The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第21部分

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the　twist；　as　if　his　reverie　had　been　broken。
The　daemonhost　didn't　even　move　a　hand；　a　finger。　There　was　just　a　slight　nod　in　the　direction　of　the　horned　minder；　and　the　miserable
twist　was　somehow　filleted　where　he　stood；　waves　offeree　stripping　off　his　flesh　and　popping　out　his　skeleton；　parts　of　it　still
articulated。
I　felt　the　warp　churning　around　that　dismal　place　as　Cherubael　went　to　work。　Once　he　had　started；　his　fury　was　unstinting。　Merdok's
war…rena　ferns　disappeared　in　a　sudden　vortex　and　died；　fused　together。　The　mud　beneath　Vassik's　feet　boiled；　and　she　and　her
bodyguards　sank；　screaming　and　thrashing；　into　it。
I　was　frozen；　rigid。　I　felt　Bequin　pulling　at　me。
Shots　seared　past　my　face。　I　snapped　round；　and　saw　two　of　Lyko's　men　charging　us。　One　dropped　suddenly；　headshot　by　what　could
only　have　been　a　sniping　round　from　Husmaan　out　in　the　torn　undergrowth。
Nayl　flew　past　me　and　gunned　the　other　down　with　his　Tronsvasse　para…bellum。

'Come　on！　We've　got　to　get　out　of　here！'　he　yelled　at　me。
There　was　blood　and　filth　and　swirling　plant…fibre　in　the　air。　A　warp　storm　was　crackling　around　us；　so　dense　and　dark　we　could　barely
see；　barely　stand　against　its　churning　force。　But　I　could　make　out　the　glowing　shape　of　Cherubael　through　it　all。
I　drew　my　power　sword　and　ran　towards　him。
'Gregor！　No！'　Bequin　screamed。
I　had　no　choice。　I　had　waited　the　best　part　of　a　hundred　years。　I　would　not　let　him　go　again。
He　floated　around　to　face　me；　smiling　down。
'Put　that　away；　Gregor。　Don't　worry。　I　won't　kill　you。　Lyko　has　no　power　over　me。　I'll　deal　with　his　complaints　later；　and—'
'Who　does　have　power　over　you？　Who　is　your　master？　Tell　me！　You　caused　the　atrocity　on　Thracian；　didn't　you！　Why？　On　whose
orders？'
'Just　go　away；　Gregor。　This　is　not　your　concern　now。　Go　away。'
I　think　he　was　honestly　surprised　when　I　hacked　the　power　sword　into　his　chest。
I　don't　really　know　if　I　had　imagined　I　could　do　him　any　harm。
The　blessed　blade　almost　disembowelled　him　before　it　exploded　and　hurled　me　backwards。
He　looked　down　in　dismay　at　the　wound　across　his　torso。　Warp　energies；　bright　and　toxic；　were　spilling　out　of　it。　In　a　second；　the
wound　closed　as　if　it　had　never　been。
'You　little　fool；'　said　Cherubael。
I　found　myself　flying　backwards　through　the　air；　blood　in　my　mouth。
The　impact　of　landing　shook　my　bones　and　smashed　the　breath　out　of　me。　My　head　swam。　The　daemonhost's　power　had　thrown　me　a
good　thirty　metres　across　the　site；　into　the　underbrush。
Furious　psychic　detonations　went　off　all　round。　Screaming；　semi…sentient　winds　from　the　deepest　warp　snaked　around　the　field；
destroying　the　last　of　the　twists　and　the　fleeing　buyers。
I　tried　to　rise；　but　consciousness　left　me。
WHEN　I　CAME　to；　the　chew…after　was　on　fire。　There　was　no　sign　of　Cherubael。　Inshabel　and　Aemos　were　pulling　me　to　my　feet。
'Bequin！　Nayl！'　I　coughed。
'I'll　find　them；'　Inshabel　said。
'Where's　Lyko？'　I　asked　Aemos；　as　Inshabel　ran　off；　weapon　drawn。
'Fled；　with　his　men；　in　two　of　the　land　speeders。'
'And　the　daemonhost？'
'I　don't　know。　It　seemed　to　just　vanish。　Maybe　it　had　a　displacer　field。'
I　started　to　ran　back　into　the　site；　though　my　body　was　burning　with　pain。　Aemos　cried　out　after　me。
MOST　OF　THE　vehicles　were　smashed　or　overturned；　but　a　couple　were　still　intact。
I　scrambled　into　a　small；　black　speeder；　a　sleek；　up…hive　sports　model　that　had　presumably　belonged　to　Vassik。　I　cued　the　thrasters；
lifting　off　before　I'd　even　strapped　on　the　seat　harness。
The　craft　was　powerful　and　over…responsive。　It　took　a　moment　to　master　the　lightness　of　touch　needed　to　accelerate　without　sudden
