"They may not be valid until later than we thought, if you take my mean-ing, but they should be good by, say, midnight, and certainly by the morning."
"I understand," Peter said.
"There has been a slight change in plans."
"Oh?"
"Frankly, I prevailed in this," Gr?ner said, a smug tone in his voice. "I sug-gested to our friend that there was merit in the principle that the fewer people who know-or think they know-what's going on, the slighter the chance that it will become public knowledge."
"I agree with that completely," Peter said.
"You will therefore have a companion when you take your ride in the morn-ing. Which I suggest should be at first light."
What the hell is that all about? Oh. Either he or Goltz is going with me. Goltz. Goltz has to go out to the Oceano Pacifico. The captain won't turn over the "special materiel" to anyone else. So now Steuben remains in the dark. Even if the BIS grabs him, they can't get any information from him, because he won't know.
"I think I know who you mean," Peter said. "And therefore, we will need one less horse, am I right?"
"Absolutely. You really are becoming quite good at this game, Peter."
"Thank you very much, I'm trying."
"Somewhere along the path, I'll probably meet up with you and take your companion off your hands."
"I think I understand."
"I'd be more comfortable if I knew you understood."
"The only thing I'm a little fuzzy about is what happens to me after we meet up with you."
"With a little bit of luck, some of the people you will have with you will be able to lead your horse back to the stable, and then you and I can lunch together."
The translation of that is if the Oceano Pacifico turns out to be able to take the Coronel Gasparo aboard after we unload the "special materiel"-if they have the right kind of davits for that, and, of course, if she can take the strain of being lifted out of the water-her crew will take her from the beach to the ship and take her aboard. In that case, I can stay on shore and go with Goltz and Gr?ner.
If the Oceano Pacifico can't take the Coronel Gasparo aboard, then G?nther and I will have to take her back here.
"What I suggest is that you have your dinner and get some sleep, and be ready to start out there at first light. Our friend will be there as soon as he can."
"Certainly."
"The truck is ready?"
"I have been assured, a half-dozen times, that everything, including the truck, is in readiness."
"Don't fault enthusiasm, Peter. It is to be encouraged. But, of course, at the same time, controlled. Don't let it get out of hand."
"I assure you I won't."
"Well, then I look forward to seeing you, perhaps even to have lunch with you, tomorrow."
"I'm looking forward to it."
The line went dead.
Peter put the handset back into its cradle.
"There has been a change of plans," he announced. "You, Herr Steuben, will, from five a.m., hold yourself in readiness to comply with any orders Oberst Gr?ner may issue."
"Jawohl, Herr Baron Major!"