©2007 by Peter Bernhardt. All rights reserved.

Author's Notes:

The ever-present three flies that hover around Bates (because he's unwashed, you see) are given names and larger roles in this comic than they have had in previous comics. Flies seem like evil creatures, for some reason. In past comics, these three have not been evil (although rather quippy once or twice).

As far as the Paladin goes... I'll wager that the Vatican's got a few of these guys in their employ. Specifically for situations like this.