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The directness of the statement, the tone of authority behind it, made an impression on Raul.
He hesitated thoughtfully. Then he nodded. "I'll wake Fidel and ask him to listen to what you have to say."
Velikov watched as a file cabinet from his office was jostled onto a handcart and taken by elevator down to the fireproof basement of the Soviet Embassy. His second-ranking KGB officer entered the disarranged room, brushed some papers from a chair, and sat down.
"Seems a shame to burn all of this," he said tiredly.
"A new and finer building will rise from the ashes," said Velikov with a cunning smile. "Gift of a grateful Cuban government."
The phone buzzed and Velikov quickly answered. "What is it?"
The voice of his secretary replied. "Major Borchev wishes to talk to you."
"Put him on."
"General?"
"Yes, Borchev, what's your problem?"
"The captain in command of waterfront security has left his post along with his men and returned to their base outside the city."
"They left the ships unguarded?"
"Well. . . not exactly."
"Did they or did they not desert their post?"
"He claims he was relieved by a guard force under the command of a Colonel Ernesto Perez."
"I issued no such order."
"I'm aware of that, General. Because if you had, it would have most certainly come to my attention."
"Who is this Perez and what military unit is he assigned to?"
"My staff has checked Cuban military files. They find no record of him."
"I personally sent Colonel Mikoyan to inspect security measures around the ships. Make contact and ask him what in hell is happening down there."
"I've tried to raise him for the past half hour," said Borchev. "He doesn't respond."
Another line buzzed, and Velikov placed Borchev on hold.
"What is it?" he snapped.
"Juan Fernandez. General, I thought you should know that Colonel General Kolchak just arrived for a meeting with Raul Castro."
"Not possible."
"I checked him through the gate myself"
This new development
added fuel to Velikov's confusion. A stunned look gripped his face and he expelled his breath in an audible hiss. He had only four hours' sleep in the last thirty-six and his mind was becoming woolly.
"You there, General?" asked Ferndandez anxiously at the silence.
"Yes, yes. Listen to me, Fernandez. Go to the lodge and find out what Castro and Kolchak are doing.
