Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第14部分

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Palinev　dropped　onto　his　stomach；　scrambling　the　rest　of　the　way　up　on　his　elbows。　Cautiously；
he　raised　his　head　—　and　his　heart　leapt　into　his　throat。
The　night　had　well　and　truly　fallen；　over　an　hour　ago。　There　was　no　moon　in　the　sky；　and　few
stars。　Even　Palinev　could　barely　see　his　hand　in　front　of　his　face。　Still；　Gavotski　had　insisted　they
press　on。　It　was　what　Steele　would　have　wanted。
Gavotski　had　asked　his　troopers　to　carry　the　colonel　two　at　a　time；　in　shifts。　Instead；　Borscz　had
volunteered　to　do　the　job　alone。　He　had　slung　Steele’s　unconscious　body　across　his　shoulders　and
hefted　him　with　apparent　ease。
And　now　they　had　reached　their　goal　at　last。
At　least；　their　scout　had　reached　it。　The　ship　lay　beneath　him：　an　Aquila　lander；　its　red　wings
proudly　unfurled　like　those　of　the　two…headed　Imperial　eagle　after　which　it　had　been　designed　and
named。　But　this　eagle’s　back　was　broken；　its　legs　buckled。　It　sagged　in　the　middle；　listing　to　one
side；　and　it　took　Palinev　a　minute　to　locate　its　detached　and　half…buried　tail　fin　through　his　field
goggles。
This；　then；　was　the　ship　in　which　Confessor　Wollkenden　had　been　travelling；　the　ship　that　had
been　shot　down；　the　ship　that　Colonel　Steele　and　his　squad　of　Ice　Warriors　had　been　dispatched　to
find。　And；　in　confirmation　of　their　paymasters’　worst　fears；　there　had　been　a　battle　here。　A　battle
that　the　Imperium　had　lost。
The　ground　was　strewn　with　burnt　and　broken　bodies。　Bodies　in　red　and　gold。　Palinev　swept　the
goggles　over　them；　searching　for　a　hint　of　Ecclesiarchal　robes　among　them。　There　was　still　a　chance
that　Wollkenden　had　escaped　the　carnage；　and　let　his　willing　guards　lay　down　their　lives　for　him。
Without　a　closer　inspection；　though；　it　was　impossible　to　tell　for　sure。
And　for　now；　Palinev　was　more　concerned　with　the　living。
Chaos　cultists。　The　area　in　front　of　the　lander　teemed　with　them：　ordinary　men　and　women；
once；　most　likely　born　on　Cressida　itself。　They　had　probably　worked　in　its　mines；　served　the
Emperor　in　exchange　for　His　shelter　and　His　succour。　Until　their　minds　had　snapped。　Until　they　had
succumbed　to　the　infection　of　their　world。　Now；　they　dressed　in　robes　of　black　and　prayed　to　a
different　pantheon。　Some　had　even　had　their　faces　tattooed　with　the　obscene　eight…pointed　star　of　the
Chaos　gods。
The　cultists　had　built　a　fire；　and　gathered　around　it　to　warm　themselves。　Its　bright　orange　flames
ruined　Palinev’s　night　vision；　but　on　the　plus　side　they　cast　a　spotlight　on　his　enemies　while
deepening　the　darkness　around　him。
The　cultists　had　been　looting　the　stricken　lander　—　or　rather；　they　had　been　directing　a　number
of　grovelling　mutant　slaves　to　do　the　job　for　them。　Two　especially　deformed　specimens　appeared　in
the　hatchway；　struggling　ent　locker。　It　got　out　of　their　control　and　hit　the
ground　with　a　crash；　and　an　enraged　cultist　yelled　in　the　mutants’　faces　and　assaulted　one　of　them
with　a　lasgun　butt。
One　thing　was　clear　in　Palinev’s　mind：　if　Confessor　Wollkenden　was　indeed　alive；　then　he　was　a
long　way　from　here。
Gavotski　concurred　with　that　assessment。
“We　need　to　capture　a　few　of　those　men　alive；”　he　considered；　“make　one　of　them　talk。　Have
they　seen　the　confessor？　Are　they　holding　him？”　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　because　the　enemy　camp
was　only　a　few　hundred　metres　away。
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“How　many　did　you　see；　Palinev？”　Pozhar　asked　eagerly。
“It　was　hard　to　tell；”　said　the　scout；　“in　the　dark　and　with　all　the　activity。　At　least　ten　cultists；
maybe　four　or　five　mutants；　although　there　could　have　been　more　inside　the　lander。　They　didn’t
seem　too　well…equipped。”
