"Ho, yez," Maxim agreed, nodding. "Cavalry officer, even if after all dis time I have lost my horse. Waz a nize horse." He chuckled a bit at that.

"De Heterodynes, dey may be krezy, but dey all seem to believe in rewarding goot service." So at least in Maxim's mind, what he had become was a reward. Well, longetivity, enhanced strength, resilience, heightened senses...hard for him to argue with that.