Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第32部分

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await　his　moment　—　and　hope　that；　when　that　moment　came；　he　would　be　ready。　Thirty…five
seconds…
“Then　why　am　I　alive？”　he　asked。　“If　you　don’t　want　anything　from　me…”
“You　do　not　question　the　high　priest！”　spat　the　stunted　mutant；　Furst；　hopping　from　foot　to　foot
as　he　became　agitated；　panting　with　the　effort。
“It’s　all　right；　Furst；”　said　Mangellan；　sounding　a　little　weary　at　the　interruption。　“I　am　quite
happy　to　tell　Colonel　Steele　all　he　wishes　to　know。　That　is　why　I　came　here；　after　all：　to　talk　with
him；　to　reassure　him。”
He　looked　directly　at　Steele；　and　something　glinted　in　the　black　depths　of　his　eyes　as　he
concluded；　“To　invite　him　to　join　our　cause。”
“Concentrate　your　fire；”　yelled　Gavotski。　“Try　to　burn　through　its　hide！”
The　sewer　creature　had　reared　up　again；　its　broad　mouth　stretched　into　a　great；　keening　howl　—
of　defiance　or　of　pain；　it　was　impossible　to　tell。
It　was　caught；　dazed；　confused；　swaying　for　an　instant　in　a　criss…cross　of　las…beams；　and
Mikhaelev　dared　hope　that　it　might　succumb；　might　fall；　might　at　least　err　on　the　side　of　caution　and
flee　—　but　then　it　chose　its　target；　and　it　lashed　out。
Palinev　dived　out　of　the　creature’s　way。　Its　snout　smacked　hard　into　the　tunnel　wall；　so　hard　that
it　seemed　like　its　neck　must　have　broken。　No　such　luck；　though。　It　hit　the　water　on　its　stomach；　and
the　head　of　its　previous　victim；　the　luckless　mutant；　was　tossed　on　a　wave　born　of　the　impact。
The　creature　was　stunned；　immobile；　its　back　crowning　the　water　like　a　miniature　island；
covered　in　thorns。　The　Ice　Warriors　pressed　their　advantage；　and　the　scales　at　the　base　of　the
creature’s　spines　began　to　bubble　and　blacken　in　their　beams。　Its　tail　thrashed　helplessly；　and
Anakora　moved　in；　thrusting　her　bayonet　downwards　at　it；　attempting　to　pin　it。　Her　aim　was　true；
but　her　broken　blade　too　weak　for　the　task。
The　creature　was　recovering；　raising　its　head　so　that　its　scalp　formed　another　little　island；　its
many　eyes　glaring　in　all　directions　so　that　it　was　impossible　to　work　out　which　way　it　would　go；
who　it　would　target　next。
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Suddenly；　Anakora　was　yanked　off　her　feet。　As　she　landed　heavily；　Mikhaelev；　behind　her；
caught　a　glimpse　of　the　great　tail　looped　round　her　ankles。　The　creature　was　twisting　back　on　itself；
with　incredible　agility　and　litheness；　bending　double　to　reach　its　ensnared；　floundering　victim。
Mikhaelev　was　about　to　fire　again　when　his　line　of　sight　was　blocked　by　Pozhar；　who　threw
himself　onto　the　sewer　creature’s　back　with　a　zeal　of　which　the　late　Trooper　Borscz　would　surely
have　approved　of。　He　found　an　eye　with　his　knife；　and　punctured　it　with　a　jab；　eliciting　another　howl
—　and　the　creature　relaxed　its　grip　on　Anakora　to　deal　with　the　more　immediate　threat。
It　bucked　and　squirmed　beneath　the　young　trooper’s　weight；　Pozhar　let　out　a　groan　as　a　spine
slipped　through　his　greatcoat　and　into　his　stomach。　Then　he　slid　into　the　water；　winded；　and
