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lace him. But a major disaster-- that would give the new leaders a rallying cry and a cause to incite the people to close ranks behind a new government, particularly if it was proven the United States was the culprit, specifically the CIA."
"I still can't conceive of such a monstrous scheme."
"I assure you, Mr. President, everything is spelled out in black and white." Brogan paused to scan a page of the document. "Odd thing, it's vague about the details of the explosion, but very specific in listing the step-by-step propaganda campaign to blame us. It even lists the names of the Soviet cohorts and the positions they are to move into after they seize control. You may be interested to learn that Alicia Cordero is to be the new President."
"God help us. She's twice the fanatic Fidel is."
"In any case, the Soviets win and we lose."
The President laid the cigar in an ashtray and closed his eyes. The problems never end, he mused. One begets another. The triumphs of office do not last very long. The pressure and the frustrations never let up.
"Can our Navy stop those ships?" he asked.
"According to the schedule, two of them have already docked in Havana," answered Brogan. "The third should be entering the harbor any hour. I had the same idea but we're an inch early and a mile late."
"We must have the names of those ships."
"I've already got my people checking on all shipping arrivals in Havana Harbor. They should have identification within the hour."
"Of all the times for Castro to hide out," the President said in exasperation.
"We found him."
"Where?"
"At his country retreat. He's cut off all contact with the outside world. Even his closest advisers and the Soviet bigwigs can't reach him."
"Who do we have on our team who can meet him face to face?"
Brogan grunted. "No one."
"There must be somebody we can send in."
"If Castro was in a communicative mood, I can think of at least ten people on our payroll who could get through the front gate. But not as things stand now."
The President toyed with the cigar, fumbling for inspiration. "How many Cubans can you trust in Havana who work the docks and have maritime experience?"
"I'd have to check."
"Guess."
"Off the top of my head, maybe fifteen or twenty."
"All right," the President said. "Round them up. Have them get on board those ships somehow and find which one is carrying the bomb."
"Someone who knows what he's doing will have to defuse it."
"We'll cross that bridge when we learn where it's hidden."
"A day and a half isn't much time," Brogan said glumly. "Better we concentrate on sorting out the mess afterward."
"You'd better get the show moving. Keep me informed every two hours. Turn everyone you've got in the Cuban department loose on this thing."
"What about warning Castro?"
"My job. I'll handle it."
"Good luck, Mr. President."
