The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第52部分

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around　his　neck；　the　mark　of　his　tribe。　It　was　the　most　valuable　thing　he　possessed。　Actually；　it　was　the　only　thing　he　possessed。　But
no　matter…　he　offered　it　to　me　in　return　for　me　becoming　his　master。　I　took　it；　and；　as　I　said；　I　bought　him。'
'And　that　was　the　line？'　I　sat　back；　unimpressed。
'Wait；　wait…　later；　later　that　same　day；　I　examined　the　tore。　It　was　inlaid　with　astonishing　technology。　Borea　might　have　been　a　beastworld
by　then；　but　millennia　back；　it　had　clearly　been　an　advanced　outpost　of　mankind。　It　had　fallen　into　a　feral　dark　age　because
Chaos　had　touched　it；　and　that　tore　was　a　relic　of　the　decline。　Its　forbidden；　forgotten　technology　focussed　the　stuff　of　the　Darkness
into　the　wearer's　mind。　No　wonder　Borea；　where　every　adult　male　wore　one；　was　a　savage　waste。　I　was　intrigued。　I　put　the　tore　on。'
'You　put　it　on？'
'I　was　young　and　reckless；　what　can　I　say？　I　put　it　on。　Within　a　few　hours；　the　tendrils　of　the　warp　had　suffused　my　receptive　mind。
And　do　you　know　what？'
'What？'
'It　was　wonderful！　Liberating！　I　was　alive　to　the　real　universe　at　last！　I　had　crossed　the　line；　and　it　was　bliss。　Suddenly　I　saw
everything　as　it　actually　was；　not　as　the　Ministorum　and　the　rot…hearted　Emperor　wanted　to　see　it。　Engulfing　eternity！　The　fragility　of
the　human　race！　The　glories　of　the　warp！　The　fleeting　treasure　of　flesh！　The　incomparable　sweetness　of　death！　All　of　it！'
'And　you　ceased　to　be　Pontius　Glaw；　the　seventh　son　of　a　respectable　Imperial　House；　and　became　Pontius　Glaw；　the　sadistic　idolator
and　abomination？'
'A　boy's　got　to　have　a　hobby。'
'Thank　you　for　sharing　this　with　me；　Pontius。　It　has　been　revealing。'
'I'm　just　getting　started。
'Goodbye。'
'Eisenhorn！　Eisenhorn；　wait！　Please！　I—'
The　cell　hatches　clanged　shut　after　me。
I　WAITED　TWO　days　before　I　returned　to　see　him。　He　was　sullen　and　moody　this　time。
I　entered　the　cell　and　set　down　the　tray　I　was　carrying。
'Don't　expect　me　to　talk　to　you；'　he　said。
'Why？'
'I　opened　my　soul　to　you　the　other　day　and　you…　walked　out。'
'I'm　back　now。'
'Yes；　you　are。　Closer　to　that　line　yet？'
'You　tell　me。'　I　leaned　over　and　poured　myself　a　large　glass　of　amasec　from　the　decanter　on　the　tray。　I　rocked　the　glass　a　few　times　and
then　took　a　deep　sip。
'Amasec。'
'Yes。'
'Vintage？'
'Fifty　year　old　Gathalamor　vintage；　aged　in　burwood　barrels。'
'Is　it…　good？'
'No。'
'No？'
'It　is　perfect。'
The　casket　sighed。
'You　were　saying。　About　that　line？'　I　asked。
'I…　I　was　saying　I　was　most　annoyed　with　you；'　Pontius　returned；　stubbornly。
'Oh。'　I　casually　slid　a　lho…stick　from　the　paste…board　tub　I　had　backhanded　from　Tasaera　Ungish's　stateroom。　I　lit　it　and　took　a　deep
drag；　exhaling　the　smoke　towards　the　infernal　casket。　Nayl　had　injected　me　with　powerful　anti…intoxicants　and　counter…opiate　drugs
just　half　an　hour　earlier；　but　I　sat　back　and　openly　seemed　to　relish　the　smoke。
'Is　that　a　lho…stick？'
'Yes；　Pontius。'
'Hmmm…'
'You　were　saying？'
'Is　it　good？'
'You　were　saying？'
