"And this Center," said Dhaka. "It's your command post for more than simply spying on Zhanin during these seventy-two hours."

"Very much more than spying," said Dogin.

"But you won't tell us what!" Grovlev huffed. "You want our cooperation but you won't cooperate!"

Dogin said ominously, "You want me to confide in you, Mr. Minister? Fair enough. For the past six months, my man in the Operations Center has been using personnel as well as the electronics that were already installed to watch all of my potential allies as well as my rivals. We've collected a great deal of information about graft, liaisons, and"-- he glared at Grovlev-- "unusual personal interests. I'll be happy to share this information with you collectively or individually, now or later."

Some of the men moved uneasily in their chairs. Grovlev sat rock-still.

"You bastard," Grovlev growled.

"Yes," said Dogin, "I am that. A bastard who will get the job done." The Interior Minister looked at his watch, then walked over to Grovlev and stared down into his narrow eyes. "I must leave now, Minister. I have a meeting with the new President. There are congratulations to tender, some papers for him to sign. But within twelve hours, you'll be able to judge for yourself whether I'm working for vanity, or"-- he pointed to the flag on the monitor-- "for this."

With a nod to the silent assembly, Minister Dogin left the office. His aide in tow, he hurried to a car that would take him to Zhanin and then back here. And alone, with the door closed, he would place the call that would set events in motion that would change the world.

CHAPTER TWO

Saturday, 10:30 A.M., Moscow

Keith Fields-Hutton burst into his room in the newly renovated Rossiya Hotel, tossed his key on the dresser, and ran into the bathroom. On the way, he stooped and grabbed two curled pieces of fax paper that had fallen from the dresser-top machine he'd brought with him.

This was the part of his job he hated the most. Not the danger, which was at times considerable; not the protracted hours of sitting in airports waiting for Aeroflot flights that never came, which was typical; and not the long weeks of being away from Peggy, which were most frustrating of all.

What he hated most were all those goddamn cups of tea he had to drink.