Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第16部分

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“He…　he’s　dead；”　said　the　cultist。
Steele　saw　the　look　that　passed　between　Blonsky　and　Mikhaelev；　but　he　kept　his　own　gaze　fixed
on　the　prisoner。　Normally；　his　bionic　eye　would　have　enabled　him　to　count　the　beads　of　sweat　on　the
cultist’s　face　and　hands；　his　acoustic　enhancers　would　have　tuned　in　to　the　skip　of　the　man’s
heartbeat　and　Steele　would　have　been　able　to　tell　if　he　was　lying　or　not。　With　his　eye　out　of　action
and　only　the　heartbeat　to　go　on；　it　was　harder　to　make　that　judgement。　Despite　the　inconvenience；　he
felt　oddly　liberated。
“You　saw　him　die？”　Steele　asked。
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“I　just　thought；”　said　the　cultist；　“I　mean；　he　must　be　by　now。　The　confessor　was　brought　into　the
hive；　Iota　Hive；　three　days　ago。　I　saw　him　being　marched　up　the　steps　of　the　Ice　Palace。　Mangellan
has　him。”
“Where　is　it；”　asked　Steele；　“this　Ice　Palace？　Can　you　take　us　there？”
The　prisoner　blanched　at　the　prospect。
“Please；”　he　stammered；　“I’ve　told　you　all　I　know。　Don’t　make　me…　I　can’t　go　up　against　him；
he’s　too…　he’s　too　strong。　You　can’t　beat　him。　It　took　Mangellan　less　than　a　month　to　drive　the
Imperial　Guard　out　of　Iota　Hive；　hundreds　of　thousands　of　them。　Hundreds　of　thousands　of　men
dead；　and　you…　There　are　only　a　handful　of　you。”
Steele　had　made　up　his　mind　about　the　cultist　now；　but　still　he　glanced　up　at　Blonsky　and
Mikhaelev　for　a　second　and　third　opinion。
“Do　you　believe　him？”　he　asked；　and　the　troopers　confirmed　that　they　did。　“Good；”　said　Steele。
“I　do；　too。”
He　drew　his　laspistol；　and　shot　the　young　cultist　through　the　head。
The　Aquila　had　been　gutted。　Even　its　seats；　once　luxuriously　appointed　for　the　carriage　of
dignitaries；　had　been　torn　out；　and　the　mutants　had　left　their　slobber　everywhere。　Still；　once　the
passenger　compartment　had　been　cleaned　up　a　little　and　blankets　laid　out；　it　made　an　adequate
shelter　for　nine　dog…tired　soldiers。
Much　more　than　that；　the　ship　could　not　offer。　Grayle　had　been　unable　to　start　the　engines；　to　no
one’s　surprise；　and　the　comms　were　fried。　Barreski；　however；　had　found　a　portable　vox…caster；　not
too　badly　damaged。　The　only　thing　it　lacked　was　power　—　and　a　few　hours　of　sunlight；　even
through　Cressida’s　grey　clouds；　would　provide　that。　He　thought　he　could　have　it　working　by　midmorning。
Steele　could　then　contact　a　naval　vessel；　report　the　loss　of　the　Termite　and　arrange　an
airlift　for　after　they　had　found　Wollkenden。
For　the　first　time　in　half　a　day；　Grayle　could　see　a　way　off　this　world；　and　the　prospect　cheered
him　—　almost　enough　for　him　to　overlook　the　small　fact　that　an　army　of　Chaos　worshippers　stood
between　the　Ice　Warriors　and　their　goal。
He　and　Barreski　had　taken　the　first　shift　of　the　night　watch；　being　in　better　condition　than　most。
Grayle　sat　in　the　Aquila’s　hatchway；　alert　for　any　sign　of　an　approaching　foe；　hearing　only　the　deep
breathing　of　the　sleeping　men　behind　him。　Barreski　was　over　by　the　embers　of　the　campfire；　laying
out　a　number　of　broken　machine　parts　in　the　scant　light。　It　was　unlikely　he’d　be　able　to　salvage
anything　more　of　use；　but　he　wanted　to　be　sure。
It　was　Grayle；　then；　who　saw　it：　a　movement；　behind　the　rise　on　which　the　Ice　Warriors　and　the
cultists　had　fought。　He　had　only　glimpsed　it　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　couldn’t　be　sure　that　there
had　been　anything　at　all。　But　Barreski　had　picked　up　on　his　body　language；　and　ceased　his　tinkering。
They　watched　the　dark　shape　of　the　rise　for　a　while；　but　saw　nothing；　heard　nothing。　At　last；
Grayle　signalled　to　his　fellow　tanker　that　he　was　going　to　take　a　closer　look。
