The Guns Of Tanith by Dan Abnett

Author:Dan Abnett
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

“What did you do?”

Caffran slowly rose to his feet mystified. The shackles linking his wrists clanked and drew tight where they ran down to his ankle-hobble. He’d been stripped down to his black vest and fatigue pants. His boot laces and belt had been removed.

“What do you mean?” he asked. His voice was dry and thin. The air in the dingy cell was damp and the light bad. A hunted look on Caffran’s face showed that he was still dealing with the shock of the accusations.

“I mean what did you do? Tell me.”

“I didn’t do anything. I swear.”

“You swear?”

“I swear! Nothing! Why… why have you come here, asking me that?”

Kolea stared at him. The shadows made it impossible for Caffran to read his expression.

Kolea was just a furious, threatening presence in the little cell.

“Because I want to know.”

“Why?”

Kolea took a menacing step forward. “If I find out you’re lying… if you hurt that woman—”

“Sergeant, please… I didn’t do anything!”

“Sergeant Kolea!”

Kolea stopped a few paces from Caffran. He turned slowly. Silhouetted, Gaunt stood in the cell doorway.

“What are you doing here, Kolea?” Gaunt asked, stepping into the cell.

“I—” Kolea fell silent.

“I asked you a question, sergeant.”

“The men in my troop were… concerned… about what Caffran had done… I—”

Gaunt held up a hand. “That’s enough. You’re out of line being here, Kolea. You should know that. Get out. Tell your men I’ll talk to them.”

“Sir,” Kolea murmured and left.

Gaunt took off his cap and swung round to look at Caffran. “Any idea what that was about trooper?”

“No, sir.”

Gaunt nodded. “Sit down, Caffran. You know why I’m here.”

“To ask the same questions Kolea did, probably”

“And?”

Caffran slowly sat down on the cell’s ceramic bench. He cleared his throat and then looked up, meeting Gaunt’s gaze. “I didn’t do it sir.”

There was a long silence. Gaunt nodded. “All I needed to hear, Caff.”

He walked back to the door and put his cap back on. “Keep your spirits up, Caff. If it’s in my power to get you out of this, I will.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Gaunt stepped out into the brig hall. The Commissariate guards closed the heavy door, threw the bolts and ignited the shield. They saluted Gaunt, but he ignored them as he strode away.

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