Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第29部分

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distracting。”
Marduk　could　feel　Burias’s　impatience　like　a　living　thing；　intruding　on　his　spirit。
“What　is　the　matter　with　you？”　asked　Marduk　in　irritation。
“I　am　envious；”　said　Burias；　pausing　in　his　pacing　for　a　moment；　flashing　Marduk　a　dark　glance。
“I　had　wished　to　fight　the　eldar　again。　I　wish　to　test　my　speed　against　them。”
“You　sound　like　a　spoilt　child；”　spat　Marduk。　“Recite　the　Lacrimosa。　Begin　at　verse　eighty…nine。
It　will　calm　your　nerves。”
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Burias　glowered　at　Marduk。
“Eighty…nine？”　he　said；　furrowing　his　brow。
“‘And　when　the　accused　are　confounded　and　confined　to　flames　of　woe；　rejoice　and　call　upon
Me；　your　saviour；’”　he　quoted。
“The　Lacrimosa　has　always　been　a　favourite　of　yours；　hasn’t　it；　brother？”　asked　Burias。
Marduk　smiled。　Alone　amongst　all　the　warriors　of　the　Host；　he　tolerated　Burias　referring　to　him
as　brother；　in　honour　of　the　blood…oaths　that　the　pair　had　sworn　aeons　past；　when　they　were　both
idealistic　young　pups；　freshly　blooded　in　battle。　Nevertheless；　Marduk　allowed　the　icon　bearer　the
honour　only　when　they　were　alone；　or　out　of　earshot　of　the　other　warrior　brothers　of　the　Host；　for
such　familiarity　was　unfavourable；　especially　now　that　he　was　certain　that　his　ambitions　of
becoming　Dark　Apostle　were　fated　to　be；　at　last；　fulfilled。
A　Dark　Apostle　must　be　aloof　from　his　flock；　a　symbol　of　the　undying　faith　of　the　holy　word。　He
had　learnt　that　from　Jarulek；　and　it　was；　his　arrogant　master　had　taught　him；　part　of　the　reason　why
the　role　of　the　Coryphaus　was　important。　The　Dark　Apostle　must　be　more　than　a　warrior；　he　must　be
an　inspiration；　a　saint；　the　holiest　of　disciples。　He　must　be　raised　above　the　warriors　of　the　Host；　for
the　gods　spoke　through　him。　A　Dark　Apostle　had　no　brothers　except　others　of　his　rank；　for　it　was
deemed　that　familial　relations　within　the　Host　humanised　him　too　much；　weakening　the　awe　he　was
held　in　by　his　warriors。　Such　a　thing　led　to　a　weakening　of　the　strength　of　the　Host；　and　a　lessening
of　the　faith。
“A　Dark　Apostle；”　Jarulek　had　lectured　him　condescendingly；　“must　be　above　reproach；　above
question。　He　cannot　have　close　ties　with　the　warriors　of　his　flock。　Your　Coryphaus　is　your　closest
confidant；　and　your　will　is　enacted　through　him。　He　is　the　bridge　that　spans　the　gap　between　the
Dark　Apostle　and　the　Host。”
Marduk　pushed　the　distracting；　errant　thoughts　back；　his　mood　darkening。
“The　Lacrimosa　brings　me　great　calm；”　said　Marduk。　“It　at　once　soothes　my　soul　and　rekindles
my　hatred。”
“I　shall　do　as　you　suggest；　brother；”　said　Burias。　“So　long　as　Sabtec　leaves　a　few　for　me；　I　guess
I　can　wait。”
Another　loud　groan　shuddered　the　lift；　and　Burias　scowled。
Kol　Badar　stamped　towards　them；　and　the　cordial　companionship　between　Marduk　and　Burias
evaporated。　At　once；　they　were　no　longer　long…time　friends　and　blood　brothers；　now　they　were　once
again　First　Acolyte　and　icon　bearer。
“This　lift　is　a　relic；”　remarked　Kol　Badar。　“If　a　fault　in　the　hull　appears；　we　will　all　be　crushed　to
death。　This　is　a　foolish　endeavour；　an　unnecessary　risk。”
“Are　you　going　senile　in　your　dotage　Coryphaus？”　snapped　Marduk。　Burias　sniggered。　“You　are
repeating　yourself。　Your　protestations　have　been　heard　before；　and　duly　noted。　I　don’t　care　what　you
think。　I　am　your　leader　now；　and　you　will　do　as　I　wish。”
The　Coryphaus’s　brow　creased　in　anger。
“If　a　fault　appears；　then　we　are　dead；”　Marduk　said；　more　calmly。　“Such　would　be　the　will　of　the
gods；　but　I　do　not　believe　it　will　be　so。”
“How　can　you　be　so　sure？”　asked　Kol　Badar。
“Have　faith；　Coryphaus；”　said　Marduk。　“Each　of　us　is　in　our　allotted　place；　as　per　the　will　of　the
