"Do you still feel the same way?" he asked Colt. "That what we're doing is wrong?"

Colt did not answer right away. But when he did it was with a silent nod of his head.

"Even though you can see that the Lunagrad people are with us, and that we're both acting together to save the United States and Russia?"

Hunching forward in the couch, fists on knees, Colt answered, "Okay, okay, vou're a bunch of do-gooders and 493 you've got the best interests of mankind at heart. I still can't buy it. I'm sorry, Chet, that's just the way it is. I want out. I want to go back Earthside."

"But Frank, can't you see—"

"I can see the whole fucking thing! And I know which side I'm on. It ain't yours. I'm sorry, man. Maybe I'm wrong and you're right. But that's where it's at."

Kinsman searched his friend's face. It was a thinly masked mixture of pain and stubbornness. "There's nothing we can do?"

"Not a damned thing. Just send me back Earthside as soon as you can."

"There might be trouble for you down there. They might not believe that you were against us."

"I'll take my chances."

With a shake of his head. Kinsman said, "Frank, I just hate like hell—"

"Do it!" Colt snapped. "Stop thinking you can win everybody over with logic and a sweet smile. I am what I am, and you can't change that."

"And you won't change it."

For an instant Colt looked as if he would lash out at Kinsman. But the fire in his eyes dimmed and he answered only, "That's right. I won't change."

Something from the back of Kinsman's mind surfaced and he heard himself say, "Okay, Frank. You can be on the next shuttle to Alpha. I'll set up a special flight to Earthside from there. There are a few civilian scientists who want to get back, too. You can go with them."

One of those scientists would be Marrett, Kinsman knew.

"Fine," said Colt.

Kinsman sat back in his slingchair, thinking. You're using your oldest friend, letting him be the excuse for getting Marrett to the UN people.

"Is there anything else, Frank?"

Colt gritted his teeth before answering. "Yeah, one more thing." He sounded disgusted, ashamed.

"What is it?"

"Murdock . . ."

"Oh, shit. What's old wetpants want now?" 494

Colt's eyes evaded Kinsman's. "Diane asked me to tell you. She didn't know how to break it. Murdock's dead. Committed suicide two days ago."

"Suicide?"