“I have—or rather, I’ve sent men after him before,” answered the Swagman. “None of them got very close before being eliminated. So now it appears that I’m going to have to take a more active hand.”

“Why now?”

“Well, I suppose I should say that I admire your resourcefulness, or that I wish to establish a romantic liaison with you,” he answered. “But while both are definitely true, the simple fact of the matter is that certain developments have convinced me that it might be foolish to wait any longer.”

“What developments?”

“The Angel has moved to the Inner Frontier.”

“Cain mentioned him,” said Virtue.

“Then doubtless Cain is aware of his abilities,” said the Swagman. “I had an intermediary offer him the same help I’m offering you, in return for the same considerations. He turned me down flat. This would either imply that he’s as much of a loner as everyone says, or that he’s getting so close to Santiago that he doesn’t need my help. Probably it’s the former, but I really don’t think I can afford to take the chance.” He paused. “So, have I entered into a joint arrangement with you and Cain, or not?”

“As far as I’m concerned, you have,” replied Virtue. “I’ll have to clear it with Cain after he finishes his business on Altair, but I don’t imagine he’s interested in anything except the reward. Besides,” she lied, “I don’t know why the subject of Santiago’s personal possessions should ever arise.”

“Excellent!” He arose and walked to a small cabinet. “This calls for a bottle of my best Alphard brandy.”

He returned with the bottle and two crystal goblets.

“To your very good health and prosperous future, my dear,” he said, clinking glasses with her after he had filled them. He stared admiringly at her, wondering just how many fabulous private art collections she had seen on the worlds of the Democracy, and how many of them she could help him locate in the future.

“And to a successful partnership,” replied Virtue, studying him carefully and mentally adding up the awards and the money for the features he could help her obtain once they had established a working relationship.

“Virtue, my dear,” he said, flashing her his most charming smile, “we have a lot to talk about in the days to come.”

“I have a feeling that you’re right,” she replied with a predatory gleam in her eye.

He spent the next hour showing her some of his major pieces. Then, with a minimal amount of verbal thrust and parry, they went to bed together. Both of them found the experience enjoyable; each pretended to find it ecstatic.

10.

Along the road to Mother Lode

Dwells the Great Sioux Nation,

Which justifies its crimes and lies

As predestination.