Cain stared across the table at him. “Just what the hell is it that you want, Swagman?”

“You know perfectly well what I want.”

“You’ll have to get it yourself.”

“Nonsense. We’re partners.”

“Our partnership is dissolved.”

“That doesn’t change a thing,” said the Swagman.

“Oh? Just how do you figure that?”

The Swagman leaned forward. “Santiago is a dead man, Sebastian. If you don’t kill him, the Angel will. It’s as simple as that.” He withdrew the cube from his pocket and began examining the jewel-encrusted beetle again. “Why let him pick up the reward for doing what you can do right now?”

“He won’t.”

The Swagman smiled. “Who’s going to stop him—Father William?” He chuckled. “Killing run-of-the-mill sinners is one thing; killing the Angel is another.” He stared intently at Cain. “Or do you think that you’re going to stop him?”

“It’s a possibility.”

The Swagman snorted contemptuously. “You haven’t got a chance.”

“I didn’t have a chance against Altair of Altair, either.”

“This is different.” said the Swagman earnestly. “He’s the Angel.”

“I’m getting tired of hearing about him,” said Cain.

“You’re going to get a lot more tired of it when everyone starts talking about how he killed Santiago.”

“Santiago has stayed hidden for the past three decades,” Cain pointed out. “He strikes me as a man who can take care of himself.”

“What are you talking about?” demanded the Swagman. “Do you think you’re the first bounty hunter to set foot on Safe Harbor?”

Cain shook his head. “Peacemaker MacDougal was here four months ago. He killed Billy Three-Eyes right in front of this tavern.” He smiled grimly. “But of course you knew that, didn’t you?”

“I’m not talking about Peacemaker MacDougal!” snapped the Swagman. “Hell, half a dozen bounty hunters have gotten this far. Two of them even made it out to his farm.”

“What farm?” asked Cain innocently.

“The goddamned farm where Father William gave you my note,” said the Swagman, holding the cube up to the light. “I told you: I’m not totally without resources.”

“You didn’t even know he lived on Safe Harbor when I left you two weeks ago,” said Cain, unimpressed.

“Not until yesterday,” admitted the Swagman. “But I knew that he lived on a farm, and I knew that he buried the two bounty hunters who found him out there in one of his wheat fields. I just didn’t know where the farm was.”

“Who told you that?”

“Someone who worked for him and saw the graves.”

“That bespeaks a certain ability to defend himself, doesn’t it?”

“If ordinary bounty hunters could get that close, the Angel will kill him,” said the Swagman. He paused. “Unless you kill him first.”

“Not interested,” said Cain.

The Swagman smiled. “You haven’t let me make my offer yet.”

“Make it and then leave me alone.”