The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第12部分

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Guard；　the　Aurora　Marines　and　the　arbites　were　striving　to　contain　the　outbreak　of　enemy　prisoners；　many　of　whom　had　taken　the
opportunity　to　break　free　and　grab　weapons。　A　ferocious；　point…blank　war　had　seized　the　great　approach。
But　what　concerned　me　were　the　psykers。　The　captured　heretics。　The　thirty…three。　They　had　broken　free。
I　drew　my　power　sword　and　my　boltgun；　plunging　into　the　milling　bodies；　crunching　over　the　calcified　bones　of　those　slaughtered　by
the　psychic　wave。
An　inhuman　thing；　a　Chaos　prisoner；　leapt　at　me；　and　I　struck　its　head　off　with　my　blade。　I　leapt　over　a　dead　Marine；　who　was　leaking
blood　onto　the　rockcrete　from　splits　in　his　imperator　armour；　and　pushed　through　the　howling　civilians。
Four　Thracian　Guardsmen　were　directly　ahead　of　me；　using　the　charred　corpse　of　a　fallen　aurochothere　for　cover　as　they　blasted　into
the　press。
I　was　a　few　steps　away　from　them　when　the　gigantic　dead　animal　reanimated；　a　psychic　puppet；　killing　them　all。
My　weapons　were　useless。　I　focussed　my　mind　and　blew　the　thing　apart　with　a　concussive　mental　wave。
An　Aurora　Marine　flew　through　the　air　over　me；　ten　metres　up；　his　legs　missing。
I　ran　on；　scything　my　blade　at　the　escaped　prisoners　who　menaced　me。
The　road　was　covered　with　the　dead。　Humans；　on　fire　from　head　to　foot；　stumbled　past　me　and　collapsed　on　their　faces。
The　Trojan　tractor　team　was　on　fire；　its　massive　trailer　slewed　around。　Three　of　the　enemy　pyskers　lay　dead　on　the　payload　space；　and
four　void　shields　remained　intact；　their　occupants　frantic　within。
But　the　others…
Upwards　of　twenty…five　alpha…level　enemy　psykers　had　escaped。
I　saw　the　first；　a　stumbling；　emaciated　wretch　of　a　man；　near　the　end　of　the　trailer。　Corposant　flickered　around　his　head　and　he　was
trying　to　eat　a　screaming　astropath　novitiate。
My　boltgun　stopped　his　daemonic　work。
I　dropped　to　my　knees；　gasping　and　crying　as　the　second　found　me。　She　was　a　stringy　female；　clad　in　a　gauzy　white　veil；　her
fingernails　like　talons。
She　cowered　behind　the　end　of　the　trailer；　sobbing　and　lashing　out　at　me　with　her　foul　power。　She　had　no　eyes。
I　am　not　alpha…class。　My　brain　was　broiling　and　bubbling。
A　Thracian　guardsman　ran　at　her　from　the　left；　and　instinctively；　she　turned　her　attention　to　him。　His　head　popped　like　a　blister。
I　shot　her　through　the　heart　and　knocked　her　flat　on　her　back。　Her　limbs　continued　to　thrash　for　over　a　minute。

Electrical　discharge　spat　out　at　me　from　nearby　in　the　crowd。　People；　screaming　and　burning；　tumbled　frantically　back　from　a　male
psyker　who　was　striding；　head　down；　towards　the　hives。　He　was　a　dwarf；　with　stunted　limbs　and　an　enlarged　cranium。　Ball　lightning
crackled　around　his　pudgy　fingers。
I　stabbed　at　him　with　my　mind；　just　to　get　his　attention　and　then　exploded　his　face　with　a　pin…point　bolt。
Emperor　save　me；　he　kept　coming。　I　had　blown　the　front　off　his　skull；　but　he　kept　coming。　Blind；　his　features　a　gory　mess。　He
stumbled　across　the　ground　towards　me；　his　still…active　mind　boring　into　mine。
I　fired　again；　almost　panicking　myself；　and　blew　off　one　of　his　arms。　Still　he　came　on。　My　jacket；　hair　and　eyelashes　caught　fire。　My
brain　was　about　to　explode　out　of　my　skull。
A　Space　Marine　in　the　colours　of　the　Aurora　Chapter　came　at　him　from　behind　and　shredded　him　into　pulp　with　his　boltgun。
'Inquisitor？'　the　Marine　asked　me；　his　voice　distorted　by　his　helmet　mic。　'Are　you　all　right？'
He　helped　me　up。
'What　insanity　is　this？'　he　rasped。
'You　have　a　vox…channel；　Marine？　Alert　Lord　Orsini！'
'Already　done；　inquisitor；'　he　crackled。
Behind　us；　the　tractors　exploded　en　masse；　flinging　fire　and　debris　high　into　the　air。
A　scalded　child　ran　past　us；　shrieking。
