Gunheads(科幻战争)-第47部分

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the　time　that　some　kind　of　living　force　resided　there；　something　of　incredible　energy　and　potency。
The　Cadian　pylons　and　the　towers　of　Dar　Laq　were　certainly　both　ancient　and　mysterious；　but　the
latter　exuded　no　sense　of　power　or　presence；　only　an　aura　of　death　and　decay；　and　of　a　splendour
lost　forever　to　the　ages。
The　towers　looked　to　be　constructed　of　the　same　nacreous　metal　as　the　lower　structures；　but
there　the　similarities　ended。　They　were　less　blocky；　less　angular；　suggesting　that　they　had　been
conceived　with　a　sense　of　the　artistic　at　least　as　much　as　the　functional。　A　few　of　them　were　broken；
the　outer　shells　rusting　or　tearing　away；　revealing　themselves　to　be　stuffed　full　of　what　looked　like
clockwork　on　the　most　massive　scale。　Great　black　cogs　sat　unmoving；　frozen　in　the　glare　of　the
searchlights；　teeth　bared　at　the　human　interlopers。　Bergen’s　natural　curiosity　kept　throwing　up
questions　in　his　mind　and　it　took　some　effort　to　quash　them。　What　feats　of　science　or　wonders　of
sorcery　might　the　creators　of　Dar　Laq　have　been　able　to　work　in　their　day？　It　was　dangerous　to　ask；
more　dangerous　still　to　actively　seek　such　knowledge。　Heresy　lurked　at　the　boundaries　of　such
thinking。　It　was　natural；　too；　though。　It　was　part　of　the　human　condition　to　revel　in　discovery；
despite　the　warnings　of　the　Imperial　Creed。
The　tech…priests　were　guiltier　than　anyone　of　that。　Bergen　imagined　they　would　be　readying　their
bands　of　slaves　and　servitors　to　go　out　and　search　for　answers。　They　must　have　planned　all　this　from
the　very　beginning。　Had　they　ever　intended　to　help　find　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance？　Or　did　their　real
interest　in　Golgotha　begin　and　end　with　Dar　Laq？
He　watched　the　white　discs　thrown　out　by　the　searchlights　as　they　climbed　the　far　wall；　and　his
jaw　dropped　open。　He　had　the　measure　of　the　cavern　now；　and　it　was　vast；　easily　two　to　three
kilometres　across　at　its　widest；　and　a　kilometre　high　where　the　cavern　walls　curved　inwards　to　meet
at　a　single　point。　Every　inch　of　the　walls　had　been　worked　by　alien　hands。　There　were　alcoves　within
alcoves；　pillared　walkways；　exquisitely　wrought　galleries　of　metal　and　so　much　more；　all　with　the
same　sharp；　angular　aesthetic　of　the　ground…level　buildings。　How　many　had　lived　here？　How　had
they　fashioned　such　a　place？　And　why　had　they　chosen　to　live　down　here　inside　the　mountain；
shunning　the　light　and　the　sky　above？
As　the　searchlights　reached　for　the　ceiling　of　the　chamber；　Bergen　gaped。　There　above　him　hung
the　most　incredible　feature　of　all；　perhaps　a　score　of　inverted　black　ziggurat…type　structures　linked
by　metal　gantries　and　platforms。　They　seemed　to　be　floating　in　the　air。
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They　can’t　be；　he　told　himself。
He　dropped　back　down　into　his　Chimera　and　pulled　his　magnoculars　from　their　stowage　box。
Returning　to　his　cupola；　he　pressed　the　magnoculars　to　his　eyes　and　looked　up　again。　It　was　only
when　he　squinted　hard　through　the　lenses　that　he　realised　they　truly　were　floating　as　they　had　no
right　to。
“Emperor　protect　us；”　he　muttered。　“What　the　devil　is　going　on　here？”
A　sudden　burst　of　loud　static　from　his　vox…bead　almost　made　him　drop　his　magnoculars。　A
sharp；　familiar　voice　said；　“Bergen；　come　in。　I’m　calling　a　session　of　my　senior　officers　at　once。
Meet　me　at　the　rear　of　my　Chimera　in　three　minutes。　I’m　calling　on　the　tech…priests　to　account　for　all
this。　It’s　about　time　we　had　some　blasted　answers。”
“I’d　say　so；　sir；”　said　Bergen；　thinking　he　had　a　few　questions　of　his　own。
Wulfe　didn’t　like　this　one　damned　bit；　and　neither　did　any　of　his　crew。　Tanks　didn’t　belong
underground。　It　wasn’t　right。　It　wasn’t　natural。　What　if　there　was　a　cave…in　or　something？　He　wasn’t
