Ice Guard(科幻战争)-第12部分

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Mangellan　has　had　built　for　himself。”
“It　was　Gavotski　who　suggested　sending　someone　further　upwards；　to　the　roof　of　one　of　the
taller　buildings。　We　must　be　close　to　the　centre　of　the　hive；”　he　said。　“If　the　palace　is　on　this　level；　it
should　be　visible　from　up　there。　If　not；　then　we’ll　know　we’re　wasting　our　time　here。”
Palinev　volunteered　to　be　the　scout；　of　course。　Everyone　was　surprised　when　Steele　sent　Grayle
instead。
“Get　up　there；”　he　instructed；　“take　a　quick　sighting　and　come　straight　down　again。　You　still
have　your　cloak；　so　if　any　heretic　does　spot　you　he　should　think　you’re　an　ally。　Still；　I’d　rather　not
take　that　chance。”
Grayle　disappeared　into　the　apartment　building；　emerged　a　few　minutes　later　onto　one　of　its
topmost　balconies；　and　began　to　find　handholds　in　the　brickwork；　hauling　himself　all　the　way　up　to
the　roof。　It　was　only　then　that　Barreski　realised　why　it　was　that　his　fellow　tanker　had　been　assigned
to　the　task。　Grayle　was　the　only　one　of　them　who　had　a　solid　alibi　for　when　the　vox…caster　was
destroyed；　an　alibi　that　Barreski　had　provided。　He　was　the　only　one　Steele　trusted　to　stray　so　far
from　the　squad　on　his　own。
A　few　minutes　later；　Grayle　was　back；　flushed　and　breathless。
“It’s　on　this　level；　all　right；”　he　reported；　“the　Ice　Palace。　It’s　on　all　the　levels；　all　the　ones　up
here。　Its　foundations　are　a　couple　of　floors　down；　but　it　reaches　all　the　way　up　to　the　roof。　It　looks
like…　like　it’s　almost　organic；　like　it　wasn’t　built　or　carved　or　whatever；　like　it　must　have…
grown。”
“Like　the　so…called　trees　in　the　forest；”　said　Mikhaelev。
“Like　them；　yes；”　said　Grayle。　“It’s　huge；　at　least　a　kilometre　square；　and　the　area　around　it　is　in
ruins；　as　if　the　palace　just…　as　if　it　burst　through　from　below；　destroying　everything　in　its　path　as　it
sprouted　upwards。　I　could　see　bridges；　great　bridges　of　ice；　leading　across　to　it　from　the　streets。”
“How　far？”　asked　Steele。
“It　was　hard　to　tell；”　said　Grayle；　“with　the　sheer　scale　of　the　thing。　Another　three　or　four　hours；
I’d　say；　on　foot。　But　there　are　patrols　in　the　streets：　Traitor　Guard；　lots　of　them；　between　the　Ice
Palace　and　here。　I　don’t　think　it’s　safe　to　take　a　vehicle。”
“Mangellan　is　well　protected；”　said　Steele。　“I’d　expect　no　less。　The　sound　of　an　engine　won’t　go
unnoticed　up　here；　and　I　can’t　see　a　couple　of　cultists’　robes　fooling　anyone　either。”　This　was　good
news　for　Barreski；　whose　borrowed　cloak　had　been　making　his　skin　crawl　where　it　touched　his　bare
neck。　He　ripped　it　from　his　shoulders；　bundled　it　into　a　ball　and　flung　it　into　a　nearby　gutter。
“We　have　to　face　the　fact；”　said　Gavotski；　“that　we　have　come　almost　as　far　as　we　can　on　stealth
alone。　I　think　we　all　knew　from　the　start　that　our　chances　of　surviving　this　mission　were　slim。　Once
we　learned　that　Confessor　Wollkenden　had　been　brought　here；　to　this　hive…　well；　that’s　when　this
turned　into　a　suicide　run。　Most　of　us　will　die　here　today；　but　remember：　if　just　one　of　us　can　beat　the
odds；　if　one　of　us　can　escape　with　the　confessor；　then　we　will　have　won　the　kind　of　victory　that　men
sing　about。　We　will　have　secured　the　memory　of　the　Valhallan　319th　for　a　thousand　years；　and　I
think　that’s　a　cause　well　worth　fighting　for。”
The　first　patrol；　they　heard　coming。
They　took　cover　on　the　portico　of　a　great　librarium；　crouching　behind　its　pillars　as　the　welldrilled
ranks　of　a　traitor　platoon　marched　through　the　bordering　public　square。　While　the　other　Ice
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Warriors　were　watching　the　traitors；　Blonsky　watched　his　comrades。　Would　this　be　the　moment；　he
wondered；　when　one　of　them　would　make　his　move；　give　them　away？　Or　just　lose　his　nerve　and
