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best　part　of　the　morning　looking　for　two　of　your　men—contrary　to　my　explicit　wishes—because
they　decided　to　go　for　a　stroll　in　the　night。”
“And　I　suppose　your　Validians　would　have　stayed　put？”　sneered　Greiss。
“My　Guardsmen　know　better　than　to　follow　pretty　lights　into　the　jungle；　sergeant。　That’s
because　they’ve　been　taught　self…control！　If　Trooper　Dougan　couldn’t　hold　himself　in　check；　then
we’re　better　off　without　him。”
Greiss’　voice　was　low；　but　the　threat　it　carried　was　unmistakeable。　“Don’t　push　me；　commissar。
I’ve　just　lost　a　good　man；　who　deserved　better　than　to　be　taken　down　without　a　scrap。　I’m　in　no
mood　for　this　right　now。”　He　handed　his　lasgun　to　Woods；　who　received　it　without　comment。
Mackenzie’s　eyes　bulged。　“Well；　I　don’t　have　to　wonder　where　troopers　like　Woods　and
Armstrong　here　learn　their　impudence！”　he　stormed。　“I’ve　had　enough；　Greiss。　I’ve　had　enough　of
this　attitude　of　yours—of　having　my　every　order　questioned　by　you。　As　far　as　I’m　concerned；　you
aren’t　fit　to　lead　a　squad　of　dung　beetles；　and　I’ll　be　saying　as　much　in　my　report！”
Greiss　drew　his　Catachan　fang；　weighed　it　in　his　hands　for　a　second；　then　handed　it　to　Woods。
“In　the　meantime。”　Mackenzie　continued；　“you　will　consider　yourself　demoted　to　the　rank　of
trooper。　Guardsman　Braxton　will　be　my　second…in…command　for　the　duration　of　this　operation。”
It　was　obvious　from　the　paling　of　Braxton’s　face　that　he　was　anything　but　happy　with　this
sudden　promotion。
Greiss　shucked　off　his　pack　and　rolled　up　his　sleeves；　slowly　and　deliberately。　Mackenzie　was
still　ranting　as　if　he　hadn’t　seen　what　was　coming。　It　occurred　to　Lorenzo　that；　had　he　been　here；
Dougan　would　have　been　the　one　to　step　in；　to　defuse　the　situation。　But　then；　Dougan　had　always
known　what　needed　to　be　said；　and　how　to　make　it　sound　polite　and　reasonable。　No　one　would　have
thanked　Lorenzo　for　interfering；　so　he　held　his　tongue。
Greiss’　first　punch　took　the　commissar　by　surprise。　It　snapped　his　head　around；　staggered　him
and　almost　made　him　lose　his　balance。　It　wasn’t　that　Mackenzie　hadn’t　seen　the　signs；　Lorenzo
realised—it　was　just　that　he’d　hardly　been　able　to　conceive　of　a　subordinate　actually　striking　him。
Even　now；　his　first　thought　was　for　his　lost　dignity。　He　was　steadying　himself；　pulling　himself　up　to
his　full；　unimpressive　height；　drawing　breath　to　remonstrate　with　Greiss；　when　a　second　fist
connected　squarely　with　his　jaw。
This　time；　Mackenzie　fell；　flipping　almost　head　over　heels　to　land　on　his　back；　losing　his　peaked
cap。　Greiss　planted　his　boot　on　the　commissar’s　chest　and　leered　down　at　him。　“That’s　for　what　you
said　about　Steel　Toe！”　Then　he　took　his　foot　away　and　turned　his　back　in　a　gesture　of　utmost
contempt。
Lorenzo　thought　it　was　over—until　Mackenzie　did　the　last　thing　he　had　expected。　He　sprang　to
his　feet；　and　with　a　speed　and　ferocity　that　Lorenzo　would　never　have　credited　to　him；　he　leapt　at
Greiss。
Greiss　heard　him　coming　and　half…turned；　as　Mackenzie　cannoned　into　his　side。　Jungle　Fighters
danced　out　of　their　way　as　they　careened　back　and　forth；　shifting　their　grips　on　each　other；　each
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looking　for　a　clear　shot　at　the　other。　Greiss　found　one　first；　and　delivered　a　punishing　blow　to
Mackenzie’s　stomach；　which　doubled　him　up　and　brought　his　chin　within　striking　distance。　Woods
let　out　a　passionate　“Yes！”　as　a　two…fisted　uppercut　left　the　commissar　stunned　and　reeling。　Greiss
bore　his　opponent　down　into　the　dirt；　but　Mackenzie　recovered　and　planted　a　foot　in　the　sergeant’s
stomach；　flipping　him　over　and　away　from　him。　Woods　winced　as　Greiss　landed　hard—and　then
Mackenzie　was　on　top　of　him；　and　it　was　all　Greiss　could　do　to　fend　off　his　punches。
The　rookie；　Landon；　looked　to　Armstrong　with　concern　in　his　eyes；　but　he　just　shook　his　head：
No。　We　stay　out　of　it。
Greiss　had　caught　Mackenzie’s　wrist　in　his　left　hand。　He　planted　his　right　arm　across　the
commissar’s　throat；　protecting　his　head　from　Mackenzie’s　free　fist　with　his　elbow。　He　pushed　up
with　both　knees。　Mackenzie’s　eyes　were　almost　popping　out　of　their　sockets　as　he　fought　to　retain
