Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga)

Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga) Read Online Free PDF

Book: Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga) Read Online Free PDF
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Vorkosigan.
    "Apparently."
    "What appalling creatures."
    Cordelia almost laughed at his revolted look. "As a carnivore yourself, you can't really condemn them."
    "Condemn, no; avoid, yes."
    "I'll go along with that."
    They continued upstream past a frothing, opaque tan waterfall. After about a kilometer and a half they came to a place where two tributaries joined, and stumbled across at the shallowest place they could find. Crossing the second branch, Dubauer lost his footing as a rock turned under him and went down with a wordless cry.
    Cordelia convulsively tightened her grip on his arm and perforce went with him, slipping into a deeper area. Terror shook her, that he might be swept downstream beyond her reach—those amphibious hexapeds, sharp rocks—the waterfall! Careless of the water filling her mouth, she grabbed him with both hands. Here we go —no.
    Something pulled her bodily with a tremendous countersurge against the rush of waters. Vorkosigan had grabbed her by the back of the belt, and was hauling them both toward the shallows with the strength and style of a stevedore.
    Feeling undignified, but grateful, she scrambled to her feet and pushed the coughing Dubauer up the far bank.
    "Thanks," she gasped to Vorkosigan.
    "What, did you think I'd let you drown?" he inquired wryly, emptying his boots.
    Cordelia shrugged, embarrassed. "Well—at least we wouldn't be delaying you."
    "Hm." He cleared his throat, but said no more. They found a rocky place to sit, eat their cereal and salad dressing, and dry awhile before moving on.
    Kilometers fell behind them, while their view of the great mountain to their right scarcely seemed to change. At some point Vorkosigan took a bearing known only to himself, and led them more westerly, with the mountain at their backs and the sun beginning to slant into their eyes.
    They crossed another watercourse. Coming up over the lip of its valley, Cordelia nearly stumbled over a red-coated hexaped, lying quite still in a depression and blending perfectly with its background. It was a delicately formed thing, as big as a middle-sized dog, and it rippled over the red plains in graceful bounds.
    Cordelia woke up abruptly. "That thing's edible!"
    "The stunner, the stunner!" cried Vorkosigan. She pressed it hastily into his hand. He fell to one knee, took aim, and dropped the creature in one burst.
    "Oh, good shot!" cried Cordelia ecstatically.
    Vorkosigan grinned like a boy over his shoulder at her, and jogged after his prize.
    "Oh," she murmured, stunned herself by the effect of the grin. It had lit his face like the sun for that brief instant. Oh, do that again , she thought; then shook off the thought. Duty. Stick to duty.
    She followed him to where the animal lay. Vorkosigan had his knife out, puzzling over where to begin. He could not cut its throat, for it had no neck.
    "The brain is located right behind the eyes. Maybe you could pith it going in between the first set of shoulder blades," Cordelia suggested.
    "That would be quick enough," Vorkosigan agreed, and did so. The creature shivered, sighed, and died. "It's early to make camp, but there's water here, and driftwood from the river for a fire. It will mean extra kilometers tomorrow, though," he warned.
    Cordelia eyed the carcass, thinking of roast meat. "That's all right."
    Vorkosigan hoisted it to his shoulder, and stood. "Where's your ensign?"
    Cordelia looked around. Dubauer was not in sight. "Oh, lord." Inhaling, she ran back to the spot where they had been standing when Vorkosigan had shot dinner. No Dubauer. She approached the rim of the watercourse.
    Dubauer was standing by the stream, arms hanging by his sides, gazing upward blank and entranced. Floating softly down toward his upturned face was a large transparent radial.
    "Dubauer, no!" shrieked Cordelia, and scrambled down the bank toward him. Vorkosigan passed her with a bound, and they raced for the waterside. The radial settled over Dubauer's face and began to flatten,
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