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The Magistrate looks back at the h

avoc and the angels, then back to Charon.

“Dear sir, if we had known that we would need so much gold, we could have prepared for it. As it is, you have thrown all of our gold into your lovely river.”

Charon slams his staff into the pier.

“Then you can go back the way you came and take those nosy angels with you.”

“But, sir—”

“No!”

Charon crosses his arms, clutching his magic staff tight.

Vehuel says, “Be reasonable, Charon. We must pass. We are on a holy mission.”

“Tough. Gold or you can rot on these banks like my sign.”

The Magistrate starts talking. The other angels go over and they start talking. All you can hear coming from the mob is Charon saying, “No. No. Never. Forget it. Nope. No . . .”

I go to the pier and push a couple of angels out of the way.

Charon says, “What do you want, Mr. Bigmouth?”

I take out the Colt and smack him on the head with the butt. Before he falls into the river, I grab his staff and toss it to the Magistrate.

“You’re smart. You and the halo polishers figure out how to make it work.”

I go back to the Charger and light a Malediction. Toss the pack and matches to Wanuri, who lights one for herself and gives out smokes to anybody who wants a cigarette. Even Johnny takes one.

“Smooth,” says Alice. “You realize that’s not going to do your reputation in Heaven any good.”

“Then you’ll just have to stick up for me.”

“Believe me, I’ve tried. But it’s five of them against one of me.”

I hold out a hand to where the other angels and the Magistrate are examining the staff.

“You’re warriors. You’ve seen worse than that in battle.”

“You mugged an old man!” says Alice. “That kind of thing gets around.”

“He called me a loudmouth.”

“Bigmouth, actually.” Alice cranes her neck, looking where I pushed in Charon. “I hope he’s all right.”

I point about twenty yards downstream.

“Ask him. He’s right over there.”

The old man shakes himself like an angry cat, but keeps his distance. In a few minutes, the three ships waiting upriver begin to move toward the pier. The Magistrate and the angels smile.

“Are you satisfied now?” says Alice.

“I’ll be satisfied when this is over.”

“What are you going to do then?”