lmb.shardsofhonor-第15章

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　〃We　waited　until　they　were　well　away；　then　turned　around　ourselves。　We　hoped　you　were　still　hiding　in　the　woods。〃
　〃No；　I　was　captured　the　first　night。　Go　on。〃
　〃We　got　everything　lined　up；　put　on　max　boost；　then　cut　everything　we　could　think　of　that　made　electromagnetic　noise。　The　projector　worked　fine　as　a　muffler；　by　the　way；　just　like　Ross's　simulation　last　month。　We　waltzed　right　past　'em　and　they　never　blinked…〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　Stu；　stick　to　the　point；〃　muttered　Lai。　〃We　haven't　got　all　day。〃　He　bounced　on　his　heels　in　impatience。
　〃If　that　projector　falls　into　Barrayaran　hands…〃　began　Cordelia　in　rising　tones。
　〃It　won't；　I　tell　you。　Anyway；　the　Rene　Magritte's　making　a　parabola　around　the　sun…as　soon　as　they　get　close　enough　to　be　masked　by　its　noise；　they're　supposed　to　brake　and　boost；　then　shoot　back　through　here　for　a　pickup。　We'll　have　a　two…hour　time　window　to　match　velocities　starting…well；　starting　about　ten　minutes　ago。〃
　〃Too　chancey；〃　criticized　Cordelia；　all　the　possible　disasters　inherent　in　this　scenario　parading　through　her　imagination。
　〃It　worked；〃　defended　Stuben。　〃…at　least；　it's　going　to　work。　Then　we　struck　it　lucky。　We　found　these　two　Barrayarans　wandering　in　the　woods　while　we　were　looking　for　you　and　Dubauer…〃
　Cordelia's　stomach　tightened。　〃Radnov　and　Darobey；　by　chance？〃
　Stuben　stared。　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　〃Go　on；　just　go　on。〃
　〃They　were　the　ringleaders　of　a　conspiracy　to　unseat　that　homicidal　maniac　Vorkosigan。　Vorkosigan　was　after　them；　so　they　were　glad　to　see　us。〃
　〃I'll　bet。　Just　like　manna　from　heaven。〃
　〃A　Barrayaran　patrol　shuttled　down　after　them。　We　set　up　an　ambush…stunned　them　all；　except　for　one　Radnov　shot　with　a　nerve　disruptor。　Those　guys　really　play　for　keeps。〃
　〃Do　you　happen　to　know　which…no；　never　mind。　Go　on。〃　Her　stomach　churned。
　〃We　took　their　uniforms；　took　their　shuttle；　and　slid　on　up　to　the　General　as　neat　as　you　please。　Radnov　and　Darobey　between　'em　knew　all　the　countersigns。　We　made　it　to　the　brig…that　was　easy；　it　was　where　they　were　expecting　their　patrol　to　go　anyway…we　thought　you　and　Dubauer　would　be　there。　Radnov　and　Darobey　let　all　their　buddies　out；　and　went　to　take　over　the　engine　room。　They　can　cut　off　any　system　from　there；　weapons；　life　support；　anything。　They're　supposed　to　cut　weapons　when　we　make　our　break　with　the　shuttle。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　count　on　that；〃　Cordelia　warned。
　〃No　matter；〃　said　Stuben　cheerfully。　〃The　Barrayarans　will　be　so　busy　fighting　each　other　we　can　walk　right　through。　Think　of　the　splendid　irony！　The　Butcher　of　Komarr；　shot　by　his　own　men！　Now　I　know　how　judo　is　supposed　to　work。〃
　〃Splendid；〃　she　echoed　hollowly。　His　head；　she　thought…I'm　going　to　beat　his　head　against　the　wall；　not　mine。　〃How　many　of　us　are　aboard？〃
　〃Six。　Two　at　the　shuttle；　two　looking　for　Dubauer；　and　we　two　to　get　you。〃
　〃Nobody　left　planetside？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃All　right。〃　She　rubbed　her　face　tensely；　ravenous　for　inspiration　that　would　not　e。　〃What　a　mess。　Dubauer's　in　sickbay；　by　the　way。　Disruptor　damage。〃　She　decided　not　to　detail　his　condition　just　then。
　〃Filthy　killers；〃　said　Lai。　〃I　hope　they　choke　each　other。〃
　She　turned　to　the　library　interface　by　her　bed；　and　dialed　up　the　crude　schematic　map　of　the　General　Vorkraft；　minus　technical　data；　that　the　library　was　programmed　to　allow　her。　〃Study　this；　and　figure　out　your　route　to　sickbay　and　the　shuttle　hatch。　I'm　going　to　find　something　out。　Stay　here　and　don't　answer　the　door。　Who　are　the　other　two　wandering　around　out　there？〃
　〃McIntyre　and　Big　Pete。〃
　〃Well；　at　least　they　have　a　better　chance　of　passing　for　Barrayarans　close　up　than　you　two　do。〃
