'Wait till you see,' he said.

I'd been expecting an Ml 6, but this was a lot shorter, almost a foot shorter in fact. It didn't weigh much more than double the pistol, and I picked it up one-handed.

'It's a Colt Commando,' Spike said. 'It's close to the M16, but the barrel's half the length. The stock's adjustable, see, and there's a flash hider if you want it. It'll take anything from a twenty- to a thirty-round mag. Elite forces use them, roan, so you know you're talking quality.'

'Spare me the sales pitch, Spike. It won't take sights.'

He grinned. 'That don't matter, see.'

265.

'Why not?'

'Because they're s.h.i.t long-range. They don't have the muzzle velocity of an Ml 6. You need the muzzle flash, too, because this thing makes a noise like a Gatling gun. But for close-up action, you can't beat it. Tuck it into your shoulder with the stock retracted and you can fire one-handed, just like Big Arnie!'

'I like that it's compact.'

'Man, you can put it in an overnight bag, n.o.body's going to know. s.h.i.t, the steaks!'

He ran out of the room. I tucked the guns away again and checked what ammo he was giving me. I knew I was going to take everything except the revolver. Bel had shown some interest in being armed, but I wasn't about to encourage her. Whatever the NRA says, if you've got a gun, you're more likely to get shot than if you haven't.

I went upstairs and found Bel and Jazz busy on the computer.

'Go away!' Jazz screamed. So I went away.

Downstairs in the garden I opened another tin of Old Milwaukee. 'So how much?' I said. Spike turned another steak and basted it.

'Oh, well now, let me see ...'

Which meant he already knew the exact figure he was going to ask. He started pretending to tot up numbers. Then he went into the kitchen and brought out a tub of potato

'sr salad Jazz had made earlier.

'She's a sweet little thing really,' Spike said. 'I know you j didn't hit it off with her yesterday, she told me last night.

She always sits and talks with me at night. Of course, then she hits me for a twenty and takes off till dawn.' He laughed.

'Only kidding. She's usually back home by two.'

'That's all right then.'

'Bel seems nice.'

'I know you didn't hit it off with her yesterday.'

'Touche, brother. You know me, I'm called Spike 'cause 266.

I'm spikey. You say the two of you aren't doing the devil's business?'

'I don't recall saying that.'

Spike smiled, then worked on the steaks again. 'I get the feeling ... Man, I'm sorry, you know me, I don't pry or anything. But I get the feeling you're in deep s.h.i.t.'

I am.'

He nodded to himself. 'And are you going to get out of it all right?'

T hope so.'

'Wild West, you shouldn't be taking a civilian along.'

'Bel's not a civilian, Spike. Her father was a casualty.'

'I guess that makes it her war too,' he admitted. 'Only, she don't look the type. But then, neither do you.'

'I've become the type.'

'Yeah, I can see that, partner, but I see something else too.

I see you're tired of it. That's dangerous.'

'After this trip, I'm thinking of packing it in.'

'That may not be soon enough. Wild West.'

'Just tell me how much I owe for the guns.'

'Well, what do you want?'

'Everything except the revolver.'

He basted the steaks afresh. 'Need any help?'

I knew what he was offering, he was offering himself. He didn't look at me.

'I appreciate it, Spike, but I don't think so. Now, how much do I owe you?'

'Tell you what, come back and see me when it's over. I'll take the guns off you if you've still got them, and I'll relieve you of that car of yours.'

'The Trans-Am?'

'That's the deal.'

'What if I don't come back?'

'You wouldn't do that to me, man.' He stuck his free hand out, and I shook it. 'Only, I don't want no fresh dents in it, okay?'

267.

'Immaculate,' I said. Then: 'Do you know anyone who fixes air conditioning?'

Spike called a friend, who could look at the Trans-Am that same day. The guy turned up with a friend, and they took the car with them. Spike had already called upstairs three times that the food was ready. It was more than ready by the time Jazz and Bel came downstairs. They looked shiny- faced and excited about something. Bel had her hand on Jazz's shoulder. Jazz was looking younger and prettier than yesterday. Bel had certainly done something to her.

Spike and I were halfway through our steaks.

'Outstanding potato salad,' he told his niece.

'Thanks, Unc.'

Jazz opened beers for Bel and her. They toasted one another.

'Okay, give,' said Spike.

'Wait and see,' said Bel. 'The printer could be busy for some time.'

After which all they wanted to talk about was the food, the car, and the drive which lay ahead. I tried giving Bel my long hard stare, but it didn't so much as nick her. We feasted on meat and beer, and then Jazz announced that there was something she wanted to show me. Bel came too, Spike staying behind to sc.r.a.pe the plates into Wilma's pen.

Upstairs in Jazz's room, paper had spewed from her printer. She started gathering it up, while Bel explained.

