lmb.shardsofhonor-第10章

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the　weeds　without　raising　her　head。　A　tall　form　in　the　wonderfully　effective　Barrayaran　camouflage　fatigues　resolved　itself　as　a　grey…haired　officer。　As　he　passed　Vorkosigan　rose　from　his　hiding　place　as　if　resurrected。
　〃Korabik；〃　he　said　softly；　but　with　genuine　warmth　in　his　voice。　He　stood　grinning；　arms　folded；　waiting。
　Gottyan　spun　about；　one　hand　drawing　the　nerve　disruptor　at　his　hip。　After　a　beat；　a　look　of　surprise　came　over　his　face。　〃Aral！　The　landing　party　reported　the　Betans　had　killed　you；〃　and　he　stepped；　not　forward　as　Cordelia　had　expected　from　the　tone　of　Vorkosigan's　voice；　but　back。　The　disruptor　was　still　in　his　hand　as　if　he　had　forgotten　to　put　it　away；　but　gripped　firmly；　not　dangling。　Cordelia's　stomach　sank。
　Vorkosigan　looked　faintly　puzzled；　as　if　disappointed　by　the　cool；　controlled　reception。　〃I'm　glad　to　know　you're　not　superstitious；〃　he　joked。
　〃I　should　have　known　better　than　to　think　you　dead　until　I'd　seen　you　buried　with　a　stake　through　your　heart；〃　said　Gottyan；　sadly　ironic。
　〃What's　wrong；　Korabik？〃　asked　Vorkosigan　quietly。　〃You're　no　Minister's　lickspittle。〃
　At　these　words　Gottyan　brought　the　disruptor　up　to　undisguised　aim。　Vorkosigan　stood　very　still。
　〃No；〃　he　answered　frankly。　〃I　thought　the　story　Radnov　told　about　you　and　the　Betans　smelled。　And　I　was　going　to　make　damn　sure　it　went　through　a　board　of　inquiry　when　we　got　home。〃　He　paused。　〃But　then…I　would　have　been　in　mand。　After　being　acting　captain　for　six　months；　I'd　be　sure　to　be　confirmed。　What　do　you　think　the　chances　of　mand　are　at　my　age？　Five　percent？　Two？　Zero？〃
　'They're　not　as　bad　as　you　think；〃　said　Vorkosigan；　still　quietly。　〃There　are　some　things　ing　up　that　very　few　people　have　heard　about。　More　ships；　more　openings。〃
　〃The　usual　rumors；〃　Gottyan　dismissed　this。
　〃So　you　didn't　believe　I　was　dead？〃　probed　Vorkosigan。
　〃I　was　sure　you　were。　I　took　over…where　did　you　put　the　sealed　orders；　by　the　way？　We　turned　your　cabin　inside　out　looking　for　them。〃
　Vorkosigan　smiled　dryly　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　shall　not　increase　your　temptations。〃
　〃No　matter。〃　Gottyan's　aim　did　not　waver。　〃Then　day　before　yesterday　that　psychopathic　idiot　Bothari　came　to　see　me　in　my　cabin。　He　gave　me　the　real　story　of　what　happened　at　the　Betans'　camp。　Surprised　the　hell　out　of　me…I'd　have　thought　he'd　be　delighted　at　a　chance　to　slit　your　throat。　So　we　came　back　here　to　practice　ground　training。　I　was　sure　you'd　turn　up　sooner　or　later…I　expected　you　before　this。〃
　〃I　was　delayed。〃　Vorkosigan　shifted　position　slightly；　away　from　Cordelia's　line　of　fire　toward　Gottyan。　〃Where's　Bothari　now？〃
　〃Solitary　confinement。〃
　Vorkosigan　winced。　〃That's　very　bad　for　him。　I　take　it　you　didn't　spread　the　news　of　my　narrow　escape？〃
　〃Not　even　Radnov　knows。　He　still　thinks　Bothari　gutted　you。〃
　〃Smug；　is　he？〃
　〃Smug　as　a　cat。　I'd　have　taken　great　pleasure　in　wiping　his　face　at　the　board；　if　only　you'd　had　the　good　grace　to　meet　with　an　accident　on　your　hike。〃
　Vorkosigan　grimaced　wryly。　〃It　seems　to　me　you　haven't　quite　made　up　your　mind　what　you　really　want　to　do。　May　I　suggest　it　is　not　too　late；　even　now；　to　change　course？〃
　〃You　could　never　overlook　this；〃　stated　Gottyan　uncertainly。
　〃In　my　younger　and　more　stiff…necked　days；　perhaps　not。　But　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I'm　getting　a　little　tired　of　slaying　my　enemies　to　teach　them　a　lesson。〃　Vorkosigan　raised　his　chin　and　held　Gottyan's　eyes。　〃If　you　like；　you　can　have　my　word。　You　know　the　worth　of　it。〃
　The　disruptor　trembled　slightly　in　Gottyan's　hand；　as　he　wavered　on　the　edge　of　his　decision。　Cordelia；　barely　breathing；　saw　water　standing　in　his　eyes。　One　does　not　weep　for　the　living；　she　thought；　but　for　the　dead；　in　that　moment；　while　Vorkosigan　still　doubted；　she　knew　he　intended　to　fire。
