But if Gaunt was tiring of him, if he’d pushed the friendship too far, then he’d get a posting. He’d get rotated out. He’d get a placement with some feth-knows regiment, and he’d probably end up smack on the line.
At the fething shitty end of the fething war.
Blenner killed the drink in one. He needed to be calm. He needed pills. He needed to call in a favour with Wilder.
Hark walked in.
‘The cortege is here,’ said Hark. ‘Where’s Gaunt?’
‘I haven’t seen him,’ said Blenner.
‘What’s up with you, Vaynom?’
‘Nothing,’ said Blenner. He forced a smile. ‘Nothing at all, Viktor.’
He walked out and left Hark staring, baffled.
‘Don’t get up,’ said Gaunt. Criid did anyway.
‘What’s the matter, sir?’ she asked. Gaunt stepped into her room and pulled the door closed.
‘I’ve been called to staff. I have to go.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
‘I wondered if you could–’
‘Of course,’ Criid said. ‘I was going anyway.’
Gaunt took off his armband and handed it to her.
‘And, Tona, I hoped you might explain–’
‘I will, sir,’ she said.
‘Express my apologies. Try to make Felyx understand.’
‘I will, sir,’ she said.
‘Thank you, captain.’
A crowd had gathered in the yard. Some had just come to look at the cortege out of curiosity. Others had come to stand in respect.
Felyx walked into the yard and approached the gloss black vehicles. He was wearing his number one uniform. He looked very drawn and solemn.
‘Where is… the militant commander?’ he asked.
Curth shook her head.
‘I’m sure he’s coming, Felyx,’ she said.
‘He’s late. I sent Dalin to find him,’ said Felyx.
Zwiel came over to stand with them. The three of them stared at their reflections in the smoked glass of the transport’s rear windows.
‘Saint Kiodrus Emancid is a good templum,’ said Zwiel. ‘A fine place. Very tall. I hear the ecclesiarch is a splendid fellow too. Not stupid, which is a benefit at times like this.’
He held out a small posey of flowers to Felyx.
‘Just a simple garland I made,’ he said. ‘For you to take. Islumbine.’
‘Where did you find islumbine?’ asked Curth, surprised.
‘I found it growing by the Sabbatine altar in the chapel near here,’ said Zwiel. ‘Nowhere else. It seemed like a blessing to me.’
He looked at Felyx.
‘They’re the holy flower, sacred to Saint Sabbat.’
‘I know what they are,’ said Felyx. He took the flowers.
Criid joined them. She looked tall and very commanding in her formal uniform. The black band was around her arm.
‘We’re waiting for Gaunt,’ Curth told her.
‘Dalin’s gone to fetch him,’ said Felyx.
‘Felyx,’ said Criid. ‘The militant commander has been called to the palace. A priority summons from staff. He sends his sincere apologies.’
‘Oh, that’s fething unbelievable,’ whispered Curth.
‘My father’s not coming?’ asked Felyx.
‘He is very sorry,’ said Criid. ‘He’s asked me to attend on his behalf, as captain of A Company, to represent the regiment.’
‘He can’t be bothered to come?’ Felyx asked.
‘It’s not like that,’ said Criid.
‘He can’t be bothered to come,’ said Felyx. ‘Fine. I don’t care. He can go to hell.’
‘Aw, look at that,’ whispered Meryn at the back of the crowd.
‘The little fether’s tearing up,’ said Gendler with far too much satisfaction in his voice. ‘Boo hoo! Where’s your high-and-mighty daddy now, you little brat?’
‘Typical,’ said Wilder. ‘Gaunt doesn’t care about anybody. Not even his own son.’
‘It’s tragic, is what it is,’ agreed Meryn.
‘I still want to know who’s paying for all this crap,’ muttered Wilder.
‘That would be Felyx Chass,’ said Blenner, appearing behind them. They straightened up fast.
‘As you were,’ said Blenner. ‘I was actually looking for you, Captain Wilder. Just checking in while I remembered. I wondered if… if any of your recent inspections had turned up any more contraband? Any pills, you know?’
Wilder glanced at Meryn and Gendler. Both pretended to look away, but Meryn shot Wilder a wink.
‘Pills, commissar?’ replied Wilder. ‘Yes, I think I might have stumbled on some somnia, just yesterday.’
‘Deary me,’ said Blenner. ‘Well, I had better take that into my safekeeping as soon as possible.’
‘I’ll go and get it for you directly, sir,’ said Wilder.
‘We really should find out where that stuff’s coming from,’ said Meryn idly. ‘Someone could end up with a nasty habit.’
‘That would be unfortunate, captain,’ Blenner agreed.
‘So, the boy?’ Gendler said to Blenner. ‘Gaunt’s son, he paid for this rigmarole?’
‘Yes, Didi,’ said Blenner. ‘Deep pockets, that one, apparently. Rich as feth. Just sent a message to the counting house to access funds.’
‘Did he now?’ echoed Gendler. ‘Well, well.’
Dalin hurried up the stairs to the hab floor where Gaunt’s quarters lay. There was no sign of Gaunt anywhere, and the cortege was waiting.
There was someone in Gaunt’s office, though. He heard voices through the half-open door, and went to knock.
He paused.
‘Can you do it, Viktor?’ Kolea was asking. ‘Can you authorise it?’
‘It’s highly unorthodox, major,’ Hark replied. ‘I mean, highly. But I seem to have more robust clout with the Munitorum these days. I’ll get on the vox and place the request.’
‘Will Gaunt have to know?’ asked Kolea.
A pause.
‘No, we can keep this between us, for now. It’s rather personal, after all. If anything comes of it, we can decide how we talk to him about it.’
‘Thanks, Viktor.’
‘Come on, Gol. Don’t mention it. I can see how important this is. Do you know, does Vervunhive maintain its own census database, or is it a planetwide list?’
‘Vervunhive has its own census department. I remember them sending the forms out every five years. Births, deaths, marriages. The usual.’
‘And you just want a confirmation of recorded gender?’ asked Hark.
‘Boy or girl, Viktor. That’s all I want to know.’
Dalin froze, his hand reaching for the doorknob.
They knew. They had fething worked it out.
‘What are you hovering there for, trooper?’ said a voice behind him.
Dalin wheeled. It was Major Pasha. There were several men with her. Tall, stern-looking men in cold grey uniforms.
‘S-sorry!’ Dalin stammered.
‘I’m looking for Major Kolea,’ said Pasha. ‘I was told he’d come up here.’
‘He’s inside, I think,’ said Dalin, gesturing to the door.
Pasha knocked and entered.
‘Can I help you, major?’ Hark asked with a smile. His grin faded as he saw the men behind Pasha.
‘These gentlemen, sir,’ said Pasha. ‘They’re looking for Major Kolea. They say they’ve come to fetch him.’
Colonel Grae stepped into the room, flanked by the intelligence service security detail he had brought with him.
‘Major Kolea,’ he said.
‘Colonel Grae,’ Kolea replied.
‘I’m sorry, Kolea,’ said Grae. ‘I need you to come with me.’