Per¢n could not be silenced: "I refuse to believe that Jorge had any hand in sinking that ship!"
"Let me put it to you this way, Coronel," Rawson said. "Before the 'spon-taneous combustion' of the Reine de la Mer's fuel bunkers, Jorge had an air-plane... 'the stagger-wing,' you remember?"
Per¢n nodded.
"There were reports that such an aircraft was seen near the Reine de la Mer shortly before the explosion, and other reports that it crashed into the sea. Jorge never reported the loss of his aircraft to either the authorities or his insurance company."
"His son could have taken it without his knowledge, stolen it!"
"For what I really hope is the last time, gentlemen, I will suggest that the less said about the Reine de la Mer, the better. I can't think of a clearer way to say that."
"S¡, mi general," Rawson and Per¢n said, almost in unison.
"There is another problem with the son," Per¢n said. "Somewhere he's ac-quired the odd idea that the Germans were responsible for the death of Jorge."
"He's not the only one who believes that," Rawson said.
"Nonsense!" Per¢n said.
"And there is one other problem vis-a-vis Jorge's safe," Rawson said. "Claudia tells me the money's in there, too."
"What money?" Per¢n asked.
"The money which will ensure the success of Outline Blue would be a polite way to phrase it," Rawson said. "The funds to bribe certain officers would be more accurate."
"I don't even like the sound of the word 'bribe,'" Per¢n said. "And as a practical matter..."
"As a practical matter, Juan Domingo," Ramirez said, "our first considera-tion is to take power bloodlessly. We've all been over this. A vote was taken by the Executive Committee of the G.O.U. Certain payments will have to be made. In cash. For several months, we have been gathering the necessary funds and placing them in Jorge's hands."
"At the time," Rawson said, "it seemed the obvious way to handle it, and not only because three-quarters of the money raised was from Jorge. We had no idea he would be murdered."
"And now we find ourselves begging a norteamericano OSS agent to give us our money?" Per¢n asked, his tone making it clear that he found this at least as distasteful as the subject of bribing officers.
"Unless we can get into Jorge's safe before he does, and that seems very unlikely," Ramirez said.
"Perhaps Claudia can appeal to him. To carry out something his father be-gan," Rawson said. "Or we could appeal to him as an Argentine."
"At what price?" Per¢n asked.
"From what I have seen of him, I like him," Ramirez said, ignoring the question. "I think he would trust Claudia Carzino-Cormano in this matter."
"And if he doesn't?" Per¢n asked.
Rawson shrugged.
"The two of you," Ramirez said, "plus Claudia Carzino-Cormano will have to meet with him. There is no other choice. If he has a price, pay it."
"Perhaps, if-as Roberto says-Suboficial Mayor Rodriguez is with Mayor Frade all the time, he would be helpful," Ramirez said. "I wish I could be there, but..."
"May I ask why you won't be there?" Per¢n asked.
"At my suggestion," Rawson answered for him. "To alleviate the suspi-cions of Almirante Montoya that Outline Blue is about to be executed. Not that I think it will do any good."
"Is Montoya with us or not?" Per¢n asked.
"I really don't know," Rawson said. "And I really don't think we will know until we put the plan in operation."
"What do you think, mi General?"