Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第21部分

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them　at　once。　Their　more　numerous　enemies　were　also　providing　them　with　cover；　and　more　than
one　traitor　fired　into　the　skirmish；　aiming　for　an　Ice　Warrior　but　striking　an　ally　instead。　Palinev
didn’t　share　that　problem。
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A　traitor　landed　a　punch　to　Gavotski’s　chin；　sending　him　reeling；　so　Palinev　blew　a　hole　in　his
head　before　he　could　press　his　advantage。　He　picked　off　another　figure　on　the　periphery　of　the　battle
before　anyone　knew　he　was　there；　and　another　two　while　they　were　trying　to　find　him　in　the
confusion。　And　then；　when　the　traitors　did　start　to　fire　back　at　him；　las…beams　blasting　chunks　from
the　stonework　by　his　head；　at　least　he　knew　that　four　or　five　of　them　were　no　longer　focused　upon
his　comrades。
He　shouldered　open　the　door　beside　him；　and　leapt　into　another　apartment　complex；　even　as　a
frag　grenade　rolled　into　the　space　he　had　just　vacated。　The　explosion　tore　the　door　from　its　hinges；
followed　him　down　the　corridor；　and　almost　lifted　him　off　his　feet。
He　paused　at　a　window；　fired　six　more　shots　from　a　fresh　angle；　claimed　another　kill。　Then
Palinev　was　running　again　before　he　could　be　pinned　down。
From　the　next　window；　he　saw　that　the　melee　was　thinning　out；　the　odds　becoming　more　even。
Some　of　the　traitors　were　starting　to　disengage；　to　realise　that　they　would　be　better　off　gaining　some
distance　and　using　their　guns。
Barreski　charged　two　of　them。　They　set　their　bayonets　to　greet　him　—　but　the　gauntlet　he　was
wearing　on　his　right　arm　crackled　with　energy；　and　with　one　well…timed　swipe　he　knocked　the
weapons　right　out　of　their　hands。
He　drove　his　gauntlet　into　a　traitor’s　stomach；　doubling　him　up　with　pain；　causing　him　to　cough
up　blood　as　he　crumpled。　The　other　traitor　grappled　with　him；　tried　to　wrest　the　gauntlet　from　him；
but　Barreski　gripped　him　by　the　front　of　his　flak　jacket　and　tossed　him　almost　casually　over　his
shoulder。　The　traitor　described　a　graceless　arc；　his　arms　and　legs　flailing；　and　slammed　into　the　side
of　a　building。
Pozhar　was　dragged　clear　of　the　others；　thrown　against　a　balcony　rail；　a　ten…storey　drop　behind
him。　With　his　injured　arm；　he　couldn’t　draw　his　lasgun　in　time。　Two　traitors　shoulder…charged　him；
trying　to　force　him　over。　Palinev　fired　at　them；　and　managed　to　strike　one　between　the　shoulder
blades；　taking　him　down。
His　heart　leapt　into　his　mouth　as　Pozhar　toppled　backwards；　flipping　over　the　railing；　but
somehow　managing　to　take　his　remaining　attacker　with　him。　Palinev　leapt　out　of　his　window；　and
raced　across　the　street；　fearing　that　he　was　already　too　late；　only　too　well　aware　that　he　had　no　cover
out　here；　but　knowing　that　the　rest　of　his　squad　were　tied　up　with　their　own　problems。　He　was
Pozhar’s　only　hope。
His　sudden　appearance　took　the　traitors　by　surprise　—　and　like　Palinev’s　comrades；　most　of
them　had　their　hands　full。　He　reached　the　railing；　and　found　Pozhar　clinging　one…handed　to　the　edge
of　the　road　beneath　it；　the　traitor　hanging　from　his　waist；　still　trying　to　drag　him　down。
It　would　be　a　tough　shot。　Palinev　took　the　time　to　steady　his　aim；　tried　to　forget　the　imminent
danger　to　himself。　His　las…beam　struck　the　Traitor　Guardsman　in　the　face；　and　he　lost　his　hold　on
Pozhar　and　fell　with　a　bloodcurdling　scream。
And　Palinev　turned　to　find　a　knife…wielding　traitor　barrelling　towards　him；　just　in　time　to
sidestep　and　to　fling　the　man　over　his　shoulder；　to　join　his　comrade　below。
For　the　longest　time；　Gavotski　hadn’t　known　where　he　was；　hadn’t　seen　any　comrades　beyond
Colonel　Steele　to　his　immediate　left　and　Blonsky　to　his　right；　hadn’t　known　how　many　Traitor
Guardsmen　were　still　standing；　hadn’t　been　able　to　see　a　way　out　of　this　for　himself　or　for　any　of
