Topaz - Leon Uris [62]
Rico knew she would always hate him as intensely as she loved the Frenchman and all that he would really have of her was a shadow.
“Well,” she said, “this is what you want, isn’t it? Let’s seal the bargain.”
He giggled his strange giggle, then lifted his bearded face and laughed. “Do you really think I’m going to let him out of Cuba!” he bellowed. “He’s a spy for the Yankees. And what about you and this sacrificial act of yours? Maybe you’re out to save your own damn skin. Well ... Rico Parra is not going to be used like that. I don’t protect traitors!”
“I don’t know if André Devereaux has been here on an intelligence mission or not,” she said.
“Liar!”
“I don’t know,” she repeated. “But if he has, then certainly he would not carry information out of the country on his person, would he? Wouldn’t he have already sent it by radio or through diplomatic courier?”
“You’re too damned logical for a woman.”
“In any event, Devereaux can do you no more harm unless you are foolish enough to try to kill him. Then, indeed, there will be consequences. As for me, Rico Parra, I am not a traitor to Cuba.”
“And if he goes ... he tries to send a boat for you ... yes!”
“I’m certain you will replace my servants with your own. I expect to be under constant watch as part of the bargain.”
“You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you?”
“I never took you for a fool.” She walked into the bedroom. Rico trailed after her gnashing at his unlit cigar. He leaned against the doorframe and tucked his thumbs into his pistol belt and glared.
Juanita stood beside the bed and undid the bow of her halter. It opened. She let it fall to the floor and stood proud in her nakedness.
Rico flushed. Currents of lust and anger and confusion ran together within him. Juanita walked to him surely, took the cigar from his mouth and tossed it away. She took his crude hand and lifted it to her breast.
“As long as we’re going to do it,” she said, “we might as well enjoy it.”
His free hand raised suddenly and slapped over her mouth. “Pig! Aristocratic pig!” Her head snapped back from another blow and her hair was strewn awry. He slapped her again. Her head trembled but she neither retreated nor cried. Rico flung her on the bed hard. “You hate me! All right, woman! You want an animal!”
He leaped on her and tore her slacks off and flung her around the bed. Juanita broke into a half hysteria and reached up desperately and grabbed his beard. With a surge of strength she pulled him by the beard until he was forced to lower himself on top of her. Her teeth sank into his shoulder, cutting through his shirt. He screamed in pain.
“I’m an animal too!” Juanita cried and she bit into him again forcing him to stop his attack.
They lay side by side laboring for breath, then laughing and crying half madly ... then tore at each other again and wrestled to the floor. She traded savagery for savagery, her nails found his face and clawed and she ripped his beard and she bit until he pinned her down. The blood spurted from his wound on to her face and neck. He held her solidly, both of them panting and groaning ... and after a time ... they quieted.
And suddenly Rico Parra began to weep. “I can’t do anything. I am unable to now. I have this trouble all the time.” He released his grip.
Her fingers went into the tangle of black hair, this time tenderly and she stroked him softly. “Rest and then I will help you.”
“I can’t.”
“I’ll show you how. I’ll teach you everything.”
They both became aware of someone else in the room. Hernández, the guard, stood open-mouthed over them. Rico staggered to his feet and Hernández backed out of the room quaking. “Compadre,” he begged, “I did not know....”
“What the hell do you want!”
“Uribe telephoned from your office and asked if you were here. He said it was very urgent ... from Muñoz at the airport.”
“What did you tell him!”
“Nothing.... I did not tell him you were here. I swear it!”
“Get out!” Parra screamed, kicking Hernández in the backside.
He swayed for a moment and wiped the blood from