Fifteen Hours(科幻战争)-第35部分

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turned　to　Larn。　“Don’t　worry　about　what　Zeebers　said；　new　fish。　You’re　not　a　jinx。　I　only　wish　today
had　been　a　bad　day。　Fact　is；　every　day　in　Broucheroc　is　pretty　much　as　bad　as　this；　one　way　or
another。　After　a　while　you　just　get　used　to　it。”
“But　going　out　into　no…man’s　land　at　night　is　bad？”　Larn　asked；　hoping　the　big　Vardan　could　not
hear　the　nervousness　in　his　voice。　“Worse　than　usual；　I　mean？”
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“Yes；　new　fish；　it　is　worse；”　Bulaven　said。　“Especially　after　a　battle。　You　remember　I　told　you
how　sometimes　a　wounded　ork　will　seem　dead；　only　to　get　up　and　start　walking　about　a　few　hours
later？　Well；　right　now；　no…man’s　land　is　full　of　the　bodies　of　orks　we　shot　during　the　battle。　By　now
some　of　them　could　be　healed　already；　just　about　ready　to　wake　up　and　start　killing　again　while
we’ll　be　right　in　the　middle　of　them。　Then；　to　make　matters　worse；　we’ve　got　to　worry　about　running
into　gangs　of　gretchin　looking　for　spare　parts　as　well。”
“Spare　parts？”
“Orks　are　remarkably　tough　creatures；　new　fish；”　Scholar　said　by　the　side　of　him。　“If　one　of
them　loses　an　arm　or　leg　their　surgeons　will　just　staple　the　limb　from　another　dead　ork　to　them　to
take　its　place。　After　a　battle　such　surgeries　are　in　great　demand　—　so　they　tend　to　send　gangs　of
gretchin　out　into　no…man’s　land　to　cut　undamaged　limbs　from　the　corpses。　Of　course；　the　real　threat
lies　not　so　much　in　the　gretch　themselves；　but　in　the　danger　of　getting　into　a　firefight　in　the　middle
of　no…man’s　land　while　the　entire　ork　army　is　on　top　of　us。”
“The　short　version；　new　fish；　is　that　this　whole　damned　business　has　the　makings　of　a　first　class
snafu　from　start　to　finish；”　Davir　said。　“So；　this　is　what　I　say　we　do。　We　will　follow　Lieutenant
Arsehole’s　orders　so　long　as　there’s　no　shooting。　But　the　moment　the　shit　starts　to　fly　we　get　each
other　out　of　no…man’s　land　as　fast　as　we　can　and　to　hell　with　his　orders。　Now　enough　talking　and
let’s　get　outside。　We　need　to　spend　at　least　ten　minutes　in　the　dark　to　get　our　night　vision　working。
Considering　what’s　ahead　of　us；　I’d　say　we’re　probably　going　to　need　every　advantage　we　can　get。”
“Remember　the　signal；　new　fish；”　Bulaven　whispered　quietly　as　they　crouched　in　the　darkness　of
one　of　the　forward　firing　trenches　with　the　lieutenant　and　the　others　waiting　for　the　order　for　the
mission　to　begin。　“We　keep　to　comms　silence。　But　if　you　make　contact　with　the　greenskins　you
squeeze　the　comm　stud　at　your　collar　to　create　a　squelch　over　the　comm…link。　You　squeeze　it　three
times。　Three　squelches。　You　understand？　That　way　we’ll　know　it’s　you。　Now；　tell　me　it　again　so　I’ll
know　you’ve　got　it。”
“We　go　quiet；”　Larn　whispered　back；　reciting　the　things　Bulaven　had　already　told　him　twice。
“Staying　low　and　keeping　together　until　we　get　halfway　into　no…man’s　land。　Then；　while　Davir　and
the　lieutenant　go　forward　to　scout　out　the　ork　lines；　the　rest　of　us　spread　out　into　a　wide　diamond
formation　with　you　at　the　base；　Zeebers　on　the　left　flank；　me　on　the　right；　and　Scholar　on　point。　If
any　of　us　see　or　hear　orks　…line：　one　squelch　for　you；　two　for　Zeebers；　three
for　me；　and　four　for　Scholar　—　so　that　way　the　others　will　know　where　the　orks　are。”
“Noise　discipline；　troopers；”　Lieutenant　Karis　whispered　testily。　Then；　cupping　his　hand　over　the
chronometer　on　his　wrist　as　he　pressed　an　illumination　stud　to　briefly　light　its　face；　he　gave　the
order。　“Zero　hour。　Time　to　move　out。”
With　Davir　in　the　lead；　they　climbed　over　the　lip　of　the　trench　and　crawled　out　into　no…man’s
land。　Then；　at　a　hand　signal　from　Davir　showing　the　way　before　them　was　clear；　they　stood　into　a
half…crouch　and　began　to　move　slowly　and　quietly　forward。　Ahead；　the　night　seemed　impossibly
