Chapter 29
Missed Delivery
25th of Seventhmoon, MC 299 (6 Charles 9)
Arturo, Wellsley, People's Republic of the Malvinas (South Malvina)
Coronel Santiago Firentes took a long draught from the hip flask that he kept hidden under the skirts of his tunic. He probably needed more alcohol than that, but he had to stay clear-headed. The best he could do was dull the edge a little.
"He stepped into the waiting room of Don Francisco's office. His secretary looked slightly disheveled. She must have gotten back from 'taking dictation' not too long ago. The Coronel was not so secure in his position that he could enjoy such indulgences. Perhaps one day when he retired from the Guard and secured a nice, comfortable civilian position... The odds of that happening now were rather slim.
"Coronel Firentes," the secretary said. "I'll let Don Francisco know that you're here." She picked up her phone, dialed the extension and then said, "Don Francisco, Coronel Firentes is here for his appointment. Yes, sir." She hung up the receiver and motioned to the door. "Don Francisco will see you now."
"The Coronel was tempted to take another drink, appearances be damned, but he restrained himself and went inside. Don Francisco's office was filled with conspicuous displays of wealth, from the large mahogany desk to the aquarium filled with exotic tropical fish to the marble replica of the famous Nymph of the Island Spring. The decorations were intended to impress the Don's peers and intimidate his lessers.
Don Francisco knew the Coronel was not coming here with good news. He did not smile, but he did not frown either. He did not have to openly display his displeasure for you to feel it in the marrow of your bones.
"What has happened, Coronel?" Don Francisco asked.
"It is about the delivery of corn to Parsifal," Coronel Firentes said, using code even in the Don's office because nowhere was safe enough given what they were dealing with. "It never arrived."
"It never arrived?" Don Francisco asked. "It's... missing?"
"The shipment never reached Parsifal," Coronel Firentes said.
"Do I look hard of hearing to you, Coronel?" Don Francisco asked. "I heard you when you said what happened. I want to know why it happened, how it happened."
"The convoy was sticking to side roads so as to avoid drawing attention," the Coronel said. "The vehicles were found about 60 kilometers from Parsifal. They had been burned. The six men of ours and the seven... er, sacks of corn were all accounted for. We suspect the Saldañistas. An attack like this fits with their MO."
"Don Francisco gave him a skeptical look and asked, "Have they claimed responsibility for the attack?"
"No, sir," Coronel Firentes replied,"but of the 32 suspected attacks, we only have five cases where they claimed responsibility."
"You have a positive identification on the bodies?"
"They were so badly burned, the only thing we can say is the number."
"If I recall, the shipment to Parsifal was the least valuable," Don Francisco said. "We will still have to answer for the cost." He eyed the Coronel. "Someone will."
Coronel Firentes gulped hard. He could tell he was being set up to be the scapegoat, but how could he possibly be at fault for this?
"We will double the protection on the other shipments," the Coronel suggest, "increase the frequency so no one knows where they are or where they're going."
"On the contrary," Don Francisco said, "moving them around so much may be what allowed this to happen. The shipments are most vulnerable when they are in transit. I say we keep them in the storehouses for now."
"But what of the risk of, er, rats sniffing them out?" Coronel Firentes asked, struggling a little to come up with an appropriately thematic expression outside the basic code that was provided to him.
"Keep extra watchmen on the storehouses," Don Francisco said. "Surely the rats are not going to swarm."
Thinking about what that would mean, Coronel Firentes then asked, "And what if they do?"
Don Francisco folded his hands and sighed.
"Then we are going to lose a lot more than some corn."