"I mean, shouldn't we be pretty damned careful about these Russians? They're right in our laps, for Chrissakes."
"I know," Kelly said. "I warned Chet about it. And now he's got 'em in our hospital and marrying into our people."
Waterman shook his head dismally. "You know what he said to me? He said we're not going to fight up here. Like he was guaranteeing it."
"Yeah? That's what he told you?"
"That's exactly what he said. Now, how can he keep from fighting here? If the orders come through he has to obey them, don't he?"
"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?"