Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第33部分

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So；　one　soldier　had　somehow　survived　and　salvaged　everything　of　value　from　the　bunker。
Where　had　he　gone？
Delau　marched　from　the　listening　post　and　examined　the　dusty　ground　outside。　The　corpse　on　the　ground　had　no　rifle　and　Delau
guessed　that　the　survivor　had　taken　it　before　moving　on。
Delau　sniffed　the　air　and　knelt　beside　the　decaying　corpse；　noting　a　patch　of　discoloured　rock　beside　its　feet。　Without　needing　to
taste　it；　he　knew　it　was　blood　and；　from　its　patterning；　that　it　had　not　come　from　the　corpse's　wound。
So　Forrix　was　correct。　There　was　someone　still　alive　on　the　mountains。　A　resourceful　man　as　well；　if　Delau's　reasoning　was
correct。
Scanning　the　surrounding　environment；　he　knew　there　was　only　one　way　a　man　determined　to　strike　back　at　the　Iron　Warriors
would　have　gone：　north…west　across　the　knifeback　ridge　to　a　position　of　observation。
Swiftly　he　gathered　the　indentured　soldiery　to　him　and　set　off　up　the　mountainside。
Goran　Delau　grinned　within　his　helmet　at　the　thought　of　facing　this　worthy　foe。
HAWKE　SCRAMBLED　ACROSS　a　jagged　outcrop　of　rock；　breathing　heavily　as　he　traversed　the　steep　slopes　of　the　mountain。　He　had
travelled　three　kilometres　across　exceptionally　difficult　terrain　and　had　another　two　kilometres　to　go　before　nightfall；　but　he　was
determined　to　make　it。
Despite　the　weary　exhaustion　filling　his　limbs；　he　was　filled　with　real　purpose。　He　pulled　himself　onto　a　relatively　flat　slab　of　rock
and　took　a　moment　to　get　his　breath　back。　He　checked　his　location　on　the　direction　finder；　knowing　where　he　had　been　ordered　to
go；　but　not　knowing　exactly　what　he　would　find　when　he　got　there。　Lieutenant　Colonel　Leonid　himself　had　given　him　his　mission
on　the　vox　earlier　that　day　and　Hawke　had　assured　him　that　he　would　not　let　them　down。
'You　cannot；'　Leonid　had　said；　'all　our　hopes　rest　upon　you。'
Hawke　had　felt　that　was　kind　of　melodramatic；　but　hadn't　said　so。　He　was　too　pleased　by　the　fact　that　he　was　being　trusted　with
something　so　important。
'Well；　Hawke；'　he　chuckled　to　himself；　'It's　a　commission　for　you　when　you　get　back　home。'
He　mopped　his　brow　with　his　sleeve　and　unwrapped　one　of　his　last　ration　packs；　chewing　on　the　remains　of　a　high…energy　bar。
Hawke　groaned　as　he　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　He　was　amazed　at　how　good　he　felt；　despite　not　having　taken　any　detox　pills　for
over　two　weeks。　He　had　become　lean　and　his　muscles；　especially　in　his　legs；　had　become　well…defined。　He　smiled　as　he　realised　he
was　in　better　shape　than　he　had　been　for　years。　His　spreading　midriff　was　gone　and　his　lungs　felt　clearer　than　ever。
True；　his　food　and　water　supplies　were　all　but　exhausted；　but　Lieutenant　Colonel　Leonid　had　assured　him　that　they　were　working
on　that　even　now。　He　wolfed　down　the　last　of　the　food　bar　and　tossed　the　wrapping　aside　as　he　squinted　into　the　afternoon　sun。
'Well；　you　ain't　gonna　get　there　just　by　standing　here；　Hawke；'　he　said；　climbing　further　along　the　rockface。
Hawke　set　off　again　through　the　afternoon's　heat。
VAUBAN　AND　LEONID　stood　watching　the　rainbow　flares　of　energy　rippling　above　their　heads；　as　enemy　shell　impacts　slammed
into　the　invisible　energy　field　that　protected　the　areas　within　the　curtain　wall。
Observers　in　the　blockhouse　on　the　northern　slopes　scanned　the　shield　for　breaches；　as　some　shells　were　slipping　through　where
coverage　was　incomplete；　and　detonating　within　the　citadel's　supposed　safe　areas。　The　warning　they　could　give　was　probably　too
short　to　do　any　real　good；　but　it　was　better　than　nothing　and；　once　again；　Vauban　felt　his　anger　mount　towards　Arch　Magos
Amaethon。
When　the　shells　had　first　breached　the　shield　he　had　spent　an　infuriating　hour　waiting　to　be　hooked　up　with　the　Machine　Temple
