Struggle: The Path to Power - Владимир Андерсон

imperial administration, the CCC, and the laws of Silan-Zhakh, so that they would not be punished by the Holy Inquisition.

Guzokh saw all this attitude in the plagues. They didn't have the greatness that was promoted by the imperial power. A great will to rule other peoples or a desire to learn the power of the Black Stone. Most were simply afraid of blows from right, left, and back. From various departments and organizations. And in all this routine, most of the Chum felt even more insignificant than the people clothed in slave chains.

Now the Slavic Column was supposed to use an unspoken resource. What Guzokh was responsible for, the rank-and-file workers and employees, were already in difficult conditions, and it was clearly not reasonable to expect anything objectively reasonable from them. To force them to knock in the week of repentance to the BCC was as unreasonable as it was insane.

— No one would deny you a personal appearance. — Guzok remembered the words of the head of the Seimas to another metropolitan priest, and shook his head dejectedly. It all seemed like a simple set-up — to send him to a place where he should already be walking on coals, when even in a normal situation, there was nowhere for success to come from. They just want to get him out of the way, and do it under the guise of his unskilled work. And then to say that it's a pity, but in such a place one expects quite different results.

He had two of his subordinates with him. Slow in their work, but in this case very suitable. They were loyal. To the code of Silan-Jah, and most importantly, to their chief.

The imperial army guard who met them asked them to wait for an officer from the SCS to arrive, as they could not be let in without his knowledge. The entire convoy, which had recently been handed over to the JFK, was supposed to have army units, but only to maintain security, and that was the end of their authority.

An officer from the SCK arrived very quickly, introduced himself as the deputy head of the district office, "We are honored by your arrival, Metropolitan Priest Guzoh. How can we be of service to our Jah faith?"

It's always like this from them. The CCC pay lip service to being the most polite and respectful to everything related to the Church. And everyone associated with it. But that's where it ends. They shamelessly recruit priests of any rank, make them snitch on each other, and sometimes even bring them to trial in cases of state treason, which are considered, of course, behind closed doors and without publicizing the details. And although they had never gotten to the level of a metropolitan priest before, nothing prevented them from doing it for the first time…

— Repentance week… We have come to herald the beginning of repentance week. — Guzoh answered him.

— I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but it's impossible.

— Impossible?! — The priest seemed outraged to hear such a word, especially so from the doorstep.

— Yes, Your Holiness. Last month the 120th Degree already held a week of penance, and you know better than I do that only two weeks of penance can be held per year with a gap of at least 100 days… Still, only the wisdom of our patriarchs in the sacred observance of the Jah faith can correctly interpret our dogmas… They are incomprehensible to us. We can only believe in them…"

Guzoh was stunned. All these words and the approach itself were regularly practiced in the Church and quite successfully. And to expect a colonel from the secret service to speak in such a way was not at all to be expected. It is simply amazing how careerism can transform both approach and abilities. But still. It's not about this secret service man. The patriarch certainly knew what was going on locally, and that the other sector had already held a week of repentance, and was clearly not using an unspoken resource in doing so. Otherwise the conversation would be different now… This whole thing smelled like a setup for himself again. Sending him to a place where he doesn't have the opportunity or the tools. He was obviously going to be removed from his position… But that was not why he had climbed up so long to jump back down.

— I understand. — replied the priest. — Surely you know the results of the week of penance?

— We cannot meddle in the affairs of the holy Church. — the SS man smiled. — Of course, we have requested information to keep us informed. But we can only get it with the permission of your authorities.

He's making fun of me. And he emphasized on the word "your" as if he is facing the priest who conducted the last week of repentance two weeks ago… I wonder if anyone really believes that the BCC is not aware of these movements?

— Colonel, do you believe in the Sylan-Jah rule book?

— Of course, we are the Church's most dedicated supporters. And we are always ready to help you.

How can we help the holy Church?

High-minded empty words. They'll do anything they want and nothing they don't want. And every time they'll come up with a beautiful explanation. And then they will fabricate a case against whoever is most convenient to remind them who is really in charge.

— Find me a proper office. I will stay in the column for a while… I hope for your full support.

— I dare not refuse, Your Holiness.

Bolotnikov

A dark basement and equally dark thoughts in it. Major Bolotnikov entered the room and looked at the prisoner. The sack had already been removed from his head, and now his eyes stared languidly down in front of him. It was as if he had nothing to lose, as if he had already lost his life long ago.

— You