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.'I went up close to the door.They've got Rawne in there.' ~ 'How many Jantine?'Two troopers, an officer - a colonel - and someone else.Robed.I don't like the look of him at all…'A scream suddenly cut the air, sobbing down into a whimper.The five Ghosts stiffened.It had been Rawne's voice.SixteenThe Navy trooper kicked Caffran's fallen body hard and then swung his shotgun round to finish him.Weapon violation sirens were sounding shrilly in the dose air of the Munitoriumstore.The trooper pumped the loader-grip and then was smashed sideways into the packing cartons to his left by a mas­sive fist.Bragg lifted the crumpled form of the dazed trooper and threw him ten metres down the vault-way.He landed hard, broken.'Brinny! Brinny boy!' Bragg called anxiously over the siren.Milo raised himself up from under the artificer.The shot had exploded the vista-plate, just missing him.'I'm okay,' he said.Bragg got the dazed Caffran to his feet as Brin slid the tile from the artificer slot.'Go!' he said, 'Go!'In under a minute, they had rejoined Dorden, helping him to push his laden trolley back out of the vault.By then, Munitorium officials and navy troopers wejre rushing in through the cage.Dorden was a master of nerve.Thank Feth you're here!' he bellowed, his voice cracking.There are Jantine in there, mad­men! They attacked us! Your man engaged them, but I think they got him.Quickly! Quickly now!'Most of the detail moved past at a run, racking weapons.One stayed, eyeing the Ghost party cautiously.'You'll have to wait.We're going to check this.'Dorden strode forward, steely-calm now and held up his data-slate to show the man.'Does this mean anything to you? A direct authorisation from your captain? I've got a man dying back in my infirmary! I need these supplies! Do you want a death on your hands, because by Feth you're-'The trooper waved them on, and hurried after his comrades.'I thought this place was meant to be secure,' Dorden spat at the Munitorium official as they pushed past him towards the exit.They slammed the cart into a lift and slumped back against the walls as it began to rise.'Did you get it?' Dorden asked, after a few deep breaths.Milo nodded.Think so.'Caffran looked at the elderly doctor with a wide-eyed grin.'"There are Jantine in there, madmen! They attacked us! Your man engaged them, but I think they got him.Quickly!" What the feth was that all about?''Inspired, I'd say,' Bragg said.'Back home, I was a doctor… and also secretary of the County Pryze Citizens' Players.My Prince Teygoth was highly regarded.'Their relieved laughter began to fill the lift.SeventeenCorbec's revenge squad was about to move when the deck vox-casters started to relay the scream of a weapons violation alert.The dull choral wails echoed down the hallway and 'Alert' runes began to blink above all of the archways.The colonel pulled his men into cover as figures strode out of the infirmary, looking around.Squads of Jantine guards came up from both sides, milling around as vox-checks tried to ascer­tain the nature of the incident.Corbec saw Flense and Brochuss, the Jantine senior officers, and another man, a hugely tall and grotesque figure in shim­mering, smoke-like robes who filled him with dread.'Weapons discharge on the Munitorium deck!' a Jantine trooper with a vox-caster on his back reported.The Navy details are closing to contain it… Sir, the channels are alive with cross-reports.They're blaming it on the Jantine! They say we conducted a feud strike on Tanith-scum in the supply vaults!'Flense cursed.'Gaunt! The devil's trying to match our game!' He turned to his men.'Brochuss! Secure the deck! Security detail with me!''I'll stay and finish my work,' the robed figure said in a deep, liquid tone that quite chilled Corbec.As the various men • 3ved off to comply with orders, the robed figure stopped Flense with a hand to his shoulder.Or rather, what seemed more like a long-fingered claw rather than a hand, Corbec noticed with a shudder.This isn't good, Flense,' the figure breathed at the suddenly trembling colonel.'Use violence against a soldier like Gaunt and you can be assured he will use it back.And you seem to have underestimated his political abilities.I fear he has out­played you.And if he has, you should fear for yourselfFlense shook himself free and hurried away.'I'll deal with it!' he snarled defensively over his shoulder.The robed figure watched him leave and then withdrew into the infirmary."What do we do?' Varl hissed.Tell me we go back now,' Larkin whispered urgently.Another scream issued from the chamber beyond."What do you think?' Corbec asked.EighteenSirens wailed in the normally tranquil strategium.Grasticus shifted in his cot-throne, wanding screens to him and cursing at the information he was reading.Gaunt and Zoren exchanged glances.I hope this confusion is the confusion we planned, Gaunt thought.Grasticus rose up on his elbows and bawled at the quaking Lekulanzi."Weapons fire on the Munitorium deck! My data says it's Jantine feuders!' I'Are any of mine hurt?' Gaunt asked, pushing forward, urgent.'I told you the Jantine were out for blood-''Shut up, commissar,' the captain said with a suddenly sour look.His day had been disrupted enough.'The reports are unconfirmed.Get down there and see to it, warrant officer!'Lekulanzi scurried out of the chamber.Grasticus turned back to the two Imperial Guard colonels.This matter needs my undivided attention.I will summon you when we can speak further [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]