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." "That's not what I mean.I mean, Ithought about it.You're half Argentine.I knew that, but I never understoodit until I saw you here.This is your country, too." "You're speaking to MajorFrade of the Marine Corps, the United States Marine Corps." "You know what Imean, Clete.Face facts." "What I'm doing right now is facing that fact.I ama Marine Corps officer.When the war is over, then I'll worry about what elseI am." "OK," she said."Are you going to get married in that gorgeous Marineuniform, Major Frade?" "I never thought about what I would wear," heconfessed."But, hell, yes, that's a great idea." A maid came onto the patio and told ElPatron that breakfast was being served." "El Patron and I will be theredirectly," Beth told her in Spanish, then smiled knowingly at Clete."It's easy to get used to," he said, and then waved her ahead of him out ofthe room.He followed her down the corridor to the dining room, where everyone wasseated at the table.Dorotea was sitting at its foot as she had atdinner which meant, Clete thought, that as far as she was concerned she wasalready playing the role of La Patrona.It pleased him."Good morning, Cletus," Dorotea said sweetly."Did you sleep well?" God, she'sbeautiful!"Actually, no," he said seriously."One thing and another kept me up most ofthe night." "Perhaps your conscience was bothering you, darling," she repliedwithout missing a beat."And how did you sleep, Dorotea?" Beth asked innocently."Well, there was nothing on my conscience, so I slept like a baby," Doroteareplied.She picked up a small silver bell by her plate and rang it.Two maids immediately came out of the kitchen and started serving breakfast.Page 107ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlTHREE Control Tower El Palomar Airfield Buenos Aires 1435 2 May 1943 "MiCoronel." the senior control operator said, and when he had Coronel BernardoMartin's attention, pointed his index finger toward the sky.Martin picked up a set of earphones and put them on.He was in uniform becausea colonel's uniform would be more useful than his Bureau of Internal Securitycredentials for what he wanted to do now."El Palomar Tower, this is Lockheed Zebra Eight Four Three." Despite theslight static and clipped frequency of the control tower's radio, the voicewas easily recognizable as Cletus Frade's.Martin looked at the control tower operator, who was doing absolutely nothing.Martin gestured impatiently for him to get on with it.The operator picked up his microphone."Lockheed Zebra Eight Four Three, ElPalomar, go ahead." "Four Three is at 2,500 meters, indicating 250 knotscorrection, 400 kilometers per hour, approximately sixty kilometers due northof your station.Request approach and landing instructions.Over." Fourhundred kilometers per hour? My God, that's fast!He did the arithmetic: Four hundred kilometers an hour was six point six sixsix forever kilometers a minute.At that speed, it will take him nine minutesto fly sixty kilometers.I just got here in time."Mi Coronel?" the control tower operator asked."Give him what he wants, por favor, Senor," Martin said politely, and addedmentally, You idiot!"Lockheed Zebra Eight Four Three, El Palomar.Permission to approach El Palomar on present course is granted.Descend to one thousand meters.Report when twenty kilometers from the field.""El Palomar Four Three.Understand and will comply.Beginning descent at this time." Four minutes later, Lockheed Zebra Eight FourThree called again."El Palomar, Four Three.At one thousand meters.Due north.Indicating fourhundred kilometers.Estimate maybe 25 kilometers from your station." This timeMartin was waiting for the control-tower operator to ask for instructions."Do whatever you have to do to have him land," he ordered."Si, mi Coronel," the control-tower operator said, and picked up hismicrophone."Lockheed Zebra Eight Four Three, El Palomar." "Four Three, goahead." "You are cleared to land on Runway One Eight.There is no othertraffic.The winds are from the south at fifteen kilometers.Report when youhave airfield in sight." "Understand, One Eight.South at fifteen.I have theairfield in sight.I will require customs and immigration." Again, Martin waswaiting for the control-tower operator's request for orders."Inform the appropriate customs and immigration officials," he said, "andthank you for your courtesy, senor." "It is nothing, mi Coronel." Martinquickly went down the steep and narrow stairs from the control tower andwalked toward the customs and immigration area.He was nearly there when,looking northward toward the Rio Plate, he saw the Lodestar making itsapproach to the field.Page 108ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlHe stopped to watch it land.The wheels came out of their wells.The airplane moved slightly to the rightto precisely line up with the runway, and then it gracefully touched down, thetires giving off an audible squeal and puffs of smoke when they encounteredthe runway.It's a beautiful machine.I'm glad I came to see this.He resumed walking as the Lockheed rolled to the far end of the runway.The day before, he had been informed that the Lodestar had taken off fromEstancia San Pedro y San Pablo an hour and a half after the event.The reportwould have come immediately, Benito Letieri had assured him nervously, if thetelephone line hadn't gone out.Benito had also related that Senor Frade's two sisters were aboard, as wereSenorita Mallin and Senor Duarte, but no one else, Benito seemed to think.Hisinformation was that they were bound for Uruguay.Martin had immediately called El Palomar, not at all surprised to hear thatthe Lockheed had cleared customs and immigration and taken off ten minutesearlier with the announced destination of Carrasco airfield, outsideMontevideo.By the time Martin could get through to his man in Montevideo, it was ofcourse too late for him to reach the airport when the Lockheed landed; but hehad ordered him out there anyway, with orders to ask questions and immediatelyreport the answers
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