Gunheads(科幻战争)-第28部分

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you　for　reporting　things　like　that。”
Wulfe　knew　van　Droi　was　being　deliberately　vague；　trying　to　offer　him　a　nice　safe　exit　from　the
topic；　but　he　had　already　committed　himself。
“I　saw　the　ghost　of　Dolphus　Borscht　in　Lugo’s　Ditch；　sir。　I　saw　him　standing　on　the　highway　as
real　as　you　are　right　now。　He　told　me　to　stop　the　tank。　And　if　I　hadn’t　listened　to　him；　my　crew　and　I
would　be　dead　right　now。”
Finally；　it　was　out。　The　words　hung　in　the　air　like　ghosts　themselves；　hovering　between　the　two
men。
“Damn　it；”　hissed　van　Droi。　“Don’t　ever　say　that　out　loud。　You　want　other　people　to　hear？”
“Did　you　know；　sir？”　Wulfe　demanded。
“Of　course；　I　knew；　Oskar。　I’m　not　a　total　idiot。　It　wasn’t　hard　to　put　it　all　together。　But　for
Throne’s　sake；　you’ve　got　to　keep　it　to　yourself；　man。　If　the　commissar　ever　finds　out…”
“Someone　would　have　to　tell　him　first；　sir。　Someone　like　Corporal　Lenck；　perhaps。”
“Lenck？”　asked　van　Droi。　“Are　you　saying　he　knows？”
“I　can’t　be　sure；”　said　Wulfe。　“Just　something　he　said　to　me　last　time　we　clashed。”
Van　Droi　actually　looked　hurt　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　but　he　recovered　well。　“He　didn’t　find
out　from　me；　sergeant；　if　that’s　what　you’re　thinking。”
Wulfe　shook　his　head。　“I　wasn’t　thinking　that；　sir。　Not　really。　But　I　had　to　ask。”
“Listen；　Oskar；　Lenck　might　be　less　of　a　problem　if　you　hadn’t　started　some　kind　of　damned
vendetta　with　him　the　moment　he　joined　the　regiment。　If　you’ve　got　something　on　him；　something
that　I　should　know　about；　don’t　keep　it　to　your　bloody　self。　If　you　don’t；　you　need　to　accept　that　he’s
a　Gunhead　now。　We　stick　together。　It’s　the　only　way　any　of　us　will　get　through　this　alive。　For　the
Throne’s　sake；　man；　he　saved　your　life。”
“Duty；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。　“I’d　have　done　the　same　under　the　circumstances。”
In　truth；　he　still　wasn’t　sure　he　would　have。
“That　doesn’t　change　the　facts；　Oskar。　Lenck　has　more　than　proven　himself　worthy　of　being
among　us。　He　might　be　a　bit　of　a　rogue；　but　he’s　done　a　damned　fine　job　with　that　crate　of　his；　and
he　manages　a　difficult　crew。　For　the　sake　of　the　mission；　will　you　put　your　personal　differences
aside　and　act　like　proper　bloody　soldiers？”
Wulfe　grumbled　to　himself；　but　finally　he　said；　“I’ll　try；　sir。　Since　you　asked。”
Van　Droi　looked　pleased。　He　straightened　his　jacket　and　said；　“Unless　there’s　anything　else…”
“Nothing；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。
“Right。　I’d　better　get　moving；”　said　van　Droi。　“General　deViers　is　having　a　war　council；　and　I
expect　Immrich　will　have　fresh　orders　for　the　regiment　when　it’s　done。　Get　some　rest　while　you　can；
Oskar。　And　some　rations　while　you’re　at　it。　I　can’t　say　when　we’ll　be　leaving　this　unholy　place；　but
Throne　willing　it’ll　be　soon。”
“Yes；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。　He　saluted；　and　received　one　in　return　before　van　Droi　turned　smartly　and
marched　off　towards　a　column　of　parked　Chimeras。
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And　get　some　rest　yourself；　thought　Wulfe　with　genuine　concern。　You　really　look　like　you　need
it。
General　deViers　had　ordered　a　cordon　set　up　around　his　Chimera。　He　didn’t　want　the　rank…and…file
getting　too　close　to　the　meeting　he　had　called。　Kasrkin　troopers　from　Colonel　Stromm’s　98th
Regiment　were　positioned　in　a　wide　circle；　hellguns　in　hand；　told　to　keep　everyone　below　the　rank
of　lieutenant　out。
They　were　Kasrkin。　He　knew　they　could　be　trusted。
Bergen　stood　with　Killian　and　Rennkamp　at　the　front　of　a　small　crowd　mostly　comprised　of
regiment　and　company　level　officers；　adjutants；　executive　officers　and；　at　the　very　front；　positioned
