Morgan said, "Another thing. We clip extra flasks to our belts and they look like part of the standard equipment. It won't be obvious that we're carrying something we can throw."
McNary gently pushed the flask toward Morgan, who caught it and replaced it. McNary said, "I used to throw a hot pass at Berkeley. I wonder how the old arm is."
The discussion went on. At one point the radio came to life and Kaufman had a lengthy conversation with one of the control points on the surface of the planet below. They talked in code. It was agreed that the American satellite should not move to make room for the other, and this information was carefully leaked so the Russians would be aware of the decision.
The only difficulty was that the Russians also leaked the information that their satellite would not move, either.
A final check of the two orbits revealed no change. Kaufman switched off the set.
"That," he said, "is the whole of it."
"They're leaving us pretty much on our own," said McNary.
"Couldn't be any other way," Morgan answered. "We're the ones at the scene. Besides—" he smiled his tight smile—"they trust us."
Kaufman snorted. "Ought to. They went to enough trouble to pick us."
McNary looked at the chronometer and said, "Three quarters of an hour to passage. We'd better suit up."