The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第33章

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Some　amongst　the　ordos　said　he　was　a　rogue。　Others　said；　in　low；　private　voices；　much　worse。
To　me；　he　was　a　great　man　who　had　perhaps　gone　too　far。　I　simply　honoured　his　memory　and　his　achievements。
Because；　as　far　as　I　had　been　concerned；　he　was　long　dead。
'COULD　HE　STILE　be　alive？'　Neve　asked。
'Madam；　not　at　all…'　Cutch　began。
'I　don't　know　why　you　employ　him；'　I　said；　pointing　dismissively　at　the　Cadian　savant。　'His　advice　isn't　sound。'
'Well　really！'　Cutch　huffed。
'Shut　up　and　go　away；'　Neve　told　him。
She　stalked　across　to　me　and　took　my　empty　glass　from　me。　'Go　on；　then。　Your　opinion。'
'You　want　it？　From　an　adventurer　like　me？　Are　you　sure；　inquisitor　general？'
She　thrust　a　topped…up　glass　of　glayva　into　my　hand　so　hard　it　sloshed。　'Just　give　me　your　damned　opinion！'
I　sipped。　Aemos　was　staring　over　at　me　nervously　from　the　settle　by　the　door。
'Quixos　could　be　very　much　alive。　He'd　be…　what；　now；　Aemos？'
'Three　hundred　and　forty…two；　sir。'
'Right。　Well；　that's　no　age；　is　it？　Not　given　augmetics；　or　rejuvanat　drags…　or　sorcery。'
'Dammit！'　Neve　said。
'He's　an　incredibly　gifted　individual；　as　his　career　testifies。　He　has　a　reputation；　however　unwarranted；　for　straying　too　far　to　the
radical　side。　He　has…　dabbled　with　the　warp。　We　can　say　that　much。　Just　because　we've　heard　nothing　of　him　these　last　hundred　or
more　years；　doesn't　mean　he　isn't　still　active。'
'And　that　activity？'　Neve　smacked　the　tip　of　her　crutch　down　twice　on　the　tiled　floor。　'What？　What？　Utilising　daemonhosts？　Perverting
inquisitors？　Hunting　for　abominated　texts　like　your　Necroteuch？　Triggering　the　dreadful　atrocity　of　Thracian？'
'Perhaps？　Why　not？'
'Because　that　would　make　him　a　monster！　The　exact　antithesis　of　everything　our　order　is　about！'
'Well；　yes　it　would。　It's　happened　before。　A　powerful　man　who　gets　so　close　to　the　evil　he　is　sworn　to　combat　he　gets　dragged　into　it。
Inquisitor　Ruberu；　for　example。'
'Yes；　yes！　Ruberu；　I　know…'
'Grandmaster　Derkon？'
'Granted。　I　remember…'
'Cardinal　Palfro　of　Mimiga？　Saint　Boniface；　also　called　the　Deathshead　of　a　Thousand　Tears？'　intoned　Aemos。
'For　the　Emperor's　sake！'
'High　Lord　Vandire？'　I　suggested。
'All　right；　all　right—'
'Horus？'　Aemos　dared　to　whisper。
There　was　a　long　silence。
'Great　Quixos；'　Neve　murmured；　slowly　turning　to　face　me。　'Will　he　be　added　to　that　unholy　list？　Is　one　of　our　greatest　to　be
condemned　so？'
'If　he　must　be；'　I　replied。
'What　do　we　do？'　she　asked。
'We　find　him。　We　find　out　if　the　passing　centuries　have　truly　changed　him　into　the　being　we　fear　he　is。　And　if　they　have；　Emperor
pardon　me；　we　declare　him　Heretic　and　Extremis　Diabolus；　and　we　destroy　him　for　his　crimes。'
NEVE　SAT　DOWN　hard；　staring　into　her　glass。　There　was　a　knock　at　the　sanctum's　door；　which　Aemos　answered。
It　was　Fischig。
'Sir…　madam…'　he　said；　acknowledging　Neve。
'Well；　Fischig？'
'Further　to　your　discoveries　today；　we　have　been　monitoring　inter…orbit　traffic。　Two　hours　ago；　a　craft　made　planetfall　at　Kasr　Gesh。　It