gods。　If　it　is　our　time　to　die；　then　so　be　it；　but　I　do　not　think　that　it　is。　The　gods　have　much　more　in
store　for　me；　of　that　I　am　certain。”
“And　for　me？”　asked　Burias。
Marduk　shrugged。
“You　speak　as　if　all　our　actions　are　already　predetermined；”　growled　Kol　Badar。
“Are　you　so　sure　they　are　not？”　countered　Marduk。　“I　have　seen　things　in　dream　visions　that
have　come　to　pass。　Many　amongst　the　Host　have。　Does　such　a　thing　not　suggest　that　every　decision
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that　we　think　we　make　has　not　already　been　determined　beforehand？　A　path　set　in　front　of　us　that
we；　try　as　we　might　to　avoid　our　fate；　are　condemned　to　walk？”
“By　that　rationale；　why　should　we　strive　for　anything？　Why　should　we　seek　to　destroy　our
enemies；　if　the　outcome　has　already　been　decided？”　asked　Burias。
“Don’t　be　a　fool；　Burias；”　said　Marduk　sharply。　“The　gods　help　those　that　help　themselves。　If
you　were　not　going　to　try　to　defeat　your　enemies；　then　you　were　already　fated　to　lose。”
“If　what　you　suggest　is　correct；　then　this；”　said　Kol　Badar；　levelling　his　combi…bolter　at
Marduk’s　head；　“is　the　will　of　the　gods？”
The　Coryphaus’s　weapon　system　whined　and　clicked　as　fresh　bolts　were　loaded　into　the　firing
chambers。　Burias　licked　his　lips；　glancing　between　the　First　Acolyte　and　Kol　Badar。
Behind　them；　kneeling　in　a　tight　circle　with　his　squad；　Khalaxis　half…rose　to　his　feet；　but　the
heavy　hand　of　one　of　the　Anointed　held　him　in　place。
The　sergeant…champion　glowered　up　at　the　Terminator…armoured　warrior；　his　rage　building；　but
he　relented　and　remained　kneeling；　watching　the　outcome　of　the　confrontation。
Marduk　took　a　step　forward　so　that　the　twin　barrels　of　the　Coryphaus’s　weapon　pressed　against
his　forehead。
“Pull　the　trigger　and　find　out；”　said　Marduk。
After　a　tense　moment；　Kol　Badar　bent　his　arm；　removing　the　weapon　from　his　superior’s　head；
and　stalked　away　angrily。
“What　if　he　had　pulled　the　trigger？”　asked　Burias　quietly。
“Then　I’d　be　dead；”　said　Marduk。
Sinking　ever　deeper；　the　lift　continued　descending　through　the　inky…black　water。　This　was　more　of
an　abyss　than　the　depths　of　deep　space；　thought　Burias。　At　least　there　pin…pricks　of　light　could　be
glimpsed；　distant　stars　and　coronas　a　hundred　million　light　years　distant。　Here；　the　darkness　was
complete　and　all…consuming。
Still　they　descended。　It　felt　like　they　had　been　descending　for　days；　though　it　had　been　less　than
an　hour；　and　Burias　continued　his　restless　pacing；　stalking　back　and　forth；　clenching　and
unclenching　his　fists。
Khalaxis’s　squad　knelt　in　a　close　circle　around　Marduk；　who　was　in　a　half…trance；　intoning　from
the　unholy　scriptures。　The　warriors　of　the　Anointed　stood　in　a　second　circle　around　the　kneeling
figures；　the　Coryphaus　leading　a　morose　counter…chant。
Of　the　warrior　brethren；　only　Burias　stood　apart；　for　he　could　not　calm　his　mind　enough　to　be
part　of　the　communion。
Impatience　knotted　his　stomach；　and　he　snarled　in　frustration。
Burias　stamped　around　the　interior　of　the　lift；　slamming　the　butt　of　his　icon　into　the　grilled
flooring　with　each　step。　The　flickering　lights　above　were　irritating　him　with　their　incessant　buzzing
and　for　a　moment　he　toyed　with　the　notion　of　smashing　them。
While　other　Astartes　warriors　within　the　Host　took　pleasure　in　creation；　painstakingly　copying
the　illuminated　volumes　of　the　Books　of　Lorgar　into　new　volumes；　labouring　for　weeks　on　end　over
each　page；　Burias　had　not　the　patience　for　such　pursuits。　He　took　pleasure　in　destruction；　whether　it
was　ripping　apart　a　living　creature　and　watching　its　life　fade；　or　smashing　apart　the　profane　statues
of　the　Imperium。
What　worth　was　a　hundred　years　of　toil　if　a　man　could　destroy　it　in　seconds？
Thankfully；　the　Host　was　almost　constantly　at　war。　It　was　at　times　like　these；　however；　when　the
