lmb.shardsofhonor-第39部分

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　out　of　tune。
　As　they　approached　Vorbarr　Sultana　from　the　south；　the　hill　country　flattened　out　into　a　fertile　plain；　and　the　population　grew　more　concentrated。　The　city　straddled　a　broad　silver　river；　with　the　oldest　government　buildings；　ancient　converted　fortresses　most　of　them；　hugging　the　bluffs　and　high　points　manding　the　river's　edge。　The　modern　city　spilled　back　from　them　to　the　north　and　south。
　The　newer　government　offices；　efficient　blocky　monoliths；　were　concentrated　between。　They　passed　through　this　plex；　making　for　one　of　the　city's　famous　bridges　to　cross　the　river　to　the　north。
　〃My　God；　what　happened　there？〃　asked　Cordelia；　as　they　passed　one　whole　block　of　burnt…out　buildings；　blackened　and　skeletal。
　Vorkosigan　smiled　sourly。　〃That　was　the　Ministry　of　Political　Education；　before　the　riots　two　months　ago。〃
　〃I　heard　a　little　about　those；　at　Escobar；　on　my　way　here。　I　had　no　idea　they　were　so　extensive。〃
　〃They　weren't；　really。　Quite　carefully　orchestrated。　Personally；　I　thought　it　was　a　damn　dangerous　way　to　get　the　job　done。　Although　I　suppose　it　was　a　step　up　in　subtlety　from　Yuri　Vorbarra's　Defenestration　of　the　Privy　Council。　A　generation　of　progress；　of　sorts。。。　I　didn't　think　Ezar　was　going　to　get　that　genie　back　in　the　bottle；　but　he　seems　to　have　managed　it。　As　soon　as　Grishnov　was　killed　all　the　troops　they'd　called　for；　which　for　some　reason　all　seemed　to　have　been　diverted　to　guard　the　Imperial　Residence…〃　he　snorted；　〃turned　up　and　cleared　the　streets；　and　the　riot　just　melted　away；　except　for　a　few　fanatics；　and　some　wounded　spirits　who'd　lost　kin　at　Escobar。　That　got　ugly；　but　it　was　suppressed　in　the　news。〃
　They　crossed　the　river　and　came　at　length　to　the　large　and　famous　hospital；　almost　a　city　within　a　city；　spread　out　in　its　walled　park。　They　found　Ensign　Koudelka　alone　in　his　room；　lying　glumly　on　his　bed　in　the　green　uniform　pajamas。　Cordelia　thought　at　first　that　he　waved　to　them；　but　abandoned　the　idea　as　his　left　arm　continued　to　move　up　and　down　from　the　elbow　in　slow　rhythm。
　He　did　sit　up　and　smile　as　his　ex…mander　entered；　and　exchange　nods　with　Bothari。　The　smile　broadened　to　a　grin　as　he　saw　her　in　Vorkosigan's　wake。　His　face　was　much　older　than　it　used　to　be。
　〃Captain　Naismith；　ma'am！　Lady　Vorkosigan；　I　should　say。　I　never　thought　I'd　see　you　again。〃
　〃I　thought　the　same。　Glad　to　be　mistaken；〃　she　smiled　back。
　〃And　congratulations；　sir。　Thanks　for　sending　the　note。　I　sort　of　missed　you　the　past　few　weeks；　but…I　can　see　you　had　better　things　to　do。〃　His　grin　made　this　ment　stingless。
　〃Thank　you；　Ensign。　Ah…what　happened　to　your　arm？〃
　Koudelka　grimaced。　〃I　had　a　fall　this　morning。　Something's　shorted　out。　Doc　should　be　ing　around　to　fix　it　in　a　few　minutes。　It　could　have　been　worse。〃
　The　skin　on　his　arms；　Cordelia　noted；　was　covered　with　a　network　of　fine　red　scars；　marking　the　lines　of　the　prosthetic　nerve　implants。
　〃You're　walking；　then。　That's　good　to　hear；〃　Vorkosigan　encouraged。
　〃Yeah；　sort　of。〃　He　brightened。　〃And　at　least　they've　got　my　guts　under　control　now。　I　don't　care　that　I　can't　feel　anything　from　that　department；　now　that　I've　finally　got　rid　of　that　damned　colostomy。〃
　〃Are　you　in　very　much　pain？〃　asked　Cordelia　diffidently。
