lmb.shardsofhonor-第16章

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the　wall　on　three　sides。　It's　designed　that　way　on　purpose。〃
　〃No　way　to　rush　them　through　it？　I　mean；　you're　not　planning　to？〃
　〃No　way　in　hell。〃
　〃Good。　Thanks。〃
　Cordelia　climbed　down　into　the　tube；　and　Nilesa　closed　the　hatch　over　her　with　a　sound　like　the　lid　of　a　coffin。
　〃All　right；〃　came　the　voice　from　below；　〃drop。〃
　〃It's　a　long　way　down；〃　she　called　back；　having　no　trouble　sounding　tremulous。　〃I'm　afraid。〃
　〃Screw　it。　I'll　catch　you。〃
　〃All　right。〃　She　wrapped　her　legs　and　one　arm　around　the　pole。　Her　hand　shook　as　she　jammed　the　second　stunner　into　her　holster。　Her　stomach　pumped　sour　bile　into　the　back　of　her　throat。　She　swallowed；　took　a　deep　breath　to　keep　it　there；　held　her　stunner　pointed　ready；　and　dropped。
　She　landed　face…to…face　with　the　man　below；　his　nerve　disrupter　held　casually　at　the　level　of　her　waist。　His　eyes　widened　as　he　saw　her　stunner。　Here　the　Barrayaran　custom　of　all…male　crews　on　warships　paid　her；　for　he　hesitated　just　a　fraction　of　a　second　to　shoot　a　woman。　In　that　fraction　she　fired　first。　He　slumped　heavily　over　her；　head　lolling　on　her　shoulder。　Bracing；　she　held　him　as　a　shield　before　her。
　Her　second　shot　laid　out　the　next　guard　as　he　was　bringing　his　disruptor　to　aim。　The　third　guard　got　off　a　hasty　burst　that　was　absorbed　by　the　back　of　the　man　she　held；　although　the　nimbus　of　it　seared　the　outer　edge　of　her　left　thigh。　The　pain　of　it　flared　screamingly；　but　no　sound　escaped　her　clenched　teeth。　With　a　wild　berserker　accuracy　that　seemed　no　part　of　herself；　she　felled　him　too；　then　looked　frantically　around　for　a　place　of　concealment。
　Some　conduits　ran　overhead；　people　entering　a　room　usually　look　down　and　around　before　thinking　to　look　up。　She　stuck　the　stunner　in　her　belt；　and　with　a　leap　she　could　never　have　duplicated　in　cold　blood；　pulled　herself　up　between　the　conduits　and　the　armored　ceiling。　Breathing　silently　through　her　open　mouth；　she　drew　her　stunner　again　and　prepared　for　whatever　might　e　through　the　oval　door　to　the　main　engineering　bay。
　〃What　was　that　noise？　What's　going　on　in　there？〃
　〃Throw　in　a　grenade　and　seal　the　door。〃
　〃We　can't；　our　men　are　in　there。〃
　〃Wentz；　report！〃
　Silence。
　〃You　go　in；　Tafas。〃
　〃Why　me？〃
　〃Because　I　order　you。〃
　Tafas　crept　cautiously　around　the　door；　stepping　over　the　threshold　almost　on　tiptoe。　He　turned　around　and　around；　staring。　Afraid　that　they　would　close　and　lock　the　door　at　another　firing；　she　waited　until　he　at　last　looked　up。
　She　smiled　winningly　at　him；　and　gave　a　little　wave　of　her　fingers。　〃Close　the　door；〃　she　mouthed　silently；　pointing。
　He　stared　at　her　with　a　very　odd　expression　on　his　face；　baffled；　hopeful；　and　angry　all　at　once。　The　bell　of　his　disruptor　seemed　large　as　a　searchlight；　pointed　quite　accurately　at　her　head。　It　was　like　looking　into　the　eye　of　judgment。　A　standoff；　of　sorts。　Vorkosigan　is　right；　she　thought；　a　disruptor　does　have　real　authority。。。
　Then　Tafas　called；　〃I　think　there　may　be　some　kind　of　gas　leak　or　something。　Better　close　the　door　a　second　while　I　check。〃　It　swung　closed　obediently　behind　him。
　Cordelia　smiled　down　from　the　ceiling；　eyes　narrowed。　〃Hi。　Want　to　get　out　of　this　mess？〃
　〃What　are　you　doing　here…Betan？〃
　Excellent　question；　she　thought　ruefully。　〃Trying　to　save　a　few　lives。　Don't　worry…your　friends　over　there　are　only　stunned。〃　I　won't　mention　the　one　hit　by　friendly　fire…dead；　perhaps；　because　of　a　moment's　mercy　for　me。。。　〃e　on　over　to　our　side；〃　she　coaxed；　madly　echoing　a　child's　game。　〃Captain　Vorkosigan　will　forgive　you…expunge　the　record。　Give　you　a　medal；〃　she　promised　recklessly。
　〃What　medal？〃
　〃How　should　I　know？　Any　medal　you　want。　You　don't　even　have　to　kill　anybody。　I　have　another　stunner。〃
　〃What　guarantee　do　I　have？〃
