Griffin W.E.B. - Honor Bound 03 - Secret Honor

"I have no goddamn idea what you're talking about!"

Almond said, aware that his voice sounded a little hysterical.

"I never heard of a Colonel Graham!"

"Bullshit!" Lieutenant Pelosi said.

"He may be telling the truth," Clete said. "What the hell, it doesn't matter if he does or not. You, Captain Ashton, in your next communication with Colonel Graham, will report that both you and Lieutenant Pelosi were present when

Colonel Almond informed me that I was now qualified to fly the Lodestar."

"Yes, Sir," Ashton said.

"But I think you should tell him that conversation took place at El Palomar, not here. That's not the truth, but we're in the intelligence business, and we can be cut a little slack."

"Yes, Sir," Ashton repeated.

"Who do you work for, Almond?" Clete asked. "And remember that you're an officer and a gentleman, and offi cers and gentlemen don't lie."

"I'm assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G-2, in the War Department."

"And they sent you down here to ask questions about

Galahad?"

Almond didn't reply.

"Yes or no, Colonel," Clete said. "And I think you should understand that if I think you're lying to me, I probably will decide to shoot you."

"Yes," Almond said faintly, and added: "Yes, that is one of my missions."

"Thank you," Clete said. "I really don't like to kill people unless I have to."

"You were pretty dumb, Colonel, to ask Ashton and me about Galahad, and really stupid to ask Coronel Martin,"

Tony Pelosi said.

"The thing is, Almond, Galahad is critical to an operation

I'm running here," Clete said. "I don't want his identity known to G-2, or the Bureau of Internal Security, or anyone else."

"Those were my orders, Major Frade," Almond said. "You can hardly fault me for trying to carry them out."

"When they interfere with my operation, I can," Clete said. "Nothing personal."

"I'm glad you understand," Almond said. "Frade, we could have talked about this. You didn't have to go through that melodramatic business with the pistol."

Clete raised the pistol slightly and fired again. The bullet struck a rock two feet to Almond's side and went into a screaming ricochet.

"Mother of God!" Almond almost shrieked. "You're crazy!"

"Do I have your attention now, Colonel?" Clete asked.

Almond stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Here's the rules. You stop asking questions about Gala had. If you do, I will find out, and I will either kill you myself or have you killed."

"Do you realize what you're saying, Major?"

"Yes, I do. If you ever appear anywhere near my estancia, or my homes in Buenos Aires, you will be shot on sight. Or, anyway, killed. People here like to use knives."

"Well, then, you better kill me right here and now,"

Almond said. "Because if you don't, I intend to make a full report of this incident."

"I expect you to," Clete said. "But you'd better con sider-and you will have time to think it over in the next couple of days-what you're going to say in your report."

"What I would do, Almond," Ashton said, "if I were in your shoes, would be one of two things. I would report that you compromised your mission here-that you blew it, in other words-and that not only do you feel you can do no more good here, but that you have received death threats-"

"You heard those death threats, Captain, if I have to remind you of that!"

"I didn't hear any death threats," Ashton said. "Did you hear any death threats, Lieutenant Pelosi?"

"No, Sir."

"If I may continue, Colonel," Ashton said. "Or you can stay here, enjoy the good life, and forget you ever heard

'Galahad.' "

"I think you should shoot him, Senor Clete," Enrico

Rodriguez said. "Or let me. I don't trust him."

"You can shoot him the first time you see him near

Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo, or anywhere near the houses in Buenos Aires," Clete said. "I really don't want to kill him unless I have to."

He turned to Almond. "I really don't want to kill you, but I will if I have to. And for something else to think about in the next couple of days: If I have to, the Argentine government will consider that I've done them a favor."

"What is this 'next couple of days' business? Is that some sort of ultimatum?"

"I think it will take you at least a couple of days to get back to Buenos Aires," Clete said. "Would you give me your wallet, please?"

"What?"

"Your wallet, Almond," Clete said. "It'll be returned to you in Buenos Aires."

"You're not going to leave me here!"

"Yes, I am," Clete said. "Enrico, get his wallet. And make sure he has no other identification on him."

"Si, Senor."

"When we get home, mail his stuff to him at the embassy," Clete ordered.

"Sir," Ashton said. "I could just leave it on his desk at the embassy."

"Better yet," Clete said.

Enrico professionally searched Almond, and took his money, his diplomatic carnet, his diplomatic passport, and his keys.

"Give them to Captain Ashton, please," Clete said.

"Si, Senor."

When he had finished, Clete handed him the pistol. "Careful, there's still one in the chamber," he said.

Enrico carefully lowered the hammer, then ejected the magazine and refilled it before replacing it.

"Now march the Colonel over there," Clete said, pointing to the end of the runway threshold. "When I have the other engine running, leave him there and get on the airplane. If he does anything suspicious, you can shoot him in the foot, but you are not to kill him. Understand?"

"Si, Senor."

"Ashton, you want to ride up front with me and work the controls?"

"Yes, sir."

Clete climbed into the Lodestar, followed by Ashton and

Pelosi. It took him less than a minute to strap himself in and restart the left engine. Sixty seconds later, Enrico climbed aboard and closed the door. Thirty seconds after that, the

Lodestar reached takeoff velocity and Clete lifted it into the air. "Wheels up," he ordered.

"Wheels up and locked," Ashton reported twenty seconds later.

On the ground, Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Almond,

U.S. Army Air Corps, watched in disbelief as the Lodestar climbed smoothly out over the bright blue waters of Lake

Nahuel Huapi.

Christ, I don't even know where that village is!

And then, surprising himself, he was suddenly very nau seous.

[ TWO ]

El Palomar Airfield

Buenos Aires 1905 29

May 1943

When Cletus Frade turned the Lodestar on final, he saw'that the runway lights had not only been turned on but that he was going to need them. "Shit!" he said, then ordered, "Gear down."

There came the sound of laboring hydraulics, then Captain

Maxwell Ashton's voice came metallically over the intercom: "Gear down and locked," he said. "Why 'shit'?

Have we reason for me to soil my undies?"

"What happened to your blind faith in my flying skill?"

Clete asked as he lined up with the runway lights.

"I fear that was a fleeting blind faith," Ashton said.

"Answer the fucking question, Cletus!"

"I'm not going to be able to fly this thing to Estancia San

Pedro y San Pablo tonight," he said.

The wheels chirped as the Lodestar touched down. Clete smoothly slowed the aircraft down.

"God, may I reconsider my rash promise never to sin again if I ever made it safely back to earth?" Ashton asked. "I was under a certain strain when I made the offer."

Clete picked up the microphone. "El Palomar. Lockheed

Zebra Eight Four Three on the deck at five past the hour. I will need parking instructions to remain overnight and fuel service, please."

"Eight Four Three, take taxiway Two Right, make a right turn on the tarmac, and park your aircraft in front of the ter minal."