Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第28部分

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that　he　had　registered　just　before　the　dark　eldar　attack　in　the　tunnels。　His　every　sense　alert　for
danger；　he　registered　a　flicker　of　movement　outside　the　lift。
He　roared　a　warning；　but　his　cry　was　lost　as　the　lift　doors　sealed　shut。
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CHAPTER　TEN
Sabtec　and　Namar…sin　watched　as　the　lift　descended　into　darkness　down　the　abyssal　shaft　in　the
floor。　Neither　of　them　had　heard　Burias’s　cry　of　warning；　and　neither　of　them　noticed　the　shadowy
figure　crawling　head…first　down　one　of　the　hanging　chains　ten　metres　above　their　heads。
The　black　figure　dropped　soundlessly　from　above；　twisting　in　the　air　like　a　gymnast　and　landing
in　a　crouch；　with　one　foot　on　each　of　Namar…sin’s　shoulders　and　one　hand　steadying　itself　on　the　top
of　his　helmet。　Before　the　sergeant…champion　could　react；　the　shadowy　creature　punched　a　blade
through　the　back　of　his　neck；　severing　the　vertebrae。　Its　serrated　tip　emerged　from　the　front　of　his
throat；　the　monomolecular　blade　sliding　through　his　gorget　as　if　it　were　made　of　paper。
The　Word　Bearer　champion　fell　soundlessly；　blood　spurting　from　the　fatal　wound　as　the　blade
was　retracted。　Sabtec　bellowed　a　warning　as　he　lifted　his　bolter。　The　shadowy　creature；　its　skin　as
black　as　pitch　and　with　glowing　runes　cut　into　its　flesh；　sprung　from　the　dying　Word　Bearers
champion’s　shoulders；　throwing　itself　into　a　back　flip　even　as　Sabtec　began　to　fire。
The　explosive…tipped　bolt…rounds　passed　straight　through　the　creature　as　it　became　as　ethereal　as
smoke；　even　as　Namar…sin　fell　face…first　to　the　floor；　dead。
Sabtec　lost　sight　of　the　murderous　eldar　and　threw　himself　into　a　roll　as　he　felt　a　second　presence
materialise　behind　him。　A　blade　slashed　the　air　where　he　had　been　standing　a　fraction　of　a　second
earlier；　and　he　came　up　firing。　Again；　his　bolt　rounds　found　no　target。
Shouts　and　screams　echoed　through　the　lift　bay；　accompanied　by　the　percussive　barking　of　bolt
weapons　as　more　of　the　ghostly　attackers　materialised；　dropping　from　overhead　and　emerging　from
shadows　that　had　been　empty　moments　before。
Moving　faster　than　he　could　track；　one　of　the　insubstantial　attackers　darted　around　Sabtec；　a
fraction　of　a　second　in　front　of　his　coughing　bolter；　and　the　Word　Bearer　backed　up　a　step；
attempting　to　put　some　extra　space　between　him　and　his　ethereal　attacker。
The　creature　darted　forwards；　dissipating　into　mist　as　Sabtec　fired　upon　it。　It　re…formed　just　to
his　left；　and　he　swung　his　bolter　towards　it。　A　blade　slashed　down　in　a　diagonal　arc；　slicing　the　holy
weapon　in　two；　and　a　second　blade　stabbed　towards　Sabtec’s　throat。　He　swayed　aside　from　the
attack；　but　such　was　its　speed　that　it　still　gouged　a　line　across　the　faceplate　of　his　helmet。　Dropping
his　useless　bolter；　he　grabbed　his　attacker’s　slim　arm。　Feeling　solid　armour　and　flesh　beneath　his
grasp；　he　hurled　his　attacker　away　from　him；　sending　it　spinning　through　the　air；　and　drew　his　sword
from　his　scabbard。
“Thirteen！”　he　roared；　bellowing　the　rallying　cry　that　would　bring　the　warriors　of　his　coterie
together。
Thumbing　its　activation　glyph；　Sabtec　brought　his　sword　humming　to　life。　The　metre…and…a…half
blade　gleamed　as　a　sudden　wave　of　energy　raced　up　its　length；　and　he　swung　it　around　in　a　glittering
arc　to　deflect　a　dark　blade　that　sang　towards　his　groin。　The　blade　severed　the　attacker’s　hand　at　the
wrist；　and　the　eldar　warrior　gave　out　a　hiss　of　pain　before　becoming　one　with　the　shadows　once
more。
“Thirteen！”　roared　Sabtec　again；　breaking　into　a　run　towards　the　bulk　of　his　coterie；　which　was
fighting　its　way　towards　him　through　the　confusing　blur　of　darting　shadows。
“Twenty…third；　form　up　on　me；”　he　roared；　seeing　Namar…sin’s　warriors　becoming　isolated　and
