Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第59章

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repentance　had　come；　calling　out　for　others　to　join　her　in　joyous　suicide；　so　that　their　souls　might
join　with　the　Emperor　in　glory。　She　grabbed　Dios　by　the　arm；　pulling　him　towards　her；　but　Solon
smashed　his　fist　into　her　face；　and　she　disappeared　into　the　crowd　once　more。
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Other　desperate　Imperial　citizens；　knowing　that　they　had　no　chance　of　getting　on　board　the　mass
transport　and　driven　mad　with　despair　and　terror；　hurled　themselves　to　their　deaths　from　the　upper
levels　of　the　starport；　screaming　for　the　Emperor　to　draw　their　souls　to　Him。　They　plummeted　down
into　the　crowds；　creating　momentary　gaps　as　they　crushed　those　beneath　them；　before　the　gaps　were
instantly　filled　with　more　desperate　people；　clambering　over　each　other　towards　the　boarding　gate。
Solon　was　nearing　the　vast　gateway　that　led　towards　the　immense　transport　ship；　and　was　being
carried　along　with　the　crowd　down　the　centre　of　the　vestibule　area　that　angled　into　the　gate。　Those
on　the　outer　edges　of　the　crowd　were　pressed　against　the　rockcrete　walls　as　they　angled　inwards；　the
weight　of　bodies　behind　them　surging　into　the　narrowing　defile　crushing　the　life　out　of　them。
Someone　stumbled　in　front　of　Solon；　and　soon　dozens　of　citizens　were　pulled　down；　screaming
and　roaring。　Dragging　Dios　behind　him；　Solon　clambered　over　the　morass　of　bodies；　uncaring　of
who　he　stamped　underfoot　in　his　desperation　to　get　to　the　gates。
A　wailing　roar　rose　from　the　crowd　as　the　immense　gates　began　to　close；　grinding　in　from　either
side；　and　Solon　pushed　on　with　added　fury；　smashing　people　aside　as　he　strove　towards　the　front。
He　was　only　fifteen　metres　from　the　gates；　and　he　surged　forwards；　pulling　those　in　front　down
and　clambering　over　them　in　desperation。　Skyllan　Interdiction　Forces　were　screaming　out　over　the
crowd　on　loudhailers；　ordering　them　back；　but　no　one　listened　to　their　words。　The　gates　continued　to
close；　the　press　unbearable；　and　Solon　was　pushed　back　further　from　the　gates；　crying　in　anguish。
Once　again；　the　crowd　surged；　and　more　people　fell　to　the　ground。　A　gap　opened　up；　and　Solon
stumbled　forwards；　pulling　Dios　behind　him；　towards　the　closing　gate。
The　Skyllan　Interdiction　soldiers　opened　fire　into　the　crowd　to　force　them　back；　laslocks
stabbing　into　the　crowd。　People　screamed；　but　there　was　nowhere　to　flee；　and　the　sickening　stink　of
burnt　human　flesh　caught　in　the　back　of　Solon’s　throat；　making　him　gag。　Soldiers　roared；　ordering
the　crowd　back；　but　it　was　an　impossibility；　and　again　they　fired　into　the　crowd；　indiscriminately
spraying　las…fire　into　the　mass　of　humanity。
Solon　was　struck　a　glancing　blow　high　in　the　shoulder　that　spun　him　around；　and　he　almost　fell。
Dios　shouted　something　that　was　lost　in　the　deafening　roar　around　them　and　leapt　forwards；　trying
to　pull　him　to　his　feet。　Knowing　that　to　fall　was　to　die；　Solon　grabbed　at　those　around　him；
scrabbling　for　purchase。　Hands　punched　down　at　him；　trying　to　dislodge　his　grip；　and　boots　kicked
him　in　the　ribs；　and　trampled　on　his　legs。　With　a　burst　of　energy；　he　dragged　one　man　down；
scrambling　to　his　feet　as　he　condemned　the　man　to　death；　crushed　to　pulp　beneath　the　surging
crowd。　Five　metres。
The　gates　were　grinding　closed；　but　Solon　was　so　close　it　was　painful。　He　pressed　forward　once
more；　and　made　good　progress；　battling　his　way　towards　the　gates。　He　reached　the　front　just　as　the
