had been traveling for three. There was no hurry. The rumors had to get out in time, they had to intimidate, and in a way that would make all the nearby S.S. officers realize that they'd be better off just folding up peacefully and not interfering with his work. In the end he showed that he only needed one chum.

He will also need only one in the Diza sector. Give it to him and he would be gone. No surprises…

He'd been thinking about this formation and despite previous success, he didn't quite like it. This one had been Nevroch's recommendation. But he could be wrong too, especially since that latent influence that was in the Korsa sector in the Deese sector no longer existed. There aren't any high-ranking bosses there who once dreamed of being priests… But on the other hand, the

SSchekists are common plagues. They also want to live a quiet life, so that no one can prevent them from resting on their deserved laurels in their old age… Yes, and they are afraid, among other things, that they will be torn apart if they just give Ananhr to the Inquisitors… Did Nevrokh not think about this?

The train slowed down. Then another. And another. And then it stopped. Half a minute later there was a knock at the door. He had the center carriage, occupied entirely by himself, furnished and decorated as befitted a high minister of the Church. The communication between the front and rear of the train was by means of the roof alone, specially equipped with railings on the sides. This was, of course, very convenient, but on the other hand it made it stand out from all the others.

— Come in. — The Metropolitan said loudly.

His assistant showed up, a very young but very faithful novice taken on duty from the Empire's central temple in Chum Batu:

— Your Eminence, the tracks have been destroyed. About 10 to 15 meters of railroad track… There are Hiwi units on duty nearby. They said there was a Maquis raid yesterday. They beat them off, but they blew up the tracks. What are we supposed to do?

— Get me the guy in charge from the chiwi… And don't forget the translator.

So much for the news. Of course, he expected something like this, but not like this. Some poppies, you see. After they've just been trashed? That they'd just show up and blow up some tracks? 10–15 meters can be repaired in one day at most. But a raid like this, you could lose a whole group. Considering how many Kiwis there are in the area now, and how entrenched they are, it's unlikely that any of even the most zealous rebels would risk it now. No matter how much it might hurt their honor issues… So, either the Kiwis or the S.S.C. were blown up, which doesn't really make much difference….

What if he'd arrived at once, instead of waiting in Korsa's sector first, and had not waddled all the way back here? If he had done it his own way instead of listening to his patron? It happens that even such experienced minds as Nevrokh are wrong about something… But are they? Maybe it really was the Maquis. And then not only would have blown up the tracks, but perhaps even him and the train? Not all of them, of course, but his carriage stands out… We should take these railings off the roof — let them get there as they want, or wait for the next stop. It's not so important that someone goes from the tail to the head of the train while it's moving. But showing everyone where the supervisor sits is not a good idea. Especially when passing through neighborhoods full of saboteurs….

_A few novices entered the room first, then a couple of chums from the punitive drill, and then a not particularly sturdy-looking man in camouflage. He was unarmed now, but judging by the outfit and the unloading bags, he'd had plenty of weapons up to this point.

— Ask him how long ago the paths were blown up," Samokh told the novice who knew Russian.

Heavey listened attentively and answered immediately:

— Ten hours ago.

— And how many Maquis have you destroyed?

— About twenty people. We don't have an exact number. The Maquis take the bodies of the dead with them.

— How long will it take you to recover your tracks?

— We've already sent for a repair crew. We'll have it fixed in a day or two… But you should be wary of the Maquis. They may attack again.

No exciting news. Of course, he said it as expected. Whether it was a Maquis invasion or not, the answers would have to be. Since he's standing here in front of him and calmly telling it all. I wonder how these chiwis behave with their handlers from the SCK? Do they report calmly, or do they show up with their enemies' heads in potato sacks? Or do they get down on one knee and stare sullenly at the floor until they are allowed to speak? How does that happen? I also wonder how many of them there are? Well, the CCC has never given an exact number. One, two legions or so. But that's what they tell other people. And in reality? In practice, when has the CCC ever told the truth?

— Tell him there's no point in posting guards for us. We're going back. And tell them to fix that road, because we'll be back again tomorrow.

The novice conveyed all the instructions to the chiwi and then departed. Samoh called to him the captain who was in charge of the punitive drill, Rambanhra:

— We're gonna head back now. Make sure we're out of their sight. We need to go back about two kilometers. And stop the train. You got it?

Rambanhr tapped his boots and looking straight ahead, asked:

— Permission to proceed, Your Eminence?

— Do it.

"I