“Was that you? Oh. Well still, it is disappointing to see you associating with a criminal rabble.”

“Now Johann,” said Saracen, “let’s not resort to name-calling. Who knows where that would lead? Why, in the heat of the moment I might be forced to remind you of some things you did in your wild and crazy youth, and then where would we be? One of us would be red-faced and embarrassed, and one of us would be me.”

Johann narrowed his eyes. “I know just the gaol cell for you, Mr Rue. I think you’ll really like it.”

“Maybe later. Right now, though, we have a job to do.”

“You are going nowhere. We have you, we have your colleagues, there is nothing—”

Vex laughed, and Johann returned his attention to him.

“Something is funny?”

“Something is funny, yes,” said Vex. “How many of the Dead Men were there, Johann? At any one time, how many of us were there?”

Johann took a moment before answering. “Seven,” he said.

“That’s right. Seven. A good number for any group of people, I’ve always thought. The Seven Samurai. The Magnificent Seven. Seven Dwarves.”

“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” Saracen added.

“Exactly,” said Vex. “Seven of them. And seven Dead Men. So why would you think that when it came time to lead my own little group of warriors, I’d only have five?”

“Very well,” said Johann, “so there are two more at large. We will find them and—”

“You don’t have to find them,” Frightening said. “They’ve found you.”

Johann frowned, then noticed the little red dots that were circling his chest. He stiffened.

“Did I tell you how much I love your glass walls?” Vex asked. “Because I really, really love them.”

“You would not dare give the order,” said Johann.

“It’s not my order to give,” said Vex. “They’ll take the shot if they think the mission’s compromised. We’re free agents, Johann, like I said. We’re not sanctioned by any Sanctuary. Killing you would be no act of war – it would be the simple removal of an obstacle. So, we’re going to walk out of here, because this mysterious woman has just changed everything for us. Up till now, I thought we had the luxury of time – obviously I was wrong. So you’re going to let us go, Johann, and then you’re going to take your dagger and hide it away in the deepest, darkest vault you can find, and when Darquesse turns up, you can hand it over to us and beg us to save you.”

One of the red dots was now on the tip of Johann’s nose.

“Stand down,” Johann said, and the Rippers put away their sickles. Vex and the others stood up.

“Thanks awfully,” said Vex. “We’d stay and chat, we really would, but apparently we’re in a race, and we’re already behind.”

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