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Flicking　levers　and　turning　dials；　the　Rapture’s　engines　roared　as　they　made　ready　for　flight；　and
Baranov　ran　through　a　hasty　diagnostics　check。　“Are　you　in？”　he　called　out　over　his　shoulder。　“Go；”
came　the　roared　reply；　and　Baranov　heard　the　sound　of　weapons　fire。　“Hold　on；”　he　shouted；　and　he
gunned　the　engines。　The　Rapture　lifted　from　the　deck；　and　her　landing　gear　folded　up　beneath　her　as
she　turned　on　the　spot；　aiming　towards　the　gaping　docking　bay　doors　and　the　refuge　of　space
beyond。　Weapon　fire　struck　the　hull；　and　Baranov　swore　as　he　saw　a　flashing　damage　report　register
on　one　of　his　pict　screens。　Then　he　slammed　the　two　propulsion　levers　flat　to　the　console；　and　the
Rapture　filled　the　dock　with　the　flames　of　her　engines。　The　rogue　trader　vessel　speared　out　through
the　gaping　bay　doors；　shooting　free　of　the　eldar　vessel　that　had　so　nearly　claimed　his　life　and　soul。
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CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
Solon　pushed　through　the　bustling　crowds　with　growing　desperation　and　fierceness；　shoving　people
brutally　out　his　way；　ignoring　their　curses　and　cries　of　anger　as　he　fought　his　way　towards　gate　D5；
one　of　more　than　fifty　that　was　still　taking　passengers。　He　dragged　Dios　through　the　press；
determined　not　to　release　his　grip　on　the　boy　now　that　they　were　so　close。
They　had　seen　the　mass　transport　from　some　two　kilometres　distance　as　it　descended　through　the
atmosphere；　hundreds　of　massive　retro　engines　roaring　to　slow　its　vertical　descent。　The　storms　that
had　raged　over　the　moon　had　been　rolling　away　to　the　south　for　the　past　six　hours；　and　for　the　first
time　in　almost　three　months　Solon　had　seen　the　stars　overhead　from　horizon　to　horizon。
The　angry　red　glow　of　the　Eye　of　Terror　dominated　the　sky；　a　circular　corona　of　hellish　light　that
peered　down　on　Perdus　Skylla　with　evil　intent；　gloating　over　its　fate。
Flashes　of　light　sparked　in　the　heavens；　like　a　hundred　stars　being　born　and　dying　again
instantly；　and　it　took　Solon　some　time　to　realise　what　the　flashes　were。
“An　Imperial　armada　is　fighting　for　us；　Dios；”　he　had　said　in　awe　when　realisation　had　finally
come　to　him；　and　he　marvelled　at　the　spectacle；　trying　to　imagine　the　colossal　battle　raging
overhead。
It　had　taken　them　almost　four　days　to　close　towards　the　Phorcys　starport；　and　they　had　met
thousands　of　refugees；　joining　their　convoys　as　they　gravitated　towards　their　last　hope　of　salvation。
Burning　streaks　of　fire　could　be　seen　in　the　distance　as　hundreds　of　alien　spores　descended　on　the
ice　world；　each　one　filled　with　xenos　warriors　intent　on　slaughter；　and　Solon　knew　that　the　final
death　of　the　world　drew　near。
With　grim　determination　he　pushed　on　through　the　crowd；　elbowing　his　way　forward；　struggling
along　with　more　than　a　hundred　thousand　other　desperate　souls　to　pass　through　gate　D5　and　secure　a
berth　upon　the　last　of　the　mass　transports。
It　was　like　a　form　of　hell；　with　so　many　thousands　of　people　straining　to　push　into　the　narrow
defile　leading　to　the　boarding　gate；　and　the　stink　of　humanity　was　heavy。　People　screamed　as　the
breath　was　crushed　from　their　lungs　by　the　press；　and　others　cried　out　as　they　fell；　to　be　trampled　to
death　underfoot。
Women　wailed　as　children　were　swept　away　from　them　in　the　surging　crowd；　and　thousands　of
voices　rose；　yelling　out　in　desperation　to　loved　ones　lost　in　the　press。　Other　voices　lifted　desperate
pleas　to　the　Emperor；　crying　out　for　aid；　for　salvation；　for　forgiveness。
Wild…eyed　priests　had　climbed　up　radial　spires　along　with　gaggles　of　frenzied　supporters；　and
they　raved　and　screamed　their　sermons　over　the　heads　of　the　crowds　that　rippled　like　a　living　sea
beneath　them。
A　form　of　mass　hysteria　and　mania　gripped　the　flood　of　humanity；　and　fights　broke　out　in
isolated　pockets　of　madness　within　the　sea　of　bodies；　with　men　clubbing　each　other　to　the　ground；
their　faces　twisted　in　rage　and　fear；　only　to　be　trampled　en　masse　as　the　crowds　surged　back　and
forth。
A　woman　that　had　scratched　a　bloody　aquila　into　her　forehead　screamed　that　the　time　of
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。
167
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；”　u