield, of sorts, there.’’
‘‘Of sorts?’’
‘‘When your father was a teniente coronel, Mayor Frade, he was the Deputy Commander of the Second Cavalry. It is a tradition that an officer serves as the Deputy Commander of the First or Second Cavalry Regiments before being promoted coronel.’’
‘‘Is that so?’’
‘‘ ‘Santo Tomé,’ your father used to say, ‘is two hundred kilometers from nowhere.’ It was during his assignment at Santo Tomé that he became very interested in the potential value to the army of liaison and observation aircraft. It was by then generally understood that he would be promoted, as in fact he was—when he assumed command of the Húsares de Pueyrredón. Thus, when he requested that an airstrip be built at Santo Tomé, and that an Army aircraft be assigned to the Second Cavalry for experimental purposes, the request was granted. An Army aircraft, a Piper Cub, incidentally, was assigned to the Second Cavalry, together with a pilot—me—and a small detachment of mechanics.
‘‘Under my supervision, a dirt field was laid out adjacent to the Second Cavalry barracks. At your father’s ‘suggestion, ’ the runway was made somewhat longer than it had to be to accommodate a Piper Cub. He wanted it long enough for a Beech stagger-wing to use it safely. He had just purchased such an aircraft, and it was en route from the United States. When he was summoned to the Edificio Libertador, it would permit him to travel to Buenos Aires in a matter of hours, instead of the twelve or fourteen hours the trip took by automobile, or the overnight trip by train.’’
‘‘The Army went along with this?’’ Clete asked.
Delgano nodded.
‘‘And you were the pilot of the stagger-wing?’’
‘‘The delivery pilot from Beech taught me how to fly the stagger-wing,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘And I also found myself flying one of the Piper Cubs your father kept on his estancia —San Miguel—near Posadas.’’
‘‘What was that all about?’’
‘‘Your father found the quarters provided at Santo Tomé for the Deputy Commander of the Second Cavalry inadequate. He spent his weekends—the weekends he did not spend in Buenos Aires or here—at Estancia San Miguel.’’
‘‘Was this before or after you went to work for Coronel Martín?’’
‘‘El Coronel Martín assumed his duties after your father was promoted and had assumed command of the Húsares de Pueyrredón,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘I had worked for the man he replaced.’’
‘‘In other words, you were spying on my father all the time?’’
‘‘I prefer to think of it as performing my duties as an officer of the Bureau of Internal Security,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘Your father came to understand that, Mayor Frade.’’
‘‘OK,’’ Clete said after a moment. ‘‘So this airfield you built so my father could spend his weekends in Buenos Aires is still there?’’
‘‘It was not used much after your father was promoted and transferred, but it is still there. Recently, the commanding officer was told to make sure it is still capable of accommodating an aircraft such as the stagger-wing.’’
‘‘When was he told this?’’
‘‘Immediately after we came to our understanding of the terms under which you are importing the aircraft from Brazil. ’’
I get it. If the coup d’état fails, Delgano will fly Ramírez, Rawson, and the others in my airplane to this airstrip— which will be in the hands of the Second Cavalry. It will then be refueled and flown either into Brazil or, more likely, into Paraguay.
‘‘In other words—’’
‘‘I think you understand the situation, Mayor Frade. I don’t think we have to discuss the specifics.’’
‘‘What about fuel?’’ Clete asked.
‘‘That’s been taken care of,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘I’m suggesting that you and I drive to Santo Tomé today. It’s fifteen or sixteen hours from here . . .’’
‘‘I have business in Buenos Aires today.’’
‘‘The overnight train leaves Buenos Aires at ten P.M and arrives in Santo Tomé the next morning at nine. Can you finish your business in Buenos Aires in time to take the train?’’
‘‘Yes.’’
‘‘Very well. I will drive to Santo Tomé. Tonight. It’s already morning, isn’t it? When we finish here. I will meet your train at Santo Tomé and take you out to the Second Cavalry. You and I will inspect the airstrip and ensure that the fuel is there. I will then take you to the ferry across the Río Uruguay. I think I can pass you through Customs and Immigration without having your passport stamped, or any questions being asked. It would then be up to you to travel from São Borja to Pôrto Alegre. Would that pose any problem? ’’
‘‘No,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Wait. I’ll need some Brazilian money.’’
‘‘I’ll have that for you in Santo Tomé. I suggest you buy a ticket to Posadas and make the announcement you’re bound for Estancia San Miguel, which is near Posadas, and then simply leave the train at Santo Tomé.’’
‘‘OK,’’ Clete said. ‘‘I don’t suppose this airstrip at Santo Tomé is lighted?’’
‘‘The Brazilians, I gather, will not be aware of your flight? You have to cross the border in the hours of darkness? ’’ Delgano asked.
Clete nodded.
‘‘No, it’s not lighted,’’ Delgano said. ‘‘I will have a fire, in the shape of an arrow, burning during hours of darkness. When you overfly the arrow, I will have the gasoline lights ignited. We can go over this in detail together in Santo Tomé."
