lmb.shardsofhonor-第2章

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hatchet…faced　Barrayaran　soldier　in　the　green　and　grey　splotched　camouflage　fatigues　moved　even　faster。　Dubauer　moved　faster　still；　shoving　her　blindly　behind　him。　She　heard　the　crackle　of　a　nerve　disruptor　as　she　pitched　backward　into　the　ravine；　stunner　and　m　link　flying　from　her　hands。　Forest；　earth；　stream；　and　sky　spun　wildly　around　her；　her　head　struck　something　with　a　sickening；　starry　crack；　and　darkness　swallowed　her。
　The　forest　mold　pressed　against　Cordelia's　cheek。　The　damp　earthy　smell　tickled　her　nostrils。　She　breathed　deeper；　filling　her　mouth　and　lungs；　and　then　the　odor　of　decay　wrung　her　stomach。　She　turned　her　face　from　the　muck。　Pain　exploded　through　her　head　in　radiating　lines。
　She　groaned　inarticulately。　Dark　sparkling　whorls　curtained　her　vision；　then　cleared。　She　forced　her　eyes　to　focus　on　the　nearest　object；　about　half　a　meter　to　the　right　of　her　head。
　Heavy　black　boots；　sunk　in　the　mud　and　topped　by　green　and　grey　splotched　camouflage　trousers；　encased　legs　spread　apart　in　a　patient　parade　rest。　She　suppressed　a　weary　whimper。　Very　gently　she　laid　her　head　back　in　the　black　ooze；　and　rolled　cautiously　onto　her　side　for　a　better　view　of　the　Barrayaran　officer。
　Her　stunner！　She　stared　into　the　little　rectangle　of　its　business　end；　held　steadily　in　a　broad　and　heavy　hand。　Her　eyes　searched　anxiously　for　his　nerve　disruptor。　The　officer's　belt　hung　heavy　with　equipment；　but　the　disruptor　holster　on　his　right　hip　was　empty；　as　was　the　plasma　arc　holster　on　his　left。
　He　was　barely　taller　than　herself；　but　stocky　and　powerful。　Untidy　dark　hair　touched　with　grey；　cold　intent　grey　eyes…in　fact；　his　whole　appearance　was　untidy　by　the　strict　Barrayaran　military　standards。　His　fatigues　were　almost　as　rumpled　and　muddy　and　stained　with　plant　juices　as　her　own；　and　he　had　a　raw　contusion　across　his　right　cheekbone。　Looks　like　he's　had　a　rotten　day　too；　she　thought　muzzily。　Then　the　sparkly　black　whirlpools　expanded　and　drowned　her　again。
　When　her　vision　cleared　again　the　boots　were　gone…no。　There　he　was；　seated　fortably　on　a　log。　She　tried　to　focus　on　something　other　than　her　rebellious　belly；　but　her　belly　won　control　in　a　wrenching　rush。
　The　enemy　captain　stirred　involuntarily　as　she　vomited；　but　remained　sitting。　She　crawled　the　few　meters　to　the　little　stream　at　the　bottom　of　the　ravine；　and　washed　out　her　mouth　and　face　in　its　icy　water。　Feeling　relatively　better；　she　sat　up　and　croaked；　〃Well？〃
　The　officer　inclined　his　head　in　a　shadow　of　courtesy。　〃I　am　Captain　Aral　Vorkosigan；　manding　the　Barrayaran　Imperial　war　cruiser　General　Vorkraft。　Identify　yourself；　please。〃　His　voice　was　baritone；　his　speech　barely　accented。
　〃mander　Cordelia　Naismith。　Betan　Astronomical　Survey。　We　are　a　scientific　party；〃　she　emphasized　accusingly。　〃Non…batants。〃
　〃So　I　noticed；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃What　happened　to　your　party？〃
　Cordelia's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Weren't　you　there？　I　was　up　on　the　mountain；　assisting　my　team　botanist。〃　And　more　urgently；　〃Have　you　seen　my　botanist…my　ensign？　He　pushed　me　into　the　ravine　when　we　were　ambushed…〃
　He　glanced　up　to　the　rim　of　the　gorge　at　the　point　where　she　had　toppled　in…how　long　ago？　〃Was　he　a　brown…haired　boy？〃
　Her　heart　sank　in　sick　anticipation。　〃Yes。〃
　〃There's　nothing　you　can　do　for　him　now。〃
　〃That　was　murder！　All　he　had　was　a　stunner！〃　Her　eyes　burned　the　Barrayaran。　〃Why　were　my　people　attacked？〃
　He　tapped　her　stunner　thoughtfully　in　his　palm。　〃Your　expedition；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃was　to　be　interned；　preferably　peacefully；　for　violation　of　Barrayaran　space。　There　was　an　altercation。　I　was　hit　in　the　back　with　a　stun　beam。　When　I　came　to；　I　found　your　camp　as　you　did。〃
