lmb.shardsofhonor-第13节

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　cleanly　as　possible；　and　placed　under　arrest　on　a　charge　of　mutiny。　There　will　be　some　others　later。　I　don't　want　any　munication　with　the　General　Vorkraft　until　they're　under　lock　and　key。　Do　you　know　where　Lieutenant　Buffa　is？〃
　〃In　the　caverns。　Sir？〃　Koudelka　was　starting　to　look　a　little　miserable；　as　he　began　to　deduce　what　was　happening。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Are　you　sure　about　Tafas？〃
　〃Nearly。〃　Vorkosigan　gentled　his　voice。　〃They'll　be　tried。　That's　the　purpose　of　a　trial；　to　separate　the　guilty　from　the　innocent。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Koudelka　accepted　this　limited　guarantee　for　the　welfare　of　a　man　Cordelia　guessed　must　be　his　friend　with　a　little　bow　of　his　head。
　〃Do　you　begin　to　see　why　I　said　the　statistics　about　civil　war　conceal　the　most　reality？〃　said　Vorkosigan。
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Koudelka　met　his　eye　squarely；　and　Vorkosigan　nodded；　sure　of　his　man。
　〃All　right。　You　two　e　with　me。〃
　They　started　off；　Vorkosigan　taking　her　arm　again　and　scarcely　limping；　neatly　concealing　how　much　weight　he　was　putting　on　her。　They　followed　another　path　through　the　woodlands；　up　and　down　uneven　ground；　ing　out　within　sight　of　the　camouflaged　door　to　the　cache　caverns。
　The　waterfall　that　spun　down　beside　it　ended　in　a　little　pool；　spilling　over　into　a　pretty　stream　which　ran　off　into　the　woods。　A　strange　group　was　assembled　beside　it。　Cordelia　could　not　at　first　make　out　what　they　were　doing。　Two　Barrayarans　stood　watching　while　two　more　knelt　by　the　water。　As　they　approached　the　two　kneelers　stood；　hauling　a　dripping；　tan…clad　figure；　hands　tied　behind　his　back；　from　a　prone　position　to　his　feet。　He　coughed；　struggling　for　breath　in　sobbing　gasps。
　〃It's　Dubauer！〃　cried　Cordelia。　〃What　are　they　doing　to　him？〃
　Vorkosigan；　who　seemed　to　know　instantly　just　what　they　were　doing　to　him；　muttered　〃Oh；　hell；〃　and　started　forward　at　a　jerky　jog。　〃That's　my　prisoner！〃　he　roared　out　as　they　neared　the　group。　〃Hands　off　him！〃
　The　Barrayarans　braced　so　fast　it　looked　like　a　spinal　reflex。　Dubauer；　released；　fell　to　his　knees；　still　drawing　breath　in　long　sobs。　Cordelia；　running　past　them　to　Dubauer；　thought　she　had　never　seen　a　more　astonished…looking　array　of　men。　Dubauer's　hair；　swollen　face；　scanty　new　beard；　and　collar　were　soaking　wet；　his　eyes　were　red；　and　he　continued　to　cough　and　sneeze。　Horrified；　she　finally　realized　the　Barrayarans　had　been　holding　his　head　underwater　by　way　of　torture。
　〃What　is　this；　Lieutenant　Buffa？〃　Vorkosigan　pinned　the　senior　of　the　group　with　a　thunderous　frown。
　〃I　thought　the　Betans　killed　you；　sir！〃　said　Buffa。
　〃They　didn't；〃　Vorkosigan　said　shortly。　〃What　are　you　doing　with　this　Betan？〃
　〃Tafas　captured　him　in　the　woods；　sir。　We've　been　trying　to　question　him…find　out　if　there's　any　more　around…〃　he　glanced　at　Cordelia；　〃but　he　refuses　to　talk。　Hasn't　said　a　word。　And　I　always　thought　Betans　were　soft。〃
　Vorkosigan　rubbed　his　hand　over　his　face　for　a　moment；　as　if　praying　for　strength。
