lmb.shardsofhonor-第14章

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　〃It's　the　weirdest　design　for　a　government。〃
　〃It　wasn't　designed。　It　grew。〃
　〃Maybe　what　you　need　is　a　constitutional　convention。〃
　〃Spoken　like　a　true　Betan。　Well；　perhaps　we　do；　although　it　sounds　like　a　prescription　for　civil　war；　in　our　context。　That　leaves　Imperial　appointment。　It's　quick；　but　my　fall　could　be　as　sudden　and　spectacular　as　my　rise；　if　I　should　offend　the　old　man；　or　he　dies。〃　The　light　of　battle　was　in　his　eyes　as　he　spoke；　planning。　〃My　one　advantage　with　him　is　that　he　enjoys　plain　speaking。　I　don't　know　how　he　acquired　the　taste　for　it；　because　he　doesn't　get　much　of　it。
　〃Do　you　know；　I　think　you'd　like　politics；　at　least　on　Barrayar。　Maybe　because　it's　so　similar　to　what　we　call　war；　elsewhere。
　〃There　is　a　more　immediate　political　problem；　though；　with　respect　to　your　ship；　and　some　other　things。。。〃
　He　paused；　losing　momentum。　〃Maybe…maybe　an　insoluble　one。　It　really　may　be　premature　for　me　to　be　discussing　marriage　until　I　know　which　way　it's　going　to　fall　out。　But　I　couldn't　let　you　go　on　thinking…what　were　you　thinking；　anyway？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　say；　just　now。　I'll　tell　you　someday。　It's　nothing　you'll　dislike；　I　don't　believe。〃
　He　accepted　that　with　a　little　hopeful　nod；　and　went　on。　〃Your　ship…〃
　She　frowned　uneasily。　〃You　won't　be　getting　into　any　trouble　over　my　ship　getting　away；　will　you？〃
　〃It　was　just　the　situation　we　were　on　our　way　out　here　to　prevent。　The　fact　that　I　was　unconscious　at　the　time　should　be　a　mitigating　factor。　Balancing　that　are　the　views　I　aired　at　the　Emperor's　council。　There's　bound　to　be　suspicion　I　let　it　escape　on　purpose；　to　sabotage　an　adventure　I　deeply　disapprove。〃
　〃Another　demotion？〃
　He　laughed。　〃I　was　the　youngest　admiral　in　the　history　of　our　fleet…I　might　end　up　the　oldest　ensign；　too。　But　no；〃　he　sobered。　〃There　will　almost　certainly　be　a　charge　of　treason　laid；　by　the　war　party　in　the　Ministries。　Until　that's　settled；　one　way　or　another；〃　he　met　her　eyes；　〃it　may　be　difficult　to　settle　any　personal　affairs　either。〃
　〃Is　treason　a　capital　crime　on　Barrayar？〃　she　asked；　morbidly　curious。
　〃Oh；　yes。　Public　exposure　and　death　by　starvation。〃　He　raised　a　quizzical　eyebrow　at　her　appalled　look。　〃If　it's　any　consolation；　high…born　traitors　always　seem　to　be　smuggled　some　neat　means　to　private　suicide；　before　the　event。　It　saves　stirring　up　any　unnecessary　public　sympathy。　I　think　I　should　not　give　them　the　satisfaction；　though。　Let　it　be　public；　and　messy；　and　tedious；　and　embarrassing　as　all　hell。〃　He　looked　alarmingly　fey。
　〃Would　you　sabotage　the　invasion；　if　you　could？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　eyes　going　distant。　〃No。　I　am　a　man　under　authority。　That's　what　the　syllable　in　front　of　my　name　means。　While　the　question　is　still　being　debated；　I'll　continue　to　argue　my　case。　But　if　the　Emperor　puts　his　word　to　the　order；　I'll　go　without　question。　The　alternative　is　civil　chaos；　and　we've　had　enough　of　that。〃
　〃What's　different　about　this　invasion？　You　must　have　favored　Komarr；　or　they　wouldn't　have　put　you　in　charge　of　it。〃
　〃Komarr　was　a　unique　opportunity；　almost　a　textbook　case。　When　I　was　designing　the　strategy　for　its　conquest；　I　made　maximum　use　of　those　chances。〃　He　ticked　off　the　points　on　his　thick　fingers。　〃A　small　population；　all　concentrated　in　climate…controlled　cities。　No　place　for　guerillas　to　fall　back　and　regroup。　No　allies…we　weren't　the　only　ones　whose　trade　was　being　strangled　by　their　greedy　tariffs。　All　I　had　to　do　was　let　it　leak　out　that　we　were　going　to　drop　their　twenty…five　percent　cut　of　everything　that　passed　through　their　nexus　points　to　fifteen；　and　the　neighbors　that　should　have　supported　them　fell　into　our　pockets。　No　heavy　industry。　Fat　and　lazy　from　living　off　unearned　ine…they　didn't　even　want　to　do　their　own　fighting；　until　those　scraggly　mercenaries　they'd　hired　found　out　what　they　were　up　against；　and　turned　tail。　If　I'd　had　a　free　hand；　and　a　little　more　time；　I　think　it　could　have　been　taken　without　a　shot　being　fired。　A　perfect　war；　it　should　have　been；　if　the　Council　of　Ministers　hadn't　been　so　impatient。〃　Remembered　frustrations　played　themselves　out　before　his　eyes；　and　he　frowned　into　the　past。　〃This　other　plan…well；　I　think　you'll　understand　if　I　tell　you　it's　Escobar。〃
