Death World(科幻战争)-第5部分

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Lorenzo　spun　and　hit　the　ground　on　his　feet；　and　was　ready　for　the　first　Validian　as　he　came　at　him
again。
In　the　meantime；　Muldoon　had　come　to　Dougan’s　aid；　letting　out　a　war　cry　as　he　bowled　into　the
men　surrounding　his　comrade　and　scattered　them。　Dougan　got　his　second　wind；　hoisted　one　foe　by
the　scruff　of　his　flak　jacket　and　hurled　him；　arms　and　legs　thrashing　furiously；　into　another。　The
ogryns　were　still　cracking　skulls；　the　Validians　now　realising　what　they　had　taken　on；　almost
trampling　each　other　to　get　away　from　the　misshapen　creatures。
One　particularly　hapless　specimen　backed　into　Lorenzo；　eyes　wide　with　fear；　just　as　the
Catachan　finished　putting　down　his　own　two　opponents。　In　the　heat　of　a　terrified　moment；　the
Validian　broke　the　unspoken　rule；　by　drawing　his　lasgun。
Lorenzo　was　on　him　before　he　could　aim　it。　The　gun　dropped　from　the　Guardsman’s　grasp　as
Lorenzo　seized　his　arm　and　twisted　it　until　the　bone　snapped。　The　Validian　let　out　a　yelp　and　fell　to
his　knees；　but　he　had　foregone　any　right　to　sympathy　or　mercy；　and　Lorenzo　knocked　him　cold　with
a　spinning　kick　to　the　head。
His　keen　ears　caught　the　sound　of　a　whining　voice；　straining　to　be　heard　across　the　tumult。
Commissar　Mackenzie　had　just　strode　into　the　hall；　and　he　was　demanding　calm；　to　no　avail。　At　his
heels；　however；　was　Graves—and　when　the　colonel　spoke；　Catachans　and　Validians　alike　fell　still。
“Just　what　the　hell　is　going　on　here？”　Graves　roared；　his　voice　resonating　in　the　sudden　guilty
hush。
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CHAPTER　THREE
“I　said；　what　the　hell　is　going　on？　What　do　you　think　you’re　doing？”
Colonel　Graves　strode　deeper　into　the　mess　hall；　his　blazing　eyes　darting　from　Catachan　to
Validian　to　Catachan；　sharing　around　the　force　of　his　scorn。　“I’ve　seen　acid　grubs　behave　with　more
dignity。　You’re　meant　to　be　on　the　same　side！”
Mackenzie　scuttled　after　him。　“Do　you　see？”　he　fumed。　“This　is　why　I　was　opposed　to　bringing
Jungle　Fighters　into　this　campaign。”　He　raised　his　voice　to　address　the　hall。　“I　want—no；　I
demand—to　know　who　the　ringleaders　were　behind　this　disgraceful　display。　Names　and　ranks！”
A　few　eyes　were　cast　down；　a　few　feet　shuffled；　but　the　Validians　were　no　more　willing　than　the
Catachans　were　to　tell　on　their　own。　In　the　face　of　their　intransigence；　the　commissar’s　face　grew
steadily　redder。
“Sergeant　Wallace！”
The　unlucky　Validian　who　the　commissar　had　singled　out　snapped　to　attention；　and　reported；
“My　apologies；　sir；　I　didn’t　see　how　the　incident　started。　My　men　and　I　only　acted　to　calm　the
situation　when　it　seemed　to　be　getting　out　of　hand。”
Mackenzie　got　the　same　story；　almost　verbatim；　from　his　next　two　sergeants。
Lorenzo　sensed　a　surreptitious　movement　behind　him；　and　he　turned　to　see　that　the　sergeant
whose　nose　Woods　had　broken　was　being　helped　to　his　feet；　a　piece　of　cloth　clasped　to　his　bloodied
face。　He　was　glaring　venomously　at　the　cause　of　his　woes；　but　Woods　returned　his　gaze　with　a　smug
grin　and　cracked　his　knuckles　into　his　palm。
It　was　this　look　that　Commissar　Mackenzie　caught；　and　he　bustled　over　to　the　pair；　his　nostrils
flaring　with　self…righteous　zeal。　“Enright？”
The　bloodied　sergeant　shrugged　helplessly；　using　his　cloth　as　a　shield　from　interrogation。
Mackenzie　clicked　his　tongue　in　impatience；　then　dismissed　Enright　and　the　two　Guardsmen　who
were　supporting　him　with　an　impatient　hand　movement。　The　trio　made　their　way　to　the　door；　and　no
doubt　to　whatever　medical　facility　this　camp　offered。
Mackenzie　fixed　Woods　with　a　shrivelling　glare；　which　he　then　turned　upon　the　Catachans
around　him　until　he　saw　the　sergeant’s　stripes　on　Greiss’　arm。　“Perhaps　you　can　shed　some　light　on
