Part 2 (1/2)

”Then we are at an impa.s.se already,” Doyle said. ”A pity. I think that when the news of your, ah, currency difficulties becomes widely known there is very likely to be a loss of confidence in your peso. Widespread selling. A few million francs in gold is not so much, but these things always seem to s...o...b..ll.”

”I see. You threaten us with economic war if we do not come to meet you. You would do that in any event, whether we meet or not,” Ortiz said.

”A moment.” The new man was tall and slender, and superficially resembled Ortiz. Colonel Mendoza. ”If, perhaps, we released your colleagues as a gesture of good faith, would you then be willing to come here?”

Doyle smiled. That's round one, he thought. ”Certainly, Coronel. Coronel. You see, we are not so difficult to do business with....” You see, we are not so difficult to do business with....”

There were soldiers in the streets of Buenos Aires. Enoch saw them as an Army staff car took him from the airport to the Casa Rosada. As they hustled him into the Presidential Palace, he barely had time to mark the contrasts on the Plaza del Mayo: palm trees and fountains, impressive nineteenth-century granite buildings with air conditioners protruding from the windows, a Gothic cathedral. Between the old buildings were modern steel and gla.s.s structures; and there were tanks on the broad white walkways under the palm trees.

Enoch went first to the office of General Rasmussen. El General El General was stocky, built like a wedge, with thick meaty lips and dark eyes. He eyed Doyle warily. When the aides left the room, and Enoch had declined a drink, the general leaned forward confidentially. ”You understand that I am in sympathy with your efforts, but that I do not control the council?” he asked anxiously. was stocky, built like a wedge, with thick meaty lips and dark eyes. He eyed Doyle warily. When the aides left the room, and Enoch had declined a drink, the general leaned forward confidentially. ”You understand that I am in sympathy with your efforts, but that I do not control the council?” he asked anxiously.

”Certainly, General,” Enoch said. ”We appreciate your efforts. What I don't understand is, why have we been singled out? Your council isn't giving the other companies nearly this much trouble.”

Rasmussen shrugged. ”It is Colonel Ortiz,” he said. ”He is a maniac, Superintendent! No compromise. The holdings of OCEANIQUE must be seized, and all contracts with INTERSECS cancelled. He is willing to release your people, but it was difficult to persuade him even that far.”

”Hmm. And if his opposition ceased?”

”Then, I think, it would be well between us. He is the leader of Opus Dei, and that is three votes in the junta. But he will not be persuaded, Superintendent. It is not my fault. I have done the best I can for you; to go further would accomplish nothing except that I would be called a traitor to the revolution and a tool of the corporations....”

”We understand, General. We believe these contracts are in the interests of your country. It is gratifying to know that you share that belief. Certainly we will have disagreements, but we are both reasonable men....” The d.a.m.n fool, Enoch thought. If Ortiz doesn't have this office bugged, he's he's a fool. Rasmussen was a non-political official under Molina, put on the junta for national unity. But how did a creature like that get to be a general? ”I suppose, then, that I should speak with Colonel Ortiz. Can I be taken to his office?” a fool. Rasmussen was a non-political official under Molina, put on the junta for national unity. But how did a creature like that get to be a general? ”I suppose, then, that I should speak with Colonel Ortiz. Can I be taken to his office?”

”Certainly.” Rasmussen rang for an orderly. ”It has been pleasant to meet with you, Superintendent. And you will not forget that-”

”That you are a reasonable man. No, certainly not. Thank you, General.”

Ortiz had offices directly across from the ornate Presidential suite; and the President's offices were empty. Symbolic, Enoch thought. And dangerous. He was kept waiting in an anteroom.

”I-N-F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N,” he thought.

”ON LINE.”.

”O-R-T-I-Z X-X J-E-S-U-S M-A-R-I-A X-X C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I-O-N-S W-I-T-H O-C-E-A-N-I-Q-U-E.”.

”NONE SIGNIFICANT.”.

”R-E-L-A-T-I-V-E-S C-O-N-V-I-C-T-E-D U-N-D-E-R C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T.”.

”NONE IN RECORDS.”.

”P-U-T M-Y A-S-S-I-S-T-A-N-T I-N T-H-E L-O-O-P.”.

