The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第35部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


was　low；　so　low…
The　gun…servitors　trained　wing　and　chin　turrets　on　the　charging　daemonhost。
When　they　opened　up；　their　firepower　was　so　monumental；　they　vapourised　it。
The　light　went　out。
I　pulled　Bequin　to　me　as　the　drizzle　of　liquidised　host…form　rained　on　us　out　of　the　cold　night。
I　could　hear　Fischig　calling　my　name。
'Help　her；'　I　said　to　Fischig　as　I　rose；　and　he　scooped　Bequin　up。
I　looked　around。　The　place　was　littered　with　dead；　most　of　them　cultists。　Inshabel　had　found　Neve；　lacerated　but　alive；　twenty　metres
up　the　slope；　and　was　calling　for　a　medic。
The　aft　thrusters　of　the　gun…cutter　winked　hot…white　in　the　night　sky　as　Medea　banked　around　out　of　her　ran　to　come　down　again。
Nayl；　who　had　taken　a　flesh　wound　to　the　arm；　leaned　against　the　pylon　and　shut　off　his　whirring　cannon…drum。
'We…　we　need　to　regroup；'　I　said。
'Agreed；'　said　Fischig。
'You　have　no　idea　what　you're　up　against；　do　you？'　asked　Husmaan。
We　all　turned。　The　old　skin…hunter　from　Windhover　was　stalking　down　the　moor　slope　towards　us；　his　long…las　slung　over　one　crooked
arm。　Fierce　graupel　had　begun　to　fleck　down　from　the　clouding　sky。
'Do　you？'　he　hissed　again。　I　felt　Bequin　tense。
It　wasn't　Husmaan。
Husmaan　looked　at　me。　White　light　shone　from　his　eyes。　His　voice　was　Prophaniti's。
'Not　the　slightest　clue；'　he　said。　'You　can　destroy　my　physical　host；　but　you　cannot　break　the　links　to　the　master。'
'Husmaan！'　Inshabel　cried。
'Not　here　any　more。　He　was　the　most　open　mind；　so　I　took　him。　He　will　serve　for　a　while。'
I　took　a　step　forward。　Husmaan　raised　a　hand。　'Don't　bother；　Eisenhorn；'　said　Prophaniti。　'I　could　kill　you　all　here；　now…　but　what's
about　to　happen　is　far　more　interesting。'
Husmaan；　his　arms　held　out　from　his　body　and　his　head　back；　suddenly　rose　into　the　air；　dropping　his　prized　long…las。　Steadily；　he
floated　away　into　the　sky　until　he　had　vanished　over　the　moors　into　the　dawn's　counter　glow。
'What　did　he　mean？'　asked　Bequin。
'I　don't—'
Floodlights　mobbed　over　the　rise　and　we　suddenly　heard　the　clank　of　armoured　tracks。
Twenty　Cadian　APCs　crested　the　brow；　their　floods　beaming　down　at　us。　Cadian　shock　troops　scrambled　down　the　slope；　covering　us
with　their　guns。
'What　the　hell？'　Nayl　cried。
I　was　stunned。　This　was　the　last　thing　I　had　expected。

'Inquisitor　Eisenhorn；'　boomed　a　vox…amped　voice　from　the　lead　APC。　'For　crimes　against　the　Imperium；　for　the　atrocity　at　Thracian；
for　consorting　with　daemonhosts；　you　are　hereby　arrested　and　condemned　to　death。'
I　recognised　the　voice。
It　was　Osma。
SIXTEEN
THE　HAMMER　OF　WITCHES。
THREE　MONTHS　IN　THE　CARNIFICINA。
FLIGHT　FROM　CADIA。
FLANKED　BY　SIX　robed　interrogators　reading　aloud　from　the　Books　of　Pain　and　the　Chapters　of　Punishment；　Inquisitor　Leonid　Osma
came　down　the　moorland　slope　towards　me。　Pink　dawn　light　was　beginning　to　spear　lengthways　across　the　bleak　heath；　and　the　gorse
and　bracken　was　stirred　by　the　early　morning　breeze。　Distantly；　heath　grouse　and　ptarcerns　were　whooping　and　calling　to　the
