按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mourn his passing； yet rejoice； for his soul has become as one with Chaos。 In honour of his service
in the name of Lorgar； we eat of his flesh； that he may live on with us as we continue the Long War
without him； and that we may carry his strength with us； always。”
Lifting the heart to his mouth； Sabtec took a bite； ripping the flesh away with his teeth。 Blood
covered his chin； and he chewed the lump of flesh briefly before swallowing it。 Then he stepped in
front of the first of the three remaining warriors that had belonged to Namar…sin’s coterie； offering
the heart。
Marduk stared through the thirty…centimetre thick porthole into the inky blackness beyond as the lift
continued to power its way down into the Stygian depths of the ocean。 Little could be seen apart
from occasional bubbles of expanding gas； and the visage of his skull helmet was reflected back at
him； distorted in the curved therma…glass。
“There is no going back now； we have not the time。 I feel the threads of fate weaving together。
The time of the completion of this… necessary task； draws close；” said Marduk with a hint of
impatience and irritation。 “Sabtec and Namar…sin are veterans。 They can look after themselves。”
The lift strained and creaked alarmingly as the building pressure of the water outside pressed in。
The thick metal plates of the hull； supported by countless brackets and thick bolted girders； flexed
inwards； groaning like a beast in torment。
The lift had descended at a steady rate； down the shaft carved from solid ice。 The rate of descent
slowed as they reached the lower crust of the ice and plunged into the sea； before increasing in
speed once more as they sank further into the icy depths。 They were some four thousand metres
below the surface； nearing halfway to the ocean floor。
Burias was pacing back and forth like a caged animal； glaring hatefully at the bulging hull as if
daring it to give way。
“Be calm； icon bearer；” snapped Marduk； turning away from the porthole。 “Your restlessness is
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。”
90
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
91
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 li