”I'M ON, BOSS.” The voice wasn't different, of course; but now Enoch could ask questions in normal language and Timothy would program them into the computer-provided the Argentines didn't do something about his communications. Implant to Enoch's briefcase, briefcase to the aircraft he'd come in; aircraft to Zurich and Malvinas, via satellites; any of the lines were vulnerable to jamming. The codes were supposed to be unbreakable, though. He might be jammed, but he wouldn't be overheard. He hoped.

The office had been ornately furnished for one of General Molina's a.s.sistants, and Ortiz hadn't changed the decor. The colonel wore the same uniform as before, or a newly pressed copy of it. Neat, Enoch thought. Best description of him. Mustache seems to have been clipped one hair at a time. No religious memorabilia in evidence-is that normal for a Catholic Action type?

The dossier had been complete. Ortiz was intelligent, well-educated, popular with his troops and the communities they'd been stationed in. He seemed to have an understanding of international economics. INTERSECS consultants thought he'd be a stabilizing force and might be the best leader Argentina had come up with since before the multiple Peron regimes. Except for one point. He hated INTERSECS.

”You saw General Rasmussen before you came to me. I am surprised. I had thought you would consult with Colonel Mendoza,” Ortiz said. There was no trace of a smile.

”I do not comprehend, Coronel.” Coronel.”

”We will pay his gambling debts, of course. Colonel Mendoza will be a very useful man when he no longer has reason to fear or love you. Now I must investigate General Rasmussen. You see, I am a realist, Superintendent Doyle.”

Enoch showed no surprise, but his features were locked in a rigid mask. ”Coronel ”Coronel Ortiz, why is this necessary? There is so little to negotiate. Your threat to seize Malvinas, for example. A bargaining point, but not one of consequence. I dealt with it before leaving Zurich. We simply pay higher royalties to the United Kingdom. The British lion is toothless, perhaps, but not so helpless that he cannot defend the Falkland Islands and their offsh.o.r.e sea bottom, as Argentina found once before.” Ortiz, why is this necessary? There is so little to negotiate. Your threat to seize Malvinas, for example. A bargaining point, but not one of consequence. I dealt with it before leaving Zurich. We simply pay higher royalties to the United Kingdom. The British lion is toothless, perhaps, but not so helpless that he cannot defend the Falkland Islands and their offsh.o.r.e sea bottom, as Argentina found once before.”

Ortiz' eyes narrowed slightly. Then he shrugged. ”I had not expected quite such prompt action. I had hoped to present England and the UN with a fait accompli. fait accompli. Very well, you have taken one bargaining counter, but what will you do about Santa Rosa? That, Superintendent, is entirely an internal affair of the Argentine Republic.” Very well, you have taken one bargaining counter, but what will you do about Santa Rosa? That, Superintendent, is entirely an internal affair of the Argentine Republic.”

”But conceded on lease to OCEANIQUE,” Doyle said. ”At your former government's request, I remind you. You receive the taxes, but have no necessity to provide government. Not even to operate jails and prisons-”

”Yes. You enslave people-”

”We collect the economic costs of their crimes for the victims. And we permit them to work. They keep a portion of their wages, and if they have dependents another portion is sent to their families. To be frank, Senor Coronel, Senor Coronel, foreign technicians would not entrust themselves to General Molina's justice. Even the Argentine citizens who work for us prefer our justice to yours. Only the incorrigibles, those who will not work at all, would rather be in an Argentine prison.” foreign technicians would not entrust themselves to General Molina's justice. Even the Argentine citizens who work for us prefer our justice to yours. Only the incorrigibles, those who will not work at all, would rather be in an Argentine prison.”

”There will be changes in the Ministry of Justice,” Ortiz said coldly.

”Your pardon, Coronel, Coronel, but all that has been said before. Here and elsewhere, and many times.” but all that has been said before. Here and elsewhere, and many times.”

Ortiz said nothing.

”And what value is Santa Rosa to you?” Doyle asked. ”You harm OCEANIQUE, but do no good for your country. Without Santa Rosa, Malvinas cannot operate. Without Malvinas, you have problems obtaining minerals. Without low-cost minerals-how soon before Chrysler begins laying off auto workers in La Plata? Where will GE get the copper for the radios they make in Montevideo? Your neighbors will not be pleased to see Malvinas harmed, Senor Coronel. Senor Coronel. Uruguay and Chile need the products sold by OCEANIQUE. You risk your whole economy, and for what?” Uruguay and Chile need the products sold by OCEANIQUE. You risk your whole economy, and for what?”