They learned from Sandor Tor, via the AFC installed in Eric Kocian’s Hotel Gellert apartment overlooking the Danube in Budapest, that Edgar Delchamps had gotten as far as Vienna. He had telephoned to say he would be along in a day or two, just as soon as he took care of something he had to do in Vienna.
Because Delchamps was not answering his cellular telephone and had not provided an alternate number at which he could be reached, Colonel Castillo could not ask him what the hell that was all about. And Castillo needed Edgar in Budapest to go through Billy Kocian’s files to choose what would be scanned and sent to Midland.
At supper—Dona Alicia and Estella prepared a rack of pork, Svetlana made garlic mashed potatoes, and an enormous salad, and there were several bottles of a very nice Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon—Dmitri Berezovsky confessed to Castillo that he was a little worried about Delchamps. The Russian said that while he really liked Edgar—he thought they had become friends—he struck him as the kind of man who had to be kept on a short leash.
“I think he was kidding when he said he’d like to whack the CIA station chief lady,” Castillo replied.
Svetlana said, “Of course he was, my Carlos. I was the one who wanted to kill her.”
Judging by Dona Alicia’s face, Castillo could not tell whether or not she thought that Svetlana was only making a little joke.
After supper, Dmitri beat Two-Gun at chess six games in a row, one lasting an exhausting two minutes and twenty seconds by the clock.
And they watched television and the monitors and waited.
[THREE]
0700 11 January 2006
The monitor showed the updated data that Colonel Torine had called in: that the Sub-Saharan Airways 727 and its cargo and crew were on the ground at Kilimanjaro International and that Uncle Remus was looking around to see what pickup trucks or similar vehicles were available for purchase in the nearby towns of Arusha and Mosi.
Sandor Tor reported that Edgar Delchamps had called again and said that he would arrive by train from Vienna at 1415.
“I guess he did whatever he had to do in Vienna,” Dmitri observed.
“He spent a lot of time in Vienna,” Castillo said. “So far as we know, he has a Fraulein—more likely a Frau, I suppose—with whom he passed a little time. He knew there was no rush.”
“Isn’t he a little long in the tooth for that sort of thing?”
“I don’t think so. Sandor Tor told me that Billy Kocian has two very good friends in Vienna. And you know how old he is.”
“An inspiration to all of us,” Berezovsky said.
An Internet inquiry of Air France revealed that flight 434, nonstop Airbus service from Brussels to Dar Es Salaam, had arrived on time.
And they watched the monitors and talked a little about what exactly would be the best format for the data Castillo would lay before the President, and Two-Gun said he’d start making up a dummy to be filled in as the data arrived and was digested.
And they waited.
[FOUR]
1310 11 January 2006
“Colonel Hamilton for Colonel Castillo, Encryption Level One,” the sultry voice of the AFC announced. Castillo looked at the monitors. The one showing Sub-Saharan Africa showed a now-flashing lightning bolt in Bujumbura, Burundi. It also indicated the local date and time beside the flashing lightning bolt: It was now 0110 12 January 2006 in Bujumbura.
Castillo pushed the SPEAKERPHONE button.
“C. G. Castillo.”
“I have Colonel Castillo for you, Colonel Hamilton. Encryption Level One confirmed.”
“Thank you very much,” Hamilton said.
“You don’t have to thank her, sir,” Castillo said. “She’s a computer.”
“I’m aware of that, of course. Force of habit.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s ten past one in the morning here, Castillo. I’m in the Hotel du Lac in Bujumbura.”
Castillo looked at another of the monitors. It showed a three-dimensional picture of the Hotel du Lac.
“Yes, sir, I know.”
“In Washington and on our way here, I discussed a number of things with Mr. DeWitt and I must say I was very impressed with him.”
“He’s a very impressive man, sir.”
“Among the things we discussed was our mode of operations. I also discussed this with Colonel Torine when DeWitt and I got to the Kilimanjaro airfield. And a third time, with Mr. Leverette, when we finally arrived here in Bujumbura.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I thought we had resolved, once and for all, the command structure of this operation. I am of course in overall command. Colonel Torine will handle the transportation and logistics outside the Congo. Inside the Congo, Mr. Leverette and Mr. DeWitt will be responsible for transportation and security, and I will be responsible for the investigation.”
“That seems to be a practical solution for your situation, sir.”
“So I would have thought. When I went to bed tonight, I thought it had been agreed between us that we would get some rest tonight. Not only was it a long flight, but we have passed through—I don’t know
“Six, sir,” Castillo furnished.
“And the natural clock of the body has been disturbed. Rest obviously was called for. Tomorrow morning, I thought it was agreed, when fresh from our rest, we would plan our incursion of the Congo.”
“I awoke about fifteen minutes ago, Castillo. I had trouble sleeping, and with the thought that perhaps Mr. Leverette and/or Mr. DeWitt were having the same problem, I decided I would see if they did, and if so, we could perhaps get a jump on our morning planning session.”
“Uh-oh,” Jack Davidson said.
“What was that, Castillo?”
“Nothing, sir. One of my men came in the room.”
“So I started out of my room. I was startled by a man dressed in the local clothing—or lack of it—sitting directly in a chair across from my door. He had in his lap an Uzi—the full-size one, not the Mini Uzi Mr. D’Allessando was kind enough to loan me.
“He addressed me in English, by rank. He said, in effect, ‘Is there something I can do for you, Colonel?’ to which I replied, ‘What are you doing outside my door?’ to which he replied, ‘Uncle Remus said we should sit on you, sir.’
“By then I realized the man was one of our shooters, so I asked him to direct me to Mr. Leverette’s room. He replied, ‘I can, Colonel, but Uncle Remus is not in his room.’” Colonel Hamilton paused. “And what is
“Only his friends, sir, are permitted to call him that.”
“I asked you why they do that. You are aware of the inference, the implication, I presume?”
“Yes, sir. Well, sir, the best answer I’ve ever been able to come up with is that the Uncle Remus character in the books was a kindly old gentleman who was always telling stories, and Mr. Leverette seems to fit that description.”
“Be that as it may, Castillo, permitting your subordinates, particularly your subordinate
