lmb.shardsofhonor-第19章

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　〃There's　scarcely　time；〃　he　explained。　〃Today　is　but　the；　as　it　were；　hors　d'ouevre　of　the　banquet；　or　a　simple　clear　soup；　very　pristine。　All　the　plicated　things　will　be　saved　for　dessert；　in　a　few　weeks。〃
　〃I　never　eat　dessert。　Weight；　you　know。〃
　He　chuckled　again。　〃You　are　a　delight。〃　He　put　the　knife　down　and　took　another　sip　of　wine。　〃You　know；　officers　always　delegate　their　work。　Now；　I　am　an　aficionado　of　Earth　history。　My　favorite　century　is　the　eighteenth。〃
　〃I'd　have　guessed　the　fourteenth。　Or　the　twentieth。〃
　〃In　a　day　or　two；　I　shall　teach　you　not　to　interrupt。　Where　was　I？　Ah；　yes。　Well；　in　my　reading；　I　came　upon　the　loveliest　scene；　where　a　certain　great　lady；〃　he　raised　the　wineglass　to　her　in　a　toast；　〃was　raped　by　a　diseased　servant；　on　the　orders　of　his　master。　Very　piquant。　Venereal　disease　is；　alas；　a　thing　of　the　past。　But　I　am　able　to　mand　a　diseased　servant；　although　his　disease　is　mental　rather　than　physical。　A　real；　bona　fide；　paranoid　schizophrenic。〃
　〃Like　master；　like　man；〃　she　shot　at　random。　I　cannot　keep　this　up　much　longer；　my　heart　shall　fail　me　soon。。。
　This　won　a　rather　sour　smile。　〃He　hears　voices；　you　know；　like　Joan　of　Arc；　except　that　he　tells　me　they　are　demons；　not　saints。　He　has　visual　hallucinations；　too；　on　occasion。　And　he's　a　very　large　man。　I've　used　him　before；　many　times。　He's　not　the　sort　of　fellow　who　finds　it　easy　to；　er；　attract　women。〃
　There　was　a　timely　knock　on　the　door；　and　Vorrutyer　went　to　it。　〃Ah；　e　in；　Sergeant。　I　was　just　talking　about　you。〃
　〃Bothari；〃　she　breathed。　Ducking　his　head　through　the　door　came　the　tall　frame　and　familiar　borzoi　face　of　Vorkosigan's　soldier。　How；　how　could　he　have　hit　on　her　personal　nightmare？　A　kaleidoscope　of　images　spun　through　her　memory：　a　dappled　wood；　the　crackle　of　disruptors；　the　faces　of　the　dead　and　the　half…dead；　a　looming　shape　like　the　shadow　of　death。
　She　focused　on　the　present　reality。　Would　he　recognize　her？　His　eyes　had　not　yet　touched　her；　they　were　fixed　on　Vorrutyer。　Too　close　together；　those　eyes；　and　not　quite　on　the　same　level。　They　gave　his　face　an　unusual　degree　of　asymmetry　that　added　much　to　his　remarkable　ugliness。
　Her　boiling　imagination　lurched　to　his　body。　His　body…it　was　all　wrong；　somehow；　hunched　in　his　black　uniform；　not　like　the　straight　figure　she　had　last　seen　demanding　pride　of　place　from　Vorkosigan。　Wrong；　wrong；　terribly　wrong。　A　head　taller　than　Vorrutyer；　yet　he　seemed　almost　to　creep　before　his　master。　His　spine　was　coiled　with　tension　as　he　glowered　down　at　his…torturer？　What；　she　wondered；　might　a　mind　molester　like　Vorrutyer　do　with　the　material　presented　by　Bothari？　God；　Vorrutyer；　do　you　imagine；　in　your　amoral　flashy　freakiness；　in　your　monstrous　vanity；　that　you　control　this　elemental？　And　you　dare　play　games　with　that　sullen　madness　in　his　eyes？　Her　thoughts　kept　time　with　her　racing　pulse。　There　are　two　victims　in　this　room。　There　are　two　victims　in　this　room。　There　are　two。。。
　〃There　you　go；　Sergeant。〃　Vorrutyer　hooked　a　thumb　over　his　shoulder　at　Cordelia；　spread…eagled　on　the　bed。　〃Rape　me　this　woman。〃　He　pulled　up　a　chair　and　prepared　to　watch；　closely　and　gleefully。　〃Go　on；　go　on。〃
　Bothari；　face　as　unreadable　as　ever；　unfastened　his　trousers　and　approached　the　foot　of　the　bed。　He　looked　at　her　for　the　first　time。
　〃Any　last　words；　'Captain'　Naismith？〃　Vorrutyer　inquired　sarcastically。　〃Or　have　you　finally　run　out　of　words？〃
　She　stared　at　Bothari；　shaken　by　a　pity　almost　like　love。　He　seemed　nearly　in　a　trance；　lust　without　pleasure；　anticipation　without　hope。　Poor　sod；　she　thought；　what　a　mess　they've　made　of　you。　No　longer　fencing　for　points；　she　searched　her　heart　for　words　not　for　Vorrutyer　but　for　Bothari。　Some　healing　words…I　would　not　add　to　his　madness。。。　The　air　of　the　room　seemed　clammy　cold；　and　she　shivered；　feeling　unutterably　weary；　resistless；　and　sad。　He　crouched　over　her；　heavy　and　dark　as　lead；　making　the　bed　creak。
