Gunheads(科幻战争)-第48部分

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acknowledge　his　proper　place　as　a　mere　accessory　to　the　expedition’s　true　leader；　he　had　been
wrong。　The　hulking；　red…robed　figure　of　the　magos　still　cast　its　powerful　aura　over　the　proceedings。
“How　do　you　answer　that？”　deViers　demanded。　He　had　just　charged　the　Mechanicus　with
conspiring　to　lead　the　expedition　force　here　for　purposes　outside　the　primary　mission　objective。　As
one；　the　crowd　of　officers　edged　forward　a　little；　eager　to　hear　the　magos’　answer。
“The　accusation　is　false；　general；”　boomed　the　magos；　“false；　but　understandable。　Your　view　of
matters　is　being　coloured　by　frustration　and；　perhaps；　by　the　loss　of　so　many　men。　The　Mechanicus
is　not　offended。　We　guided　you　to　the　last　reported　location　of　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance。　It　was　not
there。　You　asked　us　to　aid　you　in　finding　its　new　location。　We　are　doing　so。　That　our　path　led　us　to
the　discovery　of　Dar　Laq　is　coincidence；　nothing　more。”
“And　you　expect　us　to　take　you　at　your　word？”　asked　deViers。
“We　were　attached　to　the　18th　Army　Group　to　provide　assistance　to　you。　We　have　done　little
else。　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　is　a　sanctified　machine。　It　was　fashioned　by　us。　Its　machine…spirit　is
revered　by　us。　We　seek　its　recovery　as　much　as　you　do；　but　with　one　small　difference。　We　of　the
Mechanicus　do　not　seek　any　kind　of　glory　in　recovering　the　tank　the　way　you　men　of　the　Imperial
Guard　do。”
DeViers　looked　to　be　on　the　verge　of　being　personally　affronted　by　that　remark　when　Rennkamp
stepped　forward　and　addressed　the　magos。　“Then　you　won’t　object　if　we　leave　this　Dar　Laq　place　at
once；　magos；　since　further　investigation　of　this　place　is　irrelevant　to　our　mission？”
The　magos　turned　and　fixed　his　lenses　on　Rennkamp；　who　suddenly　looked　a　lot　less　confident
than　when　he　had　spoken。　“It　would　be　most　regrettable　to　leave　Dar　Laq　without　taking　the
opportunity　to　conduct　a　study　of　its　mysteries；　major　general。　There　are　gravity　fields　affecting　the
upper　reaches　of　the　chamber；　though　no　grav…generators　can　be　detected。　There　is　the　metal　all
around　us。　It　is　of　a　composition　so　far　unknown　to　the　Imperium。　Its　potential　value　can　barely　be
estimated　at　this　time。　These　are　only　the　most　obvious　examples　of　ight　offer　us。　Its
existence　was　rumoured　for　thousands　of　years。　Might　we　not　conduct　an　analysis　while　the　troops
are　being　fed　and　the　vehicles　prepared　for　the　next　stage　of　their　deployment？”
“This　is　no　mission　of　discovery；　magos；”　said　General　deViers　gruffly。　“Our　rations　are　running
low。　Our　fuel　is　limited。　Our　numbers；　I’d　rather　not　talk　about。　The　Mechanicus　may　return　to　this
place　on　its　own　damned　time。　For　now；　the　secrets　of　this　place　will　have　to　remain　just　that。”　He
raised　his　eyes　from　the　magos　and　searched　the　group　of　officers；　quickly　finding　the　face　he
sought　there。　“Ah；　Marrenburg。　Have　your　scouts　found　a　way　out　yet？”
Colonel　Marrenburg　stepped　to　Bergen’s　side；　looked　up　at　General　deViers　and　said；　“They
have；　sir：　a　tunnel　the　exact　size　and　gradient　of　that　which　we　descended。　The　air　currents　suggest　it
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leads　back　to　the　surface　on　the　far　side　of　the　Ishawar　range。　I　have　a　Sentinel　unit　scouting　it　out
right　now；　sir。”
“Excellent；　colonel。　Keep　me　apprised。”
There　was　a　sudden　metallic　screech　from　one　of　the　magos’　adepts；　which　was　immediately
answered　by　a　similar　screech　from　the　magos。　Sennesdiar　then　said　to　deViers；　“General；　my　adept；
Xephous；　wishes　to　address　you。　Will　you　hear　him？”
DeViers　looked　impatient；　but　he　said；　“Very　well。”
