Death World(¿Æ»ÃÕ½Õù)-µÚ32ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
saw¡¡where¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡walking¡¡corpses¡¡disappeared£»¡¡right£¿¡¡Well£»¡¡the¡¡next¡¡time¡¡they¡¡try¡¡climbing
out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡graves£»¡¡they¡¯ll¡¡have¡¡a¡¡nasty¡¡shock¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡¡¯em¡£¡¡Lorenzo£»¡¡Braxton£»¡¡you¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to
clearing¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡Once¡¡these¡¡babies¡¡are¡¡laid£»¡¡we¡¯re¡¡going¡¡to¡¡want¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡here¡¡real¡¡quick¡£¡±
¡°Yes£»¡¡sergeant£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Lorenzo¡£
Greiss¡¡had¡¡half¡turned¡¡away¡¡when¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡Braxton¡£
¡°Let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡your¡¡knife£»¡±¡¡he¡¡demanded¡£¡¡Braxton¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡the¡¡small£»¡¡blunt¡¡blade¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
using£»¡¡and¡¡Greiss¡¡expressed¡¡his¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡what¡¡he¡¡called¡¡an¡¡¡°Imperial¡¡pig¡sticker¡±¡£
Lorenzo¡¡had¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wearing¡¡two¡¡knives¡¡today£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¯d¡¡guessed¡¡where¡¡the
second¡¡had¡¡come¡¡from¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡widening¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sergeant¡¡drew¡¡Woods¡¯¡¡devil¡¡claw¡ªat
over¡¡a¡¡metre¡¡long£»¡¡more¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡than¡¡a¡¡knife¡ªand¡¡handed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Validian¡£¡¡¡°Here£»¡±¡¡he¡¡granted£»
¡°you¡¡should¡¡find¡¡it¡¡easier¡¡going¡¡with¡¡this¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡only¡¡a¡¡loan£»¡¡mind¡£¡±
Braxton¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡claw£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡it¡¡over¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¡He¡¡admired¡¡its¡¡well¡honed¡¡edge£»¡¡and
gauged¡¡how¡¡light¡¡and¡¡well¡¡balanced¡¡it¡¡was¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡its¡¡hollow¡¡blade£»¡¡half¡filled¡¡with¡¡mercury¡£
¡°Yes£»¡¡sergeant£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡full¡¡of¡¡awe¡£
¡°I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡now¡¡why¡¡you¡¡think¡¡so¡¡much¡¡of¡¡him£»¡±¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Validian£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Lorenzo¡¡were¡¡alone
together¡£¡¡Greiss¡¡and¡¡Armstrong¡¡were¡¡still¡¡some¡¡way¡¡behind£»¡¡laying¡¡mines£»¡¡and¡¡Myers¡¡and¡¡Storm¡¡had
taken¡¡this¡¡opportunity¡ªwhile¡¡their¡¡progress¡¡was¡¡impeded¡ªto¡¡fall¡¡back¡¡and¡¡hunt¡¡jungle¡¡lizards¡¡and
anything¡¡else¡¡they¡¡deemed¡¡edible¡£¡¡Lorenzo¡¡and¡¡Braxton¡¡were¡¡left¡¡with¡¡the¡¡repetitive¡¡and¡¡wearying
work¡¡of¡¡swinging¡¡their¡¡knives£»¡¡forging¡¡ahead¡ªthough¡¡Lorenzo¡¡had¡¡to¡¡admit£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡going¡¡a¡¡lot
faster¡¡now¡¡that¡¡Braxton¡¡was¡¡properly¡¡equipped¡£
¡°Who£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡°Sergeant¡¡Greiss¡£¡±
¡°Of¡¡course¡¡we¡¡do¡£¡¡He¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡that¡¡rank¡¡if¡¡he¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡earned¡¡the¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡±
¡°I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡realise¡£¡¡At¡¡first£»¡¡he¡¡seemed¡ªI¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡ªsurly£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¡Distant¡£¡¡Disapproving¡£¡±
¡°If¡¡you¡¯re¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡approach£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Lorenzo£»¡¡¡°I¡¯m¡¡afraid¡¡Catachan¡¡doesn¡¯t¡¡breed¡¡¡¯em
like¡¡that¡£¡±
82
¡°I¡¡guess¡¡not¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡seen¡¡Greiss¡¡in¡¡action¡ªthe¡¡way¡¡he¡¡leads¡¡from¡¡the¡¡front£»¡¡keeps¡¡this
squad¡¡together£»¡¡keeps¡¡us¡¡focused¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mission¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡he¡¡really¡¡does¡¡care
