"I do not know," he said, almost too soon. He's not used to saying that he didn't know, even though the state of not knowing characterised much of his existence. He didn't know and he wasn't expected to know - heaven forbid he start thinking about things, and asking questions.
A general who operated mostly on 'don't think, just do' - maybe God did have a sense of irony and liked putting His chess pieces in awkward positions.
"Maybe it is I," he confessed as he averted his gaze, a fleeting moment of uncertainty, fragility, vulnerability witnessed only by the one he loved, the one he most respected and admired, perfect in too many ways to count.