The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第44部分

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I've　underlined　the　key　remarks。　Here；　he　suggests　electrum　for　the　cap　piece。'
'I　was　going　to　use　iron；　or　an　iron　alloy。　Electrum。　That　makes　sense。'　He　took　my　notes　over　to　a　raised　planning　table　that　was
littered　easuring　tools　and　data…slates。　Pages　of　notes　that　I　had　already　provided　him　with　were　piled　up；
along　with　the　psychomet…rically　captured　images　Ungish　had　drawn　from　my　mind　of　the　Cadian　pylons；　Cherubael；　Prophaniti；　and
the　ornaments　he　had　worn。
'I'm　also　pondering　the　lodestone　for　the　cap。　I　considered　pyraline　or　one　of　the　other　tele…empathic　crystallines　like　epidotrichite；　but
I　doubt　any　of　them　would　have　the　durability　for　your　purposes。　Certainly　not　for　more　than　one　or　two　uses。　I　also　thought　of　tabular
zanthroclase。'
'What's　that？'
'A　silicate　we　use　in　mind…impulse　devices。　But　I'm　not　convinced。　I　have　a　few　other　possibilities　in　mind。'　It　was　a　measure　of　the
trust　Bure　showed　me　that　he　felt　he　could　mention　such　Cult　Mechanicus　secrets　so　freely。　I　felt　honoured。
'Here's　the　haft；'　he　said；　showing　me　to　the　etching　bench　where　the　two　servitors　were　machining　the　decoration　of　the　long　pole。
'Steel？'
'Superficially。　There's　a　titanium　core　surrounded　by　an　adamantium　sleeve　under　the　steel　jacket。　The　titanium　is　drilled　with
channels　that　carry　the　conductive　lapidorontium　wires。'
'It　looks　perfect；'　I　said。
'It　is　perfect。　Virtually　perfect。　It's　machined　to　within　a　nanometre　of　your　measurements。　Let　me　show　you　the　sword。'
I　followed　him　to　a　workbench　at　the　far　end　of　the　smithy　where　the　sword　lay　on　a　rest　under　a　dust　sheet。
'What　do　you　think？'　he　asked；　drawing　the　cloth　back。
Barbarisater　was　as　beautiful　as　I　remembered　it。　I　admired　the　fresh　pentagrammatic　wards　that　had　been　etched　in　the　blade　since　I
had　last　seen　it；　ten　on　each　side。
'It　is　a　remarkable　artifact。　I　was　almost　unwilling　to　make　the　alterations　you　requested。　As　it　was；　I　wore　out　eight　adamantium　drill
bits　on　this　side　alone。　The　hardened　steel　skin　of　the　blade　around　the　solid　core　has　been　folded　and　beaten　nine　hundred　times。　It　is
beyond　anything　we　can　manufacture　today。'
I　would　owe　Clan　Esw　Sweydyr　for　this　weapon；　as　I　already　owed　them　for　Arianrhod's　life。　I　should　have　returned　it　to　their　care；
for　it　was　part　of　their　clan　legacy　and　usuril；　or　''living　story''。　It　was　mine　to　safeguard；　not　to　take；　and　certainly　not　to　deface　this
way。　But　face　to　face　with　Prophaniti　at　Kasr　Gesh　I　had　learned　two　things。　Indeed；　that　monstrous　thing　had　told　them　to　me。
Pentagrammatic　wards　worked　against　dae…monhosts；　but　they　were　no　stronger　than　the　weapon　that　bore　them。
To　my　certain　knowledge；　there　were　few　finer；　stronger　blades　in　human　space。　I　would　make　my　peace　and　apologies　to　the　clans　of
Carthae　in　time；　fates　permitting。
I　went　to　touch　it；　but　Bure　stopped　me。　'It　is　still　resting。　We　must　respect　its　anima。　In　a　few　days；　you　can　take　it。　Train　with　it　well。
You　must　know　it　intimately　before　you　use　it　in　combat。'
He　accompanied　me　to　the　door　of　the　forge。　'Both　weapons　must　be　blessed　and　consecrated　before　use。　I　cannot　do　that；　though　I　can
ceremonially　dedicate　their　manufacture　to　the　Machine　God。'
'I　have　already　planned　for　their　consecration；'　I　said。　'But　I　would　welcome　your　ceremony。　When　I　go　against　Quixos；　I　can　think　of
no　more　potent　a　patron　god　to　be　looking　down　over　me　than　your　Machine　Lord。'
'WE　WILL　BE　leaving　in　a　few　days；'　I　told　him。
The　casket　was　silent　for　a　while。　'I　will　miss　our　conversations；　Eisenhorn。'
'Nevertheless；　I　have　to　go。'
'You　think　you're　ready？'
'I　think　this　part　of　my　readiness　is　complete。　Is　there　anything　else　you　can　tell　me？'