his　position。　He　was　good—far　better　than　Lorenzo　would　have　imagined—but　Greiss　was　better。
He　knew　his　body；　every　muscle　in　it；　like　he　knew　his　Catachan　fang。　He　knew　when　to　tense；
when　to　push；　when　to　shift　unexpectedly　so　that　Mackenzie　reacted　to　an　absent　force　and　unseated
himself。
Slowly；　inexorably；　Greiss　gained　the　advantage；　and　their　positions　were　reversed。　Greiss　had
the　commissar　pinned　now；　his　arm　resting　across　Mackenzie’s　windpipe；　his　eyes　blazing　with
ruthless　zeal　as　he　pressed　down　hard。　Mackenzie　kicked　and　scrabbled　at　the　arm　that　was　choking
him；　but　Greiss　wasn’t　giving　a　millimetre。　“Braxton；”　the　commissar　spluttered。
Braxton　had　almost　started　forward　once　already；　but　he’d　been　frozen　by　a　glare　from　Storm。
Now；　he　took　Sergeant　Greiss’　arms　in　a　nervous　grip；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　as　if　he　expected
the　rest　of　the　Jungle　Fighters　to　stop　him。　He　was　able　to　tear　the　sergeant　away　from　his　opponent
only　because　Greiss　chose　not　to　resist　him。　He　let　Braxton　haul　him　to　his　feet；　then　threw　off　the
Validian’s　hands　and　brushed　himself　down；　glaring　at　the　prone　Mackenzie　as　if　challenging　him　to
a　second　round。
Mackenzie　was　having　enough　trouble　trying　to　breathe。　As　soon　as　he　could；　he　lifted　a
trembling　finger　to　point　at　Greiss—a　feeble　attempt　to　assert　some　authority—and　he　wheezed；
“I’ll　have　you　court…martialled　for　this；　Greiss。　If　you　thought　Trooper　Dougan　died　an　undignified
death；　just　you　wait。　You’ll　end　your　days　in　front　of　a　firing　squad！　If　we　weren’t　on　radio　silence；
I’d　be　voxing　a　squad　of　Validians　to　come　and　collect　you　right　now。　And　the　rest　of　you…　You
just　stood　there　and　watched　while　this　man　assaulted　a　senior　officer。　You’ll　pay　for　this；　all　of　you。
When　I　make　my　report；　you’ll　pay　dearly。　You’ll　be　an　example　to　every　damn　Jungle　Fighter　in
the　Imperial　Guard！”
Mackenzie　picked　himself　up　and　marched　into　the　jungle；　with　a　curt　order　to　the　Jungle
Fighters　to　follow　him。　Braxton　looked　around　as　if　he　wanted　to　say　something；　then　thought　better
of　it　and　hurried　after　his　commissar。　The　others　gathered　their　equipment；　Myers　and　Storm
hoisting　Muldoon　between　them；　and　set　off　in　their　own　time。　Lorenzo　caught　the　looks　that　passed
between　the　others—Greiss　and　Woods　in　particular—and　he　suppressed　a　shiver。
Somehow；　he　doubted　the　commissar　would　ever　make　that　report。
The　going　was　easier　than　it　had　been　the　day　before；　and　the　squad　made　good　progress　though
they　were　in　sullen　spirits。　They　were　starting　to　get　the　measure　of　Rogar　III。　They　knew　which
plants　to　avoid—and　the　flower　sap　they’d　been　careful　to　reapply　to　their　skin　kept　the　biting
insects　away。　More　jungle　lizards　tried　to　pounce　on　them　from　the　trees；　like　the　one　that　had
attacked　Mackenzie—evidently；　this　was　their　latest　trick—but　the　Catachans　were　forewarned；　and
it　became　a　sport　to　them　to　pick　off　the　creatures　with　las…fire　in　midair。　Myers　was　the　champion
of　this　game；　of　course。
Braxton　broke　the　silence　to　express　his　admiration　at　the　speed　with　which　the　Jungle　Fighters
had　adapted　to　their　new　environment。　It　was　an　attempt　to　build　bridges；　but　it　fell　on　stony　ground。
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If　there　were　any　birds　left　in　the　vicinity；　they　were　keeping　a　low　profile。　Lorenzo　didn’t　hear　a
single　call。　But　the　memory　of　the　creatures　that　had　pressed　their　attacks　beyond　death　hung　over
the　squad　like　a　pall。
There　was　some　good　news；　though。　Muldoon　had　come　round　again；　and　this　time　he　was　quite
lucid。　Myers　and　Storm　continued　to　support　him　for　some　time　after　he’d　started　to　complain　that
he　could　walk　unaided。　They　fed　him　simple　questions　until　they　were　sure　he　was　in　control　of　his
faculties。　Muldoon　had　no　memory　of　anything　after　he’d　disturbed　the　hive；　so　Storm　had　to　fill
him　in　about　his　attack　on　Lorenzo。
“I　can’t　have　been　trying　too　hard；”　he　commented。　“I　seem　to　have　left　him　in　one　piece。”
Lorenzo　turned　to　him　with　a　grin。　“You’re　just　lucky　I　was　going　easy　on　you；　because　you
wer