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see　you；　sergeant。　I　prayed　you　would　make　it　back　to　the　flock。　It　seems　that　the　Emperor　was
listening。”
Wulfe　had　the　sudden　impression　that　Confessor　Friedrich　had　been　about　to　add　“for　a　bloody
change”　before　he　stopped　himself。
“I　think　you　might　be　right；　confessor；”　said　Wulfe。　“It　certainly　seemed　like　a　miracle　when　we
heard　the　voice　of　that　Sentinel　pilot。　I　doubt　even　van　Droi　believed　we　would　actually　make　it　out
of　the　deep　desert　alive。”
The　priest　nodded。　“I　heard　about　Siemens　and　Muller；　Throne　rest　them。　I’ve　already　had　their
crews　listed　for　remembrance　at　the　next　honours　service。”
Wulfe　shuddered　as　he　recalled　Siemens’　limp　body　burning　atop　the　turret；　but　he　said；　“They
died　doing　their　duty；　confessor。　I　hear　Golgotha　hasn’t　exactly　been　a　sightseeing　trip　for　the　rest　of
the　army　group。”
“Then　you　heard　right。　The　things　I’ve　seen…　Sometimes　I　think　the　Guiding　Light　of　all
Mankind　is　testing　me；　sergeant。”
“Maybe　He’s　testing　all　of　us。”
A　look　of　pain　crossed　the　confessor’s　face。　“Aye；　only　dead　men　are　free　of　that。　I　pulled　ten
bodies　out　of　a　brewed　up　Chimera　yesterday。　You　couldn’t　tell　one　man　from　the　other。　Ten
shrivelled　black　mannequins。　Two　of　them　fell　apart　in　my　hands　as　I　was　trying　to　lift　them　out。　For
them；　at　least；　the　test　is　over。”
Wulfe　nodded；　his　face　mirroring　the　priest’s　sadness。
Confessor　Friedrich　raised　a　hand　to　Wulfe’s　elbow　and　drew　him　away　from　Last　Rites　II。
“Let’s　talk　where　others　cannot　hear；　Oskar。　Just　for　a　moment。　I　would　like　to　know　of　your
spiritual　health。”
They　stopped　in　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　an　empty　Thirty…Sixer；　and　Confessor　Friedrich　took
a　quick　look　around　to　make　sure　they　were　alone。
“Tell　me；”　he　said；　“are　you　still　troubled　by　your　memories　of　Lugo’s　Ditch？　I　had　hoped　that
redeployment　might　give　you　a　new　perspective　on　what　you　saw　there。　Perhaps　your　nightmares
have　receded？”
Wulfe　held　the　priest’s　gaze。　“I　haven’t　been　sleeping　enough　to　judge；　confessor。　We’ve　been
on　the　move　night　and　day。　I　slept　well　enough　last　night；　but　I　was　exhausted。　I　think　perhaps　the
worst　of　the　dreams　are　behind　me。　It　may　be　that　you’re　right。　The　mission　might　be　crowding　the
memories　out　a　bit。”
“I　would　have　your　mind　at　ease；　my　friend；　but　forgetting　your　experience　completely　would　be
a　mistake。　We’ve　already　talked　of　the　positive。　You’ve　seen　something　that　others　wish　desperately
to　see。　You’ve　had　proof　of　that　which　lies　beyond　death。　Does　that　still　give　you　no　comfort？”
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“I’ve　told　you；　confessor。　His　eyes　were　so　hollow。　He　did　not　look　like　a　man　restored。　On　the
journey　here　to　Balkar；　my　crew　confessed　that　they　had　guessed　the　truth。　If　any　weight　has　been
lifted　from　me；　it’s　that　I　no　longer　need　to　hide　it　from　them。　But　can　you　imagine　what　others
would　say？”
“If　they　knew　you　had　seen　a　ghost？”
“It　sounds　like　bloody　nonsense　when　you　say　it　aloud。　I　think　I’d　rather　believe　I　was　mad。”
“I　don’t　think　you　are；　but　believe　that　if　it　helps。　There　are　those　who　say　even　Yarrick　is　mad；
driven　beyond　obsession。　Many　of　the　Imperium’s　heroes　would　be　judged　mad　by　the　standards　of
normal　men。　It’s　no　bad　thing　to　be　different；”　he　grinned。　“To　a　degree。”
“That’s　some　choice；　confessor；　mad　or　haunted。”　Wulfe　went　silent　for　a　moment　as　other
ghosts　rose　in　his　mind。　“If　you　had　seen　Siemens…”
The　priest　closed　his　eyes　and　bowed　his　head。　“It　doesn’t　get　easier。”
“Sorry；”　said　Wulfe。　“You’ve　seen　more　than　your　share　of　horrors。　I　didn’t　mean…　I　wish　I　had
your　fortitude。　Why　do　you　do　it？　Clearing　the　tanks　of　bodies　is　a　job　for　the　support　crews。　Why
do　you　continue　to　torture　yourself？”
Confessor　Friedrich　gazed　off　into　space。　“How　could　I　let　those　boys　face　such　horrors；　Wulfe；
knowing　that　they’ll　crew　tanks　themselves　one　day？　They　shouldn’t　have　to　see　the　likes　of　that。
They　shouldn’t　have　to　know　how　bad　it　gets　before　the　end。　And　neither　should　you。”
“The　orks　didn’t　give　me　much　choice。”
They　both　thought　about　that　for　a　silent　moment。