　Desperation　made　her　daring。　〃Vorkosigan's　word。　You　tell　him　I　pledged　it　to　you。〃
　〃Who　are　you　to　pledge　his　word？〃
　〃Lady　Vorkosigan；　if　we　both　live。〃　A　lie？　Truth？　Hopeless　fantasy？
　Tafas　gave　a　whistle；　staring　up　at　her。　Belief　began　to　illuminate　his　face。
　〃You　really　want　to　be　responsible　for　letting　a　hundred　fifty　of　your　friends　breathe　vacuum　just　to　save　that　Ministerial　spy's　career？〃　she　added　cogently。
　〃No；〃　he　said　firmly　at　last。　〃Give　me　the　stunner。〃
　Now　shall　trust　be　tested。。。　She　dropped　it　down　to　him。　〃Three　down　and　seven　to　go。　What's　the　best　approach？〃
　〃I　can　lure　a　couple　more　in　here。　The　others　are　at　the　main　entrance。　We　can　rush　them　from　behind；　if　we're　lucky。〃
　〃Go　ahead。〃
　Tafas　opened　the　door。　〃It　was　a　gas　leak；〃　he　coughed　convincingly。　〃Help　me　drag　these　guys　out　and　we'll　seal　the　door。〃
　〃I　could　swear　I　heard　a　stunner　go　off　a　while　ago；〃　said　his　panion；　entering。
　〃Maybe　they　were　trying　to　attract　attention。〃
　The　mutineer's　face　flared　with　suspicion　as　the　stupidity　of　this　suggestion　sank　in。　〃They　didn't　have　stunners；〃　he　began。　Fortunately；　the　second　man　entered　at　this　point。　Cordelia　and　Tafas　fired　in　unison。
　〃Five　down；　five　to　go；〃　Cordelia　said；　dropping　to　the　floor。　Her　left　leg　buckled；　it　wasn't　moving　quite　right。　〃Odds　are　getting　better　all　the　time。〃
　〃It　had　better　be　quick；　if　it's　going　to　work　at　all；〃　warned　Tafas。
　〃Suits　me。〃
　They　slid　out　the　door　and　ran　lightly　across　the　engineering　bay；　which　continued　its　automatic　tasks；　indifferent　to　its　masters'　identity。　Some　black…uniformed　bodies　were　piled　carelessly　to　one　side。　Tafas　held　up　his　hand　for　caution　as　they　rounded　the　corner；　jabbing　a　finger　significantly。　Cordelia　nodded。　Tafas　walked　around　the　corner　quietly；　and　Cordelia　pinned　herself　to　its　very　edge；　waiting。　As　Tafas　raised　his　stunner　she　oozed　around；　searching　for　a　target。　The　chamber　narrowed　in　this　L；　ending　in　the　main　entrance　to　the　deck　above。　Five　men　stood　with　their　attention　riveted　to　the　clanks　and　hisses　penetrating　dimly　through　a　hatch　at　the　top　of　some　metal　stairs。
　〃They're　getting　ready　to　storm；〃　said　one。　〃It's　time　to　let　their　air　out。〃
　Famous　last　words；　she　thought；　and　fired；　once　and　twice。　Tafas　fired　too；　rapidly　fanning　the　group；　and　it　was　over。　And　I　will　never；　she　pledged　silently；　call　one　of　Stuben's　stunts　harebrained　again。　She　wanted　to　throw　down　her　stunner　and　howl　and　roll　in　reaction；　but　her　own　job　was　not　finished。
　〃Tafas；〃　she　called。　〃I've　got　to　do　one　more　thing。〃
　He　came　to　her　side；　looking　shaky　himself。
　〃I've　gotten　you　out　of　this；　and　I　need　a　favor　in　return。　How　can　I　cut　control　to　the　long…range　plasma　weapons　so　you　can't　get　it　back　for　an　hour　and　a　half？〃
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　do　that？　Did　the　Captain　order　it？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　honestly。　〃The　Captain　didn't　order　any　of　this；　but　he'll　like　it　when　he　sees　it；　don't　you　think？〃
　Tafas；　confused；　agreed。　〃If　you　short　this　panel；〃　he　suggested；　〃it　should　slow　things　down　quite　a　bit。〃
　〃Give　me　your　plasma　arc。〃
　Need　I？　she　wondered；　looking　over　the　section。　Yes。　He　would　fire　on　us；　just　as　surely　as　I'm　cutting　for　home。　Trust　is　one　thing；　treason　another。　I　have　no　wish　to　test　him　to　destruction。
　Now；　if　Tafas　isn't　fooling　me　by　pointing　out　the　controls　to　the　toilets　or　something。。。　She　blasted　the　panel；　and　stared　with　a　moment's　primitive　fascination　as　it　popped　and　sparked。
　〃Now；〃　she　said；　handing　the　plasma　arc　back；　〃I　want　a　couple　of　minutes　head　start。　Then　you　can　open　the　door　and　be　a　hero。　I　suggest　you　call　first　and　warn　them；　Sergeant　Bothari's　in　front。〃
　〃Right。　Thanks。〃