　〃I　believe；〃　she　said　slowly　at　last；　〃that　the　tormented　are　very　close　to　God。　I'm　sorry；　Sergeant。〃
　He　stared　at　her；　his　face　a　foot　from　hers；　for　so　long　she　wondered　if　he'd　heard　her。　His　breath　was　not　good；　but　she　did　not　flinch。　Then；　to　her　astonishment；　he　stood　up　and　refastened　his　pants；　trembling　slightly。
　〃No；　sir；〃　he　said　in　his　bass　monotone。
　〃What？〃　Vorrutyer　sat　up；　amazed。　〃Why　not？〃　he　demanded。
　The　Sergeant　groped　for　words。　〃She's　modore　Vorkosigan's　prisoner。　Sir。〃
　Vorrutyer　stared；　first　puzzled；　then　illuminated。　〃So　you're　Vorkosigan's　Betan！〃　His　cool　amusement　evaporated　at　the　name；　with　a　hiss　like　a　drop　of　water　on　a　red…hot　coil。
　Vorkosigan's　Betan？　A　brief　hope　flared　within　her；　that　Vorkosigan's　name　might　be　a　password　to　safety；　but　it　died。　The　chance　of　this　creature　being　any　kind　of　a　friend　of　his　was　surely　something　well　under　zero。　He　was　looking　now　not　at　her；　but　through　her；　like　a　window　on　some　more　wonderful　view。　Vorkosigan's　Betan？
　〃I've　got　that　stiff…necked　puritan　son…of…a…bitch　by　the　balls　now；〃　he　breathed　fiercely。　〃This　could　be　even　better　than　the　day　I　told　him　about　his　wife。〃　The　expression　on　his　face　was　strange　and　startling；　the　mask　of　suavity　seeming　to　melt；　and　run　off　in　patches。　It　was　like　stumbling　suddenly　over　the　center　of　a　caldera。　He　seemed　to　remember　the　mask；　and　clutched　its　pieces　around　him；　half…effectually。
　〃Do　you　know；　you　have　quite　overwhelmed　me。　The　possibilities　you　present…eighteen　years　were　not　too　long　to　wait　for　so　ideal　a　revenge。　A　woman　soldier。　Ha！　He　probably　thought　you　the　ideal　solution　to　our　mutual…difficulty。　My　perfect　warrior；　my　dear　hypocrite；　Aral。　You　have　much　to　learn　of　him；　I　wager。　But　do　you　know；　I　somehow　feel　quite　certain　he　hasn't　mentioned　me　to　you。〃
　〃Not　by　name；〃　she　agreed。　〃Possibly　by　category。〃
　〃And　what　category　was　that？〃
　〃I　believe　the　term　he　used　was　'scum　of　the　service。'　〃
　He　grinned　sourly。　〃I　shouldn't　remend　name…calling　to　a　woman　in　your　position。〃
　〃Oh；　you　embrace　the　category；　then？〃　Her　response　was　automatic；　but　her　heart　was　shrinking　within　her；　leaving　an　echoing　hollowness。　What　is　Vorkosigan　doing　in　the　center　of　this　one's　madness？　His　eyes　look　like　Bothari's；　now。。。
　His　smile　tightened。　〃I've　embraced　a　number　of　things　in　my　time。　Not　least　of　which　was　your　puritan　lover。　Let　your　imagination　dwell　on　that　a　while；　my　dear；　my　sweet；　my　pet。　You'd　scarcely　believe　it　to　meet　him　now；　but　he　was　quite　a　merry　widower；　before　he　gave　himself　over　so　irritatingly　to　these　random　outbreaks　of　righteousness。〃　He　laughed。
　〃Your　skin　is　very　white。　Has　he　touched　it…so？〃　He　ran　one　fingernail　up　the　inside　of　her　arm；　and　she　shuddered。　〃And　your　hair。　I　am　quite　certain　he　must　be　fascinated　by　that　twining　hair。　So　fine；　and　such　an　unusual　color。〃　He　twisted　a　strand　gently　between　his　fingers。　〃I　must　think　what　can　be　done　with　that　hair。　One　might　remove　the　scalp　entirely；　of　course；　but　there　must　be　something　more　creative　yet。　Perhaps　I'll　take　a　bit　with　me；　and　take　it　out　and　play　with　it；　quite　casually；　at　the　Staff　meeting。　Let　it　slip　silkily　through　my　fingers…see　how　long　it　takes　to　lock　his　attention　on　it。　Feed　the　doubt；　and　the　growing　fear；　with；　oh；　one　or　two　casual　remarks。　I　wonder　how　much　it　would　take　to　start　him　scrambling　those　annoyingly　perfect　reports　of　his…ha！　Then　send　him　off　for　about　a　week　of　detached　duty；　still　wondering；　still　in　doubt。。。〃