　〃Not　much；〃　Koudelka　tossed　off。　She　felt　he　was　lying。　〃…but　the　worst　part；　besides　being　so　clumsy　and　out…of…balance；　are　the　sensations。　Not　pain；　but　weird　things。　False　intelligence　reports。　Like　tasting　colors　with　your　left　foot；　or　feeling　things　that　aren't　there；　like　bugs　crawling　all　over　you；　or　not　feeling　things　that　are　there；　like　heat。。。〃　His　gaze　fell　on　his　bandaged　right　ankle。
　A　doctor　entered；　and　conversation　stopped　while　Koudelka　removed　his　shirt。　The　doctor　attached　a　'scope　to　his　shoulder；　and　went　fishing　for　the　short　circuit　with　a　delicate　surgical　hand　tractor。　Koudelka　went　pale　and　stared　fixedly　at　his　knees；　but　at　last　the　arm　stopped　its　slow　oscillation　and　lay　limply　at　his　side。
　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　going　to　have　to　leave　it　out　of　mission　for　the　rest　of　the　day；〃　apologized　the　doctor。　〃We'll　get　it　tomorrow　when　you　go　in　for　the　work　on　that　adductor　group　on　your　right　leg。〃
　〃Yeah；　yeah。〃　Koudelka　waved　him　away　with　his　working　right　hand；　and　he　gathered　his　tools　and　moved　on。
　〃I　know　it　must　seem　to　you　to　be　taking　forever；〃　said　Vorkosigan；　looking　at　Koudelka's　frustrated　face；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　every　time　I　e　in　here　you've　made　more　progress。　You　are　going　to　get　out　of　here；〃　he　said　confidently。
　〃Yeah；　the　surgeon　says　they're　going　to　kick　me　out　in　about　two　months。〃　He　smiled。　〃But　they　say　I'll　never　be　fit　for　bat　again。〃　The　smile　slid　away；　and　his　face　crumpled。　〃Oh；　sir！　They're　going　to　discharge　me！　All　this　endless　hacking　around　for　nothing！〃　He　turned　his　face　away　from　them；　rigid　and　embarrassed；　until　his　features　were　under　control　again。
　Vorkosigan　too　looked　away；　not　inflicting　his　sympathy；　until　the　ensign　looked　back　again　with　his　smile　carefully　re…attached。　〃I　can　see　why；〃　Koudelka　said　brightly；　nodding　to　the　silent　Bothari　propping　up　the　wall　and　apparently　content　just　to　listen。　〃A　few　good　body　blows　like　the　ones　you　used　to　give　me　in　the　practice　ring；　and　I'd　be　flopping　around　like　a　fish。　Not　a　good　example　to　set　my　men。　I　guess　I'll　just　have　to　find…some　kind　of　desk　work。〃　He　glanced　at　Cordelia。　〃Whatever　happened　to　your　ensign；　the　one　that　got　hit　in　the　head？〃
　〃The　last　time　I　saw　him；　after　Escobar…I　visited　him　just　two　days　before　I　left　home；　I　guess。　He's　the　same。　He　did　get　out　of　the　hospital。　His　mother　quit　her　job；　and　stays　home　to　take　care　of　him；　now。〃
　Koudelka's　eyes　fell；　and　Cordelia　was　wrenched　by　the　shame　in　his　face。　〃And　I　bitch　my　head　off　about　a　few　twitches。　Sorry。〃
　She　shook　her　head；　not　trusting　herself　to　speak。
　Later；　alone　with　Vorkosigan　in　the　corridor　a　moment；　Cordelia　leaned　her　head　against　his　shoulder；　and　was　taken　in　his　arms。　〃I　can　see　why　you　started　drinking　after　breakfast；　on　the　days　after　this。　I　could　use　a　stiff　one　myself；　just　now。〃
　〃I'll　take　you　to　lunch　after　the　next　stop；　and　we　can　all　have　one；〃　he　promised。
　The　research　wing　was　their　next　destination。　The　military　doctor　in　charge　greeted　Vorkosigan　cordially；　and　only　looked　a　little　blank　when　Cordelia　was　introduced；　without　explanation；　as　Lady　Vorkosigan。
　〃I　hadn't　realized　you　were　married；　sir。〃
　〃Recently。〃
　〃Oh？　Congratulations。　I'm　glad　you　decided　to　e　see　one　of　these；　sir；　before　they're　all　done。　It's　really　almost　the　most　interesting　part。　Would　Milady　wish　to　wait　here　while　we　take　care　of　this　little　business？〃　He　looked　embarrassed。
　〃Lady　Vorkosigan　has　been　fully　briefed。〃
　〃Besides；〃　added　Cordelia　brightly；　〃I　have　a　personal　interest。〃
