Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第43章

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they　could　react　to　his　presence。　Next　time；　he　knew　he　might　not　be　so　lucky。　He　rounded　two
corners　in　quick　succession；　and　heard　a　great　crash　behind　him　as　the　Chaos　Space　Marine　lost
control　and　slammed　into　a　wall。　For　the　first　time；　Blonsky　had　a　few　seconds’　grace；　and　he　knew
he　couldn’t　wait　for　a　better　chance。　He　chose　a　door　at　random；　and　found　himself　in　a　banqueting
hall；　decorated　in　rich　shades　of　brown　and　red　with　tapestries　hanging　from　the　walls。
He　had　intended　to　find　a　hiding　place；　and　hope　that　the　Chaos　Space　Marine　went　past。　He　had
known　that　this　was　a　long　shot；　but　it　was　the　best　he　had　had。　He　got　lucky；　again。　There　were
104
more　doors　out　of　the　room；　on　opposite　walls　at　its　far　end。　He　hurried　to　one　of　them；　and　was
turning　the　handle　as　the　main　door　was　smashed　open；　quivering　on　its　hinges。
The　Chaos　Space　Marine　leapt　into　the　room；　propelling　himself　over　the　table。　Blonsky　didn’t
wait　for　him　to　land。　He　raced　through　a　small　kitchen　and　out　into　another　passageway；　worried
that　he　was　starting　to　lose　his　bearings；　that　he　might　not　be　able　to　find　his　way　out。　As　if　that　was
the　worst　of　his　problems。
He　had　gained　some　distance　on　the　Chaos　Marine；　but　it　was　still　behind　him。　He　could　still
hear　its　footsteps。　It　just　kept　on　coming。
There　were　fewer　heretics　on　their　heels　than　Palinev　had　feared。
He　didn’t　stop　to　ask　why；　he　just　counted　his　blessings。　He　suspected　that　the　explosion　he　had
heard　a　moment　ago；　the　distinctive　burst　of　a　frag　grenade；　might　have　had　something　to　do　with　it。
He　didn’t　stop　to　wonder　what　had　happened　to　Pozhar；　why　he　hadn’t　followed　his　comrades　out　of
the　courtyard；　because　he　guessed　he　would　not　like　the　answer。
Anyway；　there　were　still　some　heretics　out　here　—　cultists　and　a　few　Traitor　Guardsmen　who
had　escaped　before　the　Ice　Warriors　had；　who　were　starting　to　regain　their　senses；　to　gather　and　to
talk；　and　to　look　for　the　threat　in　their　midst。
And　they　found　it。
“It’s　him！”　a　cultist　screamed；　pointing　at　Steele；　her　finger　trembling。　Then　her　eyes　turned　to
Confessor　Wollkenden；　still　unconscious；　slung　over　Grayle’s　shoulder。　“It’s　both　of　them。　The
sacrifices！　They’re　escaping　with　the　sacrifices！　They—”
Palinev　shot　her　through　the　head；　but　it　was　too　late。　More　cultists　were　coming　at　them　with
knives；　while　others　hung　back；　shouldering　lasguns。　They　must　have　looked　like　easy　pickings；
Steele　still　leaning　on　Palinev’s　shoulder；　Grayle　encumbered　by　Wollkenden。　But　Steele　was　not　as
helpless　as　he　seemed。　He　seized　two　incoming　cultists　by　their　robes；　smashed　their　heads　together；
thrust　them　into　the　path　of　the　first　las…beams。
Taking　advantage　of　their　temporary　human　shields；　the　Ice　Warriors　ducked　into　a　side
passageway　—　but　it　came　to　a　dead　end；　a　few　metres　along。
Steele　snatched　Grayle’s　lasgun　from　him　and　ordered　him　to　keep　back；　to　keep　Wollkenden
out　of　the　line　of　fire。　Palinev　was　already　strafing　the　corridor　behind　them；　discouraging　the
heretics　from　approaching；　forcing　them　to　run　for　cover。　As　his　power　pack　ran　dry；　Steele　took　his
place　and　continued　the　barrage。　Palinev　reloaded　and　was　able　to　relieve　the　colonel　in　turn。
“We　can’t　keep　this　up；”　Steele　grumbled。　“The　longer　we’re　pinned　down　here；　the　more
attention　we’ll　draw。　And　once　that　Chaos　Space　Marine　gets　wind　of　our　location…”　He　didn’t
have　to　complete　the　sentence。
“Can　we　burn　through　the　walls？”　asked　Palinev。
“I　doubt　it；”　said　Grayle。　“We　could　try；　but　remember　the　glacier；　remember　how　it　re…formed
around　the　Termite。”
Palinev　was　firing　into　an　empty　passageway。　He　eased　his　finger　off　the　trigger；　thinking　to
conserve　power　—　and　immediately；　four　Traitor　Guardsmen　rushed　his　position。　He　fired　in
concert　with　Steele；　counting　them　down；　one；　two；　three…　but　the　last　of　them　refused　to　fall。　It
just　kept　on　advancing。
The　fourth　traitor　had　hung　back；　using　his　fellows　as　cover　so　that　only　when　he　was　almost