"OK."
‘‘Is that it for now?’’ Delgano said.
‘‘I think so,’’ Clete said.
‘‘Anything you need me to do, Mr. Frade?’’ Chief Schultz asked.
‘‘Send that radio we talked about,’’ Clete said. ‘‘And make sure Ettinger stays here.’’
‘‘Aye, aye, Sir.’’
[TWO] 1728 Avenida Coronel Díaz Palermo, Buenos Aires 0815 14 April 1943
By coincidence, Clete happened to be about to descend the wide marble staircase from the ‘‘first’’ floor—in the States, it would be the second—to the foyer of The Museum when he saw Antonio start to open the front door, apparently in response to a ringing in the kitchen, or someplace, that Clete had not heard.
Clete stopp
ed to see who it was. If it was not Tony and Delojo, he was going to turn and get out of sight.
It was Tony and Delojo, both in civilian clothing.
Tony looks pretty classy, Clete thought a little smugly.
In Washington, after he learned that Tony’s idea of ‘‘dress-up’’ clothing was a two-tone jacket, pastel-colored trousers, and a colored shirt worn tieless, with its collar spread over the two-tone jacket collar, Clete took him to the Men’s Store in Woodward & Lothrop and supervised the purchase of his wardrobe. Tony was now wearing a single-breasted gray flannel suit, a white, button-down-collar shirt, and a red-striped necktie.
His suit fits better than Delojo’s.
‘‘Up here,’’ Clete called, adding to Antonio, ‘‘Bring us some coffee and rolls, will you, please?’’
Tony came bounding up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
When Clete had knocked at his door in La Boca an hour before, Tony was awake, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Then Clete had the somewhat unkind thought that Tony, like a good paratrooper, has been up since oh dark hundred and has run five miles and done a hundred and fifty squat jumps before he even thought about breakfast.
Commander Delojo walked up the stairs one at a time, a wan smile on his face, looking like someone who had just reluctantly left his bed, showered, and shaved.
‘‘You look like an advertisement in Esquire, Tony,’’ Clete said.
‘‘I see you took off your cowboy suit, Major, Sir.’’
‘‘I had no choice. I am meeting my mother-in-law-to-be for lunch,’’ Clete said, then offered his hand to Delojo. ‘‘Good morning, Commander. I ordered coffee. Would you like something else? It’s no problem.’’
‘‘Coffee will be fine, thank you, Frade,’’ Delojo said. ‘‘I don’t think we were followed, but . . .’’
‘‘There’s a couple of BIS guys in an apartment across the street,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Go on the presumption that they will know you two have been here.’’
‘‘I don’t understand. Shouldn’t we have met someplace —’’
‘‘There would have been BIS agents on each of us. I don’t think we could lose all of them. So why bother to try?’’
He led them into the master’s apartment.
‘‘We can talk here,’’ he said. ‘‘There are no microphones. ’’
‘‘How do you know that?’’ Delojo challenged.
‘‘Enrico found the one cleverly concealed in the chandelier, ’’ Clete said. ‘‘And tells me there’s no other place they could put one.’’
‘‘Whose microphone?’’
‘‘Probably the BIS’s,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Tony said you wanted to talk to me.’’
Delojo looked dubiously around the room.
‘‘I wish I shared your faith in your man’s ability to sweep a room,’’ he said.
‘‘What’s up?’’ Clete said impatiently.
‘‘The team chief has been successfully infiltrated across the Río Uruguay into a town called Santo Tomé, in Corrientes Province.’’
‘‘Just the team chief?’’
‘‘It’s a five-man team. The team chief infiltrated. Two more men are in a town called São Borja just across the river in Brazil. The other two, and the radar and other equipment, are still at the Pôrto Alegre Naval Base. The team chief’s infiltration was sort of a trial run, to see how difficult the infiltration was going to be. The Río Uruguay is a wide river.’’
‘‘How did he cross the river?’’
‘‘Presumably in a boat. I would guess they have a rubber boat, rubber boats.’’
‘‘How much does this radar weigh? Will it fit through the door of the C-45? How much other equipment do they have? Same questions—what does it weigh, and will it fit through the door of the C-45?"
‘‘Presumably you have a reason for asking?’’
‘‘I’m going to Santo Tomé tonight. Then I’m going to Pôrto Alegre, and will fly the C-45 to Santo Tomé. I’ll be alone in the C-45. If I can get this stuff in it, that makes more sense than trying to smuggle it across the river in a rubber boat.’’
‘‘This is the first I’ve heard any of this,’’ Delojo said.
‘‘Most of it just happened,’’ Clete said. ‘‘I intended to see you sometime today—even before I heard the team chief is already in Argentina.’’
‘‘Why Santo Tomé?’’ Delojo asked.
‘‘I’ve made a deal with . . . certain people. They are helping me bring the airplane into Argentina. Specifically, into an airstrip at Santo Tomé.’’
