Death World(科幻战争)-第16部分

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“Yes；　well；”　said　Greiss。　“Right　now；　the　important　thing　isn’t　what　may　or　may　not　have
happened　in　the　past—it’s　what　we　do　about　it　in　the　here　and　now。”
Mackenzie　had　been　staring　into　the　acid　river。　Now；　he　snapped　to　attention　as　if　remembering
his　responsibilities。　“Right。　I　hope　I　don’t　have　to　tell　you　people　to　conserve　supplies　from　here　on。
In　the　meantime；　we　have　a　more　pressing　problem。”
“Don’t　tell　me；”　said　Greiss　wryly。　“We　have　to　cross　that　thing。”
They　began　by　sending　Woods　up　a　tree。
He　shinned　up　to　its　topmost　branches；　until　its　leaves　hid　him　from　view。　He　disturbed　a　bird—
the　first　the　squad　had　seen　all　day—but　instead　of　attacking　him　it　squawked　in　terror　and　took
flight。
From　his　new　vantage　point；　Woods　scanned　the　length　of　the　river　in　each　direction；　looking　for
a　natural　crossing。　No　one　was　really　surprised　when　he　returned　with　the　news　that　there　was　none。
That　would　have　been　too　easy。
Armstrong　had　brought　rope；　so　the　rest　of　the　squad　stood　back　as　Myers　tied　a　lasso；　swung　it
over　his　head　and　let　the　looped　end　fly。　It　soared　across　the　acid　river　to　the　opposite　bank；　and
caught　hold　of　a　tree　branch。　Myers　tugged　at　it　to　confirm　it　was　secure。　The　rope　came　loose；　and
there　was　a　collective　wince　as　it　slapped　into　the　river　and　was　dissolved　in　an　instant；　before　he
could　even　think　about　reeling　it　in。　Myers　was　left　with　just　the　two…metre　length　that　had　been
coiled　in　his　hands。
The　Jungle　Fighters　tested　a　few　creepers；　but　found　them　brittle；　dried　out　by　the　relentless　heat。
Muldoon　suggested　they　dig　up　some　snapper　flowers；　and　Greiss　approved　the　idea。　Mackenzie
grumbled　something　under　his　breath；　but　he　didn’t　object—so　soon；　they　were　working　in　a　heavy
silence；　weaving　a　replacement　rope　from　the　flowers’　hardy　roots。　They　knotted　several　short
strands　together；　and　finally　they　were　ready　for　Myers　to　try　again。
This　time；　the　lasso　caught　and　held。　Myers　tied　his　end　of　the　rope　around　the　sturdiest　tree　he
could　find；　and　Mackenzie　asked　for　a　volunteer　to　be　first　across。
Lorenzo’s　was　the　second　hand　in　the　air；　as　usual。　The　first　belonged　to　Landon。
“You　sure　about　this？”　Greiss　quizzed　him。
“Makes　sense；　sergeant；”　said　the　rookie。　Lorenzo　could　see　how　nervous　he　felt　about　saying
this；　but　he　was　saying　it　anyway。　“Someone’s　got　to　go　over　there　and　tie　the　rope　up　securely；　and
I’m　the　lightest。　I’m　the　most　likely　to　make　it。”
Greiss　accepted　that；　so　Muldoon　set　about　tying　his　remaining　two　metres　of　rope　around　the
volunteer’s　waist；　passing　it　between　his　legs　and　finally　over　the　knotted　plant　roots　to　act　as　a
safety　harness。　To　this；　he　attached　the　end　of　another　length　of　roots；　which　would　pay　itself　out　as
Landon　went　across。
Then　the　Jungle　Fighters　watched　in　tense　silence　as　Muldoon　hoisted　Landon　up　until　he　could
grip　the　precarious　root　bridge　with　his　hands　and　feet。　The　rookie　had　left　his　heavy　pack　behind；
but　his　lasgun　was　slung　across　his　back；　he　never　knew　what　he　might　encounter；　alone　on　the　far
side。
Landon　made　his　way　across　quickly；　hanging　upside…down　from　the　makeshift　rope　like　a
squirrel。　He　only　slowed　as　he　neared　the　middle　of　the　river；　where　the　slack　brought　him　down
almost　to　its　level。　If　he’d　made　a　slip　there；　he　would　have　been　dead　before　his　harness　could　catch
him。
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It　was　at　this　moment　that　Myers’　lasso；　straining　to　cope　with　Landon’s　additional　weight；　lost
its　grip　on　the　branch。
Mercifully；　it　snagged　again；　only　a　centimetre　further　along。　Almost　a　centimetre　too　far。
Lorenzo；　watching；　sucked　air　between　his　teeth；　knowing　he　could　do　nothing　as　his　youthful
