"And many of the member republics have nuclear weapons," Dvornikov said. "They were supposed to be deactivated or sent back to Russia, and most of the intercontinental weapons were deactivated, but most of the tactical and battlefield weapons were not. At worst, a nuclear confrontation between Commonwealth states is very likely if one state acts independently of the others. But more likely, the Commonwealth might endorse an invasion of the Baltics in order to prop up its own government. Either way, a nuclear conflict is possible-very possible-if the West gets itself involved. This is not like Iraq and the Persian Gulf War, Sharon Greenfield-the nuclear weapons, and the resolve to use them, truly exist here." Dvornikov stepped closer to Sharon and said, "The United States must not act if there is an invasion of the Baltic states."

Well, there you go, Sharon thought. He's put it on the table. "Is this how it sounded in the conversation between Hitler and Stalin in 1939? 'In exchange for peace and solidarity, you can take Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania~ I will take Czechoslovakia and Hungary...

"Ah, Sharon, that delightful sense of humor I love so well. You haven't lost it in all our years together."

"Get off it, Boris," Greenfield snapped. "I've been here too long already. The information you've given me is very valuable, but we've been monitoring the situation in the Baltics carefully. Your information is nothing but a big 'so what?' What I want is the American at Fisikous. Information on him would be extremely valuable, and direct assistance might buy you an entry visa and green card, courtesy of the CIA. You can go on the lecture circuit and make more than the President of the United States Let me get a person close enough to the American, check him out, and help me set up an extraction, and you can name your price."

"How intriguing," Dvornikov said, "but the lecture circuit sounds dull. Besides, why would I leave my beautiful Russia? The place is falling apart at the seams, and I may be able to put together enough pieces for myself."

She turned to the door. "Fine. Just get me the information I want, Boris, and you'll get whatever you want. You know how to contact me. But make it quick."

After she'd departed, Boris Dvornikov thought about what she had said. Greenfield was so smug in her assumptions, so confident in her position. Well, he would help her with this matter concerning the American at Fisikous. The only question Boris had was, how much and in what manner would he extract payment from the Americans-and from her. He felt a stirring in his loins. Yes, what price will you be, Sharon Green-field? He had wanted that bitch for a very long time. He had tried, but each time she had rejected him. Not merely declined, but made him feel worthless and undesirable.