lmb.shardsofhonor-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


elt；　and　was　hauling　them　both　toward　the　shallows　with　the　strength　and　style　of　a　stevedore。
　Feeling　undignified；　but　grateful；　she　scrambled　to　her　feet　and　pushed　the　coughing　Dubauer　up　the　far　bank。
　〃Thanks；〃　she　gasped　to　Vorkosigan。
　〃What；　did　you　think　I'd　let　you　drown？〃　he　inquired　wryly；　emptying　his　boots。
　Cordelia　shrugged；　embarrassed。　〃Well…at　least　we　wouldn't　be　delaying　you。〃
　〃Hm。〃　He　cleared　his　throat；　but　said　no　more。　They　found　a　rocky　place　to　sit；　eat　their　cereal　and　salad　dressing；　and　dry　awhile　before　moving　on。
　Kilometers　fell　behind　them；　while　their　view　of　the　great　mountain　to　their　right　scarcely　seemed　to　change。　At　some　point　Vorkosigan　took　a　bearing　known　only　to　himself；　and　led　them　more　westerly；　with　the　mountain　at　their　backs　and　the　sun　beginning　to　slant　into　their　eyes。
　They　crossed　another　watercourse。　ing　up　over　the　lip　of　its　valley；　Cordelia　nearly　stumbled　over　a　red…coated　hexaped；　lying　quite　still　in　a　depression　and　blending　perfectly　with　its　background。　It　was　a　delicately　formed　thing；　as　big　as　a　middle…sized　dog；　and　it　rippled　over　the　red　plains　in　graceful　bounds。
　Cordelia　woke　up　abruptly。　〃That　things　edible！〃
　〃The　stunner；　the　stunner！〃　cried　Vorkosigan。　She　pressed　it　hastily　into　his　hand。　He　fell　to　one　knee；　took　aim；　and　dropped　the　creature　in　one　burst。
　〃Oh；　good　shot！〃　cried　Cordelia　ecstatically。
　Vorkosigan　grinned　like　a　boy　over　his　shoulder　at　her；　and　jogged　after　his　prize。
　〃Oh；〃　she　murmured；　stunned　herself　by　the　effect　of　the　grin。　It　had　lit　his　face　like　the　sun　for　that　brief　instant。　Oh；　do　that　again；　she　thought；　then　shook　off　the　thought。　Duty。　Stick　to　duty。
　She　followed　him　to　where　the　animal　lay。　Vorkosigan　had　his　knife　out；　puzzling　over　where　to　begin。　He　could　not　cut　its　throat；　for　it　had　no　neck。
　〃The　brain　is　located　right　behind　the　eyes。　Maybe　you　could　pith　it　going　in　between　the　first　set　of　shoulder　blades；〃　Cordelia　suggested。
　〃That　would　be　quick　enough；〃　Vorkosigan　agreed；　and　did　so。　The　creature　shivered；　sighed；　and　died。　〃It's　early　to　make　camp；　but　there's　water　here；　and　driftwood　from　the　river　for　a　fire。　It　will　mean　extra　kilometers　tomorrow；　though；〃　he　warned。
　Cordelia　eyed　the　carcass；　thinking　of　roast　meat。　〃That's　all　right。〃
　Vorkosigan　hoisted　it　to　his　shoulder；　and　stood。　〃Where's　your　ensign？〃
　Cordelia　looked　around。　Dubauer　was　not　in　sight。　〃Oh；　lord；〃　she　inhaled；　and　ran　back　to　the　spot　where　they　had　been　standing　when　Vorkosigan　had　shot　dinner。　No　Dubauer。　She　approached　the　rim　of　the　watercourse。
　Dubauer　was　standing　by　the　stream；　arms　hanging　by　his　sides；　gazing　upward　blank　and　entranced。　Floating　softly　down　toward　his　upturned　face　was　a　large　transparent　radial。
　〃Dubauer；　no！〃　shrieked　Cordelia；　and　scrambled　down　the　bank　toward　him。　Vorkosigan　passed　her　with　a　bound；　and　they　raced　for　the　waterside。　The　radial　settled　over　Dubauer's　face　and　began　to　flatten；　and　he　flung　up　his　hands　with　a　cry。
　Vorkosigan　arrived　first。　He　grabbed　the　half…limp　thing　with　his　bare　hand　and　pulled　it　away　from　Dubauer's　face。　A　dozen　dark；　tendril…like　appendages　were　hooked　into　Dubauer's　flesh；　and　they　stretched　and　snapped　as　the　creature　was　ripped　off　its　prey。　Vorkosigan　flung　it　to　the　sand　and　stamped　on　it　as　Dubauer　fell　to　the　ground　and　curled　up　on　his　side。　Cordelia　tried　to　pull　his　hands　away　from　his　face。　He　was　making　strange；　hoarse　noises；　and　his　body　shook。　Another　seizure；　she　thought…but　then　realized　with　a　shock　that　he　was　weeping。
