按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from behind。
They had taken only ten steps； hardly left the lights of the clearing behind them； when they came
across another ork with a barrow。 Its helmet beam dazzled Lorenzo—but Storm’s beam blinded the
ork in turn so that； for a fateful moment； it didn’t recognise the intruders for what they were。
Sergeant Greiss had decreed that lasguns should only be used now when strictly necessary—not just
because they were low on ammo； but because who knew how far the sound would carry through
these tunnels—so Storm leapt at the creature with a muted snarl and his Catachan fang raised and；
impressively； he gutted it before it could raise much more than a whimper。
Storm took the dead ork’s helmet and passed it back along the line to Greiss； who turned off the
helmet’s light but placed it on his head for future use。 Then they crept on downward； the slope of the
95
tunnel becoming more pronounced until Lorenzo judged that they were descending below ground
level。
He eyed the precarious wooden struts—most of them just branches chopped to size； still
sprouting offshoots and leaves—that were wedged into the passageway supporting the increasing
weight of the earth above their heads。 He didn’t trust them。
The ground shook again then； as if to underscore his fears； and Lorenzo swallowed as the
makeshift struts rattled fiercely and a shower of loose soil fell about his ears。 He couldn’t tell if this
tremor was lighter or heavier than the first two； he only knew that it felt more ominous down here；
where it wasn’t just below him but around him and above him too； and where he knew there would
be nowhere to hide from a more severe quake； no way to avoid being buried alive。
“You realise；” said Braxton； putting Lorenzo’s own thoughts into words as the tremor subsided；
“if this place caves in； we’ll have come all this way for nothing。 Rogar will have dealt with Big
Green for us。”
“Maybe；” grunted Greiss； “and maybe not。 Maybe he’ll just slip away through his escape tunnel；
wherever that is； and maybe it’ll take us a year to find him again。 No； I don’t care if this whole damn
world blows itself apart around us—I for one am not backing out of this on a ‘maybe’。 Far as I’m
concerned； that brute’s still alive until I clap my own eyes on his stinking corpse！”
Lorenzo became aware of a sick ache in his stomach； and he fought down a surge of bile in his
throat。 His skin felt hot； prickly； and he was short of breath。 The symptoms came from nowhere； and
at first he thought the tunnel must have caused them； this unfamiliar； claustrophobic environment。
Then he remembered the effigy； and its spines。
His precautions had done him no good。 Rogar III’s poison was coursing through his veins。 He
knew he should tell the others； warn them in case he went crazy like Muldoon had； became a threat
to them。 But then they would probably have left him behind； to die on his back like Woods； and he
couldn’t face that。 Not when they were so close to their goal。 Not when he was so close to a chance
to earn his name； at last。
He would earn his name。 Lorenzo swore that to himself。 He didn’t know how—but if he couldn’t
find a way down here with a world against him； then where could he？ A way to surrender his life for
his squad； for his cause； for a chance to be remembered； and he knew he wouldn’t hesitate this time。
Because； this time； he had nothing to lose。 This time； he was dying anyway。
Might as well go out in a blaze of glory。
96
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sergeant Greiss swore under his breath。
The orks’ mine tunnel had opened into a cave—and Lorenzo could see； from the lack of wooden
props and the uneven texture of the rock where Storm’s light fell upon it； that it was natural。
Passages snaked from the cave in all directions—ominous black holes in the walls。
“Looks like the greenskins have bust their way into a whole underground complex；” Greiss
grumbled。 “Could spread for kilometres。”
“What do we do now； sergeant？” asked Braxton。
Before Greiss could answer； Myers let out a “Ssshh；” and held up his hand for silence。 A second
later； they all heard it： lumbering footsteps； echoing from the walls until there was no way of
knowing which direction they came from。
Storm snatched off his helmet； snapped off the light； and the Jungle Fighters dispersed；
navigating by memory in the total darkness； finding nooks into which they could squeeze。 Lorenzo
found himself in the mouth of a narrow； twisting passageway； and feared for a moment that it was
along this very route that the orks were approaching。 Then the footsteps—two sets； he estimated—
seemed to move around him； and he saw the bobbing beam of a helmet light； and then there were
two hulking shapes in the cave； striding toward the exit tunnel。
Then the Jungle Fighters were upon the orks； Storm reaching them first； leaping onto the back of
the nearest and drawing his blade across its throat。 Greiss and Braxton crashed into the second
creature； staggered it； and Lorenzo lent his shoulder to their efforts and it fell； three knives plunged
into its chest and stomach。
“You notice something？” asked Armstrong； as the others confirmed their kills。 “These two were
going up to the surface； but they don’t have barrows。 No pickaxes； no spades； just guns。”
“You think they suspect something？” murmured Greiss darkly。
“I think Big Green’s maybe starting to wonder what’s been happening to his barrow boys。 Or
maybe the sentries up top were supposed to report in。 Either way； I’ll bet these two were coming to
investigate。”
“When they don’t come back either…” breathed Myers。 “Alright。” Greiss nodded。 “We’ve
got—how long would you say？—a few minutes before all hell breaks loose down here。 Meantime；
we need to make inroads into these caves； make sure the warboss can’t go nowhere without getting
past us first。 Anyone else hear that？ Sounds like digging？”
Myers reported that he did hear it—and； screwing up his face in concentration； Storm agreed。
Lorenzo didn’t hear a thing； and he scrabbled at the insides of his ears in frustration； evacuating
more of Rogar III’s mud。 The effort disturbed his equilibrium； and his brain performed a lurching
spin。 The sickness in his stomach made another surge for his throat； and he swallowed it down。
Greiss and Myers followed the digging sounds to the right…hand side of the cave； and Myers
located a tunnel that was wider and straighter than the others； its floor a little smoother。 “I’d say
there’s been a few barrows pushed up this way； sergeant；” he reported—and； standing at the tunnel
entrance； even Lorenzo could now hear the distant clink of metal against rock from somewhere
below。
“Right；” sighed Greiss； “this is how it’s going to have to be。 We split into three teams。 Patch and
Lorenzo； you follow this tunnel here。 Braxton； you’re with me—we’ll take the passage those two
orks came up from。 Bullseye； Wildman； you wait around here a while； stick to the shadows。
97
Chances are； there’ll be more greenskins along soon； and I’m betting once they find their buddies’
corpses littering the place； they’ll send word back to the big boss。”
“We can follow ’em；” concluded Storm。 “Right； sergeant。”
Everyone seemed happy with that plan； and Lorenzo didn’t want to be the one to object。 Still； he
felt numb。 His chances of being the one to find the warboss had just been slashed by two…thirds。 He
pictured himself dying quietly in a dark tunnel somewhere； while Greiss and Braxton； or Myers and
Storm； stumbled upon their target and grabbed all the glory。 He wouldn’t let that happen。
Greiss handed him the miner’s helmet from one of the dead orks； and Lorenzo jammed it onto
his head and practically dragged Armstrong away； down the tunnel towards the digging sounds。
“Steady on；” whispered Patch in his ear； “you’ll run straight into the greenskins at this rate。” But
Lorenzo wasn’t listening。 He’d had a lifetime of being too cautious。 All he cared about now was
covering as much ground as he could。 More ground than the other two teams could cover。 Being the
first to find the ork warboss。 Earning his name； before it was too late。
There were lights up ahead—harsh；