midwinter　sun。
Osma　was　a　well…built；　broad…shouldered　man　in　his　one　fifties。　He　wore　brass　power　armour　that　glowed　almost　orange　in　the　ruddy
dawn。　Ornate　Malleus　crests　decorated　his　armour's　besagews　and　poleyns　and　six　purity　seals　were　threaded　around　his　bevor　like　a
floral　wreath。　A　long　cloak　of　white　fur　played　out　behind　him；　brushing　the　tops　of　the　heather　and　gorse。
His　face　was　blunt　and　pugnacious。　His　eyes　were　glinting　dots　set　in　puffy　lids；　fringed　by　heavy；　grey　eyebrows。　His　bowl…cut　hair
was　the　colour　of　sword…metal。　Some　years　before；　he　had　lost　his　lower　jaw　during　a　fight　with　a　Khornate　berserker。　The　augmetic
replacement　was　a　jutting　chin　of　chrome；　linked　into　his　skull　by　feed　tubes　and　micro…servos。　The　emblem　of　the　Inquisition　rose
above　his　head　on　a　standard　mounted　between　his　shoulder　blades。　In　one　hand　he　carried　a　power　hammer；　the　mark　of　his　ordo。
In　the　other；　a　sealed　ebony　scroll　tube。　I　recognised　it　at　once。　A　carta　extremis。
'This　is　insanity！'　Fischig　growled。　The　Cadians　around　us　stiffened　and　jabbed　with　their　weapons。
'Enough！'　I　warned　Fischig。　I　turned　to　my　companions。　They　looked　so　lost；　so　miserable；　so　dismayed。
'We　will　not　fight　our　own；'　I　told　them。　'Surrender　your　weapons。　I　will　soon　have　this　laughable　error　resolved。'
Bequin　and　Inshabel　handed　their　weapons　to　the　Cadian　guards。　Fischig　reluctantly　allowed　the　storm　troopers　to　divorce　him　from
his　riot…gun。　Nayl　undipped　his　drum…cannon's　ammo　feed；　slid　out　the　magazine　box　and　passed　that　to　the　waiting　troops；　leaving　the
disabled　heavy　weapon　strapped　around　his　torso　on　its　harness。
I　nodded；　satisfied。　'Thorn　bids　Aegis；　by　cool　water；　soft；'　I　whispered　into　my　vox　and　then　turned　to　meet　Osma。
He　raised　his　power　hammer　in　a　brief　gesture　and　the　mumbling　interrogators　fell　silent　and　closed　their　books。　'Gregor　Eisenhorn；'
he　said　in　precisely　enunciated　High　Formal　Gothic；　'In　fealty　to　the　God…Emperor；　our　undying　lord；　and　by　the　grace　of　the　Golden
Throne；　in　the　name　of　the　Ordo　Malleus　and　the　Inquisition；　I　call　thee　diabolus；　and　in　the　testimony　of　thy　crimes；　I　submit　this
carta。　May　Imperial　justice　account　in　all　balance。　The　Emperor　protects。'
I　slid　my　storm…gun　out　of　its　holster；　ejected　the　clip　and　handed　it　to　him　grip　first。
'I　hear　full　well　thy　charge　and　thy　words；　and　make　my　submission；'　I　responded　in　the　ancient　form。　'May　Imperial　justice　account　in
all　balance。　The　Emperor　protects。'
'Dost　thou　accept　this　carta　from　my　hand？'
'I　accept　it　into　mine；　for　that　I　may　prove　it　thrice　false。'
'Dost　thou　state　thy　innocence　now；　at　the　going　off？'
'I　state　it　true　and　clear。　May　it　be　so　writ　down。'
Vox…drones　idling　by　the　shoulders　of　the　interrogators　had　been　recording　all　this；　but　the　youngest　interrogator　was　transcribing　it　all
with　a　holoquill　into　a　dispositional　slate　suspended　before　him　on　a　grav　plate。　I　noted　this　detail　with　some　satisfaction。
Preposterous　though　the　charges　were；　Osma　was　prosecuting　with　total　and　precise　formality。
'I　ask　of　thee　thy　badge　of　office；'　Osma　said。