Changing　tack　suddenly；　the　priest　said；　“You　heard　that　General　deViers　has　arrived；　yes？”
Wulfe　shook　his　head。　“I　didn’t　know。　I　thought　the　officers　would　have　had　us　all　lined　up　to
greet　him。　He　likes　a　big　reception。”
“He　does；　but　between　them；　the　major　generals　decided　that　preparations　for　deployment　took
priority。　If　deViers　wants　his　forces　rolling　out　before　sundown；　he’ll　have　to　do　without　the　usual
pomp　this　time。”
“He　flew　in？”
The　confessor　nodded。　“Touched　down　just　west　of　the　outer　wall　about　three　hours　ago。　He
arrived　on　a　Valkyrie　transport　escorted　by　four　Vulcan　gunships。　It　seems　Commodore　Galbraithe
was　as　good　as　his　word　regarding　the　close　support　he　promised。”
“Five　birds？”　asked　Wulfe。　“Not　exactly　a　major　contribution。”
“Better　than　four；”　said　the　priest　with　a　wink。　“Anyway；　I　expect　you’ll　be　rolling　out　very
soon；　Wulfe。　That’s　why　I　came　to　see　you。　May　I　bless　you　and　your　crew？”
“You’re　not　rolling　out　with　us；　confessor？”
“Not　this　time。　The　regiment　has　many　sick　in　the　field　hospital　here。　You　heard　about　Markus
Rhaimes；　of　course。　I’m　staying　to　offer　last　rites　to　those　who　need　it。　But　I’m　sure　your　expedition
will　be　over　quickly。　You’ll　find　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　and　return。　I　know　you　will。”
Wulfe　wished　he　shared　the　priest’s　confidence。　“I　think　my　crew　would　appreciate　a　blessing；
confessor。　We　need　all　the　help　we　can　get。”
“Excellent；”　said　the　priest。　Together；　he　and　Wulfe　walked　back　towards　Last　Rites　II。
Squatting　in　the　shadow　of　a　nearby　Chimera；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear；　Lenck　watched　them　go。
“Gotcha！”　he　muttered。
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CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
Two　hours　after　Confessor　Friedrich　had　bid　them　farewell；　the　crew　of　Last　Rites　II　were　nearing
completion　of　their　final　checks。　Together；　Siegler　and　Beans　went　over　every　single　track　link；
checking　and　oiling　the　heavy　iron　pins　that　held　them　together。　Metzger　tightened　the　latches　that
held　the　tow　cables；　entrenching　tools；　fire　axe；　bolt　cutters　and　numerous　other　essentials　in　place
on　the　tank’s　hull。
Wulfe；　not　content　to　supervise；　checked　each　of　the　vision　blocks　and　their　spares　for　cracks
before　turning　his　attention　to　the　vox…caster。　He　cycled　through　each　of　the　listed　channels　that
Exolon　would　be　using　in　the　field　until　he　was　satisfied　that　he　could　tune　into　any　of　them　at　the
flip　of　a　toggle。　Finishing　this；　he　took　off　his　headset　and　sat　back　in　his　command　seat。
Damn；　it’s　hot；　he　thought。　But；　once　we’re　under　way；　the　wind　should　cool　us　a　bit。
It　was　only　now；　with　his　hearing　unhindered　by　the　headset’s　mufflers；　that　he　heard　raised
voices　outside。
Recognising　them　at　once；　he　leapt　up　from　his　seat　and　hauled　himself　through　the　top　hatch。
From　his　cupola；　he　looked　down　to　the　left　and　saw　Metzger　and　Siegler　standing　off　against　Lenck
and　his　crew。　Beans　stood　off　to　one　side；　shuffling　anxiously。
“What　the　frak　is　going　on　here？”　Wulfe　shouted　down　at　Lenck　as　he　climbed　from　the　cupola；
and　then　leapt　from　the　track…guard　to　the　ground。　“What　the　hell　do　you　want；　Lenck？”
“An　apology　for　starters；　sergeant；”　said　Lenck。　“My　lads　and　I　were　just　on　our　way　back　from
the　supply　depot　when　your　brain…addled　idiot　of　a　loader　walked　right　into　us　and　spilled　half　our
coolant。”　He　gestured　at　two　jerrycans　lying　on　their　side　in　the　sand。
“Siegler？”　said　Wulfe。
“Groxshit；　sarge；”　replied　the　loader。　“They　were　walking　by　and　started　in　on　our　tank。”
“That’s　right；”　said　Metzger；　eyes　locked　on　Hobbs；　who　stood　directly　in　front　of　him；
shoulders　loose；　ready　to　lunge　forward。　“The　bastards　were　at　it。”
Wulfe　had　never　seen　Metzger　like　this　before。　He　looked　unusually　dangerous；　as　tall　and　rangy
as　ever；　but　with　teeth　bared　in　a　snarl；　long　arms　ready　to　lash　out。　He　looked　more　like　a　soldier　at
that　moment　than　at　any　other　time　in　the　months　Wulfe　had　known　him。　This　wasn’t　the　time　or
place　for　him　to　prove　his　boxing　skills；　though。　Brawling　would　mean　the　lash　if　Crusher　found　out。
“Le