‘‘What kind of a deal?’’
‘‘I have the feeling, Commander, which I don’t like, that you think I’m supposed to ask your approval of my actions. ’’
‘‘You are supposed to coordinate your actions with mine, Major. I presume Colonel Graham is aware of your plans?’’
‘‘He knows that I’m going to pick up the airplane at Pôrto Alegre two days from now. That’s all.’’
There was a knock at the door, and a maid came in carrying a tray with two pots on it. She laid it on the desk.
Clete was pleased when Tony, helping himself from one of the pots, said, more in surprise than indignation, ‘‘Shit, this is hot chocolate!’’
‘‘Paratroopers don’t drink sissy chocolate, right?’’
‘‘This one does. The coffee here dissolves my stomach.’’
Commander Delojo waited until the maid left the room, poured himself a cup of coffee, diluted it with cream and added sugar, and then asked, ‘‘You are bringing the C-45 in black, is that it?’’
‘‘Let’s say ‘covertly.’ Not black.’’
‘‘I don’t think I understand the distinction.’’
‘‘Let’s say that I’m confident I can get the airplane from Pôrto Alegre into Argentina via Santo Tomé, and from Santo Tomé to Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo, without any trouble.’’
‘‘This has something do with Galahad and/or Cavalry?’’
‘‘I’m surprised you’re familiar with those names.’’
‘‘I have a radio from Director Donovan asking me to identify them.’’
‘‘When did you get that?’’
‘‘Last night.’’
‘‘From Donovan? Not Graham?’’
‘‘From Director Donovan. Who are they?’’
‘‘I’m not at liberty to tell you,’’ Clete said.
‘‘Doesn’t the fact that Director Donovan has directed me to identify these people give you the ‘liberty’?’’
‘‘I’m afraid not.’’
‘‘You understand that I will have to reply that I asked you for their identities, and you refused to give them to me?’’
‘‘I’ve already informed Oracle that I cannot identify these people,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Look, I’m offering to help you get the team and their equipment into Argentina. If you don’t want me to help, fine.’’
‘‘I really can’t understand your attitude, Major,’’ Delojo said. ‘‘You’re not being at all cooperative.’’
‘‘Does that mean you don’t want my help?’’
‘‘How do you propose to help?’’
‘‘How are you communicating with Pôrto Alegre? I mean, who at Pôrto Alegre?’’
‘‘We have an agent there.’’
‘‘Birddog?’’
‘‘I never heard that name.’’
‘‘Your agent does know about the C-45?"
‘‘Of course.’’
‘‘Well, then I suggest you contact your man—he’s either Birddog by another name, or he knows who Birddog is— and find out if the radar and the other equipment, and the other two guys on the team, will fit on the C-45. If so, have the equipment and the two guys ready to go when I get there. If they won’t, that’s too bad. We tried.’’
‘‘I think I would need authorization from Colonel Graham to do that.’’
‘‘There’s not time to ask Graham’s permission.’’
‘‘The ramifications of you being discovered bringing the C-45 in black, with the radar and two agents aboard . . .’’
‘‘There’s not time to ask Graham’s permission,’’ Clete said. ‘‘I’m leaving here at ten o’clock tonight, and there’s no way we can get a reply by then.’’
Delojo shook his head as he considered the ramifications of that.
‘‘OK,’’ Clete said impatiently. ‘‘Let’s leave it this way: It’s your responsibility to get Ashton’s team and their equipment into Argentina, and from Santo Tomé to Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo. You worry about that, and I’ll worry about getting the C-45 to Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo.’’
‘‘You would fly everybody from Santo Tomé to Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo? Is that what you’re saying?’’
Clete nodded.
Delojo exhaled audibly.
‘‘This can’t be delayed a couple of days until we coordinate everything with Oracle?’’ he asked.
‘‘I’m on the ten-o’clock train tonight to Santo Tomé,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Where’s Ashton?’’
‘‘At the Automobile Club of Argentina hotel in Santo Tomé.’’
‘‘When you message Oracle, Commander,’’ Clete said, ‘‘you can ask him to relay to Graham that I plan to cross into Brazil either tomorrow night or early the next morning. ’’
‘‘What makes you think I’m going to message Oracle?’’
‘‘Unless I’ve misread you completely, Commander, as soon as you get to the Embassy, you are going to radio Oracle all of this, so that if Oracle doesn’t ‘authorize’ what I’m planning on doing, there will be time for him to have the whole operation stopped by the time I get to Pôrto Alegre. ’’
‘‘That would not be necessary, Major Frade, if you were willing to delay your operation for seventy-two hours,’’ Delojo said. ‘‘We could have authorization, or denial of authorization, within that period.’’
‘‘I don’t have seventy-two hours,’’ Clete said. ‘‘Have you got anything else for me?’’
‘‘I think that’s all,’’ Delojo said. ‘‘I suggest that when you meet with Ashton you make it clear to him that the pickup of his two men and the radar at Pôrto Alegre is a tentative plan.’’
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