Fifteen Hours(科幻战争)-第21章

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Ten　minutes　later；　courtesy　of　Corporal　Vladek’s　scavenged　stores；　Larn　found　himself　the　new
owner　of　a　greatcoat；　a　pair　of　woollen　gloves；　two　frag　grenades；　a　fur…covered　helmet；　a　small
lump　of　whetstone；　and　a　comm…bead　tuned　to　the　local　comm…link　frequencies　used　by　the
Vardans。　Then；　as　Larn　finished　the　last　bitter　mouthful　of　ersatz　recaf　from　his　cup；　Vladek　asked
to　see　his　dog…tags　and　wrote　his　name　and　number　on　a　clipboard　beside　him。
“That　is　it　for　now；　new　fish；”　Vladek　said。　“You　will　need　to　come　back　here　and　see　me　again
in　fifteen　hours’　time。　Then　I　can　issue　you　with　some　of　the　more　valuable　and　sought…after　pieces
of　equipment：　hotshot　power　packs　for　your　lasgun；　extra　frag　grenades；　a　laspistol；　smoke　grenades；
and　so　on。”
“Why　fifteen　hours？”　Larn　asked。
“Phah。　You　will　learn　soon　enough　in　this　place　there　are　some　questions　it　is　better　not　to　ask；
new　fish。　That　is　one　of　them。　Just　come　see　me　again　in　fifteen　hours；　and　try　not　to　think　about　it
in　the　meantime。　Oh；　and　new　fish？　I　almost　forgot。　You　will　need　one　of　these！　”
Removing　a　slim　black　copy　of　The　Imperial　Infantryman’s　Uplifting　Primer　from　a　shelf
behind　him；　Vladek　offered　it　to　Larn　across　the　table。
“But　I　already　have　one；　corporal；”　Larn　said。　“I　was　issued　with　my　copy　of　the　Primer　on　my
first　day　of　basic　training　back　on　Jumael。”
“Congratulations；　new　fish；”　Vladek　said。　“Now；　you　have　two　copies。　You　will　need　them；　and
it　is　better　not　to　get　caught　short。　You　will　find　this　little　book　to　be　a　vital　tool　when　it　comes　to
the　nitty…gritty　of　day…to…day　living　here　in　Broucheroc。　The　paper　it　is　printed　on　is　most
absorbent。”
Handing　him　the　book　along　with　his　dog…tags；　Vladek　turned　to　the　hotplate　to　pour　another
steaming　cup　of　recaf。
“Anyent　for　you　to　be　getting　on　with；　new　fish；”　Vladek　said；
turning　back　towards　Larn　and　nodding　at　something　behind　him。　“Next；　we　should　see　about
getting　you　fixed　up　with　a　fireteam。　Fortunately　here　comes　our　company　commander；　right　on
cue。”
Seeing　a　figure　in　a　greatcoat　approaching　through　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Larn　stood　bolt　upright
from　his　chair　and　saluted　smartly。　Only　to　find　himself　facing　the　same　Vardan　sergeant　he　had
seen　lead　the　counterattack　against　the　orks　earlier。
“Why　is　there　a　new　fish　saluting　me；　Vladek？”　the　sergeant　said；　stepping　past　Larn　to　take　a
cup　of　recaf　from　the　corporal’s　hand。　“He　has　mistaken　me　for　a　general　perhaps？”
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“An　entirely　understandable　mistake　given　your　commanding　presence　and　natural　air　of
authority；　sergeant；”　Vladek　said；　smiling。　“Then　again；　I　had　just　told　him　you　are　our　company
commander。　Perhaps　he　thinks　that　makes　you　a　lieutenant。”
“A　lieutenant？　I　am　disappointed；　Vladek。　If　I　am　going　to　be　mistaken　for　an　officer；　I　thought　I
would　have　rated　colonel　at　least。”　Then；　the　merest　suggestion　of　a　smile　ghosting　at　his　lips；　the
sergeant　turned；　back　to　Larn。　“You　can　put　your　hand　down　by　the　way；　trooper。　Even　if　I　was　a
lieutenant；　we　don’t　hold　much　with　saluting　here。　It　only　gives　the　orks　something　extra　to　aim　at。　I
assume　you　have　a　name？　Other　than　new　fish　I　mean？”
“Trooper　First　Class　Larn；　Arvin　A；　reporting　for　duty；　sergeant！”　Larn　said；　his　hand　falling　but
his　back　still　ramrod　straight　as　he　stood　to　attention。　“Number：　eight　one　five　seven　six　dash—
“At　ease；　Larn；”　the　sergeant　told　him。　“Save　it　for　the　parade　ground。　As　I　say；　we　don’t　stand
much　on　ceremony　here。　All　right　then。　I　take　it　you　have　already　given　your　name　and　number　to
Corporal　Vladek　so　he　can　forward　them　to　General　HQ？”
“Yes；　sergeant。”
“Good。　It　may　be　that　HQ　will　order　you　reassigned　to　duties　elsewhere　in　the　city。　In　the
meantime　standing　orders　on　the　disposition　of　new　troops　are　clear。　You　were　dropped　into　our
sector：　that　means　you　belong　to　us。　You　are　hereby　seconded　to　the　902nd　Vardan　until　further
notice；　Larn。　Welcome　to　Company　Alpha。　My　name　is　Chelkar。　Until　you　are　assigned　elsewhere