somewhat　separate　from　the　others；　the　three　senior　representatives　of　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus。
DeViers　stood　atop　the　back　of　his　Chimera　so　that　all　the　officers　could　see　him。　He　looked；　to
Bergen；　like　a　vulture　on　a　branch　glaring　fiercely　down　at　the　three　tech…priests；　who　observed　him
impassively　with　lidless　mechanical　eyes。　If　the　general　had　thought　taking　an　elevated　position
would　rob　Magos　Sennesdiar　of　some　of　his　dominating　presence；　or　would　force　him　to
acknowledge　his　proper　place　as　a　mere　accessory　to　the　expedition’s　true　leader；　he　had　been
wrong。　The　hulking；　red…robed　figure　of　the　magos　still　cast　its　powerful　aura　over　the　proceedings。
“How　do　you　answer　that？”　deViers　demanded。　He　had　just　charged　the　Mechanicus　with
conspiring　to　lead　the　expedition　force　here　for　purposes　outside　the　primary　mission　objective。　As
one；　the　crowd　of　officers　edged　forward　a　little；　eager　to　hear　the　magos’　answer。
“The　accusation　is　false；　general；”　boomed　the　magos；　“false；　but　understandable。　Your　view　of
matters　is　being　coloured　by　frustration　and；　perhaps；　by　the　loss　of　so　many　men。　The　Mechanicus
is　not　offended。　We　guided　you　to　the　last　reported　location　of　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance。　It　was　not
there。　You　asked　us　to　aid　you　in　finding　its　new　location。　We　are　doing　so。　That　our　path　led　us　to
the　discovery　of　Dar　Laq　is　coincidence；　nothing　more。”
“And　you　expect　us　to　take　you　at　your　word？”　asked　deViers。
“We　were　attached　to　the　18th　Army　Group　to　provide　assistance　to　you。　We　have　done　little
else。　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　is　a　sanctified　machine。　It　was　fashioned　by　us。　Its　machine…spirit　is
revered　by　us。　We　seek　its　recovery　as　much　as　you　do；　but　with　one　small　difference。　We　of　the
Mechanicus　do　not　seek　any　kind　of　glory　in　recovering　the　tank　the　way　you　men　of　the　Imperial
Guard　do。”
DeViers　looked　to　be　on　the　verge　of　being　personally　affronted　by　that　remark　when　Rennkamp
stepped　forward　and　addressed　the　magos。　“Then　you　won’t　object　if　we　leave　this　Dar　Laq　place　at
once；　magos；　since　further　investigation　of　this　place　is　irrelevant　to　our　mission？”
The　magos　turned　and　fixed　his　lenses　on　Rennkamp；　who　suddenly　looked　a　lot　less　confident
than　when　he　had　spoken。　“It　would　be　most　regrettable　to　leave　Dar　Laq　without　taking　the
opportunity　to　conduct　a　study　of　its　mysteries；　major　general。　There　are　gravity　fields　affecting　the
upper　reaches　of　the　chamber；　though　no　grav…generators　can　be　detected。　There　is　the　metal　all
around　us。　It　is　of　a　composition　so　far　unknown　to　the　Imperium。　Its　potential　value　can　barely　be
estimated　at　this　time。　These　are　only　the　most　obvious　examples　of　ight　offer　us。　Its
existence　was　rumoured　for　thousands　of　years。　Might　we　not　conduct　an　analysis　while　the　troops
are　being　fed　and　the　vehicles　prepared　for　the　next　stage　of　their　deployment？”
“This　is　no　mission　of　discovery；　magos；”　said　General　deViers　gruffly。　“Our　rations　are　running
low。　Our　fuel　is　limited。　Our　numbers；　I’d　rather　not　talk　about。　The　Mechanicus　may　return　to　this
place　on　its　own　damned　time。　For　now；　the　secrets　of　this　place　will　have　to　remain　just　that。”　He
raised　his　eyes　from　the　magos　and　searched　the　group　of　officers；　quickly　finding　the　face　he
sought　there。　“Ah；　Marrenburg。　Have　your　scouts　found　a　way　out　yet？”
Colonel　Marrenburg　stepped　to　Bergen’s　side；　looked　up　at　General　deViers　and　said；　“They
have；　sir：　a　tunnel　the　exact　size　and　gradient　of　that　which　we　descended。　The　air　currents　suggest　it
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leads　back　to　the　surface　on　the　far　side　of　the　Ishawar　range。　I　have　a　Sentinel　unit　scouting　it　out