'I…　I've　told　you　of　my　slip。　My　crossing　of　the　line。　What　else　do　you　want　of　me？'
'The　rest。　You　think　I've　crossed　the　line　too；　don't　you？'
'Yes。　It's　in　your　bearing。　You　seem　like　a　man　who　has　understood　the　wider　significance　of　the　warp。'

'Why　is　that？'
'I　told　you　it　happens　to　all　inquisitors　sooner　or　later。　I　can　imagine　you　as　a　young　man；　stiff　and　puritanical；　in　the　scholam。　It　must
have　seemed　so　simple　to　you　back　then。　The　light　and　the　dark。'
'Not　so　obvious　these　days。'
'Of　course　not。　Because　the　warp　is　in　everything。　It　is　there　even　in　the　most　ordered　things　you　do。　Life　would　be　brittle　and
flavourless　without　it。'
'Like　your　life　is　now？'　I　suggested；　and　took　another　sip。
'Damn　you！'
'According　to　you；　I'm　already　damned。'
'Everyone　is　damned。　Mankind　is　damned。　The　whole　human　species。　Chaos　and　death　are　the　only　real　truths　of　reality。　To　believe
otherwise　is　ignorance。　And　the　Inquisition…　so　proud　and　dutiful　and　full　of　its　own　importance；　so　certain　that　it　is　fighting　against
Chaos…　is　the　most　ignorant　thing　of　all。　Your　daily　work　brings　you　closer　and　closer　to　the　warp；　increases　your　understanding　of
orderless　powers。　Gradually；　without　noticing　it；　even　the　most　puritanical　and　rod…stiff　inquisitor　becomes　seduced。'
'I　don't　agree。'
Pontius's　mood　seemed　to　have　brightened　now　we　were　engaged　in　debate　again。　'The　first　step　is　the　knoust
understand　the　basic　traits　of　Chaos　in　order　to　fight　it。　In　a　few　years；　he　knows　more　about　the　warp　than　most　untutored　cultists。
Then　the　second　step：　the　moment　he　breaks　the　rales　and　allows　some　aspect　of　Chaos　to　survive　or　remain　so　that　he　can　study　it　and
learn　from　it。　I　wouldn't　even　bother　trying　to　deny　that　one；　Eisenhorn。　'I'm　right　here；　aren't　I？'
'You　are。　But　understanding　is　essential。　Even　a　puritan　will　tell　you　that！　Without　it；　the　Inquisition's　struggle　is　hopeless。'
'Don't　get　me　started　on　that；'　he　chuckled。　Then　paused。　'Describe　the　taste　of　that　amasec　in　your　mouth。　The　quality；　the　scent。'
'Why？'
'It　is　three　hundred　years　since　I　have　tasted　anything。　Smelt　anything。　Touched　anything。'
I　had　feared　my　gambit　with　the　amasec　and　the　opiate　too　obvious；　but　it　had　drawn　him　in。　'It　feels　like　oil　on　my　tongue；　soft；　bodyheat。
The　aroma　precedes　the　taste；　like　peat　and　pepper；　spiced。　The　taste　is　a　burn　in　the　throat　that　lights　a　fire　behind　my　heart。'
The　casket　made　a　long；　mournful　sound　of　tantalised　regret。
'The　third　step？'　I　prompted。
'The　third　step…　the　third　step　is　the　line　itself。　es　a　radical。　When　he　chooses　to　use　Chaos　against　Chaos。
When　he　employs　the　agencies　of　the　warp。　When　he　asks　the　heretical　for　help。'
'I　see。'
'I'm　sure　you　do。　So…　are　you　going　to　ask　me　to　help　you？'
'Yes。　Will　you　give　me　that　help？'
'It　depends；'　the　casket　murmured。　'What's　in　it　for　me？'
I　stubbed　out　the　lho…stick。　'Given　what　you've　just　said；　I　assume　your　reward　would　be　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　me　cross　that　line
and　damn　myself。'
'Ha　ha！　Very　clever！　I'm　enjoying　that　part　already。　What　else？'
