The Eisenhorn TrilogyXenos(科幻战争)-第50章

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of　sweetwood　burners；　and　livened　by　the　jaunty　singing　from　the　cantoria。
I　left　Medea　and　Ungish　in　the　arched　doorway　beside　a　tomb　on　which　lay　the　graven　image　of　a　Space　Marine　of　the　Raven　Guard
Chapter；　his　hands　arranged　so　as　to　indicate　which　holy　crusade　he　had　perished　in。
I　found　the　provost　of　the　cathedral；　and　explained　to　him　what　I　wanted。　He　looked　at　me　blankly；　fidgeting　with　his　yellow　robes；　but
I　soon　made　him　understand　by　depositing　six　large　coins　into　his　alms　chest；　and　another　two　into　his　hand。
He　ushered　me　into　a　baptism　chancel；　and　I　beckoned　my　colleagues　to　follow。　Once　all　of　us　were　inside；　he　drew　shut　the　curtains
and　opened　his　breviary。　As　he　began　the　rite；　Medea　unwrapped　the　devices　and　laid　them　on　the　edge　of　the　benitier。　The　provost
mumbled　on　and；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　open　book　so　he　wouldn't　lose　his　place；　raised　and　unscrewed　a　flask　of　chrism　with
which　he　anointed　both　the　staff　and　the　sword。
'In　blessing　and　consecrating　these　items；　I　worship　the　Emperor　who　is　my　god；　and　charge　those　who　bring　these　items　forth　that
they　do　so　without　taint　of　concupiscence。　'Do　you　make　that　pledge？'
I　realised　he　was　looking　at　me。　I　raised　my　head　from　the　kneeling　bow　I　had　adopted。　Concupiscence。　A　desire　for　the　forbidden。
Did　I　dare　make　that　vow；　knowing　what　I　knew？
'Well？'
'I　am　without　taint；　puritus；'　I　replied。
He　nodded　and　continued　with　the　consecration。
THE　FIRST　PART　of　my　business　was　done。　We　went　out　into　the　courtyard　in　front　of　the　cathedral。
'Take　these　back　to　the　launch　and　stow　them　safely；'　I　told　Medea；　indicating　the　swaddled　weapons　on　the　cart。
'What's　concupiscence？'　she　asked。
'Don't　worry　about　it；'　I　said。
'Did　you　just　lie；　Gregor？'
'Shut　up　and　go　on　with　you。'
Medea　wheeled　the　cart　away　through　the　pilgrim　crowds。
'She's　a　sharp　girl；　heretic；'　Ungish　whispered。
'Actually；　you　can　shut　up　too；'　I　said。
'I　damn　well　won't；'　she　snapped。　'This　is　it。'
'What？　〃It〃？'
'In　my　dreams；　I　saw　you　foreswear　in　front　of　an　Imperial　altar。　I　saw　it　happen；　and　my　death　followed。'
I　watched　the　sapfinches　spiralling　in　the　air　above　the　yard。
'Deja　vu。'
'I　know　deja　vu　from　a　dream；'　said　Ungish　sourly。　'I　know　deja　vu　from　my　backside。'
'The　God…Emperor　watches　over　us；'　I　reassured　her。
'Yes；　I　know　he　does；'　she　said。　'I　just　think　he　doesn't　like　what　he　sees。'
WE　WAITED　UNTIL　evening　in　the　yard；　buying　hot　loaves；　wraps　of　diced　salad　and　treacly　black　caffeine　from　street　vendors。　Ungish
didn't　eat　much。　Long　shadows　fell　across　the　yard　in　the　late　afternoon　light。　I　voxed　Medea。　She　was　safely　back　aboard　the　launch；
waiting　for　us。
I　was　waiting　to　complete　the　second　of　my　tasks。　This　was　the　appointed　day；　and　the　appointed　hour　was　fast　approaching。　This
would　be　the　first　test　of　the　twenty　communiques　I　had　sent　out。　One　had　been　to　Inquisitor　Gladus；　a　man　I　admired；　and　had　worked
with　effectively　thirty　years　before　during　the　P'glao　Conspiracy。　Orbul　Infanta　was　within　his　canon。　I　had　written　to　him；　laying　out
my　case　and　asking　for　his　support。　Asking　him　to　meet　me　here；　at　this　place；　at　this　hour。
It　was；　like　all　the　messages；　a　matter　of　trust。　I　had　only　written　to　men　or　women　I　felt　were　beyond　reproach；　and　who；　no　matter
