The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第46部分

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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
dis