dark；　the　stars　dim　and　distant。　Seeing　no　sign　of　a　moon　in　the　sky　to　guide　them；　Larn　found
himself　wondering　if　the　planet　even　had　a　moon　or　whether　it　was　just　hidden　from　his　view。
Whatever　the　case；　keeping　close　to　the　others　he　followed　them　further　and　further　into　the
forbidding　wasteland　between　the　human　and　ork　lines。　His　every　step　wary；　his　senses　sharp；　his
heart　beating　a　tattoo　of　restless　anxiety　in　his　chest。
Around　them　no…man’s　land　was　silent；　made　even　more　threatening　in　the　darkness　now　its　flat
and　desolate　surface　was　covered　over　with　the　shadowy　foreboding　shapes　of　so　many　bodies。
There　were　corpses　everywhere；　strewn　haphazardly　across　the　landscape　and　fallen　together　so
deeply　in　places　the　going　was　made　treacherous　with　splayed　limbs　and　uncaring　torsos。　Feeling
the　outstretched　fingers　of　unseen　hand　touch　his　ankle；　Larn　looked　down　in　sudden　terror
expecting　the　monstrous　form　of　a　wounded　and　reawakening　ork　to　rise　up　before　him。　Only　to　see
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he　had　inadvertently　brushed　against　a　severed　hand　lying　in　the　mud。　Another　dead　hand　like　so
many　more　around　it。
They　advanced　further；　slowly　spreading　out　further　apart　from　each　other　until　they　reached　the
centre　of　no…man’s　land。　Then；　as　Davir　and　the　lieutenant　disappeared　from　view　to　go　scout　the
lines；　Larn　abruptly　realised　he　could　no　longer　see　the　others。　For　a　moment　he　fought　the　urge　to
call　to　them　on　his　comm　stud。　Then；　he　reminded　himself　they　had　been　ordered　to　maintain　vox
silence：　even　if　he　did　use　the　comm；　no　one　would　answer。　Nor　could　he　go　in　search　of　them。
Robbed　of　all　sense　of　direction　by　the　darkness　and　the　unfamiliarity　of　the　landscape　around　him；
it　would　take　him　a　miracle　to　find　anyone。　Worse；　hopelessly　lost；　he　could　easily　stray　into　the　ork
lines。　Terrified；　Larn　held　his　position　and　did　the　only　thing　he　could。
Alone　in　the　darkness；　he　waited。
Time　passed　and　as　he　stood　waiting；　afraid　that　every　shadow　might　belong　to　some　subtle　and
stalking　enemy；　Larn　realised　it　was　the　first　time　he　had　been　on　his　own　in　weeks。　More　than　that；
here　in　no…man’s　land；　surrounded　by　corpses　and　barely　within　a　stone’s　throw　of　thousands　of
sleeping　orks；　he　felt　more　alone　than　he　had　before　in　his　entire　life。　So　alone　now；　in　fact；　he　might
as　well　have　been　the　last　man　left　in　the　entire　galaxy。
Then；　deep　through　the　gathering　haze　in　his　mind　of　fear　and　loneliness；　Larn　heard　a　sudden
sound　that　set　cold　fingers　at　his　spine　and　turned　his　blood　to　ice。　A　single　squelch　on　the　commbead
in　his　ear。　Bulaven’s　signal。　The　signal　that　meant　the　big　man　had　made　contact　with　the
enemy　and　from　Larn’s　point　of　view　it　meant　something　worse。　It　meant　the　enemy　was　behind
him。
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CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
00：37　hours　Central　Broucheroc　Time
Giving　Aid　and　Comfort　to　the　Wounded　—　As　Hell　Breaks　Loose　Larn　is　Forced　to　a　Decision　—
A　Final　Madness　in　Zeebers’　Smile　—　Unknown；　a　Bullet　Finds　its　Mark
One　of　the　orks　was　moving…
Standing　alone　in　the　darkness　of　no…man’s　land；　not　quite　sure　if　it　was　only　his　imagination　or
if　he　had　really　seen　a　slight　movement　in　the　legs　of　one　of　the　corpses　lying　on　the　ground　before
him；　Zeebers　decided　it　would　be　better　to　make　certain　the　creature　was　dead。　Sliding　his　combat
knife　from　its　sheath　as　he　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　the　body；　he　quickly　pulled　the　ork’s
unresisting　jaws　open　and　silently　stabbed　the　blade　up　through　the　weak　point　in　the　roof　of　the
mouth　and　into　the　brain。　Then；　pulling　the　knife　free；　he　glanced　briefly　at　the　other　corpses　around
him　and　wondered　if　he　should　do　the　same　with　them　as　well。
