lmb.shardsofhonor-第11章

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　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　never　seen　a　more　astonished…looking　array　of　men。　Dubauer's　hair；　swollen　face；　scanty　new　beard；　and　collar　were　soaking　wet；　his　eyes　were　red；　and　he　continued　to　cough　and　sneeze。　Horrified；　she　finally　realized　the　Barrayarans　had　been　holding　his　head　underwater　by　way　of　torture。
　〃What　is　this；　Lieutenant　Buffa？〃　Vorkosigan　pinned　the　senior　of　the　group　with　a　thunderous　frown。
　〃I　thought　the　Betans　killed　you；　sir！〃　said　Buffa。
　〃They　didn't；〃　Vorkosigan　said　shortly。　〃What　are　you　doing　with　this　Betan？〃
　〃Tafas　captured　him　in　the　woods；　sir。　We've　been　trying　to　question　him…find　out　if　there's　any　more　around…〃　he　glanced　at　Cordelia；　〃but　he　refuses　to　talk。　Hasn't　said　a　word。　And　I　always　thought　Betans　were　soft。〃
　Vorkosigan　rubbed　his　hand　over　his　face　for　a　moment；　as　if　praying　for　strength。
　〃Buffa；〃　he　said　patiently；　〃this　man　was　hit　by　disruptor　fire　five　days　ago。　He　can't　talk；　and　if　he　could　he　wouldn't　know　anything　anyway。〃
　〃Barbarians！〃　cried　Cordelia；　kneeling　on　the　ground。　Dubauer　had　recognized　her；　and　was　clutching　her。　〃You　Barrayarans　are　nothing　but　barbarians；　scoundrels；　and　assassins！〃
　〃And　fools。　Don't　leave　out　fools。〃　Vorkosigan　withered　Buffa　with　a　glare。　A　couple　of　the　men　had　the　good　grace　to　look　rather　ill；　as　well　as　ill　at　ease。　Vorkosigan　let　out　his　breath　with　a　sigh。　〃Is　he　all　right？〃
　〃Seems　to　be；〃　she　admitted　reluctantly。　〃But　he's　pretty　shaken　up。〃　She　was　shaking　herself　in　her　outrage。
　〃mander　Naismith；　I　apologize　for　my　men；〃　said　Vorkosigan　formally；　and　loudly；　so　that　no　one　there　could　mistake　that　their　Captain　humbled　himself　before　his　prisoner　because　of　them。
　〃Don't　click　your　heels　at　me；〃　muttered　Cordelia　savagely；　for　his　ear　alone。　At　his　bleak　look　she　relented　a　little；　and　said　more　loudly；　〃It　was　an　error　in　interpretation。〃　Her　eye　fell　on　Lieutenant　Buffa；　attempting　to　make　his　considerable　height　appear　to　melt　into　the　ground。　〃Any　blind　man　could　have　made　it。　Oh；　hell；〃　she　added；　for　Dubauer's　terror　and　distress　were　triggering　another　convulsion。　Most　of　the　Barrayarans　looked　away；　variously　embarrassed。　Vorkosigan；　who　was　getting　practiced；　knelt　to　give　her　what　aid　she　needed。　When　the　seizure　subsided　he　stood。
　〃Tafas；　give　your　weapons　to　Koudelka；〃　he　ordered。　Tafas　hesitated；　glancing　around；　then　slowly　plied。
　〃I　didn't　want　any　part　of　it；　sir；〃　he　said　desperately。　〃But　Lieutenant　Radnov　said　it　was　too　late。〃
　〃You'll〃　get　a　chance　to　speak　for　yourself　later　on；〃　said　Vorkosigan　wearily。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　asked　the　bewildered　Buffa。　〃Have　you　seen　mander　Gottyan；　sir？〃
　〃I've　given　mander　Gottyan…separate　orders。　Buffa；　you　are　now　in　charge　of　the　landing　party。〃　Vorkosigan　repeated　his　orders　for　the　arrest　of　his　short　list；　and　detached　a　group　to　carry　out　the　task。
　〃Ensign　Koudelka；　take　my　prisoners　to　the　cave；　and　see　that　they're　given　proper　food；　and　whatever　else　mander　Naismith　requires。　Then　see　that　the　shuttle　is　ready　to　go。　We'll　be　leaving　for　the　ship　as　soon　as　the…other　prisoners　are　secured。〃　He　avoided　the　word　〃mutineers；〃　as　though　it　were　too　strong；　like　blasphemy。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　asked　Cordelia。
　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　talk　with　mander　Gottyan。　Alone。〃
　〃Hm。　Well；　don't　make　me　regret　my　own　advice。〃　Which　was　as　close　as　she　could　e　at　the　moment　to　saying；　Be　careful。
　Vorkosigan　acknowledged　all　her　meanings　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　and　turned　back　for　the　woods。　He　was　limping　more　noticeably　now。