　He　picked　up　the　jeweled　knife　and　sawed　off　a　thick　strand；　to　coil　up　and　place　carefully　in　his　breast　pocket；　smiling　down　at　her　the　while。　〃One　must　be　careful；　of　course；　not　to　goad　him　quite　into　violence…he　bees　so　tediously　unmanageable…〃　he　ran　one　finger　in　an　L…shaped　motion　across　the　left　side　of　his　chin　in　the　exact　position　of　Vorkosigan's　scar。　〃Much　easier　to　start　than　stop。　Although　he's　bee　remarkably　temperate　of　late。　Your　influence；　my　pet？　Or　is　he　simply　growing　old？〃
　He　tossed　the　knife　carelessly　back　on　the　bedside　table；　then　rubbed　his　hands　together；　laughed　out　loud；　and　draped　himself　beside　her　to　murmur　lovingly　in　her　ear。　〃And　after　Escobar；　when　we　need　no　longer　regard　the　Emperor's　watchdog；　there　will　be　no　limit　to　what　I　can　do。　So　many　choices。。。〃　He　gave　vent　to　a　stream　of　plans　for　torturing　Vorkosigan　through　her；　glistening　with　obscene　detail。　He　was　taut　with　his　vision；　his　face　pale　and　moist。
　〃You　can't　possibly　get　away　with　anything　like　that；〃　she　said　faintly。　There　was　fear　in　her　face　now；　and　tears；　running　down　from　the　corners　of　her　eyes　in　iridescent　trails　to　wet　the　tendrils　of　hair　around　her　ears；　but　he　was　scarcely　interested。　She　had　believed　she　had　fallen　into　the　deepest　possible　pit　of　fear；　but　now　that　floor　opened　beneath　her　and　she　fell　again；　endlessly；　turning　in　the　air。
　Some　measure　of　control　seemed　to　return　to　him；　and　he　walked　around　the　foot　of　the　bed；　looking　at　her。　〃Well。　How　very　refreshing。　Do　you　know；　I　am　quite　energized。　I　believe　I　shall　do　it　myself；　after　all。　You　should　be　glad。　I'm　much　better　looking　than　Bothari。〃
　〃Not　to　me。〃
　He　dropped　his　trousers　and　prepared　to　climb　on　her。　〃Do　you　forgive　me　too；　sweetheart？〃
　She　felt　cold；　and　dry；　and　vanishingly　small。　〃I'm　afraid　I'll　have　to　leave　that　to　the　Infinitely　Merciful。　You　exceed　my　capacity。〃
　〃Later　in　the　week；〃　he　promised；　mistaking　her　defeat　for　flippancy；　and　clearly　excited　by　what　he　took　for　a　continued　show　of　resistance。
　Sergeant　Bothari　had　been　mooning　around　the　room；　head　moving　from　side　to　side　and　narrow　jaw　working；　as　Cordelia　had　seen　it　once　before；　a　sign　of　agitation。　Vorrutyer；　intent　on　Cordelia；　paid　no　attention　to　the　movements　behind　him。　So　his　moment　of　utter　astonishment　was　very　brief　when　the　Sergeant　grabbed　him　by　his　curly　hair；　yanked　his　head　back；　and　drew　the　jeweled　knife　most　expertly　around　his　neck；　slicing　through　all　four　of　the　major　vessels　in　a　swift　double　movement。　The　blood　spurted　over　Cordelia　in　a　fountain；　horribly　hot　and　flowing。
　Vorrutyer　gave　one　convulsive　twist　and　lost　consciousness　as　the　blood　pressure　in　his　brain　fell　to　nothing。　Sergeant　Bothari　let　go　of　the　hair；　and　Vorrutyer　dropped　between　her　legs　and　slithered　down　out　of　sight　over　the　end　of　the　bed。
　The　Sergeant　stood　hulkingly；　breathing　heavily；　by　the　end　of　the　bed。　Cordelia　could　not　remember　if　she'd　screamed。　No　matter；　odds　were　no　one　paid　much　attention　to　screams　ing　out　of　this　room　anyway。　She　felt　frozen　and　bloodless　in　her　hands；　face；　feet；　her　heart　hammered。
　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃Uh；　thank　you；　Sergeant　Bothari。　That　was　a　very；　uh；　knightly　deed。　Do　you　suppose　you　could　unbuckle　me；　too？〃　Her　voice　squeaked　uncontrollably；　and　she　swallowed；　irritated　at　it。
　She　regarded　Bothari　with　terrorized　fascination。　There　was　absolutely　no　way　of　predicting　what　he　might　do　next。　Muttering　to　himself；　with　a　look　of　bewilderment　on　his　face；　he　fumbled　apart　the　buckle　on　her　left　wrist。　Swiftly；　stiffly；　she　rolled　over　and　loosed　the　right　wrist；　then　sat　up　and　undid　the　ankles。　She　sat　cross…legged　a　moment　in　the　center　of　the　bed；　stark　naked　and　dripping　with　blood；　rubbing　ankles　an