'I　deny　thy　asking。　By　the　code　of　prejudice；　I　declare　my　right　to　retain　my　rank　until　due　process　is　concluded。'
He　nodded。　His　language　changed　from　High　Formal　to　Low　Gothic。　'I　expected　as　much。　Thank　you　for　avoiding　unpleasantness。'
'I　don't　think　I've　avoided　any　unpleasantness；　Osma。　What　I　have　avoided　is　bloodshed。　This　is　ridiculous。'
'They　all　say　that；'　he　muttered　snidely；　turning　away。
'No；'　I　said　levelly；　stopping　him　dead。　'The　guilty　and　the　polluted　fight。　They　deny。　They　straggle。　In　my　lifetime；　I　have　brought
down　nine　marked　diabolus。　None　ark　that　fact　in　your　record；'　I　said　to　the　scribing　interrogator。　'If　I　was　guilty；　I
would　not　be　submitting　to　your　process　so　politely。'
'Mark　it　so！'　Osma　told　his　hesitating　scribe。
He　looked　back　at　me。　'Read　the　carta；　Eisenhorn。　You're　guilty　as　sin。　This　show　of　understanding　and　co…operation　is　exactly　what　I
would　have　expected　from　a　being　as　canny　and　clever　as　you。'
'A　compliment；　Osma？'

He　spat　into　the　bracken。　'You　were　one　of　the　best；　Eisenhorn。　Lord　Rorken　actually　pleaded　for　you。　I　acknowledge　your　past
triumphs。　But　you　have　been　turned。　You　are　Malleus。　You　are　an　abomination。　And　you　will　pay。'
'This　is　insane…'　Neve　muttered；　limping　towards　us。
'And　none　of　your　business；　inquisitor　general；'　Osma　replied。
Neve　faced　him；　her　torn　armour　wet　with　her　own　blood。
'This　is　my　province；　inquisitor。　Eisenhorn　has　proved　himself　to　me。　This　charade　is　interfering　with　Inquisition　business。'
'Read　the　carta；　inquisitor　general；'　Osma　told　her。　'And　shut　up。　Eisenhorn　is　clever　and　convincing。　He　has　fooled　you；　lady。　Be
thankful　that　you're　not　implicated。'
MY　COMPANIONS　WERE　arraigned　at　Kasr　Derth；　under　Neve's　recognizance。　No　such　luxury　for　me。　I　was　flown　south　aboard　a
Cadian　military　lighter；　through　the　dawn；　to　the　furthest　islet　of　the　Caducades　group；　to　the　infamous　Cadian　prison；　the　Carnificina。
They　had　fettered　my　hands　and　feet。　I　sat　on　a　bracket…bench　dropped　from　the　wall　of　the　lighter's　armoured　hold；　surrounded　by
Cadian　guards；　and　read　the　carta　by　the　shifting　light　that　sheared　in　through　the　window　slits。
I　could　scarcely　believe　what　I　was　reading。
'Well？'　grunted　Fischig　from　his　seat　in　the　corner。　I　had　been　allowed　one　spokesman；　and　I　had　selected　Fischig；　with　his　legal
background。
'Read　it；'　I　said；　holding　the　carta　out　to　him。
One　of　the　impassive　Cadians　took　it　from　me　and　passed　it　to　the　scowling　Hubrusian。
After　a　few　moments　spent　reviewing　the　scroll；　Fischig　blurted　out　an　incredulous　profanity。
'Just　what　I　thought；'　I　said。
THE　CARNIFICINA　JUTTED　up　from　the　thrashing　sea　like　the　molar　of　a　massive　herbivore；　the　gum　eaten　away。
It　had　not　been　built　so　much　as　hollowed　out　of　the　upthrust　crag。　There　wasn't　a　wall　on　the　prison　isle　thinner　than　five　metres。
Vicious　plungers　broke　in　white　spray　around　its　granite　base　and　the　western　aspects　were　open　to　the　worst　of　the　pelagic　abuse　from
the　oceans　beyond。　Icebergs　from　the　calving　glaciers　at　Cadu　Sound　and　the　distant　Caducades　Isthmus　jostled　and　splintered　in