lmb.shardsofhonor-第27节

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cloth；　then　sat　beside　her　on　his　bunk。　〃Have　you　ever　considered　chucking　it　all；　and　moving　someplace　nobody　ever　bothers　with？〃　Cordelia　asked。　〃Earth；　for　example。〃
　He　smiled。　〃Often。　I　even　had　a　little　fantasy　about　emigrating　to　Beta　Colony；　and　turning　up　on　your　doorstep。　Do　you　have　a　doorstep？〃
　〃Not　as　such；　but　go　on。〃
　〃I　can't　imagine　what　I'd　do　for　a　living　there。　I'm　a　strategist；　not　a　technician　or　navigator　or　pilot；　so　I　couldn't　go　into　your　merchant　fleet。　They　would　scarcely　take　me　in　your　military；　and　I　can't　see　myself　being　elected　to　office。〃
　Cordelia　snorted。　〃Wouldn't　that　startle　Steady　Freddy？〃
　〃Is　that　what　you　call　your　President？〃
　〃I　didn't　vote　for　him。〃
　〃The　only　employment　I　can　think　of　would　be　as　a　teacher　of　martial　arts；　for　sport。　Would　you　marry　a　judo　instructor；　dear　Captain？　But　no；〃　he　sighed。　〃Barrayar　is　bred　in　my　bones。　I　cannot　shake　it；　no　matter　how　far　I　travel。　This　struggle；　God　knows；　has　no　honor　in　it。　But　exile；　for　no　other　motive　than　ease…that　would　be　to　give　up　all　hope　of　honor。　The　last　defeat；　with　no　seed　of　future　victory　in　it。〃
　She　thought　of　the　deadly　cargo　she　had　convoyed；　now　safe　on　Escobar。　pared　to　all　the　lives　that　hung　on　it；　her　own　and　Vorkosigan's　weighed　less　than　a　feather。　He　misread　the　grief　in　her　face；　she　thought；　for　fear。　〃It　isn't　exactly　like　waking　from　the　nightmare；　to　see　your　face。〃　He　touched　it　gently；　fingertips　on　the　curve　of　her　jaw；　thumb　laid　a　moment　across　her　lips；　lighter　than　a　kiss。　〃More　like；　knowing；　while　dreaming　still；　that　beyond　the　dream　there　is　a　waking　world。　I　mean　to　join　you　in　that　waking　world；　someday。　You'll　see。　You'll　see。〃　He　squeezed　her　hand　and　smiled　reassuringly。　On　the　floor　Bothari　stirred；　and　groaned。　〃I'll　take　care　of　him；〃　Vorkosigan　said。　〃Get　some　sleep；　while　you　can。〃
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　She　woke　to　movement；　and　voices。　Vorkosigan　was　rising　from　his　chair；　and　Illyan　was　standing　before　him　taut　as　a　bowstring；　saying　〃Vorhalas　and　the　Prince！　Here！　Now！〃
　〃Son…of…a。。。〃　Vorkosigan　turned　on　his　heel；　eyes　raking　the　little　room。　〃It'll　have　to　be　the　bathroom。　Fold　him　into　the　shower。〃
　Swiftly；　Vorkosigan　took　Bothari's　shoulders　and　Illyan　his　feet；　bumping　through　the　narrow　door　and　dumping　him　pell…mell　into　the　fixture。
　〃Should　he　have　more　sedative？〃　asked　Illyan。
　〃Maybe　he'd　better。　Cordelia；　give　him　another　ampule。　It's　too　early；　but　it's　death　for　you　both　if　he　makes　a　noise　now。〃　He　bundled　her　into　the　closet…sized　room；　shoving　the　drug　into　her　hand　and　killing　the　light。　〃No　noise；　no　movement。〃
　〃Door　shut？〃　asked　Illyan。
　〃Partway。　Lean　on　the　frame；　look　casual；　and　don't　let　the　Princes　bodyguard　wander　into　your　psychological　space。〃
　Cordelia；　feeling　her　way　in　the　dimness；　knelt　and　pressed　another　shot　of　sedative　into　the　unconscious　Sergeant's　arm。　Seating　herself　in　the　logical　spot；　she　found　she　could　just　see　a　slice　of　Vorkosigan's　cabin　in　the　mirror；　reversed　and　disorienting。　She　heard　the　cabin　door　open；　and　new　voices。