The　clacking；　chittering　form　of　Adept　Xephous　stepped　forward；　and；　in　an　absolute　monotone；
said；　“With　respect；　general；　are　we　not　allowing　our　distrust　of　things　alien　to　hasten　our　egress
from　this　place　before　time？　Our　back　is　protected　by　the　collapse　of　the　tunnel　behind　us。　The　orks
cannot；　and　in　all　probability　would　not；　follow　us　down　here。　Might　we　not　take　this　chance　to
effect　maintenance　on　our　vehicles；　to　tend　to　our　wounded；　and　to　recover　our　strength　for　the
battles　that　must　surely　lie　on　the　other　side　of　this　mountain？”
The　general’s　expression　said　he　saw　the　validity　of　the　adept’s　comments。　Bergen；　too；　saw　the
sense　in　what　Xephous　had　said。　Looking　around　at　the　other　officers；　he　saw　them　nodding。
“Fine　points；　adept；”　said　deViers　at　last。　“Of　course；　I　wasn’t　born　yesterday。　Do　you　suggest
this　for　the　benefit　of　the　operation；　or　to　allow　you　and　your　Martian　brothers　a　window　of　time　in
which　to　conduct　some　limited　study？”
Xephous　was　on　the　verge　of　answering　when　Magos　Sennesdiar　emitted　a　short　burst　of　noise。
The　adept　bowed　and　stepped　back。　It　was　Sennesdiar　who　spoke　in　his　place。　“My　adept　makes　his
point　for　both　reasons；　general。　Our　enginseers　will　take　care　of　vehicular　maintenance。　My　adepts
and　I　will　conduct　what　research　we　can　while　your　medicae　perform　their　duties　and　your　troopers
prepare　for　what　lies　ahead。　Clearly　it　is　in　both　our　interests　not　to　rush　headlong　from　this　place。”
“Do　you　know　what　lies　ahead；　magos？　deViers　asked　sourly。　“Did　your　ritual　offer　any　clues　to
that？”
“Only　that　The　Fortress　of　Arrogance　awaits　us；　general；　and　it　is　no　great　feat　of　predictive
power　to　say　that　the　orks　will　not　give　it　up　easily。”
Bergen　watched　deViers　closely。　He　saw　a　look　of　resolve　harden　on　his　face。　The　magos　had
chosen　his　words　well；　hitting　the　general　where　he　was　weakest；　telling　him　his　prize　was　still
within　reach。　Perhaps　it　is；　thought　Bergen。　But　I　still　contend　that　the　tech…priests　led　us　here
deliberately　for　their　own　ends。
After　the　meeting；　with　the　other　officers　dispersing　to　issue　new　orders　to　their　troops；　Bergen
took　his　adjutant；　Katz；　aside。
“I　haven’t　called　on　your　special　talents　for　quite　a　while；　my　friend。　But　I　think　it’s　about　time
you　got　some　practice　in。”
Katz　grinned。　“You　want　me　to　follow　those　tech…priests；　don’t　you；　sir？”
Bergen　patted　Katz　on　the　upper　arm。
“Don’t　let　them　see　you；”　he　said　and　turned　to　march　back　to　Pride　of　Caedus。
Katz　watched　him　go　for　a　moment；　and　then　turned　in　time　to　see　the　three　red…robed　Martian
priests　moving　off　into　deep　shadow　at　the　edges　of　the　Cadians’　lamplight。　They　were　moving
north　along　the　cavern　wall　with　a　definite　purpose；　heading　deeper　into　the　jumble　of　alien
structures。
Katz　hurried　after　them；　looking　forward　to　employing　his　Emperor…given　gifts　again　after　so
long。
“Don’t　let　them　see　me？”　he　muttered　to　himself。　“You’re　having　a　laugh；　boss。　No　one　sees
Jarryl　Katz　unless　he　means　them　to。”
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CHAPTER　TWENTY…SEVEN
Darkness　held　no　fear　for　Lieutenant　Katz；　even　in　an　alien　place　like　this。　Shadows　hid　few　secrets
from　him。　The　tiny；　sophisticated　mirrors　implanted　at　the　back　of　his　eyeballs　allowed　him　to　see
perfectly　well　in　anything　but　the　most　absolute　blackness。　The　three　tech…priests　he　was　following
didn’t　seem　to　be　having　any　trouble　either；　of　course。　Katz　guessed　they　could　see　in　a　variety　of
spectrums。　He　knew　it　would　take　all　his　expertise　not　to　be　spotted　by　them；　but　the　thought　of　such
a　challenge　didn’t　make　him　anxious。　It　excited　him。　It　had　been　too　long　since　he’d　had　a　chance　to