blurts　of　speed。　I　turned　it　unsteadily　in　the　air　as　I　climbed　too　fast　above　the　blasted　site。　Below；　I　could　see　Nayl；　ragged　and
bloody；　shouting　up　at　me　to　come　back。
Banking　out　of　the　cone　of　smoke　at　a　hundred　metres；　I　got　my　hearings。　On　every　side；　the　acreage　of　the　chew…after　spread　out　until
it　became　lush　greencover　again。　There　was　the　mainhive；　looming　in　the　distance。　Where　were　they？　Where　were　they？
I　saw　two　dots　in　the　air　three　kilometres　to　the　west　and　gunned　the　machine　after　them。　Heavy　land　speeders；　making　towards　the
bulk　of　the　nearest　harvester　factory。
I　pushed　the　turbines　to　their　limit；　coming　in　low　and　fast　behind　the　slower　lift…machines。　I　knew　they'd　seen　me　the　moment　autofire
chattered　back　in　my　direction；　wildly　off　target。
I　began　to　jink；　the　way　Midas　had　taught　me；　before　they　got　their　aim　in。　I　thought　about　shooting　back　at　them；　but　it　took　both
hands　on　the　stick　just　to　keep　the　sports　speeder　level。
We　were　passing　over　green　crop　land　now；　an　emerald　sea　that　raced　away　below　in　an　alarming　blur。　More　tracer　shots　howled　back
past　me。
A　big　shadow　passed　across　the　sun。
'Want　them　splashed？'　crackled　from　the　vox。
Downjets　flaring；　the　streamlined　bulk　of　my　gun…cutter　settled　in　beside　me；　matching　my　speed。　It　seemed　huge　compared　to　my
insignificant　little　speeder；　one…fifty　tonnes；　eighty　metres　from　beak　nose　to　finned　tail；　landing　gear　lowered　like　insect　legs。　I　could
see　Medea　grinning　in　the　cockpit。
I　daren't　lift　my　hands　from　the　jarring　stick　to　activate　the　vox。
Instead；　I　opened　my　mind　directly　to　hers。
Only　if　you　have　to。　Try　and　get　them　to　land。
'Ow！'　answered　the　vox。　'Warn　me　next　time　you're　gonna　do　that。'

The　great　bulk　of　the　cutter　suddenly　surged　forward；　afterburners　incandescent　and　landing　gear　raising；　and　banked　away　to　the
right。　Its　thrust　wake　wobbled　me　hard。　I　watched　it　turn　out　in　a　wide　semi…circle；　low　over　the　crops；　furrowing　them　with　its
downwash。　It　looked　like　a　vast　bird　of　prey　swooping　round　for　the　kill。
With　its　interplanetary　thrust…tunnels；　it　easily　outstripped　the　racing　speeders；　and　came　in　towards　them；　head　on。
I　felt　a　surge　of　psychic…power。　My　enemies　had　nothing　but　their　minds　with　which　to　combat　the　gun…cutter。
The　cutter　suddenly　broke　left；　dipped　and　then　righted　itself。　They'd　got　to　Medea；　if　only　for　a　moment。
She　was　angry　now。　I　could　tell　that　simply　from　the　way　she　flew。　With　a　wail　of　braking　jets；　she　turned　the　cutter　on　a　stall…hover　as
the　speeders　flashed　past。
The　chin…turret　crackled；　and　heavy…gauge　munitions　tore　the　second　of　the　two　speeders　into　a　shower　of　flames　in　the　air。
Hitting　the　throttle；　I　zipped　in　behind　the　hovering　gun…cutter；　chasing　down　the　other　speeder。
No　more！　I　sent　to　Medea。　I　want　them　alive　if　possible！
The　remaining　speeder　was　close　ahead　now。　I　could　feel　Lyko's　mind　aboard　it。
He　was　closing　on　the　armoured　bulk　of　the　harvester；　which　now　dominated　the　landscape　ahead。　It　was　a　giant；　six　hundred　metres
long　and　ninety　high　at　the　peak　of　its　humped；　beetle…back。　It　was　kicking　a　vast　wake　of　sap…spray　and　smoke　out　behind　it。　The
rattle　of　its　threshing　blades　was　audible　above　the　scream　of　my　speeder's　engines。
My　quarry　dipped；　and　flew　in　along　the　spine　of　the　huge　factory　machine；　heading　for　a　rear…facing　docking　hangar　raised　like　a　wart
on　the　hull's　back。　Warning　hails　were　beeping　at　me　over　the　speeder's　vox…set；　the　alarmed　challenges　of　the　harvester。
The　heavy　speeder　braked　hard　and　landed　badly　in　the　mouth　of　the　docking　hangar。　Turning　in　to　follow　it；　I　saw　figures　scrambling
out。　They　disappeared；　into　the　hangar；　all　except　one　man；　who　dropped　to　his　knees　on　the　approach　slip　and　began　firing　back　at　me
with　his　autocan…non。