this　matter；　sergeant？”
“Greiss；　sir。”
“Sergeant　Greiss。　You　seem　to　have　had　a　ringside　seat　for　the　worst　of　it。”
“My　apologies；　sir；”　said　Greiss　in　a　faintly　mocking　tone；　“I　didn’t　see　how　the　incident　started。
My　men　and　I　only　acted　to　calm　the　situation　when　it　seemed　to　be　getting　out　of　hand。”
One　of　the　Catachans　let　out　a　harsh　laugh；　but　Mackenzie　wasn’t　amused。　He　cast　another
distasteful　look　at　Woods；　and　snapped；　“It　seems　clear　to　me；　Sergeant　Greiss；　that　you　and　your
squad　were　responsible　for　this　outrage；　and　I　intend　to　make　sure　you　regret　it。　How　would　you
feel；　Greiss；　about　sleeping　out　in　the　jungle　tonight？”
Greiss’　eyes　lit　up。　“Delighted　to；　sir。”
That　wasn’t　the　answer　Mackenzie　had　been　expecting；　and　he　seethed　impotently。　“Let　me　tell
you；　Sergeant　Greiss；　what　happens　to　Guardsmen　who　disrespect　their　senior　officers。”
“I’m　all　ears；　sir；”　growled　Greiss。
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Mackenzie　flushed。　“We　bury　them。　Let　me　tell　you　what　it’s　like；　Greiss。　It’s　too　small　for　you
to　stand；　too　narrow　for　you　to　sit　down。　You’ll　spend　the　night—as　many　nights　as　I　choose—in　the
most　uncomfortable　position　you　can　imagine；　until　you　think　your　spine　will　crack。　You’ll　feel
spiders　gnawing　at　your　feet；　you’ll　be　at　the　mercy　of　the　jungle　lizards。　And　during　the　day—in　the
daytime；　when　the　sun’s　beating　down　on　you　and　you　don’t　have　the　room　to　lift　an　arm　to　shade
your　eyes—in　the　daytime；　Greiss；　let　me　tell　you；　you’ll　start　to　wish　you　were　dead。”
Graves　had　moved　silently　to　the　young　commissar’s　side。　He　cleared　his　throat　now；　and
murmured；　“May　I　remind　you；　sir；　that　we　need　these　men　fresh　and　active　for　duty　in　the　morning？
I　don’t　see　much　point　in　pursuing　this　matter。　Especially—”　and　he　laboured　this　point　particularly
heavily　“—with　no　evidence　to　lay　charges　against　any　individual。　No　harm　done；　I’d　say。　In　fact；
it’s　probably　best　for　all　sides　they　got　it　out　of　their　systems。”
Mackenzie　said　nothing　for　a　moment—and　Lorenzo　expected　him　to　snap　at　the　colonel　the
way　he　had　at　Lieutenant　Vines。　Instead；　he　seemed　to　accept　the　quiet　wisdom　in　Graves’　words。
He　turned　and　marched　stiffly　out　of　the　door；　the　tension　in　the　hall　diffusing　in　his　wake。　People
began　to　pick　themselves　up；　to　collect　scattered　bowls；　chairs　and　tables　and　to　tend　to　their
wounded；　Catachans　and　Validians　working　together　to　restore　order。
“For　any　of　you　girls　who　were　fretting；”　announced　Colonel　Graves；　“B　Platoon　have　voxed　in。
They’ve　had　some　casualties—lost　eight　men—but　most　of　them　are　still　standing；　and　they’re
making　their　way　to　us；　ETA　11。00。　In　view　of　this　delay；　Commissar　Mackenzie　has　decided　not　to
wait。　All　Jungle　Fighters　are　to　assemble　in　the　briefing　hut　in　twenty　minutes。”
Lorenzo　slept　under　the　stars　that　night；　on　a　bed　of　leaves　picked　from　the　edge　of　the　jungle　and
carefully　tested　for　hidden　spines　and　poison　sap。　Basic　quarters　had　been　provided　for　the
Catachans；　but　there　weren’t　enough　bunks　for　all　of　them—and　most　would　have　chosen　to　sleep
outdoors　anyway。　It　had　been　too　long。
The　sounds　of　the　jungle　at　night　brought　a　feeling　of　calm　to　Lorenzo。　The　rustle　of　a　breeze　in
its　leaves；　the　caws　and　cackles　of　nocturnal　predators；　the　gurgle　of　water—or　some　other　liquid—
carried　from　far　away。　He　wished　he　could　be　deeper　inside　it。　The　area　cleared　out　by　the　Validians
had　an　acrid　burnt　scent　to　it。　Lorenzo　was　used　to　having　a　canopy　of　green　above　him—but　tonight
it　was　black；　and　freckled　with　the　white　points　of　distant　suns。　The　night　sky　was　crystal　clear；　the
air　warm。　It　was　as　if　Rogar　III　was　showing　him　its　good　points；　its　aesthetic　qualities。　As　if　it
