Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第41部分

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Scooping　the　boy　up　in　his　arms；　who　whooped　in　excitement；　Solon　set　off；　pounding　through　the
snow；　running　madly　towards　where　the　shuttle　had　disappeared。
Reality　hit　home　like　a　punch　in　the　guts。　No　one　would　be　coming　back。　The　shuttle　was
probably　heading　to　Sholto　guild　to　pick　up　rich　merchants；　or　other　high　guilders　of　influence。　No
one　would　be　coming　to　find　an　orphan　and　a　lowly　crawler　mule。
He　slowed　his　pace；　feeling　suddenly　exhausted；　and　dropped　Dios　back　down　to　the　ground。
The　boy　looked　up　at　him　in　confusion。　Solon　avoided　the　boy’s　eye　contact；　hanging　his　head　and
putting　his　hands　on　his　thighs；　leaning　forward　as　he　strained　to　catch　his　breath。
Dios　reached　out　to　him；　taking　hold　of　his　hand　and　urging　him　on。　Solon　angrily　shook　his
hand　free。　Again；　the　boy　reached　for　him；　and　Solon　swatted　his　hand　away。
“It’s　over；　boy！”　he　shouted；　suddenly　enraged。　“Don’t　you　get　it？　There　is　no　salvation。　No　one
is　coming　to　help　us！　We　are　going　to　die　out　here；　and　no　one　is　going　to　know。　No　one　is　going　to
care！”
Dios　stared　back　at　Solon　blankly；　and　Solon　fell　forward　to　his　hands　and　knees；　tears　welling
in　his　eyes。
“No　one　is　coming；”　he　said　again；　this　time　more　softly　as　despair　washed　over　him。　“No　one　is
coming。”
Dios　stepped　alongside　him；　putting　his　arm　around　Solon’s　shoulders；　and　he　felt　all　the　tension
and　fear　within　him　well　up。　The　tears　ran　freely；　and　Solon　was　glad　that　the　hood　of　his　exposure
suit　hid　them　from　the　boy。　After　a　few　minutes；　a　calmness　descended　over　Solon；　and　he　took　a
deep　breath。
He　looked　up　at　Dios；　who　was　peering　at　him　in　concern；　and　he　gave　the　boy　a　smile。
Solon　pushed　himself　wearily　to　his　feet　and　checked　the　digi…compass　beneath　a　flap　of　canvas
on　his　left　arm；　realigning　himself　with　the　direction　of　the　Phorcys　starport；　which　he　guessed　was
still　a　day　and　half’s　hike　away。　Nodding　to　Dios；　he　set　off　again　in　that　direction；　but　a　tugging　at
his　belt　gave　him　pause。
Dios　was　gesturing　in　the　direction　that　the　shuttle　had　taken。
“No；　Dios。　It　wasn’t　coming　for　us。　I’m　sorry；　boy。”　Still；　the　orphan　was　insistent；　gesturing
more　emphatically　in　the　opposite　direction　that　Solon　had　set　off　in。
With　a　sigh；　he　gave　in；　and　turned　back。　Dios　leapt　forwards　enthusiastically；　grabbing　hold　of
his　hand　and　dragging　him　through　the　snow；　into　the　billowing　ice　storm。
They　had　moved　perhaps　a　kilometre　through　the　snow　when　the　wind　changed　direction；
blowing　the　banks　of　fog　and　ice　away　to　the　west；　leaving　the　view　out　in　front　suddenly　clear。
Solon　could　see　further　than　he　had　done　for　months；　and　he　marvelled　at　the　display　of　colour　that
danced　across　the　heavens。
It　was　called　the　Aurealis　Skyllian；　and　it　was　said　that　the　phenomenon　occurred　only　under
specific　atmospheric　conditions。　Solon　had　seen　it　only　twice　before　in　his　lifetime；　once　when　he
was　a　boy；　a　week　after　his　father　had　died　in　a　mining　accident；　and　again　on　the　first　night　he　had
spent　on　the　foreign　and　terrifying　ice　crawlers；　just　after　he　had　been　expelled　from　the　guild。　Both
times　had　been　momentous　occasions　in　his　life；　and　this　one　would　prove　likewise；　for　there；　on　the
ice；　a　kilometre　away；　lit　up　by　the　eerie；　heavenly　light　in　the　dark　sky　overhead；　was　the　shuttle。
It　was　settling　on　the　ice　flow；　and　Solon　again　felt　his　spirits　soar。　They　were　stopping　for　them！
Even　if　they　had　not　actually　seen　the　two　refugees　tramping　across　the　ice；　it　didn’t　matter。　What
mattered　was　that　the　shuttle　was　landing；　and　it　was　within　their　reach。
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A　desperate　fear　that　the　shuttle　would　leave　again　before　they　reached　it　filled　Solon；　and　again