The　Marine　grabbed　the　child　in　his　massive　arms。
'This　way；　this　way；　out　of　danger…'
'No；'　I　said　slowly。　'Don't…　don't…'
His　visored　face　swung　up　at　me　in　confusion；　the　child　cradled　in　his　arms。
'Don't　what？'　he　asked。
'Look　at　the　brand！　The　mark　there！'　I　yelled；　pointing　to　the　Malleus　rune　burned　into　the　child's　ankle。　The　hammer　of　witches。　The
brand…mark　of　the　psyker。
The　Chaos　child　looked　up　at　me　and　grinned。
'What　mark？'　asked　the　Marine。　'What　mark　are　you　talking　about？'
'I…I…'
I　tried　to　fight　it；　please　know　that。　I　tried　to　repel　the　unholy　power　of　the　child's　mind　as　it　groped　into　my　head。　But　this　thing；　this
''child''；　was　far　beyond　my　powers　to　contain。
Kill　him；　it　said。
My　hand　was　shaking；　resisting；　as　I　swung　the　boltgun　around　and　shot　the　Marine　through　the　head。　A　searing　white　agony　flooded
my　horrified　being。
Now　kill　yourself；　it　suggested；　chortling。
I　put　the　smoking　muzzle　of　the　boltgun　against　my　own　temple；　my　vision　filled　with　the　giggling　face　of　the　child；　perched　on　the
knee　of　the　collapsed；　headless　Marine。
That's　it…　go　on…
My　finger　tightened　on　the　trigger。
'No…　n…no…'
Yes；　you　stupid　fool…　yes…
Blood　streamed　out　of　my　nose。　I　wanted　to　fall　to　my　knees；　but　the　monster　wouldn't　let　me。　It　wanted　me　to　do　one　thing；　and　one
thing　only。　It　implored　me；　ripping　my　consciousness　apart。
It　was　strident　and　it　was　undeniable。
I　pulled　the　trigger。

SEVEN
VOKE；　AND　SPECULATIONS。
ESARHADDON。
THROUGH　THE　VOID。
BUT　I　DID　not　die。
The　boltgun；　that　gift　from　Librarian　Brytnoth；　which　had　never　failed　me　in　ten　decades　of　use；　failed　to　fire。
The　child…thing　shrieked　and　leapt　away　into　the　smoke　and　flames　and　struggling　shapes　around　me。　The　dead　Marine　toppled　over。
The　air　frothed　with　psychic　discharge　and　three　figures　ran　past　me　in　pursuit　of　the　tiny　abomination。　Inquisitors。　All　three　were
inquisitors；　or　interrogators　at　least。　One；　I　was　sure；　was　Inquisitor　Lyko。
I　lowered　my　shaking　hand。　Both　it；　and　the　boltgun　it　clutched；　were　cased　in　psionic　ice；　the　mechanism　jammed　and　locked　out。
I　turned　and　found　Commodus　Voke　standing　a　few　paces　behind　me。　His　ancient　face　was　contorted　with　internal　pressure。　Crusts　of
psipathetic　frost　glittered　on　his　long　black　gown。

'Point。　It。　Aside。'　His　words　came　out　as　halting　gasps。　'I。　Cannot。　Hold。　It。　Much。　Longer。'
Swiftly；　I　turned　the　boltgun　aside　and　up　into　the　air。　With　a　barking　gasp；　he　convulsively　relaxed　and　the　weapon　bucked　and　fired。
The　deadly　round　whined　away　harmlessly　into　the　sky。
Voke　was　sagging；　the　gyros　in　the　augmetic　exo…skeleton　that　cradled　his　frail　body　straining　to　manage　his　balance。　I　gave　him　my
hand　in　support。
'Thank　you；　Commodus。'
'No　matter；'　he　said；　his　voice　a　whisper。　His　strength　began　to　return　and　he　peered　up　at　me　with　his　bird…bright　eyes。　'Only　a　brave
man　or　a　fool　tangles　with　a　plus…alpha　psyker。'
'Then　I　am　both　or　neither。　I　was　closest　to　the　emergency。　I　could　not　just　stand　by。'
WE　WERE　ASSAILED　by　extraordinary　noises　from　the　charnel　ground　behind　us。　Gunfire；　grenades；　screams　and　the　popping；　surging
sounds　of　minds　fracturing　reality；　compressing　matter；　boiling　atmosphere。　I　saw　a　robed　man；　an　inquisitor　or　an　astropath；　rising
slowly　into　the　sky　in　a　pillar　of　green　fire；　burning；　shredding　inside　out。　I　saw　geysers　of　blood　like　waterspouts。　Squalls　of　hail　and
acid　rain；　localised　to　this　small　stretch　of　the　Avenue；　blustered　across　us；　triggered　by　the　ferocity　of　the　psychic　war。
Figures　were　rushing　in　to　join　that　battle。　Many　from　the　ordos　with　their　expert　bodyguards；　and　dozens　of　the　Adeptus　Astartes。
There　was　a　vibration　underfoot；　and　I　saw　that　one　of　the　towering　Warhound　Titans　was　stalking　past　the　Spatian　Gate；　spitting　its
