lmb.shardsofhonor-第3部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃No。　But　he　can't　have　crawled　far；　in　his　condition。〃
　〃You　said　he　was　dead！〃
　〃So　he　is。　His　body；　however；　was　still　animate。　The　disruptor　must　have　missed　his　cerebellum。〃
　Cordelia　traced　the　trail　of　broken　vegetation　over　a　small　rise；　Vorkosigan　following　silently。
　〃Dubauer！〃　She　ran　to　the　tall　clad　figure　curled　up　in　the　bracken。　As　she　knelt　beside　him　he　turned　and　stretched　out　stiffly；　then　began　to　shake　all　over　in　slow　waves；　his　lips　drawn　back　in　a　strange　grin。　Cold？　she　thought　wildly；　then　realized　what　she　was　seeing。　She　yanked　her　handkerchief　from　her　pocket；　folded　it；　and　forced　it　between　his　teeth。　His　mouth　was　already　bloody　from　a　previous　convulsion。　After　about　three　minutes　he　sighed　and　went　limp。
　She　blew　out　her　breath　in　distress　and　examined　him　anxiously。　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　seemed　to　focus　on　her　face。　He　clutched　ineffectually　at　her　arm　and　made　noises；　all　moans　and　clotted　vowels。　She　tried　to　soothe　his　animal　agitation　by　gently　stroking　his　head；　and　wiping　the　bloody　spittle　from　his　mouth；　he　quieted。
　She　turned　to　Vorkosigan；　tears　of　fury　and　pain　blurring　her　vision。　〃Not　dead！　Liar！　Only　injured。　He　must　have　medical　help。〃
　〃You　are　being　unrealistic；　mander　Naismith。　One　does　not　recover　from　disruptor　injuries。〃
　〃So？　You　can't　tell　the　extent　of　the　damage　your　filthy　weapon　has　done　from　the　outside。　He　can　still　see　and　hear　and　feel…you　can't　demote　him　to　the　status　of　a　corpse　for　your　convenience！〃
　His　face　seemed　a　mask。　〃If　you　wish；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃I　can　put　him　out　of　his　suffering。　My　bat　knife　is　quite　sharp。　Used　quickly；　it　would　cut　his　throat　almost　painlessly。　Or　should　you　feel　it　is　your　duty　as　his　mander；　I'll　lend　you　the　knife　and　you　may　use　it。〃
　〃Is　that　what　you'd　do　for　one　of　your　men？〃
　〃Certainly。　And　they'd　do　the　same　for　me。　No　man　could　wish　to　live　on　like　that。〃
　She　stood　and　looked　at　him　very　steadily。　〃It　must　be　like　living　among　cannibals；　to　be　a　Barrayaran。〃
　A　long　silence　fell　between　them。　Dubauer　broke　it　with　a　moan。　Vorkosigan　stirred。　〃What；　then；　do　you　propose　to　do　with　him？〃
　She　rubbed　her　temples　tiredly；　ransacking　for　an　appeal　that　would　penetrate　that　expressionless　front。　Her　stomach　undulated；　her　tongue　was　woolly；　her　legs　trembled　with　exhaustion；　low　blood　sugar；　and　reaction　to　pain。　〃Just　where　is　it　you're　planning　to　go？〃　she　asked　finally。
　〃There　is　a　supply　cache　located…in　a　place　I　know。　Hidden。　It　contains　munications　equipment；　weapons；　food…possession　of　it　would　put　me　in　a　position　to；　ah；　correct　the　problems　in　my　mand。〃
　〃Does　it　have　medical　supplies？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly。
　〃All　right。〃　Here　goes　nothing。　〃I　will　cooperate　with　you…give　you　my　parole；　as　a　prisoner…assist　you　in　any　way　I　can　that　does　not　actually　endanger　my　ship…if　I　can　take　Ensign　Dubauer　with　us。〃
　〃That's　impossible。　He　can't　even　walk。〃
　〃I　think　he　can；　if　he's　helped。〃
