"If we deal with enough Democracy members, we'll be no different than they are," insisted the Bandit.
"I think you're looking at it all wrong, sir," said Dante. "If we can put Willowby to work for us, or somehow take over his organization, we'll be plundering him of millions every week, money that would eventually be spent or invested in the Democracy. Think of the good we could do with that money! Think of the hospitals it could build."
"You're getting ahead of yourself," said the Bandit. "First we need a Frontier-wide organization. Then we'll worry about hospitals and everything else."
"Even the original Santiago didn't have that big an organization," said Dante. "He just made it seem like he did."
"What good are hospitals and schools and whatever else you want if I can't defend them?"
"It's not what I want," protested Dante. "It's what we want. And it's not just hospitals and schools. Hell, there's 200 alien races living in fear and poverty out here on the Frontier. They need our help."
The Bandit stared at him, seemed about to reply, then decided to remain silent.
"So can I tell the Knife and the Blade to send Willowby here if he starts making any inquiries?" continued Dante.
"Yes," said the Bandit.
"Alone, I presume?" said Dante. "Or just with his personal muscle?"
"Whatever makes him happy," said the Bandit. "It makes no difference to me."
Dante leaned back and relaxed. He'd been half-afraid that the Bandit had planned to kill Willowby, and while he had no moral problem with killing the enemy, it made a lot more sense to co-opt this one and leave him in place. The Candy Man worked just a handful of systems, really just six planets, and the Knife and the Blade knew all of his contacts. But from everything Dante had been able to learn, Jackrabbit Willowby's organization encompassed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of worlds, and if they killed him, there'd be no way they could keep his organization intact, or even find out who belonged to it.
Dante spend the next two days working on his epic, reworking the verses, honing the language, making lists of the colorful characters he'd heard about that he wanted to meet and include in the text.
Then Virgil checked in, stoned out of his mind. He'd found the drugs, which was admittedly the easy part of his assignment, but he couldn't remember where he'd gotten them or who he'd purchased them from. Dante checked the computer log of Virgil's ship, found out that the Indian had visited Nestor III, Lower Volta, and New Waco, and decided to send Blossom off to see if she could find out where Virgil had purchased his drugs, and from whom.
"And don't be a hero," he cautioned her. "We've already got one, and he'll handle any dangerous situation."
"We're all heroes, Rhymer," she said adamantly. "Everyone who fights the Democracy is a hero."
"Let's keep it to ourselves," said Dante. "The less people who think we're heroes, the less often we'll have to prove it. Remember: what we're doing only works as long as the Democracy thinks we're outlaws. Once they figure out what we're really about, that's the end of Santiago and everyone who has anything to do with him . . . so just make some very discreet inquiries, try not to call any attention to yourself, and then come back with whatever information you can get."
"Why should I listen to you?" she demanded. "I work for Santiago."
"And I speak for him," said Dante.
"I thought you were supposed to be a poet."
"I am. Don't make me write about how you turned Santiago down the first time he needed you."
She considered his remark, and finally nodded her assent. "But next time I want to hear it direct from him."
"All right, next time you will."
She left, and Dante spent another half hour working on his poem until he was summoned to the Bandit's office.
"What's up?" he asked upon arriving.
"I just heard from the Blade. Jackrabbit Willowby is on his way to Valhalla."
"Alone?"
The Bandit smiled. "Hardly."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"He's coming with a little display of force to impress me."
"How little?"
"20 men, maybe 25."
"I'm impressed already," said Dante. "Where do we put them all?"
"I'll meet them outside," answered the Bandit. "I might as well show them I have nothing to hide."
"You can meet them there, but you'll want to deal privately with Willowby in your office. You don't want anyone else to hear your negotiations. You might have to get tough with him."
"Don't worry," said the Bandit. "I just want them all to see me, since they're going to be dealing with me from now on."
Dante shrugged. "Okay, if you're sure that's the way you want to do it."
"I'm sure."
Dante waited in his quarters until he heard Willowby's ship approaching the landing strip. He looked out a window as it came into view and soon settled gently on the slab.
Twenty men emerged from the ship and formed two lines. Five more climbed out, went to the end of the lines, and fanned out, ready to handle trouble from any direction.
Then, after a wait of perhaps three minutes, Jackrabbit Willowby came out of the hatch and climbed down to the ground. He was a short man, elegantly dressed, and he moved with an athletic grace. Dante couldn't spot any weapons on him, but then, with all those bodyguards, he didn't need any.
Dante noticed that everyone's attention was directed toward the lodge. He turned and saw that the Bandit had walked out the front of the compound and was approaching Willowby.
Six of Willowby's men moved to form a living wall between them. The Bandit came to a stop and looked expectantly at Willowby.
"Good day, sir," said Willowby, parting the men with his arms and stepping forward to stand between them. "To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
"You know who I am," said the Bandit.
"They told me your name was Santiago, but that is either a joke or a lie."
"I'd be careful who I called a liar, Jackrabbit Willowby."
"You see?" said Willowby. "You know my name. It's only fair that I should know yours."
"You do," said the Bandit. "My name is Santiago."
One of the men walked over and whispered something to Willowby.
"I'm told that you are actually the One-Armed Bandit."
"You've been misinformed. I am Santiago." The Bandit stared at his visitor. "Are we going to spend all afternoon arguing about my name, or do you have some reason for being here?"
"You're a very brave man, to speak to me like that when I'm surrounded by my men."
"You haven't answered me."
"Of course I have a reason for being here," said Willowby. "You deal in contraband materials. I work for the Democracy."
"So you're here to arrest me?"
"Putting you in jail won't do either of us any good," replied Willowby easily. "I'm here to negotiate a fine with you."
"A fine?"
"If I put you out of business, someone would just replace you next week or next month, the jails would have one more mouth to feed, and what purpose would be served? Let's be totally honest: there is a continuing demand for the goods you sell. Someone is going to satisfy it; it might as well be you."