Death World(科幻战争)-第4部分

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or　Luther　McIntyre　or　whatever　hellhole　it　was　you　lot　crawled　out　from。”
“Catachan；　sir！”　hollered　Vines；　and　a　proud　roar　swelled　from　the　ranks　of　his　men。　If
Mackenzie　had　expected　to　get　a　rise　out　of　the　Jungle　Fighters；　he　was　disappointed。　Most　of　them
ignored　him；　not　quite　looking　at　him；　undermining　him　with　a　wave　of　indifference。　Woods　said
something　under　his　breath；　a　few　men　laughed；　and　the　commissar’s　eyes　narrowed—but　he　hadn’t
quite　caught　the　words　and　couldn’t　pinpoint　their　source。
“As　you　are　here；”　he　continued；　“I　intend　to　make　the　best　of　it。　I’m　making　it　my　mission　to
whip　you　rabble　into　shape。　By　the　time　I’m　finished　with　you；　you’ll　be　the　smartest　Guardsmen　in
the　Imperium。”
Mackenzie　turned　on　his　heel；　then；　and　snarled　in　Vines’　direction；　“Your　platoon　is　late　for　my
briefing；　lieutenant。　Ten　laps　round　the　camp　perimeter；　double　time。　Last　squad　back　does　another
ten。”
“With　respect；　sir…”　began　Vines；　the　look　of　contempt　in　his　eyes　suggesting　that　respect　was
the　last　thing　he　wanted　to　show。
“That　includes　you；　lieutenant。”　Mackenzie　barked—and　he　marched　away　stiffly；　into　the
largest　of　the　buildings。
Vines　took　a　deep　breath。　“All　right；”　he　said；　“you　heard　the　man。”
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The　Catachans　took　their　circuits　at　a　leisurely　pace；　and　with　a　cadence　call　that　contained　a　few
choice　lyrics　about　senior　officers。
By　the　time　they　got　to　the　lower　ranks’　mess　hall；　there　was　only　enough　slop　left　for　half　rations；
and　it　was　cold。
About　fifty　Catachans　and　a　handful　of　ogryns　from　A　and　D　Platoons　had　taken　over　a　generous
area；　perching　on　tables　with　their　feet　up　on　chairs；　swigging　from　flasks　and　punching　each　other
boisterously。　They　had　broken　out　the　hooch　to　celebrate　their　arrival；　it　had　been　brewed　on　the
troop　ship；　and　put　aside　for　a　special　occasion。　They　filled　the　large　space　with　their　raucous
laughter。
There　were　other　Guardsmen　here—they　outnumbered　the　Catachans　two　to　one—but　they　were
finishing　their　meals　in　silence；　along　one　side　of　the　hall；　looking　very　much　like　they’d　been　edged
out　by　the　newcomers。　They　wore　red　and　gold；　and　were　identified　by　their　flashes　as　members　of
the　32nd　Royal　Validian　Regiment。　To　Lorenzo’s　eyes；　most　of　them　looked　tall　and　gaunt—but
then；　he　was　aware　that　Catachan　had　a　higher　than　average　gravity；　which　made　its　people　more
squat　and　muscular　than　most。
It　didn’t　surprise　him　that　the　two　groups　had　self…segregated。　The　Catachans　were　Jungle
Fighters—elite　deathworld　veterans。　The　best　the　Imperium　had　to　offer；　they　believed。　The　rankand…
file　Guardsmen　regarded　them　with　a　mixture　of　curiosity；　admiration　and；　here　more　than　in
many　places；　outright　resentment。
Lorenzo’s　squad　picked　up　their　meals　and　took　over　a　table。　Greiss　joined　them　presently；　he’d
had　the　rookie；　Landon；　fetch　his　food　for　him　while　he’d　pumped　the　other　platoons　for　what　they’d
learned　so　far。
He　threw　a　folded　sheet　of　paper　onto　the　table。　Lorenzo　saw　the　crudely　printed　header　Eagle　&
Bolter；　and　needed　to　look　no　closer。　Another　propaganda　broadsheet；　doubtless　full　of　consoling
“news”　about　how　the　war　here　was　being　won。　“Looks　like　we　hit　the　jack　pot　this　time；”　said　the
sergeant　happily。　“We　got　killer　plants；　man…eating　slugs；　poison　insects；　acid　swamps；　all　the　usual。
On　top　of　that；　there’s　talk　of　invisible　monsters—and　ghosts；　would　you　believe！”　He　saw　that　a
couple　of　Validians　were　eavesdropping　from　the　next　table　but　one；　and　he　added　slyly；　“Course　we
only　got　the　word　of　a　few　rookie　Guardsmen　for　that。　Probably　jumping　at　their　own　shadows。”
“Ghosts？”　echoed　Donovits；　interested。
