resealing； until there was no trace that it； or Steele； had ever been there。
They were well…used to death； these soldiers。 They had lived in its shadow all their lives； knew it
could strike at any moment and from any quarter。 But Colonel Steele had seemed like the strongest
of them； somehow the least mortal； and his passing was a shock to them all。
“Everyone； get back！” growled Barreski — and his flamer flared； and melted a fresh hole in the
ice； making the water beneath it steam。 If Steele was somehow still conscious down there； trying to
surface； then he had another chance； a few more seconds； in which he could do so — and as unlikely
as it seemed； the Ice Warriors clung to that hope； staring； waiting； hoping…
…until； to Gavotski’s astonishment； a gloved hand broke the surface； fumbling； reaching；
flailing； finding purchase — and Colonel Stanislev Steele hauled himself up； losing strength
halfway； collapsing face down with his legs still dangling in the water。 Everyone started forward at
once； but Gavotski threw up a warning hand； and beckoned only Palinev to follow him onto the
weakened ice where the colonel lay。 They gripped Steele under his shoulders； dragged him clear of
the danger area； and brought him back to the others。 His skin had a pale blue tint。
It was Anakora who noticed that he wasn’t breathing。
Gavotski knelt by Steele’s side； blew air into his lungs and gave him chest compressions until he
jerked back to life。 Steele sat bolt upright； so suddenly that it made everyone jump； and he spat
water from his mouth。 His head turned as he surveyed the concerned faces of the comrades gathered
around him。 This close up； Gavotski could see the lenses tilting and turning in Steele’s bionic right
eye。 The left eye； Steele’s real eye； was open but dead； staring blankly。
“How is he alive？” breathed Blonsky。
“He shouldn’t be；” said Gavotski。 “His brain should have shut down in that water。 I think some
parts of it did； but… but the colonel’s brain isn’t entirely organic。”
Barreski grinned； and nudged Borscz in the ribs “You see？ His augmetics； the machines in his
head； they have saved his life！”
Steele’s eyes； both of them； rolled back into their sockets。 Gavotski caught his head before it
could fall； and lowered him down gently。 “We must dry him off；” said Anakora； “and take him
someplace warm。”
“Look around you；” said Mikhaelev。 “There is no such place。” However； he joined the other Ice
Warriors in searching his rucksack； finding spare items of clothing。 In fact； as the trooper with the
closest build to Steele’s； he donated his greatcoat； swapping it for the colonel’s sodden one。
Other than that； there was little anyone could do。
46
“The colonel will be OK；” said Gavotski； as much to convince himself as to raise the troopers’
morale。 “He was only in the water for a couple of minutes； and I’ve seen people survive after ten
times that long。 He’ll wake up when he’s ready。”
There were voices coming from the far side of the rise。
Palinev dropped onto his stomach； scrambling the rest of the way up on his elbows。 Cautiously；
he raised his head — and his heart leapt into his throat。
The night had well and truly fallen； over an hour ago。 There was no moon in the sky； and few
stars。 Even Palinev could barely see his hand in front of his face。 Still； Gavotski had insisted they
press on。 It was what Steele would have wanted。
Gavotski had asked his troopers to carry the colonel two at a time； in shifts。 Instead； Borscz had
volunteered to do the job alone。 He had slung Steele’s unconscious body across his shoulders and
hefted him with apparent ease。
And now they had reached their goal at last。
At least； their scout had reached it。 The ship lay beneath him： an Aquila lander； its red wings
proudly unfurled like those of the two…headed Imperial eagle after which it had been designed and
named。 But this eagle’s back was broken； its legs buckled。 It sagged in the middle； listing to one
side； and it took Palinev a minute to locate its detached and half…buried tail fin through his field
goggles。
This； then； was the ship in which Confessor Wollkenden had been travelling； the ship that had
been shot down； the ship that Colonel Steele and his squad of Ice Warriors had been dispatched to
find。 And； in confirmation of their paymasters’ worst fears； there had been a battle here。 A battle
that the Imperium had lost。
The ground was strewn with burnt and broken bodies。 Bodies in red and gold。 Palinev swept the
goggles over them； searching for a hint of Ecclesiarchal robes among them。 There was still a chance
that Wollkenden had escaped the carnage； and let his willing guards lay down their lives for him。
Without a closer inspection； though； it was impossible to tell for sure。
And for now； Palinev was more concerned with the living。
Chaos cultists。 The area in front of the lander teemed with them： ordinary men and women；
once； most likely born on Cressida itself。 They had probably worked in its mines； served the
Emperor in exchange for His shelter and His succour。 Until their minds had snapped。 Until they had
