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to retire and settle a new world somewhere； out among the stars。 And knowing this — knowing he
was leaving his world and his people for good — your great…grandfather’s heart was heavy as he
said farewell to his family and made ready to report for muster。
“Though it may have felt like his heart was breaking then； your great…grandfather was a good
and pious man。 Wise beyond his years； he knew mankind is not alone in the darkness。 He knew the
Emperor is always with us。 Same as he knew that nothing happens in all the wide galaxy without the
Emperor willing it to be so。 And if the Emperor had willed that he must leave his family and his
homeworld and never see them again； then your great…grandfather knew it must serve some greater
purpose。 He understood what the preachers mean when they tell us it isn’t the place of Man to know
the ways of the Emperor。 He knew it was his duty to follow the course laid out for him； no matter
that he didn’t understand why that course had been set。 And so trusting his life to the Emperor’s
kindness and grace； your great…grandfather left his homeworld to go find his destiny among the
stars。
“Now； the years that followed then were hard ones。 Although he would never speak of it much
afterwards； in his time as a Guardsman your great…grandfather saw more than his fair share of
wonders and horrors。 He saw worlds where billions of people lived right on top of each other like
insects in giant towers； never able to breathe clean air or see the sun。 He saw worlds that lay gripped
all year long in perpetual winter； and dry desert worlds that never saw a flake of snow nor felt a drop
of rain。 He saw the blessed warriors of the holy Astartes — god…like giants in human form； he called
them — and great walking machines so big this entire farmhouse would fit inside one of their
footprints。 He saw terrors by the score； in the shape of all manner of twisted xenos and things even
ten times worse。
“Though he faced a thousand and more dangers； though he was at times wounded and seemed
close to death； still his faith in the Emperor never faltered。 Five years become ten。 Ten became
fifteen。 Fifteen became twenty。 And still your great…grandfather followed his orders without thought
of complaint； never once asking when he would be released from service。 Until at last； nearly thirty
years after he’d first been conscripted； he was posted to Jumael IV。
“’Course this world didn’t mean much to him then。 Not at first。 By then he’d seen dozens of
different planets； and at first sight Jumael didn’t seem to have anything much to recommend it more
than most。 His regiment had just finished a long campaign； and they had been sent to Jumael to rest
up and recuperate for a month before being shipped out to war once more。 By then your great11
grandfather didn’t have too many wars left in him。 Oh； he tried to put a brave face on it； never
complaining。 But he was getting old； and the wounds he’d sustained in thirty years of battles were
starting to take their toll。 Worst of all was his lungs — they’d never healed right after he breathed a
mouthful of poison gas on a world called Torpus III； yet still he didn’t waver in his duty。 He had
given his life over to the service of the Emperor； and he was content that it was at the Emperor’s
will whether he lived or died。
“Then one day； as the time grew closer when they would be leaving Jumael； news came among
the regiment of something extraordinary。 Emperor’s Day was coming； and with it the thirtieth
anniversary of the founding of their regiment。 As an act of celebration it was decreed that lots would
be drawn from among all the men； and whichever man won would be released from service and
allowed to remain behind when the regiment left Jumael。 A lottery that； for one man among
thousands； might well mean the difference between life and death。 As the day of the lottery came
upon them there was a sudden outbreak of piety among the men； as each man in the regiment prayed
fervently to the Emperor to be the one to be chosen。 All except your great…grandfather。 For though
he prayed to the Emperor every morning and night； it was never his way to ask for anything for
himself。”
“And so great…grandfather won the lottery？” Larn asked； breathless with excitement and no
longer able to keep his peace。 “He won it； and that’s how he came to live on Jumael？”
“No； Arvie；” his father smiled benignly。 “Another man won。 A man from the same squad as
your great…grandfather； who’d fought by his side through thirty years of campaigning。 Though that