　〃Good。〃　Bitter　bile　soured　her　mouth。　〃I'm　glad　Reg　got　one　of　you；　before　you　murdered　him　too。〃
　〃If　you　are　referring　to　that　misguided　but　admittedly　courageous　blond　boy　in　the　clearing；　he　couldn't　have　hit　the　side　of　a　house。　I　don't　know　why　you　Betans　put　on　soldiers'　uniforms。　You're　no　better　trained　than　children　on　a　picnic。　If　your　ranks　denote　anything　but　pay　scale；　it's　not　apparent　to　me。〃
　〃He　was　a　geologist；　not　a　hired　killer；〃　she　snapped。　〃As　for　my　'children；'　your　soldiers　couldn't　even　capture　them。〃
　His　brows　drew　together。　Cordelia　shut　her　mouth　abruptly。　Oh；　great；　she　thought。　He　hasn't　even　started　to　wrench　my　arms　off；　and　already　I'm　giving　away　free　intelligence。
　〃Didn't　they　now；〃　Vorkosigan　mused。　He　pointed　upstream　with　the　stunner　to　where　the　m　link　lay　cracked　open　in　the　brook。　A　little　sputtering　of　steam　rose　from　the　ruin。　〃What　orders　did　you　give　your　ship　when　they　informed　you　of　their　escape？〃
　〃I　told　them　to　use　their　initiative；〃　she　murmured　vaguely；　groping　for　inspiration　in　a　throbbing　fog。
　He　snorted。　〃A　safe　order　to　give　a　Betan。　At　least　you're　sure　to　be　obeyed。〃
　Oh；　no。　My　turn。　〃Hey；　I　know　why　my　people　left　me　behind…why　did　yours　leave　you？　Isn't　one's　manding　officer；　even　a　Barrayaran　one；　too　important　to　mislay？〃　She　sat　up　straighter。　〃If　Reg　couldn't　hit　the　side　of　a　house；　who　shot　you？〃
　That's　fetched　him；　she　thought；　as　the　stunner　with　which　he　had　been　absently　gesturing　was　swiveled　back　to　aim　on　her。　But　he　said　only；　〃That　is　not　your　concern。　Have　you　another　m　link？〃
　Oh　ho…was　this　stern　Barrayaran　mander　dealing　with　a　mutiny？　Well；　confusion　to　the　enemy！　〃No。　Your　soldiers　trashed　everything。〃
　〃No　matter；〃　muttered　Vorkosigan。　〃I　know　where　to　get　another。　Are　you　able　to　walk　yet？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。〃　She　pushed　herself　to　her　feet；　then　pressed　her　hand　to　her　head　to　contain　the　shooting　pains。
　〃It's　only　a　concussion；〃　Vorkosigan　said　unsympathetically。　〃A　walk　will　do　you　good。〃
　〃How　far？〃　she　gasped。
　〃About　two　hundred　kilometers。〃
　She　fell　back　to　her　knees。　〃Have　a　nice　trip。〃
　〃By　myself；　two　days。　I　suppose　you　will　take　longer；　being　a　geologist；　or　whatever。〃
　〃Astrocartographer。〃
　〃Get　up；　please。〃　He　unbent　so　far　as　to　help　her　with　a　hand　under　her　elbow。　He　seemed　curiously　reluctant　to　touch　her。　She　was　chilled　and　stiff；　she　could　feel　the　heat　from　his　hand　through　the　heavy　cloth　of　her　sleeve。　Vorkosigan　pushed　her　determinedly　up　the　side　of　the　ravine。
　〃You're　stone　serious；〃　she　said。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　a　prisoner　on　a　forced　march？　Suppose　I　bash　in　your　head　with　a　rock　while　you　sleep？〃
　〃I'll　take　my　chances。〃
　They　cleared　the　top。　Cordelia　draped　herself　around　one　of　the　little　trees；　winded。　Vorkosigan　wasn't　even　breathing　hard；　she　noticed　enviously。　〃Well；　I'm　not　going　anywhere　till　I've　buried　my　officers。〃
　He　looked　irritated。　〃Its　a　waste　of　time　and　energy。〃
　〃I　won't　leave　them　to　the　scavengers　like　dead　animals。
　Your　Barrayaran　thugs　may　know　more　about　killing；　but　not　one　of　them　could　have　died　a　more　soldierly　death。〃
　He　stared　at　her　a　moment；　face　unreadable；　then　shrugged。　〃Very　well。〃
　Cordelia　began　to　make　her　way　along　the　side　of　the　ravine。　〃I　thought　it　was　here；〃　she　said；　puzzled。　〃Did　you　move　him？〃
　〃No。　But　he　can't　have　crawled　far；　in　his　condition。〃
　〃You　said　he　was　dead！〃
　〃So　he　is。　His　body；　however；　was　still　animate。　The　disruptor　must　have　missed　his　cerebellum。〃
　Cordelia　traced　the　trail　of　broken　vegetation　over　a　small　rise；　Vorkosigan　following　silently。
