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The long twilight faded into night lay . solinnus city lay in a penetrating darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the canal. Around the beleaguered court of Tigerius the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city, lasguns and bolters broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. Traitors and guardsmen were waging civil war.
On a rooftop near a freight bridge, a imperial sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his lasrifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field glasses. His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.
He was eating a jelpak hungrily. He had eaten nothing since morning. He had been too excited to eat. He finished the tasteless jel, and, taking a flask of water from his pocket, he took a short drought. Then he returned the flask to his pocket. He paused for a moment, considering whether he should risk a smoke. It was dangerous. The flash might be seen in the darkness, and there were enemies watching. He decided to take the risk.
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