Streams　of　high…velocity　rounds　whipped　past　on　either　side。　Then　a　bunch　of　them　went　into　my　port　intake　with　a　clattering　roar　that
shook　the　speeder　and　threw　shards　of　casing　out　in　a　belch　of　sparks。
Warning　lights　lit　up　across　the　control　board。
I　dropped　ten　metres；　put　the　nose　in。
And　bailed。
I　BROKE　MY　left　wrist　and　four　ribs　hitting　the　topside　of　the　harvester。　With　hindsight；　I　was　lucky　not　to　have　been　killed　outright；
lucky　even　to　have　hit　the　harvester's　hull　at　all。　It　was　a　long　way　down。　I　managed　to　grab　a　stanchion　cable　as　I　began　to　slither
down；　and　wrapped　my　right　arm　around　it。
My　speeder　glanced　once　off　the　approach　slip；　and　bounced　up　again；　tail　up；　beginning　to　tear　apart。　Trailing　debris；　the　machine
cartwheeled　in；　vapourised　the　gunman；　hit　Lyko's　parked　land　speeder；　and　shunted　it　right　into　the　hangar；　which　exploded　a　second
later　in　a　sheet　of　fire　and　metal。
I　limped　along　the　approach　slip；　sidestepping　chunks　of　burning　wreckage；　and　climbed　over　the　smashed；　smouldering　speeders　into
the　hangar。　Impact　klaxons　were　rasping　out；　and　automatic　fire…fighting　sprays　were　still　squirting　out　dribbles　of　retardant　foam。
At　the　back　of　the　hangar；　a　hatch　was　half　open；　next　to　the　cages　of　the　service　and　cargo　elevators。
I　pushed　through　the　hatch。　A　metal　staircase　descended　into　the　factory。　At　the　bottom；　it　opened　out　into　a　companionway　that　ran
the　length　of　the　harvester。　Stunned　work…crews；　most　of　them　twists　in　sap…stained　overalls；　gazed　at　me。
I　produced　my　rosette。
'Imperial　Inquisition。　Where　did　they　go？'
'Who？'
'Where　did　they　go？'　I　snarled；　enforcing　my　will　without　restraint。
The　effect　was　so　powerful；　none　of　them　could　speak；　and　several　passed　out。　All　the　others　pointed　down　the　companionway
towards　the　head　of　the　factory。
Another　hatch；　another　staircase。　The　noise　of　the　internal　threshers　was　now　shudderingly　loud。　I　came　down　into　the　vast　internal
work　line；　a　long　chamber　that　ran　the　length　of　the　harvester。　It　was　a　huge；　deafening　Place；　the　air　thick　with　sap　mist。　A　massive
processing　conveyor　carried　the　harvested　produce　along　from　the　reaping　blades　at　the　harvester's　mouth；　at　a　rate　of　several　tonnes
every　second。　Twist　workers　in　masks　and　aprons　worked　the　front　part　of　the　line　with　chaintools　and　cutting　lances　which　were
attached　to　overhead　power　systems　by　thick　rubber…trunked　hoses。　They　sorted　and　cut　the　larger　sections　of　root　and　stalk　before　the
crop　went　through　the　great　vicing　rollers　and　stamping　presses　into　the　macerating　vats　further　back　down　the　factory。
With　the　alarms　sounding　and　warning　lights　flashing；　the　line　had　come　to　a　halt；　and　the　workers　were　looking　around；　liquid
cellulose　and　sap　dripping　off　their　gauntlets；　overalls　and　work　tools。
I　blundered　through　them；　overseers　shouting　at　me　from　gantry　stations　far　above。　I　could　see　Lyko；　thirty　metres　away　down　the　line；
pushing　through　with　one　last　gunman　and　a　bound；　visored　figure　that　could　only　be　Esarhaddon。
The　gunmen　turned　and　fired　at　me　down　the　length　of　the　line　vault。　Three　workers　crumpled；　one　spilling　over　onto　the　belt。　The
shots　spanged　sparks　off　the　metal　walkways　and　machinery。
As　the　other　workers　dived　for　cover；　I　dropped　to　my　knee　and　reached　for　my　boltgun。　It　wasn't　there。　In　fact；　the　entire　holster　was
ripped　open。　I　wasn't　sure　when　I　lost　it：　during　Cherubael's　assault　or　slamming　off　the　hull　of　the　harvester；　but　it　was　long　gone。
And　my　beloved　power　sword　had　been　disintegrated　on　contact　with　the　daemonhost。
More　shots　whizzed　down　the　work…line　and　dented　the　metal　facings　of　the　belt…drivers。　I　crawled　into　cover　behind　a　drum　of
hydrobac　tool…wash。

I　pulled　my　back…up　weapon　from　the　ankle…holster　built　into　the　side　of　my　boot。　It　was　a　compact；