"Isn't it possible they do have help? From a group that is a little more involved than usual?" "The SFF," Herbert said.

"Why not? That could be the reason they wanted the bazaar sealed and the Black Cats kept out," Rodgers said.

Herbert thought for a moment.

"It's possible," he agreed.

"But it's also possible we're getting ahead of ourselves."

"Better than being behind," Rodgers pointed out.

"Touche," Herbert said.

"Look. Let's see what Ron Friday and his partner turn up in the morning.

I'll bring Paul up to date and let you know when we have anything else."

"Sure," Rodgers said.

"But while we're getting ahead of ourselves let's go one step further."

"All right," Herbert said tentatively.

"Striker is going in to Pakistan to look for nukes," Rodgers said.

"What if we don't find very many or even none at all?

Suppose the Indian government authorized the Srinagar attack just to rouse their population and pick a fight. A tight Pakistan cannot possibly win."

"You think they'll respond with a nuclear strike?" Herbert said.

"Why not?" Rodgers asked.

"The world wouldn't stand for it!" Herbert replied.

"What would the world do?" Rodgers asked.

"Go to war against India? Fire missiles on New Delhi? Would they impose sanctions? What kind? To what end? And what would happen when hundreds of thousands of Indians started to starve and die? Bob, we're not talking about Iraq or North Korea. We're talking about one billion people with the fourth largest military in the world. Nearly a billion Hindus who are afraid of becoming the victims of a Muslim holy war."

"Mike, no nation on earth is going to condone a nuclear strike against Pakistan," Herbert said.

"Period." "The question is not condoning," Rodgers said.

"The question is how do you respond if it happens. What would we do alone?"

"Alone?" "More or less," Rodgers said.

"I'm betting Moscow and Beijing wouldn't complain too loud, for starters. India nuking Pakistan leaves Moscow free to slam whichever republics they want with a limited nuclear strike. No more long wars in Afghanistan or Chechnya. And China probably wouldn't bitch too loud because it gives them a precedent to move on Taiwan." "They wouldn't,"

Herbert said.

"It's insane."

"No, it's survival," Rodgers said.

"Israel's got a nuclear strike plan ready in case of a united Arab attack. And they'd use it, you know that. What if India has the same kind of plan? And with the same very powerful justification, I might add. Religious persecution." Herbert said nothing.

"Bob, all I'm saying is that it's like the house that Jack built,"

Rodgers said.

"One little thing leads to another and then another. Maybe it's not those things, but it's nothing good."

"No, it is nothing good," Herbert agreed.

"I still think we're overreacting but I'll get back to you as soon as we know anything. Meantime, I have just one suggestion."

"What's that?" Rodgers asked.

"Make sure you sleep on the flight to India," Herbert said.