The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第48部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

your　provincial　chief　requested　it　isn't　enough。'
The　Cadian　smiled。　'Actually；　it　is。　But　to　reassure　you；　I　have　reviewed　the　matter　carefully　with　Neve　herself　and　your　man　Fischig。　I
have　no　illusions　about　the　danger　of　being　here　and　siding　with　you。　Given　the　evidence；　I　would　have　been　here　anyway。'
'Good。　Excellent。　Welcome；　Grumman。'
The　identity　of　the　fourth　and　final　guest　took　me　aback。　He　was　clad　in　polished　battleware　plating　that　looked　custom…made　and
exorbitantly　expensive。　With　gauntleted　hands；　he　lifted　the　scowling　houndskull　helmet　off　his　head。　Inquisitor　Massimo　Ricci；　of　the
Helican　Ordo　Xenos。　He　was　hardly　an　old　friend；　but　I　knew　him　well。
'Ricci？'
His　handsome；　haughty　face　displayed　a　wide　smile。
'Like　Grumman；　I　am　here　to　extend　apologies　from　another。　For　numerous　reasons　that　I'm　sure　you　can　appreciate；　Lord　Rorken
cannot　answer　your　request　in　person。　It　would　be　political　suicide　for　him　to　participate　in　this　matter。　But　my　lord　has　faith　in　you
still；　Eisenhorn。　He　has　sent　me　to　act　as　his　proxy。'
Ricci　was　one　of　Lord　Rorken's　most　valued　and　admired　inquisitors。　Many　said　he　was　a　likely　successor　for　the　post　as　a　Master　of
the　Ordo　Xenos。　For　him　to　be　here　was　an　enormous　compliment；　both　from　Lord　Rorken；　who　had　seen　fit　to　send　one　of　his　most
illustrious　men；　and　from　Ricci　himself；　who　was　risking　a　high…profile　career　just　by　being　here。　Clearly　both　of　them　had　taken　my
proposal　and　cause　very　seriously。
'Gentlemen；'　I　said。　'I　am　pleased；　and　honoured；　to　see　you　all。　Let　us　discuss　this　matter；　freely　and　openly；　and　see　where　we　stand。'
THE　THESSALONIAN　NIGHT　winds　moaned　through　the　ruined　cavities　of　the　keep　as　I　briefed　them。　Inshabel　and　Nayl　had　carried
chairs　in；　and　erected　a　heavy　trestle　table。　Bequin　and　Aemos　provided　data…slates；　charts；　papers　and　other　pieces　of　evidence　as　I
called　for　them。
I　talked　for　about　two　hours；　taking　them　through　the　entire　matter　of　Quixos　as　it　was　known　to　me。　Much　of　what　I　said　had　been
laid　out　in　the　initial　communiques；　but　I　filled　in　all　the　details；　and　answered　questions　as　they　arose。　Endor　seemed　satisfied；　and
hardly　spoke。　It　was　good　to　have　a　true　friend　here；　one　who　simply　trusted　my　word　and　purpose。　Grumman　was　also　generally　noncommittal。
Voke　and　Ricci　asked　plenty　of　questions；　and　required　clarification　on　the　smallest　points。
All　three　ordos　were　represented　around　that　table：　Voke　was　Ordo　Malleus　…　though　thankfully　not　a　tight　member　of　Bezier's　inner
circle　…　Ricci　and　I　were　Ordo　Xenos；　and　Grumman　and　Endor　were　Ordo　Hereticus。　All　of　us　apart　from　Grumman　were　assigned
servants　of　the　Ordos　Inquisitorae　Helican。　Only　Titus　Endor；　who　I　knew　to　be　famously　demure；　wasn't　wearing　his　rosette　openly。
I　BELIEVE　I　spoke　eloquently　and　well。
We　broke　after　two　hours　to　stretch　our　legs；　ruminate　and　take　refreshment。　I　went　outside；　taking　in　the　cold　night　air；　listening　to　the
wind　swish　the　conifers。　Fischig　joined　me　and　brought　me　a　glass　of　wine。

'It's　bad　with　Neve；'　he　said；　just　getting　right　into　it。　He　had　travelled　back　to　Cadia　from　Cinchare　to　collect　more　data　and　to
specifically　recruit　the　inquisitor　general。
'Because　of　me？'
He　nodded。　'Because　of　everything。　Osma　made　big　trouble　after　we　sprang　you　from　the　Carnificina。　He　had　the　combined　clout　of
Bezier　and　Orsini　behind　him；　after　all。　That　made　Neve's　superior；　Grandmaster　Nunthum　of　the　Ordos　Cadia；　sit　up　and　take　notice；　I
can　tell　you。　They　were　after　her　for　her　job。　But　they　couldn't　prove　a　thing。　Neve's　very　good　at　being　slippery。　And　she　fought　your
corner　like　a　she…bear　too；　believe　you　me。'