what　they　thought　of　me；　might　do　me　the　grace　of　meeting　with　me　to　discuss　the　matter　of　Quixos。　If　they　rejected　me　or　my　intent；
that　was　fine。　I　didn't　expect　any　of　them　to　turn　me　in　or　attempt　to　capture　me。
We　waited。　I　was　impatient；　edgy…　edgy　still　with　the　dark　mysteries　Pontius　Glaw　had　planted　in　my　head。　I　hadn't　slept　well　in　four
months。　My　temper　was　short。
I　expected　Gladus　to　come；　or　at　least　send　some　kind　of　message。　He　might　be　detained　or　delayed；　or　caught　up　in　his　own　noble
business。　But　I　didn't　think　he'd　ignore　me。　I　searched　the　evening　crowds　for　some　trace　of　his　long…haired；　bearded　form；　his　grey
robes；　his　barb…capped　staff。
'HE'S　NOT　COMING；'　said　Ungish。
'Oh；　give　it　a　rest。'

'Please；　inquisitor；　I　want　to　go。　My　dream…'
'Why　don't　you　trust　me；　Ungish？　I　will　protect　you；'　I　said。　I　opened　my　black　linen　coat　so'she　could　see　the　laspistol　holstered　under
my　left　arm。
'Why？'　she　fretted。　'Because　you're　playing　with　fire。　You've　crossed　the　line。'
I　balked。　'Why　did　you　say　that？'　I　asked；　hearing　Pontius's　words　loud　in　my　head。
'Because　you　have；　damn　you！　Heretic！　Bloody　heretic！'
'Stop　it！'
She　got　to　her　feet　from　the　courtyard　bench　unsteadily。　Pilgrims　were　turning　to　look　at　the　sound　of　her　outburst。
'Heretic！'
'Stop　it；　Tasaera！　Sit　down！　No　one's　going　to　hurt　you！'
'Says　you；　heretic！　You've　damned　us　all　with　your　ways！　And　I'm　the　one　who's　going　to　pay！　I　saw　it　in　my　dream…　this　place；　this
hour…　your　lie　at　the　altar；　the　circling　birds…'
'I　didn't　lie；'　I　said；　tugging　her　back　down　onto　the　bench。
'He's　coming；'　she　whispered。
'Who？　Gladus？'
She　shook　her　head。　'Not　Gladus。　He's　never　coming。　None　of　them　are　coming。　They've　all　read　your　pretty；　begging　letters　and
erased　them。　You're　a　heretic　and　they　won't　begin　to　deal　with　you。'
'I　know　the　people　I've　written　to；　Ungish。　None　of　them　would　dismiss　me　so。'
She　looked　round　into　my　face；　her　head…cage　hissing　as　it　adjusted。　Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears。
'I'm　so　afraid；　Eisenhorn。　He's　coming。'
'Who　is？'
'The　hunter。　That's　all　my　dream　showed。　A　hunter；　blank　and　invisible。'
'You　worry　too　much。　Come　with　me。'
WE　WENT　BACK　into　the　Cathedral　of　Saint　Ezra　Outlooking；　and　took　seats　in　the　front　of　the　ranks　of　carrels。　Evening　sunlight　raked
sidelong　through　the　windows。　The　statue　of　the　saint；　raised　behind　the　rood　screen；　looked　majestic。
'Better　now？'　I　asked。
'Yes；'　she　snivelled。
I　kept　glancing　around；　hoping　that　Gladus　would　appear。　Straggles　of　pilgrims　were　arriving　for　the　evening　devotion。
Maybe　he　wasn't　coming。　Maybe　Ungish　was　right。　Maybe　I　was　more　of　a　pariah　than　I　imagined；　even　to　old　friends　and　colleagues。
Maybe　Gladus　had　read　my　humble　communique　and　discarded　it　with　a　curse。　Maybe　he　had　sent　it　to　the　arbites…　or　the
Ecclesiarchy…　or　the　Inquisition's　Officio　of　Internal　Prosecution。
'Two　more　minutes；'　I　assured　her。　'Then　we'll　go。'　It　was　long　past　the　hour　I　had　asked　Gladus　to　meet　me。
I　looked　about　again。　Pilgrims　were　by　now　flooding　into　the　cathedral　through　the　main　doors。
There　was　a　gap　in　the　flow；　a　space　where　a　man　should　have　been。　It　was　quite　noticeable；　with　the　pilgrims　jostling　around　it　but
never　entering　it。
My　eyes　widened。　In　the　gap　was　a　glint　of　energy；　like　a　side…flash　from　a　mirror　shield。
'Ungish；'　I　hissed；　reaching　for　my　weapon。
Bolt　rounds　came　screaming　down　the　nave　towards　me　from　the　gap。　Pilgrims　shrieked　in　panic　and　fled　in　all　directions。