track　a　worthy　quarry。
Katz　had　served　as　Bergen’s　adjutant　for　over　a　decade；　hand…picked　by　the　man　himself；　and
few　who　looked　at　him　would　have　guessed　he　was　any　more　than　a　boot…polishing；　shirt…pressing
lackey。　It　suited　him　and　the　major　general　both　to　perpetuate　such　an　illusion。　Would　anyone　have
believed　even　half　the　things　he　had　seen　and　done？　Not　a　chance。　His　history　was　far　from　that　of　a
typical　Cadian　soldier。
Katz　had　been　specially　selected　for　sniper　training　barely　a　month　after　he　had　joined　the
Whiteshields。　He　had　been　in　his　mid…teens；　but　already　his　sharp　eyes；　steady　aim　and　cold
composure　marked　him　as　a　young　man　of　great　potential。　From　sniper　school；　he　had　been　inducted
into　a　special　reconnaissance　commando　program　so　classified　that　it　didn’t　appear　on　any
Munitorum　listing；　one　of　a　number　of　black　projects　ordered　by　Cadian　High　Command　and　funded
directly　by　the　planetary　government。　Most　of　the　other　trainees　had　been　drawn　from　the　ranks　of
the　Kasrkin；　and　they　were　anything　but　kind　to　the　precocious　youngster　in　their　midst。　Katz　had
learned　his　lessons　the　hard　way　and；　in　due　course；　proved　himself　the　equal　of　the　older　men；
earning　their　respect　and；　in　some　cases；　their　jealousy。　It　was　as　part　of　that　program　that　his　eyes
had　been　augmented。　Throne；　had　it　really　been　twenty…five　years　ago？
He　almost　snorted　out　loud　at　the　speed　with　which　those　years　had　seemed　to　pass：　all　those
missions　deep　behind　enemy　lines；　all　those　figures；　human　and　alien　both；　that　he　had　lined　up　in
his　sights；　only　to　watch　them　topple　lifelessly　at　the　next　squeeze　of　his　index　finger　on　that　little
curve　of　metal。
Things　are　much　different　now；　he　thought。　But　I　wouldn’t　change　it　even　if　I　could。　I　wouldn’t
go　back。　What　would　the　major　general　do　without　me？
Katz　was　fiercely　loyal　to　Gerard　Bergen。　He　was　proud　of　having　been　chosen　to　guard　his　life；
for　he　judged　Bergen　a　far　better　man　than　those　around　him；　and　it　wasn’t　easy　to　be　a　good　man
when　you　were　under　orders　from　a　soulless　pig　like　Mohamar　deViers。　Whatever　Bergen　needed；
Katz　would　do。　Right　now；　that　meant　following　the　tech…priests。
Up　ahead；　the　robed　and　hooded　trio　screeched　something　to　each　other　in　that　infernal　machine
language　of　theirs；　and　Katz　scolded　himself　for　allowing　reminiscences　into　his　mind　while　he　was
en　mission。　Perhaps　his　skills　had　dulled　with　time。
With　the　light　from　the　Cadian　vehicles　well　behind　them；　the　shortest　of　the　tech…priests；　the
one　with　a　face　like　a　metal　crab；　pulled　a　small；　pulsing　electronic　device　from　the　folds　of　his　robe。
Katz　soon　got　the　impression　that　the　device　was　guiding　them　somewhere。　He　saw　them　consult　it
several　times　and　alter　their　course　through　dusty　alleys　lined　on　either　side　with　towering　hulks　of
dark　metal。
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He　was　concentrating　so　hard　on　his　quarry　that　he　didn’t　have　time　to　wonder　at　his
surroundings。　The　major　general　said　it　was　alien；　but　ancient　and　long　abandoned。　That　was　enough
for　Katz。　Like　his　own　past；　it　was　best　not　to　dwell　on　it。　The　moment　was　all　that　mattered。
As　the　tech…priests　shuffled　on；　he　followed　with　all　the　stealth　at　his　disposal；　moving　deeper
and　deeper　into　the　derelict　underground　city；　getting　further　and　further　away　from　the　Cadian
camp。　They　were　heading　northwards；　and　Katz　soon　began　to　wonder　when　they　would　stop。
Surely　the　chamber　didn’t　extend　much　further。　They　had　already　travelled　over　a　kilometre　in　the
dark。
　said　Xephous。　
　said　Sennesdiar　as　he　led　his　adepts　in　the　direction　Xephous　had
indicated。　
　insisted　Xephous。
　said　Sennesdiar。