Eisenhower waited silently until Wallacehad finished. There was a frustrated look on the President's face, then he readquickly through the file himself. When he had finished he closed it with aheavy sigh.

"It seems like we've landedourselves one big mess, haven't we?"

"It's pretty bad, sir," Dullesagreed.

Eisenhower sat down and said.quickly,"OK, first things first. Has the team gone yet?"

"No, sir."

Eisenhower sighed. "Thank God forthat. If there's one thing I've learned, it's when you're in a hole you stopdigging. At this stage, we can't be absolutely certain Moscow will know exactlywhat's going on, but if there's a risk of that, then the obvious answer is forus to abort the whole operation. It's a , damned pity. The way things are goingwith us and Moscow I had hoped your people stood a chance, however slim."Dulles went to speak again but Eisenhower put up a hand. "Let me worryabout the Soviets if they do start making noises, diplomatically, about thisman Akashin. For now, we'll just have to wait and see what develops." Heshook his head resignedly. "But God only knows where it's going to lead ifyou're right. So where's Massey?"

The Assistant Director lookeduncomfortable. "Sir, despite what's developed, we know he's flown toFinland for the final stage of the mission, but we don't know exactly where inFinland he is."

Eisenhower stared over at Dulles. "Ithought you said the operation hasn't started yet?"

"We can really only assume that, Mr.President, because we haven't received the "Go' code. As you know, theoperation was entirely run on Massey's discretion. We provided a rough plan, atemplate if you like, and Massey filled in the details. One of our instructionsto Massey was that we receive a signal from him when the operation proceeded tothe final and imminent stage, by that I mean just before he was ready to drophis people. It was to give us a chance to cancel the operation if we so wished.So far, that hasn't happened. And considering the fact that Massey hasn'tinformed us of his problems at the base, we can't be certain he will signal thecode."

"Jesus ... this gets worse by theminute."

"There are also several otherfactors at play that would suggest the operation hasn't yet becomeactive."

"Such as?"

"We believe Massey left Boston thenight before last with the two people on a scheduled flight to London, and fromthere onto Stockholm and Helsinki. Going by the schedule he used, that meanshe'd have arrived in Helsinki within the last fourteen hours, Washington time.We've had the immigration departments of those countries contacted as a matterof urgency and we've verified that the false passports supplied by our SovietDivision were used. The Finnish authorities also confirm Massey and his teamlanded in Helsinki yesterday evening. But because of the weather, our belief isthat Massey won't carry out the drop until tonight." Eisenhower saidquietly, "Then how in hell do we contact him "Like I said, contactwas left at his discretion. That's what we agreed. It would distance us if itwent wrong. Massey was simply distracted, to get in touch if there wereproblems, and to call a Washington number with the "Go' code." TheAssistant Director swallowed. "Sir, we can only assume he's still intenton going ahead with the plan, for whatever personal reasons he mighthave."

Is the man dumb or crazy? I thought Yousaid he was one of the best we had?"

"He is the best, said Mr. Dulles heworked with me in Europe during the war and I can attest to that. And I can'timagine what's made him behave so unprofessionally."

The Assistant Director shifteduncomfortably in his chair and Eisenhower stood up. He was angry, his facewhiter than ever, the eyes dark and narrow.

"The only chance of success thisthing stood was if it remained covert. That's plainly now not the case. Fromwhat you've told me, Moscow may already have a hint something's in the wind. Ifthese two people make it onto Soviet soil and they're captured, there's onlyone outcome for us. And that's @ possible disaster. I think we all know how theRussians would respond once they have the evidence."

Eisenhower looked around. "We're notjust talking about a cause for a war, Gentlemen. We're talking about the war.We're talking about a Soviet response that could put us back twenty years. theycan march into West Berlin and anywhere else in goddamned Europe on thepretense that it's now a question of necessity or retaliation. We're talkingabout the greatest potential disaster that could ever hit this country and ourAllies."

Dulles looked back at Eisenhoweruncertainly. "Mr. President, needless to say, we're doing everything wecan to locate Massey. But as you'll appreciate, because our take on thesensitive nature of this situation, we'll need our own people on the ground inFinland. Branigan here has already assembled a team and they're on their way.There's a jet aircraft waiting at Andrews. As soon as he's through here, he'llbe on it to connect with his team in Finland. But we'll need your interventionwith the US Embassy in Helsinki to ask their complete cooperation as well asthat of the Finns, if necessary."

Eisenhower took a deep breath and let itout in a long, worried sigh. "That's valuable time, gentlemen. Whathappens if you're too late? Where in hell does that leave us?"

"With respect, Mr. President, we canstill locate and stop them," said Branigan.

"Then for God'@, sake tell mehow?"

"It's a question of timing,"Branigan explained. "Most operations into Russia and the Baltic areweather-dependent. If the weather's good, the CIA never drop by air because theRussian radar can easily track our aircraft. The report Massey was shownrecommends an air drop for the penetration into the Baltic area and I'm certainthat's the way he'll do it. He'll most likely need a local pilot, someone withexperience of flying in Russian airspace. We've checked the weather report forthe region. It suggests a bad snowstorm moving in from the northeast Baltic areatonight, that's eight P.M. Helsinki time. "That's around the most likelytime Massey's people would go, which gives US some leeway. With enough manpowerwe could find them before that happens. And with the cooperation of the Finnsand their air force we could make it impossible for Massey's team to make thecrossing. With enough of their aircraft patrolling the area, they could makesure the plane doesn't get anywhere near its destination."

"You mean blow it out of thesky?"

"If necessary."

Eisenhower looked around at each of thethree men in turn. The steel that was always just beneath the surface of thefriendly blue eyes showed itself immediately.

"Then I don't care how, but I wantit done. I want Massey and the others found. Found or stopped any which way youcan. Even if it means their deaths. An unpleasant thought, gentlemen.considering they're brave people, but the consequences are far too threateningotherwise. You all understand that?"

The three visitors nodded in turn.

Eisenhower's face was still pale as helooked at his wristwatch to end the meeting. His gaze shifted back to Dulles.

"Make whatever arrangements you haveto. Needless to say I want the clamps on this. And I want holy reports untilthis thing is through. Just make sure you stop them, understood?"

"Yes, Sir, Mr. President."

Finland. February 23rd Stanski parked theVolvo along the Helsinki sea front and they took a train the rest of the wayinto the city. Lights were still on everywhere and they strolled around the oldharbor market and the cathedral square for half an hour before finding a smallrestaurant on the Esplanadi main boulevard.