“Santiago could do with a few more realists in his organization, and a few less fanatics.” He got to his feet. “If you let me pass, I can still stop him.”

“Stay where you are,” she warned him.

“You’re letting him drive off to his death!” snapped Cain. “Why?”

“Because it’s his decision, and I plan to abide by it.”

“Why the hell is he doing it?” said Cain, still mystified.

“To save the lives of everyone here,” she replied. “If the Angel wants to kill him, he’ll kill him wherever he is.”

“We could have tightened our security.”

“In one night?” said Silent Annie, shaking her head and smiling sadly.

“We could have laid a trap for him.” He glanced desperately at the door. “We still can.”

“The die has been cast.”

“That’s a feeble thing to say,” replied Cain. “He’s going off to face the Angel, and all I get from you is platitudes!”

She stared at him. “He rescued me from a life of despair, and gave meaning to it. I love him more than you ever could. If I can let him do what he has to do, then so can you.”

Cain heard the sound of Santiago’s vehicle starting off down the farm’s long, twisting driveway.

“He’s gone,” he said, his emotions draining away. “And you’ve helped to kill him.”

“I told you: Santiago cannot die.”

“Be sure you write that on his tombstone!”

“Why are you so enraged?” she asked, honestly curious. “You’ve only known him for two days.”

“I’ve been searching for him all my life,” said Cain bitterly. “And now, thanks to you, I’ve lost him.”

She smiled. “He would approve of that answer.”

“He’s not going to be around to approve of anything much longer.”

They sat there in silence for the next five minutes, Cain glaring at her with a growing sense of futility and frustration, Silent Annie watching his every movement with a fanatical intensity.

Suddenly there were footsteps in the hall, and then they heard Jacinto’s voice.

“Are you in there, Annie?”

Silent Annie turned her head toward the door for just an instant—and in that instant Cain dove across the room and sent the pistol flying against a wall. She leaped toward it, but he was faster, grabbing her and hurling her roughly onto the bed.

“What’s going on in there?” demanded Jacinto, pounding on the door.

Cain picked up the sonic pistol, disconnected the charge, and tossed it onto the dresser. Then he picked up his own guns and loaded his pockets with ammunition, never taking his eyes off her. Finally he walked to the door and commanded it to open, only to find himself confronted by Jacinto, whose face was streaked by tears.

“I’m going into town,” Cain announced.