them。
All　he　could　do　was　keep　fighting；　keep　swinging　his　lasgun；　keep　slashing　with　his　knife；　keep
dodging　the　blows　that　were　aimed　at　him　in　return。　Gavotski　prided　himself　that　he　was　still　a
strong　man；　almost　as　strong　as　he　had　been　in　his　youth；　and　the　reactions　of　his　opponents　as　he
struck　at　them　confirmed　this　in　the　most　satisfying　way。　With　every　traitor　that　fell；　landing　in　a
growing　pile　at　the　sergeant’s　feet；　it　became　harder　for　the　next　one　to　reach　him。
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And　then；　to　his　surprise；　there　was　nobody　left。　He　regained　his　bearings；　and　saw　that　they　had
done　it；　they　had　broken　through　the　cordon　—　that；　although　there　would　certainly　be　yet　more　foes
searching　for　the　Ice　Warriors；　perhaps　already　coming　up　behind　them；　the　way　ahead　was　clear　for
the　moment；　and　Gavotski　yelled　out　for　the　others　to　follow　him　as　he　took　it。
Once　again；　they　sprinted　through　the　streets；　and　Gavotski　prickled　with　fresh　hope；　knowing
that　each　step　was　taking　them　closer　to　their　goal。
It　couldn’t　last。　He　knew　that。　But　it　ended　sooner　than　he　had　hoped。
As　before；　it　was　Steele　who　heard　the　incoming　platoon　first；　who　tried　to　find　a　way　around　it。
This　time；　however；　his　options　were　more　limited　by　the　Traitor　Guardsmen；　the　remnants　of　the
first　platoon；　still　pursuing　them。
They　found　themselves　outside　a　censorium；　and　Gavotski　was　disheartened　when　Steele　turned
and　led　his　squad　inside　the　building。　They　clambered　over　upturned　filing　cabinets；　and　kicked　up
the　ashes　that　were　all　that　remained　of　hundreds　of　thousands　of　Imperial　documents。　A　few　of　the
Ice　Warriors　took　up　sniping　positions　in　the　frames　of　the　shattered　ground　floor　windows；　but
Gavotski　followed　Palinev　and　Blonsky　up　a　flight　of　stairs　in　search　of　a　better　vantage　point
above。
He　looked　out　onto　the　street　again；　and　saw　that　two　squads　of　traitors　had　just　turned　into　it；
one　from　each　end。　Steele’s　senses　had　saved　the　Ice　Warriors　again；　warning　them　that　they　were
surrounded。
It　took　the　traitors　a　moment　to　work　out　where　their　prey　had　disappeared　to。　By　the　time　they
had；　almost　half　of　them　were　dead。　Gavotski　leaned　out　of　his　window；　pumping　out　las…beam　after
las…beam　on　full　auto　as　the　remaining　traitors　scattered；　feeling　a　momentary　catharsis　with　each
one　that　fell。　It　was　not　enough；　though；　to　quell　the　searing　frustration　inside　him。
The　last　thing　the　Ice　Warriors　had　wanted　was　a　siege　situation。　The　last　thing　they　could　afford
was　to　be　trapped。
A　traitor　ventured　into　view　with　a　frag　grenade　in　his　hand。　Gavotski　fired　at　him　before　he
could　hurl　it；　and　his　beam　was　joined　by　two　more　from　the　windows　below　him。　A　second　later；
another　traitor　tried　the　same　stunt；　but　Palinev　and　Blonsky　made　just　as　short　work　of　him。
This　was　getting　them　nowhere。　The　traitors　had　time　on　their　side。　Word　of　the　Ice　Warriors’
presence　would　have　spread；　and　for　every　traitor　they　felled　there　could　be　no　doubt　that　ten　more
were　on　their　way　to　replace　him。　They　needed　a　way　out；　and　they　needed　it　fast。
No　sooner　had　Gavotski　formed　that　thought　than　the　whole　of　the　censorium　trembled　with　a
powerful　explosion；　showering　him　with　mortar　from　the　ceiling；　almost　knocking　him　off　his　feet。
For　a　second；　he　feared　that　a　traitor　had　somehow；　unseen　by　him；　run　the　gauntlet　of　the　Ice
Warriors’　las…fire　and　managed　to　lob　a　frag　grenade　into　the　building。　But　then　Steele’s　voice
drifted　up　to　him：
“Everybody；”　yelled　the　colonel；　“down　here！”
They　raced　down　ten　flights　of　a　winding　metal　staircase；　which　rang　and　shook　with　the　impacts　of
eight　pairs　of　boots。
It　had　been　Mikhaelev　who　had　offered　up　the　demolition　charge。　Barreski　had　helped　him　set　it