on　the　holo…link。　He　knew　he　would　be　wasting　his　time　attempting　to　see　the　arch　magos　in　person。
'Why　is　the　shield　not　holding？'　he　had　demanded。
'It　is…　arduous　work　to　maintain　such　a…　a　prodigious　energy　barrier；'　explained　the　arch　magos　in　stuttering；　halting　speech。　'To
maintain　all　other　systems　at　peak　efficiency　as　well　as　the　shield…　requires　great　strength。'
'Then　let　the　other　systems　go　to　hell；'　raged　Vauban。　'If　you　allow　the　shield　to　falter；　then　very　soon　there　will　be　no　other
systems　to　maintain！'
'That　cannot　be；'　snapped　Amaethon　as　he　shut　off　the　link；　and　no　matter　how　desperately　Vauban　petitioned　the　arch　magos；　he
would　not　re…establish　it。
Perhaps　Naicin　was　right；　perhaps　it　would　be　better　for　them　all　if　Amaethon　were　to　be　got　rid　of。　Indeed；　Naicin　had　contacted
him　personally　not　long　after　his　brief　conversation　with　Amaethon　and　had　insinuated　that　such　an　event　might　not　be　too　hard　to
contrive。
Vauban　pushed　his　thoughts　of　the　damned　arch　magos　and　his　scheming　underlings　from　his　mind；　forcing　himself　to　concentrate
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
on　the　job　in　hand。
'Have　you　heard　from　Kristan　and　Anders　yet？'　he　asked　Leonid。
Leonid　nodded。　'So　far　everything　is　proceeding　as　planned。　Weapons；　ammunition　and　demolition　charges　have　been　distributed
to　the　soldiers　taking　part　in　the　mission　and　the　storming　parties　are　gathering　at　the　rally　points。'
Vauban　looked　up　into　the　crimson　sky　just　as　the　day　slipped　from　afternoon's　warmth　into　evening's　twilight。　'I　wish　it　was
already　dark。　I　can't　abide　this　waiting。'
'They　say　the　waiting　is　the　hardest　part；　sir。'
'And　are　they　right；　Mikhail？'
'No；'　chuckled　Leonid。　'Not　by　a　long　shot。　Give　me　the　waiting　any　day。'
Vauban　checked　his　pocket　chronometer　and　frowned。　'Any　word　from　Hawke？'
'Not　yet；　sir；　no；　but　we　should　give　him　time　to　get　there。'
'He'd　better　get　there　soon　or　that　magos　you　sequestered　will　be　missed　by　his　brethren　and　spill　his　guts。　I'm　keen　to　avoid　that；
at　least　until　it　is　too　late　for　them　to　interfere；　Mikhail。'
'We　should　give　Hawke　a　little　more　time；　it's　a　tough　journey；'　pointed　out　Leonid。
'Do　you　think　he　can　do　it　even　if　he　does　get　there？'
'Yes；　I　think　he　can。　His　profile　has　him　as　above　average　intelligence；　and　he's　come　a　long　way　from　the　disgrace　of　a　man　we
once　knew　as　Guardsman　Hawke。　He's　a　soldier　now。'
'Any　idea　why　he's　not　coughed　up　his　lungs　yet？　He　claims　to　have　ran　out　of　detox　pills　over　a　week　ago。'
'Not　yet；　sir。　I　asked　the　Magos　Biologis　how　long　we　could　expect　Hawke　to　keep　going；　but　he　was　pretty　vague；　and　claimed　it
wasn't　possible　to　predict　exactly。'
Vauban　shook　his　head。　'Emperor　preserve　us　from　the　meddling　of　the　Adeptus　Mechanicus。'
'Amen　to　that；　sir；'　agreed　Leonid。　'What　of　our　new　arrivals？　Are　they　in　agreement　with　our　plan？'
Vauban　smiled；　though　there　was　no　warmth　in　his　expression。　'Oh　yes；　they　are　wholeheartedly　with　us。'
Leonid　nodded；　but　said　nothing；　noting　the　way　the　castellan　gripped　the　hilt　of　his　power　sword。　Both　officers　were　arrayed　for
battle　and　had　taken　pains　to　appear　so　for　their　men。　Vauban　had　put　on　his　dress　uniform　jacket　and　wore　his　silver　breastplate
over　it；　the　bronze　eagle　at　its　centre　polished　to　a　brilliant　sheen。　Leonid's　breastplate　was　bronze；　but　also　gleaming。　The　dent　in
its　centre　where　he　had　been　shot　had　been　repaired　and　the　armour　was　as　good　as　new。
'How　long　now？'　asked　Vauban。
Leonid　looked　at　the　darkening　sky　and　said；　'Not　long。'
GORAN　DELAU　TURNED　the　drained　vox…battery　and　ration　pack　in　his　hands　as　though　trying　to　gain　some　deeper　understanding
of　his　prey　by　touch　alone。　His　early　admiration　for　this　man　had　diminished　as　they　had　closed　in　and　discovered　the　detritus　of
