"Oh, land o'reptiles! I just heard someone say how she heard someone else talking 'bout how they seen the young lady walking out with Apostle Joshua Mote, down by the temple of the Lord's own anointed ones. But it might just be..."

The words trailed away as Doc stared at her balefully. Without another word she turned and left the room. Doc took his Le Mat from the top of the dresser and spun the chamber thoughtfully. "I believe I'll take a short walk."

"Guess I'll come with you," Ryan offered. "Let's go."

"You know what we could find?" Ryan asked as they walked down Main Street.

Doc stopped midstride, digging the ferrule of his swordstick into the trampled dirt at the edge of the road. "We've known each other for some time, my dear Ryan, have we not?"

"Sure."

Doc stared into Ryan's face, the old man's eyes steady and unblinking. "There are times when I confess that my brain wanders a bit and slips a notch sideways. Or backward. But in general, would you say that you concluded that I was a cretin?"

"No."

"Then kindly give me credit for anticipating what we might find. I am not a fool, Ryan. I'm an old man in many ways. Too many ways. Lori Quint is a young and lively girl. I always knew that the day would surely come when she and I would no longer be... I think you understand me. So, if she and Joshua Mote are busily making the beast with two backs, then I believe that I shall be able to cope with it." He hesitated. "That does not mean, my dear Ryan, that I relish the idea! But I think I shall cope. However, I would rather she chose better than the vile young Master Mote." They resumed their walk.

Four of the Last Heroes lounged outside the temple, leaning on their two-wheel wags, watching as Ryan and Doc approached them.

"Going far, outlanders?" Kruger croaked, tapping on the polished gas tank of his hog with the tips of the knives in his glove.

"Just collecting a friend," Ryan replied, moving easily into the stance of a gunfighter prepared to draw.

"Straw hair?" Rat giggled. "She's sort of busy right now."

"We're going in anyway."

Riddler moved to block the entrance to the temple. "Could be better if you went back to Ma Rainer's and waited, Ryan. She'll be along later."

"No. Going in now. You and the brothers aiming to stop us?"

Riddler looked at his companions, seeing no signs of support against the ice-eyed outlander. He shook his head. "Guess not. But it's a wrong move, Ryan. Believe me."

"I believe you. Come on, Doc."

"Right with you."

They walked together up the path toward the side door of the large building. "Sure you want to do this, Doc?"

"No, Ryan. But I'll do it anyway. J.B. had it right about there being things a man can 'easy ride around.' Conversely there are also things that a man can't ride around. This is one of them."

The door was on the latch and Ryan pushed it open, his right hand dropping naturally to the butt of his SIG-Sauer. He glanced behind him to make sure that the Heroes weren't following, but all four had remained by the gate, leaning against their bikes. One or two townspeople had also appeared and were watching the temple.

As soon as they were properly inside the gloomy building, Ryan knew that his suspicions — and those of Doc — were about to be justified. He could hear the rhythmic jingling of small silver spurs, the heavy panting of a man's breath and a woman gasping and moaning.

"Lori," Ryan whispered.

They crept closer.

The soft-bodied young man lay flat on his back, in front of the snake altar, his pants hooked around his ankles. His head was turned away from them, his arms stretched out wide.

Lori was riding him, her own legs spread apart, the bells of her high red boots clicking on the polished wooden floor. Her head was thrown back and her long blond hair almost reached the thrusting cleft of her buttocks. Her hands were on Joshua Mote's chest, nails digging crimson furrows in his skin.

She was naked apart from her boots. Even in the dim light inside the temple, Ryan could clearly see that the girl's nipples were hard with her own driving passion.

"Bit longer, Josh... One time more... Don't stop now... don't... Come on, baby, come on..."

"Now," Ryan shouted his loud voice bursting into the coupling.

"Who the fuck!.." Joshua exclaimed, trying to sit up and see around the girl's body.

Lori ceased her pleasuring but didn't bother to turn around.

"Got the old dribbling fucker with you, Ryan?" she asked. "Guess you have had. Now he can see how many a real man could get on fucking. Can't you, Doc? Can't you, Doc?"

"Come with us, child," Doc urged, his voice quiet and controlled. "You deserve better than this imbecile, Lori."

Joshua pushed her off, fumbling as he tried to pull his pants up over his suddenly limp penis. His face was flushed with anger. "Who're you calling names? You're dead, old man. Dead. Nobody does this to Joshua Mote and lives."

"Shut up, boy," Ryan ordered. "Talk's cheap. Action costs. Get dressed, Lori."

"Why?"

"Just do it. I'm not here to argue. Get your clothes on, or I'll drag you naked down Main Street. Come on, girl."

There was an icy tautness in Ryan's voice that convinced Lori to do as she was told. She stood, deliberately not bothering to hide herself from either man.

"Quickly," Ryan snapped.

"I'll wait outside," Doc said quietly. "I need some fresh air. It's stuffy in here."

For a moment it seemed as though Lori were going to make some smart-ass crack at the old man, but she caught Ryan's eye and kept silent.

"I'm going to my father," Joshua spit, feeling more confident now that he had his pants on. "He'll see to you, outlander."

"I'm shaking in my boots, boy. Just go on home, now."

The door slammed and Ryan was left alone with Lori. She'd nearly finished dressing, and her mouth was set in a stubborn, angry line.

"You don't understand, Ryan." Her voice was pitched so low that it scarcely reached him.

"You're wrong, Lori. I understand. We all do. Even Doc does."

"It's just that... I don't want to be hurt him. He's being very kind to me, Ryan."

"Hell, I know that. But he's got a lot of goodness in him, Lori. He's generous and brave. Braver than you could ever know. You shouldn't have treated him like that."

"Guess not. Maybe he and me can pick some times to speak with it. After. When we leave the ville."

"You won't stay with Joshua Mote?"

She smiled, and Ryan saw how very beautiful the girl was. And how young she still seemed. "No. Double-big cock. Double-small brain."

"Often the way, so I hear," he replied as they walked out.

Joshua Mote yelled a parting shot as the three friends walked toward the Rentaroom.

"Going back to grandpa, you gaudy slut?" he bellowed. "You fucking wait! We got the power in this ville, you useless, dry bitch. We'll give you to the snakes."

"Yoursnakes!" Lori screamed, wildly provoked. "We'll chill them all like we chilled your fucking big Azrael!"

There was a brief moment of utter stillness after the revelation.