right　now；　sir。”
“Excellent；　colonel。　Keep　me　apprised。”
There　was　a　sudden　metallic　screech　from　one　of　the　magos’　adepts；　which　was　immediately
answered　by　a　similar　screech　from　the　magos。　Sennesdiar　then　said　to　deViers；　“General；　my　adept；
Xephous；　wishes　to　address　you。　Will　you　hear　him？”
DeViers　looked　impatient；　but　he　said；　“Very　well。”
The　clacking；　chittering　form　of　Adept　Xephous　stepped　forward；　and；　in　an　absolute　monotone；
said；　“With　respect；　general；　are　we　not　allowing　our　distrust　of　things　alien　to　hasten　our　egress
from　this　place　before　time？　Our　back　is　protected　by　the　collapse　of　the　tunnel　behind　us。　The　orks
cannot；　and　in　all　probability　would　not；　follow　us　down　here。　Might　we　not　take　this　chance　to
effect　maintenance　on　our　vehicles；　to　tend　to　our　wounded；　and　to　recover　our　strength　for　the
battles　that　must　surely　lie　on　the　other　side　of　this　mountain？”
The　general’s　expression　said　he　saw　the　validity　of　the　adept’s　comments。　Bergen；　too；　saw　the
sense　in　what　Xephous　had　said。　Looking　around　at　the　other　officers；　he　saw　them　nodding。
“Fine　points；　adept；”　said　deViers　at　last。　“Of　course；　I　wasn’t　born　yesterday。　Do　you　suggest
this　for　the　benefit　of　the　operation；　or　to　allow　you　and　your　Martian　brothers　a　window　of　time　in
which　to　conduct　some　limited　study？”
Xephous　was　on　the　verge　of　answering　when　Magos　Sennesdiar　emitted　a　short　burst　of　noise。
The　adept　bowed　and　stepped　back。　It　was　Sennesdiar　who　spoke　in　his　place。　“My　adept　makes　his
point　for　both　reasons；　general。　Our　enginseers　will　take　care　of　vehicular　maintenance。　My　adepts
and　I　will　conduct　what　research　we　can　while　your　medicae　perform　their　duties　and　your　troopers
prepare　for　what　lies　ahead。　Clearly　it　is　in　both　our　interests　not　to　rush　headlong　from　this　place。”
“Do　you　know　what　lies　ahead；　magos？　deViers　asked　sourly。　“Did　your　ritual　offer　any　clues　to
that？”
“Only　that　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　awaits　us；　general；　and　it　is　no　great　feat　of　predictive
power　to　say　that　the　orks　will　not　give　it　up　easily。”
Bergen　watched　deViers　closely。　He　saw　a　look　of　resolve　harden　on　his　face。　The　magos　had
chosen　his　words　well；　hitting　the　general　where　he　was　weakest；　telling　him　his　prize　was　still
within　reach。　Perhaps　it　is；　thought　Bergen。　But　I　still　contend　that　the　tech…priests　led　us　here
deliberately　for　their　own　ends。
After　the　meeting；　with　the　other　officers　dispersing　to　issue　new　orders　to　their　troops；　Bergen
took　his　adjutant；　Katz；　aside。
“I　haven’t　called　on　your　special　talents　for　quite　a　while；　my　friend。　But　I　think　it’s　about　time
you　got　some　practice　in。”
Katz　grinned。　“You　want　me　to　follow　those　tech…priests；　don’t　you；　sir？”
Bergen　patted　Katz　on　the　upper　arm。
“Don’t　let　them　see　you；”　he　said　and　turned　to　march　back　to　Pride　of　Caedus。
Katz　watched　him　go　for　a　moment；　and　then　turned　in　time　to　see　the　three　red…robed　Martian
priests　moving　off　into　deep　shadow　at　the　edges　of　the　Cadians’　lamplight。　They　were　moving
north　along　the　cavern　wall　with　a　definite　purpose；　heading　deeper　into　the　jumble　of　alien
structures。
Katz　hurried　after　them；　looking　forward　to　employing　his　Emperor…given　gifts　again　after　so
long。
“Don’t　let　them　see　me？”　he　muttered　to　himself。　“You’re　having　a　laugh；　boss。　No　one　sees
Jarryl　Katz　unless　he　means　them　to。”
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CHAPTER　TWENTY…SEVEN
Darkness　held　no　fear　for　Lieutenant　Katz；　even　in　an　alien　place　like　this。　Shadows　hid　few　secrets
from　him。　The　tiny；　sophisticated　mirrors　implanted　at　the　back　of　his　eyeballs　allowed　him　to　see
