"Two things seem evident to me," Goltz said. "The repatriation of the Graf Spee officers has come to the attention of our most senior leaders. Perhaps the F?hrer himself has expressed an interest-"
"Yes, I would not be surprised," Gradny-Sawz interrupted, which earned him a look of disdain from Goltz.
"-and that Oberst Gr?ner is correct in believing that the Americans are quite capable of sinking the Oceano Pacifico without concerning themselves with either the Argentine or the Spanish outrage that would cause, simply be-cause attention has been called to the materiel our beloved Foreign Minister has informed them she has aboard."
Gradny-Sawz was visibly shocked by the sarcastically disrespectful refer-ence to Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop.
"As a matter of fact," Goltz went on, "I think we should consider ourselves fortunate that the Americans did not have a chance to intercept and decrypt Ribbentrop's message. They very likely would have attempted to board the Oceano Pacifico."
"But Josef," Gradny-Sawz said, "the Oceano Pacifico is armed. She would have fought rather than submitted to a boarding."
"An armed merchantman is no match for a destroyer," Goltz said. "If the Americans had intercepted that message before they found the Oceano Paci-fico, our materiel would now be on the bottom of the South Atlantic Ocean."
"She's due at the mouth of the River Plate at nine tonight," Gr?ner said thoughtfully.
"With a little bit of luck, she may arrive a little sooner," Goltz said. "If I were her captain, under the circumstances I would make all the speed I could. And with a little more luck, the Americans will not be able to decrypt Ribben-trop's news bulletin until she is safely inside Argentine waters."
"You don't think the Americans would sink her inside Argentine waters?" Peter asked. "They sank the Reine de la Mer."
"One, Hans," Goltz explained, "I don't believe they would send a destroyer into Argentinian waters to sink a neutral vessel, no matter what they suspected of her. A submarine, possibly. Two, I don't think they could set anything up be-tween now and the time the Oceano Pacifico will enter the River Plate estuary tonight."
"Yes, Sir, I'm sure you're right," Peter said.
"But tomorrow, as a wise man once said, is another day," Goltz said. "And by the day after tomorrow, there is no question the Americans could bring a submarine into Samboromb¢n Bay to sink the Oceano Pacifico. And we cer-tainly cannot place any real hope that by the day after tomorrow the Argentine government will respond to von Lutzenberger's request that the Argentine Navy protect her."
"Not in the present circumstances," Gradny-Sawz agreed solemnly.
"Which means we have three choices," Goltz went on. "We can try to get that materiel off the Oceano Pacifico tonight, which seems unlikely. Or first thing in the morning, which seems possible but risky-there would be obvious risks in landing a boat during the day. Or as soon after dark tomorrow night as possible, which I think is the solution."
"Yes, I would agree," Gradny-Sawz said.
"Von Wachtstein," Gr?ner asked, "what's the status of the boat?"
"Herr Loche-G?nther's father-took possession of the boat yesterday, Herr Oberst. I believe the both of them-G?nther for sure-were going to El Tigre this morning to test the engine, and so forth."
"That may change, because of the circumstances," Gradny-Sawz offered.
"Have you seen the boat, von Wachtstein?" Goltz asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"In other words, you would know where to find it if you went out there?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Anton, I have a mission for you," Goltz said. "You will find G?nther- preferably G?nther and his father, but G?nther in any case-and order him out to the boat, if he's not already there."
"Wouldn't it be better to send von Wachtstein?"
"I will explain, in this instance, that I believe that the First Secretary of the Embassy of the German Reich, in an Embassy Mercedes, stands a better chance of making it through the lines of the revolutionaries than a major."
"Of course, you're probably right," Gradny-Sawz said.
"And I will tell you this just once, Gradny-Sawz: Never question any orders I give you ever again."
Gradny-Sawz's plump face colored.
"Josef, I meant no-"