or　HQ　gets　around　to　sending　us　a　new　lieutenant　you　will　be　taking　your　orders　from　me。　We　are
clear？”
“Clear；　sergeant。”
“How　long　since　you　took　the　eagle？”
“The　eagle；　sergeant？”
“I　mean：　how　long　is　it　since　you　were　inducted　into　the　Guard？”
“Four　months；　sergeant。”
“Four　months？　You　are　green　then？　You　haven’t　seen　much　action？”
“No。　Today　was　my　first　engagement；　sergeant。”
“Hmm。　Well；　you　survived　it　at　least。　I　suppose　that　shows　us　something。”　For　a　moment；　his
eyes　grown　suddenly　sad　and　distant；　Chelkar　fell　silent。　Certain　he　was　being　judged　somehow　by
that　silence；　Larn　felt　a　rising　urge　to　defend　his　worth。
“You　do　not　need　to　worry；　sergeant；”　he　said。　“I　will　not　let　anyone　down。　I　am　a　Guardsman。　I
will　do　my　duty。”
“I　am　sure　you　will；　Larn。”　Chelkar’s　expression　was　grave。　“But　remember；　part　of　that　duty　is
for　you　to　keep　yourself　alive　so　you　can　fight　again　tomorrow。　To　that　end；　you　will　do　the
following　things。　You　will　follow　orders。　You　will　keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open。　You　will　watch
your　comrades’　backs；　just　as　they　will　watch　yours。　But　most　of　all；　there　will　be　no　heroics。　No
fool…hardiness。　No　unnecessary　risks。　This　is　Broucheroc；　Larn。　There　are　no　heroes　here：　the　orks
keep　killing　them。　Do　we　understand　each　other？”
“Yes；　sergeant。”
“All　right　then；”　Chelkar　said；　before　turning　to　call　out　to　one　of　the　Guardsmen　standing　beside
the　stove。　“Davir。　Come　over　here　and　meet　our　new　recruit。”
In　response　to　Chelkar’s　call；　Larn　saw　a　stocky　diminutive　Vardan　move　away　from　the　stove
and　come　walking　towards　them。　With　a　sinking　heart；　he　recognised　him　at　once　as　the　same　ugly
dwarfish　Guardsman　who　had　given　him　his　lasgun　back　after　the　battle。
“Davir；　this　is　Larn。”
“We　have　met　already；　sergeant。　Hello；　new　fish。”
“Good；”　said　the　sergeant。　“Larn；　I　am　assigning　you　to　Fireteam　Three　under　Davir’s
command。”
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“With　all　due　respect；　sergeant；”　Davir　said；　“given　the　new　fish’s　lack　of　experience；　wouldn’t
it　be　better　to　assign　him　somewhere　else　until　he　finds　his　feet。　Fireteam　Three　is　a　frontline　unit；
after　all。”
“This　whole　company　is　a　frontline　unit；　Davir；”　Chelkar　said。　“If　you　can　think　of　anywhere　I
could　send　him　in　this　entire　sector　where　the　orks　wouldn’t　be　shooting　at　him；　I’d　be　glad　to　hear
of　it。　Besides；　your　fireteam　is　under　strength。　You　need　him　and　I　am　sure　I　can　rely　upon　you　to
look　after　him　and　show　him　the　ropes。”
“You　are　right　of　course；　sergeant；”　Davir　said；　grudgingly。　“Come　on　then；　new　fish。　Get　your
kit　and　follow　me。　We　have　orks　to　kill；　you　and　I。”
Turning；　Davir　strode　away　at　a　surprisingly　brisk　stride；　forcing　Larn　to　hurry　his　own　pace　to
catch　up。　Then；　as　Davir　walked　through　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　barracks　and　headed　up　the　steps
out　of　the　dugout；　from　behind　him　Larn　heard　the　Vardan　muttering　venomously　to　himself　under
his　breath。
“Need　him；”　he　heard　Davir　whisper　to　himself。　“Need　him；　my　Vardan　arse！　Like　I　need　to　be
nursemaiding　a　damn　new　fish。　As　though　having　had　to　spend　ten　years　in　the　company　of　that　fat
halfwit　Bulaven　wasn’t　bad　enough；　now　they’ve　gone　and　saddled　me　with　a　war　virgin　just　to　add
to　my　woes。　Damnation！”
Reaching　the　head　of　the　steps　to　emerge　into　the　cold　air　outside；　Davir　turned　to　give　Larn　a
withering　glare　as　he　waited　for　him　to　catch　up。
“Come　on；　new　fish。　I　haven’t　got　all　day。　Though　I　suppose　I　should　thank　the　heavens　for
small　mercies　that　you’ve　managed　to　negotiate　the　stairs　without　losing　your　lasgun　again。　Not　that
I　mean　that　as　an　invitation；　mind。　You　lose　that　damned　thing　again；　don’t　expect　me　to　go　finding
it　for　you。　You　want　to　go　around　confronting　orks　with　no　other　weapons　than　what　nature　gave
you；　next　time　you’re　on　your　own。　I’ll　leave　you　to　it。　Now；　come　on。　Let’s　get　moving　and　when
we’re　heading　for　the　trench；　keep　your　damned　fool　head　down。　Not　that　I’ve　got　any　qualms　about
seeing　the　orks　blow　your　head　off；　you　understand。　I　just　don’t　want　to　run　the　risk　of　the　damned
greenskins　missing　and　hitting　me　instead。”
S