lmb.shardsofhonor-第4章

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　was　not　sure　how　clearly　he　recognized　her；　but　he　clung　to　her　and　avoided　Vorkosigan。
　The　forest　grew　thicker　and　the　trees　taller　as　they　went　down。　Vorkosigan　hacked　through　the　undergrowth　with　his　knife　for　a　while；　then　they　took　to　the　stream　bed。　Splashes　of　sunlight　began　to　filter　through　the　canopy；　picking　out　fiery　green　velvet　humps　of　moss；　sparkling　rills　of　water；　and　stones　on　the　stream　bed　like　a　layer　of　bronze　coins。
　Radial　symmetry　was　popular　among　the　tiny　creatures　occupying　the　ecological　niches　held　by　insects　on　Earth。　Some　aerial　varieties　like　gas…filled　jellyfishes　floated　in　iridescent　clouds　above　the　stream　like　flocks　of　delicate　soap　bubbles；　delighting　Cordelia's　eye。　They　seemed　to　have　a　mellowing　effect　on　Vorkosigan；　too；　for　he　called　for　a　break　from　what　seemed　to　her　a　killing　pace。
　They　drank　from　the　stream　and　sat　a　while　watching　the　little　radials　dart　and　puff　in　the　spray　from　a　waterfall。　Vorkosigan　closed　his　eyes　and　leaned　against　a　tree。　He　was　running　on　the　ragged　edge　of　exhaustion　too；　Cordelia　realized。　Temporarily　unwatched；　she　studied　him　curiously。　He　had　behaved　throughout　with　curt　but　dignified　military　professionalism。　Still　she　was　bothered　by　a　subliminal　alarm；　a　persistent　sense　of　something　of　importance　forgotten。　It　popped　out　of　her　memory　suddenly；　like　a　ball　held　underwater　breaking　the　surface　on　release　and　arcing　into　the　air。
　〃I　know　who　you　are。　Vorkosigan；　the　Butcher　of　Komarr。〃　She　immediately　wished　she　had　not　spoken；　for　he　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　at　her；　a　peculiar　play　of　expressions　passing　across　his　face。
　〃What　do　you　know　about　Komarr？〃　His　tone　added；　An　ignorant　Betan。
　〃Just　what　everyone　knows。　It　was　a　worthless　ball　of　rock　your　people　annexed　by　military　force　for　mand　of　its　wormhole　clusters。　The　ruling　senate　surrendered　on　terms；　and　were　murdered　immediately　after。　You　manded　the　expedition；　or。。。〃　Surely　the　Vorkosigan　of　Komarr　had　been　an　admiral。　〃Was　it　you？　I　thought　you　said　you　didn't　kill　prisoners。〃
　〃It　was。〃
　〃Did　they　demote　you　for　it？〃　she　asked；　surprised。　She　had　thought　that　sort　of　conduct　to　be　Barrayaran　standard。
　〃Not　for　that。　For　the　sequel。〃　He　seemed　reluctant　to　say　more；　but　he　surprised　her　again　by　going　on。　〃The　sequel　was　more　effectively　suppressed。　I　had　given　my　word…my　word；　as　Vorkosigan…they　were　to　be　spared。　My　Political　Officer　countermanded　my　order；　and　had　them　killed　behind　my　back。　I　executed　him　for　it。〃
　〃Good　God。〃
　〃I　broke　his　neck　with　my　own　hands；　on　the　bridge　of　my　ship。　It　was　a　personal　matter；　you　see；　touching　my　honor。　I　couldn't　order　a　firing　squad…they　were　all　afraid　of　the　Ministry　of　Political　Education。〃
　That　was　the　official　euphemism　for　the　secret　police；　Cordelia　recalled；　of　which　Political　Officers　were　the　military　branch。　〃And　you　aren't？〃
　〃They're　afraid　of　me。〃　He　smiled　sourly。　〃Like　those　scavengers　last　night；　they'll　run　from　a　bold　attack。　But　one　must　not　turn　one's　back。〃
　〃I'm　surprised　they　didn't　have　you　hanged。〃
　〃There　was　a　great　uproar；　behind　closed　doors；〃　he　admitted　reminiscently；　fingering　his　collar　tabs。　〃But　a　Vorkosigan　can't　be　made　to　disappear　in　the　night；　not　yet。　I　did　make　some　powerful　enemies。〃
　〃I'll　bet。〃　This　bald　story；　told　without　adornment　or　apology；　had　the　ring　of　truth　to　her　inner　ear；　although　she　had　no　logical　reason　to　trust　him。　〃Did　you；　uh；　happen　to　turn　your　back　on　one　of　those　enemies　yesterday？〃
　He　glanced　at　her　sharply。　〃Possibly；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃There　are　some　problems　with　that　theory；　however。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃I'm　still　alive。　I　wouldn't　have　thought　they'd　risk　starting　the　job　without　finishing　it。　To　be　sure；　they'd　be　tempted　by　the　opportunity　to　blame　my　death　on　you　Betans。〃