surrounded。
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Even　as　he　closed　with　his　warriors　of　the　13th　coterie；　he　saw　one　of　them　hamstrung　by　a
slashing　blade　from　behind　and　fall。　Instantly；　a　trio　of　shadows　materialised　around　the　fallen
warrior；　looming　like　shades　of　death　over　him；　and　they　dragged　him　backwards。
One　of　the　black…skinned　eldar　warriors　made　a　slashing　motion　with　its　hand　that　parted　the
substance　of　the　air；　cutting　aside　the　veil　between　real　space　and　beyond。　In　an　instant；　the　fallen
warrior　was　bundled　through　the　rent　in　reality；　which　sealed　up　behind　him　as　if　it　had　never　been。
Sabtec　slashed　with　his　blade；　keeping　the　darting　shadows　around　him　at　bay。　He　focused　on
one　of　the　creatures　as　it　materialised　behind　another　of　his　squad　brothers；　its　slanted；　milky　white
eyes　focused　on　its　prey。
Sabtec　roared　as　he　launched　himself　forwards　and　impaled　the　shadow　eldar　on　his　power
sword；　plunging　the　weapon　into　its　throat。　Its　blood　danced　upon　the　energised　blade；　spitting　and
jumping。　Sabtec　freed　his　weapon；　slicing　it　out　through　the　side　of　the　eldar’s　neck。　Its　head
flopped　to　the　side；　and　it　dropped　to　the　ground。　The　glowing　runes　across　its　body　blazed　with
sudden　light；　and　then　faded；　smoking　slightly；　leaving　just　a　shattered　eldar　corpse　lying　on　the
floor。
Having　formed　up；　the　13th　coterie　fought　back　to　back；　protecting　each　other’s　vulnerable
flanks。　The　enemy　was　coming　at　them　from　all　directions；　yet　the　warrior　brothers　had　fought
alongside　each　other　for　countless　centuries；　and　each　could　predict　his　brothers’　movements　with
the　understanding　that　came　from　a　lifetime　of　shared　battle。
Heavy　bolter…rounds　from　one　of　the　Havoc　Space　Marines　of　the　217th　ripped　a　swathe　through
the　shadows；　tearing　two　of　the　eldar　apart。　A　pair　of　blades　punched　into　his　back　and　he　was
dragged　into　another　dark　rift　that　swallowed　him；　closing　off　behind　him。
Sabtec’s　13th　blazed　away　at　the　shadows；　most　of　their　shots　missing　their　targets；　but　a　few
striking　their　attackers；　blasting　bloody　chunks　out　of　armour　and　flesh。
The　attack　ceased　as　quickly　as　it　had　started　as　first　one　of　the　mandrakes　stepped　into　shadow
and　was　gone；　and　then　another　and　another；　until　the　Word　Bearers　were　alone；　smoke　rising　from
the　barrels　of　their　boltguns；　and　steam　venting　from　the　cooling　chambers　of　plasma　weapons。　The
sudden　silence　was　eerie；　and　Sabtec’s　breathing　sounded　loud　in　the　confines　of　his　helmet。　The
warriors　of　the　13th　took　the　moment’s　respite　to　load　their　bolters；　dropping　empty　clips　to　the
floor。
Sabtec　turned　his　head　left　and　right；　seeking　the　enemy；　but　it　seemed　they　had　truly　gone。　Still
wary；　he　broke　from　the　circle　of　his　squad；　and　moved　cautiously　forward。
“Report；”　he　snapped。
Of　13th　coterie；　two　members　were　dead　and　one　was　missing；　taken　by　the　dark　eldar。　Three　of
the　surviving　members　were　wounded；　but　not　seriously。　The　217th　Havoc　coterie　had　fared　even
worse；　with　three　members　dead；　Namar…sin　included；　and　tissing；　leaving　only
three　members　remaining。
Sabtec　swore。
“You　three；”　he　said；　stabbing　a　finger　towards　the　remaining　warriors　of　Namar…sin’s　coterie；
“you　are　13th　now。　217th　is　dead。”
The　brother　warriors　bowed　their　heads　in　assent。　It　was　a　great　honour　to　be　taken　into　the
hallowed　13th　coterie；　but　they　had　fought　as　part　of　the　217th　under　Namar…sin　for　centuries。
Ammunition　was　running　low；　and　the　Word　Bearers　moved　amongst　their　deceased　kin；
stripping　them　of　weapons；　grenades　and　clips。　Sabtec　knelt　alongside　each　of　the　fallen　warriors；
speaking　the　oath　of　the　departed　over　each　in　turn。　With　his　combat　knife；　he　carved　an　eightpointed
star　into　the　forehead　of　each　warrior；　solemnly　intoning　the　ritualised　words；　and　daubed
