The place had the flavor of a small village back on old Earth, with rows of frame buildings and houses divided into neat little rectangles. Even the styling was similar, with many of the houses possessing dormer windows and huge verandas. He paused to examine one of them and wasn’t surprised to find that beneath the woodlike veneer was a layer of a titanium alloy, and that the house ran on fusion power.

He walked another block and saw the figure of Father William sitting on the front porch of his small hotel, swaying gently back and forth on the oversized wooden rocking chair. He shaded his eyes as he watched the bounty hunter approach.

“Good morning, Sebastian,” he said. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

Cain nodded. “That it is. Good morning, Father William.”

“I thought you’d be off in pursuit of Santiago this morning,” said the preacher.

“There’s no hurry,” said Cain. “I thought I’d sample some of Moonripple’s cooking myself.” He paused. “Besides, Santiago’s been out there for thirty years or more. Another couple of days can’t hurt.”

“I hear tell that the Angel is closing in on him.”

“That’s what they say.”

“And that doesn’t worry you?”

“I’m trying not to lose any sleep over it,” answered Cain.

“You’re a confident man, Sebastian Cain,” said Father William. “If it was me, I’d have taken off from Safe Harbor last night.”

“But it’s not you,” said Cain.

“True enough.” agreed the preacher. “Well, enjoy your stay. Possibly you’d like to join me for dinner tonight?”

“Perhaps.”

“You seem singularly unenthused,” noted Father William.

“You eat so damned fast, you’re likely to swallow my arm before you realize you’ve made a mistake,” said Cain with a smile.

Father William threw back his head and roared with laughter. Finally he regained his breath. “I like you, Sebastian! I truly do!” Suddenly he became serious. “I hope we never have to confront each other as enemies.”

“Are you planning on breaking the law?” asked Cain.

“Me?” snorted Father William. “Never!”

“Neither am I.”

Father William stared at him for a long moment. “Would you care to come up here and sit beside me for a spell?”

“Later, perhaps,” said Cain. “I’ve got to buy some supplies.”

“Go in peace, Sebastian.” said the preacher. He looked up at the sky. “A beautiful day—the kind of day that makes a man forget how much evil there is abroad in the galaxy.”

Cain nodded to him and continued walking down the street until he came to a small general store. He entered it and was momentarily chilled by the rush of cold air.

“Good morning, sir.” said the proprietor, a portly, middle-aged man who had meticulously combed his thinning hair to cover a bald spot and succeeded only in calling attention to it. “May I help you?”