Mart¡n smiled at him.
In Frade's shoes, I would certainly feel exactly the same way.
"I ask you, my friend, not to act in haste or anger," Mart¡n said.
"Is there any longer any reason I have to stay here?" Clete said, then smiled and added, "Asked the amateur intelligence officer, tactfully trying to change the subject."
"The original reason I asked Capitan Delgano to... make sure you were available... was of course the possibility that the Lockheed would be needed."
"That, I understood. But why until now?"
"El Presidente considered for a while offering your aircraft to former Pres-idente Castillo and members of the former government. It would take them out of the country."
"Oddly enough, I thought that might be it," Clete said. "I had a lot of time to think, you understand."
Mart¡n looked at Clete, smiled, and shook his head.
"In any event, former Presidente Castillo, and some others, have been placed aboard a boat in El Tigre which will take them to Uruguay. You are free to leave. With the gratitude of the government, and my personal gratitude."
He offered Clete his hand.
"Where will you go?" Mart¡n asked.
"I don't know," Clete said. "What I'm wondering is how I will get any-where. I flew in here."
"The least we can do for you is provide you with a car and driver," Mart¡n said.
"How about a ride into Buenos Aires?" Clete asked. "I've got cars there. I want to make a telephone call...."
"I took the liberty of telephoning Se¤orita Mallin-actually I spoke with her father-and told him that, although you were unavoidably detained, you were not in any danger."
"Jesus H. Christ!" Clete said, and then added, thinking out loud: "That was damned nice of you."
"It was nothing," Mart¡n said.
He looked around the room, found the major who had been Clete's oh-so-courteous guard, and waved him over.
"Mayor, I want you to find a car and a driver, and then escort Se¤or Frade anywhere he wishes to go in Buenos Aires."
"S¡, mi Coronel."
"Thank yo
u," Clete said. "I am free to take the airplane?"
"Of course, but you said you..."
"Tomorrow," Clete said, thinking aloud. "I'll have somebody drive me out here. Or, if I decide to go to the estancia, I'll fly a Cub here, pick up the Lock-heed, and worry about getting the Cub back later."
"I will order Capitan Delgano to make himself available to you at your con-venience."
"Thank you very much, mi Coronel, but I won't need Capitan Delgano."
"I would feel so much more comfortable if he were with you."
"Thank you for your concern, but no thank you."
Mart¡n looked at him for a long moment before saying, "Whatever you wish, of course."