“Fair enough,” the president said. “Well, Admiral, looks f like you have my 'blessing.' But no one outside this room can ever hear about it. Sid, I want you to get this thing moving immediately with special ops and the armed services.” He checked his watch and got up from his desk. “Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Boy Scout troop coming in from my home state for a Rose Garden ceremony.”

AS THE OVAL Office emptied, Sandecker touched Sparkman's sleeve. “I wonder if I might have a word with you in private.” Sparkman gave him a troubled look. “Sure, why don't we go outside and get some air? We can talk about how to keep the White House liaison with NUMA close to our vest.”

They walked out of the executive mansion to the south portico. Sandecker gazed around the manicured grounds. “Beautiful setting, isn't it?”

“The prettiest sight in all of Washington.”

“A pity you will never get to live here.”

Sparkman laughed, but there was an edge to it. “I have no intention of moving from the naval observatory. Couldn't t afford the heating bills for this place.”

“Don't be modest, Sid. Everyone in Washington knows that you are the heir apparent after this president's term has expired.”

“There's no guarantee I'd be elected or even nominated.” There was something in his tone.

“You're being disingenuous. It's not a sin to have political ambitions.”

“We're all politically motivated in this town, even you.”

“No argument there.” Sandecker swung around to face him. “But my ambitions aren't funded by a Russian madman, Sid. Tell me, what did Razov promise you? And don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. You've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar.”

Sandecker's bluff was convincing. Sparkman looked for a moment like he was going to bluster - and then he caved in completely, his face a mask of misery.

“I was going to get a big cut of the methane hydrates production off the United States. It would have been worth billions,” he said, his voice shaky.

“Now that you've heard the real reason behind those explorations, have you changed your mind?”

“Of course I have! You heard me in the Oval Office. I'm the one who took the hard line. I wanted to go after Razov tooth and nail.”

“I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that if Razov were blown out of the water, your secret would be safe.”

A wan smile crossed Sparkman's lips. “You're not a man known to dillydally, are you, Admiral? All right. What do you want?”

“First of all, I want you to know that if one word of what transpired in the Oval Office this morning gets back to Razov, I'll see that you are pursued by the hounds of hell.”