lmb.shardsofhonor-第7部分

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　Vorkosigan　was　frantically　patting　her　on　the　back；　it　wasn't　until　the　smell　caught　her　that　she　realized　she'd　set　her　own　hair　on　fire。　He　got　it　out。　The　rest　of　the　radials　sailed　high　into　the　air　and　away；　except　for　one　Vorkosigan　captured　and　held　by　standing　on　its　tendrils。
　〃Ha！〃　Cordelia　war　danced　around　him　in　triumph；　the　adrenaline　rush　giving　her　a　silly　urge　to　giggle。　She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃Is　your　hand　all　right？〃
　〃It's　a　little　burned；〃　he　admitted。　He　took　off　his　shirt　and　bundled　the　radial　into　it。　It　pulsated　and　stank。　〃We　might　want　this　later。〃　He　rinsed　his　hand　briefly　in　the　stream；　and　they　jogged　quickly　back　to　their　campsite。　Dubauer　lay　undisturbed；　although　a　few　minutes　later　one　stray　scavenger　turned　up　at　the　edge　of　the　firelight；　sniffing　and　hissing。　Vorkosigan　put　it　to　flight　with　torch；　knife；　and　swearing…whispered；　so　as　not　to　wake　the　ensign。
　〃I　think　we'd　better　live　on　field　rations　for　the　rest　of　the　trip；〃　he　said；　returning。
　Cordelia　nodded　heartfelt　agreement。
　She　roused　the　men　at　the　first　grey　light　of　dawn；　as　anxious　now　as　Vorkosigan　to　plete　the　trip　to　the　safety　of　the　supply　cache　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　radial　held　captive　in　Vorkosigan's　shirt　had　died　and　deflated　during　the　night；　turning　into　a　horrible　gelid　blob。　Vorkosigan　of　necessity　took　a　few　minutes　to　wash　it　out　in　the　stream；　but　the　stinks　and　stains　it　left　made　him　the　unquestioned　front…runner　in　the　filth…collection　contest　Cordelia　felt　they　were　having。　They　had　a　quick　snack　of　their　dull　but　safe　oatmeal　and　blue　cheese　dressing；　and　started　on　their　way　as　the　sun　rose；　sending　their　long　shadows　racing　ahead　of　them　across　the　rusty；　flower…strewn　levels。
　Near　their　noon　halt　Vorkosigan　took　a　break　and　disappeared　behind　a　bush　for　biological　necessity。　In　a　few　moments　a　string　of　curses　came　floating　around　it；　followed　shortly　by　the　speaker　himself；　hopping　from　foot　to　foot　and　shaking　out　the　legs　of　his　trousers。　Cordelia　gave　him　a　look　of　innocent　inquiry。
　〃You　know　those　light　yellow　cones　of　sand　we've　been　seeing？〃　Vorkosigan　said；　unbuckling　his　pants。
　〃Yes。。。〃
　〃Don't　stand　on　one　to　piss。〃
　Cordelia　failed　to　strangle　a　giggle。　〃What　did　you　find？　Or　should　I　say；　what　found　you？〃
　Vorkosigan　turned　his　trousers　inside　out　and　began　picking　the　little　round　white　creatures　running　among　their　folds　on　cilia…like　legs。　Cordelia　appropriated　one　and　held　it　on　the　palm　of　her　hand　for　a　closer　look。　It　was　yet　another　model　of　the　radials；　an　underground　form。
　〃Ow！〃　She　brushed　it　away　hastily。
　〃Stings；　doesn't　it？〃　snarled　Vorkosigan。
　A　burble　of　laughter　welled　up　within　her。　But　she　was　saved　from　a　lapse　of　control　when　she　noticed　a　more　sobering　feature　of　his　appearance。
　〃Hey；　that　scratch　doesn't　look　too　good；　does　it？〃
　The　claw　mark　of　the　scavenger　on　his　right　leg　that　Vorkosigan　had　collected　the　night　they　buried　Rosemont　was　swollen　and　bluish；　with　ugly　red　streaks　radiating　from　it　up　as　far　as　his　knee。
　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said　firmly；　beginning　to　put　on　his　de…radialed　pants。
　〃It　doesn't　look　all　right。　Let　me　see。〃
　〃There's　nothing　you　can　do　about　it　here；〃　he　protested；　but　submitted　to　a　brief　examination。　〃Satisfied？〃　he　inquired　sarcastically；　and　finished　dressing。
