A Crying Shame (135 page)

It's possible, and I'm serious. The parish is being evacuated ... immediately. Get moving.”

I . . . ah ... well ... we'll have to call a meeting of the police jury and ... ah ... go over the facts of this ... matter.”

Mike punched a blunt finger into the soft belly of the man.

Here now, Sheriff!”

You don't call a goddamned thing, Lynch,” Mike told him.
You just do what I tell you to do. And this, Lynch, is what you're going to do. . . .”

Thanks just the same, Mike,” Jon told him.
But we're staying. I took the man's money, both Paul's and Governor Parker's—the latter, taxpaper's money—and I gave my word I'd do a job. I've never broken my word on anything. I'll do what I can just as soon as those fools clear the swamp. If they do,” he added.

A matter of honor, Jon?”

Perhaps.”

I didn't think mercenaries had any honor.”

You don't know mercenaries, Mike.”

Sheriff Saucier looked hard at the man.
It's the combat, isn't it? You love it, don't you?”

To be honest, yes. There is a certain ... ah ... high in combat that noncombatants do not and will never understand.”

A high?”

Jon nodded.

Mike sighed. He jerked his thumb toward the great swamp, looming dark and dangerous behind the house.
You could die in there.”

That smile, quick, almost curt.
But I don't plan on doing that.”

Going to kill them all, Jon?”

Are you one of them, Mike?
That is my plan at this time. I think we have to do that.”