The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第27部分

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'Why　don't　you　trust　me；　Ungish？　I　will　protect　you；'　I　said。　I　opened　my　black　linen　coat　so'she　could　see　the　laspistol　holstered　under
my　left　arm。
'Why？'　she　fretted。　'Because　you're　playing　with　fire。　You've　crossed　the　line。'
I　balked。　'Why　did　you　say　that？'　I　asked；　hearing　Pontius's　words　loud　in　my　head。
'Because　you　have；　damn　you！　Heretic！　Bloody　heretic！'
'Stop　it！'
She　got　to　her　feet　from　the　courtyard　bench　unsteadily。　Pilgrims　were　turning　to　look　at　the　sound　of　her　outburst。
'Heretic！'
'Stop　it；　Tasaera！　Sit　down！　No　one's　going　to　hurt　you！'
'Says　you；　heretic！　You've　damned　us　all　with　your　ways！　And　I'm　the　one　who's　going　to　pay！　I　saw　it　in　my　dream…　this　place；　this
hour…　your　lie　at　the　altar；　the　circling　birds…'
'I　didn't　lie；'　I　said；　tugging　her　back　down　onto　the　bench。
'He's　coming；'　she　whispered。
'Who？　Gladus？'
She　shook　her　head。　'Not　Gladus。　He's　never　coming。　None　of　them　are　coming。　They've　all　read　your　pretty；　begging　letters　and
erased　them。　You're　a　heretic　and　they　won't　begin　to　deal　with　you。'
'I　know　the　people　I've　written　to；　Ungish。　None　of　them　would　dismiss　me　so。'
She　looked　round　into　my　face；　her　head…cage　hissing　as　it　adjusted。　Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears。
'I'm　so　afraid；　Eisenhorn。　He's　coming。'
'Who　is？'
'The　hunter。　That's　all　my　dream　showed。　A　hunter；　blank　and　invisible。'
'You　worry　too　much。　Come　with　me。'
WE　WENT　BACK　into　the　Cathedral　of　Saint　Ezra　Outlooking；　and　took　seats　in　the　front　of　the　ranks　of　carrels。　Evening　sunlight　raked
sidelong　through　the　windows。　The　statue　of　the　saint；　raised　behind　the　rood　screen；　looked　majestic。
'Better　now？'　I　asked。
'Yes；'　she　snivelled。
I　kept　glancing　around；　hoping　that　Gladus　would　appear。　Straggles　of　pilgrims　were　arriving　for　the　evening　devotion。
Maybe　he　wasn't　coming。　Maybe　Ungish　was　right。　Maybe　I　was　more　of　a　pariah　than　I　imagined；　even　to　old　friends　and　colleagues。
Maybe　Gladus　had　read　my　humble　communique　and　discarded　it　with　a　curse。　Maybe　he　had　sent　it　to　the　arbites…　or　the
Ecclesiarchy…　or　the　Inquisition's　Officio　of　Internal　Prosecution。
'Two　more　minutes；'　I　assured　her。　'Then　we'll　go。'　It　was　long　past　the　hour　I　had　asked　Gladus　to　meet　me。
I　looked　about　again。　Pilgrims　were　by　now　flooding　into　the　cathedral　through　the　main　doors。
There　was　a　gap　in　the　flow；　a　space　where　a　man　should　have　been。　It　was　quite　noticeable；　with　the　pilgrims　jostling　around　it　but
never　entering　it。
My　eyes　widened。　In　the　gap　was　a　glint　of　energy；　like　a　side…flash　from　a　mirror　shield。
'Ungish；'　I　hissed；　reaching　for　my　weapon。
Bolt　rounds　came　screaming　down　the　nave　towards　me　from　the　gap。　Pilgrims　shrieked　in　panic　and　fled　in　all　directions。
'The　hunter！'　Ungish　wailed。　'Blank　and　invisible！'
He　was　that。　With　his　mirror　shield　activated；　he　was　just　a　heat…haze　blur；　marked　only　by　the　bright　flare　of　his　weapon。
Mass　panic　had　seized　the　cathedral。　Pilgrims　were　trampling　other　pilgrims　in　their　race　to　flee。
The　backs　of　the　carrels　exploded　with　wicked　punctures　as　the　bolt　rounds　blew　through　them。
