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"Hear, hear"

Sandecker then relaxed on a folding chair, sipped at his scotch, and idly wondered which of the overnment

53

Soviet General Secretary Georgi Antonov sucked on his pipe with short, violent puffs and regarded Prevlov with a pensive gaze

"I "

"We have carefully considered every avenue, and this is the only one left open to us," Prevlov said

"It's fraught with danger I fear the Americans will not take the theft of their precious byzaniu down"

"Once it is in our hands, Comrade Secretary, it will make no difference how loudly the Americans scream The door will have been slammed in their faces"

Antonov folded and unfolded his hands A large portrait of Lenin floated on the wall behind him "There must be no international repercussions It h ere entirely within our rights"

"This time the American president will have no recourse International law is on our side"

"It will mean the end of what used to be called détente," Antonov said heavily

"It will alsoof the end of the United States as a superpower"

"A cheerful conjecture, Captain; I appreciate that" His pipe had gone out and he relit it, filling the room with a sweet aromatic odor "However, should you fail, the Americans will be in the same position to say the same of us"

"We will not fail"

"Words," Antonov said "A good lawyer plans the prosecutor's case as well as his own What measures have you taken in the event of an unavoidable mishap?"