²»À­Ä¥Ð¡ËµÍø > ¶¼ÊÐÑÔÇéµç×ÓÊé > The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(¿Æ»ÃÕ½Õù) >

µÚ5ÕÂ

The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(¿Æ»ÃÕ½Õù)-µÚ5ÕÂ

С˵£º The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(¿Æ»ÃÕ½Õù) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



Then£»¡¡just¡¡eight¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡our¡¡paths¡¡had¡¡crossed¡¡again¡¡on¡¡Kuuma¡£
Tantalid's¡¡fanatical¡¡hatred¡¡¡­¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡venture£»¡¡fear¡¡¡­¡¡of¡¡the¡¡psyker¡¡was¡¡by¡¡then¡¡insurmountable¡£¡¡I¡¡made¡¡no¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I
employed¡¡psychic¡¡methods¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡my¡¡work¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡psychic¡¡adepts¡¡in¡¡my¡¡staff£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡myself¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡my
own¡¡psychic¡¡abilities¡¡over¡¡the¡¡years¡£¡¡Such¡¡is¡¡my¡¡right£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡authorised¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Inquisition's¡¡seal¡£
In¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡blinkered¡¡zealot¡¡with¡¡psychotic¡¡streak¡£¡¡In¡¡his£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡spawn¡¡of¡¡witches¡¡and¡¡a¡¡heretic¡£
No¡¡courtroom¡¡argument¡¡for¡¡us¡¡on¡¡Kuuma¡£¡¡A¡¡little¡¡war¡¡instead¡£¡¡It¡¡lasted¡¡an¡¡afternoon£»¡¡and¡¡raged¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tiered¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oasis
town¡¡at¡¡Unat¡¡Akim¡£