'The　hunter！'　Ungish　wailed。　'Blank　and　invisible！'
He　was　that。　With　his　mirror　shield　activated；　he　was　just　a　heat…haze　blur；　marked　only　by　the　bright　flare　of　his　weapon。
Mass　panic　had　seized　the　cathedral。　Pilgrims　were　trampling　other　pilgrims　in　their　race　to　flee。
The　backs　of　the　carrels　exploded　with　wicked　punctures　as　the　bolt　rounds　blew　through　them。
I　fired　back；　down　the　aisle；　with　tidy　bursts　of　las…fire。
'Thorn　wishes　Aegis；　craven　hounds　at　the　hindmost！'
That　was　all　I　was　able　to　send　before　a　bolt　round　glanced　sidelong　into　my　neck　and　threw　me　backwards；　destroying　my　vox
headset　in　the　process。
I　rolled　on　the　marble　floor；　bleeding　all　over　the　place。
'Eisenhorn！　Eisenhorn！'　Ungish　bawled　and　then　screamed　in　agony。
I　saw　her　thrown　back　through　the　panelled　wood　of　the　box　pews；　demolishing　them。　A　bolt　round　had　hit　her　square　in　the　stomach。
Bleeding　out；　she　writhed　on　the　floor　amid　the　wood　splinters；　wailing　and　crying。
I　tried　to　crawl　across　to　her　as　further；　heedless　bolt…fire　fractured　the　rest　of　the　front　pews。
I　looked　up。　Witchfinder　Arnaut　Tantalid　disengaged　his　mirror　shield　and　gazed　down　at　me。
'You　are　an　accursed　heretic；　Eisenhorn；　and　that　fact　is　now　proven　beyond　doubt　by　the　carta　issued　for　you。　In　the　name　of　the
Ministorum　of　Mankind；　I　claim　your　life。'

TWENTTY…ONE
DEATH　AT　ST　EZRA'S。

THE　LONG　HUNT。
THE　CELL　OF　FIVE。
PRECISELY　HOW　HE　had　found　me　was　a　mystery；　but　I　believe　he　had　been　on　my　tail　for　a　long　time；　since　before　Cinchare。　The　fact
that　he　had　come　to　Saint　Ezra　Outlooking　at　that　hour　and　that　day　convinced　me　that　he　had　intercepted　my　communique　to　Gladus。
And　he　might　have　triumphed　over　me；　right　there；　right　then；　if　he'd　but　pressed　the　advantage　and　finished　the　job　with　his　boltgun。
Instead；　Tantalid　holstered　his　bolt　pistol　and　drew　his　ancient　chainsword；　Theophantus；　intent　on　delivering　formal　execution　with
the　holy　weapon。
I　fired　my　laspistol；　powering　shot　after　shot　at　him；　driving　him　backwards。　His　gold…chased　battle　suit；　which　gave　his　shrivelled
frame　the　bulk　and　proportions　of　a　Space　Marine；　absorbed　or　deflected　the　impacts；　but　the　sheer　force　knocked　him　back　several
paces。
I　jumped　up；　firing　again；　and　retreating　down　the　epistle　side　of　the　cathedral；　towards　the　feretory。　Bystanders　and　church　servants
were　still　fleeing。　Its　iron　teeth　singing；　Theophantus　swung　at　me。　Tantalid　was　barking　out　the　Accusal　of　Heresy；　verse　after　verse。
Be　quiet！　I　yelled；　enforcing　my　will。
The　psychic　sting　shocked　him　into　silence；　but　he　was　generally　protected　by　psi…dampers　and　ignored　my　next　will…driven　order　to
''desist''　completely。
The　chainsword　revved　around　and　I　threw　myself　aside　as　it　cleft　a　bench　pew　in　two。　The　backswing　nearly　caught　me；　but　I　dodged
behind　a　pier　column　that　took　the　force　of　the　blow　in　a　splintering　shower　of　sparks　and　stone　chippings。
Ungish　was　still　crying　out　in　pain。　The　sound　chilled　and　infuriated　me。　I　fired　my　laspistol　again；　but　the　last　few　shots　fizzed　and
spluttered；　underpowered。　The　power　cell　was　exhausted。　I　dived　again；　feinting　past　his　slow…moving　bulk；　and　grappled　with　him
from　behind。　It　was　a　desperate　ploy。　Unarmoured　as　I　was；　I　stood　little　chance　of　overwhelming　his　brute　force　or　hurting　him。　He
got　a　steel…gloved　paw　round　behind　himself；　grabbed　me　by　the　coat　and　tore　me　off　him。
My　coat　rip