The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第19部分

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I　can　speak　of　that　public　deceit　now　in　this　private　record；　but　at　the　time；　communicating　that　secret　was　a　death…crime　for　even　the
highest　lord　of　the　Imperium。　I　was　not　about　to　break　that　confidence。　I　am　an　inquisitor　and　I　understand　how　fundamental　it　is　to
maintain　public　order。
IN　ADDITION　TO　fatigue　and　the　pain　of　my　wounds；　what　darkened　my　mood　was　the　news　about　Gideon　Ravenor。　Now；　of　course；　we
all　understand　what　a　priceless　and　brilliant　contribution　he　was　to　make　to　Imperial　learning；　and　how　that　would　never　have
happened　if　he　had　not　been　confined　to　a　life　of　mental　rumination。
But　back　then；　in　that　stinking　hospice　ward　off　the　Street　of　Prescients；　all　I　saw　was　a　young　man；　burned　and　crippled　and
physically　paralysed；　a　brilliant　inquisitor　ruined　before　he　could　fulfill　his　potential。
Ravenor；　in　the　eyes　of　some；　had　been　lucky。　He　had　not　been　amongst　the　one　hundred　and　ninety…eight　Inquisition　personnel　killed
outright　by　the　crashing　fighter　that　fell　into　the　Great　Triumph　beyond　the　Spatian　Gate。
He；　like　fifty　others；　had　been　caught　on　the　edge　of　the　explosion　and　lived。
My　pupil　was　barely　recognisable。　A　blood…wet　bundle　of　charred　flesh。　One　hundred　per　cent　burns。　Blind；　deaf；　mute；　his　face　so
melted　that　an　incision　had　been　made　in　the　fused　meat　where　his　mouth　should　have　been　so　he　could　breathe。
The　loss　touched　me　acutely。　The　waste　even　more。　Gideon　Ravenor　had　been　the　greatest；　most　promising　pupil　I　had　ever　taught。　I
stood　by　his　plastic…sheeted　cot；　listening　to　the　suck　and　drool　of　his　ventilator　and　fluid　drains　and　remembered　what　Commodus
Voke　had　said　in　the　arbites　sector　house　on　Blammerside　Street。
'I　will　make　amends。　I　will　not　rest　until　every　one　of　these　wretches　is　destroyed　and　order　restored。　And　then　I　will　not　rest　until　I
find　who　and　what　was　behind　it。'
Right　then；　there；　for　Ravenor's　sake；　I　made　that　promise　to　myself　too。
At　that　time；　I　had　little　idea　what　that　would　mean　or　where　it　would　take　me。
I　RETURNED　TO　the　Ocean　House　at　last　on　what　would　have　been　the　ninth　and　final　day　of　the　Holy　Novena。　There　was　no　one　to
greet　me；　and　the　place　seemed　empty　and　forlorn。
I　stalked　into　my　study；　poured　a　too…large　measure　of　vintage　amasec　and　flopped　down　into　an　armchair。　It　felt　like　an　eternity　since
I　had　sat　here　with　Titus　Endor；　worrying　over　speculations　that　seemed　now　so　insignificant　and　remote。
A　door　opened。　From　the　instant　chill　in　the　air；　I　knew　at　once　it　was　Bequin。
'We　didn't　know　you'd　returned；　Gregor。'
'Well；　I　have；　Alizebeth。'
'So　I　see。　Are　you　alright？'
I　shrugged。　'Where　is　everybody？'
'When　the…'　she　paused；　considering　her　words。　'When　the　tragedy　occurred；　there　was　a　great　public　commotion。　Jarat　and　Kircher
took　the　staff　into　the　secure　bunkers　for　safety；　and　I　locked　myself　away　with　the　Distaff　in　the　west　wing；　waiting；　hoping　for　your
call。'
'Channels　were　out。'
'Yes。　For　eight　days。'
'But　everyone　is　safe？'