Twenty¡­eight¡¡latent¡¡psykers£»¡¡none¡¡older¡¡than¡¡fourteen£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡rooted¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡population¡¡of¡¡Kuuma's¡¡sprawling¡¡capital¡¡city¡¡during
a¡¡purge£»¡¡and¡¡sequestered¡¡prior¡¡to¡¡their¡¡collection¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Black¡¡Ships¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡recruits£»¡¡a¡¡precious¡¡resource£»¡¡untainted¡¡and¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡be
shaped¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Adeptus¡¡Astropathicus¡¡into¡¡worthy¡¡servants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡God¡­Emperor¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡the¡¡ultimate
honour¡¡of¡¡joining¡¡the¡¡choir¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Astronomican¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡frightened¡¡and¡¡confused£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡was¡¡their¡¡salvation¡£
Better¡¡to¡¡be¡¡found¡¡early¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡good¡¡service¡¡than¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡undetected¡¡and¡¡become¡¡tainted£»¡¡corrupt¡¡and¡¡a¡¡threat¡¡to¡¡our¡¡entire
society¡£
But¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Black¡¡Ships¡¡could¡¡arrive¡¡to¡¡take¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡spirited¡¡away¡¡by¡¡renegade¡¡slavers¡¡working¡¡in¡¡collusion¡¡with¡¡corrupt
officials¡¡in¡¡the¡¡local¡¡Administratum¡£¡¡Vast¡¡sums¡¡could¡¡be¡¡made¡¡on¡¡the¡¡black¡¡market¡¡for¡¡unregistered£»¡¡virgin¡¡psychic¡¡slaves¡£
I¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡slavers'¡¡trail¡¡across¡¡the¡¡seif¡¡dunes¡¡to¡¡Unat¡¡Akim¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡liberating¡¡the¡¡youngsters¡£¡¡Tantalid¡¡made¡¡his¡¡way
there¡¡to¡¡exterminate¡¡them¡¡all¡¡as¡¡witches¡£
By¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fight£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡the¡¡witchfinder¡¡and¡¡his¡¡cohorts£»¡¡mostly¡¡foot¡¡soldiers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Frateris¡¡Militia£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oasis¡¡town¡£
Two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡psykers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡killed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crossfire£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡others¡¡were¡¡safely¡¡transferred¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Astropathicus¡£
Tantalid£»¡¡fleeing¡¡Kuuma¡¡to¡¡lick¡¡his¡¡wounds£»¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡have¡¡me¡¡declared¡¡heretic£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡charges¡¡were¡¡swiftly¡¡overturned¡£¡¡The
Ministorum¡¡had£»¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡no¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡court¡¡conflict¡¡with¡¡their¡¡allies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Inquisition¡£
I¡¡had¡¡expected£»¡¡known¡¡even£»¡¡that¡¡Tantalid¡¡would¡¡return¡¡sometime¡¡to¡¡plague¡¡me¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡personal¡¡matter¡¡now£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡his¡¡fanatical
disposition¡¡would¡¡fix¡¡upon¡¡and¡¡transform¡¡into¡¡a¡¡holy¡¡calling¡£
But¡¡the¡¡last¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡leading¡¡an¡¡ecclesiarchy¡¡mission¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Ophidian¡¡subsector¡¡in¡¡support¡¡of¡¡the¡¡century¡­long¡¡Purge
Campaign¡¡there¡£
I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Lethe¡¡Eleven¡¡at¡¡so¡¡inopportune¡¡a¡¡moment¡£
BY¡¡THE¡¡TIME¡¡I¡¡was¡¡back¡¡on¡¡my¡¡feet£»¡¡two¡¡weeks¡¡later£»¡¡the¡¡Darknight¡¡was¡¡over¡¡and¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡answer£»¡¡in¡¡general¡¡if¡¡not¡¡specific¡¡terms¡£
I¡¡was¡¡hobbling¡¡around¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cane¡¡in¡¡the¡¡private¡¡mansion¡¡I¡¡had¡¡rented¡¡in¡¡Lethe¡¡Majeure¡¡when¡¡Aemos¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡the¡¡news¡£¡¡The¡¡great
Ophidian¡¡Campaign¡¡was¡¡over¡£
'Great¡¡success£»'¡¡he¡¡announced¡£¡¡'The¡¡last¡¡action¡¡took¡¡place¡¡at¡¡Dolsene¡¡four¡¡months¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Warmaster¡¡has¡¡declared¡¡the¡¡subsector
cleansed¡£¡¡A¡¡famous¡¡victory£»¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡think£¿'
'Yes¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡hope¡¡so¡£¡¡It's¡¡taken¡¡them¡¡long¡¡enough¡£'
'Gregor£»¡¡Gregor¡­¡¡even¡¡with¡¡a¡¡force¡¡as¡¡large¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hallowed¡¡Battlefleet¡¡Scarus£»¡¡the¡¡subjugation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡subsector¡¡is¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡task£¡
That¡¡it¡¡took¡¡the¡¡best¡¡part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡century¡¡is¡¡nothing£¡¡¡The¡¡pacification¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Extempus¡¡subsector¡¡took¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡y¡ª'
He¡¡paused¡£
'You're¡¡toying¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡aren't¡¡you£¿'
