mg.dictatorofcrime-第9章

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　　First；　one　of　the　group　happened　to　mention　to　an　English…speaking　clerk　that　they　were　〃members　of　Allard's　party。〃　The　clerk　was　instantly　horrified。
　　〃There　is　but　one　party　in　Centralba！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃The　Castenago　party！〃
　　It　took　a　deal　of　explaining　before　the　clerk　could　understand　the　various　interpretations　of　the　English　term　〃party。〃　After　that；　Margo　and　the　rest　decided　to　announce　themselves　simply　as　〃friends　of　Senor　Allard。〃
　　It　was　funny；　too；　the　way　the　bellboys　hopped　about　picking　up　packages　of　unwanted　merchandise；　to　take　back　to　the　shops。　They　were　doing　something　most　unusual　for　bellboys：　they　were　refusing　tips。　To　accept　gratuities　from　anyone　important　enough　to　be　entertained　personally　by　Castenago；　was　definitely　taboo。
　　Margo　had　in　idea　that　the　bellhops　would　get　their　remuneration　later；　after　Castenago　ordered　a　new　press　run　of　currency。
　　Joining　the　group；　Kent　Allard　provided　the　last　touch　of　pleasantry；　if　it　could　be　called　such。　He　gave　a　package　to　a　bellboy；　telling　him　to　take　it　back　to　the　shop　where　it　came　from；　because　the　shirts　were　the　wrong　size。　He　tucked　a　note　into　the　parcel；　to　explain　the　matter　fully；　and　then　turned　to　his　friends。
　　〃I　trust　the　banquet　won't　be　a　lavish　affair；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃You　understand　why；　of　course。〃
　　Headshakes　proved　they　didn't　understand。　So　Allard　explained。　It　was　Castenago's　policy　to　wine　and　dine　his　foes；　political　or　otherwise；　whenever　occasion　required。　Such　occasion　was　invariably　the　death　of　the　enemies　in　question；　usually　within　the　next　two　days。
　　Castenago　always　allowed　enough　time　to　pass　so　that　no　one　would　accuse　him　of　having　poisoned　his　guests。　After　that；　sudden　things　happened。
　　Accidents　or　suicides　were　the　general　rule。　Somehow；　banqueting　with　Castenago　inspired　certain　persons　to　dangerous　undertakings；　such　as　taking　wild　rides　along　the　difficult　highways　of　Centralba　just　when　a　bridge　was　going　out　or　a　landslide　due　to　e。　They'd　even　been　known　to　go　climbing　volcanoes　and　slip　into　the　craters。
　　Others；　very　curiously；　became　despondent　after　dining　at　the　presidential　palace。　Such　persons　always　tried　to　outvie　each　other　in　finding　unique　ways　of　suicide。
　　One　sample　case　was　that　of　a　political　opponent　who　had　actually　drunk　poisoned　wine　that　he　had　intended　to　send　to　Castenago…so　the　gatomontes　reported。　Finding　the　dictator　to　be　so　kindly　a　soul；　the　would…be　assassin　had　bee　remorseful　and　taken　his　own　life。
　　The　listeners　began　to　get　uneasy；　until　Allard　reassured　them。
　　〃This　is　only　a　ten…course　banquet；〃　he　stated。　〃Nothing　ever　happens　unless　there　are　more　than　twelve。〃
　　〃What　about　Jose　Durez？〃　asked　Margo。　〃Did　he　and　his　friends　dine　with　Castenago　before　leaving　Centralba？〃
　　〃They　just　had　a　snack；〃　returned　Allard。　〃A　mere　five…course　luncheon。
　　Their　mistake　was　their　ignorance　of　American　customs。　Murk　Wessel　didn't　invite　them　to　dinner　in　Miami　Beach；　so　they　weren't　prepared　for　anything　to　happen。〃
　　
　　
　　STEPPING　from　the　hotel；　Margo　paused　in　amazement　to　see　the　plaza　thoroughly　alive。　The　afternoon　had　cooled；　and　the　citizenry　of　Libertad　was　abroad。
　　Most　surprising　was　the　fact　that　many　people　looked　happy。　They　were　laughing；　chatting；　and　even　singing　when　they　met　with　strolling　groups　of　musicians　who　carried　odd　instruments　shaped　like　guitars。
　　〃They　were　the　mariachis；〃　explained　Allard；　referring　to　the　minstrels。
　　〃You'll　see　them　everywhere　in　Libertad。　Watch　for　the　marimba　players；　they're　even　more　interesting。〃
