lmb.shardsofhonor-第26部分

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ur　reports　is　not　going　to　be　your　most　pressing　worry；　believe　me。〃
　〃Damn！　Captain　Negri　was　right；〃　said　Illyan。
　〃He　usually　is…what　was　the　instance？〃
　〃He　said　that　permitting　private　judgments　to　turn　my　duty　in　the　smallest　matter　would　be　just　like　getting　a　little　bit　pregnant…that　the　consequences　would　very　soon　get　beyond　me。〃
　Vorkosigan　laughed。　〃Captain　Negri　is　a　very　experienced　man。　But　I　can　tell　you　that…very　rarely…even　he　has　been　known　to　make　a　private　judgment。〃
　〃But　Security　is　tearing　the　place　apart　out　there。　They're　going　to　arrive　back　here　eventually　just　by　process　of　elimination。　The　moment　it　occurs　to　someone　to　suspect　my　integrity；　it's　all　over。〃
　〃In　time；〃　agreed　Vorkosigan。　〃How　much　time；　do　you　estimate？〃
　〃They'll　plete　the　search　sweep　of　the　ship　in　a　few　hours。〃
　〃Then　you'll　just　have　to　re…direct　their　efforts。　Widen　their　search　area…didn't　any　ships　depart　the　flag　during　the　time　window　after　Vorrutyer's　death　and　before　the　security　cordon　was　started？〃
　〃Yes；　two；　but。。。〃
　〃Good。　Use　your　Imperial　influence　there。　Volunteer　all　the　assistance　that　you；　as　Captain　Negri's　most　trusted　aide；　can　supply。　Mention　Negri　frequently。　Suggest。　Remend。　Doubt。　Better　not　bribe　or　threaten；　that's　too　obvious；　although　it　may　e　to　that。　Slander　their　inspection　procedures；　make　records　evaporate…whatever　is　necessary　to　muddy　the　waters。　Buy　me　forty…eight　hours；　Illyan。　That's　all　I　ask。〃
　〃All？〃　choked　Illyan。
　〃All。　Try　to　be　sure　it's　you　and　no　one　else　who　brings　meals　and　so　on。　And　try　to　slip　in　some　extra　rations　when　you　do。〃
　Vorkosigan　relaxed　measurably　when　he　had　gone；　and　turned　to　her　with　a　sad　and　awkward　smile　that　was　good　as　a　touch。　〃Well　met；　lady。〃
　She　sketched　him　a　salute；　and　returned　the　smile。　〃I　hope　I　haven't　messed　things　up　for　you　too　much。　Personally；　that　is。〃
　〃By　no　means。　In　fact；　you　have　simplified　them　enormously。〃
　〃East　is　west；　up　is　down；　and　being　falsely　arrested　for　getting　your　C。O。's　throat　cut　is　a　simplification。　I　must　be　on　Barrayar。　I　don't　suppose　you'd　care　to　explain　what's　going　on　around　here？〃
　〃No。　But　at　last　I　understand　why　there　have　been　so　many　madmen　in　Barrayaran　history。　They　are　not　its　cause；　they　are　its　effect。〃　He　sighed；　and　spoke　so　low　it　was　almost　a　whisper。　〃Oh；　Cordelia。　You　have　no　idea　how　much　I　need　one　sane　clean　person　near　me。　You　are　water　in　the　desert。〃
　〃You　look　pretty；　uh…you　look　like　you've　lost　weight。〃　He　looked；　she　thought；　ten　years　older　than　six　months　ago。
　〃Oh；　me。〃　He　ran　his　hand　over　his　face。　〃I'm　not　thinking。　You　must　be　exhausted。　Do　you　want　to　go　to　sleep；　or　something？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　can；　yet。　But　I'd　like　to　wash　up。　Didn't　think　I　ought　to　run　the　shower　when　you　weren't　here；　in　case　it's　monitored。〃
　〃Good　thinking。　Go　ahead。〃
　She　rubbed　her　hand　over　her　nerveless　thigh；　black　cloth　sticky　with　blood。　〃Uh；　have　you　got　a　change　of　clothes　for　me？　These　are　messed　up。　Besides；　they　were　Vorrutyer's。　They　have　a　psychic　stink。〃