'I　have　been　wondering　that。　I　cannot　think　of　anything。　Except…'
'Except　what？'
The　lights　around　the　engram　sphere　twinkled。　'Except　this。　Apart　from　everything　you've　learned　from　me；　the　secrets；　the　lore；　the
mysteries；　you　must　know　that　going　after　this　foe　is…　dangerous。'
I　laughed　involuntarily。　'I　think　I've　worked　that　much　out　already；　Pontius！'
'No；　you　don't　know　what　I　mean。　You　have　the　determination；　I　know；　the　ambition；　I　know　that　too　…　you　have　the　knowledge；　we
assume；　and　the　weapons　too；　we　hope　…　but　unless　your　mind　is　prepared；　you　will　perish。　Instantly；　and　no　ward　or　staff　or　blade　or
rune　will　save　you。'
'You　sound　like…　you　care　if　I　lose。'
'Do　I？　Then　consider　this；　Gregor　Eisenhom。　You　may　deem　me　a　monster　beneath　contempt；　but　if　I　do　care；　what　does　that　say　about
me？　Or　you？'
'Goodbye；　Pontius　Glaw；'　I　said；　and　closed　the　cell　hatches　behind　me　for　the　last　time。
I　WILL　RECORD　this　thought　now；　because　I　feel　I　must。　For　all　that　Pontius　Glaw　was…　and　for　all　that　came　later；　I　cannot　shake　my
bond　to　him；　though　I　try。　There；　in　the　cell　on　Cinchare；　and　a　century　before　in　the　dim　hold　of　the　Essene；　we　had　spoken　together
for　hundreds　of　hours。　I　had　no　doubt　that　he　was　an　unforgivably　evil　thing；　and　that　he　would　have　killed　me　in　a　second　during
those　times　had　he　been　allowed　the　chance。　But　he　was　a　being　of　extraordinary　intellect；　wit　and　learning。　Admirable　in　so　many；
strange　ways。　But　for　that　tore；　Aaa's　tore；　back　on　that　spring　day　on　Quenthus；　his　life　may　have　been　different。
And　if　it　had　been　different；　and　we　had　met；　we　would　have　been　the　greatest　of　friends。
WE　HAD　STAYED　on　Cinchare　for　three　months。　Too　long；　in　my　opinion；　but　there　had　been　no　way　to　speed　the　preparatory　work。
We　celebrated　Candlemas　in　the　little　chapel　of　the　Ministorum　off　the　plaza；　lighting　candles　to　welcome　the　new　Imperial　year；　and
lighting　others　to　commemorate　the　town's　dead。　Aemos　and　Bequin　read　the　lessons；　for　all　of　the　Ecclesiarchs　were　amongst　the
remembered　dead。　Bure　and　his　tech…adepts　worshipped　with　us；　and　he　hovered　to　the　choir　rail　under　the　great　statue　of　the　God…
Emperor　to　lead　us　in　the　devotional　prayers。
I　was　fretful　and　edgy。　Partly　because　I　was　anxious　to　get　underway　now；　but　also　because　of　the　lore　in　my　head；　the　mysteries　to
which　Glaw　had　introduced　me。　So　much；　so　much　of　it　dark。　I　knew　I　was　a　changed　man；　and　that　change　was　permanent。
But　I　considered　that　a　year　before　…　just　a　year；　though　it　felt　much；　much　longer　…　I　had　been　a　helpless　prisoner　in　the　bleak
Carnificina；　and　Candlemas　had　passed　me　by　before　I　had　realised　it。
I　was　not　that　man　any　more　either；　and　that　change　had　been　nothing　to　do　with　Pontius　Glaw's　whispered　secrets。　For　all　the
darkness　swilling　in　my　head；　it　was　better　to　be　here；　strong　and　ready；　fortified；　in　the　company　of　friends　and　allies。
There　was　no　choirmaster　to　play　the　organ；　so　Medea　had　brought　her　father's　Glavian　lyre；　and　played　the　Holy　Triumph　of　the
Golden　Throne　so　that　we　could　all　sing。
THAT　NIGHT；　WE　feasted　in　the　refectory　of　the　Cult　Mechanicus　to　honour　the　start　of　341。M41。　Maxilla；　who　remained　on　duty
aboard　the　Essene；　sent　a　banquet　to　us　on　a　shuttle；　along　with　servitors　to　wait　upon　us。　One　of　them　reported　that　a　vast　storm　of
meteors　had　swarmed　across　the　sky　at　the　stroke　of　midnight；　lighting　the　night　side　of　Cinchare　with　their　fires。　Nayl　growled　that
this　was　a　bad　omen；　but　Inshabel　insisted　it　was　a　good　one。
I　suppose　it　rather　depended　which　part　of　the　vast　spread　of　the　Imperium　you　came　from。
THE　OTHERS　SPENT　the　next　two　days　packing　up　and　making　ready　to　leave；　but　Aemos　and　I　attended　the　dedication　ceremony　in　the
