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en it's just a matter of taking the shot。 A pistol is easily concealed in loose clothing。 The people there are not screened or searched in any way。 No； rades； this plan is the best we can establish…unless you would have us dispatch a platoon of Spetsnaz soldiers into the Vatican Apartments。 That would obviously work； but the origin of such an operation would be impossible to conceal。 This mission； if it es off； depends only on two people； only one of whom will survive； and who will almost certainly escape cleanly。〃
〃How reliable are the participants？〃 the Chairman of the Party Control mission asked。
〃The Bulgarian officer has personally killed eight men； and he has good contacts within the Turkish criminal munity； from which he will select our assassin。〃
〃A Turk？〃 the Party man asked。
〃Yes； a Muslim；〃 Andropov confirmed。 〃If the operation can be blamed on a Turkish follower of Mohammed； so much the better for us。 Correct？〃
〃It would not hurt our purposes；〃 the Foreign Minister confirmed。 〃In fact； it might well have the effect of making Islam look more barbaric to the West。 That would cause America to increase its support for Israel； and that would annoy the Muslim countries from whom they buy their oil。 There is an elegance to it all； which appeals to me； Yuriy。〃
〃So； the plexity of the operation is entirely limited to its consequences；〃 Marshal Ustinov observed； 〃and not to the undertaking itself。〃
〃Correct； Dmitriy；〃 Andropov confirmed。
〃What are the chances that this operation might be linked to us？〃 asked the Ukrainian Party Secretary。
〃If all we leave behind is a dead Turk； connections will be very difficult to establish；〃 the KGB Chairman replied。 〃This operation has no name。 The number of people involved is less than twenty； and most of them are in this room； right here。 There will be no written records。 rades； the security of this operation will be absolute。 I must insist that none of you speak about this to anyone。 Not your wives； not your private secretaries； not your political advisers。 In that way； we can ensure against leaks。 We must remember that the Western intelligence services are always trying to discover our secrets。 In this case； that cannot be allowed to happen。〃
〃You should have limited this discussion to the Defense Counsel；〃 Brezhnev thought aloud。
〃Leonid Ilyich； I thought of that；〃 Andropov responded。 〃But the political implications of this matter mand attention by the entire Politburo。〃
〃Yes； I can see that；〃 the General Secretary agreed with a nod。 What he did not see was that Andropov had carefully followed this course so as not to be seen as an adventurer by the men who would someday soon elect him to his own head chair。 〃Very well； Yuriy。 I cannot object to that；〃 Brezhnev said thoughtfully。
〃It's still a dangerous thing to contemplate；〃 said the Secretary of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic。 〃I must say that I am not entirely fortable with this plan。〃
〃Gregoriy Vasil'yevich；〃 the Ukrainian Party boss responded； 〃about Poland…if their government falls； there will be consequences for me that I do not find attractive。 Nor should you；〃 he warned。 〃If this Pole returns home； the results could be ruinous to all of us。〃
〃I understand that； but murder of a chief of state is nothing to be undertaken lightly。 I think we ought to warn him first。 There are ways to get his attention。〃
The Minister for Foreign Affairs shook his head。 〃I've already said it…a waste of time。 Men like this do not understand what death is。 We could threaten his church members in the Warsaw Pact； but that would probably only have the opposite effect of what we desire。 It would give us the worst of all worlds； the consequences of attacking the Roman Church without the option of eliminating this troublesome churchman。 No。〃 He shook his head。 〃If it is to be done； then it must be done properly； decisively； and speedily。 Yuriy Vladimirovich； how long to acplish this mission？〃
〃Colonel Rozhdestvenskiy？〃 the KGB Chairman asked。
All heads turned to the colonel； and he did his best to keep his voice level。 This was very deep water for a mere colonel。 The entire operation now rested on his shoulders； a possibility he had somehow never fully considered。 But if he was to get his general's stars； he had to take this responsibility； didn't he？
〃rade Minister； I would estimate four to six weeks； if you authorize the operation today； and so notify the Bulgarian Politburo。 We will be using one of their assets； for which their permission is necessary。〃
〃Andrey Andreyevich？〃 Brezhnev asked。 〃How cooperative will they be in Sofia？〃
The Foreign Minister took a moment。 〃That depends on what we ask them and how we ask it。 If they know the purpose of the operation； they might dally somewhat。〃
〃Can we ask their cooperation without telling them what it is for？〃 Ustinov asked。
〃Yes； I think so。 We can just offer them a hundred new tanks or some fighter aircraft； as a gesture of socialist solidarity；〃 the Minister for Foreign Affairs suggested。
〃Be generous；〃 Brezhnev agreed。 〃I'm sure they have a request floating in the Defense Ministry； yes； Dmitriy？〃
〃Always！〃 Marshal Ustinov confirmed。 〃It's all they ever ask for； more tanks and more MiGs！〃
〃Then load the tanks on a train and send them to Sofia。 rades； we have a vote to take；〃 the General Secretary told the Politburo。 The eleven voting members felt a little bit railroaded。 The seven 〃candidate；〃 or nonvoting； members just watched and nodded。
As usual； the vote was unanimous。 No one voted no； despite the fact that some of them had doubts concealed in their silence。 In this room； one did not want to stray too far from the kollectiv spirit。 Power here was as circumscribed as everywhere else in the world； a fact upon which they rarely reflected and on which they never acted。
〃Very well。〃 Brezhnev turned his head to Andropov。 〃KGB is authorized to undertake this operation； and may God have mercy on his Polish soul；〃 he added； in a bit of peasant levity。 〃So； what is next？〃
〃rade； if I may。。。〃 Andropov said； getting a nod。 〃Our brother and friend Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov will soon depart this life； after long and devoted service to the Party we all hold dear。 His chair is already empty due to his illness； and needs filling。 I propose Mikhail Yevgeniyevich Alexandrov as the next Central mittee Secretary for Ideology； with full voting membership in the Politburo。〃
Alexandrov even managed to blush。 He held up his hands and spoke with the utmost sincerity。 〃rades； my…our…friend is still alive。 I cannot take his place while he still lives。〃
〃It is good of you to put it that way； Misha；〃 the General Secretary observed； using the affectionate abbreviation for his Christian name。 〃But Mikhail Andreyevich is gravely ill and has not long to live。 I suggest that we table Yuriy's motion for the moment。 Such an appointment must； of course； be ratified by the Central mittee as a whole。〃 But that was less than a formality； as everyone here knew。 Brezhnev had just given his blessing to Alexandrov's promotion； and that was all he needed。
〃Thank you； rade General Secretary。〃 And now Alexa