by Mike Resnick
"When I realized that I wasn't going to make the galaxy a better place to live in in one bold stroke, I decided to try doing it one small step at a time."
"Have you ever regretted it?"
"Not really," replied Cain. "We all make choices; most of us get pretty much what we deserve." He paused thoughtfully. "I used to think, years ago, that someday I'd like to settle down. I was always going to find the right woman when I got a little spare time." He smiled ruefully. "I never even began looking for her." He shrugged. "I suppose if it had meant more to me, I would have."
Santiago nodded knowingly. "With me it was children. I'd been an only child, and a very lonely one at that. I always wanted a house filled with kids." He chuckled ironically. "So now I have one filled with killers and smugglers. Every now and then I stop and wonder how the hell it happened."
"People don't come out to the Frontier to raise families," said Cain.
"Unless they're colonists," agreed Santiago. "Or shopkeepers. Or merchants. Or farmers." He sighed ironically. "Or anyone but us."
"It's just as well," said Jacinto. "None of us expects to die of old age."
Santiago turned to Cain. "Second-guessing himself is not one of Jacinto's strong points." He smiled. "As for dying of old age, I personally plan to live forever. There's too much work yet to do to worry about dying."
"Then don't take foolish chances," replied Cain.
"You're referring to the Angel again?"
Cain nodded.
Santiago sighed. "How can I ask my supporters to risk their lives if I'm not willing to do the same thing?" he said seriously.
"The operative word was foolish," said Cain.
"He can't run from the Angel," said Jacinto.
Cain turned to him. "I thought you were the one who wanted to tighten his security."
"I still do," replied Jacinto. "But if word gets out that Santiago can be frightened off, then before long everyone we deal with will be surrounding themselves with killers and refusing to honor their commitments to us." He paused. "We don't do business with honorable men, Mr. Cain. It is their fear of Santiago that keeps them in line, nothing more."
"It's probably all for the best that you don't have children," remarked Cain ironically. "Being the most feared man on the Frontier isn't much of a legacy to leave them."
"It would be more satisfying to lead my troops into glorious battle," agreed Santiago. "Unfortunately, that's not the kind of war we're fighting—and my troops, for the most part, are a bunch of misfits, reprobates, and criminals who don't even know they're involved in financing a revolution."
"How often do you deal with them directly?" asked Cain.
"Very seldom. Things seem to work much more smoothly when they think I'm some kind of unapproachable demigod. Even in this day and age there's a considerable amount of primal mysticism in the human soul; it would be foolish not to capitalize on it." He paused. "This doesn't mean that I don't take a very personal interest in my operation. I'm away from Safe Harbor about half the time—but since only a handful of people know what I look like. I can usually check up on my employees without any danger of disclosure."
"No one's ever suspected you?"
"Let's say that no one's ever been so bold as to voice their suspicions to my face," replied Santiago with a satisfied smile. "Every now and then I let them know—always well after the fact—that they've been in my presence without being aware of it; it helps to convince them that I'm a mysterious criminal kingpin from whom nothing can be kept hidden." He paused. "I would say that takes up most of my time abroad."
"And the rest of it?"
"I do have other business to conduct." answered Santiago. "I search for potential recruits, look for weak spots in the Democracy's defenses, and try to determine which worlds can best use our money and our manpower."
"Always without their knowledge, of course," added Jacinto. "If we let them know, then the Democracy would realize what Santiago really is."
"So it's like a chess game." said Cain. "Move and countermove."
"I really couldn't say," said Santiago. "I've never played chess."
"Never?" asked Cain sharply.
"Never," replied Santiago. "You say it like I've committed some kind of sin."
"I apologize," said Cain. "I was just surprised."
"No offense taken," said Santiago. He paused. "You're sure I can't offer you some dinner?"
"In a little while, perhaps."
"Or another drink?"
Cain shook his head. "No, thanks. I'd like to ask you a question."