I　fired　back；　down　the　aisle；　with　tidy　bursts　of　las…fire。
'Thorn　wishes　Aegis；　craven　hounds　at　the　hindmost！'
That　was　all　I　was　able　to　send　before　a　bolt　round　glanced　sidelong　into　my　neck　and　threw　me　backwards；　destroying　my　vox
headset　in　the　process。
I　rolled　on　the　marble　floor；　bleeding　all　over　the　place。
'Eisenhorn！　Eisenhorn！'　Ungish　bawled　and　then　screamed　in　agony。
I　saw　her　thrown　back　through　the　panelled　wood　of　the　box　pews；　demolishing　them。　A　bolt　round　had　hit　her　square　in　the　stomach。
Bleeding　out；　she　writhed　on　the　floor　amid　the　wood　splinters；　wailing　and　crying。
I　tried　to　crawl　across　to　her　as　further；　heedless　bolt…fire　fractured　the　rest　of　the　front　pews。
I　looked　up。　Witchfinder　Arnaut　Tantalid　disengaged　his　mirror　shield　and　gazed　down　at　me。
'You　are　an　accursed　heretic；　Eisenhorn；　and　that　fact　is　now　proven　beyond　doubt　by　the　carta　issued　for　you。　In　the　name　of　the
Ministorum　of　Mankind；　I　claim　your　life。'

TWENTTY…ONE
DEATH　AT　ST　EZRA'S。

THE　LONG　HUNT。
THE　CELL　OF　FIVE。
PRECISELY　HOW　HE　had　found　me　was　a　mystery；　but　I　believe　he　had　been　on　my　tail　for　a　long　time；　since　before　Cinchare。　The　fact
that　he　had　come　to　Saint　Ezra　Outlooking　at　that　hour　and　that　day　convinced　me　that　he　had　intercepted　my　communique　to　Gladus。
And　he　might　have　triumphed　over　me；　right　there；　right　then；　if　he'd　but　pressed　the　advantage　and　finished　the　job　with　his　boltgun。
Instead；　Tantalid　holstered　his　bolt　pistol　and　drew　his　ancient　chainsword；　Theophantus；　intent　on　delivering　formal　execution　with
the　holy　weapon。
I　fired　my　laspistol；　powering　shot　after　shot　at　him；　driving　him　backwards。　His　gold…chased　battle　suit；　which　gave　his　shrivelled
frame　the　bulk　and　proportions　of　a　Space　Marine；　absorbed　or　deflected　the　impacts；　but　the　sheer　force　knocked　him　back　several
paces。
I　jumped　up；　firing　again；　and　retreating　down　the　epistle　side　of　the　cathedral；　towards　the　feretory。　Bystanders　and　church　servants
were　still　fleeing。　Its　iron　teeth　singing；　Theophantus　swung　at　me。　Tantalid　was　barking　out　the　Accusal　of　Heresy；　verse　after　verse。
Be　quiet！　I　yelled；　enforcing　my　will。
The　psychic　sting　shocked　him　into　silence；　but　he　was　generally　protected　by　psi…dampers　and　ignored　my　next　will…driven　order　to
''desist''　completely。
The　chainsword　revved　around　and　I　threw　myself　aside　as　it　cleft　a　bench　pew　in　two。　The　backswing　nearly　caught　me；　but　I　dodged
behind　a　pier　column　that　took　the　force　of　the　blow　in　a　splintering　shower　of　sparks　and　stone　chippings。
Ungish　was　still　crying　out　in　pain。　The　sound　chilled　and　infuriated　me。　I　fired　my　laspistol　again；　but　the　last　few　shots　fizzed　and
spluttered；　underpowered。　The　power　cell　was　exhausted。　I　dived　again；　feinting　past　his　slow…moving　bulk；　and　grappled　with　him
from　behind。　It　was　a　desperate　ploy。　Unarmoured　as　I　was；　I　stood　little　chance　of　overwhelming　his　brute　force　or　hurting　him。　He
got　a　steel…gloved　paw　round　behind　himself；　grabbed　me　by　the　coat　and　tore　me　off　him。
My　coat　ripped。　I　bounced　hard　off　a　pillar　and　crashed　awkwardly　through　the　delicate　fretwork　of　a　confessional　screen。　I　had　barely
pulled　myself　out　of　the　flimsy　wooden　wreckage　when　the　chainsword　swooped　in　again　and　chewed　a　deep　gouge　in　the　cathedral
