Free Cuba by Stephen Coonts Page B

to compliment his host.
    “Very niceea”…Chance said, and took the chair indicated
    by Alejo Vargas. At a nearby desk sat
    Vargas’s Chief of Staff, Colonel Pablo
    Santafla, who nodded at Chance when he looked his
    way, but said nothing.
    Colonel Santana was dark, with coal black
    eyes and black hair combed straight back; he had
    some slave and Indian somewhere in his bloodline. He
    slit the throats and pulled the trigger for Alejo
    Vargas whenever those chores needed to be done.
    Chance forced himself to ignore Santana and look at
    his host. “I appreciate you taking the time from your
    busy day to see me, Generalea”…the American said,
    and gave Vargas a frank, winning smile.
    Chance was tall and angular, with
    craggy
    good looks, and dressed in a light gray suit of a
    quality one could not
    obtain in Cuba for love or money. He appeared
    perfectly at ease, as if he owned the building and
    were calling on a tenant.
    No wonder the Russians lost the race to the
    Americans,
    Vargas thought ruefully. A true Latin male,
    he was acutely aware of his own physical and
    social shortcomings, his lack of grace and
    self-assurance, so he was quick to appreciate the
    desired qualities in others.
    “I understand you have been discussing a business
    arrangement for the future with officials of
    several departmentsea”…Vargas began.
    “That is correct, General. As you probably
    know, I represent a consortium of stockholders
    in several of the major American caret tobacco
    companies. My errand is discreet, not for public
    discussion.”
    Vargas certainly did know. He had a complete
    dossier on William Henry Chance in the upper
    right-hand drawer of his desk, a dossier decorated
    with a half dozen photos, photocopies of all the
    pages of Chance’s passport, and one of his entry in
    Who’s Who.
    A senior partner in a major New York law
    firm, Chance had represented tobacco companies for
    twenty-five years. That Chance was the man in
    Havana talking to the Cuban government was a sure
    signal that major money was behind him.
    Indeed, Chance was in Vargas’s office today because
    Fidel Castro had asked Vargas to see him.
    “Alejoea”…Fidel had said, “our future depends
    on Cuba getting a piece of the world economy. The
    Americans have kept us isolated too long. If
    we can make it profitable for the Americans to lift the
    embargo, sooner or later they will. The Yankees
    can smell money for miles.”
    If William Henry Chance knew that Castro had
    personally asked Vargas to see him, he gave no
    sign.
    The less he understands about our government, the better,
    Vargas thought. He cleared his throat, and said, “I
    am sure you understand our concern, Senor Chance.
    Cuba is a poor nation, dependent on sugarcane
    as the mainstay of the
    economy, a crop that is, as usual, a glut on
    the world market. Your client’s proposal, as I
    understand it, is to cultivate tobacco in Cuba
    instead of sugarcane.”
    Chance gave the tiniest nod. A trace of a grin
    showed on his lips. He glanced at Santana, who
    was scrutinizing him with professional interest, the way
    a cat examines a mouse.
    “Your comprehension is perfect, General.”
    “Through the years, senor, the price of tobacco on
    the world market has been even lower than that of
    sugar.”, “This meeting shall be a great help to my
    clientsea”…Chance declared. “Here today I will show you the
    many benefits that will accrue in the future to the nation that
    keeps an open mind about tobacco. I am not
    talking about cigar leaf, you understand, which is a
    tiny percentage of the world market. I am talking about
    cigarette tobacco.”
    “The price of which will collapse in America when the
    American government ends its subsidy
    to American tobacco farmers.”
    “Indeedea”…sd William Henry Chance. “The
    United States government
    will
    soon cease supporting the price. But of greater
    interest to our clients, the government will increasingly
    regulate and tax the cigarette