　〃Whew。　And　I　thought　I　had　mand　troubles　just　keeping　a　bunch　of　Betan　intellectual　prima　donnas　working　together　for　months　on　end。　God　keep　me　from　politics。〃
　Vorkosigan　smiled　slightly。　〃From　what　I've　heard　of　Betans；　that's　no　easy　task　either。　I　don't　think　I　should　care　to　trade　mands。　It　would　irritate　me　to　have　every　order　argued　over。〃
　〃They　don't　argue　every　order。〃　She　grinned；　as　his　crack　ferreted　up　some　particular　memories。　〃You　learn　how　to　coax　them　along。〃
　〃Where　do　you　suppose　your　ship　is　now？〃
　Wariness　dropped　across　her　amusement　like　a　portcullis。　〃I　suppose　that　depends　on　where　your　ship　is。〃
　Vorkosigan　shrugged　and　stood；　hitching　his　pack　more　securely　to　his　shoulders。　〃Then　perhaps　we　should　waste　no　more　time　finding　out。〃　He　gave　her　a　hand　to　pull　her　up；　the　soldier…mask　repossessing　his　features。
　It　took　all　the　long　day　to　descend　the　great　mountain　to　the　red…soiled　plains。　A　closer　view　found　them　cut　and　channeled　by　watercourses　running　turbid　from　the　recent　rains；　and　confused　by　outcrops　of　rocky　badlands。　They　caught　glimpses　of　groups　of　hexapedal　grazers。　Cordelia　deduced　from　their　wary　herd　behavior　that　associated　predators　must　lurk　nearby。
　Vorkosigan　would　have　pushed　on；　but　Dubauer　was　seized　by　a　serious　and　prolonged　convulsion　followed　by　lethargy　and　sleepiness。　Cordelia　insisted　adamantly　on　a　halt　for　the　night。　They　made　camp；　if　one　could　so　describe　stopping　and　sitting　down；　in　an　open　gap　in　the　trees　perhaps　three　hundred　meters　above　the　levels。　They　shared　their　simple　supper　of　oatmeal　and　blue　cheese　dressing　in　a　beaten…down　silence。　Vorkosigan　cracked　another　cold　light　as　the　last　colors　of　a　gaudy　sunset　drained　from　the　sky；　and　seated　himself　on　a　large　flat　boulder。　Cordelia　lay　down　and　watched　the　Barrayaran　watching　until　sleep　relieved　her　of　her　aching　legs　and　head。
　He　woke　her　past　the　middle　of　the　night。　Her　muscles　seemed　to　screech　and　creak　as　she　rose　stiffly　to　take　her　watch。　This　time　Vorkosigan　gave　her　the　stunner。
　〃I　haven't　seen　anything　close；〃　he　mented；　〃but　something　out　there　makes　a　hellish　racket　from　time　to　time。〃　It　seemed　an　adequate　explanation　for　the　gesture　of　trust。
　She　checked　Dubauer；　then　took　her　place　on　the　boulder；　leaning　back　and　staring　up　at　the　dark　bulk　of　the　mountain。　Up　there　Rosemont　lay　in　his　deep　grave；　safe　from　the　beaks　and　bellies　of　the　carrion　eaters；　but　still　doomed　to　slow　deposition。　She　bent　her　night…wandering　thoughts　instead　to　Vorkosigan；　lying　nearly　invisible　in　his　camouflage　fatigues　in　the　border　of　the　blue…green　light。
　A　puzzle　within　a　puzzle；　he　was。　Clearly；　he　must　be　one　of　the　Barrayaran　warrior　aristocrats　of　the　old　school；　at　odds　with　the　rising　new　men　of　the　bureaucracy。　The　militarists　of　both　parties　maintained　a　bastard；　uneasy　alliance　that　controlled　both　government　policy　and　the　armed　forces；　but　at　heart　they　were　natural　enemies。　The　Emperor　subtly　stabilized　the　delicate　balance　of　power　between　them；　but　there　was　not　much　doubt　that　on　the　clever　old　man's　death　Barrayar　was　destined　for　a　period　of　political　cannibalism；　if　not　outright　civil　war；　unless　his　successor　showed　more　strength　than　was　currently　expected。　She　wished　she　knew　more　about　the　matrix　of　blood　relationships　and　power　on　Barrayar。　She　could　give　the　Emperors　family　name；　Vorbarra；　it　being　associated　with　the　name　of　the　planet；　but　beyond　that　she　was　quite　vague。