Anakora　was　trying　to　pull　him　clear；　to　return　the　favour　he　had　done　for　her；　but　the　creature　had
reared　up　again；　was　looming　over　the　pair　of　them。
Mikhaelev’s　hand　was　in　the　pocket　of　his　greatcoat；　fingering　a　hard；　cylindrical　object；　one　he
had　kept　ready　for　just　such　an　occasion。　It　would　be　risky　to　use　it　in　this　confined　space　—
especially　for　Anakora　and　Pozhar　—　but；　unless　he　did　something；　his　two　comrades　were　dead
anyway；　and　he　had　a　perfect　shot。
“Demolition　charge！”　he　yelled　as　he　lobbed　the　device。　His　aim　and　his　timing　could　not　have
been　better。　The　charge　disappeared　between　the　creature’s　teeth；　bounced　off　its　tongue…　and
Mikhaelev　was　running；　as　were　the　other　Ice　Warriors　—　six　of　them；　at　least。　The　remaining　two
were　still　cornered；　helpless。
The　blast；　when　it　came；　filled　Mikhaelev’s　ears；　shook　the　tunnel　around　him　and　splattered　his
back　with　chunks　of　something　soft　and　moist。　But　it　didn’t　lift　him　from　his　feet；　and　it　didn’t　bring
down　the　roof　—　and　when　he　stopped；　when　he　turned；　when　he　looked；　Anakora　and　Pozhar　were
still　alive；　covered　in　the　blood　and　the　guts　and　the　sizzling　flesh　of　the　monster　that　had　menaced
them…
…the　monster　that；　if　it　hadn’t　swallowed　his　charge　outright；　or　found　it　lodged　in　its　throat；
must　have　closed　its　mouth　reflexively　around　it；　and　contained　the　brunt　of　the　explosion；　as
Mikhaelev　had　prayed　it　might；　within　itself。
Barreski　punched　the　air；　let　out　a　whoop　of　delight；　and　clapped　Mikhaelev　on　the　back。
“Well；　I　hope　you’re　pleased　with　yourself；”　said　Grayle　with　a　mock　frown；　as　he　brushed
clinging；　rancid　lumps　of　meat　from　his　hat　and　his　coat。　“You　know；　after　sloshing　my　way　through
this　hive’s　sewer　system　for　about　an　hour　and　a　half；　I　didn’t　think　it　was　possible　to　smell　any
worse。　Obviously；　my　mistake。”
“Unfortunately；”　said　Gavotski　grimly；　“we　do　have　a　more　pressing　problem　than　your　personal
hygiene；　Grayle。”
Blonsky　spelled　it　out；　“We’ve　lost　our　guides；　both　of　them。”
“And　with　them；”　sighed　Mikhaelev；　“our　way　into　the　Ice　Palace。”
Steele　laughed　in　Mangellan’s　face。　It　seemed　the　only　rational　thing　to　do。
“You’re　insane！”　he　accused　the　high　priest。　“Well；　of　course　you　are；　that　goes　with　the
territory　—　but　do　you　really　expect　an　officer　of　the　Imperium　to　just…　to…？”
Mangellan　was　unfazed。　“Many　of　us　here　were　once　officers　in　your　Imperium；”　he　reminded
his　prisoner。　“You　know　that。　Of　course；　the　idea　of　joining　me　is　abhorrent　to　you。　You　have　been
brought　up；　conditioned；　to　look　at　the　universe　in　one　way；　and　one　way　only：　the　Imperium’s
way。”
“There　is　no　other　way；”　Steele　growled。　“At　least；　none　that　bear　thinking　about。”
“Ah　yes；”　said　Mangellan；　“that　is　what　they　tell　you；　isn’t　it？　That　you　mustn’t　think　about　it；
that　the　knowledge　itself　is　forbidden。　Don’t　you　wonder　why　they　tell　you　that。　Colonel　Steele？
Don’t　you　wonder　if　there　could　be　more　to　life　than　following　orders；　being　shipped　from　one　war
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zone　to　another？　Have　you　asked　yourself　what　they　are　keeping　from　you；　what　they　are　so　afraid
