lmb.shardsofhonor-第4部分

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t　botanical　specimen　box　as　a　makeshift　bucket。　It　was　near　midnight　before　he　called　from　the　dark　pit；　〃That　should　be　the　last；〃　and　clambered　out。　〃Could　have　done　that　in　five　seconds　with　a　plasma　arc；〃　he　panted；　recovering　his　wind。　He　was　dirty　and　sweating　in　the　cold　night　air。　Tendrils　of　fog　writhed　up　from　the　ravine　and　the　spring。
　Together　they　dragged　Rosemont's　body　to　the　lip　of　the　grave。　Vorkosigan　hesitated。
　〃Do　you　want　his　clothes　for　your　ensign？〃
　It　was　an　unavoidably　practical　suggestion。　Cordelia　loathed　the　indignity　of　lowering　Rosemont　naked　into　the　earth；　but　wished　at　the　same　time　she　had　thought　of　it　earlier；　when　Dubauer　was　so　cold。　She　horsed　the　uniform　off　over　the　stiffened　limbs　with　the　macabre　sensation　of　undressing　a　giant　doll；　and　they　tipped　him　into　the　grave。　He　landed　on　his　back　with　a　muffled　thump。
　〃Just　a　minute。〃　She　dug　out　Rosemont's　handkerchief　from　his　uniform　pocket　and　jumped　down　into　the　grave；　slipping　on　the　body。　She　spread　the　handkerchief　over　his　face。　It　was　a　small；　reality…defying　gesture；　but　she　felt　better　for　it。　Vorkosigan　grasped　her　hand　and　pulled　her　up。
　〃All　right。〃　They　shoveled　and　pushed　the　dirt　back　into　the　hole　far　more　quickly　than　it　had　been　excavated；　and　packed　it　down　as　best　they　could　by　walking　on　it。
　〃Is　there　some　ceremony　you　wish　to　perform？〃　Vorkosigan　asked。
　Cordelia　shook　her　head；　not　feeling　up　to　reciting　the　vague；　official　funeral　service。　But　she　knelt　by　the　grave　for　a　few　minutes　making　a　more　serious；　less　certain　inward　prayer　for　her　dead。　It　seemed　to　fly　upward　and　vanish　in　the　void；　echoless　as　a　feather。
　Vorkosigan　waited　patiently　until　she　arose。　〃It's　rather　late；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　have　just　seen　three　good　reasons　not　to　go　stumbling　around　in　the　dark。　We　may　as　well　rest　here　until　dawn。　I'll　take　the　first　watch。　Do　you　still　want　to　bash　my　head　in　with　a　rock？〃
　〃Not　at　the　moment；〃　she　said　sincerely。
　〃Very　well。　I'll　wake　you　later。〃
　Vorkosigan　began　his　watch　with　a　patrol　of　the　perimeter　of　the　glade；　taking　the　cold　light　with　him。　It　wavered　through　the　black　distance　like　a　captive　firefly。　Cordelia　lay　down　on　her　back　beside　Dubauer。　The　stars　glimmered　faintly　through　the　gathering　mist。　Could　one　be　her　ship　yet；　or　Vorkosigan's？　Not　likely；　at　the　range　they　undoubtedly　were　by　now。
　She　felt　hollow。　Energy；　will；　desire；　slipped　through　her　fingers　like　shining　liquid；　sucked　away　through　some　infinite　sand。　She　glanced　at　Dubauer　beside　her；　and　jerked　her　mind　from　the　easy　vortex　of　despair。　I'm　still　a　mander；　she　told　herself　sharply；　I　have　a　mand。　You　serve　me　still；　ensign；　although　you　cannot　now　serve　even　yourself。。。
　The　thought　seemed　a　thread　to　some　great　insight；　but　it　melted　in　her　grasp；　and　she　slept。
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　They　divided　the　meager　spoils　from　the　camp　in　makeshift　backpacks　and　started　down　the　mountain　in　the　grey　mist　of　morning。　Cordelia　led　Dubauer　by　the　hand　and　helped　him　when　he　stumbled。　She　was　not　sure　how　clearly　he　recognized　her；　but　he　clung　to　her　and　avoided　Vorkosigan。
　The　forest　grew　thicker　and　the　trees　taller　as　they　went　down。　Vorkosigan　hacked　through　the　undergrowth　with　his　knife　for　a　while；　then　they　took　to　the　stream　bed。　Splashes　of　sunlight　began　to　filter　through　the　canopy；　picking　out　fiery　green　velvet　humps　of　moss；　sparkling　rills　of　water；　and　stones　on　the　stream　bed　like　a　layer　of　bronze　coins。
