Passage by Night - Jack Higgins [28]
'But why the long absence?' Rafael said. 'It must be at least six months since a boat called here from Harmon Springs.'
'To be honest, we weren't sure we'd be welcomed,' Papa Melos told him. 'Let's face it, things haven't been quite the same since the crisis.'
'But we know our friends,' Rafael said. 'There is a large difference between Greeks from Harmon Springs and Yankee spies from Miami. Give us some credit for that much sense.'
'Well, it's nice to hear that. Perhaps when the others know how we've got on, they'll start coming again themselves.'
'Nothing I'd like better.'
The sign outside Bayo's place said: HOTEL, and was as dilapitated as the rest of the waterfront. There were several wooden tables outside, but no customers, and Manning guessed that the place would probably liven up in the evening.
It was cool and dark inside and reasonably clean, with whitewashed walls and rush mats on the floor. There were more tables and chairs and marble-topped bar in one corner, bottles ranged behind it on wooden shelves.
The man who leaned on the bar reading his newspaper was small and wiry. The right side of his face was disfigured by an ugly scar and the eye was covered by a black patch.
'Heh, Bayo, see who's here!' Rafael called.
Bayo glanced up in surprise. When he saw Papa Melos a delighted smile appeared on his face. He dropped the newspaper and came round the end of the bar.
'Papa Melos,' he said in English, pumping the old man's hand. 'A sight for sore eyes.'
Papa Melos put a hand on the little Cuban's shoulder and frowned. 'Your face, Bayo, what happened?'
Bayo shrugged, his smile slipping a little. 'Nothing, my friend. An accident three months ago. You have brought fish in?'
The old man nodded. 'Three tuna.'
'He needed the excuse to see how we were getting on,' Rafael put in.
They all smiled and Papa Melos introduced Anna and Manning. 'My daughter and Alexias Stavrou. He's crewing for me now.'
'And Yanni? How is Yanni?'
'Drowned six months ago,' Papa Melos said calmly.
A spasm of pain crossed the little Cuban's face and he reached instinctively to touch the old man's sleeve. 'He was a good boy.'
'None better,' Papa Melos said. 'It is God's will.'
The slight awkward silence was quickly glossed over by Rafael who dropped his hat onto a table and pulled forward a chair for Anna. 'But this is the time for wine, not talk. A bottle of your best is indicated, Bayo.'
Bayo nodded eagerly. 'I have some Chablis '57 cooling in the icebox for Colonel Rojas, but he won't be in until this evening.'
He disappeared into the back room and Manning turned to Rafael. 'Who's this Colonel Rojas he mentioned?'
Rafael immediately looked uncomfortable. 'He commands the fortress here. They have turned it into a prison for political offenders. Since the Bay of Pigs affair, it's had plenty of occupants.'
'What is he? Police or army?'
The glance the Cuban threw over his shoulder before leaning forward was almost a reflex action. 'They say he is of the DIER, senor. The military secret police. In Cuba today they have more power than anyone.'
'What happened to Bayo?' Papa Melos said as he tapped tobacco into the bowl of his pipe. 'His face is certainly one hell of a mess.'
'Three months ago a new batch of prisoners was delivered to the fortress from the main island. Their guards were a rough lot. Real barbudos of the kind who were in the hills with the President. They got drunk and started to break the place up. When Bayo tried to stop them, one of them slashed him across the face. He lost an eye.'
'Nice people,' Manning said.
Rafael shrugged, 'In Cuba today, it is not wise to pass judgment on anything, senor. You would do well to remember that.'
'I suppose you're right.' Manning offered him a cigarette. 'Is this the only hotel in town?'
'There was another, but it closed last month. No one comes for the fishing any more.'
'Anyone staying here now?'
Rafael smiled. 'I don't think Bayo has had a guest in six months. There will be plenty of room for you to stay, if