Armageddon
Page 44
‘Stop this ship, okay?’ He reached to adjust his goggles where they sat back on his helmet. ‘Yes. Do that, please. I am apologetic for my angry words.’
The Crusader gave another shudder. Dozens of decks away, thousands of slaves were feeding the furnaces, igniting the great power drives. We were already moving from high anchor. The stars began to drift.
‘If you run,’ I suggested, ‘you may reach a shuttle bay in time. I will vox clearance ahead of you.’
He nodded, a gleam in his eyes, beginning to back away towards the door. ‘Yes. Clearance. That will be good, eh? Where is the closest shuttle bay?’
‘Approximately two kilometres away, if you move straight down the ship’s central spinal thoroughfare.’
He hesitated, and went bloodlessly white. ‘Please be joking.’
‘You may wish to start running, captain.’
He looked at me, shook his head in some subtle human dismissal I could not entirely gauge, and started running.
About the Author
Aaron Dembski-Bowden has written several novels for Black Library, including the Night Lords series, the Space Marine Battles book Helsreach, The Emperor’s Gift and the New York Times bestselling The First Heretic for the Horus Heresy. He lives and works in Northern Ireland with his wife Katie, hiding from the world in the middle of nowhere.
For my granddad – the apotheosis of all granddads – who died mere months before getting to see the book dedicated to him. This could be my fault for not writing fast enough, but we’ll blame his fourth(!) heart attack instead.
I miss you, Granddad. I hope the day comes when thinking about you makes me smile without the threat of tears.
A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION
Helsreach copyright © 2010, Games Workshop, Ltd.
‘Blood and Fire’ has never before been available.
This edition first published in Great Britain in 2013 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd., Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK.
Cover illustration by Imaginary Friends Studios
Maps by Adrian Wood.
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ISBN: 978-1-78251-049-9
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