With a reluctant sigh, Leonov hauled himself up from the piano and began saying goodbye to everyone. "I must return to the workers' paradise," he told Kinsman.
"Thanks for the surprise, Pete. Feel free to come over and use it anytime. It belongs to all the people of Selene:
Moonbase and Lunagrad alike."
Leonov closed his eyes briefly. It was a gesture he used in place of a nod. "I understand." He hesitated and carefully refrained from glancing over his shoulder. Lowering his voice, he said, "My friend, we must get together for an inspection tour of the route for the buggy race. Just the two of us. Do you agree?"
"Away from the lip-readers?" Kinsman smiled grimly.
"Exactly."
"All right. Tomorrow?"
Leonov blinked slowly again. "I will call you."
"Good."
"Happy birthday, comrade. May you have many more of them."
"May we all."
"Indeed."
The party was breaking up. Leonov and his two female companions left, followed by a trail of admiring glances.
"They are intelligence agents," Harriman assured a young blonde with whom he was sharing a joint.
Finally Kinsman found himself walking slowly down a smooth-finished corridor with Diane, his arm around her slim waist, her head leaning sleepily on his shoulder.
"It was a great party," she said softly. "Nice of you to arrange for my first day."
He laughed. He had enough alcohol in him to feel relaxed, not enough to be uninhibited.
"They're a great bunch of people," Kinsman said. "Salt of the Earth."
"You mean the Moon."
"Right. They're good people. This is really just a small town, you know. A frontier town. Everybody knows every- 314 body else. We all help each other. Got to. It's too damned dangerous up here otherwise."
"I never saw anybody look so surprised," Diane said, her voice light with laughter.
"They really got me with that piano," Kinsman admit- ted. "I never expected that."
They stopped in front of the door to her quarters. He pulled her to him and kissed her. Her breath caught and she clung to him for a moment. But then she pushed away slightly.
"Chet ... I ..." Diane's eyes were filled with a fear he did not understand. "Let's take it slow, okay?"
"Sure," he said, releasing her.