　Cordelia　sat　up；　shocked。　〃You　found　a　jump　through　here　to　Escobar？〃　No　wonder；　then；　the　Barrayarans　had　not　announced　their　discovery　of　this　place。　Of　all　the　possibilities　she　had　revolved　in　her　mind；　that　was　the　last。　Escobar　was　one　of　the　major　planetary　hubs　in　the　network　of　wormhole　exits　that　strung　scattered　humanity　together。　Large；　old；　rich；　temperate；　it　counted　among　its　many　neighbors　Beta　Colony　itself。　〃They're　out　of　their　minds！〃
　〃Do　you　know；　that's　almost　exactly　what　I　said；　before　the　Minister　of　the　West　started　shouting；　and　Count　Vortala　threatened…well；　became　very　rude　to　him。　Vortala　can　be　more　obnoxious　without　actually　swearing　than　any　man　I　know。〃
　〃Beta　Colony　would　be　drawn　in　for　sure。　Why；　half　our　interstellar　trade　passes　through　Escobar。　And　Tau　Ceti　Five。　And　Jackson's　Whole。〃
　〃At　the　very　least；　I　should　think；〃　Vorkosigan　nodded　agreement。　〃The　idea　was　to　make　it　a　quick　operation；　and　present　the　potential　allies　with　a　fait　acpli。　Being　intimately　familiar　with　everything　that　went　wrong　with　my　'perfect'　plan　for　Komarr；　I　told　them　they　were　dreaming；　or　words　to　that　effect。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　wish　I'd　kept　my　temper　better。　I　could　still　be　back　there；　arguing　against　it。　Instead；　for　all　I　know；　the　fleet　is　being　readied　even　now。　And　the　further　preparations　go；　the　harder　they　will　be　to　stop。〃　He　sighed。
　〃War；〃　Cordelia　mused；　immensely　disturbed。　〃You　realize；　if　your　fleet　goes…if　Barrayar　goes　to　war　with　Escobar…they'll　be　wanting　navigators　at　home。　Even　if　Beta　Colony　doesn't　get　directly　involved　in　the　fight；　we're　sure　to　be　selling　them　weapons；　technical　assistance；　shiploads　of　supplies…〃
　Vorkosigan　started　to　speak；　then　stopped　himself。　〃I　suppose　you　would；〃　he　said　bleakly。　〃And　we　would　be　trying　to　blockade　you。〃
　She　could　feel　the　blood　beating　in　her　ears　in　the　silence　that　followed。　The　little　noises　and　vibrations　of　Vorkosigan's　ship　still　drifted　through　the　walls；　Bothari　stirred　in　the　corridor；　and　footsteps　passed　by。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　think　about　this。　It's　not　as　easy　as　it　looked；　at　first。〃
　〃No；　it's　not。〃　He　turned　his　hand　palm…outward；　a　gesture　of　pletion；　and　rose　stiffly；　his　leg　still　bothering　him。　〃That's　all　I　wanted　to　say。　You　need　not　say　anything。〃
　She　nodded；　grateful　for　the　release；　and　he　withdrew；　collecting　Bothari　and　shutting　the　door　firmly　behind　him。　She　sighed　distress　and　deep　uncertainty；　and　lay　back　staring　at　the　ceiling　until　Yeoman　Nilesa　brought　dinner。
　
　CHAPTER　SIX
　Next　morning；　ship　time；　she　remained　quietly　in　her　cabin　reading。　She　wanted　time　to　assimilate　yesterday's　conversation　before　she　saw　Vorkosigan　again。　She　was　as　unsettled　as　if　all　her　star　maps　had　been　randomized；　leaving　her　lost；　but　at　least　knowing　she　was　lost。　A　step　backwards　toward　truth；　she　supposed；　better　than　mistaken　certainties。　She　hungered　forlornly　for　certainties；　even　as　they　receded　beyond　reach。
