The Furred Reich (32 page)

A chorus of giggles followed the wolf’s last words. Sepp’s pack seemed very amused tonight, almost ecstatic. The Waffen-SS was in an altogether different mood. When Hans found Peiper, the Standartenfuehrer was sitting outside at a round table next to Poetschke and a few others Hans didn’t recognize. The orange-yellow flames of a nearby bonfire illuminated their solemn faces as they spoke with one another. Peiper raised his hand when he saw Hans.

“Gefreiter! Come join us for a moment,” Peiper smiled, or at least tried his best to.

Sarah, Tex and himself came over to the hardwood table, which itself looked like a relic of the Fatherland. They sat down next to Peiper, although his reunited lieutenants looked suspiciously at Tex.

“Herr Hepner, I hope, can be our guide to the outside world while we build something worthwhile for the future.”

“That is an interesting plan, sir.”

“Yes, my men tire of living in trenches and bunkers. Look over there, these wolves are drunk on victory. Wouldn’t you agree, Gefreiter?”

“I’m not so sure, sir. I think we might have really won this time.”

Jochen shook his head again.

“That may be, but an officer’s job is to watch over those who came here. After five years of war, we’ve lost far too many of our own to be jubilant like these wolves are. Tonight their homeland may be free, but ours is not.”

“But sir,” Hans retorted, “Uh, if I may say. It seems this world is our home now. Maybe that’s why we’re here. Maybe fate’s giving us a second chance?”

Peiper put down his coffee cup and thought in silence for a moment.

“Maybe. If this is indeed our second chance, then we’ll have to make this our new home. When that job is complete, I’ll celebrate just as the wolves are doing tonight.”

Hans felt too intimidated to break out the alcohol with the Leibstandarte. They’d likely not be amused, so Hans excused himself, took Sarah by the paw and went back out to join what was quickly turning into revelry. Rune-painted wolves and German soldiers were talking and laughing freely. Tex found himself at home in the festive atmosphere, and was soon wildly banging drums and laughing with new friends. Hans even saw SS-men with their arms around friendly she wolves. Suddenly a roaring cheer blew in from the distance.

“Hey Master Sepp is coming! Everybody Achtung!” One of the wolves yelled out.

Indeed it was ‘Master Sepp.’ Against the waning sunset he rode in mounted on a white horse, leading a column of wolves in from the plains. Sepp was dressed differently this time. He had the same general’s uniform, but with longer, decorative furs draped over his shoulders and down his back. He had a spear in one hand and a reign in the other, and the wolves behind him cheered and raised their weapons in unison.

Soon the shouting spread to the camp, and Hans watched as the ‘Lightning Rune Tribe’ crowded around their savior. Sepp dismounted and offered a hand to the young wolfess riding just behind him. The young woman took his hand and hopped off with a smile, the blue marks on her thigh glowing brightly.

“Sepp is the Wolven King! And with Sepp we’ll rule the whole continent!”

That declaration got a wide round of cheers. Sepp looked about the crowd, and called out when he found Sarah and Hans.

“Young man, I’m not sure where you got those, but if there ever was a time to drink it is now!” Dietrich chortled and took the case off Hans.

“Um, even in front of the enlisted?” Hans asked.

“In all our lifetimes, moments like these haven’t come by very often. Someone! Bring me two horns!”

Within a moment two empty animal horns were in Sepp’s hands. Dietrich poured the beer in both and gave one to Hans, then poured one for himself and drank. The crowd gathered loosely around them and watched with curiosity. The difference between Dietrich and Peiper was day and night. Hans picked up the horn and gulped down the snow-cold brew with Sepp.

“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...”