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was Fidel’s
    most trusted lieutenant, one of his inner circle.
    Three years older than Hector, he had lived
    and breathed Castro’s revolution all his life,
    willingly standing in the great man’s shadow. Those days
    were about over, and Maximo’s friends whispered that he was
    readyhe wanted
    more.
    That was the general street gossip that Garcia heard,
    and like most gossip, he thought it probably had a
    kernel of truth inside.
    For his part, Maximo probably thought his only
    serious rival was Alejo Vargas. He was going
    to get a bad shock in the near future.
    And then there were the exiles. God only knew what
    those fools would do when Fidel breathed his last.
    Yes, indeed, when Fidel died the fireworks would
    begin.
    Hector Sedano was taking the last few puffs on
    his cigar when his youngest brother, El Ocho, climbed
    the bleachers. Ocho settled onto a bench in front
    of Hector and leaned back so that he could rest his
    feet on the bench in front of him.
    “You played well tonight. The home run was a
    thing of beauty.”
    “It’s just a game.”
    “And you play it well.”
    Ocho snorted. “Just a gameea”…he repeated.
    “All of life is a gameea”…his older brother
    told him, and ground out his cigar. .
    “Was that Mercedes I saw talking to you earlier?”
    “She is here for
    Mima’s
    birthday.”
    Ocho nodded. He seemed to gather himself before he
    spoke again.
    “My manager, Diego Coca, wants me to go
    to the United States.”
    Hector let that statement lie there. Sometimes Ocho
    said outrageous things to get a reaction. Hector
    had quit playing that game years ago.
    “Diego says I could play in the major
    leagues.”
    “Do you believe him?”"
    Ocho turned toward his older brother and closest
    friend. “Diego is a dreamer. I look good playing
    this game because the other players are not so good. The
    pitch I hit out tonight was a belt-high fastball right
    down the middle. American major league
    pitchers don’t throw stuff like that because all those guys
    can hit it.”
    “Could you pitch there?”
    “In Cuba my fastball is a little faster than
    everyone else’s. My curve breaks a little more. In
    America all the pitchers have a good fastball and
    breaking ball. Everyone is better.”
    Hector laughed. “So you aren’t interested in going
    to America and getting rich, like your uncle
    Tomas”…”…Tomas had defected ten years ago
    while a team of baseball stars was on a trip
    to Mexico City. He now owned five drycleaning
    plants in metropolitan Miami. Oh, yes,
    Tomas was getting rich!
    “I’m not good enough to play in the big leagues.
    Diego tells me I am. I think he believes
    it. He wants me to go, take him with me, sign a
    big contract. I’m his chance.”
    “He wants to go with you?”
    “That’s right.”
    “On a boat?”
    “He says he knows a man who has a boat.
    He can take us to Florida, where people will be waiting.”
    “You believe that?”
    “Diego does. That is what is
    important.”
    “You owe Diego a few hours of sweat on the
    baseball field, nothing else.”
    STEPHEN COONTS
    Ocho didn’t reply. He lay back on his
    elbows and wiggled his feet.
    “Why don’t you tell me all of it”…”…Hector
    suggested gently.
    Ocho didn’t look at him. After a bit he said,
    “I got Diego’s daughter pregnant. Dora,
    the second one.”
    “He knows this?”
    Ocho nodded affirmatively.
    “So marry the girl. This is an embarrassment, not
    dishonor. My God,
    Mima
    was pregnant when Papa married her! Welcome
    to the world, Ocho. And congratulations.”
    “Diego is the
    girl’s father.”
    “I will talk to himea”…Hector said. “You are both
    young, with hot blood in your veins. Surely he will
    understand. I will promise him that you will do the right thing by this
    girl. You will stand up with her in church, love her,
    cherish her….”
    “Diego wants the best for her, for the baby, for
    me.”
    “For himself.”
    “And for himself, yes. He wants us to go on his