Cold War, haven't they learned anything? Why must they blow up everything?
He knew why. For the same reason he had killed the cosmonaut. Exactly the same reason. It was not necessary. It wasn't. But you get the fury into you and you can't stop. Not until it's too late.
The alarm buzzer sounded. The bedroom lights slowly turned on to half-intensity. Time to get up.
To hell with everything and everybody, he told himself. This is the way it is and this is the way I've got to play it.
Things always look different in the light of day, he mused, even when the light is artificial. Not easier. Not better. But more rational. You can deal with things logically in day's light. In the dark, fearful shapes haunt the shadows.
Kinsman put in a phone call for Leonov, then dry- showered and dressed while he waited. Finally the phone buzzed and the computer told him that the Russian com- mander was on the line.
The screen went gray, but no picture took form. Leo- nov's voice came through strong and clear. "I didn't realize that capitalists got up so early in the morning."
Kinsman shot back, "That's how we stay ahead of you centralized bureaucrats."
"Hah! A slanderous provocation."
Getting serious. Kinsman asked, "You've heard about this Antarctica thing?"
"Yes."
He waited for Leonov to say something more. When nothing came, he asked, "Any further word on your replace- ment?"
"No, not yet."
Leonov's voice sounded strained. They're bugging his line, Kinsman realized. And probably mine, too.
"We've got to get together, Pete, and discuss things. The buggy race and all ..."
"I can't," Leonov immediately replied. "Not today. Too many other problems to attend to. Possibly in a day or two."
Nodding to himself, Kinsman said, "Yeah. Okay. Call me."
He shut off the phone and stood there naked for a few 349 uncertain moments, then punched the keyboard once again.
"Get me a flitter," he said to the flickering gray screen. "Long-range flight. I'll fill out the flight plan in the operations office. Be there in half an hour."
Sunday 5 December 1999:
