The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第23部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


'She　is　machine…wise；　yet　she　has　no　augmentation？'　Bure　questioned　me。
Medea　stripped　off　her　gloves　and　showed　him　the　intricate　circuits　inlaid　into　her　hands。
'I　beg　to　differ；　magos。'
He　took　her　hands　in　his　and　gazed　in　hungry　wonder。　Drool…like　ropes　of　clear　lubricant　oil　trickled　out　between　his　chrome　teeth　like
spittle。
'A　Glavian！　Your　enhancements　are…　so…　beautiful…'
'Thank　you；　sir。'
'You've　never　thought　to　permit　any　other　augmentation？　Limbs？　Organs？　It　is　quite　liberating。'
'I…　get　by　with　what　I've　got；'　smiled　Medea。
'I'm　sure　you　do；'　Bure　said；　suddenly　swinging　round　to　face　me。　'Welcome　to　my　translithopede；　Eisenhorn。　You　too；　Aemos；　my　old
friend。　I　must　admit　I　can't　conceive　what　brought　you　here。　Is　it　the　Lith？　Has　the　Inquisition　sent　you　to　deal　with　the　Lith？'
News　of　my　disgrace　clearly　hadn't　reached　him；　and　for　that；　I　was　thankful。
'No；　magos；'　I　said。　'A　stranger　quirk　has　brought　us　here。'
'Has　it？　How　odd。　When　I　first　detected　your　signal　…　in　dear　Hapshant's　old　private　code　…　I　couldn't　believe　it。　I　nearly　shot　you
down。'
'I　took　a　chance；'　I　said。
'Well；　that　chance　has　led　you　to　me　and　I'm　glad。　Come；　this　way。'
His　skeletal　silver　hands　ushered　us　towards　the　door　lock。
Bure　had　no　lower　limbs。　He　floated　on　anti…gravity　suspensors；　the　hem　of　his　orange　robe　hanging　a　few　centimetres　above　the
plated　deck。　We　fell　in　step　behind　him　and　walked　the　length　of　a　long；　oval　companion…way　lined　with　brass　bulkheads　and　more　gas
filament　lamps。
'This　burrowing　machine　is　a　wonder；'　Aemos　said。
'All　machines　are　wonders；'　Bure　replied。　'This　is　a　necessity；　the　primary　tool　of　my　work　here　on　Cinchare。　There　were；　of　course；　a
number　of　lesser　prototypes　before　I　made　the　necessary　refinements。　This　translithopede　was　engineered　from　my　designs　by　the
Adeptus　fabricatory　on　Rysa　and　shipped　here　for　my　use　three　standard　years　ago。　With　it；　I　can　go　where　I　please　in　this　rock；　and
unlock　the　secret　lore　of　Cinchare's　metals。'

Magos　Bure　had　been　a　metallurgy　specialist　for　two　hundred　years；　his　knowledge　and　discoveries　almost　worshipped　by　his　brethren
in　the　tech…priesthood。　Before　that；　he　had　been　a　fabricator…architect　in　the　titan　forges　of　Triplex　Phall。　To　my　certain　knowledge；　he
was　almost　seven　hundred　years　old。　Hapshant　had　occasionally　hinted　that　Bure　was　far　older　than　that。
Not　a　shred　of　the　magos's　flesh　remained。　The　vestigial　organic　parts　of　Geard　Bure　the　human　being　…　his　brain　and　neural　systems　…
were　sealed　inside　his　gleaming　mechanoid　body。　I　had　never　learned　if　this　was　a　matter　of　design　or　necessity。　Perhaps；　as　is　the　case
with　so　many；　disease　or　grievous　injury　had　forced　such　extreme　augmentation　upon　him。　Or　perhaps；　like　Tobias　Maxilla；　he　had
deliberately　discarded　the　weakness　of　flesh　in　favour　of　machine　perfection。　Knowing　the　technophiliac　disposition　of　the
Mechanicus　priesthood；　the　latter　seemed　more　likely　to　me。

My　late　mentor；　Inquisitor　Hapshant；　had　encountered　Magos　Bure　in　the　early　part　of　his　career；　during　the　celebrated　mission　to
secure　the　STC　Lectionary　from　the　ashrams　of　Ullidor　the　Techsmith。　As　I　have　remarked；　the　Inquisition　…　indeed　most　august
bodies　of　the　Imperium　…　find　dealings　with　the　Cult　Mechanicus　problematic　at　best。　Its　power　is　legendary　and　its　insularity
notorious。　The　cult　is　a　closed　order　which　guards　the　secrets　of　its　technologies　jealously。　But　Bure　and　Hapshant　developed　a
beneficial　working　relationship　based　on　mutual　esteem。　On　several　occasions；　Bure's　specialist　wisdom　assisted　my　mentor　in　the
prosecution　of　important　cases；　and　on　several　others；　the　favour　was　returned。

That　is　why；　a　century　before；　I　entrusted　an　item　of　particular　importance　to　his　expert　custody。
THE　CONTROL　CHAMBER　of　the　wheezing　translithopede　was　a　split…level　chapel　where　a　raised　command　podium；　like　a　giant　brass
pulpit；　overlooked　two　semi…circular　rows　of　busy　control　stations。　The　rivetted　iron　walls　were　painted　matt　red　and　etched　with　the
various　aspects　and　runes　of　the　Machine　God。　The　forward　wall　was　shrouded　in　long　drapes　of　red　velvet。

Six　oil…streaked　servitors　worked　at　the　chattering　control　stations；　their　hands　and　faces　plugged　directly　into　the　systems　via　thick；
metal…sleeved　cables　or　striped　flexes　marked　with　purity　seals　and　parchment　labels。　Glass　valves　and　dials　flickered　and　glowed；　and
the　air　was　heady　with　the　scent　of　oils　and　sacred　unguents。
Two　relatively　human　tech…adepts　in　orange　robes　were　overseeing　the　activity。　One　was　linked　directly　into　the　vehicle's　mindimpulse
unit　through　a　trio　of　neural　plugs；　and　he　murmured　aloud　the　rites　and　scriptures　of　the　Adeptus。　The　other　turned　and
bowed　as　we　came　onto　the　podium。
He　had　a　wire…mesh　speaker　where　his　mouth　should　have　been。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　in　a　pulse　of　binary　machine　code。
Bure　responded　in　kind；　and　for　a　few　moments　they　exchanged　tight　bursts　of　condensed　data。　Then　Bure　floated　over　to　a　brass
lectern　built　into　the　podium's　rail　and　opened　his　robe。　Two　probing　neural　cables　extended　from　his　chrome　sternum　like　suckerworms
hunting　for　prey　and　connected　swiftly　with　the　polished　sockets　on　the　lectern。
Now　Bure　was　also　conjoined　with　the　translithopede's　mind…impulse　unit。
'We　make　good　speed；'　he　told　us。　He　twitched；　and　the　velvet　drapes　at　the　far　end　of　the　chamber　drew　aside　automatically；　revealing
a　large　holographic　display。　Secondary　images　overlaid　the　main　one；　showing　three…dimensional　charts　and　power'speed　graphics。
The　main　image　was　just　a　dark　rushing　blur　laced　with　crackles　of　blue　energy。
This　was　the　view　directly　ahead　of　us；　the　rock　disintegrating　before　the　awesome　destructive　force　of　the　plasma　cutting…screw。　We
were　travelling　straight　through　solid　rock。
'Perhaps　it's　time　we　discussed　what's　going　on　here；'　I　said。
'We　hunt；'　sad　Bure。
'You've　been　hunting　for　a　long　time；　magos；'　said　Aemos。　'Eleven　weeks　now。　What　are　you　hunting　for？'
'And　why　is　Cinchare　minehead　derelict？'　I　added。
Bure　paused　as　he　selected　the　correct　electrograft　memory。　He　was　almost　lost　in　the　euphoria　of　mind…impulse　union。
'Ninety…two　days　ago；　as　far　as　I　am　able　to　reason　it；　an　independent　prospector　called　Farluke；　working　under　license　for　Ortog
Promethium；　returned　from　a　long　tour　of　assay　rock　side　and　presented　his　masters　with　a　unique　discovery。　They　tried　to　keep　it
secret　for　a　while；　hoping；　I　believe；　to　exploit　it　for　their　own　ends。　That　error　in　judgment　was　costly。　By　the　time　they　realised　their
mistake；　and　shared　their　data　with　the　Adeptus；　it　was　already　too　late。'
'What　had　Farluke　found？'　asked　Aemos。
'It　is　called　the　Lith。　I　have　not　seen　it；　but　I　have　studied　extracts　recovered　from　the　bodies　of　tainted　men。'
'Recovered？'　breathed　Medea；　unnerved。
'Posthumously。　The　Lith　is　a　hyper…dense　geode　of　approximately　seven　hundred　tonnes。　It　is；　as　I　understand　it；　a　perfect　decahedron
four　metres　in　diameter。　Its　mineral　composition　is　exotic　and　inexplicable。　And　it　is　alive。'
'What？　Magos！　Alive？'
'Sentient；　at　least。　It　is　infused　with　the　wretched　filth　of　Chaos。　How　long　it　has　lain　undiscovered　in　the　depths　of　this　world；　I　do　not
know。　Perhaps　it　has　always　been　here；　or　perhaps　it　was　hidden　in　pre…Imperial　times　by　unknown　hands　to　keep　it　safe…　or　to
dispose　of　it。　Perhaps；　indeed；　it　is　the　reason　Cinchare　has　broken　from　the　order　of　its　stellar　dance　and　drifted；　rogue　and　wild；
through　the　stars。　I　had　hoped；　initially；　to　find　it　and　recover　it。　Its　composition　alone　promised　a　wealth　of　precious　knowledge。　But
now　I　hunt　for　it…　simply　to　destroy　it。'
'It　has　corrupted　this　world；　hasn't　it？'　I　said。
'Completely。　As　soon　as　it　came　in　contact　with　men；　it　began　to　twist　their　minds　with　its　malign　power。　It　subjugated　them。　The
Ortog　work　teams　sent　down　to　examine　it　were　the　first。　What　is；　to　all　intents　and　purposes；　a　cult　sprang　up　spontaneously。　Each
initiate　had　a　splinter　of　rock　shaved　from　the　Lith　buried　beneath　his　skin　in　a　simple；　brutal　ritual。'
'We've　seen　the　marks。'
'Disorder　spread　through　Cinchare　minehead　as　the　cult　grew。　The　Lith　couldn't　be　moved；　but　splinters　were　brought　up　and　used　to
infect　more　and　more　of　the　workforce。　Once　tainted；　the　workers　began　to　disappear；　setting　off　on　pilgrimages　down　into　the　mines
to　make　worship　to　the　Lith。　Many　never　made　it。　Most　have　simply　vanished。　I've　tried　to　follow　their　tracks；　sometimes　encountering
hostile　cult　elements　bent　on　protecting　their　deity。　But　Farluke's　original　data　is　unreliable。　I　cannot　find　the　Lith's　true　location。　I　fear
it　is　just　a　matter　of　time　before　the　cult　manages　to　extend　its　reach　beyond　Cinchare。　Or…'
'Or？'
'Or　they　will　complete　some　arcane　task　instructed　by　the　Lith　and　awaken　its　power　in　full…　or　allow　it　to　connect　with　its　own　kind。'
We　considered　this　grim　possibility　for　a　moment。　Aemos　quietly　pulled　up　an　entry　on　the　screen　of　his　data…slate；　undipped　the
device　from　his　wrist；　and　handed　it　to　Bure。
'Does　this　help？'　he　asked。
Bure　stared　at　the　slate。　His　green　eyebeams　dilated　into　hard；　bright　points。
'How　in　the　name　of　the　Warpsmiths　did　you…'
'What　is　it？'　I　asked；　stepped　forward。
'The　location　of　the　Lith；'　said　Aemos　proudly。
'How　did　you　get　this？'　Bure　cried；　his　vox　undercut　by　excited　binary　chatter。
'The　cult　needs　to　know　where　it　is。　The　reference　was　clearly　marked　in　the　charts　I　downloaded　from　the　security　office。　I　didn't
realise　its　significance　until　now。'
'You　just　downloaded　this？'　Bure　said。
'I　believe　they　thought　they　had　no　reason　to　hide　it。　It　wasn't　encrypted。'

Bure　threw　back　his　chrome　skull　and　laughed；　a　screeching；　mocking　cackle。　'Eleven　weeks！　Eleven　weeks　I　have　scoured　and
searched　and　fought　my　way　through　the　bowels　of　this　rock；　hunting　for　clues；　and　the　answer　was　up　there　all　the　time！　In　plain
sight！'
He　turned　to　Aemos　and　laid　a　steel　hand　on　the　savant's　stooped　shoulder。　'I　have　always　admired　your　wisdom；　Uber；　and　recognised
why　Hapshant　valued　you　so…　but　now　I　realise　that　great　wisdom　comes　from　simplicity。'
'It　was　luck；　nothing　more。'
'It　was　bold　simplicity；　savant！　A　moment　of　direct；　clear　thought　that　quite　dwarfs　my　labours　down　here。'
'You're　too　kind…'　Aemos　mumbled。
'Kind？　No；　I　am　not　kind。'　Bure's　eye…lights　swelled　and　flashed。　'I　will　cut　my　way　to　the　heart　of　the　Lith；　and　then　its　spawn　will　see
how　unkind　my　soul　can　be。'
TWO　HOURS　LATER；　after　Bure's　servitors　had　taken　us　to　a　sparely　furnished　cabin　and　provided　us　with　flavourless；　odourless　nutrient
broth　and　hard　cakes　of　fibre　bread；　we　were　summoned　back　to　the　control　chamber。
Outside；　a　small　war　was　going　on。
I　had　already　sensed　we　had　decelerated　from　tunnelling　speed　by　the　reduced　throb　of　the　impellers；　and　now　I　saw　why。　We　had
bored　out　of　the　rock　into　a　towering　vault　lit　by　spurting　pools　of　magma　and　flaming　spouts　of　gas。　On　the　chamber's　holographic
screen；　I　could　see　distorted；　jarring　images　of　the　cavern　outside。　Silent　laser　fire　was　jabbing　at　us。
Bure　was　linked　to　the　podium's　lectern。
'We've　found　their　nest；'　he　said。　'They　resist。'
As　I　watched；　two　soot…stained　prospector　pods　powered　in　towards　us；　firing　small　arms　from　their　open　hatches。
Bure　nodded　to　one　of　his　tech…adepts；　and　the　shriek　of　multi…laser　blasts　rang　through　the　hull。　One　pod　exploded　in　a　ball　of　light；
the　other　tumbled　away；　shredded　and　burning。
I　realised　there　were　men　on　the　ground　too：　miners　in　armoured　work…suits　scurrying　forward　and　firing　at　the　translithopede。
Bure　increased　magnification；　and　we　saw　that　some　of　them　carried　pallets　of　mining　charges；　hoping　to　get　close　enough　to　breach
our　hull。
'Stalkers；'　Bure　said。　It　was　evidently　an　order。　There　was　a　clank　and　a　thud　as　hatches　opened　somewhere　below　us；　and　then　new
shapes　began　to　move　into　view　on　the　screen。
They　were　combat　servitors。　Heavyweight　and　burnished　silver；　they　strode　on　powerful；　backward…jointed　legs；　puffing　black　exhaust
from　their　upthrust　smoke　stacks。　Cannons　in　their　upper　limbs　jerked　with　pneumatic　recoil　as　they　systematically　targeted　and　cut
down　the　cultists。
'Stalker　453；　left　and　target；'　Bure　murmured。　They　were　all　slaved　to　his　direct　control。
One　of　the　stalkers　retrained　its　weapons　and　gunned　four　more　cultists　down。　The　charge…load　they　had　been　hefting　exploded　in　a
bright　flash　that　blacked　out　the　display　for　a　second。　When　the　holo…image　returned；　the　stalker　was　already　pacing　on　after　new
targets。
'Stalker　130　and　Stalker　252；　fan　right。　Opposition　in　cover　behind　that　stalactite　mass。'
'Oh　great　Emperor；'　said　Aemos　suddenly。　'Some　of　them　are　unarmoured。'
It　was　true。　A　good　many　of　the　men　assaulting　us　wore　no　shielding　or　environment　armour。　Their　clothes　were　charred　to　black　rags
and　their　flesh　was　blistered　and　raw。　Some　force　was　keeping　them　active　and　functioning　in　this　great　infernal　depth　where　no　living
thing　should　have　been　able　to　survive　unprotected。　Not　the　pressure；　the　extreme　heat；　not　even　the　toxic；　corrosive　atmosphere　was
stopping　them。　The　taint　of　the　Lith　had　transmuted　them　into　denizens　of　this　underworld。
The　wave　of　stalkers　strode　forward　inexorably；　and　the　translithopede　followed　them　slowly；　its　impelling　lines　of　adamantium　cilia
dragging　it　across　the　cavern　rock。　The　multi…lasers　fired　again；　destroying　another　vehicle　…　a　large　ore　transporter　that　had　been
attempting　to　crash　itself　into　our　machine。
The　mighty　plasma　screw　churned　again　and　ruptured　apart　a　curtain　of　massive　dripstones。　Drizzles　of　dust　obscured　our　picture　for　a
few　seconds。
When　it　cleared；　we　saw　the　true　horror；　and　realised　the　ultimate；　blasphemous　fate　of　Cinchare　minehead's　population。
The　blasphemy　was　huge；　a　writhing　mound　of　baked；　raw　flesh　and　cooking　bone。　One　by　one；　the　tainted　workers　of　Cinchare；　even
Bure's　corrupted　brethren　from　the　Adeptus；　had　come　down　here　to　willingly　contribute　their　organic　matter　to　this　mass。
As　the　translithopede　came　into　view；　it　rose　up；　forming　a　great；　rearing　worm　of　red　ooze　and　blackened　meat　fifty　metres　high。　A
ghastly　mouth；　big　enough　to　swallow　a　prospecting　pod；　gaped　wide　in　its　cresting　head；　and　it　belched　a　vast　ball　of　flaming　gases　at
us。
The　translithopede　shook；　warning　hooters　sounded；　and　the　picture　was　lost。　One　control　station　below　exploded；　throwing　its　servitor
to　the　deck。　Smoke　billowed　through　the　chamber。
'Such　power。'　Bure　marvelled；　emotionless。　The　whole　machine　lurched　again；　more　violently；　and　we　stumbled；　despite　the　internal
gravity　systems　and　inertial　dampers。
The　screen　image　restored；　jumping；　for　a　brief　moment；　enough　to　see　that　the　blasphemy　seemed　to　be　coiling　itself　around　us。　The
hull　creaked　and　protested。　Minor　explosions　rang　out　from　lower　decks。　Plated　seams　bulged　and　several　rivets　flew　out　like　bullets。
'Bure！'
'I　will　break　it！　I　will　cast　it　out！'
'Bure！　In　the　name　of　the　Emperor！'

He　wasn't　listening。　All　his　efforts　were　focussed　on　the　mind…impulse　link　driving　the　translithopede；　on　the　orchestration　of　his
stalkers　as　they　rallied　to　counter…attack　the　monstrosity。　His　confidence　in　the　supremacy　of　the　Machine　over　all　things　was　blinding
him　to　the　very　real　possibility　that　the　formidable　Cult　Mechanicus　had　just　met　its　match。
I　turned　to　Medea　and　Aemos。
'Come　on！'　I　cried。
WE　WERE　HALFWAY　down　the　translithopede's　main　companionway；　heading　towards　the　rear　of　the　great　machine；　when　a　still　more
violent　impact　shook　it。　Without　warning；　the　inertial　dampers　failed　and　we　tumbled　as　the　burrower　was　rolled　onto　its　side。　The
glass　mantles　of　the　gas　lights　smashed；　and　weak　flame　sputtered　and　danced　along　the　walls。　There　was　a　further　series　of　terrific
impacts。
We　got　to　our　feet；　now　forced　to　use　the　curving　wall　as　a　floor。　The　pulsing　shriek　of　the　multi…lasers　was　by　then　a　constant　noise
outside。
Red　warning　lights　were　flashing　in　the　arched　dock…bay。　Our　pod　had　been　torn　from　its　cradle　by　the　latest　impact　and　lay　crumpled