you　might　learn？”
“Let　me　cut　him；　master；”　whined　Furst；　his　knife　trembling　in　his　hand　as　if　it　were　all　he　could
do　to　keep　from　thrusting　it　between　Steele’s　ribs。　“Let　me　punish　him　for　his　insolence。”
“All　I　need　to　know；”　said　Steele；　“is　right　here　in　this　cell　with　us。”　He　jerked　his　head　towards
the　mutant。　“That　is　the　price　of　your　knowledge；　Mangellan。　That　is　what　happens　when　we　stop
fighting　it；　when　we　start　to　question。”
Mangellan　snorted　with　derision。　“Furst　is　a　pawn；　no　more。　Our　gods　have　gifted　him　with
physical　strength；　so　I　use　him　to　fetch　and　carry　for　me。　Look　at　me！　I　have　worshipped　Chaos　all
my　life。　Do　you　see　the　mark　of　the　mutant　on　me？”
“Perhaps；”　growled　Steele；　“your　mark　is　inside　you。”
“I　used　to　think　I　had　been　overlooked。　I　used　to　pray　to　feel　the　touch　of　my　gods。　But　now　I
know　the　truth。　They　have　recognised　my　intellect；　my　vision；　my　strength　of　will。　They　do　not　need
to　make　me　over　in　their　image；　because　I　am　already　their　perfect　servant。　The　gods　have　favoured
me　over　all。”
“You　know；”　said　Steele；　“when　I　first　heard　about　you；　when　I　heard　your　name；　I　feared　you
might　be　a　challenge。　But　you’re　just　a　small　man；　after　all。”
Mangellan’s　smile　faded　for　the　first　time。　Steele　had　touched　a　nerve。
“And　yet；”　the　high　priest　growled；　“I　am　in　control　of　my　destiny。　That　is　more　than　anyone　can
say　of　you。　You　could　wield　power　in　this　world；　Colonel　Steele　—　the　power　to　build　an　Ice　Palace
like　this　one；　to　have　men　grovel　at　your　feet。”
“I’d　rather　bare　my　backside　to　a　Valhallan　tusked　mammoth；”　snapped　Steele；　“because　your
gods　will　betray　you。　That　is　what　Chaos　does。　That　is　what　Chaos　is。　It　is　treachery　and　deceit。
How　many　men　did　you　betray　to　get　here；　Mangellan？　You　didn’t　lead　the　invasion　of　Iota　Hive；
did　you？　No；　you　let　others　do　that；　and　waited　for　them　to　die　so　that　you　could　seize　power。　Did
you　even　fight　with　them？”
“That　is　where　we　differ；　my　friend。　While　you　foolishly　risk　your　life　on　the　front　lines；　I　stand
back；　taking　an　overview；　waiting　for　my　chances。”
“Like　finding　a　Chaos　Space　Marine　that　will　throw　in　his　lot　with　you？　That　would　buy　you　a
bit　of　respect　around　here；　I　suppose　—　for　as　long　as　it　lasts。　As　long　as　it　takes　him　to　realise　that；
whatever　you　promised　him；　you　can’t　deliver　on　it。”
“You　will　serve　me　too；　Colonel　Steele　—　if　not　as　an　ally；　then　as　a　sacrifice；　an　offering　to　my
gods。　They　will　be　only　too　pleased　to　receive　your　soul；　and　will　reward　me　for　conveying　it　to
them。”
“Is　that　what　you　have　planned　for　Wollkenden？”
It　was　a　bold　question；　and　Steele　didn’t　expect　Mangellan　to　answer　it；　to　give　anything　away。
To　his　surprise；　however；　the　high　priest　smiled　and　said；　“Such　a　pious　man；　your　confessor；　an
important　man；　as　your　presence　here　proves。　A　man　who；　to　hear　him　tell　it；　saved　an　entire　star
system　for　your　Emperor。　For　him　to　fall　from　the　sky　as　he　did；　into　my　grasp…　well；　my　gods
were　smiling　upon　me　again　that　day。　And　then；　along　you　came。”
Mangellan