'But with all their own submarines around, how could they distinguish-'

'Every boat makes its own personal kind of noise, and a fast nuclear-powered Los Angeles class submarine sounds vastly different from a Soviet diesel.'

'Could they have known how far off shore the submarine was?'

'You mean whether it was beyond the twelve-mile limit, ma'am?'

'Precisely.'

'They would have had a fair estimation. I wouldn't go further than that.'

'Do you think, Admiral, that the Soviets attacked and sank the submarine?'

The silence came in like a Shockwave.

I watched the prime minister. She was leaning forward again, not taking her eyes off the admiral. He was studying his thin veined hands, giving himself time; but he didn't need very long. 'Yes, Madam Prime Minister, I believe they attacked and sank it.'

'Without warning?'

'We can't even guess at that. There were no survivors. Only the Soviets know.'

'Wouldn't it have been to their advantage to warn the submarine before attacking, to avoid a grave international incident?'

The admiral uncrossed his legs and got up stiffly. 'If you'll excuse me, I need to stretch a little-'

'Of course-'

'Thank you.' He took a pace or two, his hands tucked behind him. 'I would have thought, yes, that they would have warned the boat first, if they'd given themselves time to consider.'

'Do you see any parallel-' this was the US ambassador now — 'between this act and the downing of the Korean airliner?'

'Several. But the aspect common to both acts is unfortunately that we in the West haven't got full information.'