The Honor of Spies

That wasn't a lie either. It was just making a wholly decent woman believe something that's not true.

"Of course," Claudia said.

"And why this can't go any further than this room," Welner pursued.

"I understand," Claudia said. "Would you and Cletus like me to leave, Father?"

"As far as I'm concerned, Claudia, you're welcome to stay. But that decision is really Cletus's to make; he has the responsibility on his shoulders."

And again: You really are good!

What did Nervo say? "Holy Mother Church--and especially Jesuits like Welner--has been in our business much longer than we have and is much better at it than we are."

What Welner's saying indirectly is: "Since Cletus has the responsibility on his shoulders, that makes me nothing more than a simple priest trying to do God's work.

"Smuggling people out of Europe and into Argentina is handled by people with dirty hands, like Cletus.

"Who, although pretty stupid by comparison, is smart enough to know he can't ask you to leave. That would hurt you, piss you off, and he knows he can't do that."

Well, Clete, it's back to "When in doubt, tell the truth."

Frade said: "Claudia, I would have preferred not to involve you in this. But the cow seems to have gotten out of the barn. However, if you leave now, everyone in this room will forget you were ever here."

"Are you telling me to leave?" Claudia challenged, then before he had a chance to reply, went on: "Like your father, you can at times be truly stupid. Of course I'm staying. I want to help."

"Thank you, Claudia," Father Welner said.

"You didn't really think I was going to leave, did you?" Claudia asked. "You know me better than that, Father!"

Frade said: "The fewer people who know about this, Claudia, the better."

"You didn't have to tell me that," she snapped. "My God!"

"Sorry," Clete said.

"So, what happens now?" Claudia asked. "How can I help?"

"Well, as soon as Sister Whatshername and Enrico get back with the clothes, we're going to fly to Casa Montagna."

"Sister Maria Encarnacion," Sister Maria Isabel corrected him icily.

Welner began: "Cletus, I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to do, or how to do it . . ."

"But?"

"Wouldn't it be better to wait until after we get your guests' papers in order?" He turned to Claudia and explained, "Father Pedro has an understanding and discreet friend in the Interior Ministry who's going to provide National Identity booklets for Cletus's guests."

"You better wait until that's done," Claudia agreed, "before you go to Mendoza."

Was that an order, Claudia? It sure sounded like one.

Claudia looked at Father Silva. "How long is that going to take, Father Pedro?"

"About twelve hours after I give my friend the photographs," the priest said. "I have a camera, but I think we should wait until we have the proper clothing."

"Clete?" Schultz asked.

He might as well have popped to attention and said, "Sir, permission to speak?"

Frade motioned for him to go on.

"What kind of photos do we need, Father?"

The priest answered by taking a National Identity booklet from his pocket and showed it to him.

"For women," the priest said, "there is the Libreta Civica. A little smaller, but you get the idea. My friend will provide both."

"In other words, all that's holding us up is the regular clothes?" Schultz asked.

"That and the names to go on the documents," Father Welner said.

"Dorotea," Schultz said, "we can come up with clothes--good enough for ID pictures--for the men. Can you get some clothing for the women and the kids?"

"Not a problem," Dorotea said.

"You have any preference for your new names, Strubel?" Frade asked.

"I think it would be best if we used the Spanish translation of the Christian names," Strubel replied immediately. "And Strubel, if you have no objection, could become Moller, and Niedermeyer, Kortig. Similarly, I would suggest retaining the dates of birth. I am presuming we will all have been born here in Argentina."

He just didn't pull that out of thin air. He's given it some thought.

Why not? He's a professional.