vousness was very unlike her. Aguilar just wished that he knew all that was going on in that pretty, blonde head.

ALLIES...

"He did very well in there,' said Salluca to Consuela while Isabel and Esteban stayed in the President's dressing room as 'she' changed into a short, cocktail dress for dinner. "He has all Irena's mannerisms. It is still only the voice that gives him away, but our explanations are accepted on that---for

now.

"Please do not refer to her as him" said Consuela grimly. "Not even when there's just us. We must think of Irena as she is a woman. I thought you had noticed that about her this morning when you came for her...'

Salluca laughed. "Those compliments to her beauty?" he asked. He smiled and took out a long, thin cheroot. "You'd be surprised, Consuela, at how I could charm the devil himself if my life was threatened. No, I do not forget what sex the pretty, painted, little boy is. He gives himself away to me in lots of silly gestures.

"So she will then to Ramon Aguilar tonight," Consuela cut in shortly.

Francisco Salluca shrugged. When Ramon had expressed the wish to dine privately with the President after the Junta meet- ing, there was little Salluca could do but persuade Irena to accept. Aguilar had to be cul- tivated, now more than ever. But Salluca had intended to be present, too, a condition he relayed to Aguilar as coming from Irena. Surprisingly, the Chief of Staff had accepted the condition with a quick smile.

"There never was anything

between Irena and Ramon, was there?" he asked Consuela anxiously, a frown between his eyes.

"No," said Consuela de- finitely. "The General was a confidant of Carlos and Ber- nardo." She named the assassin- ated first President of the People's State, and his second-in- command, dead of a heart attack just one year after the seizing of power. "Juan Augusto now, she said with a smile at Salluca's dark, tight face.

The dressing room door opened and two women came into the suite's main reception room. Like other major hotels in the capital, the Lorenzo had many expensive, luxurious - and empty suites. With parts of the Presidential Residence in rubble, Irena had temporarily been moved to the pick of the capi- tal's hotels, with a complete floor all to 'herself.'

'She' was wearing an silk dress, gathered tightly at 'her' slim waist. The dress was square across the neck with golden pins securing the thin shoulder straps at Esteban-Irena's otherwise thin, bare shoulders. On his arms, he wore Irena's well-known, golden 'bangles' as well as, at his neck, her thick, sapphire-studded, ornate, golden necklace, and, at his ears, the heavy, matching earrings. Isabel had piled the long hair of the wig on top of Esteban's head, giving him a very elegant, model-like appearance for 'his' dinner date. His makeup gave a soft, peach- like glow to his face. His eyes, however, were like black holes in his head, so heavily had his eyes been outlined and painted. The smooth, pale skin of his face contrasted vividly to the makeup and to to the slightly

tanned skin of his arms. He wore high heels and stockings, their dark seams showing as 'she' moved gracefully towards the black, brocade purse left for 'her' on a side-table.

The side of 'her' throat was covered by a new bandage, 39

skin-colored, a touch of vanity that was a well-known trait of Irena's personality. That had been Consuela's idea, and she had insisted on the stockings and garter belt. Irena had always worn them for her dinners with her 'men friends.' She had said that they made her feel sexy. Looking at Irena's brother, Con- suela wondered how they made him feel. He certainly had a genuine, Irena 'look,' a с casual but controlled female sexiness, that would have brought Irena to prominence in any field she had chosen.

But, earlier, stripped of the outer, softening, feminine skirts, 'she' had been something to behold, the Presidential successor to the world-renowned Carlos Coronado. ‘She' had stood very patiently, in her padded underwear, frilly garter belt and dark-seamed stockings, while the two women debated over how to make 'her' just attractive enough as a woman to impress 'her date' without overwhelming him. Even with the long, loose hair falling about 'her' taped pectoral muscles, 'she' had not been obviously male - a fact that Consuela had remarked upon smugly intending by that to compliment 'her' on 'her' fem- inizing efforts. She had not ex- pected that such simple words would produce such great agitation.

Now, very controlled 'Irena' picked up 'her' decorated purse and turned with a slight sway on 'her' high heels to face them, 'her' creators. The preda- tory looks on the faces of the three, like hungry watchdogs about to charge, frightened him for a moment, but Esteban steadied himself as the dress and slip brushed lightly between his legs. "I'm ready," he said, partly catching the tone and inflections that Consuela had been trying to imprint upon his speech.

"Yes," breathed Consuela, her face breaking into a de- lighted smile. "You sure are,