　She　held　his　head　on　her　lap　to　stop　the　wild　rocking。　The　spots　where　the　tendrils　had　penetrated　his　skin　were　black　in　the　center；　surrounded　by　rings　of　red　flesh　that　were　beginning　to　swell　alarmingly。　There　was　a　particularly　nasty　one　at　the　corner　of　his　eye。　She　plucked　one　of　the　remaining　embedded　tendrils　out　of　his　skin；　and　found　it　burned　her　fingers　acidly。　Apparently　the　creature　had　been　coated　all　over　with　a　similar　poison；　for　Vorkosigan　was　kneeling　with　his　hand　in　the　stream。　She　quickly　pulled　the　rest　of　them；　and　called　the　Barrayaran　over　to　her　side。
　〃Have　you　got　anything　in　your　kit　that　will　help　this？〃
　〃Only　the　antibiotic。〃　He　handed　her　a　tube；　and　she　smeared　some　on　Dubauer's　face。　It　was　not　really　a　proper　burn　ointment；　but　it　would　have　to　do。　Vorkosigan　stared　at　Dubauer　a　moment；　then　reluctantly　produced　a　small　white　pill。
　〃This　is　a　powerful　analgesic。　I　have　only　four。　It　should　carry　him　through　the　evening。〃
　Cordelia　placed　it　on　the　back　of　Dubauer's　tongue。　It　evidently　tasted　bitter；　for　he　tried　to　spit　it　out；　but　she　caught　it　and　forced　him　to　swallow　it。　In　a　few　minutes　she　was　able　to　get　him　to　his　feet　and　take　him　to　the　campsite　Vorkosigan　chose　overlooking　the　sandy　channel。
　Vorkosigan　meanwhile　made　a　handsome　collection　of　driftwood　for　a　fire。
　〃How　are　you　going　to　light　it？〃　inquired　Cordelia。
　〃When　I　was　a　small　boy；　I　had　to　learn　to　start　a　fire　by　friction；〃　Vorkosigan　reminisced。　〃Military　school　summer　camp。　It　wasn't　easy。　Took　all　afternoon。　e　to　think　of　it；　I　never　did　get　it　started　that　way。　I　lit　it　by　dissecting　a　municator　for　the　power　pack。〃
　He　was　searching　through　his　belt　and　pockets。　〃The　instructor　was　furious。　I　think　it　must　have　been　his　municator。〃
　〃No　chemical　starters？〃　Cordelia　asked；　with　a　nod　to　his　ongoing　inventory　of　his　utility　belt。
　〃It's　assumed　if　you　want　heat；　you　can　fire　your　plasma　arc。〃　He　tapped　his　fingers　on　the　empty　holster。　〃I　have　another　idea。　A　bit　drastic；　but　I　think　it　will　be　effective。　You'd　better　go　sit　with　your　botanist。　This　is　going　to　be　loud。〃
　He　removed　a　useless　plasma　arc　power　cartridge　from　a　row　on　the　back　of　his　belt。
　〃Uh；　oh；〃　said　Cordelia；　moving　away。　〃Won't　that　be　overkill？　And　what　are　you　going　to　do　with　the　crater？　It'll　be　visible　from　the　air　for　kilometers。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　sit　there　and　rub　two　sticks　together？　I　suppose　I　had　better　do　something　about　the　crater；　though。〃
　He　thought　a　moment；　then　trotted　away　over　the　edge　of　the　little　valley。　Cordelia　sat　down　beside　Dubauer；　putting　an　arm　around　his　shoulders　and　hunching　in　anticipation。
　Vorkosigan　shot　back　over　the　rim　at　a　dead　run；　and　hit　the　ground　rolling。　There　was　a　brilliant　blue…white　flash；　and　a　boom　that　shook　the　ground。　A　large　column　of　smoke；　dust；　and　steam　rose　into　the　air；　and　pebbles；　dirt；　and　bits　of　melted　sand　began　to　patter　down　like　rain　all　around。　Vorkosigan　disappeared　over　the　edge　again；　and　returned　shortly　with　a　fine　flaming　torch。
　Cordelia　went　for　a　peek　at　the　damage。　Vorkosigan　had　placed　the　short…circuited　cartridge　upstream　about　a　hundred　meters；　at　the　outer　edge　of　a　bend　where　the　swift　little　river　curved　away　to　the　east。　The　explosion　had　left　a　spectacular　glass…lined　crater　some　fifteen　meters　wide　and　five　deep　that　was　still　smoking。　As　she　watched；　the　stream　eroded　its　edge　and　poured　in；　billowing　steam。　In　an　hour　it　would　be　scoured　into　a　natural…looking　backwater。
　〃Not　bad；〃　she　murmured　approvingly。　By　the　time　the　fire　burned　down　to　a　bed　of　coals　they　had　cubes　of　dark　red　meat　on　sticks　ready　to　broil。
　〃How　do　you　like　yours？〃　Vorkosigan　asked。　〃Rare？　Medium？〃
　〃I　think　it　had　better　be　well　done；〃　suggested　Cordelia。　〃We　hadn't　pleted　the　parasite　survey　yet。〃
　Vorkosigan　glanced　at　his　cube　with　a　new　dubiousness。　〃Ah。　Quite；〃　he　said　faintly。
