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cture of what will happen when the senator stops throwing his weight in support of presidential policies and starts opposing them。〃
Fawcett was shrewd enough to recognize an ambush looming in the distance。 He pushed himself back from the desk； clasped his hands and stared at them for a few moments。 Then he stood and walked toward the hallway。
〃e with me； Admiral。 The President is in a meeting with Defense Secretary Jess Simmons。 They should be wrapping up about now。〃
Sandecker waited outside the Oval Office while Fawcett entered； pardoned himself； and spoke a few whispered words to the President。 Two minutes later Jess Simmons came out and exchanged a friendly greeting with the admiral； followed by Fawcett； who motioned for him to e in。
The President came from behind his desk and shook Sandecker's hand。 His face was expressionless； his body loose and posed； and his intelligent eyes locked on the hard； burning stare of his visitor。
He turned to Fawcett。 〃Would you please excuse us； Dan？ I'd like to speak with Admiral Sandecker privately。〃
Wordlessly Fawcett stepped out and closed the door behind him。 The President gestured toward a chair and smiled。 〃Why don't we sit down and relax。〃
〃I'd rather stand；〃 Sandecker said flatly。
〃As you wish。〃 The President eased into an overstuffed armchair and crossed his legs。 〃I'm sorry about Pitt and the others；〃 he said without preamble。 〃No one meant for it to happen。〃
〃May I respectfully ask what in hell is going on？〃
〃Tell me something； Admiral。 Would you believe that when I asked for your cooperation in sending out a crew on the blimp it went far beyond a mere hunt for a missing person？〃
〃Only if there was a solid explanation to back you up。〃
〃And would you also believe that besides looking for her husband； Mrs。 LeBaron was part of an elaborate deception to open a direct line of munication between myself and Fidel Castro？〃
Sandecker stared at the President； his anger momentarily placed on hold。 The admiral was not awed in the least by the nation's leader。 He had seen too many Presidents e and go； seen too many of their human frailties。 He could not think of one he'd have set on a pedestal。
〃No； Mr。 President； I can't buy that；〃 he said； his tone sarcastic。 〃If my memory serves me； you have a very capable Secretary of State in Douglas Oates； who is backed by an occasionally efficient State Department。 I'd have to say they're better equipped to municate with Castro through existing diplomatic channels。〃
The President smiled wryly。 〃There are times negotiations between unfriendly countries must deviate from normal standards of statesmanship。 Surely； you must believe that。〃
〃I do。〃
〃You don't involve yourself with politics； matters of state； Washington social parties； cronies or cliques； do you； Admiral？〃
〃That's right。〃
〃But if I gave you an order； you'd obey it。〃
〃Yes； sir； I would；〃 Sandecker replied without hesitation。 〃Unless； of course； it was illegal； immoral； or unconstitutional。〃
The President considered that。 Then he nodded and held out his hand toward a chair。 〃Please； Admiral。 My time is limited； but I'll briefly explain what's going down。〃 He paused until Sandecker was seated。 〃Now then。 。 。
〃Five days ago a highly classified document written by Fidel Castro was smuggled out of Havana to our State Department。 Basically it was a proposal for paving the way for positive and constructive relations between Cuba and America。〃
〃What's so startling about that？〃 Sandecker asked。 〃He's been angling for closer ties since President Reagan kicked his ass out of Grenada。〃
〃True；〃 the President acknowledged。 〃Until now the only agreement we've reached over the bargaining table was a deal raising immigration quotas for dissident Cubans ing to America。 This new stance； however； went way beyond。 Castro wants our help in throwing off the Russian yoke。〃
Sandecker looked at him； skeptical。 〃Castro's hatred of the U。S。 is an obsession。 Why； hell； he still holds rehearsals for an invasion。 The Russians aren't about to be shoved out。 Cuba represents their only toehold in the Western Hemisphere。 Even if they suffered from a moment of madness and yanked their support； the island would sink in an economic quagmire。 Cuba can't possibly stand on its own feet； it doesn't have the resources。 I wouldn't buy Fidel's act if Christ himself applauded。〃
〃The man is mercurial；〃 admitted the President。 〃But don't underestimate his intentions。 The Soviets are buried in their own economic quagmire。 The Kremlin's paranoia against the outside world has driven their military budget to astronomical heights they can no longer afford。 Their citizens' standard of living is the worst of any industrialized nation。 Their agricultural harvests； industrial goals； and oil exports have all fallen into the cellar。 They've lost the means to continue pumping massive aid to the Eastern bloc countries。 And in Cuba's situation； the Russians have reached a point where they're demanding more while supplying less。 The days of the billion…dollar aid grants； soft loans； and cheap arms supplies have passed。 The free ride is over。〃
Sandecker shook his head。 〃Still； if I were in Castro's shoes； I'd consider it a bad trade。 There is no way Congress would vote billions of dollars to subsidize Cuba； and the island's twelve million people could barely exist without imported goods。〃
The President glanced at the clock on the mantel。 〃I've only got another couple of minutes。 Anyway； Castro's greatest fear doesn't e from economic chaos or a counterrevolution。 It es from the slow； steady creep of Soviet influence into every corner of his government。 The people from Moscow chip off a little here； steal a little there； waiting patiently to make the right moves until they can dominate the government and control the country's resources。 Only now has Castro awakened to the fact that his friends in the Kremlin are attempting to steal the country out from under him。 His brother； Raul； was stunned when he became alerted to the heavy infiltration of his officer corps by fellow Cubans who had shifted their loyalty to the Soviet Union。〃
〃I find that surprising。 The Cubans detest the Russians。 Their viewpoints on life don't mix at all。〃
〃Certainly Cuba never intended to bee a Kremlin pawn； but since the revolution thousands of Cuban students have studied in Russian universities。 Many； rather than return home and work in a job dictated by the state； a job they might hate or which could lead to a dead end； were swayed by subtle Russian offerings of prestige and money。 The canny ones； who placed their future above patriotism； secretly renounced Castro and swore allegiance to the Soviet Union。 You have to give the Russians credit。 They kept their promises。 Using their influence over the Cuban government； they wove their new subjects into positions of power。〃
〃Castro is still revered by the Cuban people；〃 said Sandecker。 〃I can't see how they could stand by and watch him totally subjugated by Moscow。〃
The President's expression turned grave。 〃The very real threat is that the Russians will assassinate the Castro brothe