　〃…unless　you　mean　to　officially　relieve　him　of　his　duties　as　well；　I　will　continue　to　follow　standard　procedure。　I　saw　that　room。　Your　charge　is　nonsensical。〃
　〃We　will　see；〃　replied　the　second　voice；　tight　and　angry。
　〃Hello；　Aral。〃　The　owner　of　the　first　voice；　an　officer　of　perhaps　fifty　in　dress　greens；　shook　Vorkosigan's　hand　and　presented　him　with　a　packet　of　data　disks。　〃We're　off　to　Escobar　within　the　hour。　Courier　just　brought　these…the　latest　hard…copy　updates。　I've　ordered　you　to　be　kept　up　on　events。　The　Escos　are　falling　back　through　the　whole　volume。　They've　even　abandoned　that　slugging　match　for　the　wormhole　jump　to　Tau　Ceti。　We've　got　them　on　the　run。〃　The　owner　of　the　second　voice　also　wore　dress　greens；　more　heavily　encrusted　with　gilt　than　any　she　had　ever　seen。　Jeweled　decorations　on　his　breast　glinted　and　winked　like　lizards'　eyes　in　the　light　from　Vorkosigan's　desk　lamp。　He　was　about　thirty；　black　haired；　with　a　rectangular　tense　face；　hooded　eyes；　and　thin　lips　pressed　now　with　annoyance。　〃You're　not　both　going；　are　you？〃　said　Vorkosigan。　〃The　senior　officer　ought　properly　to　stay　with　the　flag。　Now　that　Vorrutyer　is　dead；　his　duties　devolve　on　the　Prince。　That　dog…and…pony　show　you　had　planned　was　based　on　the　assumption　that　he　would　still　be　at　his　post。〃
　Prince　Serg　went　stiff　with　outrage。　〃I　will　lead　my　troops　on　Escobar！　Let　my　father　and　his　cronies　try　to　say　I　am　no　soldier　now！〃
　〃You　will；〃　said　Vorkosigan　wearily；　〃sit　in　that　fortified　palace　that　half　the　engineers　are　going　to　be　tied　up　constructing；　and　party　in　it；　and　let　your　men　do　your　dying　for　you；　until　you've　bought　your　ground　by　the　sheer　weight　of　the　corpses　piled　on　it；　because　that's　the　kind　of　soldiering　your　mentor　has　taught　you。　And　then　send　bulletins　home　about　your　great　victory。　Maybe　you　can　have　the　casualty　lists　declared　top　secret。〃
　〃Aral；　careful；〃　warned　Vorhalas；　shocked。
　〃You　go　too　far；〃　the　Prince　snarled。　〃Especially　for　a　man　who　will　get　no　closer　to　the　fighting　than　clinging　to　the　wormhole　exit　for　home。　If　you　want　to　talk　of…undue　caution。〃　His　tone　clearly　made　the　phrase　a　euphemism　for　an　uglier　term。
　〃You　can　hardly　order　me　confined　to　quarters　and　then　accuse　me　of　cowardice　for　not　being　at　the　front。　Sir。　Even　Minister　Grishnov's　propaganda　has　to　simulate　logic　better　than　that。〃
　〃You'd　just　love　that；　wouldn't　you；　Vorkosigan；〃　hissed　the　Prince。　〃Stick　me　back　here；　and　grab　all　the　glory　for　yourself　and　that　wrinkled　clown　Vortala　and　his　phoney　progressives。　Over　my　dead　body！　You're　going　to　sit　in　here　till　you　grow　mold。〃
　Vorkosigan's　teeth　were　clenched；　his　eyes　narrowed　and　unreadable。　His　lips　curled　back　on　a　white　smile；　but　closed　again　instantly。　〃I　must　formally　protest。　By　landing　with　the　ground　troops　on　Escobar　you　are　leaving　your　proper　post。〃