comrade　dropped—as　he　was　caught　an　instant　later；　holding　on　for　his　life　to　his　shaking；　swaying
lifeline。　The　acid　river　lapped　against　Landon’s　lasgun；　but　as　far　as　Lorenzo　could　see；　Landon
himself　was　unharmed。
When　the　rope　had　steadied；　he　resumed　his　crossing；　hugging　more　closely　to　the　rope　than
before　until　it　had　begun　to　rise　again；　to　lift　him　out　of　danger。　Then　he　struck　out　more　confidently
towards　the　far　bank；　and　set　foot　on　dry　land　at　last。
Landon　untied　himself　from　his　harness；　and　made　a　quick　check　of　the　area　for　immediate
threats。　He　inspected　his　lasgun　and　discarded　it；　evidently；　the　acid　had　rendered　it　useless。　Then　he
knotted　the　rope　he　had　carried　across　with　him　around　a　tree。　He　retrieved　the　end　of　the　first　rope
from　its　branch；　and　tied　it　around　a　different　tree　nearby；　making　sure　he　pulled　it　good　and　taut。
Then　he　turned　to　his　comrades；　and　gave　them　a　thumbs…up　sign。
Mackenzie　sent　Woods　across　next。　The　other　Jungle　Fighters　had　almost　made　enough　root
rope　to　construct　a　harness　for　him；　but　he　didn’t　bother　waiting　for　it。　The　crossing　was　less　fraught
for　him　than　it　had　been　for　Landon；　Woods　had　two　ropes　to　cling　to；　and　he　knew　both　were　firmly
anchored　at　each　end。　He　reached　the　other　side　of　the　river　in　seconds。
Armstrong　was　more　prudent；　waiting　until　his　safety　rope　was　prepared　and　in　place；　attached
to　both　crossing　ropes；　before　he　set　off　at　a　perfectly　measured　pace。　Once　he’d　set　foot　on　the　far
bank；　he　hurled　his　harness；　and　Landon’s；　back　to　the　others；　so　Myers　and　Storm　were　able　to
follow　him　in　short　order。　Donovits　was　next；　once　he’d　crossed　the　river；　he　called　back　a　warning
that　the　first　rope　was　beginning　to　fray　in　the　middle。　“Best　keep　most　of　your　weight　on　the
second；”　he　advised。
Braxton　had　been　watching　the　Jungle　Fighters　closely；　and　when　his　turn　came　he　tried　to
mimic　their　actions。　Only　a　third　of　the　way　across　the　ropes；　however；　he　missed　a　handhold　and
fell。　His　harness　brought　him　up　short；　but　for　a　moment　he　was　bouncing　and　flailing　in　midair。
That　was　when　the　second　rope　snapped；　its　loose　ends　flopping　into　the　acid　to　be　eaten　away。
Braxton　scrabbled　for　the　remaining　rope；　and　held　onto　it　with　white　knuckles。　A　minute　passed
before　he　felt　confident　to　proceed　further。　He　made　one　more　slip；　but　his　harness　saved　him　again
and　he　was　quicker　to　recover　this　time。　Lorenzo　let　out　a　breath　of　relief—and　realised　he　had　been
holding　it—as　Braxton　joined　the　others。　Mackenzie　had　been　rigid　with　worry；　too。　Who’d　have
thought　the　commissar　cared　about　his　adjutant　as　anything　more　than　a　human　shield？
Greiss　and　Muldoon；　on　the　other　hand；　had　been　conferring　in　low　whispers；　ignoring　the　drama
playing　out　over　the　river。　As　the　threat　to　Braxton　passed；　and　Mackenzie’s　attention　turned　back
towards　them；　they　parted　smoothly—but　their　eyes　met　for　a　second；　and　Lorenzo　thought　he　saw
something　ominous　in　that　gaze。　A　flicker　of　a　resolution　made　and　confirmed。
Mackenzie　ordered　the　three　remaining　Jungle　Fighters　to　begin　work　on　another　rope。　“Waste
of　time；”　opined　Greiss。　“We　don’t　need　two　ropes。　The　second　was　a　backup；　that’s　all。”
“A　safety　precaution；”　said　Mackenzie　stiffly；　“that　turned　out　to　be　entirely　necessary。”
“Only　because　your　Guardsman　didn’t　know　what　he　was　doing；”　countered　Greiss。　“If　he’d
followed　Brains’　advice—”
“I’m　not　trusting　my　life　to—”　Mackenzie　began。
Greiss　interrupted　with；　“There’s　only　four　of　us　left　to　cross；　and　Muldoon　and　Lorenzo　here
aren’t　crying　about　it。　That　rope’s　held　up　just　fine　so　far。　Better　to　take　a　chance　than　spend　another
hour　sitting　around　here　doing　craftwork。　We’re　already　behind　schedule。”　And　with　that；　he　hoisted
