"Yes, it would," Graham said.
"I couldn't do that without written authority," Wallace said.
"Of course you couldn't," Graham said. "I'll be happy to give you written authority. And then I suggest you prepare a full report of the entire incident, in-cluding this conversation, and forward it directly to General Markham at the Joint Chiefs."
Colonel Wallace considered that. From the look on his face, Graham con-cluded that he found the suggestion satisfactory. Or almost so.
"What will I say to the Brazilians if they should ask, some time from now, whatever happened to the aircraft?"
The waiter delivered Colonel Graham's food.
Graham cut a piece of steak, chewed it appreciatively, and then replied:
"Why don't you ask General Markham what to tell the Brazilians? When you write him?"
Wallace considered that for a long moment, then nodded his head.
"I think that should do it," he said.
"I'm sure it will," Graham said.
"And how may I be of service to you, Colonel?"
"I have to get to Buenos Aires as soon as possible," Graham said. "What would you suggest?"
"The simplest way would probably be for you to go to Rio de Janeiro and catch the Panagra flight. They usually have seats-people get off in Rio de Janeiro, and there are few people who fly from Rio to Buenos Aires."
1 flew to Porto Alegre on the Navy transport because it was considerably faster than Panagra's sea planes. Now this idiot is suggesting I fly north to Rio de Janeiro to try to get a seat on tomorrow's plane, which is the same one I didn't want to board in Miami.
"That'll take too long. Can you get me from here to Montevideo?"
"It would be difficult."
"Why?"
"It generally takes about four days-sometimes longer-to obtain permis-sion from the Uruguayan authorities to land an American military aircraft in Uruguay."
"There's an airstrip, I have been told, in Chui, on the Brazilian-Uruguayan border," Graham said. "From Chui, on the other side of the border, it's only a hundred seventy-five miles to Montevideo. Can you put me in there?"
"Are you sure there's an airstrip in... where did you say?"
"Chui," Graham said. "Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, if there is, it would be a small airstrip. You'd have to go in by L-4- Piper Cub. I'll look into it. When would you like to go?"
"As soon as I finish my lunch and change into civilian clothing," Graham said.
[FOUR]
Visiting Officers' Quarters
First Cavalry Regiment
Camp a de Mayo
Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
1515 18 April 1943