lmb.shardsofhonor-第22部分

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　Sergeant　Bothari　meanwhile　had　sat　on　the　floor；　curled　up　with　his　head　resting　on　his　knees；　talking　under　his　breath。　She　knelt　beside　him。　Was　he　starting　to　hallucinate？　She　had　to　get　him　to　his　feet；　and　out　of　here。　They　could　not　count　on　being　undiscovered　much　longer。　Yet　where　could　they　hide？　Or　was　it　adrenaline；　not　reason；　that　demanded　flight？　Was　there　a　better　option？
　As　she　hesitated；　the　door　slammed　suddenly　open。　She　cried　out　for　the　first　time。　But　the　man　standing　white…faced　in　the　aperture　with　the　plasma　arc　in　his　hand　was　Vorkosigan。
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　She　sighed　shakily　at　the　sight　of　him；　and　the　paralyzing　panic　streamed　out　of　her　in　that　long　breath。　〃My　God；　you　almost　gave　me　heart　failure；〃　she　managed　in　a　small　tight　voice。　〃e　in；　and　close　the　door。〃
　His　lips　moved　silently　around　the　shape　of　her　name；　and　he　entered；　a　sudden　panic　in　his　face　almost　matching　her　own。　Then　she　saw　he　was　followed　by　another　officer；　a　lieutenant　with　brown　hair　and　a　bland　puppy　face。　So　she　did　not　fling　herself　upon　him　and　shriek　into　his　shoulder；　as　she　passionately　wished；　but　said　instead　cautiously；　〃There's　been　an　accident。〃
　〃Close　the　door；　Illyan；〃　said　Vorkosigan　to　the　lieutenant。　His　features　became　tightly　controlled　as　the　young　man　came　even　with　him。　〃You're　going　to　have　to　witness　this　with　the　greatest　attention。〃
　His　lips　pressed　to　a　white　slit；　Vorkosigan　walked　slowly　around　the　room；　noting　the　details；　some　of　which　he　pointed　out　silently　to　his　panion。　The　lieutenant　said；　〃Er；　ah；〃　at　the　first　gesture；　which　was　with　the　plasma　arc。　Vorkosigan　stopped　before　the　body；　looked　at　the　weapon　in　his　hand　as　though　seeing　it　for　the　first　time；　and　put　it　in　its　holster。
　〃Been　reading　the　Marquis　again；　have　you？〃　he　addressed　the　corpse　with　a　sigh。　He　turned　it　over　with　the　toe　of　his　boot；　and　a　little　more　blood　ran　out　of　the　meaty　slice　in　its　neck。　〃A　little　learning　is　a　dangerous　thing。〃　He　glanced　up　at　Cordelia。　〃Which　of　you　should　I　congratulate？〃
　She　moistened　her　lips。　〃I'm　not　sure。　How　annoyed　is　everyone　going　to　be　about　this？〃
　The　lieutenant　was　going　through　Vorrutyer's　drawers　and　cupboards　also；　using　a　handkerchief　to　open　them；　and　from　his　expression　finding　that　his　cosmopolitan　education　was　not　so　plete　as　he　had　supposed。　He　remained　staring　for　a　long　time　into　the　drawer　that　Cordelia　had　shut　so　hastily。
　〃The　Emperor；　for　one；　will　be　delighted；〃　said　Vorkosigan。　〃But…strictly　in　private。〃
　〃In　fact；　I　was　tied　up　at　the　time。　Sergeant　Bothari；　uh；　did　the　honors。〃
　Vorkosigan　glanced　at　Bothari；　still　sitting　curled　up　on　the　floor。　〃Hm。〃　He　gazed　around　the　room　one　last　time。　〃There's　something　about　this　that　reminds　me　forcibly　of　that　remarkable　scene　when　we　broke　into　my　engine　room。　It　has　your　personal　signature。　My　grandmother　had　a　phrase　for　it…something　about　late；　and　a　dollar。。。〃
　〃A　day　late　and　a　dollar　short？〃　suggested　Cordelia　involuntarily。
　〃Yes；　that　was　it。〃　He　bit　an　ironic　twist　from　his　lips。　〃A　very　Betan　remark…I　begin　to　see　why。〃　His　face　maintained　a　mask　of　cool　neutrality；　but　his　eyes　searched　her　in　secret　agony。　〃Was　I；　ah；　short？〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　she　reassured　him。　〃You're；　um；　very　timely。　I　was　just　dithering　around　in　a　panic；　wondering　what　to　do　next。〃
