Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第26部分

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The　creature　smacked　back　into　the　water　on　its　stomach　—　its　natural　orientation；　Barreski
realised。　It　was　like　an　alligator；　its　body　elongated　and　scaled；　but　its　back　was　a　mess　of　spines；
and　its　head　a　splatter　of　misshapen；　rheumy　eyes。
It　reared　up　again。　He　felt　its　hot；　fetid　breath　and　its　spittle　on　his　face；　and　he　grabbed　the
mutant　he　had　been　holding；　swung　it　around　and　gave　it　a　push。
The　mutant　screamed　as　it　stumbled　into　the　sewer　creature　—　which；　not　questioning　its　good
fortune；　immediately　sank　its　claws　into　the　mutant’s　shoulders；　clamped　its　jaws　over　its　head　and
dived　back　down　into　the　water　with　it。
This　gave　the　Ice　Warriors　time　to　regroup；　to　start　firing　in　earnest。　The　creature　hardly　seemed
to　notice。　It　tore　the　mutant’s　head　from　its　shoulders；　and　threw　back　its　own　head　with　a
triumphant　roar；　showering　the　walls　with　blood。
But　if　the　Ice　Warriors　had　hoped　that　one　kill　might　satisfy　its　appetite；　they　were　about　to　be
sorely　disappointed。
“Colonel　Stanislev　Steele；”　recited　Steele；　“officer　in　command　of　the　Valhallan　319th　regiment　of
the　Imperial　Guard　—　and　that’s　all　you’re　going　to　get　from　me。”
“A　regimental　commander；　hmm？”　said　Mangellan；　the　smirk　still　on　his　lips。　“Should　I　be
honoured　that　they　sent　you　to　fight　me？　Or　should　I　feel　slighted　that；　apparently；　you　only　brought
a　handful　of　men　with　you？”
Steele　snarled　back　at　his　captor；　baring　his　teeth。　“You　should　feel　afraid！　When　I　get　out　of
these　chains—”
“Oh　yes；”　said　Mangellan；　“you　would　like　to　be　free；　wouldn’t　you？　Isn’t　that　what　we　all　want；
ultimately？　To　be　free　of　the　chains　that　bind　us？”
“All　I　want；”　growled　Steele；　“is　to　do　my　duty　to　the　Emperor。”
“And　you　serve　him　well。　You　have　done　your　best。　You　made　it　a　lot　further　into　my　hive　than　I
would　have　thought　possible。　You　are　evidently　a　skilled　combatant；　and　a　great　leader。　How；　then；
does　your　god　repay　your　devotion？”
“The　Emperor　provides　all　we　need。”
“How　does　it　feel；　Colonel　Steele；　to　know　that　he　thinks　so　little　of　your　life　as　to　waste　it　on　a
fool’s　errand？”
“It　is　never　a　waste　to　fight　for　order；　to　strike　a　blow　against　your　philosophy。”
“Oh；　I　know　why　you’re　here。　It　seems　that　Confessor　Wollkenden’s　opinion　of　his　own
importance　is　not　quite　as　inflated　as　I　had　believed。”
Steele　tightened　at　the　mention　of　the　confessor’s　name。　He　couldn’t　help　himself。
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“Oh　yes；”　said　Mangellan；　basking　in　the　reaction；　“I　thought　that　might　get　your　attention。
Wollkenden　is　here。　He　is　alive。　We　have　spoken　many　times；　he　and　I。　You　can　see　for　yourself
soon。　I　will　bring　you　face　to　face　with　the　man　for　whom　you　were　prepared　to　sacrifice　yourself。　It
should　prove　an　interesting　meeting。”
“Shall　I　cut　him；　master？　Shall　I　make　him　talk？”
Steele’s　glare　had　been　fixed　on　Mangellan；　he　hadn’t　noticed　another　arrival。　It　had　pushed　its
way　through　the　traitors　outside；　and　stood　now　in　the　doorway　to　the　cell：　a　black…robed　mutant；
short　and　stooped；　with　lank　black　hair　hanging　over　its　sloping　brow；　tufts　of　grey　fur　sprouting
from　its　ears；　its　eyebrows；　its　neck。　It　was　carrying　a　long…bladed；　blood…caked　knife；　fingering　its
edges　almost　lovingly。
“There　will　be　no　need　for　that；　Furst；”　said　Mangellan。　“Colonel　Steele　is　not　our　prisoner；　he　is
our　guest。”
“Then　unchain　me；”　suggested　Steele；　“and　let　me　show　you　how　a　Valhallan　Ice　Warrior　repays
your　hospitality。”
“And　I　have　no　questions　to　ask　him；”　Mangellan　continued　as　if　the　colonel　had　not　spoken。　“I
know　why　he　came　here；　and　I　suspect　that　I　know　as　well　as　he　does　the　whereabouts　of　his
