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Page 323
of this did you know about, Yevgeny Pavlovich?"
"None of it," the old marshal spoke up firmly. "I would never have permitted any of it."
Cherny said, "Ah, but you did know, and you did permit it to happen. These two pillars of patriotism from the GKNT are right about one thing. Authorizations for all kinds of black programs were sent to Kola with your approval. And yours, Aleyev. Fortunately, those documents have survived."
Aleyev cackled happily. "Come round here, Yevgeny, join us in glorious disgrace." He patted the metal chair at his side. Suvorov closed his eyes.
"Go on, Lykov," Cherny said. "We know that a missile was taken from the inventory of the Strategic Rocket Forces. Tell me why. Was it to be fired from the submarine? And if so, at what target?"
When Lykov began to fumble with his papers, Cherny interrupted him. "You'll find nothing there, Academician," he said. "Written records of what was done to the Pravda are scarcer than the teeth of birds. I am certain that does not surprise you. Just tell us what you know."
Lykov sat in frozen silence.
We have a penchant for confession and self-incrimination, Kalinin thought. Cherny is counting on it with all in this room. The Bolsheviks made use of it during the purge trials, with old comrades fighting one another for priority in confessing capital crimes. Is that what happens now? Cherny's version of the Stalinist terror?
Cherny addressed Admiral Aleyev. "Eduard Sergeivich? Tell us why you lent yourself to this scheme."
"It was best for Russia," the old man mumbled.
"I can give you a better answer than that. I believe all your illegal manipulation of naval assets was part of your activities on behalf of Soyuz." Cherny paused for a moment, looking intently at the faces of his adversaries. "I should tell you now, all of you, that your leader, General Kondratiev, has been taken into custody. He is on his way here to this room, and

 
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