　〃Protest　away。〃　The　Prince　approached　him　closely；　leaning　into　his　face　and　dropping　his　voice。　〃But　even　my　father　can't　live　forever。　And　when　that　day　es；　your　father　won't　be　able　to　protect　you　anymore。　You；　and　Vortala；　and　all　his　cronies　will　be　first　against　the　wall；　I　promise　you。〃　He　looked　up；　remembering　Illyan　leaning　silently　against　the　doorjamb。　〃Or　perhaps　you'll　find　yourself　back　on　the　Leper　Colony；　for　another　five　years　of　patrol　duty。〃
　In　the　bathroom；　Bothari　stirred　unfortably　in　his　semi…a　and；　to　Cordelia's　horror；　began　to　snore。
　Lieutenant　Illyan　was　seized　by　a　spasmodic　coughing　fit。　〃Excuse　me；〃　he　gasped；　and　retreated　into　the　bathroom；　shutting　the　door　firmly。
　He　hit　the　light　and　traded　a　silent　look　of　panic　with　Cordelia　for　an　equally　silent　grimace　of　despair。　With　difficulty；　they　turned　Bothari's　deadweight　to　one　side　in　the　constricted　space；　until　he　breathed　quietly　again。　Cordelia　gave　Illyan　the　thumbs…up　signal；　and　he　nodded　and　squeezed　back　out　the　door。
　The　Prince　had　left。　Admiral　Vorhalas　lingered　a　moment；　to　exchange　a　last　word　with　his　subordinate。
　〃…put　it　in　writing。　I'll　sign　it　before　we　go。〃
　〃At　least　don't　travel　in　the　same　ship；〃　begged　Vorkosigan　seriously。
　Vorhalas　sighed。　〃I　appreciate　your　trying　to　get　him　out　of　my　hair。　But　somebody　has　to　clean　his　cage　for　the　Emperor；　with　Vorrutyer　out；　thank　God。　He　won't　have　you；　so　it　looks　like　I'm　elected。　Why　can't　you　just　lose　your　temper　with　subordinates；　like　normal　men；　instead　of　with　superiors；　like　a　lunatic？　I　thought　you　were　cured　of　that；　after　what　I　saw　you　take　from　Vorrutyer。〃
　〃That's　dead　and　buried　now。〃
　〃Aye。〃　Vorhalas　made　a　superstitious　sign；　automatically；　evidently　a　gestural　relic　from　childhood；　empty　of　belief　but　full　of　habit。
　〃By　the　by…what's　the　Leper　Colony？〃　asked　Vorkosigan　curiously。
　〃You　never　heard　that？　Well…maybe　I　can　see　why　not。　Did　you　never　wonder　why　you　received　such　a　remarkable　percentage　of　screw…ups；　incorrigibles；　and　near…discharges　among　your　crew？〃
　〃I　hadn't　expected　to　get　the　cream　of　the　Service。〃
　〃They　used　to　call　it　Vorkosigan's　Leper　Colony；　at　headquarters。〃
　〃With　myself　as　leper…in…chief；　eh？〃　Vorkosigan　seemed　more　amused　than　offended。　〃Well；　if　they　were　the　worst　the　Service　has　to　offer；　perhaps　we　shall　not　do　so　badly　after　all。　Take　care　of　yourself。　I　don't　fancy　being　his　second…in…mand。〃
　Vorhalas　chuckled；　and　they　shook　hands。　He　started　for　the　door；　then　paused。　〃Do　you　think　they'll　counterattack？〃
　〃My　God；　of　course　they'll　counterattack。　This　isn't　some　trade　outpost。　These　people　are　fighting　for　their　homes。〃
　〃When？〃
　Vorkosigan　hesitated。　〃Sometime　after　you've　started　disembarking　ground　troops；　but　well　before　it's　pleted。　Wouldn't　you？　Worst　time　to　have　to　start　a　retreat。　Shuttles　not　knowing　whether　to　go　up　or　down；　their　mother　ships　scattering　to　hell　and　gone　under　fire；　supplies　needed　not　landed；　supplies　landed　not　needed；　the　chain　of　mand　disrupted…an　inexperienced　mander　in　absolute　control。。。〃
　〃You　give　me　the　shivers。〃
　〃Yes；　well…try　to　hold　the　start　for　as　long　as　possible。　And　make　sure　your　troopship　manders　have　their　contingency　orders　crystal　clear。〃
　〃The　Prince