　She　helped　Dubauer　to　his　feet；　and　Koudelka　led　them　to　the　cave's　mouth。　The　young　man　seemed　so　much　like　Dubauer's　opposite　number；　she　found　it　hard　to　maintain　her　hostility。
　〃What　happened　to　the　old　man's　leg？〃　Koudelka　asked　her；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder。
　〃He's　got　an　infected　scratch；〃　she　understated；　inclined　to　endorse　his　evident　policy　of　keeping　up　a　good　show　for　the　benefit　of　his　unreliable　crew。　〃It　should　get　some　high　grade　medical　attention；　as　soon　as　you　can　get　him　to　slow　down　for　it。〃
　〃That's　the　old　man　for　you。　I've　never　seen　anybody　that　age　with　that　much　energy。〃
　〃That　age？〃　Cordelia　raised　an　eyebrow。
　〃Well；　of　course　he　wouldn't　seem　old　to　you；〃　Koudelka　allowed；　and　looked　puzzled　when　she　burst　out　laughing。　〃Energy　isn't　quite　what　I　wanted　to　say；　though。〃
　〃How　about　power；〃　she　suggested；　curiously　glad　that　Vorkosigan　had　at　least　one　admirer。　〃Energy　applied　to　work。〃
　〃That's　very　good；〃　he　applauded；　gratified。　Cordelia　decided　not　to　mention　the　little　blue　pill；　either。
　〃He　seems　an　interesting　person；〃　she　said；　angling　for　another　view　of　Vorkosigan。　〃How　did　he　ever　get　in　this　fix？〃
　〃You　mean；　Radnov？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃Well；　I　don't　want　to　criticize　the　old　man；　but…I　don't　know　of　anyone　else　who'd　tell　a　Political　Officer　when　he　came　on　board　to　stay　out　of　his　sight　if　he　wanted　to　live　to　the　end　of　the　voyage。〃　Koudelka　was　hushed　in　his　awe。
　Cordelia；　making　the　second　turning　behind　him　in　the　halls　of　the　cave；　was　jerked　alert　by　her　surroundings。　Most　peculiar；　she　thought。　Vorkosigan　misled　me。　The　labyrinthine　series　of　caverns　was　partly　natural　but　mostly　carved　out　by　plasma　arc：　cool；　moist；　and　dimly　lit。　The　huge　spaces　were　stuffed　with　supplies。　This　was　no　cache；　it　was　a　full…scale　fleet　depot。　She　pursed　her　lips　soundlessly；　staring　around；　suddenly　awake　to　a　whole　new　range　of　unpleasant　possibilities。
　In　one　corner　of　the　caverns　stood　a　standard　Barrayaran　field　shelter；　a　semicircular　ribbed　vault　covered　with　a　fabric　like　the　Betans'　tents。　This　one　was　given　over　to　a　field　kitchen　and　mess　hall；　crude　and　bleak。　A　lone　yeoman　was　cleaning　up　after　lunch。
　〃The　old　man　just　turned　up；　alive！〃　Koudelka　greeted　him。
　〃Huh！　I　thought　the　Betans　had　cut　his　throat；〃　said　the　yeoman；　surprised。　〃And　we　did　the　funeral　dinner　up　so　nice。〃
　〃These　two　are　the　old　man's　personal　prisoners；〃　Koudelka　introduced　them　to　the　cook；　whom　Cordelia　suspected　was　more　bat　soldier　than　gourmet　chef；　〃and　you　know　what　he's　like　on　that　subject。　The　guy's　got　disruptor　damage。　He　said　they're　to　have　proper　food；　so　don't　try　to　poison　them　with　the　usual　swill。〃
　〃Everyone's　a　critic；〃　muttered　the　yeoman…cook；　as　Koudelka　vanished　about　his　other　chores。　〃What'll　you　have？〃
　〃Anything。　Anything　but　oatmeal　or　blue　cheese；〃　she　amended　hastily。
　The　yeoman　disappeared　into　the　back　room；　and　returned　a　few　minutes　later　with　two　steaming　bowls　of　a　stew…like　substance；　and　real　bread　with　genuine　vegetable　oil　spread。　Cordelia　fell　to　it　wolfishly。
　〃How　is　it？〃　asked　the　yeoman　tonelessly；　hunching　down　into　his　shoulders。
　〃S'delishoush；〃　she　said　around　a　large　mouthful。　〃S'wonderful。〃
　〃Really？〃　He　straightened　up。　〃You　really　like　it？〃
　〃Really。〃　She　stopped　to　shove　a　few　spoonfuls　into　the　dazed　Dubauer。　The　taste　of　the　warm　food　cut　across　his　post…seizure　sleepiness；　and　he　chewed　away　with　something　like　her　enthusiasm。
　〃Here…can　I　help　you　feed　him？〃　the　yeoman　offered。
　Cordelia　beamed　upon　him　like　the　sun。　〃You　certainly　may。〃
　In　less　than　an　hour　she　had　learned　that　the　yeoman's　name　was　Nilesa；　heard　most　of　his　life's　history；　and　been　offered　the　plete；　if　severely　limited；　range　of　dainties　a　Barrayaran　field　kitchen　had　to　offer。　The　yeoman　was　evidently　as　starved　for　praise　as　his　fellows　were　for　home　cooking；　for　he　followed　her　around　racking　his　brain　for　small　personal　services　to　offer　her。