troopers。　They　will　be　cowering　out　there　in　the　city　somewhere；　plucking　up　the　courage　to　attempt
to　approach　my　Ice　Palace　again。”
Had　Steele’s　bionic　eye　been　working；　he　would　have　discharged　it　into　Mangellan’s　face　right
then。　It　was　a　good　thing；　then；　that　it　wasn’t。　He　might　have　maimed　his　foe；　gained　some
satisfaction；　but　it　wouldn’t　have　helped　him　in　the　long　term。　He　had　to　keep　Mangellan　talking；
await　his　moment　—　and　hope　that；　when　that　moment　came；　he　would　be　ready。　Thirty…five
seconds…
“Then　why　am　I　alive？”　he　asked。　“If　you　don’t　want　anything　from　me…”
“You　do　not　question　the　high　priest！”　spat　the　stunted　mutant；　Furst；　hopping　from　foot　to　foot
as　he　became　agitated；　panting　with　the　effort。
“It’s　all　right；　Furst；”　said　Mangellan；　sounding　a　little　weary　at　the　interruption。　“I　am　quite
happy　to　tell　Colonel　Steele　all　he　wishes　to　know。　That　is　why　I　came　here；　after　all：　to　talk　with
him；　to　reassure　him。”
He　looked　directly　at　Steele；　and　something　glinted　in　the　black　depths　of　his　eyes　as　he
concluded；　“To　invite　him　to　join　our　cause。”
“Concentrate　your　fire；”　yelled　Gavotski。　“Try　to　burn　through　its　hide！”
The　sewer　creature　had　reared　up　again；　its　broad　mouth　stretched　into　a　great；　keening　howl　—
of　defiance　or　of　pain；　it　was　impossible　to　tell。
It　was　caught；　dazed；　confused；　swaying　for　an　instant　in　a　criss…cross　of　las…beams；　and
Mikhaelev　dared　hope　that　it　might　succumb；　might　fall；　might　at　least　err　on　the　side　of　caution　and
flee　—　but　then　it　chose　its　target；　and　it　lashed　out。
Palinev　dived　out　of　the　creature’s　way。　Its　snout　smacked　hard　into　the　tunnel　wall；　so　hard　that
it　seemed　like　its　neck　must　have　broken。　No　such　luck；　though。　It　hit　the　water　on　its　stomach；　and
the　head　of　its　previous　victim；　the　luckless　mutant；　was　tossed　on　a　wave　born　of　the　impact。
The　creature　was　stunned；　immobile；　its　back　crowning　the　water　like　a　miniature　island；
covered　in　thorns。　The　Ice　Warriors　pressed　their　advantage；　and　the　scales　at　the　base　of　the
creature’s　spines　began　to　bubble　and　blacken　in　their　beams。　Its　tail　thrashed　helplessly；　and
Anakora　moved　in；　thrusting　her　bayonet　downwards　at　it；　attempting　to　pin　it。　Her　aim　was　true；
but　her　broken　blade　too　weak　for　the　task。
The　creature　was　recovering；　raising　its　head　so　that　its　scalp　formed　another　little　island；　its
many　eyes　glaring　in　all　directions　so　that　it　was　impossible　to　work　out　which　way　it　would　go；
who　it　would　target　next。
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Suddenly；　Anakora　was　yanked　off　her　feet。　As　she　landed　heavily；　Mikhaelev；　behind　her；
caught　a　glimpse　of　the　great　tail　looped　round　her　ankles。　The　creature　was　twisting　back　on　itself；
with　incredible　agility　and　litheness；　bending　double　to　reach　its　ensnared；　floundering　victim。
Mikhaelev　was　about　to　fire　again　when　his　line　of　sight　was　blocked　by　Pozhar；　who　threw
himself　onto　the　sewer　creature’s　back　with　a　zeal　of　which　the　late　Trooper　Borscz　would　surely
have　approved　of。　He　found　an　eye　with　his　knife；　and　punctured　it　with　a　jab；　eliciting　another　howl
—　and　the　creature　relaxed　its　grip　on　Anakora　to　deal　with　the　more　immediate　threat。
It　bucked　and　squirmed　beneath　the　young　trooper’s　weight；　Pozhar　let　out　a　groan　as　a　spine
slipped　through　his　greatcoat　and　into　his　stomach。　Then　he　slid　into　the　water；　winded；　and
Anakora　was　trying　to　pull　him　clear；　to　return　the　favour　he　had　done　for　her；　but　the　creature　had
reared　up　again；　was　looming　over　the　pair　of　them。
Mikhaelev’s　hand　was　in　the　pocket　of　his　greatcoat；　fingering　a　hard；　cylindrical　object；　one　he
had　kept　ready　for　just　such　an　occasion。　It　would　be　risky　to　use　it　in　this　confined　space　—