on　its　side；　reclining　against　part　of　the　roof　arching。　But　the　oxide…red　pod　was　still　safely　locked　in　place。
Medea　and　I　jumped　down　from　the　dock's　inner　hatch　onto　the　ceiling；　but　Aemos　called　after　us。
'I　can't　make　that　jump；'　he　protested。　I　knew　he　was　right。
'Then　seal　the　hatch　and　get　back　to　help　Bure！'
'The　Emperor　protect　you　both！'　he　shouted　as　the　hatch　closed。
Power　cables　that　had　once　lain　on　the　deck　now　dangled　like　ropes。　Grabbing　one　each；　we　began　to　rappel　up　towards　the　pod　in　its
cradle。　We　were　halfway　there　when　the　world　seemed　to　shudder　again　and　the　translithopede　righted　itself　violently。　Medea　and　I
went　sprawling；　loose　debris　skittering　all　around　us。　I　had　barely　enough　time　to　dive　and　heave　Medea　aside　before　our　own　wrecked
pod　came　crunching　back　down　the　wall；　slamming　sideways　onto　the　floor。
Another　lurch　and　the　deck　tipped　the　other　way；　out　of　true　by　about　twenty　degrees。　The　unanchored　pod　began　sliding　across　the
deck　towards　us。
'Get　in！'　Medea　yelled。　'Get　in！'　She　had　the　side　hatch　of　the　red　pod　open　and　dragged　me　halfway　inside。　A　moment　later；　and　the
translithopede　rocked　back　thirty　degrees　in　the　other　direction。
The　loose　pod　immediately　squealed　back　across　the　deck　and　crashed　into　the　wall　bulkheads。　I　was　dangling　by　my　hands　from　the
open　hatch。
'Crap！　Get　in！　Get　the　hell　in！'　Medea　wailed；　fighting　to　hold　on　to　me。　I　grunted　and　swung　my　legs　up　so　that　my　toe　caps　caught　the
door　sill。　With　a　further　effort；　I　managed　to　pull　myself　up；　and　Medea　slammed　the　hatch。
There　was　still　more　shaking　and　rocking。　We　clambered　in　to　the　seats　of　the　pilot　station　in　the　low　cockpit；　and　strapped　on　the
harnesses。　Medea　was　keying　the　pod's　drive　ignition　when　the　translithopede　inverted　again　and　left　us　hanging　in　our　seats　by　the
safety　straps。　The　pod　was　now　locked　in　its　cradle　on　the　roof。
'This'll　be　fun；'　Medea　laughed　aggressively。　She　had　sent　a　remote　command　to　open　the　dock…bay's　shutter　doors。　Then　she　powered
the　pod's　engines　to　full　thrust　and　disengaged　the　cradle　lock。
For　a　dizzying　second；　we　dropped；　upside　down；　like　a　rock。　Then　she　hit　the　thrusters　and　looped　us。　We　missed　the　dock…bay　roof
by　a　hands…breadth　and　flew　out　through　the　opening　shutters　even　as　the　entire　translithopede　rolled　over　again。
THE　BLASPHEMY　HAD　wrapped　itself　around　Bure's　great　subterranean　bur…rower　with　constricting　coils。　It　thrashed　and　shook　the
machine；　and　I　could　clearly　see　the　armoured　hull　beginning　to　buckle　and　crumple。　There　were　smoking　sockets　where　some　of　the
multi…laser　batteries　had　been　ripped　away。　The　stalkers　were　converging　on　the　wrestling　giants；　strafing　the　Chaos　worm　with
furious　barrages。　The　remains　of　several　lay　crushed　where　the　translithopede　had　rolled　on　them。
Medea　banked　us　around；　trying　to　speed…familiarise　herself　with　the　control　layout。
'What　do　we　do？　I　take　it　you've　got　a　plan？'
I　shook　my　head。　'I'm　working　on　it。'　Bure's　pod　was　unarmed　…　I　know　this　because　I　checked　feverishly　the　moment　we　were
airborne　…　and　there　was　nothing　that　might　be　turned　into　an　offensive　weapon　apart　from　a　mining　laser　under　the　chin　of　the　c