“Oh, I think I’ll stay around for a few days.” The Swagman suddenly grinned. “Nice place for a vacation.”

“Much as I like you, Swagman, if you lift a finger against Santiago, I’ll hunt you down like an animal,” said Father William.

The Swagman chuckled. “You’ll have to stand in line. Everyone seems to have become terribly single-minded.”

“Just remember: there’s paper on you.”

“But not for murder,” said the Swagman.

“Don’t count on that saving your sinful scalp,” said the preacher. “You wouldn’t be the first man who got killed for resisting arrest.”

“Arrest?” repeated the Swagman with a laugh. “Since when did you become a minion of the law?”

“What do you think bounty hunters are?” demanded Father William. “Out here on the Frontier, we’re all the law there is. We may not keep the peace, but we punish the lawbreakers—and even that leads to a proper respect for the law after a time.”

“I never looked at it that way,” admitted the Swagman. “Still, I suppose there’s some truth to it.”

“More than you know, Swagman,” said Father William seriously. “I suggest that you keep it in mind.”

“Maybe you’d better tell my partner here,” said the Swagman. “He’s thinking of helping a wanted criminal.”

“You know,” said the preacher, “it might be best for all parties concerned if you just went back to Goldenrod and admired your ill-gotten gains.”

“I thought it might be more fruitful to try to add to them.”

“The only reason you’re still alive is because he hasn’t told me to kill you yet,” continued Father William. “This is his world, and you’re trespassing.”

“I’ll try not to lose any sleep worrying about it,” said the Swagman.

“Maybe you’d better start worrying about it,” suggested Cain.

“Kill me, and Santiago had better start worrying,” retorted the Swagman confidently. “If I don’t report in to Goldenrod every day, one of my robots will tell my menials where I am.”

“They won’t care,” said Cain.

“They will when the robot informs them that this is Santiago’s world.” The Swagman grinned. “You don’t really think I’d come here without taking some precautions, do you?”

“I’ve seen your menials,” said Father William. “They’re not much.”

“But they talk incessantly,” replied the Swagman. “You know, for years I’ve been trying to figure out how to get them to keep a secret. Now I’m glad that I never found an answer.”

Father William and Cain exchanged glances.

“All right,” said the preacher after some consideration. “You can stay.”

“How hospitable of you,” said the Swagman ironically.