Sam knew Jason’s smartgun link. The technology would keep the Indian from discharging his weapon while it was pointed at anyone the Indian recognized as a friendly. Killing the lizard was Jason’s way of demonstrating that he would consider Sam a friend only as long as it was to his advantage, and that he was capable of dealing with Sam anytime he wished. Jason was a dangerous man, a quality that made him valuable to this run. The Indian was, in fact, the second-most-deadly samurai Sam knew. He would have preferred to have the first-most-deadly by his side, but that samurai wouldn’t leave Seattle. Sam had known from the start that this run would be too dangerous with less than the best he could afford. He didn’t like or trust Jason, but he had hired him anyway. Jason had offered a discount for his services to demonstrate his disdain both for the danger involved and for that other samurai, and so was affordable muscle. Affordable, deadly, and a future problem.