perfectly　well　in　anything　but　the　most　absolute　blackness。　The　three　tech…priests　he　was　following
didn’t　seem　to　be　having　any　trouble　either；　of　course。　Katz　guessed　they　could　see　in　a　variety　of
spectrums。　He　knew　it　would　take　all　his　expertise　not　to　be　spotted　by　them；　but　the　thought　of　such
a　challenge　didn’t　make　him　anxious。　It　excited　him。　It　had　been　too　long　since　he’d　had　a　chance　to
track　a　worthy　quarry。
Katz　had　served　as　Bergen’s　adjutant　for　over　a　decade；　hand…picked　by　the　man　himself；　and
few　who　looked　at　him　would　have　guessed　he　was　any　more　than　a　boot…polishing；　shirt…pressing
lackey。　It　suited　him　and　the　major　general　both　to　perpetuate　such　an　illusion。　Would　anyone　have
believed　even　half　the　things　he　had　seen　and　done？　Not　a　chance。　His　history　was　far　from　that　of　a
typical　Cadian　soldier。
Katz　had　been　specially　selected　for　sniper　training　barely　a　month　after　he　had　joined　the
Whiteshields。　He　had　been　in　his　mid…teens；　but　already　his　sharp　eyes；　steady　aim　and　cold
composure　marked　him　as　a　young　man　of　great　potential。　From　sniper　school；　he　had　been　inducted
into　a　special　reconnaissance　commando　program　so　classified　that　it　didn’t　appear　on　any
Munitorum　listing；　one　of　a　number　of　black　projects　ordered　by　Cadian　High　Command　and　funded
directly　by　the　planetary　government。　Most　of　the　other　trainees　had　been　drawn　from　the　ranks　of
the　Kasrkin；　and　they　were　anything　but　kind　to　the　precocious　youngster　in　their　midst。　Katz　had
learned　his　lessons　the　hard　way　and；　in　due　course；　proved　himself　the　equal　of　the　older　men；
earning　their　respect　and；　in　some　cases；　their　jealousy。　It　was　as　part　of　that　program　that　his　eyes
had　been　augmented。　Throne；　had　it　really　been　twenty…five　years　ago？
He　almost　snorted　out　loud　at　the　speed　with　which　those　years　had　seemed　to　pass：　all　those
missions　deep　behind　enemy　lines；　all　those　figures；　human　and　alien　both；　that　he　had　lined　up　in
his　sights；　only　to　watch　them　topple　lifelessly　at　the　next　squeeze　of　his　index　finger　on　that　little
curve　of　metal。
Things　are　much　different　now；　he　thought。　But　I　wouldn’t　change　it　even　if　I　could。　I　wouldn’t
go　back。　What　would　the　major　general　do　without　me？
Katz　was　fiercely　loyal　to　Gerard　Bergen。　He　was　proud　of　having　been　chosen　to　guard　his　life；
for　he　judged　Bergen　a　far　better　man　than　those　around　him；　and　it　wasn’t　easy　to　be　a　good　man
when　you　were　under　orders　from　a　soulless　pig　like　Mohamar　deViers。　Whatever　Bergen　needed；
Katz　would　do。　Right　now；　that　meant　following　the　tech…priests。
Up　ahead；　the　robed　and　hooded　trio　screeched　something　to　each　other　in　that　infernal　machine
language　of　theirs；　and　Katz　scolded　himself　for　allowing　reminiscences　into　his　mind　while　he　was
en　mission。　Perhaps　his　skills　had　dulled　with　time。
With　the　light　from　the　Cadian　vehicles　well　behind　them；　the　shortest　of　the　tech…priests；　the
one　with　a　face　like　a　metal　crab；　pulled　a　small；　pulsing　electronic　device　from　the　folds　of　his　robe。
Katz　soon　got　the　impression　that　the　device　was　guiding　them　somewhere。　He　saw　them　consult　it
several　times　and　alter　their　course　through　dusty　alleys　lined　on　either　side　with　towering　hulks　of
dark　metal。
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He　was　concentrating　so　hard　on　his　quarry　that　he　didn’t　have　time　to　wonder　at　his
surroundings。　The　major　general　said　it　was　alien；　but　ancient　and　long　abandoned。　That　was　enough
for　Katz。　Like　his　own　past；　it　was　best　not　to　dwell　on　it。　The　moment　was　all　that　mattered。
As　the　tech…priests　shuffled　on；　he　followed　with　all　the　stealth　at　his　disposal；　moving　deeper
and　deeper　into　the　derelict　underground　city；　getting　further　and　further　away　from　the　Cadian