"Go right ahead."
"Were you ever in jail on Kalami Three?"
"I think if you'll go there and check the records, you won't find any mention of me," replied Santiago.
"That isn't what I asked."
Suddenly Santiago grinned. "I've got it!" he announced. "Stern told you that I played chess with him!"
"Did you?"
"I've already told you: I don't play chess."
"Why would he have said you did?"
"Probably to embellish a story for which he was receiving a considerable amount of money."
"But you were imprisoned on Kalami Three?"
"For a very brief period. My memory of Stern is that he bragged about the men he'd swindled and killed, and kept relating grandiose schemes about how he intended to find a solar system of his own to rule. It seems to me that we played cards until one of the prison attendants took away his deck." Santiago smiled. "As I recall, he still owes me money from that game." He looked at Cain. "Were there any other questions you wanted to ask?"
"Just two."
"Ask away."
"First, now that I've joined you, there's no sense keeping me here on Safe Harbor once we've taken care of the Angel. What will you be wanting me to do next?"
"To tell you the truth, I haven't decided," replied Santiago seriously. "There's the little matter of getting our money back from the late Mr. Kchanga's heirs. The sooner we do it, the sooner we can purchase food and ship it to Bortai."
"Bortai?" asked Cain.
"A mining world about two hundred light-years from Bella Donna," replied Santiago. "They've only got a three-week supply of food remaining."
"Can't they import more?"
Santiago shook his head. "The Democracy's tied up their funds."
"Why?"
"Because a month ago they sold two hundred tons of iron ore—perhaps a week's output, certainly no more than that—to a pair of alien worlds that have refused to join the Democracy's economic network. This is the Democracy's way of telling them never to do so again." A savage expression crossed his face. "In the meantime, more than a hundred and fifty human children stand an excellent chance of starving to death."
"When do I leave?"
"If you leave, it will be in about a week," answered Santiago. "We'll give Kchanga's associates every opportunity to honor his commitment first."
"That's cutting it awfully close," said Cain. "Once I get the money, you'll still have to buy and ship the food."
"I know. As I told you before, it's a balancing act. It's worth the delay if we can find someone in Kchanga's organization that we'll be able to deal with in the future. And if not," he added with a quiet ferocity, "we'll show them what it means to play fast and loose with Santiago."
"And if they do come up with the money?"
"What do you think, Jacinto?" asked Santiago.
"Zeta Piscium." answered Jacinto promptly.
Santiago shook his head. "Too risky."
"What about Zeta Piscium?" asked Cain.
Santiago studied the bounty hunter for a long moment, and then began speaking. "The navy has a large base on the fourth planet of the Zeta Piscium system. We have a number of reports on it somewhere." He paused. "All their supplies for the entire Quartermaine Sector are purchased through the Zeta Piscium office and routed through the supply base there."
"And?"
"If someone were to destroy their computer system, i
t would be months before they could bring their records up to date," explained Jacinto. "Arms shipments couldn't be forwarded, payrolls couldn't be processed, they couldn't purchase so much as a cup of coffee until their accounting department was able to determine how much money was in their various accounts." He paused. "We would have to lay the blame elsewhere, of course: Santiago is a criminal, but he cannot be perceived to be a revolutionary."
"Everyone knows he was responsible for the Epsilon Eridani raid." Cain pointed out.
"But that was a gold robbery," explained Jacinto with a smile. "He was merely a cunning criminal who robbed the navy of its bullion." He paused. "But no conceivable profit will accrue from destroying the computer complex at Zeta Piscium Four. Therefore, he can't be associated with it."
"What's their security like?" asked Cain.
"Very tight." said Santiago. "That's why I'm not inclined to try it, despite Jacinto's enthusiasm."
"But think of the lives we'll be saving if we can disrupt their system for even two months!" urged Jacinto.