claustrophobic。　No　tanker　would　last　very　long　with　that　particular　affliction；　but　something　about
this　whole　place　made　his　scar　itch　like　crazy。　No　human　hands　had　built　it。
Damned　xenos；　he　thought。　Nowhere　is　safe　from　them。
Things　could　have　been　worse。　Emperor　protect　all　the　footsloggers　who’d　gone　off　down　those
dark　alleyways　looking　for　signs　of　alien　occupation；　and　he　wouldn’t　have　swapped　places　with　the
Sentinel　pilots　and　Hornet　riders　that　were　out　mapping　the　cavern’s　extents；　but　sitting　and　waiting
wasn’t　much　fun　either。
He　and　his　crew；　like　most　of　the　other　tankers；　had　got　out　to　stretch　their　legs　after　the　long
journey　up　the　mountainside　and　down　through　the　tunnel。　Wulfe　still　felt　stiff；　but　he　tried　to　shake
it　off。　Metzger　was　sipping　water　from　one　of　the　jerrycans；　while　Beans　and　Siegler　were　standing
by　the　front　of　the　tank　speculating　about　what　they　saw。
Wulfe　heard　footsteps　behind　him。
“Your　lot　doing　all　right；　Oskar？”　asked　Lieutenant　van　Droi；　stopping　right　in　front　of　him。
Perhaps　it　was　just　the　quality　of　the　light；　but　Wulfe　thought　the　lieutenant　looked　terrible。　He
had　never　seen　him　like　this　before；　so　gaunt　and　tinged　with　red。　His　concern　must　have　shown　on
his　face；　because　van　Droi　suddenly　stood　up　a　little　straighter；　fixed　his　cap　lower　on　his　brow　and
said；　“You　don’t　look　so　hot　yourself；　you　know。”
Wulfe　winced。　“I’m　sure　I　don’t；　lieutenant。　Sorry。”
Van　Droi　waved　the　apology　off。
Wulfe　gestured　around　at　the　strange　metal　buildings。　He　didn’t　like　the　angles；　the　proportions；
the　lines。　They　didn’t　look　like　any　Imperial　buildings　he　had　ever　seen；　and　that　made　them　wrong。
“What　the　devil’s　going　on；　sir？”　he　asked。　“We　weren’t　told　anything　about　underground　cities
and　alien　races；　excepting　orks；　that　is。”
Van　Droi　nodded。　“No；　I　wasn’t　told　about　any　of　this　either。　To　be　honest；　Oskar；　I　don’t　think
the　higher…ups　expected　this。　General　deViers　was　furious　when　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　wasn’t
where　it　should　have　been。”
“Is　it　supposed　to　be　down　here　somewhere？　Or　are　we　just　improvising？”
Van　Droi　frowned。　“According　to　the　tech…priests；　their　little　ritual　in　the　valley　was　some　kind
of　communion　with　the　Machine…God。　They　claim　this　route　will　take　us　directly　to　the　objective。
The　general’s　buying　it。　He　wants　us　to　push　on；　despite　the　circumstances。”
“You　ever　met　a　general　that　didn’t　want　that？”
Van　Droi　grinned。　“Not　that　I　remember；　no。”
When　Wulfe　spoke　again；　he　was　suddenly　serious。　“Listen；　sir。　I　have　to　ask　you　something。　I
hope　you　won’t　take　offence。”
“Sounds　ominous。”
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“It’s　about　Palmeros。”
Van　Droi　looked　immediately　uncomfortable；　but　he　said；　“Go　on。”
“We　were　talking　about　it　in　the　officer’s　mess　back　in　Balkar。　You　remember；　sir。　The　day　we
lost　Strieber　and　Kohl…”
“The　canyon；”　said　Van　Droi；　not　meeting　Wulfe’s　gaze。　“Lugo’s　Ditch。”
“Right；”　said　Wulfe。　“Well；　sir；　things　happened　there…　Things　that　I　couldn’t　come　to　terms
with　at　the　time。　I’m　afraid　I　omitted　them　from　my　report；　sir。　I’m　not　sure　if—”
“We　don’t　need　to　do　this；　Oskar；”　van　Droi　interrupted。　“I’ve　never　pushed　you　on　what　exactly
happened　out　there。　If　you　hadn’t　omitted　certain　things；　I　would　have　done　it　for　you。　I’ve　seen
some　things　in　my　time；　let　me　tell　you；　things　that　beggared　belief。　High　Command　doesn’t　thank
you　for　reporting　things　like　that。”
Wulfe　knew　van　Droi　was　being　deliberately　vague；　trying　to　offer　him　a　nice　safe　exit　from　the
topic；　but　he　had　already　committed　himself。
“I　saw　the　ghost　of　Dolphus　Borscht　in　Lugo’s　Ditch；　sir。　I　saw　him　standing　on　the　highway　as
real　as　you　are　right　now。　He　told　me　to　stop　the　tank。　And　if　I　hadn’t　listened　to　him；　my　crew　and　I