　〃Dubauer！〃　She　ran　to　the　tall　clad　figure　curled　up　in　the　bracken。　As　she　knelt　beside　him　he　turned　and　stretched　out　stiffly；　then　began　to　shake　all　over　in　slow　waves；　his　lips　drawn　back　in　a　strange　grin。　Cold？　she　thought　wildly；　then　realized　what　she　was　seeing。　She　yanked　her　handkerchief　from　her　pocket；　folded　it；　and　forced　it　between　his　teeth。　His　mouth　was　already　bloody　from　a　previous　convulsion。　After　about　three　minutes　he　sighed　and　went　limp。
　She　blew　out　her　breath　in　distress　and　examined　him　anxiously。　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　seemed　to　focus　on　her　face。　He　clutched　ineffectually　at　her　arm　and　made　noises；　all　moans　and　clotted　vowels。　She　tried　to　soothe　his　animal　agitation　by　gently　stroking　his　head；　and　wiping　the　bloody　spittle　from　his　mouth；　he　quieted。
　She　turned　to　Vorkosigan；　tears　of　fury　and　pain　blurring　her　vision。　〃Not　dead！　Liar！　Only　injured。　He　must　have　medical　help。〃
　〃You　are　being　unrealistic；　mander　Naismith。　One　does　not　recover　from　disruptor　injuries。〃
　〃So？　You　can't　tell　the　extent　of　the　damage　your　filthy　weapon　has　done　from　the　outside。　He　can　still　see　and　hear　and　feel…you　can't　demote　him　to　the　status　of　a　corpse　for　your　convenience！〃
　His　face　seemed　a　mask。　〃If　you　wish；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃I　can　put　him　out　of　his　suffering。　My　bat　knife　is　quite　sharp。　Used　quickly；　it　would　cut　his　throat　almost　painlessly。　Or　should　you　feel　it　is　your　duty　as　his　mander；　I'll　lend　you　the　knife　and　you　may　use　it。〃
　〃Is　that　what　you'd　do　for　one　of　your　men？〃
　〃Certainly。　And　they'd　do　the　same　for　me。　No　man　could　wish　to　live　on　like　that。〃
　She　stood　and　looked　at　him　very　steadily。　〃It　must　be　like　living　among　cannibals；　to　be　a　Barrayaran。〃
　A　long　silence　fell　between　them。　Dubauer　broke　it　with　a　moan。　Vorkosigan　stirred。　〃What；　then；　do　you　propose　to　do　with　him？〃
　She　rubbed　her　temples　tiredly；　ransacking　for　an　appeal　that　would　penetrate　that　expressionless　front。　Her　stomach　undulated；　her　tongue　was　woolly；　her　legs　trembled　with　exhaustion；　low　blood　sugar；　and　reaction　to　pain。　〃Just　where　is　it　you're　planning　to　go？〃　she　asked　finally。
　〃There　is　a　supply　cache　located…in　a　place　I　know。　Hidden。　It　contains　munications　equipment；　weapons；　food…possession　of　it　would　put　me　in　a　position　to；　ah；　correct　the　problems　in　my　mand。〃
　〃Does　it　have　medical　supplies？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly。
　〃All　right。〃　Here　goes　nothing。　〃I　will　cooperate　with　you…give　you　my　parole；　as　a　prisoner…assist　you　in　any　way　I　can　that　does　not　actually　endanger　my　ship…if　I　can　take　Ensign　Dubauer　with　us。〃
　〃That's　impossible。　He　can't　even　walk。〃
　〃I　think　he　can；　if　he's　helped。〃
　He　stared　at　her　in　baffled　irritation。　〃And　if　I　refuse？〃
　〃Then　you　can　either　leave　us　both　or　kill　us　both。〃　She　glanced　away　from　his　knife；　lifted　her　chin；　and　waited。
　〃I　do　not　kill　prisoners。〃
　She　was　relieved　to　hear　the　plural。　Dubauer　was　evidently　promoted　back　to　humanity　in　her　strange　captor's　mind。　She　knelt　down　to　try　to　help　Dubauer　to　his　feet；　praying　this　Vorkosigan　would　not　decide　to　end　the　argument　by　stunning　her　and　killing　her　botanist　outright。
　〃Very　well；〃　he　capitulated；　giving　her　an　odd　intent　look。　〃Bring　him　along。　But　we　must　travel　quickly。〃
　She　managed　to　get　the　ensign　up。　With　his　arm　draped　heavily　over　her　shoulder；　she　guided　him　on　a　shambling　walk。　It　seemed　he　could　hear；　but　not　decode　meaning　from　the　noises　of　speech。　〃You　see；〃　she　defended　him　desperately；　〃he　can　walk。　He　just　needs　a　little　help。〃
　They　reached　the　edge　of　the　glade　as　the　last　level　light　of　early　evening　was　striping　it　with　long　black　shadows；　like　a　tiger's　skin。　Vorkosigan　paused。
　〃If　I　were　by　myself；〃　he　said；　〃I'd　travel　to　the　cache　on　the　emergency　rations　in　my　belt。　With　you　two　along；　we'll　have　to　risk　scavenging　your　camp　for　more　food。　You　can　bury　your　other　off