"Of course not," said Beliakoff.
"Never," Kelly said.
Nob pursed his lips. "I've been wanting to ask a real authority, a genuine Earthman, some questions on the subject. Our texts were by no means complete and some parts we couldn't understand at all. Like the matter of determining victories. That's something we couldn't figure out. We decided you must use a complicated system of umpires. It was too much for us, so we built a bunker in no man's land and put a man from each side in it. They tossed coins to determine whose turn it was. The winning side would bomb an enemy city. After the occupants had been evacuated, of course."
"Of course," said Beliakoff.
"It worked out rather well with the coins," Nob said. "Law of averages, in fact."
"Substantially our system," said Kelly.
"Just the way we do it," Beliakoff added.
"A few more questions, if you please," Nob said. "Jusa, would you bring in the big War Encyclopedia?"
Jusa and Lanvi had been gossiping on the other side of the room. They hurried out and returned with the great book.