“From　the　way　you　describe　it；”　said　Mikhaelev；　“we　have　the　terrain　on　our　side　this　time。　We
can　take　cover　at　the　top　of　that　rise；　start　shooting　and　have　half　of　them　down　before　they　know
where　we　are。”
Palinev　nodded。　“There’s　nowhere　for　them　to　run。”
Gavotski　had　been　worried　about　leading　the　squad　into　combat　again　today。　They　were　clearly
exhausted；　although　none　of　them　would　have　admitted　to　it。　He　was　feeling　the　effects　of　his
exertions　himself。　But　Mikhaelev　was　right；　this　seemed　like　it　would　be　an　easy　victory　for　them　—
and　maybe　they　needed　that　right　now。
And　then　there　was　the　ship；　of　course。　If　the　Ice　Warriors　could　recapture　it；　then　it　could
provide　them　with　shelter　and　some　warmth　for　the　night。　They　would　all　benefit　from　that；　Steele　in
particular。　Borscz　had　set　the　colonel　down　while　they　talked。　He　had　settled　into　what　seemed　like
a　comfortable　sleep；　his　breathing　deep　and　regular；　and　his　colour　was　improving。
“OK；”　said　Gavotski　at　length；　“let’s　do　this。　Barreski；　Mikhaelev；　take　point。　Palinev；　if　you　can
sneak　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　camp；　or　as　near　as　you　can　manage；　you　can　pin　the　cultists
down　if　they　start　to　run。　Everyone　try　to　avoid　hitting　the　lander；　I　don’t　want　it　damaged　any　more
than　it　is　already。　That　means　no　explosives；　Barreski。　There’s　a　small　chance　that　the　engines　are
still—”
He　didn’t　get　any　further。
Steele’s　eyes　snapped　open；　and　he　opened　his　mouth　and　let　out　a　long；　full…throated　scream。　A
scream　that　the　cultists　couldn’t　have　failed　to　hear。
Pozhar　didn’t　wait　for　orders；　didn’t　even　wait　for　the　echoes　of　the　scream　to　die　down。　The　enemy
knew　where　they　were。　Any　second　now　they　would　appear　at　the　top　of　the　rise　that　separated
them；　start　picking　off　the　Ice　Warriors　like　targets　on　a　range。　Unless　the　Ice　Warriors　could　gain
and　secure　that　vantage　point　first。
Pozhar　raced　as　fast　as　he　could；　threw　himself　onto　his　stomach　at　the　top　of　the　slope；　and
started　firing　before　he　knew　what　he　was　firing　at。　He　was　rewarded　by　the　sounds　of　growls　and
squeals。　The　cultists　had　sent　the　mutants　ahead；　and　before　Pozhar　knew　what　was　happening　one
of　them　had　crested　the　rise；　between　his　las…beams；　and　leapt　upon　him。
It　was　a　huge；　shambling　creature；　covered　in　grey　fur。　It　hit　Pozhar　like　a　brick；　and　tried　to
wrest　his　lasgun　from　him。　He　fought　it；　and　they　rolled　down　the　slope　together。　As　they　reached　its
foot；　Borscz　leapt　into　the　melee；　and　seized　the　mutant’s　head　between　his　hands　as　if　he　thought　he
could　crack　its　skull　open　—　but　it　was　too　strong；　even　for　him。　With　an　animal　roar；　it　broke　his
hold　and　rounded　on　him。
The　mutant　lashed　out　with　a　gnarled　talon；　and　Borscz　wasn’t　fast　enough　to　back　out　of　its
way。　Three　parallel　tears　opened　across　his　chest；　and　the　burly　Ice　Warrior　went　down。
The　mutant　turned　to　Pozhar　again　as　he　was　still　scrambling　to　his　feet；　still　fumbling　with　his
weapon。　It　leapt　at　him；　and　he　delivered　four　rapid…fire　bursts　to　its　stomach；　but　they　weren’t
enough　to　stop　it。　He　went　down　for　a　second　time；　with　the　creature　on　top　of　him；　bleeding　onto
him。　Its　brow　was　low；　pronounced；　and　its　narrow；　crazed　eyes　bored　into　Pozhar’s　skull　as　he
fought　to　keep　its　blood…dripping　talons　at　bay　with　the　stock　of　his　lasgun。
It　was　Borscz　who　came　to　his　rescue　again　—　Borscz　who；　incredibly；　must　have　kept　himself
awake；　lifted　his　massive　body　from　the　ground　by　sheer　force　of　will　and　the　strength　of　his　own
two　arms。　He　landed　heavily　on　the　mutant　from　behind；　gripped　its　ribs　between　his　knees；　and
drove　his　meaty　fists　again　and　again　into　its　head　until　it　was　insensate。　Pozhar　slipped　out　from
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beneath　its　bulk　as　the　mutant　rallied；　as　it　tried　to　throw　Borscz　from　its　back　but　found　that；　this
