"Going by plane would solve a lot of problems," Clete said. "Starting with getting everybody and all the equipment across the Rio Uruguay. And then from Corrientes Province to-" Clete interrupted himself and looked at Ashton.
"Have you discussed your destination?"
"No, but this is as good a time as any."
"Your radar will be installed on the shore of Samboromb¢n Bay. My men have already selected the site. If we travel by plane, we can fly directly there from Corrientes. Otherwise, obviously, you'd have to get a truck to carry the radar. There would be a damn good chance of running into trouble at a police or military checkpoint if you moved by truck."
"Are we being given a choice here?" Sergeant Stein asked.
"Of course not," Lieutenant Sawyer said incredulously.
"Yeah, Siggie, you are," Captain Ashton said.
"I vote for the airplane," Stein said.
"Anybody have any objections?" Ashton asked.
There were no objections.
"Are there any questions?" Clete asked.
"When would we go?" Sergeant Stein asked.
"The aircraft is supposed to be available to me as of noon tomorrow," Clete said. "If that happens, they've promised me an hour's cockpit familiarization and an IP to ride with me while I shoot some touch-and-goes. Unless something goes wrong, we could break ground right after nightfall tomorrow. It's about a three-hour flight, maybe three-thirty, to Santo Tome."
"What's a 'touch-and-go'?" Sergeant Stein asked.
"Practice landing. You touch down, but instead of stopping, you apply throttle and take off again."
"Am I allowed to ask where we're going to land where we'll set up the radar?" Technical Sergeant Ferris asked.
"On an estancia, a ranch. The radar will be installed on property belonging to the estancia."
"Whose ranch?" Ferris pursued.
"Actually, it's mine," Clete said.
There was no response to that.
"Permission to speak, Sir?" Lieutenant Sawyer inquired.
"Granted."
"Firearms and explosives, Sir?"
"How are you armed, Captain Ashton?" Clete asked.
"Side arms. We also have Thompsons. Is that a problem?"
"We're not invading Argentina. We'll be landing at an Argentine Army base. I don't want them to see armed men."
"Ferris, is there room in the radar crates to hide the weapons?" Ashton asked.
"Yes, Sir."
Ashton looked at Clete. "OK?" he asked.
"What kind of explosives?"