　〃Right。〃　His　face　darkened；　〃Is　that　your　blood？〃
　〃Yeah；　Vorrutyer　was　playing　surgeon。　It　doesn't　hurt。　I've　got　no　nerves　there。〃
　〃Hm。〃　Vorkosigan　fingered　his　scar；　and　smiled　a　little。　〃Yes；　I　think　I　have　just　the　thing　for　you。〃
　He　unlocked　one　of　his　drawers　with　an　eight…digit　number　code；　sorted　down　to　the　bottom　layer；　and　to　Cordelia's　astonishment　pulled　out　the　Survey　fatigues　she　had　left　behind　on　the　General　Vorkraft；　now　cleaned；　mended；　pressed；　and　neatly　folded。　〃I　haven't　got　the　boots　with　me；　and　the　insignia　are　obsolete；　but　I　rather　imagine　these　will　fit；〃　Vorkosigan　remarked　blandly；　handing　them　over。
　〃You…saved　my　clothes？〃
　〃As　you　see。〃
　〃Good　heavens。　Uh…why？〃
　His　mouth　crimped　ruefully。　〃Well…it　was　all　you　left。　Except　for　the　shuttle　your　people　abandoned　downside；　which　would　have　made　a　rather　awkward　memento。〃
　She　ran　her　hand　over　the　tan　cloth；　feeling　suddenly　shy。　But　just　before　disappearing　into　the　bathroom　with　the　clothes　and　a　first…aid　kit；　she　said　abruptly；　〃I've　still　got　my　Barrayaran　uniform　at　home。　Wrapped　in　paper；　in　a　drawer。〃　She　gave　him　a　firm　nod；　his　eyes　lit。
　When　she　came　out　again　the　room　was　dim　and　night…quiet；　but　for　a　light　over　the　desk　where　Vorkosigan　was　studying　a　disk　at　his　puter　interface。　She　hopped　onto　his　bed　and　sat　cross…legged　again；　wriggling　her　bare　toes。　〃What's　all　that？〃
　〃Homework。　It's　my　official　function　on　Vorrutyer's…the　late　Admiral　Vorrutyer's…Staff。〃　He　smiled　a　little　as　he　corrected　himself；　like　the　famous　tiger　of　the　limerick　when　he　returned　from　the　ride　with　the　lady　inside。　〃I'm　charged　with　planning　and　keeping　the　contingency　orders　up　to　date；　in　case　we　are　forced　to　fall　back。　As　the　Emperor　said　in　the　Council　meeting；　since　I　was　so　convinced　it　was　going　to　be　a　disaster；　I　could　bloody　well　do　the　planning　for　it。　I'm　regarded　as　a　bit　of　a　fifth　wheel　around　here　at　the　moment。〃
　〃Things　going　well　for　your　side；　are　they？〃　she　asked；　oppressed。
　〃We're　being　nicely　overextended。　Some　people　regard　that　as　progress。〃　He　entered　some　new　data；　then　shut　down　the　interface。
　She　sought　to　turn　the　subject　from　the　dangerous　present。　〃I　take　it　you　didn't　get　charged　with　treason　after　all？〃　she　asked；　thinking　back　to　their　last　conversation；　long　ago　and　far　away　above　another　world。
　〃Ah；　that　turned　out　something　of　a　draw。　I　was　recalled　back　to　Barrayar　after　you　escaped。　Minister　Grishnov…he's　head　of　Political　Education；　and　third　in　real　power　after　the　Emperor　and　Captain　Negri…was　practically　drooling　on　himself；　he　was　so　convinced　he'd　got　me　at　last。　But　my　case　against　Radnov　was　air…tight。
　〃The　Emperor　stepped　in　before　we　could　draw　blood；　and　forced　a　promise；　or　more　correctly；　an　abeyance。　I　haven't　actually　been　cleared；　the　charges　are　still　pending　in　some　legal　limbo。〃
　〃How'd　he　do　it？〃
