"He sure does," Kelly said, "or somebody else will. That's why they brought Colt up here. It'd only take a one-line message to relieve Chet of command and put Colt in."

"That might not be such a bad thing," Waterman mused. "I like Chet, but ..."

"I wouldn't worry about it," said Kelly, looking worried. "Chefs an easygoing guy, great to work for, likes to have everything friendly and relaxed. But when the orders come, he'll follow them. Don't you think otherwise. When we get right down to the nut, Americans will act like Americans and Russians will act like Russians. Friendships end once the missiles are launched."

"You think so?"

"You don't?"

Waterman shrugged. "He seems so damned determined to get the water factory's output up to the point where the Russians can use it. You think maybe he's planning to let them walk in here and take over?"

"What?" Kelly looked startled.

"Well, he says there won't be any fighting up here. The only way he can guarantee that is to let the Reds take over without firing a shot. Right?"

"That's crazy!"

"Maybe so, but do you see him making any plans to take over Lunagrad?"

"We've got contingency plans . . ."

"When's the last time he took a look at 'em?" Waterman asked.

Kelly hesitated, then, "No! Chet wouldn't do that. He's easygoing, but he's not a traitor."

"Maybe he don't see it as treason." The engineer waved a hand at the chattering crowd all around them. "Maybe he thinks that any kind of fighting up here would kill everybody, so he won't fight, no matter what."

"Like the peaceniks back home, before they were all rounded up?"

"Uh-huh."

"Jesus Christ," Kelly muttered. "I sure as hell hope that's not what's on his mind."

Waterman looked as if he were about to cry. "It could be. He could be ready to sell us all down the river, just to avoid fighting."

"Hell! You know what that means, don't you?" Kelly looked genuinely distressed now.

"What?"

"I'm gonna have to go to Frank Colt and get him to review all our emergency contingency plans—behind Chefs back."

"If that's what's gotta be done ..."

Kelly grimaced. "I hate to go around Chet. He's a nice guy and all that." His frown deepened. "And I hate like hell having to work with Colt."

"If you've got to, you've got to," Waterman said.

Kelly nodded unhappily. "I've got to."