“And if they do come up with the money?”

“What do you think, Jacinto?” asked Santiago.

“Zeta Piscium.” answered Jacinto promptly.

Santiago shook his head. “Too risky.”

“What about Zeta Piscium?” asked Cain.

Santiago studied the bounty hunter for a long moment, and then began speaking. “The navy has a large base on the fourth planet of the Zeta Piscium system. We have a number of reports on it somewhere.” He paused. “All their supplies for the entire Quartermaine Sector are purchased through the Zeta Piscium office and routed through the supply base there.”

“And?”

“If someone were to destroy their computer system, it would be months before they could bring their records up to date,” explained Jacinto. “Arms shipments couldn’t be forwarded, payrolls couldn’t be processed, they couldn’t purchase so much as a cup of coffee until their accounting department was able to determine how much money was in their various accounts.” He paused. “We would have to lay the blame elsewhere, of course: Santiago is a criminal, but he cannot be perceived to be a revolutionary.”

“Everyone knows he was responsible for the Epsilon Eridani raid.” Cain pointed out.

“But that was a gold robbery,” explained Jacinto with a smile. “He was merely a cunning criminal who robbed the navy of its bullion.” He paused. “But no conceivable profit will accrue from destroying the computer complex at Zeta Piscium Four. Therefore, he can’t be associated with it.”

“What’s their security like?” asked Cain.

“Very tight.” said Santiago. “That’s why I’m not inclined to try it, despite Jacinto’s enthusiasm.”

“But think of the lives we’ll be saving if we can disrupt their system for even two months!” urged Jacinto.

Santiago stared at him. “I appreciate your arguments, but passionate advocacy is no excuse for rashness. The odds are hundreds to one against success.”

“But—”

“We can’t join every battle,” interrupted Santiago. “Our purpose is to perform meaningful actions, not to die with poetic futility. The subject is closed.” He turned back to Cain. “You had a second question, Sebastian?”

“It’s not quite of the same magnitude,” said Cain apologetically.

“Good. One question of that magnitude is all I really care to discuss before dinner. What was it that you wished to know?”

“I was curious about that scar on your hand.”

Santiago held up his right hand, staring at the S-shaped scar on it. “I wish there was a heroic story to go along with it, but the simple truth is that I caught it on a fishhook when I was a small boy.”

“I would have guessed that it was a knife wound.”

Santiago chuckled. “Nothing so exciting. Shall we adjourn to the dining room now?”

“I haven’t asked my question yet.”

Santiago looked puzzled. “I beg your pardon. What, exactly, did you wish to know about it?”