"Would I have to swear an oath? Of allegiance?"
"Yes, naturally. Of course."
"The moment I did that," Clete said, "I would lose my American citizenship."
"That would be difficult for you?"
"Yeah, it would," Clete said without thinking about it. "I don't want to do that."
He happened to glance at Martin's eyes.
And saw in them that he had just closed a door that would never again be opened.
If I had accepted that temporary commission under these circumstances, where accepting it might mean that I would find myself standing in front of a wall with Rawson, Martin, and Lauffer, even if it lasted only three days, they would thereafter have accepted me as a bona fide Argentine. Now that will never happen.
Well, so be it. I'm an American. I don't want to give that up.
"That leaves you, of course," Mart¡n said, cordially enough, "as the English would put it, as neither fish nor good red meat."
"I guess it does," Clete said.
"I'm turning you over to Capitan Lauffer," Mart¡n said. "Until this is over, I want you to be with him. If using the airplane becomes necessary, you will re-ceive that word from him."
"Fine with me," Clete said.
"As an officer and a gentleman, I would like you to give me your parole," Mart¡n said.
"What kind of a parole?"
"That you will not leave Campo de Mayo, nor communicate with anyone outside Campo de Mayo, without the express permission of Capitan Lauffer or myself."
"I've already told you that I'll fly the airplane. But I will need to use the telephone. What if I give you my word I will not mention, in any way, Outline Blue?"
"I don't think you're talking about telephoning your fianc‚e," Mart¡n said. "You're concerned about Sergeant Ettinger? Is that what you mean?"
Clete nodded.
"Delgano told you he took the car ferry to Montevideo?"
Clete nodded again.
"I'm sorry, Mayor," Mart¡n said. "You will not be in any position to help Ettinger until Outline Blue has run its course. If I hear anything, I will let you know. I will require your parole."
"Or
what?"
"Or I will place an armed guard at your door."
"OK," Clete said. "I won't try to leave, and I won't communicate with any-one without your permission."
"On your word of honor as an officer and a gentleman?"
"On my word of honor as an officer and a gentleman," Clete parroted.
I wonder if I mean that? What is the really honorable thing to do? Pass up an opportunity to try to keep one of my men alive? Or live up to Martin's adult version of Boy Scout's Honor?
"Suboficial Mayor Rodriguez," Mart¡n said, turning to Enrico, "are you armed?"