about¡¡his¡¡troopers£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡doesn¡¯t¡¡always¡¡±
¡°He¡¯d¡¡give¡¡his¡¡life¡¡for¡¡us£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Lorenzo¡¡simply£»¡¡¡°as¡¡we¡¡would¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡Your¡¡point¡¡is£¿¡±
¡°I¡¯m¡¡used¡¡to¡¡sergeants¡¡who¡¡do¡¡things¡¡by¡¡the¡¡book£»¡¡that¡¯s¡¡all¡£¡¡Same¡¡with¡¡the¡¡commissar¡£¡¡If
Mackenzie¡¡had¡¡survived£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡Greiss¡¡now¡¡±
¡°If¡¡he¡¯d¡¡been¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡look£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Lorenzo¡¡pointedly¡£
¡°Yes¡£¡¡I¡¡just¡¡think£»¡¡Mackenzie£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡like¡¡most¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡We¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡till¡¡we¡¡see¡¡for¡¡ourselves¡£¡¡I
can¡¯t¡¡imagine¡¡what¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡like¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡Greiss£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡being¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡on¡¡a
world¡¡like¡¡this¡£¡¡A¡¡deathworld¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¯m¡¡starting¡¡to¡¡understand£»¡¡and¡¡Mackenzie¡ªI¡¡think¡¡he¡¡would
have¡¡understood¡¡too£»¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡±
¡°You¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡he¡¯d¡¡have¡¡filed¡¡his¡¡complaint¡¡against¡¡Old¡¡Hardhead£¿¡¡You¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡he¡¯d
have¡¡had¡¡him¡¡shot£¿¡±
¡°We¡¯ll¡¡never¡¡know£»¡±¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Validian¡£¡¡¡°Best¡¡thing£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡is¡¡to¡¡let¡¡it¡¡lie¡£¡¡I¡¡certainly¡¡won¡¯t¡¡be
saying¡¡a¡¡thing¡£¡±
Lorenzo¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡agree¡¡when¡¡he¡¡spotted¡¡something¡£¡¡A¡¡triangle¡£¡¡Silver¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡have
mistaken¡¡it¡¡for¡¡an¡¡exotic¡¡leaf£»¡¡lying¡¡flat¡¡against¡¡a¡¡branch£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡pattern¡¡not¡¡connected¡¡with
something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡memory¡£¡¡A¡¡warning¡£¡¡Braxton¡¯s¡¡knife¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡towards¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡Lorenzo
batted¡¡it¡¡away¡¡even¡¡before¡¡his¡¡conscious¡¡mind¡¡remembered¡¡what¡¡the¡¡pattern¡¡represented¡£¡¡The
triangle¡¡wrinkled£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡snake¡¡head¡¡jerked¡¡out¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡it¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡stab¡¡at¡¡where¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡had
just¡¡been¡£
¡°I¡¡think¡¡we¡¡should¡¡both¡¡talk¡¡less£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Lorenzo£»¡¡¡°and¡¡pay¡¡more¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡where¡¡we¡¯re¡¡going¡£¡±
Braxton¡¡nodded¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡long¡¡before¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡up¡¡again¡£¡¡¡°I¡¡just¡¡wondered£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡°if¡¡I
should¡¡say¡¡something¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡Let¡¡them¡¡know¡£¡¡That¡¡they¡¡can¡¡trust¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡mean¡£¡±
Lorenzo¡¡smiled¡¡tightly¡£¡¡¡°They¡¡know¡£¡¡Old¡¡Hardhead¡¡in¡¡particular¡£¡±¡¡He¡¡indicated¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡claw¡¡in
Braxton¡¯s¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡°Trust¡¡me£»¡¡he¡¡knows¡£¡±
Then¡¡Greiss¡¡and¡¡Armstrong¡¡came¡¡pelting¡¡towards¡¡them£»¡¡sweeping¡¡Myers¡¡and¡¡Storm¡¡along¡¡in
their¡¡wake¡£
They¡¡had¡¡barely¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡halt¡¡when¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡explosions¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡rattled¡¡the¡¡ground
and¡¡shook¡¡leaves¡¡from¡¡their¡¡branches¡£¡¡The¡¡trap¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sprung¡£¡¡Greiss¡¯¡¡cruel¡¡grin¡¡exposed¡¡his¡¡teeth
