Griffin W.E.B. - Honor Bound 01 - Honor Bound

Oh, I've noticed. The trouble is she just graduated from high school.

"It would attract notice if such a man did not take advantage of the repast fate has laid before him."

"I understand. Another question?"

"Certainly."

"When will I be able to get together with the other team leader?"

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Nestor said.

"Sir," Clete protested politely. "If we are to be the backup team, shouldn't I know as much as possible about what they've got lined up?"

"Obviously, that would be the thing for you to do," Nestor said. "But, unfortunately, the team has disappeared."

With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Clete turned to look at Nestor.

"What do you mean, 'disappeared'?"

"Disappeared," Nestor repeated.

"You don't know what happened to them?"

"It's possible, but unlikely, that they are being held by the Argentines for interrogation, and that in a day, or a week, our ambassador will be summoned to the Foreign Ministry and handed a message condemning, in the strongest possible terms, this outrageous intrusion into Argentine internal affairs. But I don't think that will happen. Everybody knows the rules of the game."

"What are you saying? That they were caught and executed?"

"That seems the most likely scenario."

"Jesus Christ!"

"These things happen. They have to be expected. That's why your team was sent down here. To be available in case something went wrong."

"I suppose," Clete said.

I'm not terrified,Clete thought. I've been terrified often enough to know that's not my reaction now. How about "scared shitless"? That fits in between "terrified" and "deeply concerned."

"The United States has two important concerns here, Clete," Nestor said. "First, as a tactical objective with diplomatic overtones, the replenishment vessel has to be rendered hors de combat. And we have to accomplish that before the Brazilians decide to deal with it themselves. It is not in the interests of the United States that they go to war against Argentina at this time."

"The mentors from the Country Club discussed that in New Orleans," Clete said.

"Secondly, equally important, we have to teach the Argentines a lesson."

They just taught us one, didn't they? Don't mess with our neutrality.

"Yes, Sir?"

"I really wish you would call me 'Jasper,' " Nestor said. "I understand, force of habit, but someone hearing you might ask..."

"Sorry, Jasper. I'll work on it."

"The Argentines have to be taught that they can't stop us from making sure they stay neutral; that they can't close their eyes to the fact that the Germans are reprovisioning their submarines and surface raiders in the River Plate. More important, that even if they have eliMi?ated one of our teams, we are capable of, and will in fact, send in another team. And another. And another. As many as it takes."

"I understand. Will there be another team sent down here now?"

"I'm sure there will be. No telling, of course, how long it will take to find the men, and then run them through the training school, et cetera, et cetera. For the time being, Clete, you're the varsity team."

"Varsity team"? Jesus Christ! We're here to blow up a ship, not play football!

"It will be important for you to keep in mind that we don't want to anger the Argentineans. Ideally, you would render the replenishment ship inoperable, rather than sink it, and do so without its coming out publicly that it was done by Americans."

"Who else would do it?"

"The British, for one. The Brazilians, for another. The point is that if it became public—as opposed to private—knowledge that the vessel was rendered inoperable by Americans, there would be an inevitable public outcry—fueled by the Germans— against American violation of Argentine neutrality."

"OK. I get the picture."

"Blowing the ship up would attract attention—especially if the ship was flying the flag of a neutral country."

"Is that what happened to the team that was eliMi?ated?'' Clete's mouth ran away with him. "They 'attracted attention'?"

If Nestor was offended by his sarcasm, or even noticed it, there was no sign.

"I don't actually know. Scenario One is that they were detected and eliMi?ated while actually conducting the operation. Scenario Two is that they came to the attention of members of the Argentinean Navy who, with permission from the highest quarters, removed the perceived threat to Argentinean neutrality in such a manner that no questions could be asked. Scenario Three is that the threat to the Motor Vessel Sundsvall came to the attention of the Germans. They have a very good Sicherheitsdienst operation ..."

"A what?"

"Sicherheitsdienst—Secret Service, literally. Actually a sort of a combination of our FBI and OSS."

"TheSicher...Whatisit?"

"Sicherheitsdienst.Yes. They're quite good. Scenario Three is that the team's intentions came to the attention of the Sicherheitsdienst, and the Sicherheitsdienst, regarding them as a simple military threat, eliMi?ated them themselves. Or arranged for their eliMi?ation by Argentinean friends. As I am sure you know, there are many Argentineans, not only those of German extraction, who feel that God and reason are on the side of the Germans."

"And if the Sicherheydinn ..."

"Sicher-heits-dienst," Nestor corrected his pronunciation.

"... finds out about us, are they going to try to eliMi?ate us?"

"Possibly. The threat increases as the threat you pose to the replenishment operation increases. I'm leaving you at the Plaza after we have our lunch. When I do, I will leave my briefcase with you. In it you will find two Argentinean-manufactured copies of the Colt Model 1911A1 .45 automatic. Presumably they were stolen from the Argentinean Army. They were acquired illegally. It is against Argentinean law for any foreigner to own a pistol. A foreigner may obtain a permit to purchase a smooth-bore sporting firearm... a shotgun. Mallin, or your father, if you can strike up an acquaintance with him, can probably arrange a permit for you and Pelosi, without difficulty."

If there wasn't a bonafide threat from the Germans, he would not have come with the pistols.

"Turning to your father," Nestor went on. "I suggest you leave the initiative to him, for the next couple of weeks anyway. I don't think it will take long for him to find out that you're here. If he does not contact you during that time, you will have to take the initiative. Anyway, acquire permits and buy shotguns. The bird shooting here is magnificent, by the way. As soon as you have the shotguns, return the pistols to me."

"In other words, there is an immediate threat from the Sicherheitsdienst?"

"You pronounced it right that time," Nestor said. "I don't know. But it seems prudent to act on the presumption there might be. It took a good deal of effort and money to bring you down here. It would be a shame if the Sicherheitsdienst eliMi?ated you before you accomplished your mission. Or if you eliMi?ated yourselves by being found in possession of illegal firearms. Make sure Pelosi understands that."

"Does Ettinger have a pistol?"

"Yes. And I have had a word with him about the importance of discretion. Now, I don't want you, Clete, to think that any immediate action is required. Fortunately, we have some time."

"Sir... Sorry. I don't think I follow you."

"The replenishment vessel that was in the River Plate has left, presumably because it was out of supplies. Its replacement is almost certainly on the high seas, inbound from Europe, but won't be here for three weeks or so. We don't have a name. One possible candidate, of French registry, was sunk by a submarine off the coast of Morocco. The French blame the British; the British deny any knowledge and blame the Germans. The United States government has also denied any knowledge of the incident. That leaves three ships of interest now on the high seas; all of them are capable of the replenishment mission. As soon as I hear anything specific, if I hear of anything, I will, of course, let you know. You'll find the names in the briefcase."