lmb.shardsofhonor-第13章

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o　keep　your　head　down。〃
　Cordelia　wondered　if　Vorkosigan's　air　of　enjoyment　was　an　artifact　of　the　stimulant；　or　a　primitive　anticipation　of　the　clash　to　e。　His　eyes　seemed　to　gleam　as　he　watched；　counted；　and　calculated。
　He　hissed　through　his　teeth；　sounding　a　bit　like　one　of　the　local　carnivores　himself。　〃There's　Radnov；　by　God！　Wouldn't　I　like　to　get　my　hands　on　him。　But　this　time　I　can　take　the　Ministry　men　to　trial。　I'd　like　to　see　them　try　to　get　one　of　their　pets　out　from　under　a　bona　fide　charge　of　mutiny。　The　high　mand　and　the　Council　of　Counts　will　be　with　me　this　time。　No；　Radnov；　you're　going　to　live…and　regret　it。〃　He　settled　on　stomach　and　elbows　and　devoured　the　scene。
　He　stiffened　suddenly；　and　grinned。　〃It's　time　my　luck　changed。　There's　Gottyan；　armed；　so　he　must　be　in　charge。　We're　nearly　home。　e　on。〃
　They　crept　back　to　the　cloaking　shelter　of　the　trees。　Dubauer　was　not　where　they'd　left　him。
　〃Oh；　lord；〃　breathed　Cordelia；　turning　and　peering　into　the　brush　in　all　directions。　〃Which　way　did　he　go？〃
　〃He　can't　have　gone　far；〃　reassured　Vorkosigan；　although　he　too　looked　worried。　They　each　made　a　circle　of　a　hundred　meters　or　so　through　the　woods。　Idiot！　Cordelia　castigated　herself　furiously　in　her　panic。　You　just　had　to　go　peek。。。　They　met　back　at　the　original　spot　without　seeing　any　mark　made　by　the　wandering　ensign。
　〃Look；　we　haven't　the　time　to　search　for　him　now；〃　said　Vorkosigan。　〃As　soon　as　I've　regained　mand；　I'll　send　a　patrol　out　to　look　for　him。　With　proper　search…scopes；　they　could　find　him　faster　than　we　can。〃
　Cordelia　thought　of　carnivores；　cliffs；　deep　pools；　Barrayaran　patrols　with　twitchy　trigger　fingers。　〃We've　e　so　far；〃　she　began。
　〃And　if　I　don't　regain　mand　soon；　neither　of　you　will　survive　anyway。〃
　Torn；　but　obedient　to　reason；　she　allowed　Vorkosigan　to　take　her　by　the　arm。　Only　leaning　on　her　slightly；　he　picked　a　way　down　through　the　woods。　As　they　neared　the　Barrayaran　camp；　he　put　a　thick　finger　to　his　lips。
　〃Go　as　quietly　as　you　can。　I　haven't　e　this　far　to　be　shot　by　one　of　my　own　pickets。　Ah。　Lie　down　here。〃　He　placed　her　in　a　spot　behind　some　fallen　logs　and　knee…high　vegetation　overlooking　a　faint　new　path　beaten　through　the　brush。
　〃You're　not　just　going　to　knock　on　the　front　door？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Why　not；　if　your　Gottyan　is　all　right？〃
　〃Because　there's　something　else　wrong。　I　don't　know　why　this　landing　party　is　here。〃　He　meditated　a　moment；　then　handed　her　back　the　stunner。　〃If　you　have　to　use　a　weapon；　it　had　better　be　one　you　can　handle。　It　still　has　a　bit　of　charge…one　or　two　shots。　This　path　runs　between　sentry　points；　and　sooner　or　later　someone's　going　to　e　down　it。　Keep　your　head　down　until　I　call　you。〃
　He　loosed　his　knife　in　its　sheath　and　took　a　concealed　position　on　the　other　side　of　the　path。　They　waited　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　then　another。　The　woodland　drowsed　in　the　warm；　soft；　white　air。
　Then　down　the　path　came　the　sound　of　boots　scuffing　through　the　leaf　litter。　Cordelia　went　rigidly　still；　trying　to　peer　through　the　weeds　without　raising　her　head。　A　tall　form　in　the　wonderfully　effective　Barrayaran　camouflage　fatigues　resolved　itself　as　a　grey…haired　officer。　As　he　passed　Vorkosigan　rose　from　his　hiding　place　as　if　resurrected。
　〃Korabik；〃　he　said　softly；　but　with　genuine　warmth　in　his　voice。　He　stood　grinning；　arms　folded；　waiting。
　Gottyan　spun　about；　one　hand　drawing　the　nerve　disruptor　at　his　hip。　After　a　beat；　a　look　of　surprise　came　over　his　face。　〃Aral！　The　landing　party　reported　the　Betans　had　killed　you；〃　and　he　stepped；　not　forward　as　Cordelia　had　expected　from　the　tone　of　Vorkosigan's　voice；　but　back。　The　disruptor　was　still　in　his　hand　as　if　he　had　forgotten　to　put　it　away；　but　gripped　firmly；　not　dangling。　Cordelia's　stomach　sank。
　Vorkosigan　looked　faintly　puzzled；　as　if　disappointed　by　the　cool；　controlled　reception。　〃I'm　glad　to　know　you're　not　superstitious；〃　he　joked。
　〃I　should　have　known　better　than　to　think　you　dead　until　I'd　seen　you　buried　with　a　stake　through　your　heart；〃　said　Gottyan；　sadly　ironic。