up　in　the　censorium’s　basement；　standing　the　cylindrical　shell　on　its　end　to　focus　its　explosive　power
downwards。　Grayle’s　ears　still　rang　with　the　force　of　the　blast；　but　it　had　achieved　the　desired
results。
A　hole　had　been　blown　through　the　building’s　foundations　—　and；　peering　into　it；　Grayle　had
been　pleased　to　see　the　remains　of　a　top…floor　apartment。　The　Ice　Warriors　had　dropped　into　the
room　one　by　one；　looking　for　a　way　down；　and　now　at　last　they　burst　out　onto　the　street　of　the　hive
level　below。
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They　were　greeted　by　las…fire。　The　traitors；　having　just　worked　out　where　their　foes　had　gone；
were　crowding　the　balconies　above　them。　Steele　kept　his　squad　moving；　steering　clear　of　open
squares；　hugging　the　walls　of　buildings；　making　sharp　turns　beneath　archways　and　bridges。
The　strategy　proved　successful。　The　fire　from　above　dropped　off；　the　traitors　finding　it　hard　to
track　the　fugitives　below　them；　impossible　to　target　them　when　they　did。　Some　of　them；　frustrated；
were　swarming　down　ladders；　just　trying　to　get　closer；　but　making　themselves　easy　pickings　for　the
Ice　Warriors’　guns。
They　were　gaining　ground；　putting　their　foes　behind　them；　closing　in　on　the　Ice　Palace；　and　for　a
moment　Grayle　thought　they　might　actually　make　it。　But　then；　the　deep…throated　roar　of　an　engine
heralded　the　onset　of　a　new　peril。
Steele　must　have　heard　the　bike　coming　—　but　it　was　too　fast；　there　had　been　no　chance　of
avoiding　it。　It　shot　out　from　a　narrow　alleyway；　squat　and　black；　its　twin…linked　bolters　spitting　out
death　metal。
Even　ridden　by　a　cultist　or　a　traitor；　it　would　have　presented　a　significant　threat　to　the　Ice
Warriors。　But　the　rider　of　this　bike　was　no　mere　traitor。　His　eyes　were　dead；　his　face　criss…crossed
with　badly　stitched　scars；　and　his　features　warped　so　that　his　lips　were　forever　twisted　into　a
disdainful　leer。　The　rider’s　muscular　frame　was　made　even　bulkier；　more　imposing；　by　a　suit　of　jetblack
power　armour　—　and　that　armour　had　been　daubed　with　red　Chaos　sigils；　and　bristled　with
spikes　on　which　had　been　impaled　a　number　of　cracked；　blank…eyed　skulls。
A　Chaos　Space　Marine！
He　was　standing　in　his　broad　saddle；　leaning　eagerly　over　his　handlebars；　slashing　at　the　air　with
a　chattering　chainsword。　Grayle　found　himself　running　at　full　pelt；　almost　before　Steele　had　given
the　order　to　do　so；　with　Gavotski；　Blonsky　and　Pozhar　beside　him。
He　hesitated　as　he　reached　the　nearest　corner；　glanced　back；　and　saw　that　Palinev　had　actually
run　at　the　oncoming　monster。　The　Chaos　Space　Marine　swiped　at　the　scout　with　his　chainsword。
Palinev　twisted　nimbly　and　avoided　the　blow　by　a　hair’s　breadth。　It　was　one　of　the　bravest　things
Grayle　had　seen；　albeit　somewhat　undermined　by　the　terrified　expression　on　Palinev’s　face。　It
seemed　he　had　put　a　little　too　much　trust　in　his　own　speed　and　agility；　hadn’t　expected　the　sword　to
cut　quite　as　close　as　it　had。
He　slipped　around　behind　the　bike　and　was　gone；　haring　up　the　alleyway　from　which　it　had
emerged。　The　Chaos　Space　Marine　tried　to　wrestle　his　vehicle　around　on　its　axis；　to　follow；　but　only
succeeded　in　unseating　himself　—　as　Palinev　had　no　doubt　hoped　he　would。　He　fell　hard　on　his
shoulder；　and　the　bike　veered　off　into　a　wall；　but　its　rider　was　back　on　his　feet　in　a　second。
Grayle　didn’t　wait　to　see　what　he　did　next；　who　he　would　go　after。　Whichever　of　the　Ice
Warriors　drew　the　short　straw；　he　would　probably　end　up　dead　—　and　the　only　chance　the　rest　of
them　had　was　to　be　long　gone　before　that　happened。　So；　Grayle　and　Pozhar　ran　one　way；　Gavotski
and　Blonsky　the　other；　and　Grayle　was　so　worried　about　what　might　be　closing　behind　him　that　he
almost　didn’t　see　what　was　waiting　ahead。
He　was　rushed　by　two　traitors；　one　from　each　side。　He　sidestepped　the　first；　and　greeted　t