While　Barreski　covered　him　with　his　lasgun；　Grayle　crept　forward；　keeping　low。　As　he　climbed
the　rise；　he　lowered　himself　onto　his　stomach　and　crawled　the　final　few　metres。　He　lay　there　for　a
few　minutes；　overlooking　the　field　through　arched；　feeling　the　wet
snow　seeping　into　his　greatcoat；　letting　his　eyes　adjust　to　every　shadow　in　the　darkness　until　he　was
sure　it　was　no　threat。
There　it　was　again！
It　had　just　disappeared　behind　another　natural　contour：　a　grey…furred　figure　with　an　odd
shambling　gait。　Quickly；　Grayle　weighed　up　his　options。　If　this　was　indeed　a　mutant；　and　it　was
alone；　then　he　and　Barreski　could　handle　it。　They　had　no　need　to　wake　the　others　—　and　anyway；　by
the　time　they　had　done　so；　it　might　have　escaped；　might　have　gone　to　fetch　more　like　itself。　But
then；　what　if　it　was　not　alone？　What　if　it　had　been　sent　to　lead　him　into　an　ambush？
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He　didn’t　think　that　was　likely。　It　was　trying　too　hard　not　to　be　seen。
With　a　quick　warning　gesture　to　Barreski；　to　stay　where　he　was；　Grayle　plunged　down　the　rise
and　went　after　the　creature。
“Colonel　Steele。　Colonel　Steele；　sir。”
Steele　was　sitting　up　before　he　had　opened　his　eyes；　some　inbuilt　danger　sense　putting　him　on
the　alert。　Immediately；　he　checked　his　internal　chrono；　which　told　him　that　he　had　been　asleep　for
just　under　three　hours。　He　was　still　blind　in　his　right　eye。　Palinev　was　beside　him；　had　just　shaken
him　awake；　and　around　them　five　more　Ice　Warriors　were　beginning　to　stir。
Something　was　burning；　but　Steele　couldn’t　pinpoint　the　source　of　the　smell。
“I　heard　a　shot；”　reported　Palinev；　and　Steele　could　tell　from　his　comrades’　body　language　that
Gavotski；　Blonsky　and　Anakora　had　been　woken　by　it　too。　It　irked　him　that　he　had　not；　that　his
acoustic　enhancers　had　apparently　failed　him　again。
“It　sounded　close；”　said　Anakora；　“maybe　just　outside。”
“And　I　don’t　see　any　sign　of　Barreski　or　Grayle；”　added　Palinev。
Gavotski　and　Pozhar　had　drawn　their　lasguns　and　were　making　for　the　open；　empty　hatchway。
They　peered　around　its　frame；　and　Pozhar　reported　that　there　was　nothing　out　there。　A　second　later；
he　added；　“No；　no；　wait；　I　can　see　someone；　running　towards　us。　It　looks　like…　It’s　Barreski；　and
here　comes　Grayle。　It　looks　like　they’re　okay。”
“Maybe　they　were　just　taking　pot…shots　at　rats；”　said　Mikhaelev。
“I　don’t　think　so；”　said　Blonsky。　“I　think　Trooper　Anakora　was　wrong。　I　don’t　think　that　gunshot
came　from　outside　the　ship　at　all。”
Everyone　turned　to　look　at　him；　and　Steele　saw　that　he　was　holding　the　vox…caster；　now　a
smouldering　wreck；　its　components　fused　together；　the　source　of　the　burning　smell。
“You　think…？”　began　Palinev；　in　disbelief。
“I　think；”　said　Blonsky；　“that　a　single　las…beam　was　fired　at　this　machine　—　and　it　must　have
been　fired　from　inside　this　compartment。”
Barreski　appeared　in　the　hatchway　to　find　seven　pairs　of　eyes　staring　at　him。　“What　the　hell
happened　here？”　he　asked。　“Did　someone　fire　a　lasgun？”
“We　were　about　to　ask　you　the　same　question；”　said　Steele。
“You’re　the　one　who’s　supposed　to　be　on　watch；”　said　Pozhar。　“You　and　Grayle。”
“You　didn’t　see　anyone？”　asked　Anakora。
Grayle　had　appeared　at　Barreski’s　shoulder。　“There　was　something；”　he　reported。　“Another
mutant；　I　think。　I　tried　to　follow　it；　but　I　lost　it。　I　don’t　know　how　it　got　away；　it　must　have　moved
like　lightning。”
“So；　you　let　this　mutant　lure　you　away　from　the　ship？”　asked　Steele。
Barreski　shook　his　head　firmly。　“Grayle　went　after　the　mutant。　I　went　as　far　as　the　top　of　the　rise；
to　keep　an　eye　on　him；　but　I　never　left　sight　of　the　lander。　There’s　no　way　anything　could　have　got
near　this　hatchway　without　my　seeing　it。”
“Are　you　certain　about　that？”　asked　Steele。　He　indicated　the　remains　of　the　vox…caster；　still　in
