“No, Mr. Cain. The Democracy controls tens of thousands of worlds, and hold some ninety-eight percent of the human population in the galaxy. There are more than thirty million ships in its navy, and it has inexhaustible wealth and resources to draw upon. It would be foolish to dream of overthrowing it.”

“Well, then?”

“He seeks only to neutralize it on the Frontier, to eradicate its more heinous abuses.”

“By stockpiling artwork and murdering small-time smugglers like Duncan Black?”

“Duncan Black was a traitor,” she said coldly. “He was executed, not murdered.”

“The end result was pretty much the same,” commented Cain.

“Have you never executed anyone for deserting what you thought to be a just cause, Mr. Cain?” she demanded.

He was silent for a moment.

“Yes, I have,” he admitted at last. “Keep talking.”

“You talk about stockpiling artwork, but it’s the Swagman that I hear speaking,” continued Silent Annie. “In point of fact, he and Santiago had their falling-out because Santiago refused to keep certain pieces that the Swagman wanted, but sold them through the black market, where the Swagman would have had to pay competitive prices for them.”

“To pay the troops?” suggested Cain.

“Were you paid on Sylaria or the other worlds where you fought?” she asked.

“No.”

“Neither are we,” she said. “The troops, as you call them, work for free, Mr. Cain.”

“Then what does he need all that money for?”

“You shall see.”

“When?”

“Soon.”

“Why not now?” he insisted.

“Because you caused a bit of a commotion back in the village when you killed One-Time Charlie,” said Silent Annie.

“Moonripple didn’t mention anything about my killing him.”

She smiled. “I’m not totally isolated here, Mr. Cain. Father William contacted me and told me what had transpired before you had covered half the distance to my house.” She paused. “At any rate, while you were totally justified in your actions, it was impossible to keep your identity a secret.”

“I never tried to,” he interjected.

“Let me amend that,” she said. “It was impossible to keep your occupation a secret. That was unfortunate.”

“Why?”

“Because a number of the townspeople are willing to lay down their lives to protect Santiago. When Father William is certain that none of them are coming here to try to stop you, he’ll contact me again, and then we can leave.”

“If one of them shows up, I intend to defend myself,” said Cain.

“That won’t be necessary,” she said. “If need be, Father William will warn them off.”

“Why?”

“Because Santiago wants you intact, and Father William will honor his wishes.”

“Even if it costs Santiago a couple of followers?”

“It almost certainly won’t—but yes, even so.”

“You’re not exactly making him sound like a saint,” remarked Cain.

“He’s not. He’s a man who has been forced to make more life-and-death decisions than any one human being should ever have to make.”

“That was his choice.”