floor。
I　ran　from　him　then；　across　the　south　aisle　towards　the　feretory。　Two　men　of　the　cathedral's　Frateris　Militia；　clearly　seeking
advancement　by　coming　to　the　aid　of　the　fearsome　Ministorum　witch…hunter；　closed　in　to　block　my　escape。　They　were　both　clad　in
Ezra's　yellow　and　carried　short　stave…maces　in　one　hand　and　temple　lanterns　in　the　other。
I　think　they　both　quickly　regretted　their　enthusiastic　involvement。

I　didn't　even　bother　with　the　will。　I　think　my　rage　was　too　great　to　have　used　it　cleanly　anyway。　I　side…stepped　the　first　mace；　caught
and　broke　the　wrist　that　wielded　it；　and　kicked　the　man　down。　The　mace　turned　in　the　air　as　it　flew　from　the　sprawling　oafs　useless
hand；　and　I　caught　it　and　turned　it　cross…wise　in　time　to　block　the　down…stroke　of　the　other　man's　club。　As　he　bounced　back　with　the
recoil　of　his　own；　negated　strike；　I　smacked　him　in　the　side　of　the　knee　with　my　captured　weapon。　He　fell　over　with　sharp　wail　of　pain；
losing　hold　of　his　own　mace　and　trying　to　beat　me　with　his　temple　lamp　instead。　I　took　the　lamp　away　from　him　and　kicked　him　in　the
belly　so　he　doubled　up　on　his　side；　sobbing　and　trying　to　remember　how　to　breathe。

The　first　man　was　back　up；　running　at　me。　I　spun　and　smashed　the　temple　lamp　in　his　face；　sideways。　Both　its　light　and　his　went　out。
The　paving　shook　as　Tantalid　hove　down　on　me。　I　used　the　captured　mace　like　a　sword；　double…handed；　to　deflect　his　first　strokes。　It
was　iron…banded　hardwood；　and　tough；　but　no　match　for　a　chainsword。　After　three　or　so　clashes；　the　mace　was　chewed　and　mangled。　I
threw　it　aside　and　tore　a　church　standard　down　from　the　wall　beside　the　feretory　door。　Theo…phantus　immediately　shredded　the　old
embroidered　cloth　and　wood…frame　titulus　from　the　end；　but　that　left　me　with　three　metres　of　cast…iron　pole。
I　held　it　like　a　quarterstaff；　striking　Tantalid　hard　on　the　side　of　the　head　with　one　end　and　then　square　on　the　opposite　hip　with　the
other。　Then　I　stabbed　the　end　at　him　viciously；　like　a　spear…thrust；　and　managed　to　dent　the　chest…plate　of　his　armour。
In　response　…　and　frothing　mad　with　anger　himself　now　…　he　put　up　Theophantus　and　shortened　my　pole　by　about　half　a　metre。　I
wrenched　the　remaining　pole　around　one…handed　and　struck　him　on　the　other　side　of　the　head。　Blood　was　spilling　from　his　ears。　He
howled　and　made　an　attack　that　almost　took　my　arm　off。

My　third　attempt　to　clip　his　miserable　head　missed。　He　was　wise　to　it　now；　and　blocked　with　his　chainsword。　The　chain　teeth　caught　in
the　pole　and　plucked　it　from　my　hands；　throwing　it　up　ten　metres　into　the　air。　It　landed　behind　some　pews　with　a　loud；　echoing　clang。
I　rocked　back　from　the　follow　up；　but　the　murderous　saw　caught　my　right　shoulder　and　gashed　me　deeply。　Clutching　the　wound；　I
ducked　again；　and　Theophantus　decapitated　a　statue　of　Saint　Ezra's　pardoner。
No　matter　what　I　did；　it　was　going　his　way。　He　had　the　weapons　and　the　armour　on　his　side。　And　now　I　was　bleeding　badly；　which
meant　I　would　progressively　slow　and　weaken；　and　it　was　just　a　matter　for　him　to　keep　pressing　the　onslaught　and　he　would　triumph。
I　became　aware　of　another　commotion　near　the　main　doors　of　the　great　church。　Many　startled　worshippers　and　hierarchs　had　retreated