and¡¡flared¡¡his¡¡nostrils¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡a¡¡minute£»¡¡listening¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shuffling¡¡footsteps¡¡of¡¡zombies£»
squinting¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡an¡¡ork£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡£
And£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡after¡¡that£»¡¡Braxton¡¡found¡¡a¡¡trap¡£¡¡A¡¡snare¡¡in¡¡the¡¡undergrowth£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡tighten
about¡¡the¡¡ankle¡¡of¡¡an¡¡unwary¡¡traveller¡¡and¡¡hoist¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡A¡¡sign£»¡¡Lorenzo¡¡agreed¡¡when¡¡the
Validian¡¡pointed¡¡it¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡orks¡¡had¡¡been¡¡here¡£¡¡Crafty¡¡orks¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡inspected¡¡the¡¡snare
more¡¡closely¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡fashioned¡¡from¡¡creepers¡ªbut£»¡¡far¡¡than¡¡having¡¡been¡¡knotted¡¡together¡¡by¡¡hand£»¡¡it
seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡grown¡¡into¡¡its¡¡unnatural¡¡shape¡£
¡°Rogar¡¯s¡¡still¡¡learning£»¡±¡¡he¡¡murmured¡¡as¡¡Braxton¡¡used¡¡his¡¡devil¡¡claw¡¡to¡¡slice¡¡through¡¡the¡¡snare¡£
¡°It¡¯s¡¡learning¡¡from¡¡us¡£¡±
They¡¡forged¡¡on¡¡well¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡making¡¡up¡¡for¡¡their¡¡late¡¡start£»¡¡until¡¡Lorenzo¡¯s¡¡body¡¡wanted
nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡to¡¡shut¡¡down¡£¡¡He¡¯d¡¡been¡¡running¡¡on¡¡adrenaline£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡even¡¡this¡¡was¡¡spent¡£¡¡The
acid¡¡rain¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡let¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡despite¡¡his¡¡precautions¡¡Lorenzo¡¯s¡¡face¡¡and¡¡neck¡¡were¡¡red¡¡raw¡£¡¡The
wound¡¡in¡¡his¡¡side¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡it¡¡was¡¡ablaze¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡Sergeant¡¡Greiss¡¡would¡¡ever¡¡call
a¡¡halt¡¡to¡¡this¡¡torture£»¡¡though¡¡of¡¡course¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡complained¡£
At¡¡last£»¡¡Greiss¡¡accepted¡¡that¡¡even¡¡his¡¡squad¡¡needed¡¡rest¡£¡¡He¡¡warned£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡didn¡¯t
have¡¡much¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡move¡¡out¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡ªand¡¡until¡¡then£»¡¡the¡¡Jungle¡¡Fighters
would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡watch¡¡in¡¡three¡¡shifts¡¡of¡¡two¡¡in¡¡case¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡light¡¡returned¡£
83
For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡Lorenzo¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡volunteer¡¡for¡¡first¡¡watch¡£¡¡Greiss¡¡detailed¡¡Myers¡¡and¡¡Storm¡¡to
that¡¡duty£»¡¡and¡¡Lorenzo¡¡was¡¡grateful¡¡to¡¡be¡¡placed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡and¡¡final¡¡watch¡¡with¡¡Armstrong£»
possibly¡¡in¡¡deference¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡both¡¡were¡¡wounded¡£¡¡Only¡¡as¡¡they¡¡set¡¡up¡¡camp¡ªpositioning
their¡¡plastic¡¡sheeting¡¡not¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡water¡¡tonight¡¡but¡¡to¡¡deflect¡¡the¡¡rain¡ªdid¡¡he¡¡realise¡¡how¡¡tired¡¡the
sergeant¡¡himself¡¡looked¡£
They¡¡built¡¡the¡¡biggest£»¡¡hottest¡¡fire¡¡they¡¡could£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡seen¡£¡¡They¡¡did¡¡it¡¡to
spite¡¡what¡¡they¡¡now¡¡saw¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their¡¡real¡¡enemy£º¡¡Rogar¡¡III¡£
Lorenzo¡¡was¡¡asleep¡¡almost¡¡before¡¡his¡¡head¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡had
only¡¡been¡¡closed¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡when¡¡the¡¡shouting¡¡began¡£
He¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dreaming¡¡again£»¡¡at¡¡first¡£¡¡That¡¡dream¡¡from¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡night£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡ork
camp£»¡¡when¡¡dead¡¡comrades¡¡had¡¡pulled¡¡him¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡to¡¡join¡¡them¡£¡¡Only¡¡this¡¡time¡¡it¡¡was
