sitting still, Saint Christophe exuded an air of overwhelming menace—partly from
his imposing bulk, and partly from his unwavering, lizardlike gaze. His face was
blank and almost childlike, his features stretched smooth like a baby's by his
fat, an impression heightened by his thin, wispy hair. He moved slightly, and
the wooden bench groaned under his weight. His bodyguards were already beginning
to shiver from the dropping temperature, but he didn't seem to notice it. His
gaze was fixed entirely on Hawk, ignoring Burns, for which Burns was very
grateful. When Saint Christophe finally spoke, his voice was deep and cultured.
'Well, Captain Hawk. An unexpected pleasure. It's not often you come to see me.'
'I have a problem,' said Hawk.
'Yes, I know. You have a talent for annoying important people, Captain, but this
time you have surpassed yourself. The Guard wants you suspended, a gang from the
Devil's Hook has declared vendetta against you, and Morgan wants your head on a
platter. You've had a busy morning.'
'It's not over yet. I need to know how Morgan is going to distribute his new
drug.'
'And so you came to me for help. How touching. Why should I help you, Captain
Hawk? It would make much more sense to have you killed, here and now. After all,
you've caused me much distress in the past. You've shut down my operations,
arrested and killed my men, and cost me a great deal of money. I really don't
know why I didn't order your death long ago.'
Hawk grinned. 'Because you couldn't be one hundred percent sure they'd do the
job. And you know that if they didn't kill me, I'd kill them, and then I'd come
after you. And all the bodyguards in Haven couldn't keep you alive if I wanted
your head.'
Saint Christophe nodded slowly, his face impassive. 'You always were a
vindictive man, Captain. But one day you'll push me too far, and then we'll see
how good you really are with that axe. In the meantime, my offer to you still
stands. Leave the Guard, and work for me. Be my man, I could make you rich and
powerful beyond your wildest dreams.'
'I'm my own man,' said Hawk. 'And there isn't enough money in Haven to make me
work for you. You deal in other people's suffering, and the blood won't wash off
your money, no matter how many times you launder it through legitimate
businesses.'
'Anyone would think you didn't like me,' said Saint Christophe. 'Why should I
help you. Captain? You spurn my friendship, throw my more-than-generous offers
back in my face, and insult me in front of my people. What is it to me if Morgan
is pushing a new drug? If it wasn't him, it would be somebody else. The market's
appetite is always bigger than we can satisfy.'
'This drug is different,' said Hawk flatly. 'It turns its users into maddened,
unstoppable killers. A few hours after the drug hits the streets, there'll be
hundreds of homicidal maniacs running loose in the city. The death toll could
easily run into thousands. You can't sell your precious services to dead people,
Christophe. You need me to stop Morgan because he threatens your markets. All of
them. It's as simple as that.'
'Perhaps.' Saint Christophe leaned forward slightly, and his wooden bench
groaned loudly. His bodyguards tensed for a moment, and then relaxed. 'This is
important to you, isn't it, Captain?'
'Of course. It's my job.'
'No, this is more than just your job; it's become personal to you. One should
never get personally involved in business, Captain; it distorts a man's judgment
and makes him… vulnerable. Let us make a deal, you and I. You want something
from me, and I want something from you. I will agree to shut down all
distribution networks in Haven for forty-eight hours. More then enough time for
you to find Morgan and put a stop to his plans. In return… you will leave the
Guard and work for me. A simple exchange, Captain Hawk. Take it or leave it.'
'No deal,' said Hawk.
'Think about it, Captain. Think of the thousands who'll die if you don't find
Morgan in time. And you won't, without my help. You really don't have a choice.'
'Wrong. You're the one who doesn't have a choice.' Hawk fixed Saint Christophe
with his cold glare, and the bodyguards stirred restlessly. 'The Guard still has
some of the super-chacal we confiscated from Morgan's factory. Whoever made the
drug disappear from Headquarters missed one batch. So either you cooperate, and
tell me what I need to know, or I'll see that when the drug finally gets loose,
you'll personally get a good strong dose. If Haven's going to be torn apart
because of you, I'll see you go down with it.'
'You wouldn't do that,' said Saint Christophe.
'Try me,' said Hawk.
For a long moment, nobody spoke. The atmosphere in the sauna grew dangerously
tense. Burns glanced from Hawk to Saint Christophe and back again, but neither
of them looked to be giving way. He let his hand drift a little closer to his
sword. All it would take was one sign from Saint Christophe, and the twelve
bodyguards would attack. Hawk might actually be able to handle six-to-one odds
with that bloody axe of his, but Burns had no false illusions about his own
fighting skills. Maybe, if he was quick enough, he could jump back and slam the
door in their faces, slow them down enough for him to make a run for it. That
would mean abandoning Hawk…
'Very well,' said Saint Christophe. 'I agree. I will see to it that the
distribution networks are shut down for twenty-four hours.'
'You said forty-eight,' said Hawk.
'That was a different deal. You have twenty-four hours. Captain. I suggest you
make good use of them, since regretfully I have no idea as to where Morgan might
be at present. He seems to have disappeared into a hole and pulled it in after
him. But Captain, when this is over, you will answer to me for your threats and
defiance. Please close the door on your way out.'
Hawk turned and left without speaking. Burns hurried after him, shut the cubicle
door firmly, and then ran after his partner as he strode off down the corridor.
'I don't believe what I just saw,' said Burns in amazement. 'You faced down
Saint Christophe without even drawing your axe, and got him to agree to help the
Guard. That's like standing in the harbor and watching the tides go out
backwards.'
Hawk shrugged. 'It was in his interests to help, and he knew it.'
'Where did you find the extra batch of super-chacal? I thought it had all
disappeared.'
'It did. I was bluffing.' Burns looked at him speechlessly. Hawk grinned.
'There's more to surviving in the Northside than knowing how to use an axe.'
Hawk was never sure how he knew when he was being followed, but over the years
he'd learned to trust his instincts. He glanced at Burns, but he was apparently
lost in his own thoughts and hadn't noticed anything. Hawk slowed his pace a