Landon’s　pack　on　his　right　arm；　and　slipped　his　own　onto　the　left　to　keep　himself　balanced。　Then　he
hauled　himself　up　onto　the　remaining　rope　and；　emulating　Woods；　began　to　swarm　across　it　without
a　harness。
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“Come　back　here；　Greiss！”　roared　Mackenzie。　“I’m　warning　you；　if　you　don’t　come　back　here
this　instant；　I’ll…　I’ll…”
“Way　I　see　it；　sir；”　said　Muldoon　nonchalantly；　“there　isn’t　much　more　you　can　threaten　him
with。”
“I’ll　be　adding　this　to　the　list　of　charges　against　you；　trooper！”　the　commissar　yelled　after　the
departing　Greiss。　“Muldoon；　what　do　you　think　you’re　doing？”
Muldoon　had　beckoned　Lorenzo　forward；　and　was　tying　a　rope　around　his　waist。　Mackenzie
pushed　Lorenzo　aside；　and　announced；　“I’ll　be　going　across　next。　I　don’t　trust　Greiss　and　Woods
over　there　unsupervised。”
“I’m　sure　Guardsman　Braxton　can　keep　an　eye　on　them；　sir；”　said　Muldoon；　tongue…in…cheek。
Mackenzie　just　glared　at　him；　and　said　nothing。
Muldoon　tied　Mackenzie　into　his　harness；　then　gave　him　the　nod　that　he　was　ready　to　go。　He
didn’t　help　him　up　to　the　rope　as　he　had　most　of　the　Jungle　Fighters；　he　just　watched　as　the
commissar　scrambled　up　to　it　himself。　He　took　hold　unsteadily；　and　eyed　the　acid　river　below　him。
Then　the　commissar　began　to　cross；　moving　hand　over　hand　and　foot　over　foot　at　a　confident；
unhurried　pace。　That　was　when　Lorenzo　caught　that　glint　in　Muldoon’s　eye　again；　and　he　felt　his
heart　miss　a　beat。
He　had　heard　that　the　attrition　rate　of　commissars　assigned　to　Catachan　squads　was　many　times
the　Imperium　average。　These　losses　were　officially　dismissed　as　accidents；　of　course—a　natural
consequence　of　sending　non…deathworlders；　no　matter　how　high…ranking；　how　well…trained；　into　an
environment　to　which　they　weren’t　suited。　It　was　rarely　acknowledged　that　there　might　be　anything
more　to　it　than　that—at　least；　it　hadn’t　happened　within　Lorenzo’s　earshot。　But　everybody　knew—or
at　least　suspected—the　unspoken　truth。
The　deathworlds　of　the　Imperium　bred　men　who　were　independent；　proud；　and　loyal　only　to
those　who　had　earned　their　respect。　That　went　double　for　Catachan。
“He’s　doing　well；”　murmured　Muldoon；　watching　the　commissar’s　progress　with　obvious
resentment；　“for　a　city　boy。　Too　well。”
He　reached　up　to　the　end　of　the　root　rope；　still　tied　to　the　tree　beside　him；　and　he　looked　at
Lorenzo　as　if　he　was　challenging　him　to　say　something；　to　stop　him—and　it　did　occur　to　Lorenzo
that　maybe　he　should；　maybe　it　was　the　right　thing　to　do；　but　his　throat　was　dry　and　the　words
wouldn’t　come；　and　anyway　this　was　nothing　to　do　with　him　and　even　if　it　was；　his　loyalties　lay
with　his　own　kind；　didn’t　they？
Didn’t　they？
Too　late。　He　was　always　too　late。
Muldoon　wrapped　his　fingers　around　the　end　of　the　rope　and；　with　a　smile　of　grim　satisfaction；
he　gave　it　a　good　tug。
Lorenzo　watched　as　the　vibrations　travelled　the　first　half　of　the　rope’s　length；　to　where
Mackenzie　was　clinging　on。　There　wasn’t　time　to　shout　a　warning；　even　if　he　had　wanted　to。　The
rope　jerked　itself　out　of　the　commissar’s　hands；　simultaneously　flipping　him　so　that　he　was　on　top　of
it。　He　flailed；　caught　by　surprise；　trying　to　find　fresh　purchase；　slipped；　plummeted　to　the　extent　of
his　harness’　slack—and　then　the　harness　gave　way；　as　Lorenzo　had　known　it　must。　A　simple
slipknot。
There　was　nothing　holding　Commissar　Mackenzie　now。
He　was　in　freefall。
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CHAPTER　NINE
Lorenzo　didn’t　want　to　look；　but　he　couldn’t　turn　away。
There　was　no　time；　anyhow。　Mackenzie　would　hit　the　acid　before　he　could　blink。
Unless；　somehow；　impossibly；　the　direction　of　his　fall　was　reversed。
Unless　he　had　managed　to　reach　up　and；　with　a　last　desperate　lunge；　catch　the　rope　above　his
h