'She's　safe？'
'Yeah。　Thanks　to　a　massive　incursion　of　the　Enemy　eight　months　ago。　The　Cadian　Gate's　on　a　war　footing　and　utterly　in　turmoil。　Last
thing　anyone's　worrying　about　is　what　part　Neve　may　have　played　in　the　Eisenhorn　Conspiracy。'
'That's　what　they're　calling　it。'
I　sipped　the　wine；　expecting　something　rough　and　local。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　damned　good　Samatan　red。　From　my　own　cellars；　I
guessed。
Bequin　would　have　taken　care　of　such　things　and　chosen　the　very　best　to　mollify　our　guests。
'Grumman：　what　do　you　make　of　him？'
'I've　got　plenty　of　time　for　him；　Gregor；'　Fischig　said。　'Smart　mind；　knows　what　he's　doing。　Given　the　scrutiny　she　was　under；　Neve
knew　she　couldn't　get　away；　so　she　picked　Grumman；　and　I　don't　think　she　would　have　if　he　wasn't　worth　his　salt。
'The　pair　go　back　a　long　way；　and　Grumman's　doing　this　out　of　respect　for　her。　But　we　spent　a　long　time　talking　on　the　voyage　back
here；　and　I　think　he's　in　it　for　himself　now　too。'
'Good。　The　others？'
'Voke's　full　of　surprises；'　he　snorted。　'When　you　said　he　was　going　to　be　on　your　list　of　contacts；　I　thought　you　were　mad。　Not　as　mad
as　writing　to　Lord　Rorken；　of　course；　but　anyway…　I　never　thought　the　old　bastard　would　show；　or　even　deign　to　answer　you。　He's　so
stiff　even　the　rod　up　his　arse　has　got　a　rod　up　its　arse。　That's　one　bet　I　would　have　lost。　He　must　like　you　more　than　he　lets　on。'
'We　have　an　understanding；'　I　said。　I'd　saved　Voke's　life　on　the　flagship　Saint　Scythus；　but　he'd　returned　that　favour　on　the　Avenue　of
the　Victor　Bellum。　Maybe　that　was　enough。
'He　needs　convincing；'　said　Fischig；　'but　I　think　he's　in　for　the　long　haul。'
'You　do？'
'You　see　that　creep　Heldane　anywhere？'
I　knew　what　Fischig　meant。　Heldane　would　have　opposed　this　mission　without　question；　and　taken　great　delight　in　bringing　me　in；
dead　or　alive。　Voke　had　clearly　come　here　without　his　old　pupil　knowing。　Fischig　was　right。　That　was　a　good　sign。
'Endor；　well；　he's　safe；　isn't　he？'　said　Fischig。　'Given　your　history；　he'd　have　come　anyway。'
'It's　good　to　have　him　here。　What　about　Ricci？'
Fischig's　voice　suddenly　dropped　to　a　hiss。　'Speaking　of　whom。'
He　withdrew。　Clutching　a　goblet　of　wine；　Ricci　walked　out　of　the　archway　behind　us　and　joined　me；　gazing　up　at　the　staggeringly
bright　star…field。
'I　hope　you　realise　how　lucky　you　are；'　Ricci　said。
'Every　day。'
'You　took　a　risk　contacting　Lord　Rorken。　He's　always　liked　you；　but　given　the　current　climate；　liking　you　is　a　dangerous　habit。　He　was
at　loggerheads　with　Bezier　and　Orsini　over　your　case。'
'And　still　he　sent　you？'
'Let　me　be　direct；　Gregor。　I　think　it　will　help。　Lord　Rorken；　may　his　fortunes　multiply　in　the　face　of　the　God…Emperor；　sent　me　to
assist　you　in　the　unmasking　and　destruction　of　the　heretic　Quixos。　But　if；　along　the　way；　I　should　discover　anything　that　confirmed　the
generally…believed　allegations　of　your　own　heresy…'
'What？'
'I　think　you　understand。'
'You're　his　hatchet　man。　You'll　help　me…　but　if　I　cross　the　line　in　your　eyes；　Rorken　has　sanctioned　you　to　execute　me。'
He　raised　his　glass。　'I　think　we　know　where　we　stand。'　We　did。　Now　it　made　much　more　sense　that　Rorken　had　sent　so　senior　an　agent
to　my　side。　I　said　nothing。　Ricci　smiled　and　went　back　inside。
WE　SAT　DOWN　around　the　table　again　and　debated　some　more。　I　found　most　of　the　questions　…　especially　those　from　Voke　and　Ricci　…
wilfully　small…minded。
At　last；　after　another　hour；　Grumman　voiced　a　pertinent　query。
'Supposing　we　agree　to　this。　Agree　that　Eisenhom　is　wrongly　charged　and　that　Quixos　deserves　our　sternest　censure…　how　do　we　do
that？　Do　we　know　where　Quixos　is？'
'Yes；'　I　said；　though　I　didn't　know　the　answer　myself。　My　people　had　enjoyed　the　best　part　of　two　years　to　do　their　work；　many　dozens
