“Wait here,” he said, walking to the door. He stepped out onto the street and found himself facing about twenty onlookers.

“There’s been some trouble,” he said, “but it’s under control now. There will be a medical team arriving shortly. I think it would be best if all of you would go back to your homes.”

Nobody moved.

Cain held up his right hand and turned it so they could see the wound on the back of it.

“Please,” he said.

They stared at his hand, and then, one by one, they began dispersing. One man lagged behind the others, then walked up and asked if there was anything he could do to help; Cain shook his head, thanked him, and sent him on his way.

“That was pretty impressive,” said Virtue when he came back into the tavern. “How long is this charade going to continue?”

“What charade?” he asked.

“Pretending to be Santiago.”

He stared at her expressionlessly. “I’m not pretending.”

“What about the reward?” she asked.

“I imagine it’ll go up,” he replied. “The Angel was working for the Democracy.”

She met his gaze and was surprised at what she saw there. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

He nodded silently.

“Then what about my story?” she asked.

“What story?”

“I’ve got a recording of the Angel killing Santiago.”

He shook his head. “I’m Santiago. You have a recording of a bounty hunter killing an imposter.”

“We’ll jet the viewers judge for themselves.”

Cain shrugged. “It’s a pity, though,” he said softly.

“What is?” she asked suspiciously.

“That your story has to end here.”

She looked at him curiously.

“And that you never got your interview,” he added.

“Oh?”

“There were so many things you could have learned,” he continued. “Enough for ten pieces.”

“Enough for a book?” she asked meaningfully.

“Who knows?”

“I’ll have to think about it,” said Virtue.

The door opened and a doctor, flanked by three assistants, entered the tavern.

“Not for too long,” Cain told her.

The medics carried Father William and Moonripple out on air-cushioned stretchers, and the doctor walked over to Cain.

“I’ll be back for the other two later,” he said. “But I’m going to have to work fast to save Father William.”

Cain nodded. “Just come back for this one,” he said, gesturing to the Angel. “I’m taking the other home with me.”

The doctor looked down at Santiago, then at Cain, and nodded his head.

Cain waited until he and Virtue were alone again before speaking.

“I’d better pull my vehicle up and load him into it,” he said. He walked to the door, then turned to her. “I’ll need your decision before I go.”

He turned back and found himself facing the Jolly Swagman.