Blonsky’s　hands；　and　Barreski’s　face　fell　as　he　saw　the　damage　for　the　first　time。　“Because　if　this
was　not　the　work　of　an　intruder…”
“Then　one　of　us　is　a　traitor；”　said　Blonsky。
“Now　steady　on；”　said　Gavotski。　“Let’s　not　jump　to　conclusions；　shall　we？”
But　Blonsky　insisted；　“The　evidence　speaks　for　itself。　One　of　us　must　have　woken；　found
himself　unobserved　and　taken　the　opportunity　to　destroy　the　vox…caster；　our　best　hope　of　being　able
to　complete　this　mission。”
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“Why　are　you　looking　at　me？”　cried　Pozhar。　“I　saw　you；　you　were　looking　at　me　as　you　said
that。　You’ve　done　nothing　but　criticise　me；　and　question　my　loyalty；　since　we　climbed　into　the
Termite。”
“I　think　you　are　more　concerned　with　your　personal　glory；”　said　Blonsky；　“than　with　serving　the
Emperor。　I　consider　that　a　dangerous　attitude。”
“Even　if　that　were　true；”　said　Gavotski；　“it　doesn’t　make　Pozhar　the　guilty　party。”
“You’re　just　accusing　me；”　said　Pozhar　hotly；　“because　you　have　something　to　hide。　Well；　how
about　it；　Blonsky？　I　didn’t　see　you　when　that　mutant　attacked　me。　What　were　you　doing　when
Borscz　died？”
“He　was　fighting　alongside　me；”　said　Anakora。　“He　played　his　part。”
“Yeah？”　said　Pozhar。　“So；　maybe　we　should　look　at　you　then。　Maybe　we　should　ask　how　you
managed　to　survive　Astaroth　Prime　when　no　one　else　in　your　company　did。　Oh　yeah；　I　know　all
about　that；　Anakora。　I　remember　your　name。”
“Sergeant　Gavotski　is　right；”　Steele　broke　in。　“None　of　us　is　above　suspicion。”
“Well；　Grayle　and　I　can　vouch　for　each　other；”　said　Barreski。
“Can　you？”　asked　Palinev。　“I…　I　don’t　meant　to　imply　anything；　it’s　just…　well；　you　know　that
Grayle　couldn’t　have　snuck　in　here；　but　can　he　say　the　same　for　you？　He　must　have　taken　his　eyes
off　you　to　search　for　that　mutant。”
“I’ve　known　Barreski　since　basic　training；”　said　Grayle；　“and　apart　from　anything　else；　the　last
thing　he’d　do　is　harm　one　of　his　precious　machines。　It　was　him　who　found　the　vox…caster　in　the　first
place；　remember？”
“Then　there　is　our　comrade　Mikhaelev；”　said　Blonsky；　“who　has　had　nothing　to　say　for　himself
so　far。　In　fact；　it　is　rare　that　he　voices　his　thoughts　—　but　when　he　does　speak；　he　says　more　than　he
thinks　he　does。”
Mikhaelev　turned　purple；　and　spluttered；　“I　have　always　followed　orders。”
“But　you　have　not　always　agreed　with　them；　have　you？　Tell　me；　Mikhaelev；　how　greatly　does　it
bother　you　that　the　Emperor　considers　your　life　less　valuable　than　that　of　a　man　like　Confessor
Wollkenden？”
“There’s　one　possibility　none　of　you　has　considered；”　said　Steele。　“The　traitor　could　be　me。”　His
quiet　words　brought　down　a　heavy　silence；　as　he　had　known　they　would。
“You　all　know　about　the　augmetics　in　my　brain；”　he　continued。　“My　heart　may　not　have　been
corrupted　by　Chaos；　but　what　if　my　head　has　been？”
Their　initial　shock　dispelled；　the　Ice　Warriors　rushed　to　assure　their　commander　that　they
couldn’t　believe　it；　that　the　Emperor　would　allow　no　such　thing　to　happen。　He　raised　his　hand　to
stem　their　protests。
“I’m　just　making　a　point；”　he　said。　“We　know　nothing　for　sure　—　and　until　we　do；　we　can　gain
nothing　by　hurling　accusations。”
“Colonel　Steele　is　right；”　said　Gavotski。　“I　am　pleased　with　the　way　this　squad　has　bonded　so
far。　We　must　not　jeopardise　that。　We　will　fight　again　tomorrow；　as　comrades；　and　we　need　to　be　able
to　trust　each　other。”
“Nevertheless；”　said　Blonsky；　“I　would　request　that　the　colonel　search　each　of　us　for　signs　of
mutation　—　and　that；　for　the　rest　of　the　night；　we　have　one　man　standing　sentry　outside　this　ship；
and　two　inside。”
Pozhar　pretended　to　be　asleep。
Anakora　and　Mikhaelev　were　sitting　nearby；　Steele　having　agreed　to　Blonsky’s　suggestion　that
the　guard　be　increased。　Pozhar　didn’t　want　them　to　see　that　he　was　awake；　couldn