camp。　They　were　heading　northwards；　and　Katz　soon　began　to　wonder　when　they　would　stop。
Surely　the　chamber　didn’t　extend　much　further。　They　had　already　travelled　over　a　kilometre　in　the
dark。
　said　Xephous。　
　said　Sennesdiar　as　he　led　his　adepts　in　the　direction　Xephous　had
indicated。　
　insisted　Xephous。
　said　Sennesdiar。　
They　stopped　at　the　base　of　a　great　crumbling　tower。　Sennesdiar　looked　up；　and；　in　infra…red；
noted　the　ornate　black　cogs　and　carved　metal　beams　that　were　visible　where　large　curving　sections
of　the　outer　shell　had　fallen　away。


The　adept　pointed　at　one　particularly　large　metal　plate　on　the　ground　in　front　of　him；　and
together　the　three　tech…priests　moved　to　lift　it。　It　would　have　taken　a　dozen　men　significant　effort；
but；　to　the　priests　of　the　Machine　Cult；　it　was　an　easy　matter。　Their　mechadendrites　snaked　forwards
from　their　backs；　and；　with　a　casual　gesture　that　bordered　on　contempt；　they　flipped　the　heavy　plate
of　alien　metal　aside。
The　noise　of　it　crashing　was　all　the　louder　for　the　depth　of　the　silence　that　had　preceded　it。　The
rumble　of　the　Cadian　machines　was　barely　detectable　in　this　part　of　the　chamber。
Sennesdiar　crouched　down；　his　voluminous　robe　spreading　out　around　him。　　he
said；　
The　others　crouched；　too。
　said　Sennesdiar。　
Katz　used　the　crashing　of　the　massive　metal　plate　to　cover　the　noise　of　his　footsteps　as　he　moved
closer　to　the　tech…priests。　It　seemed　to　him　that　they　had　found　the　thing　they　sought。　He　could　see　a
bundle　of　rags　on　the　ground　between　them。　He　crept　closer　and　closer；　ever　mindful　of　the　slightest
noise　that　might　give　him　away。
Damn　their　bloody　chirping　and　beeping；　he　thought。　If　only　I　could　understand　what　they　were
saying。
He　saw　the　largest　one；　the　magos；　unfurl　the　rags　on　the　ground　to　reveal　a　skull　attached　to
metal　vertebrae。
It’s　another　one；　Katz　said　to　himself。　It’s　a　bloody　tech…priest。
He　could　see　augmetic　attachments　bolted　to　the　skull。　He　could　see　a　metal　collar　bone。　Magos
Sennesdiar　kept　uncovering　more　and　more。　There　was　a　structure　like　a　rib　cage；　but　formed　of
steel　spars　and　pistons。　One　of　the　arms　was　missing；　but　the　other　was　bulky　and　ended　in
something　more　claw　than　hand。　Cables　and　flexible　tubing　trailed　from　the　midriff　like　the　entrails
of　an　eviscerated　man。
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Katz　wondered　how　much　closer　he　could　get　without　risking　detection。　He　had　to　know　more。
The　major　general　was　relying　on　him。
Slowly；　carefully；　he　moved　in；　keeping　to　the　wall　on　his　right。
So　far；　so　good；　he　thought。　They’re　preoccupied。　They　don’t　have　a　clue　I’m　here。
　said　Armadron。　
　said　Sennesdiar。　
Xephous　and　Armadron　saw　to　it。　With　precise　and　careful　movements；　they　lifted　the　remains
of　Magos　Ipharod　into　position。　He　was　in　a　poor　state。　With　the　exception　of　his　skull　and　teeth；　the
few　biological　elements　left　over　from　his　human　form　had　rotted　away　almost　completely。　His
missing　left　arm　and　the　absence　of　his　legs　spoke　of　violent　damage　prior　to　his　seeking　refuge　here
in　Dar　Laq。　What　had　happened　to　him？　If　the　procedure　was　successful；　Sennesdiar　would　soon
know。
　said　Sennesdiar；　
　said　Xephous；　reaching　up　to　pull　back　his　hood。　His　fingers　worked　a
panel　on　the　side　of　his　metal　head。　There　was　a　brief　whining　noise　as　tiny　motors　lifted　a　square
section　and　rotated　it　away；　revealing　sockets　sunk　into　the　tissue　of　his　living　brain。
Sennesdiar　detected　no　fear　in　his　adept’s　tone；　but　he　sensed　an　increase　in　secretions　from　his
biological　systems　that　suggested　he　was　less　than　happy。　Giving　one’s　systems　over　to　the　control
of　another　tech…priest’s　intelligence　core　w