I don't see any bigger airplanes. Are those half-dozen puddle jumpers all they keep out here ?
"I don't see any larger airplanes than those Piper Cubs and the Storch," Clete said, making it a question.
"The bombers and transport aircraft are on maneuvers in Tucuman Province," Lauffer said.
"When did that happen?" Clete asked.
"Four days ago," Lauffer said. "Coronel Mart¡n advised General Ramirez that the Air Service was not in sympathy with the G.O.U. General Ramirez then ordered them to Tucuman Province," Lauffer said.
Well, that explains why it was so important to get the Lockheed here, doesn't it? No Lockheed, no way out.
"You think they will stay there?"
"We hope so. Orders were issued at midnight to detain their commanding officers until further orders."
The Chevrolet stopped by the side door of the closest hangar. Everybody got out of the car.
"There are supposed to be men here to push the airplane from the hangar," Lauffer said. "But something may have gone wrong, and they may not have ar-rived. We may have to push it ourselves."
What's wrong with those infantrymen? Why can't they push the airplane out of the hangar?
Capitan Delgano, in civilian clothing and weari
ng a blue-and-white-striped armband, walked out of the hangar.
I wondered where you were.
He then had another thought.
"Roberto," he asked finally, and carefully. "Am I allowed to make a com-ment, a suggestion?"
"Of course," Lauffer said.
"Everybody seems a little nervous," Clete said.
"I think that's to be expected, don't you?" Lauffer replied a little stiffly.
"I was thinking that everybody is already wondering what that Lockheed is doing here in the first place. What I mean is that somebody has probably al-ready figured out it's intended to fly Rawson and Ramirez and the others out of here if this thing goes wrong."
"I'm sure that thought has occurred to some people," Lauffer said.
"Roberto, the moment we roll that airplane out of the hangar, and I start the engines, everybody's going to think the revolution is over and our side lost."
"Why would they think that?"
"That's what I would think if I were them," Delgano said, nodding at the in-fantrymen.
"What do you suggest, Mayor Frade?" Lauffer asked formally.
"Have you had the tanks topped off?" Clete asked.
Delgano nodded.
"Then there's no point in rolling it out of the hangar and making anybody nervous. If we need it, we can roll it out then."
"General Rawson ordered me to make sure the aircraft is ready," Lauffer said.
"Tell him it's ready, Delgano," Clete said. "All we need to get it out of here is to open the hangar doors." He thought of something else. "It would also be nice if I knew where we're going. Or don't you trust me with that information?"