Eisenhorn Omnibus (Абнетт) - страница 4

Everywhere you look, his spiky, gothic, ornate visions inform the game, and I'd like to think you can find a hint of them permeating this collection. So, individual dedications notwithstanding, this collected volume is respectfully dedicated to Mr John Blanche.

Of course, if I ever work out whose idea it was to write these stories in the first person, I'll be round their house with a baseball bat. The plot problems that caused…

Oh, hang on. That was me.

Dan Abnett

Maidstone , 9th August, 2004

XENOS

For John Parsons, bonemagos.

BY ORDER OF HIS MOST HOLY MAJESTY THE GOD-EMPEROR OF TERRA

SEQUESTERED INQUISITORIAL DOSSIERS AUTHORISED PERSONS ONLY

CASE FILE ii2:67B:AA6:Xad

Please enter your authority code >

Validating…

Thank you, Inquisitor. You may proceed.

VERBAL TRANSCRIPT OF PICT-RECORDED DOCUMENT

LOCATION: MAGINOR DATE: 239. M41

RECOVERED FROM SERVITOR RECORDING MODULE

TRANSCRIBED BY SAVANT ELEDIX, ORDO HERETICUS

INQUISITORIAL DATA-LIBRARY FACULTY,

FIBOS SECUNDUS, 240. M41

note 1 Darkness. Sounds of distant human pain. A flash of light note 2. Sounds of running.

Pict-source moves, tracking, vibrating. Some stone walls, in close focus. Another flash, brighter, closer. Squeal of pain note 3. An extremely bright flash note 4.

note 5

A man note 6 in long robes, calls out as he strides past close to the pict-source note 7. Surroundings, dark stone note 8. (i)'s identity unknown note 9. Pict-source moves in close behind (i), observing as (i) draws a force hammer from a thigh loop under his robe. Close up on (i)'s hands as he grips haft. Inquisitorial signet ring in plain view, (i) turns note 10, (i) speaks.

VOICE (i): Move in! Move in, in the name of all that's holy! Come on andnote 11bastard monster to death!

Further flashes of light, now clearly close las-impacts. Pict-source filters fail to block glare note 12.

note 13 Passing in through the high stone entrance of some considerable chamber. Grey stone, rough hewn. Pict-source pans. Bodies in doorway, and also slumped down interior steps. Massive injuries, mangled. Stones wet with blood.

VOICE OFF |(i)?[: Where are you? Where are you? Show yourself!

Pict-source moves in. Two human shapes move past it to left, blurred note 14 to be male, approx 40 years, heavy-set, wearing Imperial Guard-issue body plate note 15, significant facial scarring note 16, wielding belt-fed heavy stubber; other

note 17 is female, approx 25 years, svelte, skin dyed blue, tattoos and body-glove armour of a Morituri Death Cultist initiate, wielding force blade note 18