　Vorkosigan　came　in　by　himself；　and　sat　wearily　down　beside　Cordelia。
　〃Wele　back；　sir；〃　the　yeoman　greeted　him。　〃We　thought　the　Betans　had　killed　you。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Vorkosigan　waved　away　this　by…now…familiar　greeting。　〃How　about　some　food？〃
　〃What'll　you　have；　sir？〃
　〃Anything　but　oatmeal。〃
　He　too　was　served　with　bread　and　stew；　which　he　ate　without　Cordelia's　appetite；　for　the　fever　and　stimulant　bined　to　kill　it。
　〃How　did　things　work　out　with　mander　Gottyan？〃　Cordelia　asked　him　quietly。
　〃Not　bad。　He's　back　on　the　job。〃
　〃How　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Untied　him；　and　gave　him　my　plasma　arc。　I　told　him　I　couldn't　work　with　a　man　who　made　my　shoulder　blades　itch；　and　this　was　the　last　chance　I　was　going　to　give　him　for　instant　promotion。　Then　I　sat　down　with　my　back　to　him。　Sat　there　for　about　ten　minutes。　We　didn't　say　a　word。　Then　he　gave　the　arc　back；　and　we　walked　back　to　camp。〃
　〃I　wondered　if　something　like　that　might　work。　Although　I'm　not　sure　I　could　have　done　it；　if　I　were　you。〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　could　have　done　it　either；　if　I　wasn't　so　damn　tired。　It　felt　good　to　sit　down。〃　His　tone　became　slightly　more　animated。　〃As　soon　as　they　get　the　arrests　made；　we'll　lift　off　for　the　General。　It's　a　fine　ship。　I'm　assigning　you　the　visiting　officer's　cabin…Admiral's　Quarters；　they　call　it；　although　it's　no　different　from　the　others。〃　Vorkosigan　pushed　the　last　bites　of　stew　around　in　the　bottom　of　his　dish。　〃How　was　your　food？〃
　〃Wonderful。〃
　〃That's　not　what　most　people　say。〃
　〃Yeoman　Nilesa　has　been　most　kind　and　thoughtful。〃
　〃Are　we　talking　about　the　same　man？〃
　〃I　think　he　just　needs　a　little　appreciation　for　his　work。　You　might　try　it。〃
　Vorkosigan；　elbows　on　the　table；　propped　his　chin　on　his　hands　and　smiled。　〃I'll　take　it　under　advisement。〃
　They　both　sat　silent；　tired　and　digesting；　at　the　simple　metal　table。　Vorkosigan　leaned　back　in　his　chair　with　his　eyes　closed。　Cordelia　leaned　on　the　table　with　her　head　pillowed　on　one　arm。　In　about　half　an　hour　Koudelka　entered。
　〃We've　got　Sens；　sir；〃　he　reported。　〃But　we　had…are　having…a　little　trouble　with　Radnov　and　Darobey。　They　tumbled　on　to　it；　somehow；　and　escaped　into　the　woods。　I　have　a　patrol　out　searching　now。〃
　Vorkosigan　looked　like　he　wanted　to　swear。　〃Should　have　gone　myself；〃　he　muttered。　〃Did　they　have　any　weapons？〃
　〃They　both　had　their　disruptors。　We　got　their　plasma　arcs。
　〃All　right。　I　don't　want　to　waste　any　more　time　down　here。　Recall　your　patrol　and　seal　all　the　cavern　entrances。　They　can　find　out　how　they　like　spending　a　few　nights　in　the　woods。〃　His　eyes　glinted　at　the　vision。　〃We　can　pick　them　up　later。　They've　nowhere　to　go。〃
　Cordelia　pushed　Dubauer　ahead　of　her　into　the　shuttle；　a　bare　and　rather　decrepit　troop　transport；　and　settled　him　in　a　free　seat。　With　the　arrival　of　the　last　patrol　the　shuttle　seemed　crammed　with　Barrayarans；　including　the　huddled　and　subdued　prisoners；　hapless　subordinates　of　the　escaped　ringleaders；　bound　in　back。　They　all　seemed　such　large　and　muscular　young　men。　Indeed；　Vorkosigan　was　the　shortest　one　she'd　seen　so　far。
　They　stared　at　her　curiously；　and　she　caught　snatches　of　conversation　in　two　or　three　languages。　It　wasn't　hard　to　guess　their　content；　and　she　smiled　a　bit　grimly。　Youth；　it　appeared；　was　full　of　illusions　as　to　how　much　sexual　energy　two　people　might　have　to　spare　while　hiking　forty　or　so　kilometers　a　day；　concussed；　stunned；　diseased；　on　poor　food　and　little　sleep；　alternating　caring　for　a　wounded　man　with　avoiding　being　dinne