upon　the　Ice　Warriors　did　they　have　a　clear　shot　at　him。　Their　beams　glanced　off　his　flak　jacket；
failing　to　score　that　critical　hit　—　and　Palinev　could　see　behind　the　traitor　the　shapes　of　more　of　his
kind　beginning　to　rise；　to　crane　forward；　ready　to　advance　as　soon　as　he　engaged　the　enemy。
They　were　to　be　disappointed。　The　traitor　staggered　up　to　the　corner；　raised　his　gun；　collapsed
and　died　at　Palinev’s　feet。
105
Steele　strafed　the　corridor　for　another　few　seconds；　then　turned　to　his　two　troopers。　“This　is　what
we’re　going　to　do；”　he　said。　“How　many　frag　grenades　do　you　have　left　between　you？　We’re　going
to　pitch　the　whole　damn　lot　of　them　out　there；　at　the　heretics；　bring　down　the　roof　if　we　can。　And
then　we’re　going　to　run　like　hell　in　the　other　direction。　Palinev；　you　must　know　where　we’re　going；
you　take　point。　Grayle；　behind　him；　with　Wollkenden。　I’ll　bring　up　the　rear；　lay　down　covering　fire；
make　sure　that　anyone　who　survives　the　explosion　doesn’t　dare　so　much　as　glance　after　us。”
“I　should　take　the　rear；　sir；”　said　Grayle。　“It’s　too　dangerous　for—”
“Those　are　my　orders；　trooper；”　interrupted　Steele。
“At　least　take　my　greatcoat。　Yours　is　in　shreds。　One　bull’s…eye　from　a　lasgun　and—”
Steele　shook　his　head。　'You　have　the　most　important　job　of　any　of　us。　I’m　not　strong　enough　yet
to　carry　the　confessor。　You　have　to　protect　him。　We　move　on　my　mark。　Three；　two；　one…　Palinev；
do　you　hear　that？”
Palinev　did　hear　it；　although　his　ears　were　a　second　behind　the　colonel’s。　“Gunfire；　sir。　To　the
right　of　us。　It　must　be　the　others。　They　had　to　come　this　way　too。　They　must　have　come　up　behind
the　heretics；　taken　them　by　surprise。”
Steele　considered　that　news　for　a　moment；　then　a　tight　smile　pulled　at　his　lips　and　he　hefted
Grayle’s　lasgun。　“In　that　case；”　he　said；　“change　of　plan。”
Anakora　had　known　it　wouldn’t　be　easy。　No　matter　how　much　confusion；　how　many　distractions；
the　Ice　Warriors　could　cause；　no　matter　how　good　their　disguises　nor　how　skilled　they　were；　she　had
not　expected　to　get　out　of　the　Ice　Palace　without　a　fight。
Already　they　appeared　to　have　lost　Blonsky；　having　abandoned　their　sniping　positions　up　above；
she　and　Gavotski　had　planned　to　meet　him　at　the　base　of　a　flight　of　stairs。　They　had　waited　as　long
as　they　could。
They　had　set　off　running　at　first；　but　slowed　down　as　they　had　begun　to　run　into　heretics　from
the　courtyard。　They　had　tried　to　look　less　like　they　had　an　urgent　purpose；　less　like　they　were　trying
to　get　out。　Anakora’s　stomach　had　tightened　as　a　squad　of　Traitor　Guardsmen　had　rushed　out　of　a
side　passageway　into　their　path；　but　they　had　drawn　their　cultists’　robes　around　themselves；　bowed
their　heads　and　kept　their　cool；　and　the　traitors　had　hurried　right　on　by。
Not　long　after　that；　their　path　had　converged　with　those　of　Barreski　and　Mikhaelev；　and　Anakora
was　glad　that　two　comrades　at　least　had　made　it　this　far。
And　then　they　had　heard　las…fire；　and　she　had　feared　the　worst。
A　score　of　heretics　had　gathered　at　a　four…way　junction；　and　more　were　rushing　up　to　join　them
from　all　directions。　No　one　had　questioned　the　arrival　of　what　they　took　to　be　four　more
reinforcements　to　their　cause。　The　heretics　were　laying　siege　to　an　opening　in　the　wall　a　few　metres
away；　being　kept　at　bay　only　by　a　volley　of　las…fire　from　said　opening。　Anakora　had　guessed　who
was　wielding　the　guns；　even　before　she　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　Colonel　Steele’s　face。
A　dark…skinned　Traitor　Guardsman　with　narrow　eyes　and　pinched　nostrils　had　taken　command。
He　was　barking　out　orders：　“Hold　your　fire！　Let　the　Emperor…lovers　discharge　their　power　packs；
then　they’ll　be　defenceless。”
Gavotski　moved　up　behind　him；　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder　—　and　the　traitor　turned　to　find
himself　staring　down　a　gun　barrel。　A　las…beam　stabbed　into　his　right　eye　and　fried　his　brain。　The
other　three　Ice　Warriors　took　this　as　their　cue　to　act。　Anakora　took　another　traitor　by　surprise　and　slit
his　throat　with　her　knife。　Barreski　tried　to　do　likewise；　but　his　chosen　victim　had　faster　reflexes　and
was　able　to　throw　off　his　hold。　And　Mikhaelev　was　firing　his　lasgun　on　full　auto；　apparentl