gates　slammed　shut　with　a　resounding　crash。　The　sound　struck　Solon　like　a　death　knell；　and　he
reached　forwards　and　grabbed　the　bars　of　the　gate；　crying　out　in　anguish。
The　soldiers　on　the　other　side　of　the　gates　were　backing　away；　eyeing　the　crowd　nervously。
Hundreds　of　people　threw　themselves　on　the　barred　gates；　clambering　up　onto　support　struts；
calling　after　the　soldiers　or　the　last　citizens　that　had　made　it　through。
“Open　the　gates；”　shouted　scores　of　voices。　Those　behind；　not　yet　realising　that　the　gates　had
been　sealed；　that　all　hope　had　evaporated；　continued　to　press　forwards；　crushing　those　at　the　front
against　the　thick　bars。
“Just　take　the　boy！”　roared　Solon；　his　voice　hoarse。　One　of　the　soldiers　heard　him；　but　shrugged
his　shoulders　and　turned　away。
“Squeeze　through；　Dios；”　urged　Solon　as　they　were　hammered　from　behind　and　drove　into　the
gate　with　crushing　force。　Dios　cried　out　as　his　small　body　was　pressed　against　the　bars。
“Push　through；　damn　it！”　shouted　Solon；　and　Dios　squeezed　one　arm　and　leg　through　the　narrow
gap　between　the　bars。　He　cried　out　as　he　got　stuck；　and　looked　around　frantically　for　Solon。
“Breathe　out；　boy；”　said　Solon。　“You　can　make　it。”
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Dios　exhaled　all　his　breath；　and　Solon　gave　him　a　push。　The　boy　was　stuck　tight；　and　he　feared
that　his　skull　or　hipbones　would　break　if　he　pushed　any　harder；　but　the　alternative　was　no　more
appealing。　Another　few　minutes　in　this　crush　and　the　boy　would　be　dead　anyway。
“Breathe　out；　Dios！”　he　shouted　again　and　gave　the　boy　another　shove。　Dios　cried　out　in　obvious
pain；　but　then　his　head　passed　through　the　bars　and　he　fell　to　his　knees　on　the　other　side。　His　head
was　bloody；　and　Solon　realised　that　it　was　the　blood　that　had　saved　the　boy’s　life；　for　it　had　probably
made　the　bars　more　slippery。
Dios　picked　himself　up；　and　looked　through　the　bars　at　Solon；　his　face　fearful。
“Go！”　screamed　Solon；　pointing　behind　Dios；　where　the　lucky　ones　who　had　managed　to　pass
through　the　gates　were　streaming　into　the　expansive　open　holds　of　the　mass　transport；　being　herded
by　soldiers。
Dios　turned　and　looked　towards　the　ship；　and　then　back　at　Solon。　Solon　saw　that　his　face　was　an
even　more　unhealthy　shade　of　blue；　and　his　eyes　still　burned　with　feverish　light。
“Go；　Dios！”　Solon　roared。　The　press　behind　him　was　intolerable；　and　he　clambered　up　the　bars；
stamping　on　faces　behind　him。
“Go！”　shouted　Solon　again；　and　the　boy　gave　him　one　last　look　before　he　turned　and　ran　towards
the　waiting　mass　transport。
Solon　remained　clinging　to　the　bars　until　he　saw　Dios　board　the　ship　safely；　and　the　transport’s
massive　bay　doors　were　locked　and　closed　behind　him。　He　felt　strangely　numb；　and　impossibly
weary。　The　crowds　were　dissipating；　wandering　aimlessly；　staring　around　with　hollow　eyes。　Some
sat　down；　numb　with　shock；　while　others　gathered　in　small　groups　to　pray。　Others　set　about　looting
and　destroying　anything　that　they　could；　while　some　merely　lay　down　on　the　ground　to　wait　for　the
end。
Solon　walked　through　the　crowd；　feeling　hollow　and　empty。　He　took　comfort　in　the　fact　that　he
had　got　Dios　to　safety；　though　he　knew　it　was　but　a　displacement　of　the　guilt　he　harboured　for　not
having　been　able　to　save　his　son。
He　avoided　the　frenzied　priests　screaming　of　the　end　times；　though　hundreds　flocked　to　hear
their　impassioned；　doom…laden　sermons。
With　no　real　destination　in　mind；　Solon　wandered　through　the　spaceport；　seeing　misery；　fear　and