　Radial　symmetry　was　popular　among　the　tiny　creatures　occupying　the　ecological　niches　held　by　insects　on　Earth。　Some　aerial　varieties　like　gas…filled　jellyfishes　floated　in　iridescent　clouds　above　the　stream　like　flocks　of　delicate　soap　bubbles；　delighting　Cordelia's　eye。　They　seemed　to　have　a　mellowing　effect　on　Vorkosigan；　too；　for　he　called　for　a　break　from　what　seemed　to　her　a　killing　pace。
　They　drank　from　the　stream　and　sat　a　while　watching　the　little　radials　dart　and　puff　in　the　spray　from　a　waterfall。　Vorkosigan　closed　his　eyes　and　leaned　against　a　tree。　He　was　running　on　the　ragged　edge　of　exhaustion　too；　Cordelia　realized。　Temporarily　unwatched；　she　studied　him　curiously。　He　had　behaved　throughout　with　curt　but　dignified　military　professionalism。　Still　she　was　bothered　by　a　subliminal　alarm；　a　persistent　sense　of　something　of　importance　forgotten。　It　popped　out　of　her　memory　suddenly；　like　a　ball　held　underwater　breaking　the　surface　on　release　and　arcing　into　the　air。
　〃I　know　who　you　are。　Vorkosigan；　the　Butcher　of　Komarr。〃　She　immediately　wished　she　had　not　spoken；　for　he　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　at　her；　a　peculiar　play　of　expressions　passing　across　his　face。
　〃What　do　you　know　about　Komarr？〃　His　tone　added；　An　ignorant　Betan。
　〃Just　what　everyone　knows。　It　was　a　worthless　ball　of　rock　your　people　annexed　by　military　force　for　mand　of　its　wormhole　clusters。　The　ruling　senate　surrendered　on　terms；　and　were　murdered　immediately　after。　You　manded　the　expedition；　or。。。〃　Surely　the　Vorkosigan　of　Komarr　had　been　an　admiral。　〃Was　it　you？　I　thought　you　said　you　didn't　kill　prisoners。〃
　〃It　was。〃
　〃Did　they　demote　you　for　it？〃　she　asked；　surprised。　She　had　thought　that　sort　of　conduct　to　be　Barrayaran　standard。
　〃Not　for　that。　For　the　sequel。〃　He　seemed　reluctant　to　say　more；　but　he　surprised　her　again　by　going　on。　〃The　sequel　was　more　effectively　suppressed。　I　had　given　my　word…my　word；　as　Vorkosigan…they　were　to　be　spared。　My　Political　Officer　countermanded　my　order；　and　had　them　killed　behind　my　back。　I　executed　him　for　it。〃
　〃Good　God。〃
　〃I　broke　his　neck　with　my　own　hands；　on　the　bridge　of　my　ship。　It　was　a　personal　matter；　you　see；　touching　my　honor。　I　couldn't　order　a　firing　squad…they　were　all　afraid　of　the　Ministry　of　Political　Education。〃
　That　was　the　official　euphemism　for　the　secret　police；　Cordelia　recalled；　of　which　Political　Officers　were　the　military　branch。　〃And　you　aren't？〃
　〃They're　afraid　of　me。〃　He　smiled　sourly。　〃Like　those　scavengers　last　night；　they'll　run　from　a　bold　attack。　But　one　must　not　turn　one's　back。〃
　〃I'm　surprised　they　didn't　have　you　hanged。〃
　〃There　was　a　great　uproar；　behind　closed　doors；〃　he　admitted　reminiscently；　fingering　his　collar　tabs。　〃But　a　Vorkosigan　can't　be　made　to　disappear　in　the　night；　not　yet。　I　did　make　some　powerful　enemies。〃
　〃I'll　bet。〃　This　bald　story；　told　without　adornment　or　apology；　had　the　ring　of　truth　to　her　inner　ear；　although　she　had　no　logical　reason　to　trust　him。　〃Did　you；　uh；　happen　to　turn　your　back　on　one　of　those　enemies　yesterday？〃
　He　glanced　at　her　sharply。　〃Possibly；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃There　are　some　problems　with　that　theory；　however。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃I'm　still　alive。　I　wouldn't　have　thought　they'd　risk　starting　the　job　without　finishing　it。　To　be　sure；　they'd　be　tempted　by　the　opportunity　to　blame　my　death　on　you　Betans。〃