　〃I　wish　your　micro　people　had　been　a　little　more　thorough　when　they　concocted　that　salve；〃　Cordelia　shrugged。　〃But　you're　right。　Nothing　to　be　done　now。〃
　They　trudged　on。　Cordelia　watched　him　more　closely　now。　From　time　to　time　he　would　begin　to　favor　the　leg；　then　notice　her　scrutiny　and　march　forward　with　a　determinedly　even　stride。　But　by　the　end　of　the　day　he　had　abandoned　subterfuge　and　was　frankly　limping。　In　spite　of　it　he　led　on　into　the　sunset；　the　afterglow　of　the　sunset；　and　the　gathering　night；　until　the　cratered　mountain　toward　which　they　had　been　angling　was　a　black　bulk　on　the　horizon。　At　last；　stumbling　in　the　dark；　he　gave　up　and　called　a　halt。　She　was　glad；　for　Dubauer　was　flagging；　leaning　on　her　heavily　and　trying　to　lie　down。　They　slept　where　they　stopped　on　the　red　sandy　soil。　Vorkosigan　cracked　a　cold　light　and　took　his　usual　watch；　as　Cordelia　lay　in　the　dirt　and　watched　the　unreachable　stars　wheel　overhead。
　Vorkosigan　had　asked　to　be　waked　before　dawn；　but　she　let　him　sleep　until　full　light。　She　didn't　like　the　way　he　looked；　alternately　pale　and　flushed；　or　his　shallow　rapid　breathing。
　〃Think　you'd　better　take　one　of　your　painkillers？〃　she　asked　him　when　he　rose；　for　he　seemed　barely　able　to　put　weight　on　the　leg；　which　was　much　more　swollen。
　〃Not　yet。　I　have　to　save　some　for　the　end。〃　He　cut　a　long　stick　instead；　and　the　three　of　them　began　the　day's　task　of　walking　down　their　shadows。
　〃How　far　to　the　end？〃　Cordelia　asked。
　〃I　estimate　a　day；　day　and　a　half；　depending　on　what　kind　of　time　we　can　make。〃　He　grimaced。　〃Don't　worry。　You're　not　going　to　have　to　carry　me。　I'm　one　of　the　fittest　men　in　my　mand。〃　He　limped　on。　〃Over　forty。〃
　〃How　many　men　over　forty　are　there　in　your　mand？〃
　〃Four。〃
　Cordelia　snorted。
　〃Anyway；　if　it　bees　necessary；　I　have　a　stimulant　in　my　medkit　that　would　animate　a　corpse。　But　I　want　to　save　it　for　the　end　too。〃
　〃What　kind　of　trouble　are　you　anticipating？〃
　〃It　all　depends　on　who　picks　up　my　call。　I　know　Radnov…my　Political　Officer…has　at　least　two　agents　in　my　munications　section。〃　He　pursed　his　lips；　measuring　her　again。　〃You　see；　I　don't　think　it　was　a　general　mutiny。　I　think　it　was　a　spur…of…the…moment　assassination　attempt　on　the　part　of　Radnov　and　a　very　few　others。　Using　you　Betans；　they　thought　they　could　get　rid　of　me　without　implicating　themselves。　If　I'm　right；　everyone　aboard　ship　thinks　I'm　dead。　All　but　one。〃
　〃Which　one？〃
　〃Wouldn't　I　like　to　know。　The　one　who　hit　me　on　the　head　and　hid　me　in　the　bracken；　instead　of　cutting　my　throat　and　dumping　me　in　the　nearest　hole。　Lieutenant　Radnov　seems　to　have　a　ringer　in　his　group。　And　yet…if　this　ringer　were　loyal　to　me；　all　he'd　have　to　do　is　tell　Gottyan；　my　first　officer；　and　he'd　have　had　a　loyal　patrol　down　to　pick　me　up　before　now。　Now　who　in　my　mand　is　so　confused　in　his　thinking　as　to　betray　both　sides　at　once？　Or　am　I　missing　something？〃
　〃Maybe　they're　all　still　chasing　my　ship；〃　suggested　Cordelia。
　〃Where　is　your　ship？〃
　Honesty　should　be　safely　academic　by　now；　Cordelia　calculated。　〃Well　on　its　way　back　to　Beta　Colony。〃
　〃Unless　they've　been　captured。〃
　〃No。　They　were　out　of　your　range　when　I　talked　to　them。　They　may　not　be　armed；　but　they　can　run　rings　around　your　battle　cruiser。〃
　〃Hm。　Well；　it's　possible。〃
　He　doesn't　sound　surprised；　Cordelia　noted。　I'd　bet　his　secret　reports　on　our　stuff　would　give　our　counter…intelligence　people　colonic　spasms。　〃How　far　will　they　pursue？〃