I¡¡nodded¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡very¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡wind¡¡up¡£
Aemos¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡eased¡¡his¡¡ancient¡¡body¡¡down¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leather¡¡chairs¡£
'Martial¡¡law¡¡still¡¡dominates£»¡¡I¡¡understand£»¡¡and¡¡caretaker¡¡governments¡¡have¡¡been¡¡established¡¡on¡¡the¡¡key¡¡worlds¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Warmaster
himself¡¡is¡¡returning¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bulk¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fleet¡¡in¡¡triumph£»¡¡setting¡¡foot¡¡in¡¡this¡¡subsector¡¡again¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡years¡£'
I¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡the¡¡open¡¡windows£»¡¡looking¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mansion's¡¡first¡¡floor¡¡across¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡roofs¡¡of¡¡Lethe¡¡Majeure¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡coat
the¡¡hills¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tito¡¡Basin¡¡like¡¡the¡¡scaled¡¡hide¡¡of¡¡some¡¡prehistoric¡¡reptile¡£¡¡The¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡a¡¡magnolia¡¡haze£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡light¡¡breeze¡¡breathed¡£¡¡It
was¡¡almost¡¡impossible¡¡now¡¡to¡¡picture¡¡this¡¡place¡¡beset¡¡by¡¡the¡¡filthy£»¡¡permanent¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Darknight¡£
Now£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡why¡¡Tantalid¡¡had¡¡returned¡£¡¡The¡¡Ophidian¡¡war¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡holy¡¡mission¡¡concluded¡¡with¡¡it¡£
'I¡¡remember¡¡them¡¡setting¡¡out£»¡¡don't¡¡you£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
A¡¡foolish¡¡question¡£¡¡My¡¡savant¡¡was¡¡a¡¡data¡­addict£»¡¡driven¡¡since¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡forty¡­two¡¡standard¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡and¡¡retain¡¡all¡¡manner¡¡of
information¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡a¡¡meme¡­virus¡¡he¡¡had¡¡contracted¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡him¡¡forgetting¡¡anything¡£¡¡He¡¡scratched¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of
his¡¡hooked¡¡nose¡¡where¡¡his¡¡heavy¡¡augmetic¡¡eye¡­pieces¡¡touched¡£
'How¡¡could¡¡either¡¡of¡¡us¡¡forget¡¡that£¿'¡¡he¡¡replied¡£¡¡'The¡¡summer¡¡of¡¡240¡£¡¡Hunting¡¡the¡¡Glaw¡¡clan¡¡on¡¡Gudrun¡¡during¡¡the¡¡very¡¡Founding
itself¡£'
Indeed£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡played¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡role¡¡in¡¡delaying¡¡the¡¡start¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ophidian¡¡Campaign¡£¡¡The¡¡Warmaster£»¡¡or¡¡lord¡¡militant¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
back¡¡then£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡but¡¡set¡¡to¡¡launch¡¡his¡¡purge¡¡into¡¡Ophidian¡¡space¡¡when¡¡my¡¡investigation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heretic¡¡Glaw¡¡family¡¡had¡¡triggered
a¡¡mass¡¡uprising¡¡later¡¡known¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Helican¡¡Schism¡£¡¡To¡¡his¡¡great¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡displeasure£»¡¡the¡¡Warmaster¡¡had¡¡been¡¡abruptly¡¡forced¡¡to
redirect¡¡his¡¡readied¡¡forces¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pacification¡¡of¡¡his¡¡very¡¡own¡¡subsector¡£
Warmaster¡¡Honorius¡£¡¡Honorius¡¡Magnus¡¡they¡¡were¡¡calling¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡never¡¡met¡¡him£»¡¡nor¡¡had¡¡I¡¡much¡¡wish¡¡to¡£¡¡A¡¡brutal¡¡man£»¡¡as¡¡are¡¡so
many¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kind¡£¡¡It¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡special¡¡mindset£»¡¡a¡¡special¡¡brutality£»¡¡to¡¡crush¡¡planets¡¡and¡¡populations¡£
'There¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡great¡¡Jubilation¡¡on¡¡Thracian¡¡Primaris£»'¡¡Aemos¡¡said¡£¡¡'A¡¡Holy¡¡Novena¡¡congregated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Synod¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Ecclesiarchy¡£
It¡¡is¡¡rumoured¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Lord¡¡Commander¡¡Helican¡¡himself¡¡will¡¡attend£»¡¡specifically¡¡to¡¡bestow¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Warmaster¡¡the¡¡rank¡¡of
Feudal¡¡Protector¡£'
'I'm¡¡sure¡¡he'll¡¡be¡¡very¡¡pleased¡£¡¡Another¡¡heavy¡¡medallion¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡at¡¡his¡¡officers¡¡when¡¡he's¡¡annoyed¡£'
'You're¡¡not¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡attend£¿'
I¡¡laughed¡£¡¡In¡¡truth£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Helican¡¡subsector¡¡capital¡¡before¡¡long¡£¡¡Thracian¡¡Primaris£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡massive£»
industrialised¡¡and¡¡populated¡¡world¡¡in¡¡the¡¡subsector£»¡¡had¡¡wrested¡¡capital¡¡planet¡¡status¡¡from¡¡ancient¡¡Gudrun¡¡after¡¡the¡¡disgrace¡¡and
foment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Schism£»¡¡finally¡¡achieving¡¡the¡¡preeminence¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡its¡¡size¡¡and¡¡power¡¡had¡¡long¡¡deserved¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡Imperial
planet¡¡of¡¡this¡¡region¡£