'Yes。'
I　leaned　out　of　my　chair　and　looked　at　her。　Her　face　was　pale　and　drawn　from　too　many　nights　of　fear。
'Where's　Aemos？'
'Outside；　with　Betancore；　Kircher　and　Nayl。　Von　Baigg's　around　too。　Is…　is　it　true　what　we've　heard　about　Gideon？'
'Alizebeth…　it's…'
She　crouched　down　and　put　her　arms　around　me。　It　is　difficult　for　a　psyker　to　be　hugged　by　an　untouchable；　no　matter　how　long　and
close　their　personal　history。　But　her　intentions　were　good；　and　I　tolerated　the　contact　for　as　long　as　seemed　polite。　When　I　gently
pushed　her　back；　I　said；　'Send　them　in。　In　fact；　send　everyone　in　here。'
'They　won't　all　fit；　Gregor。'
'The　sea　terrace；　then。　One　last　time。'
SITTING　OR　STANDING　around　in　the　lime　glow　of　the　sea　terrace；　the　numerous　members　of　my　faithful　band　looked　at　me　expectantly。
The　place　was　packed。　Jarat　had　fussed　around；　bringing　out　drinks　and　sweetmeats　until　I　had　pressed　a　glass　of　amasec　into　her
gnarled　hands　and　forced　her　down　into　a　chair。
'I'm　closing　the　Ocean　House；'　I　said。
There　was　a　murmur。

'I'm　retaining　the　lease；　but　I　have　little　wish　to　live　here　any　more。　In　fact；　I　have　little　wish　to　be　on　Thracian　any　more。　Not　after
this…　Holy　Novena。　There　seems　no　point　maintaining　a　staff　here。'
'But；　sir；　the　library？'　Psullus　said　from　the　back。
I　held　up　a　finger。
'I　will　take　up　a　contract　arrangement　with　one　of　the　hive　accommodation　bureaux　to　keep　the　house　in　working　order　with　servitors。
Who　knows；　sometime　I　might　have　need　of　a　place　here　again。'
I　refilled　my　glass　before　turning　back。
'But　I　wish　to　move　my　centre　of　operations。　It's　compromised；　if　nothing　else。'
At　that；　Jubal　Kircher　looked　into　his　cit…juice　uncomfortably。
'I　wish　to　relocate　the　household　to　the　estate　on　Gudran。　Its　environment　suits　me　better　than　this…　hive…hell。　Jarat；　you　and　Kircher
will　supervise　the　packing　and　organisation　for　the　move。　I　would　like　you　to　undertake　the　duties　of　head　of　household　at　the　Gudrun
estate；　if　you　are　willing。　I　realise　you　have　never　been　off　Thracian。'
She　sat　forward；　her　eyebrows　raised；　considering　this　sudden　change　to　her　life。　'I…　I　would　be　honoured　to　do　so；　sir；'　she　said。
'I'm　pleased。　The　country　air　will　do　you　good。　The　estate　is　managed　by　a　caretaker　staff；　so　I'll　need　a　good　housekeeper；　and　a　good
chief　of　house　security。　Jubal…　I'd　like　you　to　consider　that　job。'
'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　Kircher。
'Psullus…　we're　going　to　transplant　the　library　permanently　to　Gudrun。　That　task　is　yours；　as　is　the　ongoing　duty　of　being　my　librarian。
Can　I　entrust　you　with　it？'
'Oh；　yes…　there　will　be　problems；　of　course；　the　handling　and　care　of　certain　shielded　texts　and—'
'But　I　can　leave　it　with　you？'
Psullus　waved　his　frail　hands　at　me　in　a　gesture　of　excitement　that　made　everyone　laugh。
'I　know　this　wholesale　move　will　take　months　to　manage　and　carry　out。　Alain…　I'd　like　you　to　supervise　and　oversee　the　whole　thing。'
Von　Baigg　looked　suddenly　awkward。　'Of　…　of　course；　inquisitor。'
'This　is　a　weighty　task；　interrogator。　Are　you　up　to　it？'
'Yes；　sir。'