　He　was　facing　away　from　Illyan；　and　a　quickly　suppressed　grin　crinkled　his　eyes　briefly。　〃It　seems　I　am　rescuing　my　fleet　from　you；　then；〃　he　murmured　between　his　teeth。　〃Not　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind　when　I　came　up　here；　but　I'm　glad　to　rescue　something。〃　He　raised　his　voice。　〃As　soon　as　you're　done；　Illyan；　I　suggest　we　adjourn　to　my　cabin　for　further　discussion。〃
　Vorkosigan　knelt　by　Bothari；　studying　him。　〃That　bloody　bastard　has　about　ruined　him　again；〃　he　growled。　〃He　was　almost　well；　after　his　time　with　me。　Sergeant　Bothari；〃　he　said　more　gently；　〃can　you　walk　a　little　way　with　me？〃
　Bothari　muttered　something　unintelligible　into　his　knees。
　〃e　here；　Cordelia；〃　said　Vorkosigan。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　heard　her　first　name　in　his　mouth。　〃See　if　you　can　get　him　up。　I　don't　think　I'd　better　touch　him；　just　now。〃
　She　got　down　into　the　line　of　his　sight。　〃Bothari。　Bothari；　look　at　me。　You've　got　to　get　up；　and　walk　a　little　way。〃　She　took　his　blood…coated　hand；　and　tried　to　think　of　a　line　of　reason；　or　more　likely　unreason；　that　might　reach　him。　She　tried　a　smile。　〃Look。　See？　You're　washed　in　blood。　Blood　washes　away　sin；　right？　You're　going　to　be　all　right　now。　Uh；　the　bad　man　is　gone；　and　in　a　little　while　the　bad　voices　will　go　away　too。　So　you　e　along　with　me；　and　I'll　take　you　where　you　can　rest。〃
　During　this　speech　he　gradually　focused　on　her；　and　at　the　end　he　nodded；　and　stood。　Still　holding　his　hand；　she　followed　Vorkosigan　out；　Illyan　bringing　up　the　rear。　She　hoped　her　psychological　band…aid　would　hold；　an　alarm　of　any　sort　might　touch　him　off　like　a　bomb。
　She　was　astonished　when　Vorkosigan's　cabin　proved　to　be　just　one　door　down；　across　the　corridor。
　〃Are　you　captain　of　this　ship？〃　she　asked。　His　collar　tabs；　now　that　she　got　a　better　look　at　them；　proclaimed　him　a　modore　now。　〃Were　you　here　all　the　time？〃
　〃No；　I'm　on　the　Staff。　My　courier　just　got　in　from　the　front　a　few　hours　ago。　I've　been　in　conference　with　Admiral　Vorhalas　and　the　Prince　ever　since。　It　just　broke　up。　I　came　up　straight　away　when　the　guard　told　me　about　Vorrutyer's　new　prisoner。　You…in　my　foulest　nightmare；　I　never　dreamed　it　might　be　you。〃
　Vorkosigan's　cabin　seemed　tranquil　as　a　monk's　cell　pared　to　the　carnage　they　had　left　across　the　hall。　Everything　regulation；　a　proper　soldier's　room。　Vorkosigan　locked　the　door　behind　them。　He　rubbed　his　face　and　sighed；　drinking　her　in。　〃Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃
　〃Just　shaken　up。　I　knew　I　was　running　risks；　when　I　was　selected；　but　I　wasn't　expecting　anything　quite　like　that　man。　He　was　a　classic。　I'm　surprised　you　served　him。〃
　His　face　became　shuttered。　〃I　serve　the　Emperor。〃
　She　became　conscious　of　Illyan；　standing　silent　and　watchful。　What　would　she　say　if　Vorkosigan　asked　her　about　the　convoy？　He　was　a　greater　danger　to　her　duty　than　torture。　She　had　begun　to　think；　in　the　past　months；　that　their　separation　must　eventually　diminish　her　heart…hunger　for　him；　but　seeing　him　live　and　intense　before　her　made　it　ravenous。　No　telling　what　he　felt；　though。　Right　now　he　looked　tired；　uncertain；　and　strained。　Wrong；　all　wrong。。。
　〃Ah；　permit　me　to　introduce　Lieutenant　Simon　Illyan；　of　the　Emperors　personal　security　staff。　He's　my　spy。　Lieutenant　Illyan；　mander　Naismith。〃