I　turned　the　glass　in　my　hand；　swilling　the　amber　spirit　around。　'Magos　Bure　is　a　talented　man。　A　master　of　machinery。　Though　I
would　never　release　you　from　imprisonment；　I　could　perhaps　ask　him　for　a　favour。'
'A　favour？'　Pontius　echoed　with　trembling　anticipation。
'A　body　for　you。　A　servitor　chassis。　The　ability　to　walk；　reach；　hold；　see。　Perhaps　even　the　finessing　extras　of　sense　actuators：
rudimentary　touch；　smell；　taste。　That　would　be　child's　play　for　him。'
'Gods　of　the　warp！'　he　whispered。
'Well？'
'Ask。　Ask　me。　Ask　me；　Eisenhorn。'
'Let　us　talk　for　a　while…　on　the　subject　of　daemonhosts。'
'DO　YOU　KNOW　what　you're　doing？'　Fischig　said　to　me。
'Of　course；'　I　said。　We　had　taken　over　the　security　office　in　Cinchare　minehead　as　our　base。　Bequin　and　Aemos　had　set　the　place
straight　and　got　it　running　properly；　and　Medea；　Inshabel；　Nayl　and　Fischig　patrolled　the　area　regularly。　Bure　had　provided　servitorstalkers
as　additional　guards；　and　a　vox…uplink　had　been　established　with　the　orbiting　Essene　to　forewarn　us　of　any　arriving　space
traffic。
It　was　late　one　afternoon　in　the　third　week　of　our　visit　to　the　mining　rock。　I　had　just　returned　from　my　daily　visit　to　Glaw's　cell　in　the
Mechanicus　annex　and　I　stood　with　Fischig　by　the　windows　of　the　office；　looking　down　into　the　plaza。
'Really　sure？'　he　pressed。
'I　seem　to　remember　him　asking　us　the　same　thing　when　we　sprang　him　from　the　Carnificina；'　said　Bequin；　coming　over　to　join　us。
'Thanks　to　Osma　and　his　ridiculous　witch…hunt；　we've　been　forced　into　a　corner。　If　we　can　come　through　this　successfully；　we　will
redeem　ourselves。'
Fischig　snorted。　'I　just　don't　like　it。　Not　dealing　with　that　butcher。　Not　promising　him　anything。　I　feel　like　we've　crossed　the　line—'
'What？'　I　asked　sharply。　I　had　told　them　only　the　very　sparest　details　of　my　conversations。
'I　said　I　felt　like　we'd　crossed　the　line。　What's　the　matter？'
I　shook　my　head。　'Nothing。　How　are　the　rest　of　the　preparations　going？'

I　sensed　Fischig　wanted　to　have　it　out；　but　it　was　really　too　late　for　that。　I　deflected　him　with　the　subject　change。
'Your　magos　friend　is　working。　Nayl　took　him　the　blade　yesterday　and　showed　him　your　notes　and　diagrams；'　he　said。
'The　communiques　are　all　written；　encrypted　and　sealed；　ready　to　be　sent；'　said　Bequin。　'Just　give　the　word；　and　Ungish　will　transmit
them。　And　I　have　the　declaration　here。'　She　handed　me　a　data…slate。
It　was　a　carta　extremis　formally　declaring　Quixos　Heretic　and　Extremis　Diabolus；　naming　his　crimes　and　given　in　my　authority。　It　was
dated　the　twentieth　day　of　the　tenth　month；　340。M41。　There　was　no　location　of　issue；　but　Aemos　had　made　certain　all　the　other
particulars　were　phrased　precisely　according　to　High　Imperial　Law　and　the　statutes　of　the　Inquisition。
'Good。　We'll　send　that　in　a　few　days。'　I　knew　that　the　moment　the　carta　was　published；　my　agenda　would　be　known。　The　scheme　I　was
embarking　on　might　take　years　to　complete；　and　all　that　time　I　would　be　hunted。　I　really　didn't　want　to　stir　things　up　so　soon。
'How　much　longer　will　we　be　here？'　Bequin　asked。
'I　don't　know。　Another　week？　A　month？　Longer？　It　depends　on　how　forthcoming　Glaw　decide