he　scooped　up　Dios　in　his　arms；　and　began　to　plough　his　way　through　the　snow。
Salvation　had　come；　at　last。
Thank　the　Emperor；　thought　Solon。
“The　Idolator　is　inbound；”　said　Kol　Badar’s　voice；　“touching　down　over　the　ridge　to　the　north。”
“Good；”　said　Marduk。
The　Land　Raiders　had　outrun　the　downpour　of　xenos　spores；　and　there　had　been　no　enemy
contact　for　almost　an　hour。　Nevertheless；　sensors　indicated　that　the　waves　of　inbound　spores　were
intensifying；　and　their　spread　widening。
“Be　ready　for　disembarkation；”　Marduk　snapped　at　the　warriors　in　the　Land　Raider。　“Two
minutes　and　counting。”
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CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
“Baranov；”　said　Eustenov；　the　pilot　of　the　Rapture；　“they　are　pulling　us　in。　Five　minutes。”
The　smuggler；　rogue　trader　and　sometimes　blockade…runner　leant　forward　over　the　back　of　his
pilot；　peering　into　the　blackness　of　space　ahead；　on　the　shadow…side　of　the　doomed　planet　Perdus
Skylla。　The　sleek　shape　of　the　ship　that　the　Rapture　was　to　dock　with　could　barely　be　seen；　even　at
this　distance；　and　he　shook　his　head；　marvelling　at　the　technology　that　concealed　it。　It　was　merely　a
part　of　the　surrounding　darkness；　though　the　bladed　vales　that　protruded　from　its　length　like　the　fins
of　a　fish　gleamed　sharply　as　the　forward　lights　of　the　Rapture　swept　across　them。
Patting　the　clearly　nervous　pilot　on　the　shoulder；　Baranov　turned　and　stalked　towards　the　rear
compartment　of　his　trading　vessel；　where　members　of　the　wealthy　elite　of　Perdus　Skylla　were
housed。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　gathering　himself；　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　brow。　Then；　with　a
casual；　relaxed　smile　on　his　face；　he　placed　his　palm　on　the　register　panel　beside　the　door…frame。
The　portal　slid　silently　aside　and　he　strode　confidently　through。
The　gathered　nobles　and　upper　guild　officials　were　lounging　on　the　low；　cushioned　couches
within；　sipping　from　glasses　filled　with　the　finest　amasec　that　Baranov　could　obtain。　Each　bottle　had
cost　him　a　small　fortune；　but　it　mattered　not　when　compared　with　the　price　the　Perdus　Skyllans　had
already　paid　him；　and　the　wealth　that　he　was　promised　from　his　employers。
Surgically　enhanced　beauties；　the　courtesans　and　mistresses　of　these　fine；　upstanding　gentlemen；
were　laughing　gaily　as　they　sipped　from　their　high　glasses；　and　gave　each　other　venomous　glances
behind　their　masters’　backs。　The　men　were　gathered　in　small　groups；　talking　earnestly　about
whatever　they　talked　about；　probably　their　latest　guild　takeover　moves；　or　their　strategies　for　the
future。
No　one　paid　any　mind　to　Baranov　as　he　stood　before　them。　He　was　as　invisible　as　a　servant；　and
he　cleared　his　throat　to　gain　their　attention。
“How　far　are　we　from　the　Imperial　fleet；　Baranov？”　huffed　a　heavily　jowled　guild　senator；　and
the　rogue　trader　held　up　a　hand　to　forestall　him。
“My　most　esteemed　companions；”　he　said　with　a　broad　smile；　his　voice　raised　over　the　din　of
chatter；　“I　come　to　inform　you　that　we　are　nearing　our　destination。　I　hope　that　you　have　been
comfortable　on　your　journey；　and　I　apologise　for　any　inconvenience　that　the　turbulence　we
experienced　earlier　caused　you。　Alas；　it　was　a　necessary　inconvenience。　It　was　as　if　the　loathsome
xenos　were　determined　to　make　your　lives　less　comfortable；　abominable　creatures；　all　of　them。”
Baranov　raised　a　hand　as　murmuring　rippled　across　the　gathered　group；　and　gasps　came　from
several　of　the　courtesans。
“Have　no　fear；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　the　bulk　of　the　xenos　fleet　is　attacking　Perdus　Skylla　from
galactic　east；　on　the　far　side　of　the　planet。　You　were　in　little　real　danger；　and　my　pilot；　dear
Eustenov；　is　the　finest　pilot　in　the　eastern　quadrant。　Only　the　best　for　such　vaunted　company；”　he
said；　bowing　with　a　flourish。