run？
And　then　the　traitors　had　passed　them　by；　and　the　Ice　Warriors　let　out　a　collective　sigh　of　relief
—　all　except　for　Pozhar；　who　was　itching　for　a　fight　as　always　—　and　they　moved　on。
It　seemed　to　Blonsky　that　the　further　they　went　—　the　deeper　into　the　hive　—　the　colder　it
became；　in　defiance　of　all　logic。　It　had　already　been　a　long；　tiring　day；　but　Steele　set　his　usual
brusque　pace　—　and　Gavotski；　in　particular；　was　starting　to　flag；　although　he　tried　not　to　show　it。
And　then　it　came；　at　last。　The　moment　they　had　all　been　dreading。
Steele　must　have　heard　something；　seen　something；　sensed　something；　because　he　threw　himself
at　Palinev　an　instant　before　they　all　heard　the　crack　of　a　lasgun；　and　knocked　him　out　of　the　path　of
its　beam。　The　sniper　had　to　have　been　on　a　nearby　roof；　but　Blonsky　didn’t　have　time　to　locate　him。
Steele　was　running；　yelling　at　the　others　to　follow　him。　Two　more　las…beams　stabbed　into　the　street
like　lightning　bolts；　but　then　they　were　around　a　corner；　out　of　the　firing　line。
“We　can’t　just　let　them　get　away　with　that；”　protested　Pozhar；　“with　firing　at　the　Emperor’s
troops。　We　have　to—”
Gavotski　interrupted　him　firmly；　saying；　“We　can’t　kill　every　heretic　in　this　place；　much　as　we’d
like　to。　We　have　to　concentrate　on　reaching　the　Ice　Palace　—　which　means　getting　out　of　this　area
before　that　sniper　calls　in　reinforcements。”
They　ran　across　another　public　square；　through　an　ornate　archway；　and　down　another　wide
street。　Steele　was　leading　the　way；　but　he　suddenly　came　to　a　halt；　listened　for　a　moment；　reversed
direction。　They　rounded　the　corner　of　a　generatorium　relay　station　—　and　this　time；　even　Blonsky
could　hear　the　footsteps　tramping　towards　them；　forcing　them　to　revise　their　course　again。
They　made　for　a　wide　flight　of　steps　leading　up　to　the　next　hive　level。　But　four　Traitor
Guardsmen　appeared　before　them；　dropped　to　their　knees　and　fired。　The　Ice　Warriors　plunged　into　a
network　of　side　streets；　making　so　many　twists　and　turns　that　Blonsky　had　soon　lost　all　sense　of
direction。　Then　Steele　stopped　again；　listened　for　a　second；　and　growled；　“This　way！”　He　ushered
his　squad　through　the　gaping　doorway　of　a　residential　block　as　Blonsky　too　heard　the　whine　of　a
vectored　thrust　engine　and　saw　a　thin　grey　shadow　flitting　across　the　ground　behind　him。
He　suppressed　a　shiver。　Someone…　something　out　there　was　using　a　jump　pack　to　search　for
them。　And　they　all　knew　that　no　mere　Imperial　Guardsman；　traitor　or　otherwise；　had　the　strength　to
bear　such　a　device。
They　raced　along　a　carpeted　corridor。　To　each　side　of　them；　the　doors　of　once…luxurious　rooms
had　been　smashed　open。　The　furniture　in　those　rooms　had　been　trashed；　and　more　than　a　few　dead
bodies　had　been　left　behind。　Imperial　citizens；　thought　Blonsky；　who　had　tried　to　hide　in　their　homes
once　the　fighting　had　started；　who　had　died　in　them。　Cowards；　all　of　them。　They　had　got　what　they
deserved。
They　emerged　into　the　street　again；　but　the　sounds　of　footsteps　were　all　around　them。
“They’re　everywhere！”　breathed　Anakora。
“Not　quite；”　said　Steele。　“We’re　dealing　with　a　single　traitor　platoon　—　perhaps　forty　men；　fifty
at　most　—　but　they　know　this　ground　and　they　know　where　we’re　heading。　They’re　cutting　off　all
our　routes　to　the　Ice　Palace　—　and　at　the　same　time；　they’re　closing　in　behind　us；　making　sure　we
can’t　turn　back。”
“Then　we　have　to　go　through　them！”　Pozhar　declared。
Steele　looked　at　him；　then　sighed　and　nodded。
“The　palace　is　in　that　direction；”　he　said；　pointing。　“Just　remember；　all　of　you；　that　to　reach　that
palace；　to　find　Confessor　Wollkenden；　is　our　only　objective。　If　that　means　leaving　heretics　alive
behind　us；　then　so　be　it。　Let　the　virus　bombs　take　care　of　them。”
“Yes　sir；”　chorused　the　Ice　Warriors。