　She　glanced　up　at　the　main　entry　hatch。　About　three　meters　away；　he　is　now；　she　thought。　An　uncrossable　gulf。　So　in　the　physics　of　the　heart；　distance　is　relative；　it's　time　that's　absolute。　The　seconds　spun　like　spiders　down　her　spine。
　She　chewed　her　lip；　eyes　devouring　Tafas。　Last　chance　to　leave　a　message　for　Vorkosigan…no。　The　absurdity　of　transmitting　the　words；　〃I　love　you〃　through　Tafas'　mouth　shook　her　with　painful　inward　laughter。　〃My　pliments〃　sounded　rather　swelled…headed；　under　the　circumstances：　〃my　regards；〃　too　cold；　as　for　the　simplest　of　all；　〃yes〃。。。
　She　shook　her　head　silently　and　smiled　at　the　puzzled　soldier；　then　ran　back　to　the　storeroom　and　scrambled　back　up　the　ladder。　She　beat　a　rhythmic　tattoo　upon　the　hatch。　In　a　moment　it　opened。　She　found　herself　nose　to　nose　with　a　plasma　arc　held　by　Yeoman　Nilesa。
　〃I've　got　some　new　terms　to　carry　back　to　your　Captain；〃　she　said　glibly。　〃They're　a　little　screwy；　but　I　think　he'll　like　them。〃
　Nilesa；　surprised；　let　her　out　and　resealed　the　hatch。　She　walked　away　from　him；　glancing　down　the　main　corridor　as　she　passed。　Several　dozen　men　were　assembled　in　it。　A　technical　team　had　half　the　panels　off　the　walls；　sparks　flared　from　a　tool。　She　could　just　see　Sergeant　Bothari's　head　on　the　far　side　of　the　crowd；　and　knew　him　to　be　standing　next　to　Vorkosigan。　She　reached　the　ladder　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　ascended　it；　and　began　to　run；　threading　her　way　level　by　level　through　the　maze　of　the　ship。
　Laughing；　crying；　out　of　breath　and　shaking　violently；　she　arrived　at　the　shuttle　hatch　corridor。　Dr。　McIntyre　stood　guard；　trying　to　appear　grim　and　Barrayaran。
　〃Is　everybody　here？〃
　He　nodded；　looking　at　her　with　delight。
　〃Pile　in；　let's　go。〃
　They　sealed　the　doors　behind　them　and　fell　into　their　seats　as　the　shuttle　pulled　away　at　maximum　acceleration　with　a　crunch　and　a　jerk。　Pete　Lightner　was　piloting　manually；　for　his　Betan　pilot's　neurological　implant　would　not　interface　to　the　Barrayaran　control　system　without　an　interpreter　coupler；　and　Cordelia　braced　herself　for　a　terrifying　ride。
　She　lay　back　in　her　seat；　still　gasping；　lungs　raw　from　her　mad　dash。　Stuben　joined　her；　seething；　and　staring　worriedly　at　her　uncontrollable　trembling。
　〃It's　a　crime　what　they　did　to　Dubauer；〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　we　could　blow　up　their　whole　damn　ship。　Is　Radnov　still　covering　us；　do　you　know？〃
　〃Their　long…range　weapons　will　be　out　for　a　while；〃　she　reported；　not　volunteering　details。　Could　she　ever　make　him　understand？　〃Oh。　I　meant　to　ask…who　was　the　Barrayaran　hit　by　disruptor　fire；　planetside？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Doc　Mac　got　his　uniform。　Hey；　Mac…what's　the　name　on　your　pocket？〃
　〃Uh；　let　me　see　if　I　can　sound　out　their　alphabet。〃　His　lips　moved　silently。　〃Kou…Koudelka。〃
　Cordelia　bowed　her　head。　〃Was　he　killed？〃
　〃He　wasn't　dead　when　we　left；　but　he　sure　didn't　look　very　healthy。〃
　〃What　were　you　doing　all　that　time　aboard　the　General？〃　asked　Stuben。
　〃Paying　off　a　debt。　Of　honor。〃
　〃All　right；　be　like　that。　I'll　get　the　story　later。〃　He　was　silent；　then　added　with　a　short　nod；　〃I　hope　you　got　the　bastard　good；　whoever　he　was。〃
　〃Look；　Stu…I　appreciate　all　you've　done。　But　I've　really　got　to　be　alone　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃Sure；　Captain。〃　He　gave　her　a　look　of　concern；　and　moved　off　muttering；　〃Damned　monsters；〃　under　his　breath。
　Cordelia　leaned　her　forehead　against　the　cold　window；　and　wept　silently　for　her　enemies。
　
　CHAPTER　SEVEN
　Captain　Cordelia　Naismith；　Betan　Expeditionary　Force；　fed　the　last　normal　space　navigational　observations　into　her　ship's　puter。　Beside　her；　Pilot　Officer　Parnell　adjusted　the　leads　and　cannulae　to　his　headset　and　settled　more　fortably　into　his　padded　chair；　ready　for　the　neurologic