time；　his　grip　was　unbreakable：　he　was　literally　holding　on　for　his　life。
Pozhar　fired　again；　aiming　three　more　point…blank　beams　at　the　gaping　wound　in　the　mutant’s
stomach。　He　must　have　struck　something　vital；　because　the　mutant　fell　at　last　—　but　it　fell
backwards；　and　it　landed　hard　on　top　of　the　still…clinging　Borscz。　It　was　the　final　straw　for　the　Ice
Warrior：　his　eyelids　fluttered　and　closed。　Pozhar　saw　that　his　comrade　was　still　breathing；　shallowly；
but　he　was　bleeding　from　his　chest。　Borscz　needed　synth…skin；　needed　someone　to　close　his　wounds
for　him；　and　he　needed　it　soon。　Pozhar　could　have　helped　him；　but　it　would　have　cost　him　precious
seconds；　rummaging　through　his　field　rucksack　for　his　Guard　issue　medi…pack。
He　surveyed　the　scene　around　him。　Another　four　mutants　had　appeared　over　the　rise；　all　of　them
with　the　same　grey　fur；　and　each　of　them　appeared　to　be　as　tough　as　the　first　one　had　been。　Two　of
them　were　on　fire；　no　doubt　the　work　of　Barreski　and　his　flamer；　but　still　they　fought　on。　One　of
them　had　Gavotski　in　a　bear　hug；　no　doubt　hoping　he　would　burn　with　it。　Having　seen　how　resistant
the　creatures　were　to　las…fire；　Anakora　and　Blonsky　were　attacking　it　with　bayonets；　trying　to　loosen
its　grip　on　their　sergeant。　Another　mutant　was　attempting　to　get　Palinev　in　a　similar　hold；　but　for
now　his　agility　was　keeping　him　out　of　its　clutches。
As　Pozhar　watched；　another　creature　staggered　under　a　barrage　of　las…beams　from　Grayle　and
Mikhaelev　—　staggered；　but　did　not　fall。　The　mutants　were　doing　their　job　well；　keeping　their　foes
occupied。　The　Ice　Warriors　had　given　up　all　hope　of　securing　the　rise　as　the　first　robed　cultist
appeared　at　its　top；　and　levelled　a　lasgun；　able　to　take　his　time　and　choose　his　target。
It　was　all　the　excuse　Pozhar　needed。　He　abandoned　the　fallen；　bleeding；　dying　Borscz　and
charged　back　into　the　fray。
The　burning　mutant　could　ignore　Blonsky　and　Anakora　no　longer。
It　let　go　of　Gavotski；　who　dropped　and　rolled　in　the　snow　to　extinguish　the　flamer　chemicals　that
had　stuck　to　his　greatcoat。　The　mutant　lashed　out　at　Anakora；　but　she　parried　its　talon　with　her
lasgun。　For　an　instant；　the　creature　was　wide　open　to　Blonsky；　and　he　took　great　pleasure　in　driving
his　bayonet　through　one　of　its　narrow　eyes。　It　howled　and　recoiled；　but　he　stayed　with　it；　driving　the
spike　further　into　its　head　like　a　corkscrew；　simultaneously　blasting　at　its　simian　face　with　las…fire。
The　merest　touch　of　this　aberration；　the　brush　of　its　fur　against　his　elbow；　the　spatter　of　its　blood
on　his　skin；　made　him　feel　unclean。　Like　the　cultists　on　the　other　side　of　the　rise；　like　all　of　the
insane　devotees　of　Chaos；　it　must　have　been　human　once。　It　must　have　known；　back　then；　that　this
was　what　the　future　held　for　it；　must　have　seen　what　lay　at　the　end　of　its　chosen　path。
Blonsky　had　no　sympathy　for　it。　It　deserved　what　its　gods　had　done　to　it。
The　mutant　died　at　last；　as　did　one　of　its　fellows；　succumbing　to　a　second　flamer　burst。　That　left
just　two。　One　was　being　kept　occupied　by　the　nimble　Palinev；　while　the　other　had　just　lost　a　claw　to
Grayle　and　Mikhaelev’s　beams　and　had　dropped　to　its　knees。　Blonsky　set　his　sights　on　Palinev’s
opponent；　but　was　suddenly　tackled　by　Anakora。　For　a　second；　as　they　fell；　he　wondered　if　her　mind
had　snapped　as　well；　if　she　had　chosen　this　moment　to　turn　traitor　—　but　then；　a　las…beam　rent　the
air　above　his　head；　and　he　realised　that　she　had　just　saved　his　life。
A　cultist　had　attained　the　top　of　the　rise；　a　perfect　sniping　position　—　and；　had　he　fired　again；
with　both　Blonsky　and　Anakora　on　the　ground；　he　could　have　killed　one　of　them。　Instead；　he　saw
Pozhar　charging　him；　gun　blazing；　and　he　turned　his　fire　upon　the　young　trooper　—　and　Pozhar　was
hit；　a　glancing　blow　to　the　shoul