　The　doctor　looked　puzzled；　but　led　on　to　the　monitoring　room。　Cordelia　stared　doubtfully　at　the　half　dozen　remaining　canisters　lined　up　in　a　row。　The　technician　on　duty　joined　them　trundling　some　equipment　obviously　borrowed　from　some　other　hospital's　obstetrics　department。
　〃Good　morning；　sir；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　〃Going　to　watch　us　hatch　this　chick　today？〃
　〃I　wish　you'd　find　some　other　term　for　it；〃　said　the　doctor。
　〃Yes；　but　you　can't　call　it　being　born；〃　he　pointed　out　reasonably。　〃Technically；　they've　all　been　born　once　already。　You　tell　me　what　it　is；　then。〃
　〃They　call　it　cracking　the　bottle　at　home；〃　suggested　Cordelia　helpfully；　watching　the　preparations　with　interest。
　The　technician；　laying　out　measuring　devices　and　placing　a　bassinet　under　a　warming　light；　shot　her　a　look　of　great　curiosity。　〃You're　Betan；　aren't　you；　Milady？　My　wife　caught　the　Admiral's　marriage　announcement　in　the　news；　way　down　in　the　fine　print。　I　never　read　the　vital　statistics　section；　myself。〃
　The　doctor　looked　up；　startled；　then　returned　to　his　checklist。　Bothari　pretended　to　lean　against　the　wall；　eyes　half　closed；　concealing　his　sharp　attention。　The　doctor　and　the　technician　finished　their　preparations　and　motioned　them　closer。
　〃Got　the　soup　ready；　sir？〃　muttered　the　technician　to　the　doctor。
　〃Right　here。　Inject　into　feed　line　C。。。〃　The　correct　hormone　mixture　was　inserted　into　the　right　aperture；　the　doctor　rechecking　the　instruction　disk　on　his　monitor　repeatedly。
　〃Five　minute　wait；　mark…now。〃　The　doctor　turned　to　Vorkosigan。　〃Fantastic　machine；　sir。　Have　you　heard　any　more　about　getting　funding　and　engineering　personnel　to　try　and　duplicate　them？〃
　〃No；〃　replied　Vorkosigan。　〃I'm　out　of　this　project　officially　as　soon　as　the　last　live　child　is…released；　finished；　whatever　you　call　it。　You're　going　to　have　to　work　on　your　own　regular　superiors　for　it；　and　you'll　have　to　think　up　a　military　application　to　justify　it；　or　at　least　something　that　sounds　like　one；　to　camouflage　it。〃
　The　doctor　smiled　thoughtfully。　〃It's　worth　pursuing；　I　think。　It　might　be　a　nice　change　from　thinking　up　novel　ways　of　killing　people。〃
　〃Time　mark；　sir；〃　said　the　technician；　and　he　turned　back　to　the　current　project。
　〃Placental　separation　looks　good…tightening　up　just　like　it's　supposed　to。　You　know；　the　more　I　study　this；　the　more　impressed　I　am　with　the　surgeons　who　did　the　sections　on　the　mothers。　We've　got　to　get　more　medical　students　off　planet；　somehow。　Getting　those　placentas　out　undamaged　must　be　the　most…there。　There。　And　there。　Break　seal。〃　He　pleted　the　adjustments　and　lifted　the　top。　〃Cut　the　membrane…and　out　she　es。　Suction；　quickly；　please。〃
　Cordelia　realized　that　Bothari；　still　pinned　to　the　wall；　was　holding　his　breath。
　The　wet　and　squirming　infant　took　a　breath　and　coughed　as　the　cold　air　hit　her。　Bothari　breathed　too。　She　looked　rather　pretty　to　Cordelia；　unbloodied；　and　much　less　red　and　squashed…looking　than　the　vids　of　vivo　newborns　she　had　seen。　The　infant　cried；　loud　and　strong。　Vorkosigan　jumped；　and　Cordelia　laughed　out　loud。
　〃Why；　she　looks　quite　perfect。〃　Cordelia　hovered　at　the　shoulders　of　the　two　medical　men；　who　were　making　their　measurements　and　taking　their　samples　from　their　tiny；　astonished；　bewildered　and　blinking　charge。
　〃Why　is　she　crying　so　loudly？〃　asked　Vorkosigan　nervously；　like　Bothari　still　in　his　original　spot。
　Because　she　knows　she