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〃Colonel Ernesto Perez；〃 replied Clark。 〃I've been ordered to relieve you and your men。〃
Herras looked confused。 〃My orders were to guard the ships until noon tomorrow。〃
〃They've been changed；〃 Clark said curtly。 〃Have your men assemble for departure back to their barracks。〃
〃If you don't mind； Colonel； I wish to confirm this with my manding officer。〃
〃And he'll have to call General Melena； and the general is asleep in bed。〃 Clark stared at him with narrowed； cold eyes。 〃A letter attesting to your insubordination won't look good when your promotion to major es due。〃
〃Please； sir； I'm not refusing to obey a superior。〃
〃Then I suggest you accept my authority。〃
〃Yes； Colonel。 I…I'm not doubting you。 。 。〃 He caved in。 〃I'll assemble my men。〃
〃You do that。〃
Ten minutes later Captain Herras had his twenty…four…man security force lined up and ready to move out。 The Cubans took the change of guard willingly。 They were all happy to be relieved and returned to their barracks for a night's sleep。 Herras did not seem to notice that the colonel's men remained hidden inside the darkness of the lead truck。
〃This your entire unit？〃 asked Clark。
〃Yes； sir。 They're all accounted for。〃
〃Even the men guarding the next ship？〃
〃Sorry； Colonel。 I left sentries at the boarding ramp to make sure no one boarded until your men were dispersed。 We can drive by and pick them up as we leave。〃
〃Very well； Captain。 The rear truck is empty。 Order them to board。 You can take my car。 I'll have my aide pick it up later at your headquarters。〃
〃That's good of you； sir。 Thank you。〃
Clark had his hand on a tiny 。25…caliber silenced automatic that was sitting loose in his pants pocket； but he left it in place。 The Cubans were already climbing over the tailgate of the truck under the direction of a sergeant。 Clark offered his seat to Herras and casually strolled toward the silent truck containing Pitt and the Cuban seamen。
The vehicles had turned around and were leaving the dock area when a staff car carrying a Russian officer drove up and stopped。 He leaned out the window of the rear seat and stared； a suspicious frown on his face。
〃What's going on here？〃
Clark slowly approached the car and passed around the front end； assuring himself that the only occupants were the Russian and his driver。
〃Changing of the guard。〃
〃I know of no such orders。〃
〃They came from General Velikov；〃 said Clark； halting no more than two feet from the rear door。 He could now see the Russian was also a colonel。
〃I've just e from the general's headquarters to inspect security。 Nothing was said about changing the guard。〃 The colonel opened the door as if to get out of the car。 〃There must be a mistake。〃
〃No mistake；〃 said Clark。 He pressed the door shut with his knees and shot the colonel between the eyes。 Then he coldly put two bullets in the back of the driver's head。
Minutes later the car was set in gear and rolled into the dark waters between the wharves。
Manny led the way； followed by Pitt and four Cuban merchant seamen。 They rushed up the boarding ramp to the main deck of the Amy Bigalow and split up。 Pitt climbed the ladder topside while the rest dropped down a panionway to the engine room。 The wheelhouse was dark； and Pitt left it that way。 He spent the next half hour checking the ship's electronic controls and speaker system with a flashlight until he had every lever and switch firmly planted in his mind。
He picked up the ship's phone and rang the engine room。 A full minute went by before Manny answered。
〃What in the hell do you want？〃
〃Just checking in；〃 said Pitt。 〃Ready when you are。〃
〃You got a long wait； mister。〃
Before Pitt could reply； Clark stepped into the wheelhouse。 〃You talking to Manny？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Get him up here； now。〃
Pitt passed on Clark's brusque mand； and received a barrage of four…letter words before ringing off。
Less than a minute later； Manny burst through the door reeking of sweat and oil。 〃Make it quick；〃 he snapped to Clark。 〃I got a problem。〃
〃Moe has it even worse。〃
〃I already know。 The engines have been shut down。〃
〃Are yours in running shape？〃
〃Why wouldn't they be？〃
〃The Soviet crew took sledgehammers to every valve on the Ozero Zaysan；〃 said Clark heavily。 〃Moe says it would take two weeks to make repairs。〃
〃Jack will have to tow him out to sea with the tug；〃 Pitt said flatly。
Manny spat through the wheelhouse door。 〃He'll never make it back in time to move the oil tanker。 The Russians ain't blind。 They'll catch on to the game soon as the sun es up。〃
Clark nodded his head in slow understanding。 〃I fear he's right。〃
〃Where do you stand？〃 Pitt asked Manny。
〃If this tub had diesels； I could start her up in two hours。 But she's got steam turbines。〃
〃How much time do you need？〃
Manny looked down at the deck； his mind running over the lengthy and plicated procedures。 〃We're starting with a dead plant。 First thing we did was get the emergency diesel generator going and light off the burners in the furnace to heat the fuel oil。 The lines have to be drained of condensation； the boilers fired up； and the auxiliaries put on line。 Then wait for the steam pressure to rise enough to operate the turbines。 We're looking at four hours providin' everything goes right。〃
〃Four hours？〃 Clark felt dazed。
〃Then the Any Bigalow can't clear the harbor before daylight；〃 said Pitt。
〃That wraps it。〃 There was a tired certainty in Clark's voice。
〃No； that doesn't wrap it；〃 said Pitt firmly。 〃If we get even one ship past the harbor entrance we cut the death toll by a third。〃
〃And we all die；〃 added Clark。 〃There'll be no escape。 Two hours ago I'd have given us a fifty…fifty chance of surviving。 Not now； not when your old friend Velikov spots his monstrous plan steaming over the horizon。 And lest we forget the Soviet colonel sitting on the bottom of the bay； he'll be missed before long and a regiment will e looking for him。〃
〃And there's that captain of the security guards；〃 said Manny。 〃He'll wise up damned quick when he catches hell for leaving his duty area without proper orders。〃
The thump of heavy diesel engines slowly amplified outside and a ship's bell gave off three muted rings。
Pitt peered through the bridge windows。 〃Jack's ing alongside with the tug。〃
He turned and faced the lights of the city。 They reminded him of a vast jewelry box。 He began to think of the multitude of children who went to bed looking forward to the holiday celebrations。 He wondered how many of them would never wake up。
〃There's still hope；〃 he said at last。 Quickly he outlined what he thought would be the best solution for reducing the devastation and saving most of Havana。 When he finished； he looked from Manny to Clark。 〃Well； is it workable？〃
〃Workable？〃 Clark was numb。 〃Myself and three others holding off half the Cuban Army for three hours？ It's downright homicidal。〃
〃Manny？〃
Manny stared at Pitt； trying to make something of the craggy face that was barely visible from the lights on the wharf。 W