would　be　dead　right　now。”
Finally；　it　was　out。　The　words　hung　in　the　air　like　ghosts　themselves；　hovering　between　the　two
men。
“Damn　it；”　hissed　van　Droi。　“Don’t　ever　say　that　out　loud。　You　want　other　people　to　hear？”
“Did　you　know；　sir？”　Wulfe　demanded。
“Of　course；　I　knew；　Oskar。　I’m　not　a　total　idiot。　It　wasn’t　hard　to　put　it　all　together。　But　for
Throne’s　sake；　you’ve　got　to　keep　it　to　yourself；　man。　If　the　commissar　ever　finds　out…”
“Someone　would　have　to　tell　him　first；　sir。　Someone　like　Corporal　Lenck；　perhaps。”
“Lenck？”　asked　van　Droi。　“Are　you　saying　he　knows？”
“I　can’t　be　sure；”　said　Wulfe。　“Just　something　he　said　to　me　last　time　we　clashed。”
Van　Droi　actually　looked　hurt　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　but　he　recovered　well。　“He　didn’t　find
out　from　me；　sergeant；　if　that’s　what　you’re　thinking。”
Wulfe　shook　his　head。　“I　wasn’t　thinking　that；　sir。　Not　really。　But　I　had　to　ask。”
“Listen；　Oskar；　Lenck　might　be　less　of　a　problem　if　you　hadn’t　started　some　kind　of　damned
vendetta　with　him　the　moment　he　joined　the　regiment。　If　you’ve　got　something　on　him；　something
that　I　should　know　about；　don’t　keep　it　to　your　bloody　self。　If　you　don’t；　you　need　to　accept　that　he’s
a　Gunhead　now。　We　stick　together。　It’s　the　only　way　any　of　us　will　get　through　this　alive。　For　the
Throne’s　sake；　man；　he　saved　your　life。”
“Duty；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。　“I’d　have　done　the　same　under　the　circumstances。”
In　truth；　he　still　wasn’t　sure　he　would　have。
“That　doesn’t　change　the　facts；　Oskar。　Lenck　has　more　than　proven　himself　worthy　of　being
among　us。　He　might　be　a　bit　of　a　rogue；　but　he’s　done　a　damned　fine　job　with　that　crate　of　his；　and
he　manages　a　difficult　crew。　For　the　sake　of　the　mission；　will　you　put　your　personal　differences
aside　and　act　like　proper　bloody　soldiers？”
Wulfe　grumbled　to　himself；　but　finally　he　said；　“I’ll　try；　sir。　Since　you　asked。”
Van　Droi　looked　pleased。　He　straightened　his　jacket　and　said；　“Unless　there’s　anything　else…”
“Nothing；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。
“Right。　I’d　better　get　moving；”　said　van　Droi。　“General　deViers　is　having　a　war　council；　and　I
expect　Immrich　will　have　fresh　orders　for　the　regiment　when　it’s　done。　Get　some　rest　while　you　can；
Oskar。　And　some　rations　while　you’re　at　it。　I　can’t　say　when　we’ll　be　leaving　this　unholy　place；　but
Throne　willing　it’ll　be　soon。”
“Yes；　sir；”　said　Wulfe。　He　saluted；　and　received　one　in　return　before　van　Droi　turned　smartly　and
marched　off　towards　a　column　of　parked　Chimeras。
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And　get　some　rest　yourself；　thought　Wulfe　with　genuine　concern。　You　really　look　like　you　need
it。
General　deViers　had　ordered　a　cordon　set　up　around　his　Chimera。　He　didn’t　want　the　rank…and…file
getting　too　close　to　the　meeting　he　had　called。　Kasrkin　troopers　from　Colonel　Stromm’s　98th
Regiment　were　positioned　in　a　wide　circle；　hellguns　in　hand；　told　to　keep　everyone　below　the　rank
of　lieutenant　out。
They　were　Kasrkin。　He　knew　they　could　be　trusted。
Bergen　stood　with　Killian　and　Rennkamp　at　the　front　of　a　small　crowd　mostly　comprised　of
regiment　and　company　level　officers；　adjutants；　executive　officers　and；　at　the　very　front；　positioned
somewhat　separate　from　the　others；　the　three　senior　representatives　of　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus。
DeViers　stood　atop　the　back　of　his　Chimera　so　that　all　the　officers　could　see　him。　He　looked；　to
Bergen；　like　a　vulture　on　a　branch　glaring　fiercely　down　at　the　three　tech…priests；　who　observed　him
impassively　with　lidless　mechanical　eyes。　If　the　general　had　thought　taking　an　elevated　position
would　rob　Magos　Sennesdiar　of　some　of　his　dominating　presence；　or　would　force　him　to
acknowledge　his　proper　place　as　a　mere　accessory　to　the　expedition