Topaz - Leon Uris [50]
Juanita noted his contemplative attitude. She was aware that Rico Parra was no fool. Much of his bluster was for public consumption and to instill fear into his flunkies. Behind that straggly façade was a man of enormous ability and native intuition.
“When a man such as I, Rico, comes into power,” he said with uncommon softness, “he is apt to believe he can demand anything or get anyone. That is why you perplex me so, Juanita.”
“You are being charmingly candid tonight,” she fenced.
“You see, Little Dove. I have always observed aristocracy in a certain way. When I was a boy toiling in the canebrakes I vividly remember the haughty daughters of the Finca owner galloping by on their Arabian horses. Like a good, humble peasant I would take the hat off my head and bow as they passed. But they inflicted a pain, here ... in my heart ... which I will never get over. When you are a monkey in a zoo behind bars and are suddenly freed, you wish to hold in your hands everything that was denied you.”
He reached for a cigar, then thought better of it.
“Do you know what I really want from Juanita de Córdoba? Aside from your beauty as a woman ... aside from all the respectability?”
“Maybe.”
“I want your power. De Córdoba and Parra. That is power ... yes ... I know I disgust you. I’m an animal. I disgust most women.”
“You’re not in keeping with yourself tonight, Rico. What did you bring me out here to say?”
The Cuban managed a rare smile. “See the Little Dove! She looks right through me. I cannot win you as a man. But maybe I could convince you by a more subtle means that a friendship between us would not be so undesirable.”
“Go on.”
Rico Parra paced the balcony. All of the cunning and danger of the man was obvious to her. The things which had made him a brilliant and brutal guerrilla commander could not be underestimated. He selected his words with meticulous care.
“Castro,” he said, “has chosen me to keep an eye on certain foreign diplomats who come in and out of the country frequently.” He stopped and looked directly into her eyes. “Castro has also given me a great deal of latitude and authority to act in any manner in any given situation.”
Juanita kept her composure. Rico Parra was impressed by her show of skill. It was a skill he wanted to have, to work for him. “I should say that Fidel has entrusted you with enormous responsibility.”
“I knew you would understand,” Rico Parra said.
André unzipped Juanita’s dress and held her from behind at arms length and studied her back. She had a most beautiful back. Most women were either bony or angular or fleshy or marred. Juanita was perfect.
“Rico was in a rare behavior,” she said.
“I’m queer for your back.”
“We had our talk. He was subdued for a change.”
“How did it go?”
“Nothing new, André darling. Parra’s same old nonsense in a different presentation. I think he’s a complete fool.”
André dropped his hands from her and pondered. “Parra’s no fool. Mistakes ... yes. But no fool. I was getting a feeling that he had taken over some of the G-2 authority. I smelled his nose in our business.”
“I couldn’t sense anything like that,” she said. Juanita went to him for the automatic response of his embrace. “Tonight,” she said, “I want to make love to you.”
“You always do, darling. You’re unselfish ... too unselfish.”
“No ... I mean ... tonight I’m going to make love to you all night ... and watch you while I’m doing it. I want to see your happiness....”
24
THE VALLEY NEAR PINAR del Río brimmed with lush tropical foliage. This natural hothouse was a world wonder, a valley of rare fertility that gave the Cuban tobacco its unique and renowned quality.
A battered old Dodge, groaning from neglect, turned off the main road of the valley toward the Finca San José.
“WARNING!” a large sign read, “GOVERNMENT PROPERTY! GO NO FARTHER!”
The Dodge and its driver, Vicente Martínez, rattled and banged past the forbidding warning for almost two miles until the cane