Juan made a gesture to Linc that said, Can you believe this guy, and replied, “Because I very much doubt the Americans will be sporting enough to attack during the day, and what looks like cover when it’s bright may not be so good in the dark.”

With that, Juan shoulder-bumped the guy as he passed, and he and Linc moved on without a backward glance. When they were out of sight behind the rounded corner of a dormitory, Juan did look back and saw their interrogator had vanished.

Linc chuckled. “My Spanish may be rusty, but that sure sounded like a line of the purest bull I have ever heard.”

“I was just telling Max that the more outrageous the lie, the more likely it’ll be believed.”

Because the facility was designed to be camouflaged from satellite observation, it was not laid out in a neat, efficient grid. It wasn’t until they were at the very southern edge of the base, near where Linc had earlier spotted a hidden SAM battery, that they saw a lone building on stilts shaped like an igloo lozenge. Light spilled from the window in front, but the rest were darkened.

They climbed the steps. Juan opened the outer door, and he and Linc stepped into a vestibule lined with pegs on the wall for parkas and racks for overboots. Neither man made to remove their clothing, and they just casually opened the door into the structure. Two soldiers were on their feet, both with pistols drawn. They had heard the outer door open and close and were on alert. When they saw it was two soldiers wearing Argentine gear, they relaxed. The room had all the charm and ambiance of a broken-down trailer.

“What are you guys doing here? We’ve got duty until twenty-two hundred hours.”

“Sorry. We’re not here to relieve you,” Juan said. “We were sent to look for the Major. Has he been around?”

“Espinoza was here checking on our prisoners about two hours ago.” The guard gestured to a locked door behind him. “Haven’t seen him since.”

Now Juan had a name to go along with the face. “Okay, thanks.” They turned to go.

“Hold on. Who is that under there, Ramón?”

Bold as brass he said, “No, Juan Cabrillo.”

“Who?”

“Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. I just transferred into Ninth Brigade from MI.” Meaning military intelligence, meaning, I’m probably an officer so you’d better cut your questions short.

“Yes, sir,” the trooper said, swallowing hard. “If I see Major Espinoza, I’ll be sure to tell him you’re looking for him.”

It was difficult to put menace in his voice because he was so bundled up, but Juan managed when he said, “Best if this discussion didn’t take place, Private. Understood?”

“Sir. Yes, sir.”

Linc and Cabrillo returned to the blistering-cold night, where the stars shone so brightly that the surrounding ice glowed. “Bingo,” Linc said.