　〃What's　wrong；　Korabik？〃　asked　Vorkosigan　quietly。　〃You're　no　Minister's　lickspittle。〃
　At　these　words　Gottyan　brought　the　disruptor　up　to　undisguised　aim。　Vorkosigan　stood　very　still。
　〃No；〃　he　answered　frankly。　〃I　thought　the　story　Radnov　told　about　you　and　the　Betans　smelled。　And　I　was　going　to　make　damn　sure　it　went　through　a　board　of　inquiry　when　we　got　home。〃　He　paused。　〃But　then…I　would　have　been　in　mand。　After　being　acting　captain　for　six　months；　I'd　be　sure　to　be　confirmed。　What　do　you　think　the　chances　of　mand　are　at　my　age？　Five　percent？　Two？　Zero？〃
　'They're　not　as　bad　as　you　think；〃　said　Vorkosigan；　still　quietly。　〃There　are　some　things　ing　up　that　very　few　people　have　heard　about。　More　ships；　more　openings。〃
　〃The　usual　rumors；〃　Gottyan　dismissed　this。
　〃So　you　didn't　believe　I　was　dead？〃　probed　Vorkosigan。
　〃I　was　sure　you　were。　I　took　over…where　did　you　put　the　sealed　orders；　by　the　way？　We　turned　your　cabin　inside　out　looking　for　them。〃
　Vorkosigan　smiled　dryly　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　shall　not　increase　your　temptations。〃
　〃No　matter。〃　Gottyan's　aim　did　not　waver。　〃Then　day　before　yesterday　that　psychopathic　idiot　Bothari　came　to　see　me　in　my　cabin。　He　gave　me　the　real　story　of　what　happened　at　the　Betans'　camp。　Surprised　the　hell　out　of　me…I'd　have　thought　he'd　be　delighted　at　a　chance　to　slit　your　throat。　So　we　came　back　here　to　practice　ground　training。　I　was　sure　you'd　turn　up　sooner　or　later…I　expected　you　before　this。〃
　〃I　was　delayed。〃　Vorkosigan　shifted　position　slightly；　away　from　Cordelia's　line　of　fire　toward　Gottyan。　〃Where's　Bothari　now？〃
　〃Solitary　confinement。〃
　Vorkosigan　winced。　〃That's　very　bad　for　him。　I　take　it　you　didn't　spread　the　news　of　my　narrow　escape？〃
　〃Not　even　Radnov　knows。　He　still　thinks　Bothari　gutted　you。〃
　〃Smug；　is　he？〃
　〃Smug　as　a　cat。　I'd　have　taken　great　pleasure　in　wiping　his　face　at　the　board；　if　only　you'd　had　the　good　grace　to　meet　with　an　accident　on　your　hike。〃
　Vorkosigan　grimaced　wryly。　〃It　seems　to　me　you　haven't　quite　made　up　your　mind　what　you　really　want　to　do。　May　I　suggest　it　is　not　too　late；　even　now；　to　change　course？〃
　〃You　could　never　overlook　this；〃　stated　Gottyan　uncertainly。
　〃In　my　younger　and　more　stiff…necked　days；　perhaps　not。　But　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I'm　getting　a　little　tired　of　slaying　my　enemies　to　teach　them　a　lesson。〃　Vorkosigan　raised　his　chin　and　held　Gottyan's　eyes。　〃If　you　like；　you　can　have　my　word。　You　know　the　worth　of　it。〃
　The　disruptor　trembled　slightly　in　Gottyan's　hand；　as　he　wavered　on　the　edge　of　his　decision。　Cordelia；　barely　breathing；　saw　water　standing　in　his　eyes。　One　does　not　weep　for　the　living；　she　thought；　but　for　the　dead；　in　that　moment；　while　Vorkosigan　still　doubted；　she　knew　he　intended　to　fire。
　She　brought　her　stunner　up；　took　careful　aim；　and　squeezed　off　a　burst。　It　buzzed　weakly；　but　it　was　enough　to　bring　Gottyan；　head　turning　at　the　sudden　movement；　to　his　knees。　Vorkosigan　pounced　on　the　disruptor；　then　relieved　him　of　his　plasma　arc　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground。
　〃Damn　you；〃　croaked　Gottyan；　half…paralyzed。　〃Haven't　you　ever　been　out…maneuvered？〃
　〃If　I　had　I　wouldn't　be　here；〃　shrugged　Vorkosigan。　He　subjected　Gottyan　to　a　rapid　search；　confiscating　his　knife　and　a　number　of　other　objects。　〃Who　do　you　have　posted　as　pickets？〃
　〃Sens　to　the　north；　Koudelka　to　the　south。〃
　Vorkosigan　removed　Gottyan's　belt　and　bound　his　hands　behind　his　back。　〃You　really　did　have　trouble　making　up　your　mind；　didn't　you？〃　In　an　aside　to　Cordelia　he　explained；　〃Sens　is　one　of　Radnov's。　Koudelka's　mine。　Rather　like　flipping　a　coin。〃
　〃And　this　was　your　friend？〃　Cordelia　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃Seems　to　me　the　only　difference　between　your　friends　and　your　enemies　is　how　long　they　stand　around　chatting　before　they　shoot　you。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Vorkosigan　agreed；　〃I　could　take　over　the　universe　with　this　army　if　I　could　ever　get　all　their　weapons　pointed　in　the　same　direction。　Since　your　pants　will　stay　up　without　it；　mander　Naismith；　may　I　please　borrow　your　belt？〃　He　finished　securing　Gottyan's　legs　with　it；　gagged　him；　then　stood　a　moment　looking　up；　then　down