and　gathered　there　to　watch　the　holy　combat。　Now　they　were　spilling　aside；　their　huddle　breaking。　A　figure　stormed　through　them。
Medea。
She　ran　down　the　main　aisle；　calling　to　me；　firing　her　needle　pistol　over　the　tops　of　the　pews　at　Tantalid。　The　lethal　rounds　pinged　and
clicked　off　his　armour；　and　he　turned　in　annoyance。

Tantalid　dragged　out　his　boltpistol　and　fired　at　this　new　attack。　Medea　hurled　the　object　she　had　been　carrying　in　her　other　hand　and
then　disappeared　from　view　as　she　dived　to　evade　the　hammer　blows　of　the　bolt　rounds。　At　least；　I　prayed　it　was　a　deliberate　dive。　If
he　had　hit　her…
The　object　she　had　thrown　bounced　off　a　pew　near　me　and　landed　on　the　floor；　spilling　from　its　yellow　cloth。
Barbarisater。
Risking　dismemberment　from　the　chainsword；　I　hurled　myself　at　the　Carthaen　blade。　My　hands　found　its　long　grip　and　I　rolled　twice
to　avoid　the　next　downstrike　of　Theophantus。
Barbarisater　purred　in　my　grip　as　I　came　up。　The　runes　blazed　with　vengeful　light。
Tantalid　realised　that　the　nature　of　the　battle　had　suddenly　changed。　I　saw　it　in　his　eyes。
My　first　swing　severed　his　wrist；　cutting　clean　through　the　power…armoured　cuff；　dropping　his　hand　to　the　floor；　still　clutching　the
smoking　boltgun。
My　second　met　Theophantus　and　destroyed　it；　spraying　disintegrating　chain…teeth　and　machine　parts　into　the　air。
My　third　cut　Witchfinder　Tantalid　in　two　from　the　left　shoulder　to　the　groin。　Neither　half　of　him　made　a　sound　as　they　fell　apart　onto
the　cathedral　floor。
Barbarisater　was　still　seething　with　power；　and　twitched　as　Medea　emerged　unhurt　from　behind　a　choir　stall。　I　forced　the　hungry　blade
down。
'Come　on！'　she　said。
Ungish　was　dead。　There　was　nothing　I　could　do　for　her。　And　there　was　so　much　I　should　have　done。　She　had　been　right。　Right　about
this。　Right　about　her　fate。　I　dreaded　to　think　how　much　more　of　what　she　had　said　might　prove　to　be　true　too。
Hearing　my　frantic　glossia　call　when　Tantalid　first　attacked；　Medea　had　taken　the　launch　up　from　Ezra　Plain　outside　the　city；　despite
all　official　warnings　for　her　to　abort；　and　flown　it　right　in；　setting　down　in　the　courtyard　outside　Saint　Ezra　Outlooking。
As　we　ran　out　now；　into　the　evening；　through　crowds　of　stunned　onlookers　who　leapt　out　of　our　path；　the　city　arbites　and　the　Frateris
Militia　were　rising　in　alarmed　response。　There　was　no　point　waiting　to　face　them。
The　launch　shot　us　skywards；　back　towards　the　Essene；　to　leave　Orbul　Infanta　as　fast　as　we　could。
IT　WAS　A　mess；　and　I　was　terribly　disheartened。　The　confidence　with　which　we　had　all　set　out　from　Cinchare　seemed　to　have
dissolved。　Orbul　Infanta　had　been　just　the　first　part　of　a　long　stratagem；　and　thanks　to　Tantalid；　it　had　ended　badly。　I'd　failed　to　contact
Gladus；　and　discovered　that　as　careful　as　I　had　been；　my　communiques　were　not　secure。　The　third　task　I　had　planned　to　undertake　on
Orbul　Infanta；　a　search　of　the　Imperial　archivum　for　certain　information　relating　to　Quixos；　hadn't　even　been　started。
At　least　the　weapons　were　consecrated。　And　Barbarisater　had　more　than　proved　itself　in　combat。
FRIGATES　OF　THE　Frateris　Militia；　along　with　several　Imperial　Navy　guard　boats；　attempted　to　block　the　Essene；　but　Maxilla's