　〃Buffa；〃　he　said　patiently；　〃this　man　was　hit　by　disruptor　fire　five　days　ago。　He　can't　talk；　and　if　he　could　he　wouldn't　know　anything　anyway。〃
　〃Barbarians！〃　cried　Cordelia；　kneeling　on　the　ground。　Dubauer　had　recognized　her；　and　was　clutching　her。　〃You　Barrayarans　are　nothing　but　barbarians；　scoundrels；　and　assassins！〃
　〃And　fools。　Don't　leave　out　fools。〃　Vorkosigan　withered　Buffa　with　a　glare。　A　couple　of　the　men　had　the　good　grace　to　look　rather　ill；　as　well　as　ill　at　ease。　Vorkosigan　let　out　his　breath　with　a　sigh。　〃Is　he　all　right？〃
　〃Seems　to　be；〃　she　admitted　reluctantly。　〃But　he's　pretty　shaken　up。〃　She　was　shaking　herself　in　her　outrage。
　〃mander　Naismith；　I　apologize　for　my　men；〃　said　Vorkosigan　formally；　and　loudly；　so　that　no　one　there　could　mistake　that　their　Captain　humbled　himself　before　his　prisoner　because　of　them。
　〃Don't　click　your　heels　at　me；〃　muttered　Cordelia　savagely；　for　his　ear　alone。　At　his　bleak　look　she　relented　a　little；　and　said　more　loudly；　〃It　was　an　error　in　interpretation。〃　Her　eye　fell　on　Lieutenant　Buffa；　attempting　to　make　his　considerable　height　appear　to　melt　into　the　ground。　〃Any　blind　man　could　have　made　it。　Oh；　hell；〃　she　added；　for　Dubauer's　terror　and　distress　were　triggering　another　convulsion。　Most　of　the　Barrayarans　looked　away；　variously　embarrassed。　Vorkosigan；　who　was　getting　practiced；　knelt　to　give　her　what　aid　she　needed。　When　the　seizure　subsided　he　stood。
　〃Tafas；　give　your　weapons　to　Koudelka；〃　he　ordered。　Tafas　hesitated；　glancing　around；　then　slowly　plied。
　〃I　didn't　want　any　part　of　it；　sir；〃　he　said　desperately。　〃But　Lieutenant　Radnov　said　it　was　too　late。〃
　〃You'll〃　get　a　chance　to　speak　for　yourself　later　on；〃　said　Vorkosigan　wearily。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　asked　the　bewildered　Buffa。　〃Have　you　seen　mander　Gottyan；　sir？〃
　〃I've　given　mander　Gottyan…separate　orders。　Buffa；　you　are　now　in　charge　of　the　landing　party。〃　Vorkosigan　repeated　his　orders　for　the　arrest　of　his　short　list；　and　detached　a　group　to　carry　out　the　task。
　〃Ensign　Koudelka；　take　my　prisoners　to　the　cave；　and　see　that　they're　given　proper　food；　and　whatever　else　mander　Naismith　requires。　Then　see　that　the　shuttle　is　ready　to　go。　We'll　be　leaving　for　the　ship　as　soon　as　the…other　prisoners　are　secured。〃　He　avoided　the　word　〃mutineers；〃　as　though　it　were　too　strong；　like　blasphemy。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　asked　Cordelia。
　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　talk　with　mander　Gottyan。　Alone。〃
　〃Hm。　Well；　don't　make　me　regret　my　own　advice。〃　Which　was　as　close　as　she　could　e　at　the　moment　to　saying；　Be　careful。
　Vorkosigan　acknowledged　all　her　meanings　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　and　turned　back　for　the　woods。　He　was　limping　more　noticeably　now。
　She　helped　Dubauer　to　his　feet；　and　Koudelka　led　them　to　the　cave's　mouth。　The　young　man　seemed　so　much　like　Dubauer's　opposite　number；　she　found　it　hard　to　maintain　her　hostility。
　〃What　happened　to　the　old　man's　leg？〃　Koudelka　asked　her；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder。
