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Enrique Moore invited Newton Waverly to breakfast in the Presidential Palace in Panama City. Waverly arrived in a black limousine sent by Moore. An army colonel escorted him to an exquisitely decorated private dining room.
Moor stood up when Waverly was announced, coming around the table to shake hands. His smile was real this morning. "Mr. Waverly, I've been looking forward to this opportunity to talk to you again. I've been doing a bit more thinking since our conversation yesterday, and".....he extended his hand towards the empty chair across from where he'd been sitting---"maybe I owe you an apology."
Waverly accepted a cup of coffee from a silver service offered by one of the many servants hovering about the dining room. "I appreciate your saying so, Mr. Moore, but I'm not sure anything was ever said that needed an apology." From his first impression, Waverly liked Moore, but he was also wary of him, especially when Moore suggested he might join him in Colon this evening.
"No, really, I'm serious." Moore leaned towards Waverly, elbows on the table, hands folded beneath his chin. "You see, the automatic reaction, whenever any American chides us about the Cubans or the Chinese, is negative. And I can promise you it will be the same wherever you go in this country....at least in government circles. It'll take years for our countrymen to accept Americans as friends again, believe me."
"I understood that before I left the States. That's certainly nothing to apologize for." Waverly decided it was time to get along with whatever needed saying before they went on to Colon. It was nice to be polite and start the day off on the right foot, but deference from a man in Moore's position didn't impress him.
Moore's hand rose to stop him. "Yes, there is, Mr. Waverly, and it's time for you to listen to me and try to be"---he stopped for a moment to look for the word---"impartial, if you please. That's how I determined I should be when you were in my office yesterday, and that's how I'd like you to be for just a few minutes now.
"You see," he continued, "I went to President Arosemana's office shortly after you left yesterday. I explained the conversation we had together. I want you to understand that President Arosemana is a good man....a decent man.....and he has his heart in doing what's right for Panama. Each day there are so many events to evaluate, so many decisions to make and so much to take into account in trying to make our poor country a strong country. When I told him of our meeting, at first he got mad. I think he was about to ask me to leave. But he is a very smart man. He stopped right in the middle of a sentence and looked sharply at me. Then he got up from his chair and walked to the window. His lips were moving almost as if he were thinking aloud. Then he turned to me and was smiling. "At this point, Arosemana's face relaxed into a smile as he related the meeting. "He admitted he was tired of Americans telling us how bad our friends are after everything the Americans did to us over the years. But he said he also saw some things that disturbed him during his last trip to Cuba. You see, we expect to see Chinese in the streets of Fortaleza del Pueblo. They've done a great deal for Cuba and it's only common sense that they should be there helping. But he said he also saw patrol boats in Fortaleza del Pueblo Harbor with all Chinese crews, though they flew Cuban flags." Moore's brows rose to emphasize his point. "At one military base, he saw a Chinese infantry company drilling----all Chinese, no Cubans involved at all. He told me of more sights that disturbed him. And what he said next scared me and made me realize what a great man President Arosemana truly is. He said that when a country accepts help from another and continues to keep an open palm out, it eventually finds that the other country is in control----because they're feeding it. In that situation, a man would no longer be his own man. The same is true of a country."
Waverly looked up from his plate as Moore stopped abruptly, but again the man's hand was up for silence so that he could continue.
"You see, Mr Waverly, President Arosemana is also very proud, as are many of my countrymen. We need help, but we will never sell ourselves again, if at all possible. We have watched foreigners run us for too long, and that includes Fortaleza del Pueblo." He nodded emphatically, holding Waverly's eyes with his own. "And more importantly, the People's Republic of China. We will never become another Cuba." He paused for an instant. "So President Arosemana still doesn't like to hear what you have to say, partly because you're an American. But he's uneasy about our Guardia too....about the amount of time the junior officers are spending in Cuba....and about the influence that can develop, just as he has seen it in Fortaleza del Pueblo. You see, we don't want Chinese submarines at our docks, and we don't want Chinese bombers using Torrijos Airport as their home base."
Waverly took a deep breath. He hadn't expected such a change in attitude. "Well.....I'm pleased to hear all this. It wasn't quite what I'd expected...."
"No, it's not. But please don't get me wrong. We want to look into what you say further. He won't commit more troops to Colon because those stationed there seem adequate for what we expect. But he agreed that I join you there..."
"Something happened last night, Mr. Moore, something that may indicate there's more than either of us suspect."
But before he could go on, the other man again interrupted. Moor was used to running people. "I am aware of the problem you found in your apartment last night, Mr Waverly. And so is President Arosemana. You see, there are not too many Americans like you in Panama, except for Mr. Torres, the man whom you found dead in your rooms last night." Waverly was about to say something, but to his surprise, thought better of it.
"The Guardia keeps us informed of such things, especially when they happen around an American in your position....or a charming woman like Miss Cato."
Waverly sat back in his chair, studying Moore. 'I see." It was Harry Locke who'd told him never to say more than was necessary. "But Miss Cato isn't involved in anything I'm doing, believe me." That was something that had to be said.
"I do believe you." Moore saw a faraway look in Waverly's eyes and realized it was a dangerous one. "I know her quite well, Mr. Waverly. But you can be sure that when the two of you are together and a situation like the one last night arises, it's reported. I promise you that the presence of Miss Cato will stay confidential."
"She told me that you two are very good friends. Is that the case from your point of view also?"
Moore nodded. "I have known Cat for years. She's done so much for the economy of Panama that I have the highest respect for her." He smiled again, this time a bit wistfully. "I also envy you, Mr. Waverly. She's a fascinating woman." His fingers drummed unconsciously on the table. "If she's attracted to you as it seems, that's good for you also. You can be sure of that. Your relationship with her will be kept most confidential."
"That's all I could ask of you." Waverly extended his cup for more coffee. "When do we leave for Colon?"
"Late in the day. Before six. I've got a helicopter at my disposal. It's a very short trip, just over the mountains."
"There was a message left by Torres last night before he died. I'm not quite sure what it meant."
Moore's eyebrows rose in question. "I didn't know that."
"It didn't concern the Guardia. It was for me. That's why Torres is dead. It just said 'by sea.' I guess it was why Torres tried to get to me."
"Well, whatever it meant, we'll find out tonight. I've arranged for us to be off the piers in one of our patrol boats. President Arosemana prefers that I not be in the thick of any fighting." He laughed under his breath. "And I must say I agree with him. I like the part of an observer, but I'd hate to be a target."
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