to 'Irena.'

With his hand in Consuela's, 'she' demurely minced after 'her' Secretary. 'She' sat where she was directed by Consuela as she straightened 'her' dress. "You're going to have to watch out for Francisco," she said as she redid 'his' makeup, making his eyes gleam with white and pink highlights. "He likes to crush people---to prove he's so much superior to them. He had a funny relationship with Irena. EvenI don't know if he did actually ever love her. She kept him in his place, and he didn't like it. He only likes people around who adore and respect him----which is why I won't last long here, mark my words. Soon, you'll be dealing with the Eagle one to one, and you, girl, will then be very clearly put in your place. You'll learn then, girl, to behave ex- actly as he wishes it. If that's what you want.

Her voice

trailed off as she shrugged and then stepped back to critically examine the 'Irena' face she had refreshed. The arrival of a bored Isabel Ortega, bored with being cooped up in the Presidential rooms with Salluca's men seeing to it that she saw no- one he didn't want her to see ended the warning. Salluca was going to drive her crazy, she

said. She saw how Irena was trembling as Consuela smoothed out her dress and put more perfume on her neck and arms.... but then she thought bitterly what could you expect from a little queen like Esteban Varga?

"She did well again," said Francisco Salluca when they rejoined him in the dining room. "Margoles really does think that Irena is the loveliest woman he has ever seen.

""

"Please," said Consuela, seeing how Irena nervously licked at her bright, shiny mouth, and fidgeted with the bracelets at her wrists. "This is no way to prepare her for a Cabinet meeting. Are you trying to have her give herself

away?"

Salluca shrugged. "We're over the worst of it," he said simply. "If she wants to, she can even miss this meeting entirely."

Consuela was bewildered. "What brought this on?" she asked. "You said she had to attend.

It couldn't wait....." "It's the deal he's worked with the Democrats," said Isabel Ortega with a sneer. "Didn't he tell you that the Democrats are now a part of the Party of the Revolution?"

Consuela gasped as she looked at Salluca. She saw his eyes narrow as he glared at Isabel. Consuela turned to the other feminine figure in the group. "When did this happen?” she asked Irena softly.

"He and Gonzalo worked it out last night," said Irena. She tried to speak in Esteban's voice but it was too difficult. 'She' had spent too long doing nothing else but trying to sound like Irena. Consuela had corrected every slip 'she' had made. And now he could do nothing but speak in a woman's tone. "It will be a split on lots of pro- grams and positions," 'she' said, trying hard to make Esteban's voice come from Irena's mouth. "One will divide up the spoils, the other gets to choose first.

"}

Consuela smiled grimly in understanding. "And the Army?" she asked, thinking how right Ernesto Figueroa had been. Even she, the person most responsible for the beau- tiful 'Irena' who kept the State together, had not been con- sulted.

"Not to be growled Salluca.

touched,"

"Ramon says that the Army's not to be embroiled in politics at this level," Irena said hastily, giving up any attempt to be Esteban while the soft, silky slip quivered about his silk, lacy panties. 'He' could sense every thread it seemed of his frilly garter belt and the tight stockings

-22-

that gripped his legs, but the sense of enjoyment he was getting from the soft sway of the dress against his stockings or the touch of long hair on 'his' earrings or softly veiled shoulders was the most dis- concerting sensation of all. He just wanted to get away from all the politics and the business and go for a walk, in a loose dress, high heels and makeup........ but again his mind went numb at the way the strange thoughts were taking over....it was like his dream, again....and he was in the barn, in his silky under- things, with straw in his long, blonde hair.....and he spun....but he really did have high heels on.....and he was a real girl..... and he wasn't going to wake up.......

It was hard, thought a grim-faced Consuela Romo, as she shepherded the shivering, lovely 'Irena' from the room, finally relinquishing 'her' to the arrogant Salluca, who put his hand under her arm so possess- ively, to reconcile the confident womanly performance 'she' was now giving with her naive state- ments. It was clear to anyone with a brain in their head that Francisco Salluca was in the business of at least changing the Revolution as Consuela and the Party knew it. The way he looked at Irena made it certain, too, that, despite the fact that this was a boy, 'she' was soon going to be Senora Salluca. Consuela's mouth was dry as she saw Salluca put his arm about 'her' waist and lean over to say something into 'her' ear. She saw the girl start as the arm hugged her, saw the fear in the upturned, feminine face, saw 'her' lipsticked mouth tremble, but then turn to a smile at whatever Francisco 'the Eagle' had said. Then 'she' turned to glance over her shoulder at Consuela, as if looking for her approval. But Consuela only grimaced at 'her,' and was pleased to see the girl nervously shake