　　The　ride　by　car　to　Castenago's　palace　was　quite　different　from　the　earlier　trip　through　Libertad。　It　was　something　like　a　guided　tour　through　the　capital；　with　Allard　pointing　out　the　interesting　features。
　　Passing　a　great　market　place；　where　Indians　in　fanciful　silver…buttoned　jackets　peered　from　beneath　huge　sombreros；　the　car　swung　around　a　lavish　building　of　pink　stucco　that　was　centered　in　a　tropical　garden　marvelous　in　its　colorings。
　　Men　were　busily　at　work　among　the　shrubbery；　and　unlike　the　natives；　they　were　hard　at　their　tasks。　They　didn't　even　turn　when　the　cars　went　by。
　　Evidently　these　workmen　were　imports。
　　〃The　new　casino；〃　stated　Allard。　〃Eventually；　it　will　make　Monte　Carlo　a　hamburger　stand；　in　parison。〃
　　〃Who　gambles　there？〃　asked　Margo。
　　〃Americans…what　few　there　are　in　Centralba。　More　will　e。〃　Allard　spoke　positively。　〃Castenago　isn't　trying　to　hurry　them。　The　casino；　itself；　will　bring　them　in　time。　It's　already　attracted　some　Europeans；　who　can　no　longer　play　at　Monte　Carlo。〃
　　Turning　through　quaint；　narrow　streets；　where　upstairs　balconies　jutted　above　the　shop　fronts；　the　car　zigzagged　toward　the　outskirts　of　the　city。　It　detoured　in　order　to　pass　a　broad　esplanade；　fringed　with　strange　tropical　trees　that　half　hid　some　old；　yellow　buildings　that　looked　like　relics　from　the　days　of　the　Spanish　conquerors。
　　Someone　was　saying　that　this　was　the　campus　of　National　University；　when　Allard　directed　Margo's　attention　the　other　way。　He　was　pointing　out　the　first　marimba　player　that　they　had　seen；　and　Margo　had　time　to　study　the　musician　while　the　car　paused　for　others　to　peer　at　the　university。
　　The　marimba　player　was　setting　up　his　instrument　on　a　broad　sidewalk　opposite　the　esplanade；　while　eager　natives　watched。　His　dark　face　was　topped　by　a　fancy…colored　bandanna；　and　his　shoes；　like　his　gaudy　jacket；　had　silver　buckles。
　　More　interesting　to　Margo　than　the　bare…legged　player；　was　the　marimba　itself。　The　crude　instrument　was　a　long　board；　with　keys　much　like　a　xylophone；　but　beneath　the　keyboard　were　hollow　gourds。
　　Two　dozen　in　number；　the　gourds　ranged　in　size　from　very　small　to　huge；　though　the　line　looked　somewhat　irregular。　When　the　player　struck　the　marimba　with　small　hammers；　the　gourds　gave　out　soft；　plaintive　tones；　perfectly　in　key。　Evidently　they　had　been　matched　for　sound；　rather　than　appearance；　but　before　Margo　could　catch　the　strains　of　the　native　melody；　the　car　was　on　its　way。
　　Through　a　gateway　not　far　from　the　marimba　player；　Margo　glimpsed　a　lovely　patio　surrounded　by　a　wall。　As　they　swung　the　corner　to　follow　the　walled　estate；　Allard　spoke。
　　〃That　is　where　Francisco　Peridor　lives；〃　he　said。　〃He　is　the　head　of　National　University；　hence　his　residence　is　directly　opposite　it。〃
　　Through　the　slight　dusk　Margo　saw　the　uniforms　of　soldiers；　patrolling　outside　the　grounds。　She　thought　that　she　caught　sight　of　a　slinking　figure　in　green…gray；　one　of　the　gatomontes。
　　Margo　said　nothing；　but　she　felt　that　she　fully　understood。　Francisco　Peridor；　friend　of　the　Centralban　people；　had　been　placed　under　〃protective　custody〃　by　Luis　Castenago。
　　The　car　took　another　swing　and　the　presidential　palace　bulked　ahead。　It　was　of　modern　architecture；　but　excellent　in　design；　splendid　with　the　blaze　of　lights　that　threw　scintillating　beams　upon　gushing　fountains。
　　Only　briefly　did　Margo　observe　a　flaw　in　this　glorious　sight。　As　they　flanked　the　palace；　a　square；　low…roofed　extension　was　visible　behind　it；　forming　an　ugly　contrast　to　the　gorgeous　palace。
　　〃The　presidio；〃　remarked　Allard；　〃where　Castenago　keeps　his　garrison。　Very　convenient；　to　have　the　military　close　at　hand　in　case　of　a　revolt。　It　helps　politically　too。　They　say　that　Castenago　frequently　receives　senators　through　the　front　door　of　the　palace　and　bows　them　out　the　back…to　a　jail　cell　in　the　presidio。〃