man could’ve just taken his ticket and walked away； he didn’t。 Instead； he looked at your greatgrandfather
with his worn…out face and half…healed lungs and handed him the ticket。 You see； he’d
decided your great…grandfather needed to be released from service more than he did。 And that’s how
your great…grandfather came to settle on Jumael IV； through the kindness and self…sacrifice of a
comrade。 Though in the years to come； your great…grandfather would always say there was more to
it than that。 He would say sometimes the hand of the Emperor can be seen in the smallest of things；
and that it was the Emperor who had decided to work through this man to save his life。 In the end it
was a miracle of sorts。 A quiet miracle； perhaps； but a miracle all the same。”
With that； his father fell silent again。 Looking at him Larn could see the first beginnings of tears
shining wetly in his eyes。 Then； at length； his father spoke once more； his every word heavy with
barely suppressed emotion。
“You see now why I thought you should hear the tale； Arvie？” he said。 “Tomorrow； just like
your great…grandfather before you； you’re going to have to leave your home and your kin behind；
never to return。 And； knowing full well you may have some hard years ahead of you； before you left
I wanted you to hear the tale of your great…grandfather and how he survived。 I wanted you to be able
to take that tale with you。 So that no matter how dark； even hopeless； things might seem to you at
times； you’d know the Emperor was always with you。 Trust to the Emperor； Arvie。 Sometimes it’s
all that we can do。 Trust to the Emperor； and everything will be all right。”
No longer able to keep the tears from flowing； his father turned away so his son could not see his
eyes。 While his father cried into the shadows Larn sat there with him as long uncomfortable
moments passed； struggling to find the right words to soothe his grief。 Until finally； deciding it was
better to say something than nothing at all； he spoke and broke the silence。
“I’ll remember that； Pa；” he said； the words coming with faltering slowness from him as he tried
to choose the best way of saying it。 “I’ll remember every word of it。 Like you said； I’ll take it with
me and I’ll think of it whenever things get bad。 And I promise you： I’ll do what you said。 I’ll trust to
the Emperor； just like you said。 I promise it； Pa。 And something else。 I promise； you don’t have to
worry about me doing my best when I go to war。 No matter what happens； I’ll always do my duty。”
“I know you will； Arvie；” his father said at last as he wiped the tears from his eyes。 “You’re the
best son a man could have。 And when you’re a Guardsman； I know you’ll make your Ma and me
proud。”
12
CHAPTER TWO
12：07 hours Jumal IV Central Planetary Time
（Western Summer Adjustment）
Marching Practice — Conversations with Sergeant Ferres — A Meal Among Comrades
“Hup Two Three four。 Hup two three four。” Sergeant Ferres yelled； keeping pace with the men of
3rd Platoon as they marched the dusty length of the parade ground。 “You call that marching？ I’ve
seen more order and discipline in a pack of shithouse rats。”
Marching in time with the others； painfully aware of his own visibility； Larn found himself
silently praying his feet kept in step。 His place midway along the platoon’s left outer file put him out
in plain view right under the sergeant’s eyes。 The two months’ worth of basic training he had
endured so far had left him with few illusions as to what happened to those who failed to live up to
the sergeant’s exacting standards。
“Keep your feet up；” the sergeant screamed。 “You’re not courting in the wheat fields with your
cousins now； you inbreeds！ You are soldiers of the Imperial Guard； Emperor help us。 Put some vim
into it。” Then； seeing the platoon was nearly at the far edge of the parade ground； Ferres yelled
again； his voice strident and shrill with command。 “Platoon。 About face。 And march。”
Turning smartly on his heel with the others； as they resumed marching Larn found himself
feeling dog…tired and exhausted。 So far today； like each of the sixty days before it； Ferres had had
them running training exercises since dawn。 Marching； weapons drill； kit inspection； hand…to…hand
training； basic survival skills： every day was a never…ending series of challenges and tests。 Larn felt
he had learnt more in the last two months than he had in his entire life。 Yet； no matter how much he
and the rest of the platoon learned or how well you did； none of it seemed to satisfy their vengeful
sergeant。
“Hup two three four。 Keep in step； damn you；” th