　She　brought　her　stunner　up；　took　careful　aim；　and　squeezed　off　a　burst。　It　buzzed　weakly；　but　it　was　enough　to　bring　Gottyan；　head　turning　at　the　sudden　movement；　to　his　knees。　Vorkosigan　pounced　on　the　disruptor；　then　relieved　him　of　his　plasma　arc　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground。
　〃Damn　you；〃　croaked　Gottyan；　half…paralyzed。　〃Haven't　you　ever　been　out…maneuvered？〃
　〃If　I　had　I　wouldn't　be　here；〃　shrugged　Vorkosigan。　He　subjected　Gottyan　to　a　rapid　search；　confiscating　his　knife　and　a　number　of　other　objects。　〃Who　do　you　have　posted　as　pickets？〃
　〃Sens　to　the　north；　Koudelka　to　the　south。〃
　Vorkosigan　removed　Gottyan's　belt　and　bound　his　hands　behind　his　back。　〃You　really　did　have　trouble　making　up　your　mind；　didn't　you？〃　In　an　aside　to　Cordelia　he　explained；　〃Sens　is　one　of　Radnov's。　Koudelka's　mine。　Rather　like　flipping　a　coin。〃
　〃And　this　was　your　friend？〃　Cordelia　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃Seems　to　me　the　only　difference　between　your　friends　and　your　enemies　is　how　long　they　stand　around　chatting　before　they　shoot　you。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Vorkosigan　agreed；　〃I　could　take　over　the　universe　with　this　army　if　I　could　ever　get　all　their　weapons　pointed　in　the　same　direction。　Since　your　pants　will　stay　up　without　it；　mander　Naismith；　may　I　please　borrow　your　belt？〃　He　finished　securing　Gottyan's　legs　with　it；　gagged　him；　then　stood　a　moment　looking　up；　then　down　the　path。
　〃All　Cretans　are　liars；〃　murmured　Cordelia；　then　more　loudly；　〃North　or　south？〃
　〃An　interesting　question。　How　would　you　answer　it？〃
　〃I　had　a　teacher　who　used　to　reflect　back　my　questions　that　way。　I　thought　it　was　the　Socratic　method；　and　it　impressed　me　immensely；　until　I　found　out　he　used　it　whenever　he　didn't　know　the　answer。〃　Cordelia　stared　at　Gottyan；　whom　they　had　placed　in　the　spot　that　had　so　effectively　concealed　her；　wondering　whether　his　directions　marked　a　return　to　loyalty　or　a　last…ditch　effort　to　plete　Vorkosigan's　botched　assassination。　He　stared　back　in　puzzlement　and　hostility。
　〃North；〃　she　said　reluctantly　at　last。　She　and　Vorkosigan　exchanged　a　look　of　understanding；　and　he　nodded　briefly。
　〃e　on　then。〃
　They　started　quietly　up　the　path；　over　a　rise　and　through　a　hollow　dense　with　grey…green　thickets。　〃Have　you　known　Gottyan　long？〃
　〃We　served　together　for　the　last　four　years；　since　my　demotion。　He　was　a　good　career　officer；　I　thought。　Apolitical；　thorough。　He　has　a　family。〃
　〃Do　you　think　you　could…get　him　back；　later？〃
　〃Forgive　and　forget？　I　gave　him　a　chance　at　that。　He　turned　me　down。　Twice；　if　you're　right　in　your　choice　of　directions。〃　They　were　climbing　another　slope。　〃The　sentry　post　is　at　the　top。　Whoever's　there　will　be　able　to　scope　us　in　a　moment。　Drop　back　here　and　cover　me。　If　you　hear　firing…〃　he　paused；　〃use　your　initiative。〃
　Cordelia　smothered　a　short　laugh。　Vorkosigan　loosed　his　disruptor　in　its　holster　and　walked　openly　up　the　path；　making　plenty　of　noise。
　〃Sentry；　report；〃　she　heard　his　voice　call　firmly。
　〃Nothing　new　since…good　God；　it's　the　Captain！〃　followed　by　the　most　honestly　delighted　laugh　she　felt　she'd　heard　in　centuries。　She　leaned　against　a　tree；　suddenly　weak。　And　just　when　was　it；　she　asked　herself；　that　you　stopped　being　afraid　of　him　and　started　being　afraid　for　him？　And　why　is　this　new　fear　so　much　more　gut…wrenching　than　the　first？　You　don't　seem　to　have　e　out　ahead　on　the　trade；　have　you？
　〃You　can　e　out　now；　mander　Naismith；〃　Vorkosigan's　voice　carried　back　to　her。　She　rounded　the　last　stand　of　underbrush　and　climbed　a　grassy　knoll。　Camped　upon　it　were　two　young　men　looking　very　neat　and　military　in　their　clean　fatigues。　One；　taller　than　Vorkosigan　by　a　head；　with　a　boy's　face　on　a　man's　body；　she　recognized　from　her　view　through　the　scope　as　Koudelka。　He　was　shaking　his　Captain's　hand　with　unabashed　enthusiasm；　assuring　himself　of　its　unghostly　reality。　The　other　man's　hand　went　to　his　disruptor　when　he　saw　her　uniform。