　〃He's　got　an　infected　scratch；〃　she　understated；　inclined　to　endorse　his　evident　policy　of　keeping　up　a　good　show　for　the　benefit　of　his　unreliable　crew。　〃It　should　get　some　high　grade　medical　attention；　as　soon　as　you　can　get　him　to　slow　down　for　it。〃
　〃That's　the　old　man　for　you。　I've　never　seen　anybody　that　age　with　that　much　energy。〃
　〃That　age？〃　Cordelia　raised　an　eyebrow。
　〃Well；　of　course　he　wouldn't　seem　old　to　you；〃　Koudelka　allowed；　and　looked　puzzled　when　she　burst　out　laughing。　〃Energy　isn't　quite　what　I　wanted　to　say；　though。〃
　〃How　about　power；〃　she　suggested；　curiously　glad　that　Vorkosigan　had　at　least　one　admirer。　〃Energy　applied　to　work。〃
　〃That's　very　good；〃　he　applauded；　gratified。　Cordelia　decided　not　to　mention　the　little　blue　pill；　either。
　〃He　seems　an　interesting　person；〃　she　said；　angling　for　another　view　of　Vorkosigan。　〃How　did　he　ever　get　in　this　fix？〃
　〃You　mean；　Radnov？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃Well；　I　don't　want　to　criticize　the　old　man；　but…I　don't　know　of　anyone　else　who'd　tell　a　Political　Officer　when　he　came　on　board　to　stay　out　of　his　sight　if　he　wanted　to　live　to　the　end　of　the　voyage。〃　Koudelka　was　hushed　in　his　awe。
　Cordelia；　making　the　second　turning　behind　him　in　the　halls　of　the　cave；　was　jerked　alert　by　her　surroundings。　Most　peculiar；　she　thought。　Vorkosigan　misled　me。　The　labyrinthine　series　of　caverns　was　partly　natural　but　mostly　carved　out　by　plasma　arc：　cool；　moist；　and　dimly　lit。　The　huge　spaces　were　stuffed　with　supplies。　This　was　no　cache；　it　was　a　full…scale　fleet　depot。　She　pursed　her　lips　soundlessly；　staring　around；　suddenly　awake　to　a　whole　new　range　of　unpleasant　possibilities。
　In　one　corner　of　the　caverns　stood　a　standard　Barrayaran　field　shelter；　a　semicircular　ribbed　vault　covered　with　a　fabric　like　the　Betans'　tents。　This　one　was　given　over　to　a　field　kitchen　and　mess　hall；　crude　and　bleak。　A　lone　yeoman　was　cleaning　up　after　lunch。
　〃The　old　man　just　turned　up；　alive！〃　Koudelka　greeted　him。
　〃Huh！　I　thought　the　Betans　had　cut　his　throat；〃　said　the　yeoman；　surprised。　〃And　we　did　the　funeral　dinner　up　so　nice。〃
　〃These　two　are　the　old　man's　personal　prisoners；〃　Koudelka　introduced　them　to　the　cook；　whom　Cordelia　suspected　was　more　bat　soldier　than　gourmet　chef；　〃and　you　know　what　he's　like　on　that　subject。　The　guy's　got　disruptor　damage。　He　said　they're　to　have　proper　food；　so　don't　try　to　poison　them　with　the　usual　swill。〃
　〃Everyone's　a　critic；〃　muttered　the　yeoman…cook；　as　Koudelka　vanished　about　his　other　chores。　〃What'll　you　have？〃
　〃Anything。　Anything　but　oatmeal　or　blue　cheese；〃　she　amended　hastily。
　The　yeoman　disappeared　into　the　back　room；　and　returned　a　few　minutes　later　with　two　steaming　bowls　of　a　stew…like　substance；　and　real　bread　with　genuine　vegetable　oil　spread。　Cordelia　fell　to　it　wolfishly。
　〃How　is　it？〃　asked　the　yeoman　tonelessly；　hunching　down　into　his　shoulders。
　〃S'delishoush；〃　she　said　around　a　large　mouthful。　〃S'wonderful。〃
　〃Really？〃　He　straightened　up。　〃You　really　like　it？〃
　〃Really。〃　She　stopped　to　shove　a　few　spoonfuls　into　the　dazed　Dubauer。　The　taste　of　the　warm　food　cut　across　his　post…seizure　sleepiness；　and　he　chewed　away　with　something　like　her　enthusiasm。
　〃Here…can　I　help　you　feed　him？〃　the　yeoman　offered。
　Cordelia　beamed