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The Fissure - Nik Vincent

A Black Library Publication

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The Fissure

Nik Vincent

Location: Formal Prime, Sabbat Worlds, 251.M41

Apothecary Utropius broke the seal on Basilion’s helmet and lifted it free of his head. There was no rictus grin on the dead Space Marine’s face, no fear in his eyes, no shock, no horror, only a steely, calm determination; only penetrating focus and heroic self-sacrifice, only duty and intent.

Without a word, Utropius passed the helmet to Cleon, who lifted it to his face in both of his gauntleted hands, almost as if he were going to kiss it, before placing it under his left arm. He stared hard at Basilion’s face, looking for a sign that his battle-brother knew what he had accomplished before he was spent.

The Apothecary took his flask from his belt. It was an old example, worn by generations of Apothecaries before him. The flat, silver lozenge was dull and tarnished, and dented in several places, but the gold of the seams and stopper was still visible, as was the heavily worked silver and gold image of the Great Yorgos. He had been the first Iron Snake to be blessed with that name, and the engraving showed him wielding a magnificent harpoon, carried high above his shoulder like a javelin, bearing down on a vast, thrashing wyrm. The creature was spraying great golden plumes of water across the surface of the flask from its muscular flanks and tail, writhing frantically in the face of inevitable death.

Utropius unstoppered the flask, leaned over Basilion, and began to pour drops of Ithaka’s sacred water onto his forehead. He made the ritual signs with his right hand and recited the sacred words that would lay his battle-brother’s soul to rest and commend him to the God-Emperor in whose service he had perished.

When it was done, Cleon turned to the sheer, smooth face of the rockcrete wall directly behind them. He placed Basilion’s helmet on the ground next to his brother and took up his meltagun. Two minutes later there was a niche in the wall. It was smooth and symmetrical and about as perfect as it could be, and the Corvus-pattern helm that Basilion had worn as an Iron Snake fit snugly into it.

The first incantation complete, the Apothecary bound Basilion’s eyes and mouth so that he could neither see out nor drink in, as was the Iron Snakes’ custom, and then he went to work on his hand.

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A Black Library Publication

First published in Great Britain in 2013
This eBook edition published in 2016 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd,
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ISBN: 978-1-78572-585-2

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

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