Kinsman found himself on his feet and heading for Colt. Everybody else went to the aid of the kid in the pool. Colt walked away, back toward his quarters. Kinsman followed him and caught up with him in a few seconds.

"Hey, Frank."

Colt turned his head slightly but he did not slow down.

Kinsman pulled up beside him. "Jeez, what a shithead! He got what he deserved."

"At least he said what was on his mind," Colt answered. "Plenty other guys around here feel the same way."

"That's not true."

"No? Suppose I started making time with that redhead the way you were? How many rednecks would come outta the woodwork then?"

"I thought you were married."

"I was. Ain't no more."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"No big thing. Lots of chicks in the world. Why tie yourself down to just one?"

The grapes sound sour, Kinsman thought.

They had reached the doorway into the section of the BOQ where Colt and Kinsman were quartered. Colt pushed open the fiberboard door and they started up the steps to the second floor. As they headed down the corridor toward their rooms, Kinsman said:

"I hope you're not too tough to live with. I picked you for my partner this morning."

"You ifto?" Colt stopped dead.

Kinsman studied the black lieutenant's face. It was almost totally devoid of expression except for the suspicious, wary eyes. They were probing him, searching for the kicker, the payoff, the flick of the whip. 33

"This morning," Kinsman said. "Colonel Murdock's buddy system ... I wrote down your name."

"Why the hell you wanna do that?" Colt started down the corridor again, not waiting for an answer.

Kinsman kept stride with him. "Because you're the best pilot in the group and I don't want to be washed out because my partner fucked up."

"That's it, huh?"

"Yeah." "Wasn't your good deed for the day? Your contribution to the Air Force's affirmitive action program?"

Kinsman laughed. "Where I come from, we write checks for good causes. We don't do anything, especially if it means coming in contact with lower-income types."

Colt saw no humor. He reached his door, unlocked it, and swung it open. "I didn't write any names down. I left my paper blank."

Kinsman leaned against the doorjamb. "We all heard." "Didn't think anybody'd want to be stuck with me."

"Because you're black."