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a lack of coordinated command and a generalized resistance on the part of the public.”
    “Oh, yeah?” This was Borrone, and he clearly did not understand Antonin’s words. “And how the fuck do you figure we could change all that?”
    “An unlimited supply of arms,” the Russian said calmly. “We cannot, of course, be directly involved, but I can arrange for Omnipol, the official Czech arsenal, to furnish you with Kalashnikov AK-74s, Tokarev and Stechkin automatics, Skorpion machine pistols, explosives, RPG-7 grenade launchers, ground-to-ground guided missiles, anything you want.
    “With the firepower these sophisticated weapons will give you — especially if they are in unlimited quantity — you will have the police running for cover any time you choose to show your faces.”
    “Shit, I ain’t buyin’ that,” Arturo Zefarelli said. “Even with that amount of heat, the different goddamn families’ll never...”
    “Ah, but there is a corollary,” Antonin cut in.
    “Come again?”
    “A condition without which it’s no deal. Naturally we do not make such an offer without the hope of some... recompense.”
    “Here it comes,” Ancarani whispered to Scalese. “The fucking bite!”
    “Our interest,” Antonin said, “is in the destabilization of Western society. You know that, of course. I am assuming that none of you... disapproves.” The sneer in his voice was evident. “No? Very well, then. I will add that we believe this society carries within it the seeds of its own destruction. The existence of organizations such as yours proves the point. But we wish to hasten the process so that communism can take over more rapidly.”
    The KGB officer sat back in his chair and laid his hands on the table. “Our other efforts have had a limited success. And I am speaking of our support for the so-called extremist or terrorist groups, mainly among the Arabs, the Armenians and the Irish. But it is all too minor — too slow. That is why we have come to you. Properly organized and armed, you could wreak havoc with the world as the capitalists have ordered it. I emphasize: properly organized.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning that even with the arms, I suggest you would remain a loosely connected but disparate
collection
of units. What we want is a single integrated group. The offer, therefore, is conditional on your establishing one individual worldwide crime syndicate, entirely disciplined, and obeying orders from a single central command.”
    “Which you would wish to control?” Jean-Paul asked.
    “Not control,” Colonel Antonin said suavely. “We should be pleased to offer advice.”
    “Okay, so what’s in it for us?” the gang leader from Detroit demanded.
    “For you there would be rewards a thousand times greater than anything you have achieved so far. But first you
must
unify.”
    “So what happens when the society’s fucked over and the Reds move in? I mean, what happens to us?” Luigi Abba said sourly. “I mean, I don’t see no Syndicate cat-houses or dope rings or numbers games in your friggin’ commie paradise. Me, I don’t fancy no salt mine detail.”
    “It is not a problem that is likely to arise for some time. Even if our project succeeds.” Antonin’s smile was bland. “In any case, room can always be found for men of enterprise and initiative.”
    Etang de Brialy, the Parisian, spoke for the first time. “This flood of arms you so generously offer,” he said mildly, “just how will it be paid for?”
    “Not with money, if that is what worries you,” Antonin replied. “Let us say by the rendering of certain special services.”
    “Such as?”
    The Russian did not reply directly. “You have a system, I believe,” he said, “for the removal of unwanted individuals. Well, from time to time we shall feed
you
contract jobs that call for the liquidation of elements embarrassing to us. Labor leaders, diplomats, an occasional politician. Maybe a journalist whose views we find