I　will　do　another　three　of　them；　he　thought；　wiping　the　blade　on　his　trouser　leg　as　he　crept
towards　a　second　body。　That　way　I　will　have　done　four　altogether。　And　I　could　do　with　some　extra
luck；　what　with　that　bastard　new　fish　being　such　a　jinx。
“Help　me；”　he　heard　a　failing　voice　whisper　in　Gothic　as　he　knelt　beside　a　second　ork。
Startled；　Zeebers　turned　to　see　an　arm　rise　falteringly　from　beneath　a　nearby　pile　of　bodies。
Going　over　to　it；　he　saw　a　human　face　peering　out　from　among　a　nest　of　greenskin　limbs。　One　of　the
Guardsman　from　the　lander　he　realised；　mortally　wounded　and　left　for　dead　in　no…man’s　land　but
still　clinging　desperately　to　life。
“Please…　help　me；”　the　Guardsman　said　again；　the　weak　voice　was　loud　against　the　silence　and
forced　Zeebers　to　clamp　a　firm　hand　over　his　mouth　to　keep　him　quiet。
Weakly；　the　Guardsman　began　to　struggle；　his　free　arm　flailing　and　flapping　around　him。
Feeling　the　man　grab　pleadingly　at　the　edge　of　his　greatcoat；　Zeebers　felt　a　sudden　flush　of　disgust
and　anger　to　find　yet　another　new　fish　was　endangering　his　life。
It　cannot　be　helped；　he　thought　as　he　pushed　down　once　more　with　his　knife。　He　is　too　far　gone
to　live　much　longer　anyway。　And　he　will　bring　the　orks　down　on　both　of　us　if　I　don’t　make　him　quiet。
Seeing　the　arm　fall　and　the　Guardsman’s　spasms　grow　still；　Zeebers　pulled　his　knife　free　and
turned　to　get　back　to　the　orks。　The　Guardsman　did　not　count；　he　decided。　He　was　not　part　of　the
pattern。　Leaving　Zeebers　with　another　three　orks　to　deal　with　if　he　was　going　to　improve　his　luck。
Then；　abruptly；　he　heard　the　signal。　A　single　squelch　over　his　comm…bead。　The　fathead　Bulaven
must　have　run　into　some　trouble。
For　a　moment　Zeebers　considered　leaving　him　to　it。　He　did　not　like　Bulaven；　or　any　of　the
Vardans　for　that　matter。　It　would　be　easy　enough　to　slip　back　towards　the　line　and　claim　he　had　lost
track　of　the　others　in　the　darkness。　Just　as　quickly　he　was　forced　to　abandon　the　idea；　if　Bulaven　or
any　of　the　others　survived　and　thought　he　had　left　them　to　die　they　would　frag　him　without　even
thinking。　No；　for　better　or　worse；　he　had　better　go　and　try　to　save　the　fat　man’s　hide。
Putting　his　knife　back　in　its　sheath；　Zeebers　turned　to　hurry　in　Bulaven’s　direction。　Then；　as　he
picked　his　way　past　a　particularly　large　pile　of　ork　corpses　he　saw　shadowy　movement　at　the　corner
of　his　vision　and　realised　he　had　blundered　upon　a　gang　of　gretchin　harvesting　limbs。　Swinging　his
lasgun　towards　them　while　the　gretchin　were　still　dumb　with　confusion；　Zeebers　fired；　hitting　the
nearest　gretch　in　the　chest。　Swiftly；　he　fired　again；　unleashing　another　half…dozen　lasbeams；　hitting
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two　more　gretch　and　causing　the　rest　to　flee。　As　Zeebers　made　to　hurry　once　more　on　his　way　he
heard　something　scraping　wet　and　eager　behind　him　followed　by　the　whine　of　whirring　motors。
Turning；　he　saw　a　threatening　shadow　loom　up　in　the　darkness　and　knew　the　day　he　had　feared　for
months　was　finally　upon　him。
Tonight；　his　luck　had　finally　ran　out…
“Fall　back！　Repeat：　fall　back！”　Davir’s　voice　shouted　forcefully　in　his　comm…bead　as　Larn　heard　the
sound　of　shots　and　all　hell　began　to　break　loose　around　him。　“Everyone　back　to　the　trenches！”
Lost　and　still　on　his　own；　Larn　turned　to　move　quickly　towards　what　was　his　best　guess　at　the
position　of　the　human　lines。　Suddenly；　he　saw　a　staccato　burst　of　white　tracer　lines　in　the　distance　to
the　right　of　him　as　somewhere　in　the　darkness　a　lasgun　fired。
“Help　me；”　he　heard　Zeebers　yell　in　fear　and　agony　over　the　comm…line。　“Sweet　Emperor；　it’s
got　me！　Someone　help　me。”
Unsure　what　to　do；　for　the　briefest　instant　Larn　stood　rooted　to　the　spot。　Then；　as　Zeebers’　voice
in　his　ear　became　a　jumble　of　incoherent　screams；　he　made　a　decision。　Turning　in　the　direction　the
lasfire　ha