the¡¡guard¡¡be¡¡increased¡£¡¡Pozhar¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡them¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡awake£»¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡let¡¡them¡¡suspect
that¡¡his¡¡conscience¡¡was¡¡troubling¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand¡¡itched£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡dare¡¡scratch
it¡£
55
He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡it¡£
He¡¡had¡¡woken¡¡from¡¡a¡¡vivid¡¡and¡¡troubling¡¡dream£»¡¡had¡¡perhaps¡¡been¡¡half¡dreaming¡¡still¡£¡¡It¡¡had
taken¡¡him¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡to¡¡work¡¡out¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡the¡¡shapes¡¡around¡¡him¡¡as¡¡those¡¡of¡¡his
comrades£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡vox¡caster¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡hatchway£»¡¡to¡¡remember¡
In¡¡the¡¡dream£»¡¡Steele¡¡had¡¡contacted¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Navy¡¡on¡¡that¡¡caster¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the
search¡¡for¡¡the¡¡confessor¡¡had¡¡become¡¡too¡¡dangerous£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡sending¡¡another¡¡lander¡¡for¡¡his
squad£»¡¡that¡¡Cressida¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡left¡¡to¡¡its¡¡new¡¡masters¡£¡¡The¡¡details¡¡were¡¡hazy£»¡¡but¡¡Pozhar¡¡thought¡¡he
remembered¡¡an¡¡army¡¡of¡¡cultists¡¡and¡¡mutants£»¡¡laughing¡£¡¡Laughing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors¡¡as¡¡they¡¡turned
their¡¡backs¡¡on¡¡their¡¡mission£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡ran¡£
He¡¡had¡¡acted¡¡on¡¡instinct¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡Grayle¡¡had¡¡abandoned¡¡his¡¡post¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡was¡¡watching
him¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡all¡¡been¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡Blonsky¡¡had¡¡said£º¡¡one¡¡las¡beam£»¡¡one¡¡squeeze¡¡of¡¡his¡¡trigger¡£¡¡He¡¡hadn¡¯t
even¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡it¡¡would¡¡make¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors¡¡had¡¡woken£»¡¡Pozhar¡¡had
dropped¡¡back¡¡onto¡¡his¡¡blanket¡¡and¡¡pretended¡¡to¡¡be¡¡waking¡¡too£»¡¡although¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡had¡¡been
hammering¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡flush¡¡down¡¡his¡¡back¡£
His¡¡right¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡itching¡¡like¡¡crazy¡¡now¡£¡¡He¡¡shifted¡¡his¡¡position£»¡¡carefully£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡could¡¡reach
it¡¡with¡¡his¡¡left¡£¡¡Steele¡¡and¡¡Gavotski¡¡had¡¡searched¡¡everyone£»¡¡again¡¡as¡¡Blonsky¡¡had¡¡suggested¡£¡¡Pozhar
had¡¡been¡¡certain¡¡he¡¡would¡¡pass¡¡their¡¡inspection£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡he¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡relieved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡given¡¡the¡¡all¡clear¡£
The¡¡verdict¡¡had¡¡reaffirmed¡¡his¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡himself£»¡¡reassured¡¡him¡¡that¡¡although¡¡he¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡explain
what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡it¡¡for¡¡the¡¡right¡¡reasons¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡£
His¡¡questing¡¡fingers¡¡found¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡Pozhar¡¡froze¡¡in¡¡horror¡¡as¡¡he¡¡felt
something¡¡unfamiliar£»¡¡something¡¡strange£»¡¡something¡¡that¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡there¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡ago£º¡¡a¡¡tuft¡¡of
fur¡£
56
CHAPTER¡¡TEN
Time¡¡to¡¡Destruction¡¡of¡¡Cressida£º¡¡23¡£53¡£42
The¡¡first¡¡avalanche¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡one¡£
The¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors¡¡had¡¡been¡¡expecting¡¡it¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡all¡¡they¡¡could¡¡do¡¡was¡¡brace¡¡themselves¡¡as¡¡the¡¡snow
shifted¡¡beneath¡¡their¡¡feet¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡hope£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡that¡¡this¡¡small¡¡slide¡¡would¡¡not¡¡trigger¡¡a¡¡bigger¡¡one¡£
They¡¡had¡¡faced¡¡a¡¡choice¡¡this¡¡morning£º¡¡take¡¡the¡¡well¡trodden¡¡roads¡¡to¡¡Mangellan¡¯s¡¡stronghold£»
the¡¡erstwhile¡¡Iota¡¡Hive£»¡¡facing¡¡the¡¡likelihood¡¡of¡¡more¡¡encounters¡¡with¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡en¡¡route£»¡¡or
attempt¡¡to¡¡approach¡¡through¡¡treacherous£»¡¡snow¡laden¡¡hills¡£¡¡Steele£»¡¡being¡¡unlike¡¡many¡¡other
commanders£»¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡question¡¡to¡¡debate¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡only¡¡time¡¡so¡¡far¡¡today¡¡that¡¡his
troopers¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡words¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡£
The¡¡accusations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡night¡¡hung¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡cloud¡¡over¡¡them¡£¡¡Even¡¡Palinev£»¡¡although
still¡¡scouting¡¡ahead£»¡¡reported¡¡back¡¡more¡¡frequently¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡yesterday£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡thinking¡¡that
too¡¡long¡¡an¡¡absence¡¡might¡¡arouse¡¡the¡¡suspicions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡comrades¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡right¡£
Everyone¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡Steele¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡blame¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡too¡£
They¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡to¡¡settle£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡moved¡¡on¡¡in¡¡silence¡£
As¡¡they¡¡rounded¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hill£»¡¡the¡¡contours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡hive¡¡back¡¡into¡¡view£»¡¡just
a¡¡few¡¡kilometres¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡made¡¡Steele¡¯s¡¡stomach¡¡turn¡£¡¡Every¡¡horizontal¡¡surface¡¡of
the¡¡city¡¡was¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡snow£»¡¡every¡¡vertical¡¡plane¡¡iced¡¡over¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡unreal£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡life¡sized¡¡model
sculpted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ice¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡at¡¡all¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Chaos¡¡infection¡¡of¡¡Cressida¡¡had¡¡Iota¡¡Hive¡¡in
the¡¡firmest¡¡of¡¡grips£»¡¡had¡¡corrupted¡¡it¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡reclamation¡£
This¡¡morning£»¡¡Steele¡¯s¡¡squad¡¡had¡¡agreed¡¡that¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡better¡¡chance¡¡against¡¡the¡¡perils¡¡of
their¡¡environment¡¡than¡¡they¡¡did¡¡against¡¡more¡¡of¡¡Mangellan¡¯s¡¡followers¡£¡¡Even¡¡Pozhar¡¡had¡¡not¡¡argued
too¡¡strongly¡¡for¡¡a¡¡full¡frontal¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hive¡£¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡unusually¡¡subdued£»¡¡although
whether¡¡this¡¡was¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡last¡¡night¡¡or¡¡to¡¡his¡¡damaged¡¡gun¡¡arm£»¡¡Steele¡¡could¡¡not¡¡say¡£
He¡¡was¡¡starting¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡made¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡choice¡£
His¡¡men¡¡had¡¡all¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡on¡¡Valhalla£»¡¡these¡¡surroundings¡¡looked¡¡almost¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡them¡£
They¡¡thought¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡all¡¡the¡¡perils¡¡that¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡could¡¡bring£»¡¡were¡¡alert¡¡for¡¡the
warning¡¡signs¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡if¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡should¡¡happen£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡on¡¡the¡¡frozen¡¡lake£»¡¡then¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡they
knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡minimise¡¡the¡¡consequences¡£¡¡A¡¡squad¡¡from¡¡any¡¡other¡¡world¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡dead¡¡by
now£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors¡¡of¡¡Valhalla£»¡¡this¡¡was¡¡just¡¡a¡¡morning¡¡stroll¡£
But¡¡as¡¡Gavotski¡¡had¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡glacier£»¡¡the¡¡water¡¡on¡¡this¡¡world¡¡had¡¡been¡¡infected¡¡too¡£
And¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡always¡¡behave¡¡as¡¡it¡¡should¡£
The¡¡second¡¡avalanche¡¡was¡¡bigger¡£¡¡Much¡¡bigger¡£
Steele¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡blame¡¡anyone¡¡in¡¡his¡¡squad¡¡for¡¡setting¡¡it¡¡off¡£¡¡It¡¡started¡¡high¡¡above¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡came
crashing¡¡down¡¡at¡¡them¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tidal¡¡wave¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡recent
snowfall¡¡upon¡¡hard¡packed¡¡ice¡¡¡ª¡¡but¡¡the¡¡timing¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡was¡¡suspicious¡£
The¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors£»¡¡minus¡¡Palinev£»¡¡were¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡across¡¡a¡¡hillside£»¡¡keeping¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance
between¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡just¡¡such¡¡an¡¡occurrence¡¡¡ª¡¡but¡¡the¡¡avalanche¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡perfect
spot£»¡¡and¡¡exactly¡¡wide¡¡enough£»¡¡to¡¡threaten¡¡all¡¡eight¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Barreski¡¡and¡¡Grayle¡¡were¡¡at¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡risk¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡closest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flow£»¡¡the
point¡¡at¡¡which¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡would¡¡be¡¡moving¡¡its¡¡fastest¡£¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡outrun¡¡it¡¡¡ª¡¡an
57
avalanche¡¡of¡¡this¡¡size¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡a¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡kilometres¡¡per¡¡hour¡¡¡ª¡¡but¡¡they¡¡used¡¡the
few¡¡seconds¡¡they¡¡had¡¡before¡¡it¡¡hit¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡sprint¡¡for¡¡its¡¡edge£»¡¡as¡¡did¡¡their¡¡comrades¡£
Gavotski¡¡and¡¡Steele£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡respectively¡¡leading¡¡the¡¡procession¡¡and¡¡following¡¡at¡¡its¡¡rear£»