Santiago stared at him. "I appreciate your arguments, but passionate advocacy is no excuse for rashness. The odds are hundreds to one against success."
"But—"
"We can't join every battle," interrupted Santiago. "Our purpose is to perform meaningful actions, not to die with poetic futility. The subject is closed." He turned back to Cain. "You had a second question, Sebastian?"
"It's not quite of the same magnitude," said Cain apologetically.
"Good. One question of that magnitude is all I really care to discuss before dinner. What was it that you wished to know?"
"I was curious about that scar on your hand."
Santiago held up his right hand, staring at the S-shaped scar on it. "I wish there was a heroic story to go along with it, but the simple truth is that I caught it on a fishhook when I was a small boy."
"I would have guessed that it was a knife wound."
Santiago chuckled. "Nothing so exciting. Shall we adjourn to the dining room now?"
"I haven't asked my question yet."
Santiago looked puzzled. "I beg your pardon. What, exactly, did you wish to know about it?"
"Why do you still have it?" asked Cain. "It's the only physical feature of yours that seems to be known beyond Safe Harbor. Why didn't you get rid of it when you underwent your cosmetic surgery?"
Santiago stared at his hand for another moment, then laughed. "I'll be damned if I know," he replied. "It's been a part of me for so long that I never even mentioned it to the surgeon."
"I hope you wear gloves when you're traveling incognito." said Cain.
"I always do. I was born in the Democracy; my fingerprints are on file there somewhere. I wear contact lenses that distort my retina pattern for the same reason." He rose to his feet. "Shall we eat now?"
They went off to the dining room and spent the rest of the evening talking about Santiago's immediate and long-range plans for the future. Cain went to bed with another book—Tanblixt's poetry, which he found totally incomprehensible—and continued his discussion with Santiago and Jacinto the next day, his enthusiasm for their enterprise growing by the hour.
Then, just before sunset, Virtue MacKenzie showed up on Santiago's doorstep, and all of the revolutionary's plans for the future were forcibly put on hold.
26.
He burns brighter than a nova;
He stands taller than a tree;
He shouts louder than the thunder;
He flows deeper than the sea.
* * * *
"Actually," Santiago was saying as he leaned back in his easy chair and sipped his brandy, "I'm told that he was the patron saint of the oppressed Spanish nobility. They used to invoke his spirit before doing battle to drive the Moors out of their country."
"Santiago means Saint James in Spanish, a language they used to speak on old Earth," added Jacinto, who was sitting on a large, comfortable couch with Cain.
"Not quite as biblical as your own name, Sebastian," remarked Santiago.
"It's my middle name that bothers me," said Cain. "I should never have let Orpheus know what it was. Then I wouldn't have to put up with this Songbird nonsense." He sighed. "Still, I suppose we can't choose our names."
"Everyone out here does just that," noted Santiago.
"Those are names for the Frontier," replied Cain. "They're not official."
"If you stay on the Frontier, they're official enough."
Suddenly the security system warned them that a vehicle was approaching. It was identified as Silent Annie's, and a moment later the door slid back to reveal her slim figure.
"Annie—what a pleasant surprise!" said Santiago, getting to his feet. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"We have a bit of a problem on our hands," replied Silent Annie, remaining in the doorway.
"Oh?"
Silent Annie nodded her head. "She's sitting in my vehicle."
"Who is it?" asked Santiago.
"Virtue MacKenzie."
Cain stood up and walked to a window, saw Virtue sitting blindfolded inside the vehicle, then turned to Santiago and nodded. "Where's the Angel?" he demanded.
"In orbit," replied Silent Annie.
"Why did you bring her out here?" asked Santiago, more curious than annoyed.
"She landed a couple of hours ago, found Father William, and told him that she had a message for you from the Angel." Silent Annie paused. "He figured that if she was telling the truth, you'd probably want to hear what it is."
"And if she's lying?" asked Cain.
"Then she'll never leave Safe Harbor alive," promised Silent Annie coldly.
