The Furred Reich
Page 26
“We did it, young man! Thanks in no small part to yourself and your American friend! The enemy’s gone. Oh, hell they may come back, but we’ll be ready for them.”
Hans smiled. Tex found his way over, as had the other wolven lieutenants. Even Peiper and his reunited officers joined the throng.
“This, Herr Gefreiter, this is a new world with some very different rules, though I think you know that already.”
“Yes, sir. I’ve journeyed through much of this world before finding Standartenfuehrer Peiper.”
“That’s right. And now we run unchecked. This is a chance. A chance to carve out whatever we want and take it!”
“Really,” Hans said. Curiosity edged him to get more out of the Generaloberst.
“So, what’s next for us, then?”
“The remaining wolf tribes, of course. Then we go for some of the other races. I’m going to need your help, too, Gefreiter!”
Peiper stared on with his arms crossed. Hans was very confused, but, after all, Dietrich was the superior officer.
“Of course, I’m honored to help, Herr Generaloberst.”
“That’s a good man. Everybody come here!” Sepp boomed out.
Wolff and Poetshke had joined Peiper. Hans felt their icy eyes on him, along with those of Tex, Sarah, the wolves, Kasha and all the others standing before himself and Sepp Dietrich.
“Shut up!” Sepp laughed.
“Everyone, I want you to give a toast, or a ‘heil,’ or whatever is in your heart right now. And I want you to give Gefreiter Hans. Hans is the one who found us out here, and he was the one who reunited me with my greatest officer. Together, we defeated the vile enemy. Never forget that you owe your freedom to Hans just as much as you do to Jochen or to me. So a shout to our friend Hans Hepner!”
“Heil!” “Hooray for Hans!”
The crowd soon broke apart, and alcohol was spread to Wolven and SS-man alike. More forest bonfires ignited and unfamiliar wolven songs rose up to the skies; songs of great deeds of men from times long past. Hans couldn’t quite understand the words, but then again, he didn’t need to.
Epilogue
“Hallo? Come in... Can anyone hear me?”
“I'm in some place. I'm out of fuel and I'm going to land immediately...”