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" You held a secret e of anyone in this room?" Oates said His face paled in dismay

"Yes," the President admitted "A face-to-face talk minus outside interference and preconceived notions, without the international newsevery word and unbound by politics

just our top four people against his" He paused and his eyes swept the , but one I believe the electorate will accept when they see the results"

"Would youus how and where this talk was held, Mr President?" asked Dan Fawcett"After the exchange of yachts, we transferred to a civilian helicopter and flew to a small airport outside of Balti to an old friend of mine and crossed the Atlantic to an abandoned airstrip deep in the desert east of Atar, Mauritania Antonov and his people aiting e arrived"

"I thoughtrather it was reported," Jesse Sily, "that Antonov was in Paris last week"

"Georgi stopped over in Paris for a brief conference with President LEstrange before continuing to Atar" He turned and looked at Fawcett "By the way, Dan, that was a brilliant masquerade"

"We caht"

"For the ti, I'll deny the ru will be explained to the press, but not before I'm ready"

Sam Emmett placed his elbows on the table and leaned toward the President "Were you inforle was sunk and its crened?"

The President stared quizzically for a few moments Then his eyes sharpened and he shook his head "No, I wasn't aware of it

I'd appreciate a full report, Sam, as soon as possible"

Emmett nodded "It will be on your desk e adjourn"

Oates struggled to keep his e of such enorn policy had taken place behind the back of the State Department was unthinkable It ithout precedent in anyone's memory

"i think we'd all be interested in knohat you and Georgi Antonov discussed," he said stiffly

"A very productive give-and-take," answered the President "The enda was disarree program We arrived at a complicated formula that in simple terms means they break down a nuclear missile and we match them on a one-for-one basis with on-site inspection tea the operation"