Carter Slade really wasn't dead. He was tied to a cross, with a shattered angel statue beneath his feet.
Seeing Wang Bert and the others enter, Slade said happily, "Looks like you won. That's great."
Wang Bert smiled. "An old cowboy like you is afraid of death?"
"I wasn't afraid when I had no money. Now that I do, I'm terrified. I'm afraid I'll die before I spend it all!"
Slade burst into laughter. Damon stepped forward to untie him and said, "It's really great that Mephisto didn't kill you!"
"He wanted me to abandon my faith. When I refused, he tortured me!"
Leaning weakly against Damon, Slade said, "Killing me doesn't mean much to him."
"These gods and demons sure play at a high level!"
Wang Bert glanced at Slade and asked, "Old cowboy, why are you so weak? You don't have any wounds."
"Mephisto took my Spirit of Vengeance!"
Slade looked at Wang Bert and said, "I can sense it. It's inside you!"
"So that Spirit of Vengeance was yours. It nearly got me killed!"
Wang Bert said irritably, "Old cowboy, I swallowed that thing. I can't give it back to you."
"You swallowed it? What an appetite!"
Slade gave him a thumbs-up and laughed heartily. "Don't ever give it back to me. I've wanted to get rid of it for over a century! Oh, and remember to kick it a few times for me. I've hated that thing for ages!"
Damon asked hopefully, "Bert, can you swallow the one inside me too?"
Wang Bert shrugged. "Sure, but first you'll have to get Mephisto to take it out."
"Forget it, then. That old bastard is way too cunning. I don't want anything to do with him!"
Damon shook his head repeatedly. This time, they had Wang Bert to