　〃That's　up　to　Gottyan。　If　he　judges　he　can't　possibly　catch　them；　he'll　return　to　the　picket　station。　If　he　thinks　he　can；　he's　bound　to　make　maximum　effort。〃
　〃Why？〃
　He　glanced　sidelong　at　her。　〃I　can't　discuss　that。〃
　〃I　don't　see　why　not。　I'm　not　going　anywhere　but　a　Barrayaran　prison　cell；　for　a　while。　Funny　how　one's　standards　change。　After　this　trek；　it　will　seem　like　the　lap　of　luxury。〃
　〃I'll　try　to　see　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　he　smiled。
　His　eyes　bothered　her；　and　his　smile。　His　curtness　she　could　meet　and　match　with　her　own　flippancy；　guarding　herself　as　with　a　fencers　foil。　His　kindness　was　like　fencing　with　the　sea；　her　strokes　going　soft　and　losing　all　volition。　She　flinched　from　the　smile；　and　his　face　fell；　then　became　closed　and　grave　again。
　
　CHAPTER　THREE
　They　walked　in　silence　for　a　time　after　breakfast。　Vorkosigan　broke　it　first。　His　fever　seemed　to　be　eating　away　at　his　original　taciturnity。
　〃Converse　with　me。　It　will　take　my　mind　off　my　leg。〃
　〃What　about？〃
　〃Anything。〃
　She　considered；　walking。　〃Do　you　find　manding　a　warship　very　different　from　ordinary　vessels？〃
　He　thought　it　over。　〃It's　not　the　ship　that's　different。　It's　the　men。　Leadership　is　mostly　a　power　over　imagination；　and　never　more　so　than　in　bat。　The　bravest　man　alone　can　only　be　an　armed　lunatic。　The　real　strength　lies　in　the　ability　to　get　others　to　do　your　work。　Don't　you　find　it　so　even　in　the　fleets　of　Beta　Colony？〃
　Cordelia　smiled。　〃If　anything；　even　more　so。　If　it　ever　came　down　to　exerting　power　by　force；　it　would　mean　I'd　already　lost　it。　I　prefer　to　maintain　a　light　touch。　Then　I　have　the　advantage；　because　I　find　I　can　always　keep　my　temper；　or　whatever；　just　a　little　longer　than　the　next　man。〃　She　glanced　around　at　the　spring　desert。　〃I　think　civilization　must　have　been　invented　for　the　benefit　of　women；　certainly　of　mothers。　I　can't　imagine　how　my　cavewoman　ancestors　cared　for　families　under　primitive　conditions。〃
　〃I　suspect　they　worked　together　in　groups；〃　said　Vorkosigan。　〃I'll　wager　you　could　have　handled　it；　had　you　been　born　in　those　days。　You　have　the　petence　one　would　look　for　in　a　mother　of　warriors。〃
　Cordelia　wondered　if　Vorkosigan　was　pulling　her　leg。　He　did　seem　to　have　a　streak　of　dry　humor。　〃Save　me　from　that！　To　pour　your　life　into　sons　for　eighteen　or　twenty　years；　and　then　have　the　government　take　them　away　and　waste　them　cleaning　up　after　some　failure　of　politics…no　thanks。〃
　〃I　never　really　looked　at　it　that　way；〃　allowed　Vorkosigan。　He　was　quiet　for　a　time；　stumping　along　with　his　stick。　〃Suppose　they　volunteered？　Do　your　people　have　no　ideal　of　service？〃
　〃Noblesse　oblige？〃　But　it　was　her　turn　to　be　silent；　a　little　embarrassed。　〃I　suppose；　if　they　volunteered；　it　would　be　different。　However；　I　have　no　children；　so　fortunately　I　won't　have　to　face　those　decisions。〃
　〃Are　you　glad；　or　sorry？〃
　〃About　children？〃　She　glanced　at　his　face。　He　seemed　to　have　no　awareness　of　having　hit　a　sore　point　dead　on。　〃They　just　haven't　e　my　way；　I　guess。〃
　The　thread　of　their　talk　was　broken　as　they　negotiated　a　rocky　stretch　of　badlands；　full　of　sudden　clefts　opening　at　their　feet。　It　involved　some　tricky　climbing；　and　shoving　Dubauer　through　safely　took　all　her　attention。　On　the　far　side　they　took　a　break　by　unspoken　mutual　agreement；　sitting　leaning　against　a　rock　in　exhaustion。　Vorkosigan　rolled　up　his　pants　leg　and　loosened　his　boo