real£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡itself¡¡that¡¡pulled¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡Lorenzo¡¡was¡¡already¡¡half¡buried£»¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡stand£»
to¡¡tear¡¡himself¡¡free£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡gain¡¡leverage¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pull¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡only¡¡increased¡£
Quicksand£¿¡¡He¡¡was¡¡sinking£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡had¡¡been¡¡perfectly¡¡firm¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡down
on¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡fought¡¡the¡¡urge¡¡to¡¡lash¡¡out£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡would¡¡only¡¡go¡¡down¡¡faster¡£¡¡Somebody¡¡was
shouting¡¡his¡¡name£»¡¡yelling¡¡at¡¡him¡¡to¡¡wake£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡was¡¡still¡¡drumming¡¡on¡¡the¡¡plastic¡¡sheets
above¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡searing¡¡them¡¡brown¡£
This¡¡was¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡quicksand¡£¡¡Lorenzo¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡quicksand£»¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡hard¡¡it
was¡¡to¡¡actually¡¡drown¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡this¡ªthis¡¡was¡¡Rogar¡¡III¡¡itself£»¡¡grasping¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡drawing¡¡him¡¡to¡¡its
heart¡£¡¡His¡¡first¡¡instinct¡¡was¡¡to¡¡unsheathe¡¡his¡¡Catachan¡¡fang£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡use¡¡for¡¡it¡¡yet£»¡¡because
if¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡went¡¡under¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡it¡¡with¡¡them¡£
With¡¡a¡¡supreme¡¡effort£»¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡strong¡¡and
Myers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡caught¡¡sleeping¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡being¡¡sucked¡¡under¡£¡¡Greiss¡¡and¡¡Braxton¡¡were
standing¡¡but¡¡buried¡¡up¡¡to¡¡their¡¡knees£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡their¡¡watch¡¡when¡¡the¡¡planet¡¡had¡¡struck¡£¡¡It
was¡¡Braxton¡¡who¡¡had¡¡shouted£»¡¡presumably¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡see¡¡from¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡that¡¡Lorenzo¡¡had
already¡¡woken¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡campfire£º¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡pulled¡¡under¡¡and¡¡smothered¡£
Storm¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡better¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡knees¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mud£»¡¡but¡¡pulling
himself¡¡along¡¡with¡¡his¡¡powerful¡¡muscles£»¡¡almost¡¡swimming£»¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡clenched£»¡¡face¡¡red¡¡with
exertion£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Catachans¡¯¡¡small¡¡clearing¡¡and¡¡his¡¡flailing¡¡hand¡¡caught¡¡a
tree¡¡branch¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡something¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡on¡¡to¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡haul¡¡himself¡¡upright¡£
Lorenzo¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡Storm¡¯s¡¡example¡£¡¡But¡¡suddenly£»¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡seemed
to¡¡explode£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡recoiled¡¡and¡¡sank¡¡a¡¡little¡¡further¡¡as¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡erupted¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡it¡£¡¡A¡¡large£»
hunched¡¡figure¡¡with¡¡tusks¡¡protruding¡¡through¡¡a¡¡matted¡¡layer¡¡of¡¡plants¡¡and¡¡dirt¡£¡¡An¡¡ork¡¡zombie¡£
And¡¡there¡¡were¡¡more¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡bursting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡all¡¡across¡¡the¡¡clearing£»¡¡outnumbering
the¡¡Jungle¡¡Fighters¡¡and¡¡surrounding¡¡them¡£¡¡In¡¡contrast¡¡to¡¡their¡¡floundering¡¡targets£»¡¡they¡¡waded¡¡easily
through¡¡the¡¡mud£»¡¡their¡¡ponderous¡¡gait¡¡now¡¡seeming¡¡only¡¡too¡¡fast¡£
The¡¡nearest¡¡zombie¡¡loomed¡¡over¡¡Lorenzo£»¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡both¡¡fists¡¡above¡¡its¡¡head¡¡as¡¡it¡¡prepared¡¡to
strike¡¡him¡¡dead¡£
84
CHAPTER¡¡FOURTEEN
Loren