按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Times change；〃 Raul said simply。
Cold and aloof in public； Fidel's younger brother was witty and congenial in private。 His hair was black； slick； and closely trimmed above the ears。 Raul viewed the world from a pixie face through dark； beady eyes。 A narrow moustache stretched across his upper lip； the pointed tips ending precisely above the corners of his mouth。
Fidel rubbed the back of one hand against a few drops of sweat that clung to his eyebrows。 〃I cannot write off the enormous cost in money and the blood of our soldiers。 And what of our friends in Africa and the Americas？ Do I write them off like our dead in Afghanistan？〃
〃The price Cuba was paid for our involvement in revolutionary movements outweighs the gains。 So we made friends in Angola and Ethiopia。 What will they ever do for us in return？ We both know the answer is nothing。 We have to face it； Fidel； we made mistakes。 I'll be the first to admit mine。 But for God's sake； let's cut our losses and return to building Cuba into a great socialist nation to be envied by the third world。 We'll achieve far more by having them copy our example than by giving them our people's blood。〃
〃You're asking me to turn my back on our honor and our principles。〃
Raul rolled the cool bottle across his perspiring forehead。 〃Let's look at the truth； Fidel。 We've thrown principles overboard before when it was in the best interests of the revolution。 If we don't shift gears soon and vitalize our stagnating economy； the people's discontent might turn to unrest； despite their love for you。〃
Fidel spat the cigar stub over the boat's transom and motioned to a deckhand for another。 〃The U。S。 Congress would love to see the people turn against me。〃
〃The Congress doesn't bother me half as much as the Kremlin；〃 said Raul。 〃Everywhere I look I find a traitor in Antonov's pocket。 I can't even trust my own security people anymore。〃
〃Once the President and I agree to the U。S。…Cuban pact and sign it； our Soviet fair…weather friends will be forced to release their tentacles from around our necks。〃
〃How can you finalize anything when you refuse to sit down and negotiate with him？〃
Fidel paused to light a fresh cigar brought by the deckhand。 〃By now he's probably made up his mind that my offer to sever our links with the Soviet Union in return for United States economic aid and open trade agreements is genuine。 If I appear too eager for a meeting； he'll only set impossible preconditions。 Let him stew for a while。 When he realizes I'm not crawling over the White House doormat； he'll lower his sights。〃
〃The President will be even more eager to e to terms when he learns of the reckless encroachment by Antonov's cronies into our government。〃
Fidel held up the cigar to make his point。 〃Exactly why I have sat back and allowed it to happen。 Playing on American fears of a Soviet stooge figureheading a puppet regime is all to our advantage。〃
Raul emptied the beer bottle and tossed it over the side。 〃Just don't wait too long； big brother； or we'll find ourselves out of a job。〃
〃Never happen。〃 Fidel's face creased in a cocksure smile。 〃I am the glue that holds the revolution together。 All I have to do is go before the people and expose the traitors and the Soviet plot to undermine our sacred sovereignty。 And then； as President of the Council of Ministers； you will announce the cutting of all ties to the Kremlin。 Any discontent will be replaced with national rejoicing。 With one swing of the ax I'll have cut the massive debt to Moscow and removed the U。S。 trade embargo。〃
〃Better be soon。〃
〃In my speech during the Education Day celebration。〃
Raul checked the calendar on his watch。 〃Five days from now。〃
〃A perfect opportunity。〃
〃I'd feel better if we could test the President's mood toward your proposal。〃
〃I'll leave it to you to contact the White House and arrange for a meeting with his representatives during the Education Day festivities。〃
〃Before your speech； I hope。〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Aren't you tempting fate； waiting until the last moment？〃
〃He'll take me up on it；〃 said Fidel through a cloud of smoke。 〃Make no mistake。 My gift of those three Soviet cosmonauts should have shown him my good intentions。〃
Raul scowled。 〃Could be he has already sent us his reply。〃
Fide I turned and glared at him。 〃That is news to me。〃
〃I didn't e to you because it was only a blind guess；〃 said Raul nervously。 〃But I suspect the President used Raymond LeBaron's airship to smuggle in an envoy behind the back of Soviet intelligence。〃
〃Good Christ； wasn't it destroyed by one of our patrol helicopters？〃
〃A stupid blunder；〃 confessed Raul。 〃There were no survivors。〃
Fidel's face mirrored confusion。 〃Then why is the State Department accusing us of imprisoning Mrs。 LeBaron and her crew？〃
〃I've no idea。〃
〃Why am I kept in the dark on these matters？〃
〃The report was sent but not read； like so many others。 You have bee a difficult man to reach； big brother。 Your attention to detail is not what it used to be。〃
Fidel furiously reeled in the line and undid the harness to the fighting chair。 〃Tell the captain to turn the boat toward the harbor。〃
〃What do you intend to do？〃
Fidel cut a wide smile around the cigar。 〃Go duck hunting。〃
〃Now？ Today？〃
〃As soon as we get to shore I'm going to hole up at my country retreat outside Havana； and you're ing with me。 We'll remain secluded； taking no calls and meeting with no one until Education Day。〃
〃Do you think that wise； leaving the President hanging； shutting ourselves off from the Soviet internal threat？〃
〃What harm can it do？ The wheels of American foreign relations turn like the wheels of an ox cart。 With his envoy dead； he can only stare at a wall and wait for my next exchange。 As for the Russians； the opportunity isn't ripe for them to make their move。〃 He lightly punched Raul on the shoulder。 〃Cheer up； little brother。 What could possibly happen in the next five days that you end I can't control？〃
Raul vaguely wondered too。 He also wondered how he could feel as chilled as a tomb under a blazing Caribbean sun。
Shortly after midnight； General Velikov stood stiffly beside his desk as the elevator doors spread and Lyev Maisky strode into the study。
Velikov greeted him coolly。 〃rade Maisky。 An unexpected pleasure。〃
〃rade General。〃
〃Can I offer you any refreshments？〃
〃This damnable humidity is a curse；〃 replied Maisky； wiping a hand over his brow and studying the sweat on his fingers。 〃I could use a glass of iced vodka。〃
Velikov picked up a phone and issued a curt order。 Then he gestured toward a chair。 〃Please； make yourself fortable。〃
Maisky fell wearily into a soft leather chair and yawned from jet lag。 〃I'm sorry you weren't warned of my ing； General； but rade Polevoi thought it best not to risk interception and decoding of your new instructions by the U。S。 National Security Agency's listening facilities。〃
Velikov raised his eyebrow in a practiced motion and gave Maisky a wary stare。 〃New instructions？〃
〃Yes； a most plicated operation。〃
〃I hope the chief