cleared　Cadian　airspace　using　the　inquisitor　general's　authority　code。'
Gesh　was　the　site　of　the　last　known　cult　activity。

I　gathered　up　my　coat。　'With　your　permission；　inquisitor　general？'
Neve　rose　with　me；　her　face　set　hard。　'With　your　permission；　Inquisitor　Eisenhom。　I'd　like　to　come　with　you。'
KASR　GESH　WAS　three　hours　flight　from　Kasr　Derm。　Cruel　winter　had　blown　in　from　the　upland　heaths；　and　the　gun…cutter　was
vibrating　its　way　against　powerful　ice　storms。
My　band　was　all　aboard；　preparing　weapons。　So　was　Inquisitor　General　Neve　and　a　six…man　squad　of　Cadian　Elite　Shock；　impassive
troopers　in　winter　camo　armour；　prepping　matt…white　lasrifles　and　stubbers　in　the　crew…bay
'God…throne；　they're　tough…ass　bastards；'　Nayl　muttered　to　me　as　I　passed　him　coming　out　of　the　bay。
'Impressed？'
'Scared　is　more　like　it。　Regular　Cadian　is　soldier　enough　for　me。　These　are　elite。　The　elite　of　the　elite。　The　Kasrkin。'
'The　what？'　It　wasn't　like　an　experienced　fighter　to　show　deference　to　other　fighting　men。
'The　Kasrkin。　The　Cadian　best；　and　you　can　imagine　what　that　means。　Holy　Terra；　they're　stone…killers！'
'How　do　you　know？'
'Oh；　please…　look　at　their　necks。　The　Caducades　sea…eagle　brand。　Come　to　that；　just　look　at　their　necks。　I've　seen　slimmer　trees！'
'Good　thing　they're　on　our　side；'　I　said。
'I　bloody　hope　so；'　Nayl　returned；　and　moved　forward。
The　deck　lurched　again。　I　walked　back　down　the　bay；　steadying　myself　on　the　overhead　handloops；　and　approached　Neve。
She　was　dressed　in　Cadian　mesh　armour；　and　was　adjusting　her　winter　hood。　I　saw　she　had　exchanged　her　silver　crutch　for　a　liftassisted
cane　fitted　with　a　compact　cylindrical　grenade　launcher。
In　my　fur　coat　and　bodyglove　armour；　I　felt　underdressed。
'Your　usual　attire？'　I　asked。
'Necessary　clothing。　You　should　come　out　with　me　sometime；　cult…hunting　in　the　islands　after　dark。'
'My　staff　are…　worried。　These　men　are　Kasrkin？'
'Yes。'
'Their　reputation　precedes　them。'
'So　did　yours。'
'Good　point。　But；　anyway…'
Neve　looked　round　at　the　row　of　Cadian　elite。　'Captain　Echbar！'　she　shouted；　raising　her　voice　above　the　roar　of　the　buffet　and　the
thrasters。
'Inquisitor　general　ma'am！'　said　the　warrior　on　the　end。
'Inquisitor　Eisenhorn　wants　reassurance　that　you　are　the　best　of　the　best　and　will　be　careful　to　watch　the　backsides　of　him　and　his
band。'
Six　snow…visored　faces　turned　to　look　at　me。
'We've　logged　the　bio…spoors　of　you　and　your　company　into　our　sighting　auspexes；　sir；'　Echbar　announced　to　me。　'We　couldn't　shoot
them　now　even　if　we　wanted　to。'
'Make　sure　you　don't。　My　staff　and　I　will　be　leading　the　way　in。　The　situation　may　not　call　for　firepower。　If　it　does；　the　vox　or　psyker
command　is　〃Rose　thorn〃。　Vox…channel　is　gamma…nine…eight。　Are　you　prepared　for　a　psychic　summons？'
'We're　prepared　for　anything；'　Echbar　told　me。
The　gun…cutter　stopped　shaking。
'We've　come　out　of　the　storm；'　Medea　voxed　me。
A　moment　later；　she　crackled；　'I　see　approach　lights。　Kasr　Geth　landing　field　in　two。'
THE　PYLON　STOOD　three　kilometres　outside　the　earthworks　of　Kasr　Geth。　The　night　was　clear　and　glassy；　with　a　heaven　full　of　stars。