cimeliarch　of　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus　annex。
Machine　Cult　servitors　chanted　in　a　modulated　binary　code　and　beat　upon　kettledrums。　Magos　Bure　was　clad　in　his　orange　robes　with
a　white　stole　over　his　shoulders。
He　blessed　the　weapons　he　had　made　in　turn；　taking　one　then　the　other　from　the　two　tech…adepts　who　stood　in　attendance。
Barbarisater；　the　pentagrammatic　power　sword；　lifted　to　the　light　that　speared　down　from　the　eyes　of　the　Machine　God's　altar。　Then
the　runestaff；　Bure's　masterpiece。
He　had　fashioned　a　cap…piece　for　the　rune…etched　steel　pole　out　of　elec…trum　in　the　form　of　a　sun…flare　corona。　In　the　centre　of　it　was　a
human　skull；　marked　with　the　thirteenth　sign　of　castigation。　The　skull　was　the　lodestone；　carved　by　Bure　himself　into　a　perfect
facsimile　of　my　own　skull；　as　measured　by　radiative　scans。　He　had　tried　and　rejected　over　twenty　different　tele…empathic　crystals
before　finding　one　he　trusted　would　be　up　to　the　task。
'It's　beautiful；'　I　said；　taking　it　from　him。　'What　crystal　did　you　use　in　the　end？'
'What　else？'　he　said。　'I　carved　that　copy　of　your　skull　from　the　Lith　itself！'
HE　CAME　TO　see　us　off；　to　the　docking　barn　where　the　gun…cutter　had　sat　for　so　long。　Nayl　and　Fischig　were　carrying　the　last　things
aboard。　We　had　broken　astropathic　silence　at　last　the　night　before；　and　informed　Imperial　Allied；　Ortog　Promethium；　the　Adeptus
Mechanicus　and　the　Imperial　authorities　of　the　fate　that　had　befallen　Cinchare　minehead。　We　would　be　long　gone　before　any　of　them
arrived　to　begin　recovery　work。
Bure　said　farewell　to　Aemos；　who　shuffled　away　to　the　cutter。
'There's　nothing　adequate　I　can　say；'　I　told　the　magos。
'Nor　I　to　you；　Eisenhorn。　What　of…　the　inmate？'
'I'd　like　you　to　do　what　I　asked　you。　Give　him　mobility　at　least。　But　nothing　more。　He　must　remain　a　prisoner；　now　and　always。'
'Very　well。　I　expect　to　hear　all　about　your　victory；　Eisenhorn。　I　will　be　waiting。'
'May　the　Holy　Machine　God　and　the　Emperor　himself　protect　your　systems；　Geard。'
'Thank　you；'　he　said。　Then　he　added　something　that　quite　took　me　aback；　given　his　total　belief　and　reliance　on　technology。
'Good　luck。'
I　walked　to　the　cutter。　He　watched　me　for　a　moment；　then　disappeared；　closing　the　inner　hatch　after　him。
That　was　the　last　time　I　ever　saw　him。
FROM　CINCHARE；　THE　Essene　ran　back；　fast　and　impatient；　into　the　great　territories　of　the　Segmentum　Obscurus；　a　three　month　voyage
that　we　broke　twice。

At　Ymshalus；　we　stopped　to　transmit　the　prepared　communiques；　all　twenty　of　them。　Inshabel　and　Fischig　left　us　too　at　that　point；
Inshabel　to　secure　passage　to　Elvara　Cardinal　to　begin　his　work　there；　and　Fischig　for　the　long　haul　back　to　Cadia。　It　would　be　months；
if　not　years；　before　we　saw　them　again。　That　was　a　sorrowful　farewell。
At　Palobara；　that　crossroads　on　the　border；　busy　with　trading　vessels　and　obscura　caravans　guarded　by　mercenary　gunships；　we
stopped　and　transmitted　the　carta　declaration。　There　was　no　going　back　now。　Here；　I　parted　company　os；
all　of　whom　were　heading　back　to　the　Helican　subsector　by　a　variety　of　means。　Bequin's　goal　was　Messina；　and　Aemos；　with　Nayl　to
watch　over　him；　was　bound　for　Gudrun。　Another　hard　parting。
THE　ESSENE　CONTINUED　on　for　Orbul　Infanta。　This　was　now　a　lonely；　waiting　time。　Each　night；　the　remains　of　my　company　gathered
in　Maxilla's　dining　room　and　ate　together：　myself；　Medea；　Maxilla　and　Ungish。　Ungish　was　no　company；　and　even　Medea　and　Maxilla
had　lost　their　sparkle。　They　missed　the　others；　and　I　think　they　knew　how　dark　and　tough　the　time　ahead　would　be。
I　spent　my　days　reading　in　the　cabin　library　of　the　cutter；　or　playing　regicide　with　Medea。　I　practised　with　Barbarisater　in　the　hold
spaces；　slowly　mastering　the　tricks　of　its　weight　and　balance。　I　would　never　match　a　Carthae…born　master；　b