navigator　got　us　out　of　the　system　and　real　space　before　they　could　even　close　range。　Some　ships　pursued　us　into　the　warp；　and　we
were　chased　for　eight　days；　finally　losing　our　pursuers　through　a　series　of　real…space　decelerations　and　redirections。　We　went　to
ground。　A　month　at　a　low…tech　depot　on　a　farming　world；　another　two　at　the　automated　station　at　Kwyle。　I　was　jumping　at　shadows　by
then；　expecting　enemies　and　rivals　to　loom　out　of　every　doorolested。　Maxilla　had　made　a
career　out　of　passing　unnoticed　and　avoiding　attention。　He　lent　that　practiced　art　to　our　cause　now；　and　reassured　me　into　the　bargain。
THREE　MONTHS　AFTER　leaving　Orbul　Infanta　in　such　haste；　we　risked　a　run　to　Gloricent；　an　outlying　but　prosperous　trade　world　in　the
Antimar　subsector；　another　division　of　the　Scarus　Sector；　just　two　subsectors　over　from　the　Helican　sub　itself。　Though　worlds　like
Gudran　and　Thracian　Primaris　were　a　good　four　months　away　by　starship；　it　felt　a　little　like　being　home。　Disguised；　Medea　and　I
visited　the　sea…lashed　stone　piles　of　one　of　the　main　trade…hives；　and　procured　a　pair　of　astropaths；　hiring　their　services　from　the　local
commercial　guild　on　an　open…ended　lease。
Their　names　were　Adgur　and　Ueli；　both　young　males；　both　psychically　capable　but　dull…witted　and　emotionless。　Their　young　heads
were　shaved　and　their　plugs　shiny　and　new；　and　they　spoke　to　me　in　overly　formal　ways　that　sounded　like　the　parrot…learned　etiquette
it　sadly　was。　But　their　eyes　were　ringed　with　darkness　and　their　flesh　was　losing　its　youthful　lustre。　The　rigour　of　the　astropathic　life
was　already　taking　its　toll。
USING　THEM；　I　sent　fresh　communiques　that　superceded　the　original　ones　and　revised　certain　aspects　of　my　scheme。　None　of　the
messages　now　suggested　the　sort　of　trial　meetings　I　had　attempted　with　Gladus。　I　would　not　give　so　much　away　now。
After　a　week；　and　no　reponses；　we　left　Gloricent　and　went；　via　Mimonon　to　Sarum；　the　capital　world　of　the　Antimar　subsector。　I
managed　to　do　some　useful　work　in　its　libraries；　but　backed　off　when　a　sour　little　confessor　on　a　research　sabbatical　took　to　following
me　as　if　he　recognised　me。
While　at　anchor　off　Sarum；　I　got　my　first　responses；　all　coded：　from　Bequin　on　Messina；　and　from　Aemos　on　Gudrun。　Both　reported
that　their　parts　of　the　plan　were　going　much　more　smoothly　than　mine　had。　Two　days　later；　a　partially　scrambled　astropathic　message
came　from　Inshabel　on　Elvara　Cardinal。　What　parts　I　got　of　it　seemed　to　indicate　some　success。　I　was　impatient　to　know　more。
The　week　before　we　left　Sarum；　I　received　two　more；　both　anonymous；　one　from　Thracian　Primaris；　the　other　from　a　cluster　of　slaveworlds
that　owed　fealty　to　the　Salies　Province　of　the　Ophidian　subsector。　From　the　careful　code　and　language　of　both；　I　recognised
their　senders。
My　spirits　lifted。

AFTER　THAT　IMPROVEMENT；　things　again　seemed　to　slow　and　stagnate。　There　was　no　progress；　and　no　further　communications。　We
were　forced　to　quit　Lorwen；　our　next　stop　after　Sarum；　with　unseemly　haste；　when　a　flotilla　of　warships　from　Battlefleet　Reaver
arrived。　I　know　now　that　the　Battlefleet　manoeuvres　at　Lorwen　…　and　incidentally　at　Sarum　and　Femis　Major　too　…　were　part　of　a　major