　They　cooked　it　thoroughly；　then　sat　by　the　fire　and　tore　into　the　smoking　meat　with　happy　savagery。　Even　Dubauer　managed　to　feed　himself　with　small　chunks。　It　was　gamey　and　tough；　burned　on　the　outside　and　with　a　bitter　undertaste；　but　no　one　suggested　a　side　dish　of　either　oatmeal　or　blue　cheese　dressing。
　Cordelia's　humor　was　touched。　Vorkosigan's　fatigues　were　filthy；　damp；　and　splashed　with　dried　blood　from　hacking　up　their　dinner；　as　were　her　own。　He　had　a　three…day　growth　of　beard；　his　face　glistened　in　the　firelight　with　hexaped　grease；　and　he　reeked　with　dried　sweat。　Barring　the　beard；　she　suspected　she　looked　no　better；　and　she　knew　she　smelled　no　better。　She　found　herself　disquietingly　aware　of　his　body；　muscular；　pact；　wholly　masculine；　stirring　senses　she　thought　she　had　suppressed。　Best　think　of　something　else。。。
　〃From　spaceman　to　caveman　in　three　days；〃　she　meditated　aloud。　〃How　we　imagine　our　civilization　is　in　ourselves；　when　it's　really　in　our　things。〃
　Vorkosigan　glanced　with　a　twisted　smile　at　the　carefully　tended　Dubauer。　〃You　seem　able　to　carry　your　civilization　on　the　inside。〃
　Cordelia　flushed　unfortably；　glad　for　the　camouflaging　firelight。　〃One　does　one's　duty。〃
　〃Some　people　find　their　duty　more　elastic。　Or…were　you　in　love　with　him？〃
　〃With　Dubauer？　Heavens；　no！　I'm　no　cradle　snatcher。　He　was　a　good　kid；　though。　I'd　like　to　get　him　home　to　his　family。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　family？〃
　〃Sure。　My　mom　and　brother；　back　home　on　Beta　Colony。　My　dad　used　to　be　in　the　Survey　too。〃
　〃Was　he　one　of　those　who　never　came　back？〃
　〃No；　he　died　in　a　shuttleport　accident；　not　ten　kilometers　from　home。　He'd　been　home　on　leave；　and　was　just　reporting　back。〃
　〃My　condolences。〃
　〃Oh；　that　was　years　and　years　ago。〃　Getting　a　little　personal；　isn't　he？　she　thought。　But　it　was　better　than　trying　to　deflect　military　interrogation。　She　hoped　fervently　that　the　subject；　say；　of　the　latest　Betan　equipment　would　not　e　up。　〃How　about　you？　Do　you　have　a　family？〃　It　suddenly　occurred　to　her　that　this　phrase　was　also　a　polite　way　of　asking；　Are　you　married？
　〃My　father　lives。　He　is　Count　Vorkosigan。　My　mother　was　half　Betan；　you　know；〃　he　offered　hesitantly。
　Cordelia　decided　that　if　Vorkosigan；　full　of　military　curtness；　was　formidable；　Vorkosigan　trying　to　make　himself　pleasant　was　truly　terrifying。　But　curiosity　overcame　the　urge　to　cut　the　conversation　short。　〃That's　unusual。　How　did　that　happen？〃
　〃My　maternal　grandfather　was　Prince　Xav　Vorbarra；　the　diplomat。　He　held　the　post　of　ambassador　to　Beta　Colony　for　a　time；　in　his　youth；　before　the　First　Cetagandan　War。　I　believe　my　grandmother　was　in　your　Bureau　for　Interstellar　Trade。〃
　〃Did　you　know　her　well？〃
　〃After　my　mother…died；　and　Yuri　Vorbarra's　Civil　War　was　brought　to　an　end；　I　spent　some　school　vacations　at　the　Prince's　home　in　the　capital。　He　was　at　odds　with　my　father；　though；　before　and　after　that　war；　being　of　different　political　parties。　Xav　was　the　leading　light　of　the　progressives　in　his　day；　and　of　course　my　father　was…is…part　of　the　last　stand　of　the　old　military　aristocracy。〃
　〃Was　your　grandmother　happy　on　Barrayar？〃　Cordelia　estimated　Vorkosigan's　school　days　were　perhaps　thirty　years　ago。
　〃I　don't　think　she　ever　adjusted　pletely　to　our　society。　And　of　course；　Yuri's　War。。。〃　He　trailed　off；　then　began　again。　〃Outsiders…you　Betans　particularly…have　this　odd　vision　of　Barrayar　as　some　monolith；　but　we　are　a　fundamentally　divided　society。　My　government　is　always　fighting　these　centrifugal　tendencies。〃
　Vorkosigan　leaned　forward　and　tossed　another　piece　of　wood　onto　the　fire。　Sparks　cascaded　upward　like　a　stream　of　little　orange　stars　flowing　home　to　the　sky。　Cordelia　felt　a　sharp　longing　to　fly　away　with