especially　for　Anakora　and　Pozhar　—　but；　unless　he　did　something；　his　two　comrades　were　dead
anyway；　and　he　had　a　perfect　shot。
“Demolition　charge！”　he　yelled　as　he　lobbed　the　device。　His　aim　and　his　timing　could　not　have
been　better。　The　charge　disappeared　between　the　creature’s　teeth；　bounced　off　its　tongue…　and
Mikhaelev　was　running；　as　were　the　other　Ice　Warriors　—　six　of　them；　at　least。　The　remaining　two
were　still　cornered；　helpless。
The　blast；　when　it　came；　filled　Mikhaelev’s　ears；　shook　the　tunnel　around　him　and　splattered　his
back　with　chunks　of　something　soft　and　moist。　But　it　didn’t　lift　him　from　his　feet；　and　it　didn’t　bring
down　the　roof　—　and　when　he　stopped；　when　he　turned；　when　he　looked；　Anakora　and　Pozhar　were
still　alive；　covered　in　the　blood　and　the　guts　and　the　sizzling　flesh　of　the　monster　that　had　menaced
them…
…the　monster　that；　if　it　hadn’t　swallowed　his　charge　outright；　or　found　it　lodged　in　its　throat；
must　have　closed　its　mouth　reflexively　around　it；　and　contained　the　brunt　of　the　explosion；　as
Mikhaelev　had　prayed　it　might；　within　itself。
Barreski　punched　the　air；　let　out　a　whoop　of　delight；　and　clapped　Mikhaelev　on　the　back。
“Well；　I　hope　you’re　pleased　with　yourself；”　said　Grayle　with　a　mock　frown；　as　he　brushed
clinging；　rancid　lumps　of　meat　from　his　hat　and　his　coat。　“You　know；　after　sloshing　my　way　through
this　hive’s　sewer　system　for　about　an　hour　and　a　half；　I　didn’t　think　it　was　possible　to　smell　any
worse。　Obviously；　my　mistake。”
“Unfortunately；”　said　Gavotski　grimly；　“we　do　have　a　more　pressing　problem　than　your　personal
hygiene；　Grayle。”
Blonsky　spelled　it　out；　“We’ve　lost　our　guides；　both　of　them。”
“And　with　them；”　sighed　Mikhaelev；　“our　way　into　the　Ice　Palace。”
Steele　laughed　in　Mangellan’s　face。　It　seemed　the　only　rational　thing　to　do。
“You’re　insane！”　he　accused　the　high　priest。　“Well；　of　course　you　are；　that　goes　with　the
territory　—　but　do　you　really　expect　an　officer　of　the　Imperium　to　just…　to…？”
Mangellan　was　unfazed。　“Many　of　us　here　were　once　officers　in　your　Imperium；”　he　reminded
his　prisoner。　“You　know　that。　Of　course；　the　idea　of　joining　me　is　abhorrent　to　you。　You　have　been
brought　up；　conditioned；　to　look　at　the　universe　in　one　way；　and　one　way　only：　the　Imperium’s
way。”
“There　is　no　other　way；”　Steele　growled。　“At　least；　none　that　bear　thinking　about。”
“Ah　yes；”　said　Mangellan；　“that　is　what　they　tell　you；　isn’t　it？　That　you　mustn’t　think　about　it；
that　the　knowledge　itself　is　forbidden。　Don’t　you　wonder　why　they　tell　you　that。　Colonel　Steele？
Don’t　you　wonder　if　there　could　be　more　to　life　than　following　orders；　being　shipped　from　one　war
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zone　to　another？　Have　you　asked　yourself　what　they　are　keeping　from　you；　what　they　are　so　afraid
you　might　learn？”
“Let　me　cut　him；　master；”　whined　Furst；　his　knife　trembling　in　his　hand　as　if　it　were　all　he　could
do　to　keep　from　thrusting　it　between　Steele’s　ribs。　“Let　me　punish　him　for　his　insolence。”
“All　I　need　to　know；”　said　Steele；　“is　right　here　in　this　cell　with　us。”　He　jerked　his　head　towards
the　mutant。　“That　is　the　price　of　your　knowledge；　Mangellan。　That　is　what　happens　when　we　stop
fighting　it；　when　we　start　to　question。”
Mangellan　snorted　with　derision。　“Furst　is　a　pawn；　no　more。　Our　gods　have　gifted　him　with
physical　strength；　so　I　use　him　to　fetch　and　carry　for　me。　Look　at　me！　I　have　worshipped　Chaos　all
my　life。　Do　you　see　the　mark　of　the　mutant　on　me？”
“Perhaps；”　growled　Steele；　“your　mark　is　inside　you。”
“I　used　to　think　I　had　been　overlooked。　I　used　to　pray　to　feel　the　touch　of　my　gods。　But　now　I
know　the　truth。　They　have　recognised　my　intellect；　my　vision；　my　strength　of　will。　They　do　not　need
to　make　me　over　in　their　image；　because　I　am　already　their　perfect