'This machine's fantastic, Michael. We got into an information network and asked for stuff about the Disciples.

Where was it we went, Jazz?'

'Library of Congress to start with.'

'Yes, Jazz's computer talked to the one in the Library of Congress. Then we went to Seattle. What was the name of that place?'

'The U-Dub,' said Jazz.

'Short for the University of Washington. We talked to 268.

their information system, and to one at a newspaper, and lots of other places. It only took minutes... and see what we got.'

Jazz proudly handed me the pile of printed sheets. There were newspaper reports about the Disciples of Love, a whole bibliography of source material. I should have looked more impressed, but I knew none of this could tell me anything fresh.

'This is the guy,' Jazz said, tapping one sheet. It was a piece by a reporter called Sam T. Clancy.

'He's been looking into the Disciples,' Bel explained. 'And now he's disappeared.'

'Gone into hiding,' Jazz corrected. There was a story about this too. After a near-miss. .h.i.t and run followed by a near- fatal malfunction of his car's braking system, Sam T. Clancy had gone to ground. His newspaper, the Post-Intelligencer, had made it front-page news. Being a newspaper, they'd also printed a photo of the journalist. I couldn't see that exactly helping him go to ground.

'I don't see where this gets us,' I said.

'Come on,' said Bel. 'Someone sets you up, someone gets rid of a reporter in England, now they try to b.u.mp off a reporter in Seattle. We need to find this Clancy and talk to him, see what he knows.'

'Do you know the north-west, Bel? The coastline, the islands, the wilderness, the mountains? What do we do, climb to the top of Mount Rainier and yell for him to come see us?'

'Jesus,' said Jazz, 'talk about no spine.'

'Look, I appreciate'

'No forward planning,' Jazz went on. 'Think artillery's the answer to everything.'

Bel just stood there, lips slightly parted like a ventriloquist.

'Big macho guy, kick down a few doors, fire a few rounds, and suddenly everything becomes clear. Wrong!'

'Look, Jazz ...' But she pushed past me out of the room 269.

and took the stairs three at a time. Bel was pouting now, her arms folded.

'She worked hard to get that information. She worked fast and well.'

'I know, Bel.'

'And how hard can it really be to find this reporter? Think about it, Michael. He's a reporter. If we turn ourselves into a story, he'll come to us.'

I had to admit, she had a point.

We got the car back in A-l shape. The air conditioning worked. It had been a minor repair, no more. The mechanic had also retuned the car. It purred when I turned the ignition. And all for a hundred dollars cash. We celebrated with a trip to the Ranching Heritage Centre. Bel thought the whole thing was a bore, a distraction: the reconstructed plantation houses and windmills, the steam locomotive, the indoor exhibits.

Me, I went and paid my respects to the Winchesters.

We took Spike and Jazz out for a meal that night, but I didn't drink. There'd be a hard day's drive tomorrow, which was no place for a hangover. But I did have a shot of Jack Daniels to finish the meal, just to placate Spike. After all, I had several thousand dollars' worth of guns in the boot of the Trans-Am, and he hadn't even asked for a down payment.

I didn't ask him again about the chance that I wouldn't make it back. I didn't want to think about it.

Back at the hotel, Bel flaked out on the bed. I went for a walk, and ended up at the Buddy Holly statue. He held his

guitar the way a marching man would hold his rifle. Well,

almost. I'd settled up for our room, explaining that we'd be

leaving at dawn and wouldn't require breakfast. I was glad now we'd booked into somewhere comfortable and clean, if utterly soulless. I didn't know how things would go from here on in.

270.

I went to bed at 11.30, but didn't sleep. I lay there for an hour, ticking off the minutes and a.s.suring myself that Bel was fast asleep. Then I got out of bed and went to the bathroom, where I'd left my clothes. We'd packed before dinner, and I picked my bags up on the way out of the room.

I'd thought of leaving a note, but couldn't find the right words. Bel would know what was happening. She'd go to Spike's place. I'd phone her there in the evening.

Out in the car park, the streets were silent. I laid my bags on the ground and searched my pockets for the keys to the Trans-Am. I'd left them back in the room. I said a silent curse and hauled my bags back upstairs. We had a room key each, and I'd left mine at reception. Now I had to pick it up again and take the elevator to the third floor.

I left my bags in the corridor and let myself in. The keys had to be lying on the table next to the television, but I couldn't see them or feel them. Bel's breathing was still deep and regular.

'Looking for these?' a voice said.

I turned around. She was still lying with her head beneath the cover, but one arm was raised and she was waving the keys at me.

'I was just putting some stuff in the car,' I said.

'It can wait.'

'I couldn't sleep.'

'Liar. You were creeping off without me.' She pushed the keys back under her pillow. T'd've hated you forever if you'd done itt That's why I couldn't let you do it.'

'You'd be a lot safer here.'

'So would you.'