It was rumored that he had over one hundred illegitimate children. The real number was only known to a few in the country's Children's Protection Agency, which secretly passed money to the many women who had slept with Venezuela's dictator. Sergio wondered if he had beaten Bernardo O'Higgins' record.

Hugo finished the coffee and waved his cigar as if to declare the session open.

"I'm not adverse to what you propose, my friend. I need to rattle some sabers against Luis German anyway. A massive troop exercise along the border would make him nervous. I could go to Urena and threaten to annex Santander." He chewed on his cigar a moment. "But what's in it for me? Besides just pissing off Luis German, I mean."

"You're getting old, Hugo. Ten years ago you would have done it just for that."

"Not old, but maybe more foxy. The old fox knows the hounds better, to use a very English metaphor. I'm not sure they fox hunt in England anymore."

"They don't. It's been outlawed for many years."

"They must be overrun by foxes, then."

"Hardly. Global warming killed most of them off."

"Too bad." He chuckled. "You almost sound like one of those fucking liberals from Green Earth Coalition. But, back to business. There has to be something in this for me. Also, what's in it for you?"