their　eyelids　with　blood。
Kneeling　over　the　corpse　of　Namar…sin；　Sabtec　removed　his　helmet；　and　placed　it　on　the　floor
alongside　his　fallen　brother。　Then；　he　reverently　lifted　one　of　the　champion’s　hands　up；　and　stripped
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it　of　its　gauntlet。　Cradling　the　warrior’s　meaty　fist　in　one　hand；　he　reached　again　for　his　knife；　and
began　to　saw　through　the　champion’s　fingers；　using　the　serrated　edge　of　his　blade。
After　hacking　through　each　of　the　digits　in　turn；　he　tossed　a　severed　finger　to　each　of　the
members　of　Namar…sin’s　coterie。　He　kept　one　for　himself；　for　Namar…sin　had　been　his　battle…brother
since　the　Great　Crusade；　and　he　had　respected　the　warrior　greatly；　and　valued　his　comradeship。
He　began　to　strip　his　battle…brother’s　body；　removing　his　shoulder　plates　and　placing　them
carefully　at　his　side；　before　moving　onto　his　gorget　and　outer　chest　plates；　removing　each　piece
carefully　and　reverently。　The　other　members　of　his　squad　stood　by　solemnly。
He　pulled　the　breastplate　away　with　a　sucking　sound；　taking　with　it　the　outer　layer　of　skin　that
had　long　fused　with　the　armour。
The　flesh　of　Namar…sin’s　broad　torso　was　heavily　muscled；　and　the　tissue　of　that　muscle
glistened　wetly。　With　a　deft　movement；　Sabtec　sliced　a　deep　cut　from　the　breastbone　to　the　navel。
Inserting　his　hand　into　the　cut；　he　searched　around　in　the　chest　cavity；　groping　behind　the　thick；
fused　ribcage。　Grasping　Namar…sin’s　motionless　primary　heart；　he　pulled　it　free；　cutting　it　loose　with
his　knife。
Sabtec　stood　and　lifted　the　heart　up　in　his　bloody　hands。
“Namar…sin　was　a　mighty　warrior　and　devoted　brother　of　the　true　word；”　said　Sabtec。　“We
mourn　his　passing；　yet　rejoice；　for　his　soul　has　become　as　one　with　Chaos。　In　honour　of　his　service
in　the　name　of　Lorgar；　we　eat　of　his　flesh；　that　he　may　live　on　with　us　as　we　continue　the　Long　War
without　him；　and　that　we　may　carry　his　strength　with　us；　always。”
Lifting　the　heart　to　his　mouth；　Sabtec　took　a　bite；　ripping　the　flesh　away　with　his　teeth。　Blood
covered　his　chin；　and　he　chewed　the　lump　of　flesh　briefly　before　swallowing　it。　Then　he　stepped　in
front　of　the　first　of　the　three　remaining　warriors　that　had　belonged　to　Namar…sin’s　coterie；　offering
the　heart。
Marduk　stared　through　the　thirty…centimetre　thick　porthole　into　the　inky　blackness　beyond　as　the　lift
continued　to　power　its　way　down　into　the　Stygian　depths　of　the　ocean。　Little　could　be　seen　apart
from　occasional　bubbles　of　expanding　gas；　and　the　visage　of　his　skull　helmet　was　reflected　back　at
him；　distorted　in　the　curved　therma…glass。
“There　is　no　going　back　now；　we　have　not　the　time。　I　feel　the　threads　of　fate　weaving　together。
The　time　of　the　completion　of　this…　necessary　task；　draws　close；”　said　Marduk　with　a　hint　of
impatience　and　irritation。　“Sabtec　and　Namar…sin　are　veterans。　They　can　look　after　themselves。”
The　lift　strained　and　creaked　alarmingly　as　the　building　pressure　of　the　water　outside　pressed　in。
The　thick　metal　plates　of　the　hull；　supported　by　countless　brackets　and　thick　bolted　girders；　flexed
inwards；　groaning　like　a　beast　in　torment。
The　lift　had　descended　at　a　steady　rate；　down　the　shaft　carved　from　solid　ice。　The　rate　of　descent
slowed　as　they　reached　the　lower　crust　of　the　ice　and　plunged　into　the　sea；　before　increasing　in
speed　once　more　as　they　sank　further　into　the　icy　depths。　They　were　some　four　thousand　metres
below　the　surface；　nearing　halfway　to　the　ocean　floor。
Burias　was　pacing　back　and　forth　like　a　caged　animal；　glaring　hatefully　at　the　bulging　hull　as　if
daring　it　to　give　way。
“Be　calm；　icon　bearer；”　snapped　Marduk；　turning　away　from　the　porthole。　“Your　restlessness　is
distracting。”
Marduk　could　feel　Burias’s　impatience　like　a　living　thing；　intruding　on　his　spirit。
“