of　agents　sifting　data　from　hundreds　of　worlds。
Unbidden；　Bequin　stepped　forward　and　took　a　seat　with　us　at　the　table。
'About　three　months　ago；　our　research　discerned　a　pattern　in　the　data　surrounding　the　near…mythical　life　of　Quixos。　And　that　pattern
centred　on　Maginor。'

'Capital　of　the　Niaides　subsector；　Viceroy　sector；　Ultima　segmentum；'　announced　Voke。
'Your　astronomical　knowledge　is　humbling；　sir；'　Bequin　said　smoothly。　She　handed　out　data…slates。
'As　you　can　see　from　the　file　of　data　marked　〃alpha〃；　Quixos　certainly　visited　Maginor　almost　two　hundred　years　ago；　and　became
involved　with　a　cartel　of　trade　interests　and　noble　families　known　as　the　Mystic　Path。　The　Path　was　a　network　which　was　already
utilising　prohibited　and　forbidden　lore　and　technologies。　Quixos　should　have　closed　them　down　and　burned　them。　It　is　clear　he　did　not。
Instead；　he　fed　and　supported　them。　He　nurtured　them　until　they　became　a　power　base　for　his　invisible　empire　of　dark　belief。　No
longer　a　cartel　but　a　cult。　A　cult　of　Quixos。'
'Why　do　we　think　he's　still　there？'　asked　Ricci。
'We　think　he's　made　his　hidden　fastness　there；　sir；'　said　Bequin。　'The　reaches　of　the　Mystic　Path　now　spread　throughout　the　segmentum
and　beyond。　Maginor　is　its　heart。　In　239。M41；　Inquisitor　Lugenbrau　and　a　warrior　band　numbering　some　sixty　individuals　disappeared
on　Maginor。　No　trace　of　them　was　ever　found；　though　Interrogator　Inshabel　was　able　to…　ah…　recover　an　incomplete　verbal
transcript　of　a　pict…recording　apparently　made　during　Lugenbrau's　raid。'
I　speed…read　the　transcript。　It　was　harrowing。　'You　got　this　from　Elvara　Cardinal；　Inshabel？'　I　asked。
Inshabel　was　at　the　back　of　the　room。　He　stepped　forward；　blushing。　'Not　directly；　sir。　It　actually　came　from　the　inquisitorial　datalibrary
on　Fibos　Secundus。　How　is　a　damn　good　story；　but　it's　probably　wasting　valuable　time　to　repeat　it　just　now。'
Inshabel　was　right；　as　I　have　already　said。　It　was　a　damn　good　story；　and　I　enjoyed　it　when　he　told　it　to　me　later。　I　urge　you　to　access
it。
'We　believe　Lugenbrau　ay　not　have　known　it；'　continued　Bequin。　'He　and　his　entire　band　were
wiped　out　by　Quixos's　forces。'
'Lugenbrau；'　murmured　Voke；　setting　his　slate　down　and　looking　off　into　space。　'I　never　met　him；　but　he　was　a　trusted　pupil　of　my　late
comrade；　Inquisitor　Pavel　Uet。　When　Lugenbrau　went　missing；　Uet　took　it　hard。　The　loss　shortened　his　life。'
Voke　looked　at　me　with　his　rheumy　eyes。　'If　I　wasn't　decided　before；　Eisenhorn；　I　am　noust　pay。'
'I　agree；'　said　Endor；　tossing　his　slate　onto　the　table　and　looking　grim。　'At　the　very　least；　the　Inquisition　demands　vengeance　for　this。'
'Maginor；　then？'　Grumman　asked。
'It's　still　his　base　of　operations；　sir；　we　are　sure　of　that；'　said　Bequin。　'And　until　a　week　ago；　we　were　all　set　to　prepare　for　a　strike
against　Maginor。　Then　we　received　this。'　She　held　up　a　astropathic　transcript。
'I　will　read　it；　if　I　may。'　She　carefully　put　on　her　half…moon　glasses。　They　suited　her；　but　I　knew　her　vanity　made　her　hate　them。　It　said
a　lot　about　the　situation　that　she　was　willing　to　wear　them　in　front　of　these　men。
'It　begins…　〃Gregor；　my　friend。　I　have　been　kept　up　to　date　with　the　data　concerning　your　quarry。　It　gives　me　something　to　do；　these
winter　afternoons。　I　agree　that　Maginor　may　be　the　seat　of　the　evil；　and　certainly　requires　the　attention　of　the　Inquisition。　But；　if　you'll
pardon　me；　I　suggest　that　Maginor　be　left　to　the　Ordos　Niaides。　Using　pointers　Aemos　gave　me；　I　have　assessed　the　following。　My　full
findings　are　on　the　data…files　attached　below；　but　in　short；　I　think　you　should　be　looking　at　Farness　Beta。　Quixos's　fascination　with　the
pylons　of　Cadia　made　me　think；　you　see。
'〃See　below；　that　I　have　traced　massive　stonecutting　orders　to　the　limit…world　of　Serebos；　which　lies　galactically　south　of　Terra。　The