precautionary　deployment　against　a　pair　of　space　hulks　that　had　suddenly　roamed　into　the　subsector。　But　they　caused　us　over　thirteen
weeks　of　anxious　hiding　amongst　the　brown　and　black　dwarf　stars　of　an　extinguished　stellar　nursery。
Another　Candlemas　went　by　while　we　were　in　the　empyrean；　en　route　to　the　Drewlian　Group。　Medea；　Maxilla　and　I　marked　it
together；　just　the　three　of　us。　The　two　astropaths　and　the　navigator　were　not　invited　to　attend。　I　raised　a　glass　to　toast　the　continued
success　of　our　mission。　I　don't　think　I　would　have　been　so　hearty　if　I　had　known　it　would　be　another　full　year　before　the　final　act　of　the
plan　would　play　out。
I　SPENT　THE　first　four　months　of　342　fruitlessly　engaged　in　a　search　for　the　celebrated　precog…hermit　Lukas　Cassian　in　the　stinking
marshes　of　Drewlia　Two；　only　to　learn　that　he　had　been　murdered　by　a　Monodominant　cult　four　years　earlier。　During　that　quest；　I
terminated　the　activities　of　a　plague…daemon　sect　infesting　the　marshlands。　That　was　quite　an　undertaking　in　its　own　right；　but　my　full
account　of　it　is　filed　in　the　Inquisition　archives　separately；　and　it　has　no　bearing　on　this　record。　Besides；　I　still　regard　it　bitterly　as　an
interruption　and　waste　of　time。　Neither　will　I　set　down　here　the　full　story　of　Nathan　Inshabel's　ventures　on　Elvara　Cardinal；　or　Harlon
Nayl's　frankly　extraordinary　experiences　on　Bimus　Tertius；　though　both　tales　connect　to　this　record。　Inshabel　has　written　his　own；
refreshingly　witty　account　of　his　exploits；　which　may　be　accessed　by　those　with　the　appropriate　clearance；　something　I　recommend　as
illuminating　and　rewarding。　Nayl　asked　me　not　to　include　his　story；　and　has　never　committed　it　to　record。　It　may　be　learned　only　by
those　with　the　temerity　to　ask　him　and　the　money　to　pay　for　a　long　night's　serious　drinking。
All　this　while；　I　remained　an　Imperial　outlay　heresies。　It　is　interesting　to　note　that　at　no　time　during
this　period　did　the　Inquisition　formally　refute　or　overturn　the　carta　I　had　declared　on　Quixos。
THE　YEAR　343。M41　was　half　gone　already　by　the　time　the　Essene　took　me　to　Thessalon；　a　feudal　world　near　Hesperus　in　the　Helican
subsector。　It　had　been　chosen　by　Nayl　as　the　point　for　our　secret　congregation。　Commanding　a　twenty　man　field　team　selected　from
my　staff　on　Gudrun；　he　arrived　a　week　before　the　rest　of　us　to　secure　the　location　and　make　sure　we　were　not　compromised。　His
preparations　were　thorough　and　ingenious。　No　one　entered　the　area　without　him　knowing　it；　nor　could　anyone　have　done　so。　At　the
slightest　sign　of　outside　interruption　or　official　interference；　we　would　have　ample　time　to　withdraw　and　flee。　As　a　final　precaution；　I
was　the　last　to　arrive。
THESSALON　IS　A　tough　little　world　whose　population　lives　in　a　dark　age　and　knows　nothing　of　the　Imperium　or　the　galaxy　beyond　its
skies。
The　meeting　place　was　a　rained　keep　in　the　north　of　the　second　continent；　two　thousand　kilometres　from　the　nearest　indigenous
community。　A　few　lonely　animal　herders　and　subsistence　farmers　undoubtedly　saw　the　lights　of　our　ships　in　their　heavens；　but　to　them
they　were　just　the　portents　of　the　gods　and　the　bright　eyes　of　fabulous　beasts。
MEDEA　DEPOSITED　ME　at　the　edge　of　a　conifer　forest　at　nightfall；　and　then　took　the　gun…cutter　back　to　stand　off　as　air…cover；　ready　to
redeploy　at　a　m