Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第27部分

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hatches　were　open。　Auspex　showed　no　heat　sources。　No　engines；　no　life。
“They’re　dead；”　Van　Tull　voxed。
“Let’s　come　around　again；”　Jagdea　said。
They　banked　west；　and　came　in　a　second　time；　lower　now；　throttles　idling　so　they　were　almost
gliding　in。　A　lingering　look。　Jagdea　saw　how　the　wind…blown　sands　had　begun　to　cover　the
machines。　She　saw　what　could　have　been　a　body；　a　lump　in　the　dust　beside　one　of　the　carriers。
The　enemy　hadn’t　done　this；　or　rather；　it　hadn’t　done　this　directly。　This　was　not　the　aftermath　of
an　air　strike　or　an　ambush。　This　was　extinction　brought　on　by　the　unforgiving　desert。　What　had　they
run　out　of？　Fuel？　Water？　Either　one　would　have　killed　them。　Jagdea　supposed　it　had　been　fuel　first。
Grinding　to　a　halt；　dry　and　gritty；　power　gone。　Then　heat　and　thirst。　Had　any　of　them　tried　to　walk？
The　bodies　would　never　be　found　now。
How　miserable。　How　pointless。　Had　they　known　how　close　they’d　come？　Another　sixty
kilometres；　and　they’d　have　reached　the　forest　line。　She　hoped　they　hadn’t。　Death　was　one　thing。
Death　tormented　by　the　knowledge　that　salvation　was　just　out　of　reach…
The　vox　burbled；　snapping　her　alert。
“Umbra；　Umbra。　Assist　request　from　Raptor　Flight；　urgent！”
“Coordinates；　please；”　Jagdea　replied。　The　squirted　data　flashed　up　on　her　main　display。
“Received；　Operations。　We　are　inbound；　nine　minutes。”
They　banked　away　and　started　to　climb；　opening　their　throttles。
“Punch　it；”　Jagdea　said。
Lake　Gocel　FSB；　09。31
“Bites　still　bothering　you？”
Marquall；　sitting　by　the　lake　shore；　glanced　up。　It　was　the　priest；　Kautas。　The　brisk　inshore　wind
tugged　at　his　blue　vestments。
“I　was　under　the　impression　you　scarcely　cared；”　Marquall　replied。
The　ayatani　shrugged。　“I　never　asked　for　this。　Actually；　I’m　not　sure　what　it　was　I　asked　for。　Not
this；　anyway。　But　it　is　my　lot。　I　am　reminded　by　the　regular　dispatches　from　my　church　that　I　have　a
job　to　do。　A　calling。　So　try　me。”
“You　seem　very　jolly　this　morning。”
Kautas　sat　down　beside　Marquall。　“An　illusion；　I　assure　you。　I’m　the　very　same　noxious　bastard
as　I　was　yesterday。”
Kautas　slid　a　metal　flask　from　his　robe　pocket　and　selled　liquor。　The　priest
didn’t　offer　any　to　him。
“Ah；”　said　Marquall。
“Ah　what？”
“Nothing。”
“Sounded　to　me　like　you’d　had　some　great　epiphany；　fly…boy。”
“My　name　is　Vander　Marquall。　And　no；　it　wasn’t　a…　whatever　you　just　said。　I　just　realised　why
you　were　in　a　better　mood。”
“Really？”
“Really。”
“Enlighten　me；　Vander　Marken。”
“Marquall。　If　you　start　drinking　at　breakfast；　father；　no　wonder　you’re　happy　by　nine　o’clock。”
Kautas　chuckled　and　took　another　swig。　“Who　said　I　started　drinking　at　breakfast？　That’s　the
behaviour　of　a　hopeless　drunkard。　Young　man；　I　started　drinking　many　years　ago。”
Marquall　shook　his　head。　“With　respect；　what　are　you　doing　here？”
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“I　saw　you　here；　alone　on　the　beach；　looking　pissed　off；　so　I　thought　I’d　come　and　share　your
gloom。　I　have　an　appetite　for　melancholy。”
“I　meant　here。　Enothis。　Lake　Gocel。”
Kautas　prised　a　pebble　from　the　shoreline　mud　and　tossed　it　out　into　the　lake。　He　had　a　good
arm。　It　went　a　long　way；　and　sent　a　ripple　out　across　the　oily　green　water。
“Why　did　that　stone　land　there？”　Kautas　asked。
“You　threw　it。”
“Yes　but…”　his　voice　trailed　off。　“No；　you’re　right。　I　threw　it。　It’s　too　bloody　early　for　clever
philosophical　analogies。　Or　too　late。　Whatever。　I’m　here　because　this　is　where　I　stopped。　It’s　a
matter　I　intend　to　bring　up　with　the　God…Emperor；　when　at　last　I　am　granted　celestial　audience
before　the　Golden　Throne　as　part　of　the　Beati’s　magnificent　host。”
“Good　luck。”