resignation　everywhere　he　looked。　After　perhaps　an　hour　he　found　himself　at　the　windows　of　a
viewing　station；　and　watched　the　mass　transport　rise　from　its　dock；　as　the　flower…petal　segments　of
the　dome　overhead　parted　to　the　heavens。
Solon　watched　the　mass　transport　as　it　lifted　up　and　rose　from　the　dome；　and　he　breathed　out
deeply；　content　in　the　knowledge　that　Dios　was　safely　aboard。
He　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　the　boy　had　been　infected　by　a　genestealer　and　was；　even　now；
taking　that　taint　further　into　the　heart　of　the　Imperium。
Solon　found　a　place　that　overlooked　the　ice　flows；　and　settled　down　to　watch　the　world　die。
“Enemy　fighters　launched；”　croaked　the　daemon…servitor；　and　Kol　Badar　glared　at　the　pict　screens
that　showed　the　flock　of　Fury　interceptors　and　Starhawk　bombers　being　disgorged　by　the　closing
Imperial　Dictator…class　cruiser。　Sword　frigates　and　destroyers　were　moving　towards　the　Infidus
Diabolus　in　a　flanking　formation；　and　the　Coryphaus　slammed　his　fist　down　on　the　pict　screen。　The
plasglass　screen　shattered；　its　image　distorting　as　hundreds　of　spider…web　cracks　appeared　across　its
surface。
The　eldar　ship　was　slipping　out　of　range　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus’s　batteries；　and　Kol　Badar
reluctantly　ordered　the　Word　Bearers’　ship　to　pull　off　its　pursuit；　and　to　swing　around　to　face　the
new　threats。　He　watched　with　angry　eyes　as　the　eldar　vessel　darted　away；　taking　the　whoreson
bastard　Marduk　with　it。　He　would　have　felt　much　more　comfortable　knowing　that　the　First　Acolyte
was　dead；　but　he　would　have　to　content　himself　with　the　fact　that　the　eldar　had　probably　already
killed　him。
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“Launch　Thunderhawks　and　Stormbirds　to　intercept　the　enemy　fighters；”　said　Kol　Badar；　“and
come　to　new　heading；　CV19。　This　is　not　a　fight　we　can　win。”
Ikorus　Baranov　threw　the　Rapture　into　a　spiral　as　a　formation　of　Imperial　attack　craft　screamed　past
the　front　of　the　shuttle；　their　forward…mounted　lascannons　stabbing　through　the　darkness。
The　boxy　shapes　of　larger　assault　craft　the　colour　of　congealed　blood　roared　into　view；　battle
cannons　blasting　at　the　swiftly　moving　formations　of　Imperial　ships。　As　Baranov　hauled　on　his
controls；　he　saw　several　of　the　Fury　interceptors　explode　beneath　the　barrage　while　those　caught　on
the　edge　of　the　detonations　spun　crazily；　wing　thrusters　destroyed。
Larger　vessels　that　resembled　immense　birds　of　prey　swept　through　the　chaotic　space　battle；
weapons　flashing；　and　more　of　the　interceptors　were　destroyed。　The　birds　of　prey　were　slower　than
the　darting　Furies；　however；　and　as　Baranov　threw　the　Rapture　to　starboard　to　avoid　a　flurry　of
lascannon　fire；　he　saw　one　of　them　explode　in　a　fireball　as　numerous　strafing　runs　from　the　smaller
fighters　peppered　its　dark　red　hull。
Behind　the　streaking；　smaller　ships；　Baranov　saw　the　distinctive；　heavily　armoured　prow　of　an
Imperial　cruiser　in　the　distance；　a　flotilla　of　frigates　and　destroyers　fanning　out　to　its　sides。
Swearing；　Baranov　dragged　on　the　controls　of　his　labouring　ship；　and　an　immense　shape　hove　into
view。
This　ship　was　far　closer　than　the　Imperial　vessels；　and　its　deep　red　hull　was　powerful　and
bristling　with　weaponry　and　launch　bays。　It　lurched　as　it　turned　to　face　the　Imperial　battle　group；
and　Baranov　dragged　on　his　controls；　not　wanting　to　be　caught　between　them　when　they　began
firing。
“There；”　said　Marduk；　stabbing　a　finger　towar