“He’s gotten past better men than Father William,” said Cain.

“There are no better men than Father William,” replied Santiago.

“If you don’t want me as a bodyguard, just why am I here?” asked Cain.

“I’ve been a very fortunate man, Sebastian,” said Santiago. “But nobody lives forever. I would like to think my work will go on after I’m gone. It can’t do that unless I leave good people behind me—people like Jacinto and Silent Annie, and people like you.”

Cain stared at him. “You do think he’s going to kill you.”

Santiago shook his head. “No, I truly don’t. But I can’t conscript men to my cause the way the navy can. I have to study them carefully and then try to convince the best of them to join me.”

“Why now?”

“It took me this long to be sure you were the man I wanted.”

“How many others have you asked?”

“Recruiting people is nothing new, Sebastian. I’ve been doing it ever since I came out here. You’re the most recent, but you’re not unique.”

“How many of them have I met?”

“More than you might suppose,” replied Santiago. “How else would I have known about you?”

“I know Geronimo Gentry is one of them.”

“That’s correct.”

“What about Terwilliger?”

Santiago shook his head. “No.”

“Stern?”

“No.” Suddenly Santiago laughed. “I suppose I’ll have to recruit him if I ever want to organize the fali.”

“He says he met you when you were in jail on Kalami Three.”

“Then I suppose he did.”

“You don’t match his description of you.”

Santiago shrugged. “As I told you, I’ve had cosmetic surgery.”

“Did it take four or five inches off your height?”

“That was many years ago, and Stern has been with the fali for a long, long time—and he was a much smaller man than you are.” He looked amused. “Or are you suggesting that I’m an imposter?”

“No,” said Cain. “Are you suggesting that I become one?”

“I don’t think I follow you.”

“I looked at your Tale of Two Cities last night,” said Cain. “It occurs to me that the Angel has never seen either of us.”

“And you think I want you to impersonate me if and when he arrives?”

“Do you?”

“Absolutely not. I fight my own fights.” He paused. “Other than that, how did you like the book?”

“Other than that, it was pretty boring.”

“I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy it.”

“I had other things on my mind,” said Cain. “I still do.”

“Such as?”

“Such as whether or not I can believe you,” replied Cain. “I’ve killed an awful lot of people for men I believed in, and I’ve always been disappointed.”