Topaz - Leon Uris [32]
“We’re concerned with all the construction going on,” Hooper said.
“I know the area. It would make a good missile site,” André ventured.
“That’s our guess.”
“The President does not feel we can have a confrontation with the Soviet Union at this moment,” McKittrick said. “On the basis of this evidence alone the Russians can claim it proves nothing.”
André looked from one to the other. The Americans were grim. He was way ahead of them now.
“You are suggesting that you must have positive knowledge from inside Cuba,” André said.
“Yes,” Nordstrom answered.
“And your own intelligence resources are not sufficient on the island.”
“You know that.”
“I take it you are soliciting the help of France?”
“The help of Devereaux,” Nordstrom answered.
“I’m not to tell Paris about Kuznetov and I am to apologize to Paris for a dozen requests for information that sit on your desk unanswered. I think I have had my fill of this one-way street.”
“André ...”
“No, damnit!” He came to his feet, bent over the table and eyed them angrily. “I warned you about the Russian surface-to-air missiles in Cuba. Not only the SAMs but the Russian jet bombers.”
“We have only the power to gather information, André.”
“I warned you from the first day Castro came out of the mountains. I warned you, McKittrick, and you, Mike, I warned you Che is a Communist and Rico Parra is a Communist. But you played with them! Well, after this mess you made at the Bay of Pigs it may be too late to keep the Russian missiles out.”
“André,” Mike said calmly, “you know how we value you.”
“To do your dirty work.”
Nordstrom spoke slowly. “I haven’t supplied you with intelligence information, because we’re all afraid of SDECE leaks. I’m not asking you to agree, but I know you can’t disagree. As for the intelligence on Cuba, two Presidents have been briefed on everything you’ve said or suspected. Besides,” Nordstrom added, “what about you and President La Croix? How much have you convinced him?”
André walked to the door and knocked for the outer guard to open. “I’m quite tired. I’ve worked forty-eight hours on end over the Parra papers. I’ll let you know about going to Cuba.”
“By the way,” Nordstrom said, “I saw Kuznetov yesterday. He sends his regards. He’s making an excellent recovery.”
“I’m not certain whether he’s lucky or not,” André said.
The three Americans were unable to look at each other for some time after André departed.
“Jesús Christ!” Nordstrom finally sputtered. “I hope to God we can make it right for him someday.”
11
UNLIKE HIS DELICATE PERFORMANCE at the Legion of Honor dinner, Ambassador René d’Arcy bit off the end of his cigar, spit it into an ashtray and lit it with quick, violent puffs. SDECE had contacted him regarding André’s pending mission to Cuba, and the French President’s office was pressuring him to influence Devereaux to change his tack.
“I must say, Monsieur Devereaux, I personally frown on your going to Cuba.”
“Are you frowning officially or unofficially?”
“Well, the gist is that this is solely an affair between the Cubans and the Americans.”
“Perhaps ... perhaps not. I have a different interpretation, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur. There is an apparent threat to a NATO ally. France is still in NATO, you know. Unless you are ready to issue me orders on the matter, I intend to go forward with my plans.”
D’Arcy rolled his cigar in pudgy fingers and bolted out frustrated puffs of smoke across his desk to where André sat unmoved.
Despite Devereaux’s unfortunate leanings, one would have to think more than twice about removing him from office. The skilled organization he had built in the hemisphere could collapse in lesser hands. Certainly Devereaux was one of the most competent intelligence officers in the SDECE. Furthermore, the Americans would turn completely cold to a new man. The pendulum had swung, sweeping away key personnel, and the pendulum had returned with La Croix people. André Devereaux had withstood the purges without politicking or kowtowing to the personal regime