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Now, just past ten o'clock, with one more unpleasant involve a drink in his right hand while his left scratched the long ears of his sad-eyed basset hound

Warren Nicholson, the director of the CIA, and Marshall Collies, his chief Kree sectional sofa

The President took a sip froriuest notion of what you're asking of me?"

Collies shrugged nervously "Quite frankly, sir, we don't But this is clearly a case of the end justifying the means I personally think Nicholson here has one hell of a sche The payoff in ter less than astonishing"

"It will cost a heavy price," the President said

Nicholson leaned forward "Believe me, sir, the cost is worth it"

"That's easy for you to say," the President said "Neither of you has the slightest hint as to what the Sicilian Project is all about"

Collies nodded "No argument there, Mr President Its secret is well kept That's why it cah the KGB instead of our own security forces"

"How much do you think the Russians know?"

"We can't be absolutely certain at this point," Nicholson answered, "but the few facts we have in hand indicate the KGB possesses only the code name"

"Darily "How could it have possibly leaked out?"

"I'd venture to guess that it was an accidental leak," Collies said "My people in Moscoould sht they were onto an ultrasecret American defense project"

The President looked at Collies "What makes you sure it has to do with defense?"

"If security surrounding the Sicilian Project is as tight as yo

u suggest, then a new es as the obvious theory And there is no doubt in my mind that the Russians will soon come up with the same conclusion"