　〃Whew。　And　I　thought　I　had　mand　troubles　just　keeping　a　bunch　of　Betan　intellectual　prima　donnas　working　together　for　months　on　end。　God　keep　me　from　politics。〃
　Vorkosigan　smiled　slightly。　〃From　what　I've　heard　of　Betans；　that's　no　easy　task　either。　I　don't　think　I　should　care　to　trade　mands。　It　would　irritate　me　to　have　every　order　argued　over。〃
　〃They　don't　argue　every　order。〃　She　grinned；　as　his　crack　ferreted　up　some　particular　memories。　〃You　learn　how　to　coax　them　along。〃
　〃Where　do　you　suppose　your　ship　is　now？〃
　Wariness　dropped　across　her　amusement　like　a　portcullis。　〃I　suppose　that　depends　on　where　your　ship　is。〃
　Vorkosigan　shrugged　and　stood；　hitching　his　pack　more　securely　to　his　shoulders。　〃Then　perhaps　we　should　waste　no　more　time　finding　out。〃　He　gave　her　a　hand　to　pull　her　up；　the　soldier…mask　repossessing　his　features。
　It　took　all　the　long　day　to　descend　the　great　mountain　to　the　red…soiled　plains。　A　closer　view　found　them　cut　and　channeled　by　watercourses　running　turbid　from　the　recent　rains；　and　confused　by　outcrops　of　rocky　badlands。　They　caught　glimpses　of　groups　of　hexapedal　grazers。　Cordelia　deduced　from　their　wary　herd　behavior　that　associated　predators　must　lurk　nearby。
　Vorkosigan　would　have　pushed　on；　but　Dubauer　was　seized　by　a　serious　and　prolonged　convulsion　followed　by　lethargy　and　sleepiness。　Cordelia　insisted　adamantly　on　a　halt　for　the　night。　They　made　camp；　if　one　could　so　describe　stopping　and　sitting　down；　in　an　open　gap　in　the　trees　perhaps　three　hundred　meters　above　the　levels。　They　shared　their　simple　supper　of　oatmeal　and　blue　cheese　dressing　in　a　beaten…down　silence。　Vorkosigan　cracked　another　cold　light　as　the　last　colors　of　a　gaudy　sunset　drained　from　the　sky；　and　seated　himself　on　a　large　flat　boulder。　Cordelia　lay　down　and　watched　the　Barrayaran　watching　until　sleep　relieved　her　of　her　aching　legs　and　head。
　He　woke　her　past　the　middle　of　the　night。　Her　muscles　seemed　to　screech　and　creak　as　she　rose　stiffly　to　take　her　watch。　This　time　Vorkosigan　gave　her　the　stunner。
　〃I　haven't　seen　anything　close；〃　he　mented；　〃but　something　out　there　makes　a　hellish　racket　from　time　to　time。〃　It　seemed　an　adequate　explanation　for　the　gesture　of　trust。
　She　checked　Dubauer；　then　took　her　place　on　the　boulder；　leaning　back　and　staring　up　at　the　dark　bulk　of　the　mountain。　Up　there　Rosemont　lay　in　his　deep　grave；　safe　from　the　beaks　and　bellies　of　the　carrion　eaters；　but　still　doomed　to　slow　deposition。　She　bent　her　night…wandering　thoughts　instead　to　Vorkosigan；　lying　nearly　invisible　in　his　camouflage　fatigues　in　the　border　of　the　blue…green　light。
　A　puzzle　within　a　puzzle；　he　was。　Clearly；　he　must　be　one　of　the　Barrayaran　warrior　aristocrats　of　the　old　school；　at　odds　with　the　rising　new　men　of　the　bureaucracy。　The　militarists　of　both　parties　maintained　a　bastard；　uneasy　alliance　that　controlled　both　government　policy　and　the　armed　forces；　but　at　heart　they　were　natural　enemies。　The　Emperor　subtly　stabilized　the　delicate　balance　of　power　between　them；　but　there　was　not　much　doubt　that　on　the　clever　old　man's　death　Barrayar　was　destined　for　a　period　of　political　cannibalism；　if　not　outright　civil　war；　unless　his　successor　showed　more　strength　than　was　currently　expected。　She　wished　she　knew　more　about　the　matrix　of　blood　relationships　and　power　on　Barrayar。　She　could　give　the　Emperors　family　name