Leonov closed his eyes. "I have received my orders. I will not be sent home, after all. I will be stationed at the Tyuratam launch complex for the duration of the emergency. All space-qualified officers have been placed on maximum alert basis. No leaves."
"Red alert?"
Leonov nodded. "Only for space-qualified personnel. All other military units are on standby alert."
"When do you leave?"
"My replacement arrives in five days."
"God damn!"
Leonov turned and stared out the window. "Well, my idealistic comrade, what do you do about that?"
"That's not the question," Kinsman said. "The real question is, what are you prepared to do, Pete?"
He turned back and gazed at Kinsman, his face somber, his eyes grave and weary. "Anything," he said in a near-whis- per. "Anything that will save my children from being killed."
"They're really going to do it? Launch the missiles?"
"Of course they are!" the Russian exploded. "They can't come this close without pushing the final button. Oh, they will talk and argue and threaten each other for a few days more—a week or even two, perhaps. They will stretch everyone's nerves to the breaking point before they convince themselves that they must attack. But they'll do it, and when they do, it will seem almost like a relief. One of them will press the button—for the glory of the Motherland, or to save the world for democracy. Then the rest happens automati- cally."
"It's up to us to stop them."
Leonov laughed bitterly. "How? By declaring indepen- dence? By waving a piece of paper at them? I said I would do anything, but it must be something that will work\ I will not sit up here safely and watch my nation . . . my people . , . my children ..."
"Okay, okay." Kinsman put both hands on his shoul- ders. "Take it easy. Cool down."
"No, I will not cool down!" Leonov shouted. "I am not an automaton. I am not a creature of ice water, as you are. I have blood in my veins! Russian blood! The world is about to explode and you expect me to stand here calmly and discuss politics with you. How can you . . ."
"Stop it!" Kinsman snapped. "They won't need bugs to hear us."
Leonov's face was glistening with sweat. His chest heaved.
"I just want to know one thing," Kinsman said. "Are you willing to disobey orders and stay here?"
"Stay at Lunagrad instead of . . ." Leonov's voice trailed off for a moment. Then, clenching his fists with the effort of decision, "Yes. I will be doing the children no good by pushing buttons at Tyuratam."
"Al! right." Kinsman licked his lips. They tasted salty. Maybe I'm not ice water after all. "This is what we need to do: The ABM satellite networks are both unfinished, but together they can effectively cover the whole Earth and shoot down any missiles launched by either side. Or anybody else, for that matter."
