The general's bloodshot eyes narrowed. "How? Who did it?"

Killifer explained the series of events, tracing the break of the news blackout to Tamara Bonai in Kiribati.

"Kiribati?" General O'Conner's ravaged face glared at him. "Where's that?"

"In the Pacific. Micronesia."

The general seemed to sink in on himself, thinking. Then he started cackling.

"What's funny?" Killifer asked.

"I did missionary work out there when I was a kid."

That surprised Killifer. "You did?"

"Tonga. Fiji. I wore the black suit and tie and went out among the heathen.' He wiped at his eyes with a frail hand.

"I never knew."

"They were good people. They listened to me and smiled and agreed with everything I said. Helped me build a church for them. They even attended services."

"Terrific," Killifer muttered.

"But it didn't do one bit of good. They went about living the way they always had. Dressed up for me, of course. But other times they went back to being as naked as sin. To them, sex was about as casual as taking a swim in the lagoon."

He almost sounded wistful, Killifer thought. "Well, now they have office buildings and shopping malls and major tourist centers."

"And this woman, what's her name?"

"Tamara Bonai."

"She broke the news blackout?"

"She sure as hell did."

"Then she ought to be punished," General O'Conner said. "Swiftly and obviously. People ought to know that those who oppose God's will are struck down."

Killifer's insides shuddered. "You mean kill her?"

"Yes," said the general. "See to it."

"Me?"

"You. And nobody else."

He started to say, "But why me? I'm no…"

O'Conner's burning red eyes silenced him. The General had made up his mind and he had chosen Killifer for the job. That was unalterable.

One thing that Killifer had learned in his eight years with the Corps: you obey, but you ask for something in return.

"If we're going to punish people, what about Joanna Stavenger… I mean, Brudnoy."

"She's back here, back from the Moon?"

"Yeah."

O'Conner mulled it over for ten seconds. "You're right. Strike her down, too."

Killifer nodded, satisfied. The woman who had ruined his life was going to get what she deserved, at last.

"Too bad we can't get her son."

"Douglas Stavenger?"

"Yeah. He's up at Moonbase, though. Out of reach.' General O'Conner pointed a wavering finger at Killifer.

"Don't be so sure of that, my boy. No one's out of reach of the angel of death."

DAY SIXTEEN

"Hey, what're you doing there?"

The mercenary looked up. A woman in the slate gray coveralls of the transportation division was striding down the line of spacesuits toward him. She looked to be in her thirties, a little heavyset, mousey brown hair chopped short, and an angry frown on her face.

"Doug Stavenger asked me to check out his suit," the mercenary said.

"I maintain the suits," she said, jabbing a thumb toward her ample chest. Her nametag said LIEBOWITZ. "Since when does Stavenger send strangers to do my job?"