his　passing。　The　man　had　not　even　bothered　to　cover　his　tracks；　leaving　his　waste　in　the　open　where　any　half…competent　tracker
would　easily　discover　it。
He　guessed　that　his　prey　could　not　be　more　than　an　hour　or　so　ahead　of　him　and　Delau　was　irritated　by　his　foe's　lack　of　savvy。　The
challenge　of　the　hunt　had　now　been　reduced　to　reeling　in　the　man　and　then　killing　him。
The　men　who　followed　him　now　only　numbered　six。　One　had　fallen　to　his　death　down　a　wide　ravine　they　had　been　forced　to　leap；
the　other　three　Delau　had　killed　himself　because　of　their　lack　of　skill　and　stamina。　They　were　irrelevant　and　he　knew　he　could　kill
this　man　on　his　own　anyway。
Wherever　this　man　was　going；　he　seemed　to　be　making　his　way　there　with　real　purpose；　since　his　course　had　kept　true　this　last　few
hours。　Whatever　lay　at　the　end　of　this　chase；　Delau　was　certain　of　one　thing。
It　would　end　in　the　prey's　death。
HAWKE　CHECKED　THE　direction　finder　to　check　he　was　in　the　right　place；　unable　to　see　anything　much　in　the　encroaching
darkness。　He　stood　on　a　flat　plateau；　in　part　of　the　highest　reaches　of　the　mountains；　the　constant　thunder　of　the　invaders'　artillery
nothing　more　than　a　distant　rumble　from　here。　His　breath　caught　in　his　throat　and　he　wiped　sweat　from　his　brow。　He　was
exhausted；　but　pleased　to　have　arrived　here　…　wherever　here　was　…　before　darkness　had　fallen。
There　wasn't　much　to　see；　just　a　spill　of　rocks　lying　against　a　flat；　vertical　slice　of　the　mountainside；　though　the　ground　looked
pretty　churned　up；　as　though　someone　had　set　off　a　bunch　of　explosives。　He　shucked　off　his　pack　and　pulled　out　the　portable　vox；
cursing　as　he　saw　he　was　down　to　his　last　battery。
He　slotted　the　battery　home　and　pressed　the　activation　rune；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief　as　the　front　panel　lit　up　with　a　reassuring
glow。　He　lifted　the　handset；　spun　the　dial　to　the　correct　frequency　and　thumbed　the　talk　button。
'Bastion；　this　is　Hawke；　do　you　copy？'
The　vox　crackled　for　a　second　before　a　voice　came　on　the　line。　'Receiving　you　loud　and　clear；　Hawke。　This　is　Magos　Beauvais；
are　you　at　the　specified　co…ordinates？'
'Yeah；　but　aside　from　the　view　I　don't　see　anything　that　makes　the　climb　worthwhile。'
'Describe　what　you　can　see；'　ordered　Beauvais。
'Not　a　hell　of　a　lot。　It's　pretty　damn　flat　here；　aside　from　a　pile　of　rocks；　but　not　much　else。'
'Go　over　to　the　pile　of　rocks　and　tell　me　what's　there。'
'Ok'said　Hawke；　lugging　his　pack　and　the　vox　over　to　the　rocks　and　peering　through　the　gloom。　He　stepped　forwards　and　brushed
away　a　thick　coating　of　dust。
'There's　a　door　behind　here！　The　rock　fall's　covered　most　of　it；　but　there's　definitely　a　door。'
'Is　there　a　panel　with　a　keypad　visible　to　the　side　of　the　door？'
'Yeah；　it's　a　bit　dusty；　but　looks　alright。'
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
'Good；　here's　what　you　have　to　do；'　explained　Beauvais。　'Using　the　keypad；　enter　the　following　code：　tertius…three…alpha…epsilonnine。'
Wedging　the　handset　between　his　shoulder　and　ear；　Hawke　punched　in　the　code　and　stepped　back　as　the　door　juddered　open　on
buckled　rollers。　A　faint　wind　brushed　past　him；　like　the　exhalation　of　a　dead　thing　and　he　shivered。
'Ok；　door's　open。　I　guess　I'm　going　in；'　said　Hawke。
'Yes；　go　inside；'　confirmed　Beauvais。　'And　follow　my　directions。　Do　not　deviate　from　them　at　all。'
'What　the　hell　do　you　think　I'm　going　to　do；　go　on　a　tour？'
He　ducked　his　head　below　the　rocks　and　entered　a　gloomy　corridor。　He　stepped　forward；　stumbling　as　his　foot　met　resistance　then
tripped　as　he　trod　on　something　soft。　He　swore　as　he　hit　the　ground　and　rolled　onto　the　floor　of　the　corridor；　finding　himself　face
to　face　with　a　corpse；　its　mouth　twisted　in　a　rictus　mask　of　death。　He　yelped　and　pushed　himself　back　towards　the　dim　ligh