“Yes：　ghosts；　lights；　whatever。　Supposed　to　appear　at　night；　lure　men　into　the　jungle—and　those
crazy　enough　to　follow　them　don’t　come　back。”
“Speaking　of　which；　sergeant；”　said　Armstrong；　“any　news　on　B　Platoon？”　The　one…eyed　trooper
made　the　question　sound　nonchalant；　but　Lorenzo　knew　Armstrong　had　belonged　to　the　missing
platoon　before　his　recent　transfer。
“Not　yet；”　said　Greiss。　“They　had　the　same　trouble　we　did　on　the　way　in；　but　it　looks　like　they
set　down　further　away。　They’re　out　there　somewhere。”
“Lucky　for　them；”　said　Woods。　“They　don’t　have　to　put　up　with　Commissar　Jug…Handles
throwing　his　not　considerable　weight　around。”
“It　must’ve　been　some　storm；”　remarked　Donovits。
“Blew　up　out　of　nowhere；”　said　Greiss；　“by　all　accounts。　One　second；　the　sky　was　clear；　the
next；　our　drop　ships　were　drawing　strikes　like　lightning　rods。　Then　clear　blue　again。”
“Still　think　Naval　Command　were　exaggerating；　sergeant；”　asked　Woods　with　his　characteristic
cheeky　grin；　“about　this　place　turning　into　a　deathworld？”
“Can’t　see　this　place　ever　having　been　anything　but；”　commented　Bullseye　Myers。　“I　don’t
know　why　it　took　’em　so　long　to　admit　it。”
“Maybe　it　was　Mackenzie；”　considered　Dougan。　“You　heard　what　the　man　said。　He　doesn’t
want　us　here。”
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“Yeah；”　said　Woods—and　in　a　passable　impression　of　the　commissar’s　nasal　whine；　he
continued；　“‘I　don’t　like　deathworlders。　I’m　making　it　my　mission　to　whip　you　lot　into　shape。　You
hear　me；　Greiss？　On　your　knees　and　lick　my　shiny　black　boots。　And　when　you’re　done　with　that；
you　can　kiss　my—’”
“If　I　were　you；”　snarled　a　voice　from　behind　him；　“I’d　be　careful　what　you　say　about　an　officer
of　the　Imperium。”
Woods　didn’t　even　glance　back　to　see　who　was　talking；　though　Lorenzo　could　see　that　it　was　a
broad…shouldered；　square…headed　Validian　sergeant。
“Don’t　care　what　his　rank　is；”　said　Woods　offhandedly；　“he’s　still　a　damn　idiot。”
“You　want　to　repeat　that　to　my　face？”
Greiss’　eyes　narrowed。　“Stand　down；　sergeant；”　he　growled。　“I’m　in　command　of　these　men。
You　have　a　problem　with　them；　you　bring　it　to　me。”
“Mackenzie　was　right　about　you　deathworlders；”　the　Validian　sneered。　“You’ve　no　discipline；
no　respect。”
“Where　we　come　from；”　murmured　Muldoon；　idly　sharpening　his　night　reaper　blade　on　a　piece
of　flint；　“respect　is　earned；　not　given。”
“You　come　charging　in　here；　all　gung…ho；　bad…mouthing　our　people；　thinking　you　can　just　take
over。”
“And　here　I　thought　you　begged　us　to　come；”　said　Woods；　“because　your　lot　couldn’t　do　your
jobs　properly。　What’s　the　problem—sun　too　hot　for　you？”
“We’ve　been　here　eighteen　months；”　snapped　the　Validian；　“and　we’re　winning　this　war。　We’ve
driven　the　orks　right　back；　there　hasn’t　been　an　attack　on　this　encampment　or　any　other　in　three
weeks。　If　you　wanted　to　help；　you　should　have　been　here　when　we　were　cleansing　areas；　holding　the
line；　facing　ambushes　day　and　night。　But　no；　true　to　form；　you　glory　hounds　show　up　in　time　for　the
mopping　up　and　claim　all　me　credit。”
Greiss　was　on　his　feet；　his　lip　curling　into　a　dangerous　snarl。　“Have　you　quite　finished；
sergeant？”
Woods　stood　now；　too；　on　the　pretext　of　clearing　away　his　half…empty　bowl。　“It’s　okay；
sergeant；”　he　said；　“just　a　bitter　old　man　letting　off　some　steam—and　can　you　blame　him？　Can’t　be
many　Imperial　Guard　regiments　have　had　to　go　crying　for　reinforcements　against　a　few　trees　and
flowers。”
The　Validian’s　eyes　bulged　and　his　face　reddened。　He　pulled　back　his　fist；　but　Woods　had
anticipated　the　move。　He　sidestepped　the　sergeant’s　blow；　and　simultaneously　took　hold　of　his
attacker；　using　his　own　weight　to　flip　him　onto　his　back　on　the　table。
The　move　had　the　effect　of　bringing　the　rest　of　Lorenzo’s　squad　to　their　feet；　as　they　leapt　to