“Luck　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。　It’s　all　about　faith。”
“You　don’t　seem　to　have　much；　father。　You　seem　very…　bitter。”
“Do　I？　How　crap　is　that？　I　meant　to　supply　spiritual　reinforcement　to　this　station。　And　medical
assistance。　Actually；　I　think　the　latter　is　why　they　sent　me　here。　I　was　a　medicae　first；　before　I
became　an　ayatani。”
Marquall　looked　at　him。　“Take　it　from　me；　you’re　not　excelling　at　either。”
“Yeah；　well…”　sighed　Kautas。　“Stuff　you　too。”
They　sat　in　silence　for　a　long　moment。　Scops　hissed　around　them。　At　length；　Kautas　cleared　his
throat　and　said；　“Go　on；　then。　Test　my　worth。　What’s　this　mood　about？”
Marquall　smiled　sourly。　“A　plane。　A　woman。”
“Planes　I　don’t　do；”　said　Kautas。　“Noisy　great　buggers。　Can’t　help　you　there。　Women；　more　my
field。　Spurned？　Unrequited？　Inadequate？”
“Whoah；　whoah…　the　first。　Spurned。　Last　night　she　was　all　over　me　like　a　body　bag。　This
morning—”
“Well；　you　must　learn　to　get　over　it…”
“I　hadn’t　finished。”
“Well。　Uhm。　Even　given　that；　just　get　over　it。”
“Get　over　it？”
Kautas　nodded　sagely。
“Father；　you’re　really　bad　at　this。”
“Am　I？　Shit。”
There　was　another　long　pause。　Kautas　helped　himself　to　another　swig。
“Okay　then；”　Marquall　said。　“You　go。　Why　are　you　so　screwed　up？”
Kautas　scratched　his　head；　then　sighed。　At　length；　he　said；　“Because　I　wanted　to　be　there。　Right
there。　When　she　came　back。　And　I　can’t；　because　I’m　stuck　here。”
“Who？”　Marquall　asked。
“The　Beati；　Vander　Marquall。　The　Beati。”
Over　the　desert；　09。32
They　came　in　low　and　hard；　engines　really　cooking。　Jagdea　was　pleased　to　see　that　they’d　shaved
nearly　a　minute　off　the　projected　intercept　time。
Raptor　Flight　had　found　a　retreat　convoy　in　the　open　desert；　and　had　been　watching　over　it　when
an　attack　had　thundered　in。　Stalk　tanks　and　heavier　tread　armour；　fully　powered　and　fuelled；　coming
up　hard　on　the　limping　Imperial　group。
The　Raptors　had　already　loosed　their　rocket　complement；　securing　some　decent　kills。　Burning
armour　wreckage　littered　the　dunes。
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“Good　to　see　you；　Umbra；”　voxed　Raptor　One。　“We　could　do　with　a　little　more　Hellstrike　over
here。”
“Roger　that　leader。　Coming　around；”　Jagdea　replied。
The　Raptors；　which　had　been　doing　their　damnedest　with　cannon　runs；　pulled　off　high；　leaving
the　air　open　for　Umbra。　The　Raptors　were　stark；　black　machines。　They　had　refused　a　respray　on
arrival　at　Gocel。　It　was　a　pride　thing；　apparently。
Beloing　across　the　desert；　lurching　over　dunes；　firing
shot　after　shot　from　their　main　weapons　at　the　scurrying　Imperials。
Jagdea　saw　a　Chimera　go　up；　and　a　Hydra　platform　shred　into　flames。　Blast　vapour　sheened　the
air：　white　smoke　trails；　puffs　of　chalky　flare　from　barrel　discharges；　rising　scuds　of　black　flamesmoke
from　wrecks。
Sporadic　tracer　fire　rose　from　the　enemy　AA　carriers。
“Let’s　get　lucky；”　Jagdea　said。
Van　Tull　went　in　first；　whipping　through　the　mosaic　of　smoke　and　vapour。　Tracer　shot　laddered
over　at　him；　falling　short。　He　loosed　his　missile　load　and　pulled　out　hard　at　the　same　moment。
A　blitz　of　flame　lit　up　the　desert　floor。　Two　enemy　tanks　atomised；　their　warloads　kicking　off。
Del　Ruth　was　right　on　his　tail；　snaking　in。　She　flew　edgy；　nicking　around　the　flares　of　flak。　Her
rockets　seared　out；　and　crippled　a　tank；　shredding　off　its　tracks。　Instead　of　pulling　out；　she　stayed
low　and　opened　up　with　her　quad…cannons；　raking　a　troop　carrier　to　bits。　Then　she　pulled　out　wide；
whooping　over　the　vox。
Jagdea　barrel…rolled　onto　the　approach；　setting　her　wing…load　live。　She　felt　like　heaving；　but
suppressed　her　stomach。
A　tank…　too　close。　Another；　lined　up。　She　let　it　slide　through　her　scope　and　fired。　On　twists　of
white　smoke；　her　rockets　lit　off。
She　was　already　rising　off　the　targets　when　the　tank　detonated。