'Good。　I　will　return　to　the　Gudrun　estate　no　later　than　ten　months　from　now。　I　trust　it　will　be　the　home　I　expect。'
It　was　a　promise　I　would　fail　miserably　to　keep。
'What　of　the　Distaff；　sir？'　asked　Surskova。
'I　want　to　divide　that；'　I　said。　'I　want　six　of　the　best　Distaff　members　sent　to　Gudrun　to　bide　there　at　my　wishes。　The　future　of　the
Distaff　itself　I　see　as　separate　from　my　living　arrangements。　I　have　a　lease　on　a　spire…top　residence　on　Messina。　That　will　be　the　new
official　home　of　the　Distaff。　Surskova；　you　will　supervise　the　move　and　establishment　of　the　untouchable　school　there。'
She　nodded；　shocked。　Bequin　seemed　taken　aback。
I　looked　round　at　the　hundred…plus　servants；　warriors　and　aides　crammed　into　the　room。
'That's　it。　Until　I　see　you　all　again；　may　the　God…Emperor　protect　you。'
I　WAS　LEFT　alone　edea　and　Nayl。
'Not　for　us　the　chores　of　moving　house；'　I　said。
'I　had　a　hunch　not；'　smirked　Medea。
'For　us；　two　missions。'
'For　us？'　asked　Bequin。
'Yes；　Alizebeth。　Unless　you　think　you　and　I　are　too　old　for　such　diversions？'
'No；　I…　I—'
'I've　been　too　long　at　the　back　of　things。　Too　long　relying　on　my　capable　staff。　I　yearn　for　field　work。'
'The　last　field　work　we　were　in　nearly　got　you　killed；'　scolded　Bequin　darkly。
'Proving　that　I'm　losing　my　edge；　I　think。'
'For　shame！'　muttered　Nayl　with　a　smile。
'So　we're　going　to　have　an　adventure；　all　of　us。　Just　the　few　of　us。　Remember　what　those　were　like；　Aemos？'
'Frankly；　I'm　still　not　over　them；　Gregor；　but　yes。'
'Alizebeth？'
Bequin　crossed　her　arms　ill…humouredly。　'Oh；　I'd　just　love　to　come　and　watch　you　get　killed…'
'We're　all　agreed；　then？'　I　said。　I　can't　help　being　deadpan。　Gorgone　Locke　made　sure　of　that。　But　my　delivery　was　good　enough　to　get
Nayl　and　Medea　raucous　with　laughter　and　Aemos　chuckling。
Alizebeth　Bequin　grinned　despite　herself。
'Two　missions；　as　I　said。　After　this　briefing；　I'll　allow　you　to　recruit　a　few　personnel　from　the　staff。　Nayl　…　a　fighter　or　two　you　can
count　on。　Aemos　…　an　astropath　we　can　use　without　worry。　Alizebeth　…　one　or　two　from　the　Distaff。　A　maximum　of　ten　in　the　party；　all
told。　No　more；　you　understand？　Argue　it　out　between　yourselves。　Don't　bring　me　into　it。　We　leave　in　two　days；　and　I　don't　want　to
even　hear　about　any　arguments　second　hand。'
'So　what　are　the　missions？'　asked　Medea；　lounging　back　in　her　padded　chair　and　slipping　her　long　legs　over　the　arm。　She　took　a　long
swig　of　her　weedwine　and　added；　'You　said　two；　right？'
'Two。'

I　pushed　a　stud　on　a　data　wand　in　my　hand　and　a　hololithic　screen　fogged　into　life　over　the　table。　The　words　of　the　message　I'd
received　before　the　start　of　the　tumult　on　Thracian　were　displayed　in　shimmering　letters：　'Scalpel　cuts　quickly；　eager　tongues　revealed。
At　Cadia；　by　terce。　Hound　wishes　Thorn。　Thorn　should　be　sharp。'
'Shit！'　cried　Nayl。
'Is　that　authentic？'　Medea　asked；　looking　at　me。
'It　is。'
'God…Emperor；　he's　in　trouble；　he　needs　us…'　Bequin　murmured。
'Very　probably。　Medea；　you　have　to　arrange　transit　for　us　to　Cadia。　That's　the　first　port　of　call。'
'What's　the　second？'　asked　Aemos。
'The　second？'
'The　second　mission？'
I　looked　at　them　all。　'