avoid　flying　cups　and　bowls。　Two　tables　away；　the　Validian’s　fellows　were　also　pushing　back　their
chairs　and　standing。　Their　downed　sergeant　tried　to　right　himself；　but　Woods　was　keeping　him　offbalance。
The　sergeant　kicked　out；　and　Woods　danced　out　of　the　way　of　his　boot。　As　the　sergeant
swung　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　table　and　made　to　stand　at　last；　Woods　head…butted　him—the
fabled　“Catachan　Kiss”—and　his　nose　splintered　in　a　fountain　of　blood。
The　first　two　Validians　came　at　Woods；　but　Armstrong　and　Dougan　intercepted　them。　It　looked
like　Steel　Toe　was　just　trying　to　calm　things　down；　even　at　this　stage；　but　his　efforts　were　futile：　as　a
Validian　took　a　swing　at　him；　he　responded　with　a　punch　to　the　jaw　that　laid　him　right　out。　Another
six　Guardsmen　surged　forward　as　one；　and　Myers　and　Storm　leapt　onto　the　table　and　stood　back　to
back；　lashing　out　with　fists　and　feet。
In　just　seconds；　an　all…out　brawl　had　broken　out。　No　guns　or　knives　were　drawn；　but　nor　were
any　punches　pulled。　Even　Landon　joined　in　with　gusto；　pummelling　away　at　the　stomach　of　a　man
two　heads　taller　than　himself　until　he　staggered　and　passed　out　through　sheer　inability　to　draw
breath。
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A　pug…nosed；　unshaven　sergeant　came　at　Lorenzo　with　a　chair　raised　over　his　head。　Lorenzo
ducked　under　the　makeshift　weapon；　and　threw　himself　at　its　wielder。　His　head　impacted　with　the
soft　tissue　of　the　sergeant’s　stomach；　and　they　went　rolling　end　over　end　on　the　dirt…streaked　floor。
The　violence　was　spreading　like　unchecked　fire。　Other　squads　were　pulled　into　the　fray；　taking
sides　according　to　regimental　loyalty。　Validian　reinforced　Validian；　Catachan　reinforced　Catachan；
until　the　entire　hall　had　erupted　into　a　cacophonic　mass　of　screams　and　yells　and　crashes　and　the　dull
smacks　of　fists　and　feet　against　flesh。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Lorenzo　saw　two　ogryns
ploughing　into　the　melee；　picking　up　men　by　the　throat　two　at　a　time　and　knocking　their　heads
together。
He　had　managed　to　get　on　top　of　his　opponent；　surprising　the　sergeant　with　his　litheness。　He
pinned　him　with　a　knee　to　his　chest；　and　drove　his　knuckles　repeatedly　into　the　sergeant’s　face—
until　two　Guardsmen　seized　him　from　behind；　and　tore　him　away。　Lorenzo　had　seen　them　coming；
but　in　the　midst　of　such　chaos　it　was　impossible　to　avoid　all　the　possible　threats。　Still；　he　was
prepared　for　this　one。　He　thrust　his　elbows　back；　catching　his　would…be　captors　off…guard；　and　threw
himself　into　a　forward　roll；　wrenching　their　hands　from　his　shoulders。　He　dropped　into　an　alert
stance；　expecting　the　Validians　to　come　at　him　again；　but　they　had　other　problems。　Greiss　had　just
waded　into　them。
The　sergeant　planted　his　hand　in　one　man’s　face；　and　pushed　him　back　with　enough　force　to
send　him　sprawling。　Then　he　concentrated　his　efforts　on　the　other；　his　expression　feral；　a　zealous
gleam　in　his　eyes　as　he　laid　into　his　victim　with　a　barrage　of　punches　so　fast　and　furious　that　their
sheer　force　kept　him　upright　for　a　second　after　he　was　knocked　cold。
Dougan　was　in　trouble。　He　was　surrounded；　and　it　looked　like　his　artificial　leg　was　playing　up
again；　slowing　him　down。　Lorenzo　flew　to　the　older　man’s　assistance；　but　two　more　Validians　rose
up　in　his　path。　He　transferred　his　momentum　to　his　fist；　and　drove　it　into　the　first　man’s　skull。　The
second　made　a　grab　for　Lorenzo’s　throat；　and　simultaneously　knocked　his　legs　out　from　under　him。
For　an　instant；　he　was　suspended　in　midair；　choking。　He　managed　to　plant　his　hands　on　his
attacker’s　shoulders；　and　bring　up　his　feet；　kicking　at　the　Validian’s　chest。　They　both　fell；　but
Lorenzo　spun　and　hit　the　ground　on　his　feet；　and　was　ready　for　the　first　Validian