The　Eye　of　Terror　throbbed　dimly　at　the　top　of　the　sky。　It　seemed　to　me　more　lurid　and　brighter　than　ever　before。
Somewhere　up　there；　I　knew；　orbital　detachments　of　the　Cadian　Interior　Guard　were　hunting　the　hidden　starship　from　which　the
visitors　to　Kasr　Gesh　had　come。　Neve　had　scrambled　them　before　we　left；　with　strict　orders　not　to　move　until　we　had　engaged　on　the
ground。
We　didn't　want　our　visitors　tipped　off。
My　team　moved　in　up　through　the　frost…caked　scrub　of　the　moorland　slope。　The　pylon　was　simply　a　black；　oblong；　absence　of　stars。　I
could　hear　it　moaning。
I　slid　out　my　main　weapon：　a　storm…bolter　which　I　had　sprayed　green　in　memory　of　the　prize　sidearm　I　had　lost　somewhere　on　Eechan；
may　Librarian　Brytnoth　forgive　me。　This　storm…gun　was　slightly　larger　and　more　powerful；　but　nothing　like　so　well　engineered　as　the
boltpistol　I　had　treasured。
On　my　hip　I　wore　a　Cadian　hanger；　a　short；　curved　twin…edged　sabre　that　replaced　my　beloved　power　sword。　It　was　just　a　simple　piece
of　sharp　steel；　but　I'd　had　the　hierarchs　at　the　Ministorum　of　Kasr　Derth　make　some　modifications。
Still；　in　truth；　I　felt　vulnerable　going　up　that　slope。
Nayl　was　to　my　left；　fielding　a　combat…cannon。　Husmaan　to　my　right　with　his　trustworthy　long…las。　Inshabel　was　to　his　right；　armed
with　a　brace　of　antique　laspistols　that　had　belonged　to　Inquisitor　Roban。　Fischig；　hefting　an　old　and　trusted　arbites…issue　riot…gun；　had
gone　wide　to　the　far　left。
Bequin；　a　long…barrelled　autopistol　in　her　gloved　hand；　was　right　beside　me。

Behind　us；　Neve　and　her　Kasrkin　lurked；　waiting　for　my　signal。
Aemos　was　aboard　the　gun…cutter　with　Medea；　hovering　above　the　drop　point；　lights　killed。　They；　rather　than　Neve　and　her　elite；　were
my　reassurance。
'WHAT　DO　YOU　see？'　I　voxed。
'Nothing；'　replied　Husmaan　and　Nayl。
'I've　got　an　angle　into　the　seat　of　the　pylon；'　said　Inshabel。　'I　see　lights。'
'Confirm　that；'　crackled　Fischig；　wide　to　the　left。　'There　are　men　down　there。　I　count　eight；　no　ten。　Twelve。　Portable　lights。　They've　got
machines。'
'Machines？'
'Handheld。　Auspexes。'
'Measuring　again；'　Neve　whispered　over　the　link。
'I'm　sure；'　I　said。　Then　I　said；　in　Glossia：　'Thorn　eyes　flesh；　rapturous　beasts　at　hand。　Aegis　to　arms；　crucible。　All　points　cowled。　Razor
torus　pathway；　pattern　ebony。'
MY　STORM…GUN　MADE　a　loud　click　as　I　racked　it。
The　robed　men　working　in　the　floodlights　around　the　foot　of　the　pylon　froze　and　slowly　turned　from　their　work　to　look　at　me。
I　walked　down　from　the　moor；　through　the　ice…stiffened　bracken；　bracing　my　gun　in　a　pose　that　could　kill　any　one　of　them。
Bequin　followed　me　a　few　steps　behind；　her　pistol　held　loosely；　ready　to　swing　up。
I　knew　we　were　covered　by　Husmaan；　Inshabel；　Nayl　and　Fischig。
'Who　is　the　leader　here？'　I　asked；　panning　my　weapon　around。
'I　am；'　said　one　of　the　robed　figures。
'Step　forward　and　identify　yourself；'　I　said。
'To　whom？'
I　raised　the　rosette　plainly　in　my　left　hand：　'Imperial　Inquisition！'　Some　of　the　robed　men　moaned　with　dismay。
The　leader　did　not。　He　stepped　forward。　I　could　suddenly　smell　a　cold；　metallic　scent；