“I see,” Welner said. “And?”
“Acting without any authority at all, he ordered Jorge’s assassination.”
“Do you think this man also ordered the attempt on my life?” Clete asked, and was immediately sorry.
There goes your goddamned runaway mouth again!
Perón considered the question. “I don’t know, but it certainly seems likely, doesn’t it?”
Jesus! Either he’s the greatest actor since John Barrymore, or he actually believes this bullshit!
“And where is this officer now?” Welner asked.
“I hope he is burning in hell,” Enrico said. “I shot him, and Rudolpho shot the other SS bastard.”
“Oh, my God!” Claudia exclaimed.
“None of us heard that,” Perón announced. “And you, Suboficial Mayor Rodriguez, will never say that again to anyone. You understand that is an order?”
“Sí, mi Coronel.”
“And you will go to Sargento Gomez, Suboficial Mayor, as soon as you can, and tell him that is my order to him as well. You understand?”
“Sí, mi Coronel.”
“We must now do what I know our Jorge would have wanted us to do,” Perón announced. “We must put aside our personal feelings and think of the good of our beloved homeland. What has happened has happened, and nothing will bring our Jorge back to us.”
“I don’t think I know what you mean, mi Coronel,” Clete said.
“Discreetly, of course, under the circumstances, I am carrying to the Argentine officer corps the profound apologies of the German officer corps, as well as their assurance that nothing of this sort will ever happen again.”
At least until somebody else gets in their way.
“It is their hope, and mine, that this unfortunate business can be put behind us.”
Maybe you and the Argentine officer corps are going to kiss and make up with the Germans, but if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll pass. Grüner didn’t order my father’s murder. The order came from Germany, and I wouldn’t be a damned bit surprised if it came personally from your honorable officer pal, von Deitzberg.
Perón looked at Clete. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive your godfather, Cletus?”
“Of course, mi Coronel” Clete said after a moment.
“Can you find it in your heart to think of me, rather than as el Coronel, as Tío Juan?”
Oh, shit!
“That is very kind, Tío Juan,” Clete said.
“I am your father in God, and while I never could take your father’s place, with God’s help I can be a good uncle to you.”
“Thank you very much.”
“And now I must return to my duties,” Perón announced. “And I feel duty-bound to repeat that what has just been said in this room must go no further.”
; “We understand, Juan Domingo,” Father Welner said. “Thank you for telling us what you have.”
Perón and Welner shook hands.