　〃Sleight　of　hand。　He　was　giving　Grishnov　and　the　whole　war　party　everything　they'd　asked　for；　the　entire　Escobar　scheme　on　a　platter；　and　more。　He　gave　them　the　Prince。　And　all　the　credit。　After　the　conquest　of　Escobar；　Grishnov　and　the　Prince　each　think　they're　going　to　be　the　de　facto　ruler　of　Barrayar。
　〃He　even　made　Vorrutyer　swallow　my　promotion。　Pointed　out　he'd　have　me　directly　under　his　mand。　Vorrutyer　saw　the　light　at　once。〃　Vorkosigan's　teeth　set　at　some　searing　memory；　his　hand　opening　and　closing　once；　unconsciously。
　〃How　long　have　you　known　him？〃　she　asked　cautiously；　thinking　of　the　bottomless　well　of　hatred　she　had　fallen　down。
　His　eyes　slid　away　from　her。　〃We　were　in　school；　and　lieutenants　together；　back　when　he　was　only　a　mon　voyeur。　He　grew　worse；　I　understand；　in　recent　years；　since　he　started　associating　with　Prince　Serg；　and　thinking　he　could　get　away　with　anything。　God　help　us；　he　was　nearly　right。　Bothari　has　done　a　great　public　service。〃
　You　knew　him　better　than　that；　my　breath；　thought　Cordelia。　Was　that　your　infection　of　the　imagination；　so　hard　to　fight　off？　Bothari　has　done　a　great　private　service；　too；　it　seems。。。　〃Speaking　of　Bothari…next　time；　you　sedate　him。　He　went　wild　when　I　came　at　him　with　the　ampule。〃
　〃Ah。　Yes。　I　think　I　understand　why。　It　was　in　one　of　Captain　Negri's　reports。　Vorrutyer　was　in　the　habit　of　drugging　his；　uh；　players；　with　a　variety　of　concoctions；　when　he　wanted　a　better　show。　I'm　fairly　certain　Bothari　was　one　of　his　victims　that　way。〃
　〃Vile。〃　She　felt　sick。　Her　muscles　cramped　around　the　ache　in　her　side。　〃Who's　this　Captain　Negri　you　keep　talking　about？〃
　〃Negri？　He　does　keep　a　low　profile；　but　he's　hardly　secret。　He　heads　the　Emperor's　personal　security　staff。　Illyan's　boss。　They　call　him　Ezar　Vorbarra's　familiar。
　〃If　you　think　of　the　Ministry　of　Political　Education　as　the　Emperor's　right　hand；　then　Negri　is　his　left；　the　one　the　right　is　not　permitted　to　know。　He　watches　internal　security　on　the　highest　levels…the　Ministry　heads；　the　Counts；　the　Emperor's　family…the　Prince。。。〃　Vorkosigan　frowned　introspectively。　〃I　came　to　know　him　rather　well　during　the　preparations　for　this　strategist's　nightmare。　Curious　fellow。　He　could　have　any　rank　he　wanted。　But　forms　are　meaningless　to　him。　He's　only　interested　in　substance。〃
　〃Is　he　a　good　guy　or　bad　guy？〃
　〃What　an　absurd　question！〃
　〃I　just　thought　he　might　be　the　power　behind　the　throne。〃
　〃Hardly。　If　Ezar　Vorbarra　said；　'You're　a　frog；'　he'd　hop　and　croak。　No。　There　is　only　one　Emperor　on　Barrayar；　and　he　permits　no　one　to　get　behind　him。　He　still　remembers　how　he　came　to　power。〃
　She　stretched；　and　winced　at　the　pain　in　her　side。
　〃Something　wrong？〃　he　asked；　instantly　concerned。
　〃Oh；　Bothari　got　me　with　his　knee；　when　we　had　that　go…round　about　the　sedative。　I　thought　for　sure　they'd　hear　us。　Scared　me　to　death。〃
　〃May　I　see？〃　His　fingers　slid　gently　along　her　ribs。　It　was　only　in　her　imagination　that　they　left　a　trail　of　rainbow　light。
　〃Ow。〃
　〃Yes。　You　have　two　cracked　ribs。〃
　〃Thought　so。　I'm　lucky　it　wasn't　my　neck。〃　She　lay　hack；　and　he　made　shift　to　tape　them　with　strips　of　cloth；　then　sat　beside　her　on　his　bunk。　〃Have　you　ever　considered　chucking　it　all；　and　moving　somepl