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very noticeable, but she's been surprisingly invisible most of her time here in Washington. If it's any comfort, there are going to be heads rolling up on Mount Alto over this submarine business."
"It's no comfort, Charlie. It's not even something we want to think about until that thing in Canada stops ticking."
"How bad is it, Vincent?"
"As bad as it can be," Kellner said soberly. "The world is looking down the barrel of a very big cannon. That should terrify you, Charlie. It does me. And the only people who know that right now are here and in Moscow."
"I hear the rumors. Another Chernobyl?"
Another Armageddon, Kellner thought. "The Canadians say it's possible," he said. "We're sending a military and scientific pickup team north tomorrow, along with Morgan. It's in their hands from then on."
"And welcome to it," Fisk said.
"Yes," Kellner said heavily. "If you're a God-fearing man, start praying now."
"It's a deal." Fisk leaned over to shake hands before he left. "Ohwhat'll we do about Ryerson?" he asked. "My people have finished questioning him for now. I can only hold him a little longer, unless we charge him with something."
"Leave him to me. I'll handle it. Keep him overnight."
"Take care. Don't let him near any of his newsy friends."
"I doubt he has many friends. He's a corrupt man," Kellner said, his jaw set. "Corrupt men are useful."
"Remember the First Amendment, Vincent."
"I wouldn't dream of forgetting it," Vincent Kellner said.
The light indicating that someone was at his outer office door turned red. The voice of the pool secretary temporarily replacing Camilla came from the intercom. "Colonel Morgan is here, sir."
"You look tired," Kellner said with unexpected solicitude.
"It's been a long three days," Morgan said, stretching his

 
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