succumbed to the infection of their world。 Now； they dressed in robes of black and prayed to a
different pantheon。 Some had even had their faces tattooed with the obscene eight…pointed star of the
Chaos gods。
The cultists had built a fire； and gathered around it to warm themselves。 Its bright orange flames
ruined Palinev’s night vision； but on the plus side they cast a spotlight on his enemies while
deepening the darkness around him。
The cultists had been looting the stricken lander — or rather； they had been directing a number
of grovelling mutant slaves to do the job for them。 Two especially deformed specimens appeared in
the hatchway； struggling ent locker。 It got out of their control and hit the
ground with a crash； and an enraged cultist yelled in the mutants’ faces and assaulted one of them
with a lasgun butt。
One thing was clear in Palinev’s mind： if Confessor Wollkenden was indeed alive； then he was a
long way from here。
Gavotski concurred with that assessment。
“We need to capture a few of those men alive；” he considered； “make one of them talk。 Have
they seen the confessor？ Are they holding him？” He spoke in a low voice； because the enemy camp
was only a few hundred metres away。
47
“How many did you see； Palinev？” Pozhar asked eagerly。
“It was hard to tell；” said the scout； “in the dark and with all the activity。 At least ten cultists；
maybe four or five mutants； although there could have been more inside the lander。 They didn’t
seem too well…equipped。”
“From the way you describe it；” said Mikhaelev； “we have the terrain on our side this time。 We
can take cover at the top of that rise； start shooting and have half of them down before they know
where we are。”
Palinev nodded。 “There’s nowhere for them to run。”
Gavotski had been worried about leading the squad into combat again today。 They were clearly
exhausted； although none of them would have admitted to it。 He was feeling the effects of his
exertions himself。 But Mikhaelev was right； this seemed like it would be an easy victory for them —
and maybe they needed that right now。
And then there was the ship； of course。 If the Ice Warriors could recapture it； then it could
provide them with shelter and some warmth for the night。 They would all benefit from that； Steele in
particular。 Borscz had set the colonel down while they talked。 He had settled into what seemed like
a comfortable sleep； his breathing deep and regular； and his colour was improving。
“OK；” said Gavotski at length； “let’s do this。 Barreski； Mikhaelev； take point。 Palinev； if you can
sneak around to the other side of the camp； or as near as you can manage； you can pin the cultists
down if they start to run。 Everyone try to avoid hitting the lander； I don’t want it damaged any more
than it is already。 That means no explosives； Barreski。 There’s a small chance that the engines are
still—”
He didn’t get any further。
Steele’s eyes snapped open； and he opened his mouth and let out a long； full…throated scream。 A
scream that the cultists couldn’t have failed to hear。
Pozhar didn’t wait for orders； didn’t even wait for the echoes of the scream to die down。 The enemy
knew where they were。 Any second now they would appear at the top of the rise that separated
them； start picking off the Ice Warriors like targets on a range。 Unless the Ice Warriors could gain
and secure that vantage point first。
Pozhar raced as fast as he could； threw himself onto his stomach at the top of the slope； and
started firing before he knew what he was firing at。 He was rewarded by the sounds of growls and
squeals。 The cultists had sent the mutants ahead； and before Pozhar knew what was happening one
of them had crested the rise； between his las…beams； and leapt upon him。
It was a huge； shambling creature； covered in grey fur。 It hit Pozhar like a brick； and tried to
wrest his lasgun from him。 He fought it； and they rolled down the slope together。 As they reached its
foot； Borscz leapt into the melee； and seized the mutant’s head between his hands as if he thought he
could crack its skull open — but it was too strong； even for him。 With an animal roar； it broke his
hold and rounded on him。
The mutant lashed out with a gnarled talon； and Borscz wasn’t fast enough to back out of its
way。 Three parallel tears opened across his chest； and the burly Ice Warrior went down。
The mutant turned to Pozhar again as he was still scrambling to his feet； still fumbling with his
weapon。 It leapt at him； and he delivered four rapid…fire bursts to its stomach； but they weren’t
enough to stop it。 He went down for a second time； with the creature on top of him； bleeding onto
him。 Its brow was low； pronounced； and its narrow； crazed eyes bored into Pozhar’s skull as he
fought to keep its blood…dripping talons at bay with the stock of his lasgun。
It was Borscz who came to his rescue again — Borscz who； incredibly； must have kept himself
awake； lifted his massive body from the ground by sheer force of will and the strength of his own
two arms。 He landed heavily on the mutant from behind； gr