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“We　hit　the　traitors　hard　and　we　hit　them　fast；”　said　Gavotski。　“We　break　through　their　circle；
and　we　keep　on　running。　We　don’t　stop　for　anything。”
“Comrades；”　said　Steele；　“prepare　for　the　fight　of　your　lives。”
Blonsky　was　just　close　enough　to　Pozhar　to　hear　the　young　trooper’s　murmured　exclamation　of；
“About　damn　time！”
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CHAPTER　TWELVE
Time　to　Destruction　of　Cressida：　17。12。41
They　took　their　foes　by　surprise。
The　traitors　had　probably　expected　the　Ice　Warriors　to　go　to　ground；　to　find　a　defensible　position
—　a　secure　building；　maybe　—　from　which　they　could　sell　their　lives　dearly。　The　last　thing　they　had
considered　was　that　they　might　come　out　fighting。
Several　of　them　died　in　that　first　barrage　of　las…fire；　some　marching　right　into　the　beams　before
they　could　stop。　A　few　turned　and　fled　—　which　made　sense；　thought　Anakora；　as　these　one…time
Guardsmen　wouldn’t　have　defected　in　the　first　place　had　they　possessed　any　real　moral　fibre。
The　rest　of　them　rallied　and　returned　fire　even　as　they　looked　for　cover。　A　frag　grenade　hurled
into　their　midst　by　Steele　shredded　two　more　bodies　and　left　the　rest　reeling；　more　disoriented　than
ever。　And　then；　before　the　debris　from　the　blast　could　settle；　the　Ice　Warriors　surged　forwards；
knowing　that　to　do　so　was　to　leave　themselves　wide　open；　but　also　knowing　that　to　stay　still　was　to
invite　certain　death　at　the　hands　of　the　rest　of　the　traitors；　who　were　still　closing　in　around　them。
They　kept　their　heads　down；　relying　on　speed　and　surprise　—　and　the　las…beams　they　were
pumping　out　to　each　side　of　them　—　to　carry　them　through。　Anakora　trampled　over　traitor　corpses；
and　was　alarmed　to　find　one　of　them　still　alive；　a　gloved　hand　lashing　out　to　seize　her　by　the　ankle。
She　stumbled；　putting　out　her　hands　to　arrest　her　fall。　She　kicked　at　the　traitor’s　fingers　with　her　free
foot；　and　luckily　he　was　injured；　his　strength　drained；　because　he　let　out　a　groan　and　let　go　of　her。
She　saw　that　Palinev　had　stopped；　half…turning；　to　come　to　her　aid。　She　shook　her　head　firmly；
didn’t　need　his　help；　didn’t　want　him　to　risk　his　life　for　her。　This　was　what　she　had　feared；　after
Pozhar　had　revealed　her　secret　to　the　others：　not　that　they　would　suspect　her　motives；　but　that　they
would　think　her　weak。
Palinev　seemed　to　get　the　message；　though；　and　he　ran　on；　pausing　for　a　second　to　snatch　a
lasgun　from　a　fallen　traitor。　Anakora　realised　that　he　wanted　its　power　pack；　and　this　seemed　like　a
good　idea　—　so　she　saw　to　it　that；　by　the　time　she　caught　up　with　her　comrades；　she　was　carrying
two　extra　guns。　She　detached　the　pack　from　one　of　them　and　tossed　it　to　Pozhar；　who　seemed　like
the　trooper　most　likely　to　need　it　soon。
And　then　the　second　wave　of　traitors　was　upon　them；　moving　in　from　either　side；　threatening　to
trap　them　in　a　pincer　movement。
Pozhar　was　the　first　to　react；　running　left；　ploughing　into　the　oncoming　ranks；　swinging　his
lasgun　wildly；　one…handed　—　but　most　of　the　others　were　right　behind　him。　Anakora　found　herself
plunged　into　the　chaos　of　the　melee；　and　looked　for　her　nearest　comrade　—　Mikhaelev　—　and　she
stood　back　to　back　with　him；　as　they　fought　with　knives；　bayonets　and　even　fists　against　odds　that
were　swelling　by　the　moment；　becoming　almost　overwhelming。
Only　Palinev　held　back。　Palinev；　who　had　slipped　into　a　deep　doorway　before　he　could　be　seen　by
the　newcomers。　Palinev；　who　now　raised　his　long…las。
He　took　his　time；　choosing　his　targets　well。　His　eight　comrades　were　under　attack　by　over
twenty　traitors；　but　they　had　formed　into　a　tight　knot　so　that　only　one　or　two　men　could　attack　any　of
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　turn