“Well, Father William’s set up shop just outside of town for the next couple of days, so I imagine the Swagman will be keeping an eye on him, just in case.”

“Who’s Father William?”

He stared at her disbelievingly. “Just how long have you been on the Frontier?”

“Long enough,” she replied levelly. “Has Black Orpheus written him up?”

The man nodded. “Did a damned sight better on him than he did on you. You’re the Virgin Queen, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you ought to know what’s in the song.”

“I’ve got better things to do than commit eight thousand lines to memory. Now, are you going to tell me who he is?”

“He’s a little bit of everything—preacher, bounty hunter, benefactor. I suppose it all depends on who you are.”

“Would he know how to reach the Swagman?”

“I suppose so. There’s not a lot that Father William doesn’t know about outlaws.”

“If he’s a bounty hunter, there’s a chance that he’s after the Swagman himself,” said Virtue. “Why would the Swagman let him land on Goldenrod?”

“Probably because he’d have a revolt on his hands if he tried to stop him. Father William’s the most popular evangelist on the Frontier—and there are some who think he’s the best shot, as well. He goes anywhere he wants.”

“Dimitri Sokol wouldn’t have hired him, would he?” asked Virtue thoughtfully.

“Not a chance. He’s a bounty hunter, not a hired killer.”

“Well,” she said with a sigh, “I suppose he’s the next person I have to see. Where is he?”

“He’s set up his tent about a mile west of town.”

She checked her timepiece. “When does he start preaching?”

“Today’s sermon started about two hours ago.”

“Then he should be just about through,” she ventured.

He laughed. “He won’t be through until nightfall.”

“You’re kidding!” said Virtue. “What the hell has he got to talk about that takes eight hours?”

“Anything that comes into his head,” replied the stringer. “You’ve got to remember that he’s all the flesh-and-blood religion most of these people are going to have for the next couple of years, until he passes through again, so he’s got to cram a lot of hellfire and damnation into a very short space of time.”

“Sounds thrilling,” she said unenthusiastically. Then she stood up. “Well, I suppose I’d better be going.”

“If you insist on continuing your quest, why don’t you at least wait until dark?” he suggested.

“Because I don’t know my way around the city,” Virtue replied. “Why give them an advantage?” She paused. “Besides, they’re less likely to try to kill me in the daylight. Damn, but I wish my partner was here! This is more his kind of situation than mine.”

“Who’s your partner?”

“Sebastian Cain. Ever hear of him?”