"Why didn't Father William bring her himself?" asked Santiago.
"He wants to be in town when the Angel lands," answered Silent Annie.
"It's a big planet," said Cain. "What makes him think the Angel will land near the town? I wouldn't."
"You did," replied Silent Annie.
"But I didn't know Santiago was here," Cain pointed out.
"He'll land there because he'll need Virtue to guide him to me, and she landed there," said Santiago.
Cain considered the statement for a few seconds, then nodded. "You're probably right," he conceded.
"Well, let's not keep our guest waiting," said Santiago to Silent Annie. "Bring her in."
Silent Annie went back outside and returned a moment later with Virtue MacKenzie. Her blindfold was removed, and she looked around the room, studying each of the three men confronting her.
"Hello, Cain," she said at last.
Cain nodded a greeting but said nothing.
She looked at Jacinto. "You're too young," she said decisively and turned to Santiago. "It must be you."
Santiago smiled and bowed. "At your service. Won't you sit down?"
"Can I have a drink first?" she asked.
"Of course. What would you prefer?"
"Anything with alcohol."
Santiago turned to Silent Annie. "Would you do the honors, please?"
She nodded and walked to the bar, while Santiago escorted Virtue to a chair.
"You're a very courageous woman to come here by yourself," said Santiago, sitting down opposite her.
"After you've traveled with the Angel, not much else can scare you," she replied sincerely.
"Just a minute," said Cain, walking over and taking her satchel from her.
"Hey!" she snapped, grabbing futilely at it. "What's the idea?"
"You're delivering a message," said Cain, reaching in and withdrawing a small recording device, "not getting an interview." He held the bag up to a light, examined it minutely, then returned it to her with his hand outstretched. "Where is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Virtue.
"You've got to have a camera hidden somewhere. You can hand it over or I can strip you naked. There's no third way."
"I don't have to put up with this!"
Cain turned to Jacinto. "Hold her," h
e ordered.
Jacinto took a step in her direction and Virtue held up a hand. "All right," she said. "Just a minute." She fumbled with her jacket and plucked off a large button, handing it to Cain. "Are you satisfied now?" she demanded.
"For the moment." he said, deactivating the incredibly miniaturized holographic mechanism and putting it in his pocket.
"I'll want that back when I leave," she added.
"We'll see," said Jacinto ominously.
"What's this 'we'll see' shit?" said Virtue heatedly. "I came under a flag of truce!"
"As a message carrier, not a journalist," responded Jacinto.
"You have my word that your property will be returned to you." said Santiago. "And now." he added, glancing firmly at Cain and Jacinto, "if my friends can control their enthusiasm, I would be interested in hearing what you have to say."
"The Angel wants to meet you tomorrow morning," she said.
"I'll just bet he does," said Silent Annie, returning with Virtue's drink.
"The Angel wants to kill me," said Santiago. "Why should I care to present myself to him?"
"He's willing to discuss it," said Virtue.
Santiago looked amused. "To discuss killing me?"
"To discuss not killing you," she replied.
"A subject near and dear to my heart," replied Santiago. "What does he propose to say?"
"That he's willing to be bought off," said Virtue.
"For how much?"
"It's negotiable," answered Virtue. "I get the feeling that he's talking in the neighborhood of two or three million credits."
"The reward for me is up to twenty million credits. Why should he settle for so much less?"
She grinned. "Nobody knows what you look like. He can turn in the body of the first derelict he finds, claim that it's you, and still get the reward."
"I'm sure it's been tried before," said Santiago.
"Probably," she agreed. "But people tend not to argue with the Angel."
Santiago studied her thoughtfully. "Where does he want to meet me?"
"A place called the Barleycorn Tavern."
"How did he find out about it?"
"It's where Peacemaker MacDougal killed Billy Three-Eyes," replied Virtue. "It's the only location on Safe Harbor that he knows."