"Yes, but—"

"We have no choice," said the Nameless One, with infinite calm. "If we are not prepared to keep the Americans from attacking us, we will lose everything. The orbiting bombs will be a threat that the Americans—and the Chinese, as well—cannot ignore."

The discussion went on well into the night. But at least, the General Secretary thought gratefully, it is a discussion and not a brawl.

The Nameless One did most of the talking.

It was nearly midnight in Selene before Kinsman got to the hospital. He looked in on Baliagorev in the intensive-care unit. Jill Meyers was there and they wound up having coffee together in the hospital's tiny automated cafeteria.

The place was deserted. They took their steaming mugs from the dispenser and sat at the nearest table- It wobbled on uncertain legs.

"Damned place always smells of antiseptics," Kinsman grumbled. "And the light panels are too bright—glaring."

Jill laughed tiredly. "Yeah, boss, how about that? I'd look a lot better in candlelight."

"You look fine, kid. Tired but happy." It was true. There were dark fatigue circles under her eyes, but Jill was smiling.

She slumped back in her plastic chair. "It's been a long day, but a good one. I think Baliagorev will make it."

"And you've got Landau orbiting around you."

"Alex? Oh, he's an old friend. We met years ago . . ."

Sipping gingerly at the searing coffee, Kinsman said, "I was watching you two back at the ICU. Do you realize that 336 you actually fluttered your eyelashes at him?"

Jill's face went deep red. "That's not true!"

"Oh no? He's asked to stay here overnight."

"He wants to be with his patient."

"And pigs have wings. He wants to be with you, kid."

She grinned, but her hands seemed to go out of control. They fidgeted around the coffee cup and then up to her face. "You're joking. You really think so?"

"Looks pretty obvious to me. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran the old man halfway around the Ocean of Storms just to get him to keel over."

"You're terrible!"

Kinsman smiled back at her. "Yeah, I guess I am. But I'm not the only one who's noticed the way you two have been looking at each other. Half the hospital staff is sighing with romantic rapture about you. The female half."

Jill tried to frown but her pixie face was not made for it. "What about you and this new girl in the comm section?"

Kinsman scratched at his stubbly chin. "Diane? I've known her for years. She was a pretty well known singer a few years back. Diane Lawrence."

"That's Diane Lawrence?" Jill seemed impressed.

Nodding, Kinsman said, "She ran into trouble with the government and that ended her singing career."