　He　stared　at　her　in　baffled　irritation。　〃And　if　I　refuse？〃
　〃Then　you　can　either　leave　us　both　or　kill　us　both。〃　She　glanced　away　from　his　knife；　lifted　her　chin；　and　waited。
　〃I　do　not　kill　prisoners。〃
　She　was　relieved　to　hear　the　plural。　Dubauer　was　evidently　promoted　back　to　humanity　in　her　strange　captor's　mind。　She　knelt　down　to　try　to　help　Dubauer　to　his　feet；　praying　this　Vorkosigan　would　not　decide　to　end　the　argument　by　stunning　her　and　killing　her　botanist　outright。
　〃Very　well；〃　he　capitulated；　giving　her　an　odd　intent　look。　〃Bring　him　along。　But　we　must　travel　quickly。〃
　She　managed　to　get　the　ensign　up。　With　his　arm　draped　heavily　over　her　shoulder；　she　guided　him　on　a　shambling　walk。　It　seemed　he　could　hear；　but　not　decode　meaning　from　the　noises　of　speech。　〃You　see；〃　she　defended　him　desperately；　〃he　can　walk。　He　just　needs　a　little　help。〃
　They　reached　the　edge　of　the　glade　as　the　last　level　light　of　early　evening　was　striping　it　with　long　black　shadows；　like　a　tiger's　skin。　Vorkosigan　paused。
　〃If　I　were　by　myself；〃　he　said；　〃I'd　travel　to　the　cache　on　the　emergency　rations　in　my　belt。　With　you　two　along；　we'll　have　to　risk　scavenging　your　camp　for　more　food。　You　can　bury　your　other　officer　while　I'm　looking　around。〃
　Cordelia　nodded。　〃Look　for　something　to　dig　with；　too。　I've　got　to　tend　to　Dubauer　first。〃
　He　acknowledged　this　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　started　toward　the　wasted　ring。　Cordelia　was　able　to　excavate　a　couple　of　half…burned　bedrolls　from　the　remains　of　the　women's　tent；　but　no　clothes；　medicine；　soap；　or　even　a　bucket　to　carry　or　heat　water。　She　finally　coaxed　the　ensign　over　to　the　spring　and　washed　him；　his　wounds；　and　his　trousers　as　best　she　could　in　the　plain　cold　water；　dried　him　with　one　bedroll；　put　his　undershirt　and　fatigue　jacket　back　on　him；　and　wrapped　the　other　bedroll　around　him　sarong　style。　He　shivered　and　moaned；　but　did　not　resist　her　makeshift　ministrations。
　Vorkosigan　in　the　meanwhile　had　found　two　cases　of　ration　packs；　with　the　labels　burned　off　but　otherwise　scarcely　damaged。　Cordelia　tore　open　one　silvery　pouch；　added　spring　water；　and　found　that　it　was　soya…fortified　oatmeal。
　〃That's　lucky；〃　she　mented。　〃He's　sure　to　be　able　to　eat　that。　What's　the　other　case？〃
　Vorkosigan　was　conducting　his　own　experiment。　He　added　water　to　his　pouch；　mixed　it　by　squeezing；　and　sniffed　the　result。
　〃I'm　not　really　sure；〃　he　said；　handing　it　to　her。　〃It　smells　rather　strange。　Could　it　be　spoiled？〃
　It　was　a　white　paste　with　a　pungent　aroma。　〃It's　all　right；〃　Cordelia　assured　him。　〃It's　artificial　blue　cheese　salad　dressing。〃　She　sat　back　and　contemplated　the　menu。　〃At　least　it's　high　in　calories；〃　she　encouraged　herself。　〃We'll　need　calories。　I　don't　suppose　you　have　a　spoon　in　that　utility　belt　of　yours？〃
　Vorkosigan　unhooked　an　object　from　his　belt　and　handed　it　to　her　without　ment。　It　turned　out　to　be　several　small　useful　utensils　folded　into　a　handle；　including　a　spoon。
　〃Thanks；〃　Cordelia　said；　absurdly　pleased；　as　if　granting　her　mumbled　wish　had　been　a　conjuror's　trick。
