"Agreed," Donaldson said reluctantly.  He was angry because of the foolish restrictions, but pleased that he was getting to hear this.  "Go on."

"Frankly, sir, we're not sure exactly what's going on," Ritter said.

"Oh, so you've sworn me to secrecy so that I can't tell anyone that, again, the CIA doesn't know what the hell is going on?"

"I said we don't know exactly what's happening.  We do know a few things.  Our information comes mainly from the Israelis, and some from the French.  From both channels we have learned that something has gone very wrong with the Soviet Navy."

"I gathered that.  They've lost a sub."

"At least one, but that's not what's going on.  Someone, we think, has played a trick on the operations directorate of the Soviet Northern Fleet.  I can't say for sure, but I think it was the Poles."

"Why the Poles?"

"I don't know for sure that it is, but both the French and Israelis are well connected with the Poles, and the Poles have a long-standing beef with the Soviets.  I do know—at least I think I know—that whatever this is did not come from a Western intelligence agency."

"So, what's happening?" Donaldson demanded.

"Our best guess is that someone has committed at least one forgery, possibly as many as three, all aimed at raising hell in the Soviet Navy—but whatever it was, it's gotten far out of hand.  A lot of people are working hard to cover their asses, the Israelis say.  As a guess, I think they managed to alter a submarine's operational orders, then forged a letter from her skipper threatening to fire his missiles.  The amazing thing is that the Soviets went for it." Ritter frowned.  "We may have it all backwards, though.  All we really know for sure is that somebody, probably the Poles, has played a fantastic dirty trick on the Russians."

"Not us?" Donaldson asked pointedly.

"No, sir, absolutely not!  If we tried something like that—even if we succeeded, which isn't likely—they might try the same thing with us.  You could start a war that way, and you know the president would never authorize it."

"But someone at the CIA might not care what the president thinks."

"Not in my department!  It would be my head.  Do you really think we could run an operation like this and then successfully conceal it?  Hell, Senator, I wish we could."

"Why the Poles, and why are they able to do it?"