The　lie　came　easily　to　Baranov’s　lips。　In　truth；　the　Rapture　was　lucky　to　have　avoided
destruction；　as　several　of　the　spores　launched　from　the　still　distant　tyranid　hive　fleets　had　come
perilously　close　to　colliding　with　his　ship。　It　had　taken　more　luck　than　skill　to　avoid　them。
“We　will　be　docking　in　around　two　minutes；”　said　Baranov；　checking　the　time　on　his　wristpiece。
“It　has　been　a　pleasure　to　have　such　esteemed　guests　aboard　the　Rapture。　Never　before　has
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such　a　fine　group　of　individuals　graced　its　humble　decks；　and　I　shall　look　back　upon　the　service　I
was　able　to　perform　with　pleasure　for　many　years　to　come。”
Many　of　the　nobles　refused　even　to　look　at　him；　but　Baranov　didn’t　care。
“Many　years　to　come　indeed；”　he　said　again；　more　softly；　and　bowing　with　a　flourish；　he
returned　to　the　shuttle’s　cockpit；　thinking　of　what　he　would　do　with　his　new…found　wealth。
“Hurry；　Dios；”　said　Solon　as　he　raced　through　the　snow　towards　the　landed　shuttle。　The　effort　of
carrying　the　boy　had　all　but　exhausted　him；　and　now　the　boy　was　running　along　behind　him；　his　eyes
wide　with　excitement　and　hope。
They　were　no　more　than　fifty　metres　from　the　shuttle；　and　he　could　see　the　embarkation　deck　at
the　rear　of　the　fuselage　lowering　to　the　ground；　beckoning　him。　Salvation！
With　a　burst　of　speed；　Dios　overtook　him；　laughing　as　he　ran；　but　then　the　boy　stopped　short；
freezing　in　place。　Laughing；　Solon　drew　to　a　halt　next　to　the　boy；　a　smile　on　his　lips。
“Isn’t　it　the　most　wonderful　sight　you’ve　ever　seen？”　he　breathed；　his　heart　pumping　from　the
exertion。
Dios’s　eyes　were　locked　on　something　in　the　distance；　something　moving　fast。　Squinting
through　the　darkness；　Solon　could　see　four　shapes　moving　rapidly　across　the　ice　flow；　a　white
backwash　kicking　up　behind　them。
“Interdiction　forces？”　said　Solon；　but　the　vehicles　were　not　the　uniform　white　of　the　moon’s
military　forces。　They　were　the　colour　of　congealed　blood；　and　a　shiver　ran　down　Solon’s　spine　as　he
looked　upon　them。　They　were　larger　than　any　Interdiction　vehicle　he　had　ever　seen；　for　even　without
landmarks　for　reference　to　give　the　vehicles　scale；　he　could　see　that　they　were　massive。
Solon　began　to　walk　slowly　towards　the　waiting　shuttle；　but　a　sudden　wave　of　fear　struck　him；
and　he　dropped　to　his　belly；　dragging　Dios　down　into　the　snow　with　him。　Sponson…mounted
weaponry　on　the　vehicles；　which　could　only　have　been　battle　tanks；　turned　in　their　direction。
Solon　and　Dios　watched　with　growing　panic　as　the　four　battle　tanks　drew　nearer；　and　they　could
see　that　their　hulls　were　covered　in　chains；　spikes　and　blasphemous　runes。　Skulls　were　rammed　onto
sharpened　metal　stakes　that　ran　in　ridges　down　the　flanks　of　the　massive　machines；　and　strips　of
parchment　were　plastered　to　their　sides；　half　obscured　by　snow　and　ice。
The　first　of　the　tanks　ground　to　a　halt　before　the　shuttle；　and　dark　smoke　rose　from　its　exhaust
stacks。　An　assault　ramp　at　the　front　of　the　vehicle　slammed　down　on　to　the　ice；　and　giants　dressed　in
red　plate　armour　emerged。
Solon　had　only　heard　stories　about　the　blessed　Space　Marines　that　protected　humanity；　and　he
had　never　dreamed　in　his　wildest　fantasies　that　he　would　ever　get　a　chance　to　lay　eyes　on　the　nighon
mythical　warriors　of　the　Emperor。　They　were　the　Emperor’s　chosen；　biologically　enhanced
warriors　that　were　as　strong　as　ten　men；　armed　with　the　most　advanced　weaponry　the　Adeptus
Mechanicus　could　provide；　and　armoured　in　heavy　plate　that　could　withstand　a　direct　hit　from　a
Leman　Russ　battle　tank；　so　it　was　said。　They　were　the　finest　fighting　force　that　the　galaxy　had　ever
seen；　and　it　was　said　that　nothing　could　stand　against　them。　Looking　upon　the　divine　warriors；　Solon
could　well　believe　it；　though　these　warriors　looked　more　like　bloodthirsty　butchers　than　holy
protectors　of