knew the ways of Jah at the priestly level, and fit all the criteria, especially considering the available space in the seminary that the orphanage was supposed to have at that time. But the gift of convincing others in his faith, using a full understanding of the power of the Black Stone for all chums, not for one particular one — this favorite novice did not have. And Guzokh, by virtue of his fundamental conservative principles, could not allow himself to become a priest of such a plague… Fate had decreed that in its place he became an eschekist.

— Ah… It is you, my son… What a pleasant meeting. — Guzoh smiled. In a way, he was pleased that the once homeless child had achieved something in his life.

— Yes, I understood what you said about me not being able to strengthen others in the faith by being a priest. It really would be inappropriate… So I decided to defend the faith as best I could. Interesting twist. Up to this point, all the information that Guzokh had about the burning of Bazankhra included just a few simple points. One, the chief of the SCK had ordered the chapel to be equipped on the fly without the sanction of the holy Church, which was an attempt by an unordained chum on the holy sacrament. Second, the chapel turned out to be equipped, in fact, in a just-abandoned lagoon, which was a sacrilege. And, third, intimidation and threats to the

Metropolitan Priest himself by an official of the Empire, which was the highest degree of apostasy, not counting sorcery. Guzokh was more than sure that Samokh had simply brought the SSchekist to the last point, and the second was a coincidence. But now it didn't seem to be a coincidence in the choice of a place for the chapel, because the one who was responsible for the choice was obviously the one who, among all the S.S.C. men here, and maybe not only here, could choose the ideal place, not to mention not to choose the inadmissible one. Divinhr knew all the peculiarities of religious rituals too well.

So there was more to Samoh's visit than that. He didn't rely on intuition and improvisation alone. And he's not as simple and battering ram as he seems. Looks like a worthy student of his teacher…

— Divinhr, my son. — Putting his hand on the shoulder of the SR, the Metropolitan said. — You are seriously exposing yourself to danger… You must realize that you also have your own superiors…..

— I made my choice a long time ago, Your Eminence. — And I have never once regretted it… And the fact that I will have to wear worldly clothes for the rest of my days, I have long since accepted that….

— Realize, my son, that if anything wrong happens… And even I can't help you…..

— With all due respect to you, Your Eminence. — Divinhra's gaze changed and became somewhat menacing. — I only said all that to make you realize that it is you who should be careful, not me.

One didn't even have to go on. He was obviously in direct communication with Samoh, and maybe even with Nevroh. They'd obviously promised him full protection for service, information, or whatever. In a way it was even a surprise — it turns out not only the SCK has its plagues among the priests, but the Church has its plagues among the SCK, and in a way that is not even rumored.

It was not for nothing that he had once shuddered at the idea of Nevroch becoming patriarch. He was too powerful and ambitious. Too much on his own mind, no matter what others said or thought. He wanted too much even for the head of the Church. And the result was this: the Inquisition has its punitive units, so that a week of repentance is not even necessary. Instead of bending the plagues to the faith with subsequent forgiveness — immediate burning. And the employees of the SCK in reality are themselves failed priests. Is that what the Jah faith was aiming for when we affirmed the faith of the Black Stone?

And now he, the metropolitan, who all his life was faithful to the holy rules, fulfilled them and carried them everywhere in the world. Now he's being warned not to poke his nose into other people's business… Other people's business. This word alone means what it means… The affairs of faith can be called "alien" for the metropolitan…..

He used to think he'd just be removed if anything happened. Given some non-serious position away from the Center to keep him out of the way. Now. Everything looked completely different… Now, at best, he would be killed quietly and blamed on some personal score or accident. And at worst… Neuroch and Samokh's imagination is not lacking. And they have enough tools… They can trade him in the war with SCK, pretending to be a valuable figure, but in fact just getting rid of the ballast. They can also leak "compromising" materials to the SCK through their own chums, and he will be accused of high treason. And maybe something else….

And how well I remember that look in Samoh's eyes when he said that he would find "the heresy that he had overlooked" and "that it was something to think hard about." Yeah. It really is something to think about. And to take a few more steps, not to moderate the fervor of the Inquisition, but to protect oneself from the Inquisition.

Chief SCK

The chief of the Slavyansk column was on an outing near Luhansk, looking into a Maquis sabotage seven months ago. At that time, the SCK and Imperial Army units had been ambushed: the Maquis had fired on them and blown up a tunnel. Then the tunnel also flooded. He claimed at the time that he had only lost two of his Boers and several Imperial Army