　〃It's　Captain　Naismith　now；〃　she　put　in　automatically。　The　lieutenant　shook　her　hand　with　a　bland　calm　innocence　wholly　at　odds　with　the　bizarre　scene　they　had　just　left。　He　might　have　been　at　an　embassy　reception。　Her　touch　left　a　streak　of　blood　on　his　palm。　〃Who　do　you　spy　on？〃
　〃I　prefer　the　term；　'surveillance；'　〃　he　said。
　〃Bureaucratic　weaselwording；〃　put　in　Vorkosigan。　He　added　to　Cordelia；　〃The　lieutenant　spies　on　me。　He　represents　a　promise　between　the　Emperor；　the　Ministry　of　Political　Education；　and　myself。〃
　'The　phrase　the　Emperor　used；〃　said　Illyan　distantly；　〃was　'cease…fire。'　〃
　〃Yes。　Lieutenant　Illyan　also　has　an　eidetic　memory　biochip。　You　may　think　of　him　as　a　recording　device　with　legs；　which　the　Emperor　may　play　back　at　will。〃
　Cordelia　stared　covertly　at　him。　〃It's　too　bad　we　couldn't　meet　again　under　more　auspicious　circumstances；〃　she　said　carefully　to　Vorkosigan。
　〃There　are　no　auspicious　circumstances　here。〃
　Lieutenant　Illyan　cleared　his　throat；　glancing　at　Bothari；　who　stood　twining　and　untwining　his　fingers　and　staring　at　the　wall。　〃What　now；　sir？〃
　〃Hm。　There　is　entirely　too　much　physical　evidence　in　that　room；　not　to　mention　witnesses　as　to　who　went　in　and　when；　to　attempt　to　monkey　with　the　scenario。　Personally；　I　should　prefer　for　Bothari　not　to　have　been　there　at　all。　The　fact　that　he　is　clearly　non　pos　mentis　will　carry　no　weight　with　the　Prince　when　he　gets　wind　of　this。〃　He　stood；　thinking　furiously。　〃You　will　simply　have　to　have　escaped；　before　Illyan　and　I　arrived　on　the　scene。　I　don't　know　how　long　it　will　be　possible　to　hide　Bothari　in　here…maybe　I　can　get　some　sedatives　for　him。〃　His　eye　fell　on　Illyan。　〃How　about　the　Emperor's　staff　agent　in　the　medical　section？〃
　Illyan　looked　nonmittal。　〃It's　possible　something　might　be　arranged。〃
　〃Good　man。〃　He　turned　to　Cordelia。　〃You're　going　to　have　to　stay　in　here　and　keep　Bothari　under　control。　Illyan　and　I　must　go　at　once；　or　there　will　be　too　many　unaccounted　minutes　between　the　time　we　left　Vorhalas　and　the　time　we　sound　the　alarm。　The　Prince's　security　men　will　be　going　over　that　room　thoroughly；　and　everyone's　movements　as　well。〃
　〃Were　Vorrutyer　and　the　Prince　in　the　same　party？〃　she　asked；　feeling　for　footing　in　the　riptides　of　Barrayaran　politics。
　Vorkosigan　smiled　bitterly。　〃They　were　just　good　friends。〃
　And　he　was　gone；　leaving　her　alone　with　Bothari　and　utter　confusion。
　
　She　had　Bothari　sit　down　in　Vorkosigan's　desk　chair；　where　he　fidgeted　silently　and　incessantly。　She　sat　cross…legged　on　the　bed；　trying　to　radiate　an　air　of　calm　control　and　good　cheer。　Not　easy；　from　a　spirit　filled　with　panic　frenzied　for　expression。
　Bothari　stood　and　began　to　pace　about　the　room；　talking　to　himself。　No；　not　to　himself；　she　realized。　And　most　certainly　not　to　her。　The　choppy　whispered　flow　of　words　made　no　sense　to　her　at　all。　Time　flowed　by　slowly；　viscous　with　fear。
　Both　she　and　Bothari　jumped　when　the　door　clicked　open；　but　it　was　only　Illyan。　Bothari　fell　into　a　knife…fighter's　crouch　as　he　slipped　in。
　〃Servants　of　the　beast　are　the　beast's　hands；〃　he　said。　〃He　feeds　them　on　the　wife's　blood。　Bad　servants。〃
　Illyan　eyed　him　nervously；　and　pressed　some　ampules　into　her　hand。　〃Here。　You　give　it　to　him。　One　of　these　would　knock　out　a　charging　elephant。　Can't　stay。〃　He　slipped　back　out　again。
　〃Coward；〃　she　muttered　after　him。　But　he　was　probably　right。　She　might　well　have　a　better　chance　than　he　of　getting　it　into　the　Sergeant。　Bothari's　agitation　was　approaching　an　explosive　level。
　She　set　the　bulk　of　the　ampules　aside；　and　approached　him　with　a　sunny　s