enemy　was　so　close；　yet　the　thrill　of　battle　was　denied　him；　that　his　fury　rose；　clouding　his　mind　and
shattering　his　concentration。
He　paced　around　the　extent　of　the　lift；　until　finally　he　saw　a　soft　glow　permeating　up　from　below
through　the　porthole　windows。
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In　the　distance　below；　the　lights　from　the　mining　station　were　radiating　up　from　the　ocean　floor。
It　looked　like　some　outpost　station　on　a　desolate　asteroid　or　moon；　with　the　blackness　of　space
all　around　it。　A　broad；　domed　central　hub；　roughly　the　size　of　the　largest　galactic　battleship；　was
rooted　in　the　rock　bed；　surrounded　by　dozens　of　bulbous　satellite　outbuildings。　Cylindrical；
transparent　corridors　connected　all　the　sub…structures　to　the　main　hub。　Light；　harsh　and　unnatural；
spilled　from　the　arterial　tubes；　and　peering　closely；　Burias　thought　he　could　see　vehicles　and　people
moving　through　them；　like　tiny　insects　within　an　artificial　environ…farm。
Burias　rolled　his　shoulders　and　stretched　the　muscles　of　his　neck。
“Finally；”　he　muttered。
Pressure　gauges　vented；　equalising　the　compressed　air　within　the　lift　with　that　of　the　mining　facility。
The　sides　of　the　lift　slid　aside　with　a　clatter　and　water　gushed　down　from　above；　slipping　off　the
angled　surfaces　of　the　lift’s　hull；　and　draining　away　through　the　grates　set　in　the　floor。　Darkness
greeted　them　inside　the　mining　facility；　though　an　infrequent　strobe　of　light　sparked　from　severed
cables　hanging　loose　from　the　low　ceiling。
The　Word　Bearers　walked　cautiously　forward；　stepping　through　the　dripping　water；　weapons
seeking　targets。　There　were　none。
Kol　Badar’s　Anointed　led　the　way；　combi…bolters　and　repeater　autocannon　tracking　from　side　to
side。
The　air　was　hot　and　humid；　a　far　cry　from　the　dry；　gelid　atmosphere　on　the　planet’s　frozen
surface。
“There　is　no　one　down　here；”　growled　Kol　Badar。
“There　are　people　here；”　said　Burias。　“I　saw　them　on　the　descent。”
The　warriors　drew　towards　the　main　entrance　into　the　mining　facility；　an　immense　arched
processional　that　led　from　the　lift　base　to　the　main　hub　of　the　structure。
Marduk’s　eyes　were　drawn　up　above　the　archway。　A　massive　figure　had　been　roughly　painted
onto　the　plascrete　wall；　like　a　mural；　though　its　workmanship　was　crude　to　say　the　least。　A　low　hiss
escaped　his　lips。
“What　is　it？”　asked　Burias；　his　eyes　wide。　“A　daemon？　Are　these　miners　cult　worshippers？”
“No；　it’s　not　a　daemon；”　said　Marduk；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　primitive　mural。
“You　are　sure？”　asked　Kol　Badar；　glowering　upwards。
“I　feel　no　touch　of　the　warp　here；”　said　Marduk。　“Worship　of　the　great　gods　of　the　immaterium
would　leave　a　palpable　trace；　a　lingering　presence；　but　there　is　none。　No；　this　is　no　daemon。　I　could
command　a　daemon。　There　is　no　commanding　that。”
The　warriors　of　the　Host　shuffled　uneasily。　A　four…armed　figure　was　daubed　on　the　wall　above
the　archway；　painted　in　garish　blues　and　purples。　Two　of　its　arms　ended　in　claws；　while　the　others
ended　in　humanlike　hands。　Its　eyes　were　yellow　and　its　mouth　was　wide；　exposing　a　caricature　of
sharp　teeth；　painted　as　simple　triangles　and　dripping　with　garish　red　paint　representing　blood。　A
long；　stabbing　tongue　protruded　from　the　toothy　maw。
“I　think　your　battle…lust　will　soon　be　sated；　Burias；”　said　Marduk　in　a　soft　voice。
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“You　want　us　to　go　in　there？”　asked　Kol　Badar　flatly；　looking　in　disdain　at　the　maintenance
submersibles　bobbing　slightly　on　the　surface　of　the　dark　pool　of　water。
“This　is　the　way　that　the　explorator　came；　we　must　follow　in　his　footsteps；”　said　Marduk　evenly。
“That　statement　is　categorically　false；　Marduk；　First　Acolyte　of　the　Word　Bearers　Legion　of
Astartes；　genetic　descendant　of　the　glorified　Primarch　Lorgar；”　intoned　Darioq…Grendh’al。