　　Margo　shuddered；　for　by　then；　the　car　had　reached　the　front　of　the　palace　and　an　escort　of　guards　in　full…dress　uniform　were　waiting　to　conduct　the　guests　into　Castenago's　presence。
　　All　the　way　up　the　marble　steps　that　lay　between　the　spraying　fountains；　Margo　kept　wondering　if　she　and　her　friends　would　e　out　by　the　same　way！
　　
　　
　　USHERED　to　a　vast　reception　room；　they　were　met　by　Luis　Castenago；　himself。
　　The　postage　stamps　didn't　do　justice　to　the　supreme　ruler　of　Centralba。　No　portrait　could　have　properly　depicted　him。　His　face　was　too　mobile　to　be　caught　in　any　fixed　pose　that　could　show　the　evil　that　it　represented。　Just　as　a　snake　is　terrifying　by　its　writhe；　so　were　Castenago's　features。
　　The　dictator　was　heavy…set；　with　a　short　neck　that　made　his　head　look　as　if　planted　between　his　shoulders。　His　face　was　wide；　which　added　to　the　spread　of　his　black…smudged　eyebrows。　In　turn；　those　smudges　accentuated　the　fierce　eyes　beneath；　that　could　glitter；　or　dull；　whichever　their　owner　chose。
　　Castenago's　nose　was　wide；　an　appendage　to　his　broad　forehead。　Such　a　nose；　which　had　no　bridge　between　the　eyes；　would　have　appeared　a　deformity　on　any　other　face；　but　it　fitted　Castenago's。
　　The　width　of　his　forehead；　matched　by　the　huge　sweep　of　his　jaw；　demanded　a　central　feature；　and　the　nose　supplied　it。　As　for　Castenago's　mouth；　it；　too；　looked　normal　against　the　broad　area　of　his　total　physiognomy。　The　coarseness　of　his　thick　lips　was　scarcely　noticeable；　for　it　offered　no　great　contrast　to　his　general　appearance。
　　Castenago　had　the　stern　look　of　an　Indian　whose　ancestors　had　roved　the　mountains　long　before　the　ing　of　the　conquerors；　but　the　Spaniards；　in　their　turn；　had　contributed　to　his　heritage。
　　There　were　probably　other　races　mingled　in　his　blood；　and　together　they　had　produced…Luis　Castenago。　His　nationality　very　definitely　could　be　called　his　own；　whatever　it　was。
　　This　human　snake；　like　bona　fide　members　of　the　reptile　family；　possessed　a　power　of　attraction。　His　polite　bow；　his　weling　gestures；　were　sinuous。
　　When　he　spoke；　there　was　a　veiled　hiss　to　his　tone　that　the　courtesy　of　his　words；　spoken　in　English；　could　not　hide。
　　The　relief　was　the　fact　that　Castenago　turned　his　attention　from　one　member　of　the　visiting　group　to　another；　often　enough　to　ease　the　tension　that　each　individual　felt。
　　There　was　just　one　exception　to　the　last…named　rule：　Kent　Allard。　Margo　was　noting　that　Castenago　did　not　daunt　the　aviator　at　all；　when　a　major…domo　dressed　in　colorful　livery；　announced　in　Spanish　that　dinner　was　served；　or　something　to　that　effect。　Therewith；　Castenago　bowed　his　guests　into　the　banquet　hall。
　　The　dinner　was　served；　with　all　ten　courses；　no　more。　The　guests　felt　much　at　ease　when　Castenago　arose；　signifying　that　the　meal　was　ended。　He　was　lifting　a　wine　glass；　ready　to　propose　a　toast；　when　he　saw　Allard　at　his　right。　Poising　his　glass；　Castenago　purred　politely：
　　〃Your　privilege；　Senor　Allard。〃
　　〃I　propose　a　toast；〃　spoke　Allard　stolidly；　〃to　Centralba's　esteemed　citizen；　and　former　president；　Professor　Francisco　Peridor。〃
　　If　a　time　bomb　had　dropped　through　the　palace　roof；　to　lie　upon　the　banquet　table；　waiting　to　explode；　the　silence　of　the　startled　guests　could　not　have　been　greater。　The　night　was　warm；　but　they　stood　frozen；　until；　to　their　amazement；　Castenago　raised　his　glass　to　his　lips　in　acknowledgment　of　Allard's　toast。
　　It　was　the　signal　for　all　to　do　the　same；　and　when　the　toast　was　drunk；　it　was　Castenago　who　again　set　the　example；　by　smashing　his　glass　upon　the　floor。
　　There　were　echoing　tinkles　as　other　glasses　fell；　rather　than　were　tossed；　from　numbed　hands。
　　Only　Allard's　glass　remained