The saint spread his hands. “We knew that Carter would fight. He is stubborn in his heresy, and there are many like him in his group.”

“No, Honored One, I do not believe that Carter or any of his people killed them. Whoever took them did it quietly and with great skill.”

“What level of skill?”

Brother Peter’s face was as bland as ever, but his eyes were alight. “Possibly as good as me. And around the bodies I found animal tracks.”

“A dog?” asked Saint John.

“A very large dog.”

“Ah,” said Saint John, raising his eyebrows. “You think he’s back? The ranger?”

“Yes, Honored One, I do . . . although that confuses me. Am I mistaken, or did not Brother Alexi swear that he killed the ranger? Did he not swear before God that he smashed the life out of him with his great hammer?”

“He did say so,” agreed Saint John.

Brother Peter began to add something to that, but he bit it back. However, Saint John nodded as if the rest had been spoken.

Mother Rose had said she witnessed her pet giant kill this particular heretic. This mercenary who served the evil ones—the doctors and scientists; this killer who preyed on the reapers.

They studied each other for a long moment, each of them calculating the implications of that.

“Someday soon,” murmured the saint, “we will have a discussion with Brother Alexi.”

“Most assuredly,” agreed Brother Peter, and his eyes were hard as metal. “But . . . if Brother Alexi has fallen from grace, what does that say about Mother Rose? They are inseparable. He does not scratch an itch without her say-so.”

Saint John placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “We must be vigilant, but we must not leap to judgment. The truth always finds the light, you know this?”

“Yes.”

“Then be patient. God has set many tasks before us. We have to find and end the rest of Carter’s heretics and send them into the darkness. We must find Sister Margaret and make sure that she tells only us how to find Sanctuary . . . and not her mother. This is of paramount importance.”

“Silencing her voice would be easy enough. . . .”

“Don’t underestimate her,” cautioned Saint John. “Remember how talented she was. Had she not fallen from grace, her skill could have rivaled your own.”

Brother Peter gave an elaborate shrug. “I welcome the opportunity to test that.”

“Do not give her the slightest chance. As far as the ranger, Joe . . . we need to find him before he can do more harm. Every time he kills one of ours and is not punished for it, a seed of doubt is planted in the hearts of our reapers. This man must be found.”

“Yes, Honored One.”