wanted　to　lull　him　into　a　sense　of　security　by　hiding　its　true；　savage　beauty　from　him。　Lorenzo
wasn’t　fooled。　He　looked　forward　to　the　morning；　to　testing　this　world’s　mettle。
He　thought　back　to　Mackenzie’s　briefing；　and　suppressed　a　thrill。　The　commissar　had　been
furnished　with　a　list　of　the　Catachan　squads；　and　had　assigned　them　to　various　missions。　B　Platoon
had　drawn　the　short　straw　in　their　absence；　they　would　arrive　at　the　encampment　to　find　that　their
comrades　had　moved　out　and　left　them　to　reinforce　the　security　details　here。　If　they　were　lucky；　the
orks　would　provide　a　distraction　or　two　to　break　up　the　monotony。
The　rest　of　the　Catachans　were　to　do　what　the　Validians　could　not：　take　the　fight　to　the　orks
themselves。　Which　meant；　of　course；　fighting　the　jungle　too。
“I　know　what　you’re　all　thinking。”　Colonel　Graves　had　added　to　Mackenzie’s　speech。　“It’s　a
jungle　world；　maybe　even　a　deathworld；　nothing　you　haven’t　seen　before。　Well；　believe　me；　Rogar
III　is　different。　The　commissar　here　tells　me　that；　a　year　ago；　this　place　was　a　little　green　corner　of
paradise。　Well；　I　don’t　know　what’s　happened；　and　to　tell　the　truth　I　don’t　much　care—but　as　you
ladies　can　see；　this　isn’t　paradise　anymore。”
Later；　Donovits　had　tossed　around　a　lot　of　phrases　like　“climate　change”　and　“axis　shifts”—but
Lorenzo　hadn’t　cared　much。
He’d　been　more　interested　in　hearing　how　the　Imperium’s　attempts　to　expand　its　encampments
had　met　with　failure。　It　was　a　full…time　job　for　a　squad　of　Guardsmen　to　maintain　this　one；　small
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though　it　was。　For　every　jungle　creeper　they　burnt　away；　two　more　seemed　to　replace　it—and　their
rate　of　growth　was　prodigious。
“When　the　Explorators　came　to　Rogar。”　Graves　had　said；　“they　recorded　some　weird　energy
signature。”　Of　course；　Lorenzo　had　already　known　that；　thanks　to　Donovits。　“Now；　I’m　not　saying
there’s　anything　in　that—just　warning　you　hotheads　not　to　get　too　cocky。　We　don’t　know　what　this
deathworld　has　to　throw　at　us；　but　we　do　know　a　couple　of　hundred　Guardsmen　have　died　trying　to
find　out。”
Mackenzie　had　displayed　a　rough　map　of　the　area；　and　pointed　out　the　known　ork　strongholds。
He　was　planning　an　attack　on　one　of　these；　intelligence　suggested　that　it　was　lightly　defended；　the
orks　depending　on　the　jungle　itself　to　protect　them。　A　derisive　snort　had　gone　up　from　the　Catachans
at　this　point。
The　whole　of　A　Platoon；　ogryns　and　all；　was　committed　to　this　offensive；　while　two　of　D
Platoon’s　four　squads　were　to　set　traps　and　lay　in　wait　for　reinforcements　from　the　other　ork　camps。
Other　squads　would　target　supply　lines—hit　and　run　tactics；　to　divide　the　enemy’s　attention。
Lorenzo’s　squad　had　been　the　last　to　learn　its　assignment—and　its　ten　men　had　let　out　a　cheer
when　Mackenzie　had　explained　that　it　was　the　most　vital；　and　most　dangerous；　of　all。　The
commissar　had　shouted　at　them　to　be　silent。
“One　particular　ork　has　been　giving　us　trouble；”　he　had　said。　“Their　current　warboss　in　this
region。　You　know　how　it　is—we　take　out　one；　another　takes　its　place。　But　this　one　has　a　few　more
brain　cells　than　most。　The　troops　have　taken　to　calling　him　Big　Green。　He’s　actually　got　the　beasts
organised；　to　an　extent。　Their　last　few　raids　on　us　were　almost　well　planned。　And　this　ork　has　a　keen
sense　of　self…preservation。　Most　warbosses　lead　from　the　front；　this　one　stays　behind　the　lines。　He’s
become　a　legend　to　the　orks；　if　only　because　he’s　lasted　longer　than　his　predecessors。　He’s　good　for
their　morale。　Too　good。　I　want　him　dead！”
According　to　the　commissar；　the　Imperial　Guard　had　been　close　to　finding　the　warboss’　hideout
when；　in　his　own　words；　“the　jungle　became　impassable”。　They　knew　its　general　location；　but　the
lair　itself　was　well　concealed。　The　Catachans’　job　was　to　find　the　ork