"It was my fault, Jaime. It was my big mouth."
The General picked up a fistful of the documents which had cost the life of Fernando Rivas. "What the hell is his life worth compared to the lives of the hundreds of American seamen who now won't be sent to the bottom by Nazi torpedoes in the South Atlantic? I'll say it again, Matt, and if you'd stick around long enough, I could prove it. By tomorrow morning I'll have at least twenty mucking bastards in the calabozo thanks to what's in these papers; twenty fascist snakes who are the eyes and the ears and the oil and the water of the Nazi subs in this part of the ocean. You did it—and at the cost of only one second-rate life. Isn't it worth it?"
Hall was going through the documents on the desk. Bombshells, most of them.
Mandato # 36: 1940. From: Inspector-General Delegación Nacional, del Servicio Exterior, de Falange Española Tradicionalista de las J.O.N.S. To: Jefe Supremo, Falange de San Hermano. In Re: A.T.N. Effective immediately you will form Acción Tradicionalista Nacional, to replace organization of Falange ordered dissolved by the Jew-Communist betrayer, Tabio. You will replace Yoke and Arrows with new symbol of Cross and Sword. Until further orders, you will not enter Spanish Embassy or consulates. Camarada Portada will arrive with detailed orders within thirty days. Saluda a Franco! Arriba España!
Mandato # 74: 1941, Servicio Exterior. Confidential: Enrique Gamburdo entered Tabio government with permission and approval of the National Delegation of the Falange. Camarada Gamburdo is to be given the support and unquestioning loyalty due an Old Shirt. There will be no exceptions to this order. Signed ...
Orden # 107: 1941. Confidential: Our heroic Japanese Allies have today destroyed the Jew-Protestant-Marxist American fleet in Honolulu. Camaradas of the Cross and Sword must be prepared to defend the wise peace policies of Camarada Gamburdo against the Jewish war mongers who will now try to make the Kahal the government in San Hermano. El Caudillo has shown how the Motherland can frustrate the war mongers. Do not falter and delay the glorious hour of our final victory. Camarada Marcelino Gassau will soon arrive in San Hermano with instructions on how to help the victory. Signed ...
"Photograph these, will you, Jaime?"
Lobo was sorting out the documents in rough piles. Sabotage. Espionage. Undersea warfare. Guantanamo. Cuban politics. "The works," he grinned. "In a week, this haul will have crammed our prisons with fascist rats. If we didn't have to avoid treading on the toes of your State Department these documents would be enough to put the Spanish Ambassador in the calabozo and bring about a break with Franco. But even if it happens, you won't be around to see it, Matt. You're leaving in exactly four hours."
"Four hours?"
"Just a minute. That's my private phone. Yes, General Lobo speaking." He put his hand over the mouthpiece. "Pick up the other phone. It's the Spanish Ambassador."
"O.K."
"Yes, Mr. Ambassador?"