She　came　up　long。　Right　into　the　bats。
Lake　Gocel　FSB；　09。33
Kautas　sniffed　thoughtfully。　“Do　you　know　what’s　happening　on　Herodor　right　now？”　he　asked。
“Herodor？　Where’s　that？”
“Down　in　the　Khan　Group；　about　nine　weeks　from　here。”
Marquall　shrugged。　“No　idea。　More　fighting？”
Kautas　sighed。　“It’s　a　trait　I’ve　often　observed　in　the—excuse　me　saying　this—common　fighting
man。　He　seems　to　have　precious　little　idea　of　the　big　picture。　Of　the　great　scheme　of　things。　He
seems　content　to　leave　that　to　tacticians　and　nobility；　and　the　priesthood。”
“The　common　fighting　man　tends　to　have　a　lot　of　filings　to　occupy　his　immediate　attention；”
said　Marquall。
Kautas　smiled。　“Fair　point。”
“Isn’t　the　true　calling　of　the　Imperial　warrior　to　serve　and　fight？　Not　to　question？”　asked
Marquall。
“Yes。　But　a　little　curiosity　never　went　astray。　Why　are　you　fighting？”
“To　wrest　Enothis　back　from　the　clutches　of　the　Archenemy。”
“Of　course。　And　beyond　that？”
“To…　to　prosecute　the　great　Crusade　and　liberate　the　Sabbat　Worlds？”
“So　your　greater　purpose　is…？”
“To　win。”
Kautas　took　a　drink　from　his　flask。　This　time；　he　offered　it　to　Marquall。　The　Phantine　shook　his
head。
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“Why　are　the　Sabbat　Worlds　important？”　the　ayatani　asked。
“Well；　strategically—”
“No；　Marquall。　What　is　their　significance？”
“Thousands　of　years　ago；　Saint　Sabbat　purged　these　worlds　of　Chaos　in　the　name　of　the　God…
Emperor。　We　are　reclaiming　what　she　once　established　for　us。”
“Exactly。　These　worlds　are　Saint　Sabbat’s。　They　are　blessed　with　her　touch。　My　first　duty；　as　an
ayatani；　is　to　the　God…Emperor；　but　I　am　specifically　a　priest　of　Sabbat；　the　Beati。　We　ayatani　come
in　two　kinds。　Those　that　dwell　in　the　great　templums　and　shrineholds；　and　those；　like　me；　who　are
‘imhava’—roving　priests；　sworn　to　follow　her　path　through　the　stars　and　spread　her　teachings。”
“Okay；”　said　Marquall。
“This　Crusade’s　been　going　on　for　almost　twenty　years。　Warmaster　Macaroth；　if　my　information
is　correct；　has　pressed　ahead；　taking　a　huge　gamble　in　directing　an　attack　into　the　heart　of　the
Archenemy’s　core　systems。　But　his　flanks　are　exposed；　and　the　enemy　has　driven　his　forces　into
those　weaknesses；　hoping　to　behead　the　thrusting　Crusade　force；　and　leave　Macaroth　alone　and
vulnerable。　We　are　those　flanks；　Marquall：　Enothis；　the　Khan　Group。　It　is　the　fighting　here　that　will
determine　the　overall　success　or　failure　of　the　Crusade。　If　we　fail　here；　it　doesn’t　matter　if　Macaroth
achieves　victory　at　the　front　line。　All　will　be　for　naught。　The　enemy　knows　this。　But　now；　according
to　rumours；　the　enemy　has　an　even　greater　incentive。　On　Herodor；　it　is　said；　the　Beati　has　been
reborn。”
Marquall　blinked。　“Is　that…　possible？”
Kautas　pursed　his　lips。　“It　tests　even　the　faith　of　an　imhava　ayatani；　but　it　seems　to　be　the　truth。
Right　now；　Herodor；　like　Enothis；　is　under　desperate　assault　by　the　hosts　of　Chaos。　If　either　world
falls；　then　the　flank　is　ripped　open　and　the　Crusade　is　doomed。　If　Herodor　falls；　and　the　Beati　dies
with　it；　then　the　Imperium　suffers　an　even　greater　loss。”
“And　you　wish　you　were　there？”　asked　Marquall。
“Oh；　indeed。　How　I　wish。　In　his　heart；　every　ayatani　longs　to　be　on　Herodor；　at　Sabbat’s　side。
But　it　is　my　luck；　my　lot　in　life；　to　be　stuck　here；　pinned　fast　by　duty　and　the　turmoil　of　another
combat；　unable　to　make　the　final　pilgrimage　to　her　person。”
A　breeze　picked　up；　and　played　across　the　lake。　The　frond…trees　along　the　shore　swayed　and
hissed。
“That　makes　my　own　problems　seem　meagre；”　said　Marquall。　“Maybe　you’re　better　at　this
priestly　advice…giving　thing　than　I　thought。”
Kautas　shook　his　head。　“I’m　good　for　two　things；　Vander　Marquall。　Drinking　and　being　bitter。　I
waste　every　m