had¡¡the¡¡least¡¡far¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡Steele¡¡ran¡¡for¡¡all¡¡he¡¡was¡¡worth£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡enough¡£¡¡It¡¡could¡¡never¡¡have
been¡¡enough¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡avalanche¡¡as¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡the¡¡impact¡£
It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡a¡¡rug¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pulled¡¡out¡¡from¡¡under¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡maintained¡¡his¡¡balance¡¡for¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as
he¡¡could£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡swept¡¡away¡£¡¡He¡¡pedalled¡¡with¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡legs£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡swimming£»
knowing¡¡that¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡would¡¡be¡¡futile£»¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡it¡¡instead¡£¡¡The¡¡landscape¡¡flashed¡¡by
to¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Steele¡¡could¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡be¡¡dashed¡¡against¡¡something¡¡solid¡£
He¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡Blonsky¡¡being¡¡carried¡¡alongside¡¡him¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Anakora£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to
grab¡¡a¡¡sturdy¡¡tree¡¡before¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡hit¡¡and¡¡was¡¡clinging¡¡to¡¡it¡¡for¡¡dear¡¡life£»¡¡being¡¡left¡¡behind¡£¡¡He¡¡did
the¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡track¡¡of¡¡them¡¡both£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡doing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡comrades¡¡to
each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Steele¡¡went¡¡under¡¡several¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡flashed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡frozen¡¡lake¡£¡¡He¡¡was
determined¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡buried£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡consciousness¡¡again¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡so£»¡¡each¡¡time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡engulfed£»
he¡¡kicked¡¡and¡¡he¡¡thrashed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡put¡¡all¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡he¡¡had¡¡into¡¡his¡¡swimming¡¡stroke£»¡¡and¡¡he
resurfaced¡£
After¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡an¡¡age£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡over¡£¡¡Steele¡¡was¡¡half¡buried£»¡¡breathless£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡able¡¡to
dig¡¡himself¡¡free¡¡and¡¡climb¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡only¡¡been¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance£»¡¡but¡¡his
surroundings¡¡looked¡¡very¡¡different¡¡to¡¡him¡¡now¡£¡¡The¡¡shifting¡¡snow¡¡had¡¡formed¡¡new¡¡contours£»¡¡and
covered¡¡old¡¡landmarks¡£¡¡Closing¡¡his¡¡one¡¡good¡¡eye£»¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡reoriented¡¡himself¡¡by¡¡his¡¡internal
compass¡£
He¡¡found¡¡Anakora¡¡first£»¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡metres¡¡up¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡still¡¡holding¡¡onto¡¡her
tree£»¡¡although¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡buried¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chest¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡she¡¡looked£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£
She¡¡was¡¡also¡¡safe¡£
He¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡say¡¡the¡¡same¡¡for¡¡Blonsky¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡under¡£
Steele¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡at¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡last¡¡seen¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡found¡¡a¡¡single¡¡gloved¡¡hand
protruding¡¡from¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡its¡¡fingers¡¡waggling¡¡in¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡summon¡¡help¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡the
snow¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡set¡¡too¡¡hard¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡Steele¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡scoop¡¡handfuls¡¡of¡¡it¡¡away£»¡¡to¡¡reveal¡¡Blonsky¡¯s
head¡£¡¡A¡¡minute¡¡later£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡freed¡¡an¡¡arm¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡his¡¡trooper¡¡could¡¡do¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡for¡¡himself¡£
¡°G¡Grayle£»¡±¡¡gasped¡¡Blonsky£»¡¡raising¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡point¡¡¡ª¡¡and£»¡¡joined¡¡by¡¡Anakora£»¡¡who¡¡had
managed¡¡to¡¡free¡¡herself£»¡¡Steele¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡process¡¡again£»¡¡until¡¡a¡¡fourth¡¡Ice¡¡Warrior¡¡was
dragged¡¡spluttering¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡Grayle¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡air¡¡hole¡¡for¡¡himself
as¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡had¡¡settled¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡otherwise¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡suffocated¡£
When¡¡the¡¡avalanche¡¡had¡¡started£»¡¡Pozhar¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡few¡¡metres¡¡behind¡¡Sergeant¡¡Gavotski¡£¡¡However£»
he¡¡was¡¡young¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fast£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡easily¡¡overtaken¡¡the¡¡older¡¡man¡£¡¡Relatively¡¡safe¡¡on¡¡the
edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flow£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡surfed¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡with¡¡consummate¡¡skill¡¡and¡¡exulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡head¡¡rush¡¡it¡¡gave
him¡£¡¡In¡¡so¡¡doing¡¡¡ª¡¡he¡¡had¡¡realised¡¡too¡¡late¡¡¡ª¡¡he¡¡had¡¡quite¡¡lost¡¡track¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sergeant¡£
He¡¡had¡¡clambered¡¡over¡¡the¡¡freshly¡¡turned¡¡snow£»¡¡yelling¡¡for¡¡Gavotski£»¡¡his¡¡stomach¡¡churning¡¡with
the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡this¡¡man¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men£»¡¡his¡¡mentor£»¡¡his¡¡sponsor¡£¡¡His¡¡hand¡¡had¡¡started¡¡to
itch¡¡again£»¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡glove£»¡¡and¡¡Pozhar¡¡would¡¡have¡¡sworn¡¡that¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡the
grey¡¡fur¡¡spreading¡¡across¡¡it¡£
He¡¡had¡¡located¡¡Gavotski¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡worried¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡left¡¡him¡¡buried¡¡too¡¡long¡£¡¡He¡¡had
tried¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡down¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡bad¡¡arm¡¡had¡¡slowed¡¡him¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡Palinev¡¡had¡¡seen
the¡¡avalanche¡¡from¡¡ahead£»¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡him¡£
Gavotski¡¡had¡¡not¡¡questioned¡¡the¡¡delay¡¡in¡¡his¡¡rescue£»¡¡doubtless¡¡assuming¡¡that¡¡Pozhar¡¡had¡¡had¡¡his
own¡¡problems¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡led¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡Ice¡¡Warrior¡¡instead£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Palinev¡¡were
digging¡¡for¡¡Mikhaelev¡£¡¡Pozhar¡¡hung¡¡back¡¡for¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡in¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡useless¡£¡¡Useless
and¡¡ashamed¡£¡¡And¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡he¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡he¡¡might¡¡deserve¡¡what¡¡was¡¡happening¡¡to¡¡him
58
after¡¡all£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡fur¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡a¡¡warning¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡¡better£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡serving¡¡the
Emperor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fullest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡ability¡£¡¡That¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡saved¡¡Borscz¡£
He¡¡vowed¡¡that£»¡¡from¡¡this¡¡moment¡¡on£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡try¡¡even¡¡harder£»¡¡become¡¡even¡¡more¡¡fierce¡¡in¡¡the
execution¡¡of¡¡his¡¡duty¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡cleanse¡¡Iota¡¡Hive¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Chaos¡¡filth¡¡single¡handedly¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to£»¡¡or
die¡¡in¡¡the¡¡attempt¡£
Then¡¡Pozhar¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡¡ª¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡crunch¡¡of¡¡a¡¡footstep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡he
whirled¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grey¡furred¡¡mutant¡¡as¡¡it¡¡ducked¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡£¡¡He¡¡grinned
and¡¡offered¡¡up¡¡a¡¡grateful¡¡prayer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡for¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡this¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡himself¡¡so¡¡soon¡£
His¡¡comrades¡¡were¡¡still¡¡occupied£»¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡seen¡¡anything¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡something¡¡stopped¡¡Pozhar¡¡from
calling¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡his¡¡test£»¡¡not¡¡theirs¡£¡¡He¡¡crept¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡built¡¡up¡¡speed¡¡once
he¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡see¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rounded¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡down¡¡which¡¡the¡¡avalanche
had¡¡come¡£
This¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡the¡¡same¡¡mutant¡¡that¡¡had¡¡stalked¡¡the¡¡Ice¡¡Warriors¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡Aquila£»¡¡and
before¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡forest¡£¡¡Barreski¡¡and¡¡Grayle¡¡had¡¡already¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡had¡¡Steele¡¡himself¡£
Pozhar¡¡would¡¡not¡¡fail¡£
His¡¡enemy¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡mistake¡£¡¡Post¡avalanche£»¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡smooth¡¡and
undisturbed£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡virgin¡¡fall¡£¡¡The¡¡mutant¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡had¡¡left¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡trail¡£¡¡It
would¡¡no