Ursun's Teeth (Warhammer Fantasy) by Graham McNeill

Author:Graham McNeill [McNeill, Graham]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

I

Kaspar lowered the pistol as the two men faced one another over the top of his desk. A lamp sat on its corner, casting a fitful illumination around them, but leaving the rest of the room in shadow. Pavel said nothing, clutching a sheaf of papers in one hand and a wooden handled seal-stamp in the other.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, Pavel?’ asked Kaspar, lowering the flint and jamming his pistol through his belt.

‘Please,’ begged Pavel. ‘Let me do this and go. You never see me again.’

‘I asked you a question, damn it.’

Pavel circled the desk and said, ‘I can explain this.’

‘You bloody well better,’ snapped Kaspar. He closed with Pavel and snatched the papers and stamp from his old comrade’s hands. Pavel bit his bottom lip as Kaspar moved towards the lamp, examining what had been taken from his desk. The seal was his personal crest, ringed by the spread wings of the Imperial eagle, while the documents were letters of transit, letters that would allow the bearer to traverse the length and breadth of the Empire without let or hindrance.

He recognised the documents for what they were and his heart sank as he realised who Pavel must have been stealing them for. He sat down heavily in his chair, dropping the items and rubbing the heels of his palms across his scalp.

‘Damn it all to hell,’ he whispered to himself.

‘Kaspar, please–’ began Pavel.

‘Shut up!’ roared Kaspar. ‘I do not want to hear it, Pavel. Everything that comes out of your mouth now is nothing but dung! It has been so long since I heard you speak the truth I have forgotten what it sounds like.’

‘I know,’ said Pavel. ‘I stupid fool. But I sorry.’

‘Don’t tell me you are sorry, you miserable piece of shit, don’t you dare tell me you’re sorry! You were stealing these for Chekatilo, weren’t you? Answer me! Weren’t you?’

Pavel slumped into one of the chairs beside the fireplace, his face wreathed in dark shadows as he moved away from the lantern.

‘Yha, I was stealing them for Chekatilo.’

Kaspar felt his anger at Pavel reach new heights, heights he did not believe it was possible to reach. Was there no limit to Pavel’s betrayal?

‘Why, Pavel, why? Help me understand why you did this, because I cannot fathom it. What would make you turn your back on your friend to do this for such a loathsome piece of scum like Chekatilo?’

‘It because I am your friend that I do this,’ said Pavel.

‘What? You steal from me because you’re my friend?’ snapped Kaspar. ‘Well I suppose I should count myself lucky I am not one of your enemies, for I would hate to see what you do to them.’

‘I mean it,’ barked Pavel.

‘Talk sense, man.’

‘Chekatilo sends Rejak for me, tells me I am to steal these things from you.’

‘And you said yes?’ asked Kaspar. ‘Why?’

Pavel shook his head. ‘I cannot say.’

‘You bloody well will say,’ promised Kaspar. ‘I want to know what that bastard said to make you betray me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.