　Vorkosigan　shrugged　and　wandered　away　to　continue　his　search　in　the　gathering　darkness；　and　she　began　to　feed　Dubauer。　He　seemed　voraciously　hungry；　but　unable　to　manage　for　himself。
　Vorkosigan　returned　to　the　spring。　〃I　found　this。〃　He　handed　her　a　small　geologist's　shovel　about　a　meter　long；　used　for　digging　soil　samples。　〃It's　a　poor　tool　for　the　purpose；　but　I've　found　nothing　better　yet。〃
　〃It　was　Reg's；〃　Cordelia　said；　taking　it。　〃It　will　do。〃
　She　led　Dubauer　to　a　spot　near　her　next　job　and　settled　him。　She　wondered　if　some　bracken　from　the　forest　might　provide　some　insulation　for　him；　and　resolved　to　get　some　later。　She　marked　out　the　dimensions　of　a　grave　near　the　place　where　Rosemont　had　fallen；　and　began　hacking　away　at　the　heavy　turf　with　the　little　shovel。　The　sod　was　tough；　wiry；　and　resistant；　and　she　ran　out　of　breath　quickly。
　Vorkosigan　appeared　out　of　the　night。　〃I　found　some　cold　lights。〃　He　cracked　one　pencil…sized　tube　and　laid　it　on　the　ground　beside　the　grave；　where　it　gave　off　an　eerie　but　bright　blue…green　glow。　He　watched　her　critically　as　she　worked。
　She　stabbed　away　at　the　dirt；　resentful　of　his　scrutiny。　Go　away；　you；　she　thought；　and　let　me　bury　my　friend　in　peace。　She　grew　self…conscious　as　a　new　thought　struck　her…maybe　he　won't　let　me　finish…I'm　taking　too　long。。。　She　dug　harder。
　〃At　this　rate；　we'll　be　here　until　next　week。〃
　If　she　moved　fast　enough；　she　wondered　irritably；　could　she　succeed　in　hitting　him　with　the　shovel？　Just　once。。。
　〃Go　sit　down　with　your　botanist。〃　He　was　holding　out　his　hand；　it　dawned　on　her　at　last　that　he　was　volunteering　to　help　dig。
　〃Oh。。。〃　She　relinquished　the　tool。　He　drew　his　bat　knife　and　cut　through　the　grasses'　roots　where　she　had　marked　her　rectangle；　and　began　to　dig；　far　more　efficiently　than　she　had。
　〃What　kind　of　scavengers　have　you　found　around　here？〃　he　asked　between　tosses。　〃How　deep　does　this　have　to　be？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　she　replied。　〃We'd　only　been　downside　three　days。　It's　a　pretty　plex　ecosystem；　though；　and　most　imaginable　niches　seem　to　be　filled。〃
　〃Hm。〃
　〃Lieutenant　Stuben；　my　chief　zoologist；　found　a　couple　of　those　browser　hexapeds　killed　and　pretty　well　consumed。　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　something　he　called　a　fuzzy　crab　at　one　of　the　kills。〃
　〃How　big　were　they？〃　asked　Vorkosigan　curiously。
　〃He　didn't　say。　I've　seen　pictures　of　crabs　from　Earth；　and　they　don't　seem　very　large…as　big　as　your　hand；　perhaps。〃
　〃A　meter　may　be　enough。〃　He　continued　the　excavation　with　short　powerful　bites　of　the　inadequate　shovel。　The　cold　light　illuminated　his　face　from　below；　casting　shadows　upward　from　heavy　jaw；　straight　broad　nose；　and　thick　brows。　He　had　an　old　faded　L…shaped　scar；　Cordelia　noticed；　on　the　left　side　of　his　chin。　He　reminded　her　of　a　dwarf　king　in　some　northern　saga；　digging　in　a　fathomless　deep。
　〃There's　a　pole　over　by　the　tents；〃　she　offered。　〃I　could　fix　that　light　up　in　the　air　so　it　shines　on　your　work。〃
　〃That　would　help。〃
　She　returned　to　the　tents；　beyond　the　circle　of　cold　light；　and　found　her　pole　where　she　had　dropped　it　that　morning。　Returning　to　the　gravesite；　she　spliced　the　light　to　t