"For the time being, Gradny-Sawz, I think it would be best if you referred to me by my rank."
Gradny-Sawz's swallowed.
"Jawohl, Herr Standartenf?hrer," he said finally.
"Von Wachtstein, do you think you can make it through this revolution we seem to be having out to El Tigre?"
"I'm confident I can, Herr Standartenf?hrer."
"You will go there and take possession of the boat. If G?nther and/or his fa-ther is there, they will serve as your crew to take the boat to Magdalena. If they are not there by ten-thirty, you will take the boat to Magdalena by yourself and hold yourself in readiness there for further orders."
"Jawohl, Herr Standartenf?hrer."
"You said, Oberst Gr?ner, that you have someone in Naval Headquar-ters?"
"Yes, I do."
"Can he be relied upon to notify you of the arrival of the Comerciante del Oceano Pacifico within Argentine waters?"
"Not unless I specifically ask him to. I mean, I receive regular routine re-ports of all shipping activity, but I think you're talking about learning of her ar-rival immediately."
"We need to know when she enters Argentine waters and more importantly, where she will anchor. Do you think, Gr?ner, that when the Oceano Pacifico re-ports entering the River Plate your man has enough authority to order her to an-chor in Samboromb¢n Bay?"
"I would have to go to Naval Headquarters and explain the situation," Gr?ner said. "My man, unfortunately, owes his allegiance to Castillo."
"You have only one asset in Naval Headquarters?" Goltz asked impatiently.
"Only one in the office of the Harbor Master," Gr?ner said.
Goltz turned to Peter.
"Oberst Gr?ner and I will work this out, von Wachtstein," he said. "We re-ally have until, say, six o'clock tonight. You understand what I'm thinking?"
"I think so, Herr Standartenf?hrer. Presuming I can get out of El Tigre, I should be in Magdalena by five or five-thirty. Oberst Gr?ner will determine the Oceano Pacifico's estimated time of arrival and where she will drop anchor, and he will send that information to me at Magdalena. On your orders, I will take the boat out to the Oceano Pacifico. From that point, we will proceed with the discharge of the materiel aboard the ship as per the original plan."
"You see any problems with that, von Wachtstein? Aside from getting out of El Tigre into the River Plate?" Gr?ner challenged.
"Only finding the Comerciante del Oceano Pacifico at night, Herr Oberst."
"If that looks like a problem, you could delay taking the boat out from Magdalena until first light," Goltz ordered. "I'll have to go out to her myself; and if you think there would be a problem finding her at night, I would have the same problem. Gr?ner, I presume everything else is ready?"
"Yes, it is," Gr?ner replied. "The only possible problems I can see are von Wachtstein getting out of El Tigre, and then finding the ship from there at night."
"We are presuming your friend can order her to drop anchor someplace where it will be convenient to Magdalena and the landing point."
"Where is that, Herr Standartenf?hrer?" Peter asked.
"You'll be advised, Hans, at the appropriate time," Goltz said. "What I will do now is wait here for the Ambassador to arrive. That will be all, gentlemen, thank you."
Gradny-Sawz gave the Nazi salute, and barked, "Heil Hitler!"
Peter had come to the Embassy by taxi from his apartment. Then, there had been any number of taxis on the street. Now there were none in sight on Avenida Cordoba in either direction. There was no other traffic either, vehicles or pedestrians.
The word was apparently out that the revolution had begun.
Further up Avenida Cordoba, he could see the lead elements of the stalled columns of the First Cavalry and the Second Infantry regiments-riflemen on foot, mounted cavalry, and even some horse-drawn 75-mm howitzers.
He was going to have get past those lines anyway, he reasoned. Perhaps traffic was again moving in the areas now controlled by the revolutionary forces. He started walking toward the soldiers.