　〃Captain；　where　are　you　going？　Why　can't　we　just　go？〃
　〃I'll　explain　it　when　I　have　a　week　to　spare。　This　time　follow　your　damned　orders。　Stay　here！〃
　She　slipped　out　the　door　and　dog…trotted　toward　the　bridge。　Her　nerves　screamed　to　run；　but　it　would　draw　too　much　attention。　She　passed　a　group　of　four　Barrayarans　hurrying　somewhere；　they　barely　spared　her　a　glance。　She　had　never　been　more　glad　to　be　a　wallflower。
　She　found　Vorkosigan　on　the　bridge　with　his　officers；　clustered　intently　around　the　inter　from　engineering。　Bothari　was　there　too；　looming　like　Vorkosigan's　sad　shadow。
　〃Who's　that　guy　on　the　m？〃　she　whispered　to　Vorkalloner。　〃Radnov？〃
　〃Yes。　Sh。〃
　The　face　was　speaking。　〃Vorkosigan；　Gottyan；　and　Vorkalloner；　one　by　one；　at　two…minute　intervals。　Unarmed；　or　all　life　support　systems　will　be　cut　off　throughout　the　ship。　You　have　fifteen　minutes　before　we　start　letting　in　the　vacuum。　Ah。　Have　you　patched　it　in？　Good。　Better　not　waste　time；　Captain。〃　His　inflection　made　the　rank　a　deadly　insult。
　The　face　vanished；　but　the　voice　returned　ghost…like　over　the　loudspeaker　system。　〃Soldiers　of　Barrayar；〃　it　blared。　〃Your　Captain　has　betrayed　the　Emperor　and　the　Council　of　Ministers。　Don't　let　him　betray　you　too。　Turn　him　over　to　the　proper　authority；　your　Political　Officer；　or　we　will　be　forced　to　slay　the　innocent　with　the　guilty。　In　fifteen　minutes　we　will　cut　life　support…〃
　〃Cut　that　off；〃　said　Vorkosigan　irritably。　〃Can't　sir；〃　said　a　technician。　Bothari；　more　direct；　unslung　his　plasma　arc　and　with　a　negligent　gesture　fired　from　the　hip。　The　speaker　exploded　off　the　wall　and　several　men　ducked　the　molten　fragments。
　〃Hey；　we　might　need　that　ourselves；〃　began　Vorkalloner　indignantly。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Vorkosigan　waved　him　down。　〃Thank　you；　Sergeant。〃　A　distant　echo　of　the　voice　continued　from　loudspeakers　all　over　the　ship。
　〃There's　no　time　for　anything　more　elaborate；　I'm　afraid；〃　Vorkosigan　said；　apparently　winding　up　a　planning　session。　〃Go　ahead　with　your　engineering　idea；　Lieutenant　Saint　Simon；　if　you　can　get　it　in　place　in　time；　so　much　the　better。　I'm　sure　we'd　all　rather　be　clever　than　brave。〃　The　lieutenant　nodded　and　hurried　out。　〃If　he　can't；　I'm　afraid　we'll　have　to　rush　them；〃　Vorkosigan　went　on。　〃They　are　perfectly　capable　of　killing　everyone　aboard　and　re…recording　the　log　to　prove　anything　they　please。　Between　Darobey　and　Tafas　they　have　the　technical　know…how。　I　want　volunteers。　Myself　and　Bothari；　of　course。〃
　A　unanimous　chorus　put　themselves　forward。　〃Gottyan　and　Vorkalloner　are　both　out。　I　need　somebody　who　can　explain　things；　afterward。　Now　the　battle　order。　First　me；　then　Bothari；　then　Siegel's　patrol；　then　Kush's。　Stunners　only；　I　don't　want　stray　shots　smashing　up　engineering。〃　A　number　of　men　glanced　at　the　hole　in　the　wall　where　the　speaker　had　been。
　〃Sir；〃　said　Vorkalloner　desperately；　〃I　question　that　battle　order。　They'll　be　using　disruptors　for　sure。　The　first　men　through　the　door　haven't　got　a　chance。〃
　Vorkosigan　took　a　few　seconds　and　stared　him　down。　He　dropped　his　eyes　miserably。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Lieutenant　mander　Vorkalloner　is　right；　sir；〃　an　unexpected　bass　voice　put　in。　Cordelia　realized　with　a　start　it　was　Bothari。　〃The　first　place　is　mine；　by　right。　I've　earned　it。〃　He　faced　his　captain；　narrow　jaw　working。　〃It's　mine。〃
　Their　eyes　met　in　a　weird　understanding。　〃Very　well；　Sergeant；〃　conceded　Vorkosigan。　〃You　first；　then　me；　then　the　rest　as　ordered。　Let's　go。〃
　Vorkosigan　paused　before　her　as　they　herded　out。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　not　going　to　make　that　walk　on　the　esplanade　in　the　summer；　after　all。〃
　Cordelia　shook　her　head　helplessly；　the　glimmer　of　a　terrifying　idea　beginning　in　the　back　of　her　brain。　〃I…I…I　have　to　withdraw　my　parole　now。〃