turbo　lasers　at　ground　targets。　A　series　of　withering　explosions；　mainly　psyker…blasts；　tore　through　the　habitats　and　hive　structures　on
the　eastern　side　of　the　wide　…　and　now　infamous　…　Avenue。
Imperial　Marauders　flashed　low　overhead。　The　sky　was　black　with　smoke；　all　sunlight　blotted　out。　Wisps　of　ash　fell　on　us　like　grey
snow。
'This　is…　a　great　crime；'　Voke　said　to　me。　'A　black　day　in　the　Imperial　annals。'
I　had　forgotten　how　much　Commodus　Voke　loved　understatement。
THE　GREATER　PART　of　Hive　Primaris　remained　lawless　and　out　of　control　for　five　days。　Panic；　rioting；　looting　and　civil　unrest　boiled
through　the　streets　and　hab…levels　of　the　wounded　megapolis　as　the　arbites　and　the　other　organs　of　the　Imperium　struggled　to　impose
martial　law　and　restore　order。
It　was　a　desperate　task。　The　indigenous　population　alone　was　vast；　but　it　had　been　swelled　to　an　unimaginable　extent　by　pilgrims　and
tourists　for　the　Novena。　Sympathetic　panic　riots　broke　out　in　other　hives　too。　For　a　day　or　two；　it　seemed　like　the　entire　planet　was
going　to　collapse　in　blood　and　fire。
Small　sections　of　Hive　Primaris　had　managed　to　insulate　themselves：　the　elite　spire　levels；　the　noble　houses；　built　like　fortresses；　the
impregnable　precincts　of　the　Inquisition；　the　Imperial　Guard；　the　Astropathicus；　the　various　bastions　of　the　Munitorium　and　the　Royal
Palace　of　the　Lord　Commander。　Elsewhere；　especially　in　the　common　and　general　hab　levels；　it　was　like　a　war　zone。
The　Ecclesiarchy　suffered　particularly　gravely。　With　the　Monument　of　the　Ecclesiarch　in　flames；　the　common　masses　regarded　the
nightmare　as　some　holy　curse；　and　turned　in　their　frenzy　on　all　the　churches；　temples　and　sacerdotal　orders　they　could　find。　We
learned　within　the　first　few　hours　that　Cardinal　Palatine　Anderucias　had　been　killed　in　the　destruction　of　the　Monument。　He　was　far
from　the　only　great　hierarch　to　perish　in　the　orgy　of　carnage　that　followed。
THE　RECAPTURE　OR　extermination　of　the　remaining　rogue　psykers　was　the　first　and　most　fundamental　task　facing　the　authorities。　Ten
were　known　to　have　escaped　the　initial　battle　on　the　Avenue　of　the　Victor　Bellum；　and　these　had　fled　into　the　hive；　sowing　carnage　as
they　went；　hunted　by　the　forces　of　the　Inquisition　and　all　the　Imperial　might　that　could　be　brought　to　bear　in　support。
Two　of　them　made　it　only　a　kilometre　or　two　from　the　route　of　the　procession；　hounded　every　step　by　Imperial　forces　from　the　Avenue
battle；　and　were　neutralised　by　nightfall　on　that　terrible　first　day。　Another　went　to　ground　in　a　vegetable　cannery　in　an　eastern　sector
outhab；　and　was　laid　to　siege。　It　cost　three　days　and　the　lives　of　eight　hundred　Imperial　Guardsmen；　sixty…two　astropaths；　two　Space
Marines　and　six　inquisitors　to　blast　it　out　and　burn　it。　The　cannery；　and　the　outhab　for　three　square　kilometres　around　it；　was　flattened。
THERE　WAS　LITTLE　or　no　central　control　for　our　forces。　Admiral　Oetron；　who　had　remained　with　the　orbiting　battlefleet　as　watch
commander；　managed　to　move　four　picket　ships　into　geo…synchronous　orbit　above　Hive　Primaris；　and　for　a　while　succeeded　in
providing　comprehensive　vox　and　astropathic　communications　for　the　ground　forces。　But　by　nightfall　on　the　first　day；　psychic　storms
had　blown　up　across　the　hive　and　all　relayed　reception　was　lost。
IT　WAS　A　dark　and　frightening　period。　Down　in　the　burning　streets；　we　subdivided　as　best　we　could　into　small　units；　functioning
autonomously。　Simply　by　dint　of　being　with　Voke；　I　became　part　of　a　group　that　made　its　headquarters　in　an　arbites　section　house　on
Blammerside　Street　in　the　mercantile　district。　Desperate　groups　of　citizens　flocked　to　us；　craving　aid　and　mercy　and　sanctuary；　and
much　larger　gangs　attacked　the　section　house　time　and　again；　driven　by　f