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Castillo didn't immediately reply. Instead-with a grunt-he pushed himself off the couch and walked to the dining table. He sat down and waved for Duffy to take a seat.
"I've had my breakfast," Duffy said curtly.
"Well, have a little more," Castillo said. "As my much-loved abuela is always saying, 'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you the strength to attack the day's problems.'"
"I asked who these people are," Duffy said.
"Maybe we can get to that a little later," Castillo said.
"I want to know who they are and what they're doing here," Duffy said, his voice rising.
"Or?" Castillo asked, quietly.
"Or what?" Duffy responded.
"I didn't detect some sort of a threat in that request, did I? I really don't like to be threatened."
"What's going on here, Colonel?"
"Well, everybody but you is having their breakfast."
"You remember our conversation yesterday morning, I presume?"
"Yes, of course. Actually, I've given it a lot of thought."
"The twenty-four hours I gave you to leave the country unless your superiors authorize you to place yourself under my orders is about over, Colonel. And I am not amused by this…this whatever it is."
"Oh, come on, Duffy," Castillo said. "You didn't really think that little act of yours was going to work, did you?" He looked up at Duffy. "You're sure you don't want to sit down and have some of these scrambled eggs? They put little chopped up pieces of ham in them. Delicious!"
"Coronel Munz, you had best advise your Yankee friend that I'm serious!"
"So is Colonel Castillo serious, Comandante," Munz said.
"Actually, Duffy, I'm more of a Texican than a Yankee," Castillo said. "Wouldn't you agree, Manuel?"
"I would say that's so, Colonel," D'Elia said.
Duffy glared at D'Elia, as if trying to identify his accent, and then looked at Castillo.
"On the telephone you said that you had contacted your superiors and-"
"What I actually said," Castillo interrupted, "was 'I've been in touch with Washington.' And then I suggested we have breakfast. And you agreed. But then you come and say you've already had yours."
"All right, enough," Duffy said. "I am a man of my word, Colonel. I will not have you arrested if you leave the country by midnight tonight."
He walked to the door.
"At midnight tonight, I'll be somewhere in Patagonia," Castillo said. "When I know in which hotel…"
"The Llao Llao, Colonel," Munz furnished. "Confirmation came when you were in the bathroom."
"What an odd name," Castillo said. "The hotel Llao Llao, then, in San Carlos de Bariloche. I don't think we have our room numbers yet, but I'm sure the management will be able to tell you where we are when your people come to arrest us."
Duffy turned and looked at him in disbelief and
anger.
"Duffy, you're not going to have me or anyone else arrested, and we both know that," Castillo said unpleasantly.