　The　ship's　library　offered　a　wide　range　of　Barrayaran　material。　A　gentleman　named　Abell　had　produced　a　turgid　general　history；　full　of　names；　dates；　and　detailed　descriptions　of　forgotten　battles　all　of　whose　participants　were　irrelevantly　dead　by　now。　A　scholar　named　Aczith　had　done　better；　with　a　vivid　biography　of　Emperor　Dorca　Vorbarra　the　Just；　the　ambiguous　figure　whom　Cordelia　calculated　was　Vorkosigan's　great…grandfather；　and　whose　reign　had　straddled　the　end　of　the　Time　of　Isolation。　Deeply　involved　in　the　multitude　of　personalities　and　convoluted　politics　of　his　day；　she　did　not　even　look　up　at　the　knock　on　her　door；　but　called；　〃Enter。〃
　A　pair　of　soldiers　wearing　green…and…grey　planetside　camouflage　fatigues　fell　through　the　door　and　shut　it　hastily　behind　them。　What　a　ratty…looking　pair；　she　thought；　finally；　a　Barrayaran　soldier　shorter　than　Vorkosigan。　It　was　only　on　the　third　thought　that　she　recognized　them；　as　from　the　corridor　outside；　muffled　by　the　door；　an　alarm　klaxon　began　to　hoot　rhythmically。　Looks　like　I'm　not　going　to　make　it　to　the　B's。。。
　〃Captain！〃　cried　Lieutenant　Stuben。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　All　the　crushing　weight　of　old　responsibility　descended　on　her　at　the　sight　of　his　face。　His　shoulder…length　brown　hair　had　been　sacrificed　to　an　imitation　Barrayaran　military　burr　that　looked　as　though　it　had　been　grazed　over　by　some　herbivore；　and　his　head　seemed　small；　naked；　and　strange　without　it。　Lieutenant　Lai；　beside　him；　slight　and　thin　with　a　scholarly　stoop；　made　an　even　less　likely　looking　warrior；　the　too…large　uniform　he　wore　folded　up　at　the　wrists　and　ankles；　with　one　ankle　ing　unfolded　and　getting　under　the　heel　of　his　boot。
　She　opened　her　mouth　once　to　speak；　closed　it；　then　finally　ripped　out；　〃Why　aren't　you　on　your　way　home？　I　gave　you　an　order；　Lieutenant！〃
　Stuben；　anticipating　a　warmer　reception；　was　momentarily　nonplussed。　〃We　took　a　vote；〃　he　said　simply；　as　though　it　explained　everything。
　Cordelia　shook　her　head　helplessly。　〃You　would。　A　vote。　Right。〃　She　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　a　moment；　and　sobbed　a　laugh。　〃Why？〃　she　asked　through　her　fingers。
　〃We　identified　the　Barrayaran　ship　as　the　General　Vorkraft…looked　it　up　and　found　out　who　was　in　mand。　We　just　couldn't　leave　you　in　the　hands　of　the　Butcher　of　Komarr。　It　was　unanimous。〃
　She　was　momentarily　diverted。　〃How　the　devil　did　you　get　a　unanimous　vote　out　of…no；　never　mind；〃　she　cut　him　off　as　he　began　to　answer；　a　self…satisfied　gleam　starting　in　his　eye。　I　shall　beat　my　head　against　the　wall…no。　Got　to　have　more　information。　And　so　does　he。
　〃Do　you　realize；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃that　the　Barrayarans　were　planning　to　bring　an　invasion　fleet　through　here；　to　attack　Escobar　by　surprise？　If　you　had　reached　home　and　reported　this　planets　existence；　their　chance　of　surprise　would　have　been　destroyed。　Now　all　bets　are　off。　Where　is　the　Rene　Magritte　now；　and　how　did　you　ever　get　in　here？〃
　Lieutenant　Stuben　looked　astonished。　〃How　did　you　find　all　that　out？〃
　〃Time；　time；〃　Lieutenant　Lai　reminded　him　anxiously；　tapping　his　wrist　chronometer。
　Stuben　went　on。　〃Let　me　tell　you　on　the　way　to　the　shuttle。　Do　you　know　where　Dubauer　is？　He　wasn't　in　the　brig。〃
　〃Yes；　what　shuttle？　No…begin　at　the　beginning。　I've　got　to　know　everything　before　we　set　foot　in　the　corridor。　I　take　it　they　know　you're　aboard？〃　The　beat　of　the　klaxon　still　sounded　outside；　and　she　cringed　in　expectation　of　her　door　bursting　inward　at　any　moment。
　〃No；　they　don't。　That's　the　beauty　of　it；〃　said　Stuben　proudly。　〃We　had　the　greatest　piece　of　luck。
　〃They　pursued　us　for　two　days　when　we　first　ran　off。　I　didn't　put　on　full　power…just　enough　to　stay　out　of　their　range　and　keep　them　trailing　us。　I　thought　we　might　still　get　a　chance　to　circle　back　and　pick　you　up；　somehow。　Then　all　of　a　sudden　they　stopped；　turned　around；　and　started　back　here。
　〃We　waited　until　they　were　well　away；　then　turned　around　ourselves。　We　hoped　you　were