　〃We　were　told　the　Betans　killed　you；　sir；〃　he　said　suspiciously。
　〃Yes；　it's　a　rumor　I've　had　difficulty　living　down；〃　said　Vorkosigan。　〃As　you　can　see；　it's　not　true。〃
　〃Your　funeral　was　splendid；〃　said　Koudelka。　〃You　should　have　been　there。〃
　〃Next　time；　perhaps；〃　Vorkosigan　grinned。
　〃Oh。　You　know　I　didn't　mean　it　that　way；　sir。　Lieutenant　Radnov　made　the　best　speech。〃
　〃I'm　sure。　He'd　probably　been　working　on　it　for　months。〃
　Koudelka；　a　little　quicker　on　the　uptake　than　his　panion；　said　〃Oh。〃　His　fellow　merely　looked　puzzled。
　Vorkosigan　went　on。　〃Permit　me　to　introduce　mander　Cordelia　Naismith；　of　the　Betan　Astronomical　Survey。　She　is。。。〃　he　paused；　and　Cordelia　waited　interestedly　to　hear　what　status　she　was　to　be　assigned；　〃ah。。。〃
　〃Sounds　like？〃　she　murmured　helpfully。
　Vorkosigan　closed　his　lips　firmly；　pressing　a　smile　out　straight。　〃My　prisoner；〃　he　chose　finally。　〃On　parole。　Except　for　access　to　classified　areas；　she　is　to　be　extended　every　courtesy。〃
　The　two　young　men　looked　impressed；　and　wildly　curious。　〃She's　armed；〃　Koudelka's　panion　pointed　out。
　〃And　a　good　thing；　too。〃　Vorkosigan　did　not　enlarge　on　this；　but　went　on　to　more　urgent　affairs。　〃Who　is　in　the　landing　party？〃
　Koudelka　rattled　off　a　list　of　names；　his　memory　jogged　occasionally　by　his　cohort。
　〃All　right；〃　Vorkosigan　sighed。　〃Radnov；　Darobey；　Sens；　and　Tafas　are　to　be　disarmed；　as　quietly　and　cleanly　as　possible；　and　placed　under　arrest　on　a　charge　of　mutiny。　There　will　be　some　others　later。　I　don't　want　any　munication　with　the　General　Vorkraft　until　they're　under　lock　and　key。　Do　you　know　where　Lieutenant　Buffa　is？〃
　〃In　the　caverns。　Sir？〃　Koudelka　was　starting　to　look　a　little　miserable；　as　he　began　to　deduce　what　was　happening。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Are　you　sure　about　Tafas？〃
　〃Nearly。〃　Vorkosigan　gentled　his　voice。　〃They'll　be　tried。　That's　the　purpose　of　a　trial；　to　separate　the　guilty　from　the　innocent。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Koudelka　accepted　this　limited　guarantee　for　the　welfare　of　a　man　Cordelia　guessed　must　be　his　friend　with　a　little　bow　of　his　head。
　〃Do　you　begin　to　see　why　I　said　the　statistics　about　civil　war　conceal　the　most　reality？〃　said　Vorkosigan。
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Koudelka　met　his　eye　squarely；　and　Vorkosigan　nodded；　sure　of　his　man。
　〃All　right。　You　two　e　with　me。〃
　They　started　off；　Vorkosigan　taking　her　arm　again　and　scarcely　limping；　neatly　concealing　how　much　weight　he　was　putting　on　her。　They　followed　another　path　through　the　woodlands；　up　and　down　uneven　ground；　ing　out　within　sight　of　the　camouflaged　door　to　the　cache　caverns。
　The　waterfall　that　spun　down　beside　it　ended　in　a　little　pool；　spilling　over　into　a　pretty　stream　which　ran　off　into　the　woods。　A　strange　group　was　assembled　beside　it。　Cordelia　could　not　at　first　make　out　what　they　were　doing。　Two　Barrayarans　stood　watching　while　two　more　knelt　by　the　water。　As　they　approached　the　two　kneelers　stood；　hauling　a　dripping；　tan…clad　figure；　hands　tied　behind　his　back；　from　a　prone　position　to　his　feet。　He　coughed；　struggling　for　breath　in　sobbing　gasps。
　〃It's　Dubauer！〃　cried　Cordelia。　〃What　are　they　doing　to　him？〃
　Vorkosigan；　who　seemed　to　know　instantly　just　what　they　were　doing　to　him；　muttered　〃Oh；　hell；〃　and　started　forward　at　a　jerky　jog。　〃That's　my　prisoner！〃　he　roared　out　as　they　neared　the　group。　〃Hands　off　him！〃
　The　Barrayarans　braced　so　fast　it　looked　like　a　spinal　reflex。　Dubauer；　released；　fell　to　his　knees；　still　drawing　breath　in　long　sobs。　Cordelia；　running　past　them　to　Dubauer；　thought　she　had　ne