　She　absently　fingered　the　little　stunner；　and　tantalized　herself：　who　now　was　the　captive；　and　who　the　captor？　But　it　would　be　nearly　impossible　to　care　for　Dubauer　in　this　wilderness　by　herself。　She　had　to　have　supplies　for　him；　and　since　Vorkosigan　had　been　careful　not　to　say　exactly　where　his　cache　lay；　she　needed　the　Barrayaran　to　take　her　there。　Besides；　she　had　given　her　parole。　It　was　a　curious　insight　into　Vorkosigan　that　he　should　so　automatically　accept　her　bare　word　as　binding；　he　evidently　thought　along　the　same　lines　himself。
　The　east　began　to　grow　grey　at　last；　then　peach；　green；　and　gold　in　a　pastel　repeat　of　last　night's　spectacular　sunset。　Vorkosigan　stirred　and　sat　up；　and　helped　her　take　Dubauer　down　to　the　stream　to　wash。　They　had　another　breakfast　of　oatmeal　and　blue　cheese　dressing。　Vorkosigan　tried　mixing　his　together　this　time；　for　variety。　Cordelia　tried　alternating　bites；　to　see　if　that　would　help。　Neither　mented　aloud　on　the　menu。
　Vorkosigan　led　northwest　across　the　sandy；　brick…colored　plain。　In　the　dry　season　it　would　have　been　near…desert。　Now　it　was　brightly　decorated　with　fresh　green　and　yellow　growth；　and　dozens　of　varieties　of　low…growing　wildflowers。　Dubauer　did　not　seem　to　notice　them；　Cordelia　saw　sadly。
　After　about　three　hours　at　a　brisk　pace　they　came　to　their　first　check　of　the　day；　a　steep　rocky　valley　with　a　coffee…and…cream…colored　river　rushing　through　it。　They　walked　along　the　edge　of　the　escarpment　looking　for　a　ford。
　〃That　rock　down　there　moved；〃　Cordelia　observed　suddenly。
　Vorkosigan　pulled　his　field　scope　from　his　belt　and　took　a　closer　look。　〃You're　right。〃
　Half　a　dozen　coffee…and…cream…colored　lumps　that　looked　like　rocks　on　a　sandbar　proved　to　be　low…slung；　thick…limbed　hexapeds；　basking　in　the　morning　sun。
　〃They　seem　to　be　some　sort　of　amphibian。　I　wonder　if　they're　carnivores？〃　said　Vorkosigan。
　〃I　wish　you　hadn't　interrupted　my　survey　so　soon；〃　Cordelia　plained。　〃Then　I　could　have　answered　all　those　questions。　There　go　some　more　of　those　soap…bubble　things…goodness；　I　wouldn't　have　thought　they　could　grow　so　big　and　still　fly。〃
　A　flock　of　a　dozen　or　so　large　radials；　transparent　as　wineglasses　and　fully　a　foot　across；　came　floating　like　a　flight　of　lost　balloons　above　the　river。　A　few　of　them　drifted　over　to　the　hexapeds　and　settled　gently　on　their　backs；　flattening　over　their　withers　like　weird　berets。　Cordelia　borrowed　the　scope　for　a　closer　look。
　〃Do　you　suppose　they　could　be　like　those　birds　from　Earth；　that　pick　the　parasites　off　the　cattle？　Oh。　No；　I　guess　not。〃
　The　hexapeds　roused　themselves　with　hisses　and　whistles；　humping　their　bodies　in　a　kind　of　obese　bucking；　and　slid　into　the　river。　The　radials；　colored　now　like　wineglasses　filled　with　burgundy；　inflated　themselves　and　retreated　into　the　air。
　〃Vampire　balloons？〃　asked　Vorkosigan。
　〃Apparently。〃
　〃What　appalling　creatures。〃
　Cordelia　almost　laughed　at　his　revolted　look。　〃As　a　carnivore　yourself；　you　can't　really　condemn　them。〃
　〃Condemn；　no；　avoid；　yes。〃
　〃I'll　go　along　with　that。〃
　They　continued　upstream　past　a　frothing；　opaque　tan　waterfall。　After　about　a　kilometer　and　a　half　they　came　to　a　place　where　two　tributaries　joined；　and　stumbled　across　at　the　shallowest　place　they　could　find。　Crossing　the　second　branch；　Dubauer　lost　his　footing　as　a　rock　turned　under　him；　and　went　down　with　a　wordless　cry。
　Cordelia　tightened　her　grip　on　his　arm　convulsively；　and　perforce　went　with　him；　slipping　into　a　deeper　area。　Terror　shook　her；　that　he　might　be　swept　downstream　beyond　her　reach…those　amphibious　hexapeds；　sharp　rocks…the　waterfall！　Careless　of　the　water　filling　her　mouth；　she　grabbed　him　with　both　hands。　Here　they　went…no。
　Something　pulled　her　bodily　with　a　tremendous　counter…surge　against　the　rush　of　waters。　Vorkosigan　had　grabbed　her　by　the　back　of　the　belt；　and　was　hauling　them　both　toward　the　shallows　with　the　strength　and　style　of　a　stevedore。
　Fe