There¡¡was¡¡work¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡reports¡¡to¡¡be¡¡filed¡¡and¡¡presented£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡things¡¡could¡¡best¡¡be¡¡achieved¡¡by¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡my¡¡property¡¡on
Thracian£»¡¡my¡¡base¡¡of¡¡operations£»¡¡near¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Inquisition¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡had¡¡little¡¡love¡¡for¡¡Thracian¡¡Primaris¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡ugly¡¡place£»
and¡¡I¡¡only¡¡made¡¡my¡¡headquarters¡¡there¡¡out¡¡of¡¡convenience¡£¡¡The¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡pomp¡¡and¡¡ceremony¡¡and¡¡festivals¡¡filled¡¡me¡¡with¡¡quiet
dread¡£
Perhaps¡¡I¡¡would¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Messina¡¡instead£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡of¡¡Gudrun£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡maintained¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡comfortable¡¡estate¡£
'The¡¡Inquisition¡¡is¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡in¡¡great¡¡strength¡£¡¡Lord¡¡Rorken¡¡himself¡­'
I¡¡waved¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡Aemos's¡¡direction¡£¡¡'Does¡¡it¡¡appeal¡¡to¡¡you£¿'
'No¡£'
'Are¡¡there¡¡not¡¡better¡¡uses¡¡for¡¡our¡¡time£¿¡¡Pressing¡¡matters£¿¡¡Things¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡more¡¡easily¡¡achieved¡¡away¡¡from¡¡such¡¡overblown
distractions£¿'
'Most¡¡certainly£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£
'Then¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡know¡¡my¡¡mind¡£'
'I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡do£»¡¡Gregor£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡reaching¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pocket¡¡of¡¡his¡¡green¡¡robe¡£¡¡'And¡¡therefore¡¡I'm¡¡fully¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡the
fact¡¡that¡¡you're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡curse¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡give¡¡you¡¡this¡£'
He¡¡held¡¡out¡¡a¡¡small¡¡data¡­slate£»¡¡an¡¡encrypted¡¡message¡­tile¡¡whose¡¡contents¡¡had¡¡been¡¡received¡¡and¡¡stored¡¡by¡¡the¡¡astropaths¡£
The¡¡official¡¡seal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Inquisition¡¡was¡¡stamped¡¡across¡¡its¡¡front¡£
THREE
CAPITAL¡¡WORLD¡£
THE¡¡OCEAN¡¡HOUSE¡£
INTRUDERS£»¡¡PAST¡¡AND¡¡PRESENT¡£
THRACIAN¡¡PRIMARIS£»¡¡CAPITAL¡¡world¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Helican¡¡subsector£»¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡government£»¡¡Helican¡¡subsector£»¡¡Scams¡¡sector£»¡¡Segmentum
Obscurus¡£¡¡You¡¡can¡¡read¡¡that¡¡description¡¡in¡¡any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡guidebooks£»¡¡geographies£»¡¡Imperial¡¡histories£»¡¡pilgrimage
primers£»¡¡industrial¡¡ledgers£»¡¡trade¡¡directories£»¡¡star¡¡maps¡£¡¡It¡¡sounds¡¡impressive£»¡¡authoritarian£»¡¡powerful¡£
It¡¡does¡¡no¡¡justice¡¡at¡¡all¡¡to¡¡the¡¡monster¡¡it¡¡describes¡£
I¡¡have¡¡known¡¡hellholes¡¡and¡¡death¡­planets¡¡that¡¡from¡¡space¡¡look¡¡serene¡¡and¡¡wondrous£º¡¡the¡¡watercolours¡¡of¡¡their¡¡atmospheres£»¡¡the
glittering¡¡moons¡¡and¡¡belts¡¡they¡¡wear¡¡like¡¡bangles¡¡and¡¡jewels£»¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡wonders¡¡that¡¡belie¡¡the¡¡dangers¡¡they¡¡contain¡£
Thracian¡¡Primaris¡¡is¡¡no¡¡such¡¡dissembler¡£¡¡From¡¡space£»¡¡it¡¡glowers¡¡like¡¡an¡¡oozing£»¡¡cataracted¡¡eye¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡corpulent£»¡¡swollen£»¡¡sheened¡¡in
grey¡¡veils¡¡of¡¡atmospheric¡¡soot¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡billion¡¡billion¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡hives¡¡glimmer¡¡like¡¡rotting¡¡stars¡£¡¡It¡¡glares¡¡balefully¡¡at
all¡¡ships¡¡that¡¡approach¡£
And£»¡¡oh£¡¡¡But¡¡they¡¡approach£¡¡¡Shoals¡¡of¡¡ships£»¡¡flocks¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡countless¡¡craft£»¡¡drawn¡¡to¡¡this¡¡bloated¡¡cesspit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lure¡¡of¡¡its¡¡vast
industrial¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡mercantile¡¡vigour¡£
It¡¡has¡¡no¡¡moons£»¡¡no¡¡natural¡¡moons¡¡anyway¡£¡¡Five¡¡Ramilies¡­class¡¡star¡­forts¡¡hang¡¡above¡¡its¡¡atmosphere£»¡¡their¡¡crenellated¡¡towers¡¡and
buttressed¡¡gun¡­stations¡¡guarding¡¡the¡¡approaches¡¡to¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡capital¡¡world¡£¡¡A¡¡dedicated¡¡guild¡¡of¡¡forty¡¡thousand¡¡skilled¡¡pilots¡¡exists
simply¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡traffic¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jostling£»¡¡cr

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