25 Short Stories and Novellas - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"Yes. Yes, of course. Why should there not be a fee? It is no problem.
We will discuss it." He offered her an engraved card, holding it close in
front of her face as if he wasn't sure she knew how to read and holding
it close might help. "This is my name. I am at the Imperial Hotel. You
know that hotel? You will come to me when this is over? With the general?
You agree?"
"Sorry, sir," a marshal said. "This area is for official guests only."
"Of course, Understood." The Brazilian began to back away, nodding,
bowing, smiling brilliantly. To Carlotta he said, "I will see you later? Yes?
I am very grateful. Obrigado! Obrigado!" He disappeared into the crowd of
foreign visitors. Behind her, on the reviewing stand, the Emperor was
giving a medal to a man in a uniform of the San Jose Air Force.
It was almost noon now. People were coming out of the nearby office
buildings. Some of them were carrying sandwiches. Carlotta began to
feel fiercely hungry. Townes had talked about a banquet that afternoon, but
the afternoon seemed a long way away. Uncle James got fed by intravenous
line, but she needed real food, and soon, Emperor or no Emperor, she had to
get out of here, and Townes could go whistle. Maybe the thing to do was
find the Brazilian, strike a deal with him, let him take her to his hotel
and buy her lunch. And then he could interview Uncle James all he wanted,
so long as the old man's strength held out.
All right, she thought. Let's get moving.
But where had the Brazilian gone?
She didn't see him anywhere. Leaving Uncle James to look after himself
for a moment, she slipped under the rope and went over to the place
where the foreign visitors were cl.u.s.tered, No, no sign of him. People began
to jabber at her and take her picture. She brushed her hand through
the air as though they were a cloud of gnats. Producing the Brazilian's
card, she said. to no one in particular, "Have you seen Humberto-Humberto
Jose de Magal Magal " It was a struggle to p.r.o.nounce his name.
He must have gone, though. Perhaps he was on his way to his hotel, to
wait for them.
She rushed back to Uncle James. Some people had crept into the