　Vorkosigan　looked　puzzled；　then　waved　it　aside　for　a　more　immediate　concern。　〃If　I　should　chance　to　end　up　like　your　Ensign　Dubauer…remember　my　preferences。　If　you　can　bring　yourself　to　it；　I　would　like　it　to　be　by　your　hand。　I'll　tell　Vorkalloner。　Can　I　have　your　word？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You'd　better　stay　in　your　cabin　until　this　is　over。〃
　He　reached　out　to　her　shoulder；　to　touch　one　curl　of　red　hair　resting　there；　then　turned　away。　Cordelia　fled　down　the　corridor；　Radnov's　propaganda　droning　senselessly　in　her　ears。　Her　plan　blossomed　furiously　in　her　mind。　Her　reason　yammered　protest；　like　a　rider　on　a　runaway　horse；　you　have　no　duty　to　these　Barrayarans；　your　duty　is　to　Beta　Colony；　to　Stuben；　to　the　Rene　Magritte…your　duty　is　to　escape；　and　warn。。。
　She　swung　into　her　cabin。　Wonder　of　wonders；　Stuben　and　Lai　were　still　there。　They　looked　up；　alarmed　by　her　wild　appearance。
　〃Go　to　sickbay　now。　Pick　up　Dubauer　and　take　him　to　the　shuttle。　When　were　Pete　and　Mac　supposed　to　report　back　there　if　they　couldn't　find　him？〃
　〃In…〃　Lai　checked　his　time；　〃ten　minutes。〃
　〃Thank　God。　When　you　get　to　sickbay；　tell　the　surgeon　that　Captain　Vorkosigan　ordered　you　to　bring　Dubauer　to　me。　Lai；　you　wait　in　the　corridor。　You'd　never　fool　the　surgeon。　Dubauer　can't　talk。　Don't　act　surprised　by　his　condition。　When　you　get　to　the　shuttle；　wait…let　me　see　your　chrono；　Lai…till　0620　our　ship　time；　then　take　off。　If　I'm　not　back　by　then　I'm　not　ing。　Full　power　and　don't　look　back。　Exactly　how　many　men　did　Radnov　and　Darobey　have　with　them？〃
　〃Ten　or　eleven；　I　guess；〃　Stuben　said。
　〃All　right。　Give　me　your　stunner。　Go。　Go。　Go。〃
　〃Captain；　we　came　here　to　rescue　you！〃　cried　Stuben；　bewildered。
　Words　failed　her　utterly。　She　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　instead。　〃I　know。　Thank　you。〃　She　ran。
　Approaching　engineering　from　one　deck　above；　she　came　to　an　intersection　of　two　corridors。　Down　the　larger　was　a　group　of　men　assembling　and　checking　weapons。　Down　the　smaller　were　two　men　covering　an　entry　port　to　the　next　deck；　a　last　checkpoint　before　territory　covered　by　Radnov's　fire。　One　of　them　was　Yeoman　Nilesa。　She　pounced　on　him。
　〃Captain　Vorkosigan　sent　me　down；〃　she　lied。　〃He　wants　me　to　try　one　last　effort　at　negotiation；　as　a　neutral　in　the　affair。〃
　〃That's　a　waste　of　time；〃　observed　Nilesa。
　〃So　he　hopes；〃　she　improvised。　〃It'll　keep　them　tied　up　while　he's　getting　ready。　Can　you　get　me　in　without　alarming　anybody？〃
　〃I　can　try；　I　guess。〃　Nilesa　went　forward　and　undogged　a　circular　hatch　in　the　floor　at　the　end　of　the　corridor。
　〃How　many　guards　on　this　entrance？〃　she　whispered。
　〃Two　or　three；　I　think。〃
　The　hatch　swung　up；　revealing　a　man…width　access　tube　with　a　ladder　up　one　side　and　a　pole　down　the　middle。
　〃Hey；　Wentz！〃　he　shouted　down　it。
　〃Who's　that？〃　a　voice　floated　up。
　〃Me；　Nilesa。　Captain　Vorkosigan　wants　to　send　that　Betan　frill　down　to　talk　to　Radnov。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃How　the　hell　should　I　know？　You're　the　ones　who're　supposed　to　have　m　pickups　in　everybody's　bunks。　Maybe　she's　not　such　a　good　lay　after　all。〃　Nilesa　shrugged　an　apology　toward　her；　and　she　accepted　it　with　a　nod。
　There　was　a　whispered　debate　below。
　〃Is　she　armed？〃
　Cordelia；　readying　both　stunners；　shook　her　head。
　〃Would　you　give　a　weapon　to　a　Betan　frill？〃　Nilesa　called　back　rhetorically；　watching　her　preparations　in　puzzlement。
　〃All　right。　Put　her　in；　dog　the　hatch；　and　let　her　drop。　If　you　don't　close　the　hatch　before　she　drops；　we'll　shoot　her。　Got　that？〃
　〃Yo。〃
　〃What'll　I　be　looking　at　when　I　get　to　the　bottom？〃　she　quizzed　Nilesa。
　〃Nasty　spot。　You'll　be　standing　in　a　sort　of　niche　in　the　storeroom　off　the　main　control　room。　You　can　only　get　one　man　at　a　time　through　it；　and　you're　pinned　in　there　like　a　target；　with　the　wall　on　three　sides。　It's　designed　that　way　on　purpos