bunker of the Presidential Resi- dence, however, was invulnerable to all but nuclear explosives, and some predicted that they might even survive that. Salluca seemed little worried by the attack. A call from the Revolutionary Air Force H. Q. further enlivened his spirits. "We shot down twelve for sure over the capital with missiles," he gloated. "And now the fighters have engaged Boca's remnants.'

"

Only Esteban-Irena seemed to understand what the Vice- President was saying. "Y-You let them attack w-without the fighters trying to stop them," 'she' blurted out. The Eagle was visibly visibly startled by the comment. He looked in surprise at Irena's replica.

""

"That's right," he said slowly. "Now the people know who their real enemies are." Yes, thought Esteban, if they could hear this conversation, they would. "We don't leave the capital totally defenseless,' Salluca went on quickly, sensing the disapproval from all the females in the bunker. “We can't use missiles and fighters together over the city. Missiles cannot distinguish our planes from theirs."

"But you make no effort to intercept them before they reach the city." Esteban's voice per- sisted from his sister's shining pink lips.

Salluca was both shaken and annoyed. "What do you know about such things?" he asked harshly. "The Junta has fully endorsed the defense plans set up by the Air Force." Con- suela realized that Salluca was too overcome by Irena's appear- ance to realize that this was not the true one, but only a foolish boy. Esteban could not possibly know the inner workings of the Junta, or how hard Francisco Salluca had worked to push the Air Force's plan through that body. And the real Irena, of course, had been the most skep- tical of all at Salluca's plan.

Surely he wasn't starting to think that Esteban could really be more than a stop-gap for a woman, she thought indignantly. 'She' didn't have to be trained or argued with. But Salluca was going on. "We have only suffi- cient forces to defend military targets, or to attack in circum- stances where there is no like- lihood of excessive loss. We must also preserve sufficient reserves to repel the main in- vasion forces in El Chaco."

Even Consuela started in surprise. "We have been in- vaded!" Isabel was the first to find her voice.

Grimly, Salluca nodded. "Terencia and the northern part of El Chaco have been overrun by Boca's forces." His tone was bleak.

"What's the Army doing?" Consuela was aghast. "Why are you keeping this information from the people? From us?"

Salluca shrugged. “It takes time to mobilize," he grunted. "Particularly when we've concentrated our men against an internal uprising. Boca took us by surprise. But there is a battle raging at Ciudad Domingo, at Northern Headquarters. planes are in action there trying to slow down the reactionaries' advance."

Our

And well they might, thought Consuela, for Ciudad Domingo was at least forty miles inside the border. Salluca was going on, "General Aguilar has asked that Irena announce the invasion to the people, even though there are several clan- destine radios broadcasting already for the reactionary cause. It is her duty President to try to rally the people to the Revolution." He stared steadfastly at Consuela.

as

"But she can't," objected Consuela. "Her voice.'

"You must bandage her throat," said Salluca, eyeing Esteban warily. "I'll precede her and explain how she was in- jured in the bombing. She can

30

croak off a few sentences and I'll finish it off.”

Fear shrouded Esteban's large brown eyes. "N-No," he began. "Yes, of course," said Consuela levelly. "It's the only way to explain the voice. We'll have to make the telecast quite brief. Do you think we could get away with a recording?" The last was addressed to Salluca, who shook his head. "No, of course not. We have to let everyone know, especially the members of the Junta, that Irena still lives."

"Why?" asked Isabel, puz- zlement in her voice.

Consuela and Salluca ex- changed glances. After a short, uncomfortable silence, it was Salluca who spoke. "Whoever sent out the assassin was aware not only of Irena's timetable for that day, but also of the special passwords employed by our bodyguards. They also knew where this bunker is located." "She was killed down here?" Isabel shuddered as she looked about at the dull grey, concrete walls.

"Yes," said Salluca grimly. "By a hired gun, an American. We'd used him ourselves before. We caught him as he was leaving through the inner door. We don't believe he had time to contact his employer before my guards shot him down."

Isabel looked shrewdly at the Eagle, showing no alarm. "So, you want to show the assassin's boss that he missed and he should try again.'

""

"No," Salluca said, stepping over to the door, his hand resting on the knob. "We are more viligant now, and we know that Irena's assassination had to be directed from someone within the Junta." He wrenched open the door, receiving a re- spectful glance from the large uniformed guard positioned there. "We'll get the right person now that we know the direction the attack is coming from," he