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； nodding to the silent Bothari propping up the wall and apparently content just to listen。 〃A few good body blows like the ones you used to give me in the practice ring； and I'd be flopping around like a fish。 Not a good example to set my men。 I guess I'll just have to find…some kind of desk work。〃 He glanced at Cordelia。 〃Whatever happened to your ensign； the one that got hit in the head？〃
〃The last time I saw him； after Escobar…I visited him just two days before I left home； I guess。 He's the same。 He did get out of the hospital。 His mother quit her job； and stays home to take care of him； now。〃
Koudelka's eyes fell； and Cordelia was wrenched by the shame in his face。 〃And I bitch my head off about a few twitches。 Sorry。〃
She shook her head； not trusting herself to speak。
Later； alone with Vorkosigan in the corridor a moment； Cordelia leaned her head against his shoulder； and was taken in his arms。 〃I can see why you started drinking after breakfast； on the days after this。 I could use a stiff one myself； just now。〃
〃I'll take you to lunch after the next stop； and we can all have one；〃 he promised。
The research wing was their next destination。 The military doctor in charge greeted Vorkosigan cordially； and only looked a little blank when Cordelia was introduced； without explanation； as Lady Vorkosigan。
〃I hadn't realized you were married； sir。〃
〃Recently。〃
〃Oh？ Congratulations。 I'm glad you decided to e see one of these； sir； before they're all done。 It's really almost the most interesting part。 Would Milady wish to wait here while we take care of this little business？〃 He looked embarrassed。
〃Lady Vorkosigan has been fully briefed。〃
〃Besides；〃 added Cordelia brightly； 〃I have a personal interest。〃
The doctor looked puzzled； but led on to the monitoring room。 Cordelia stared doubtfully at the half dozen remaining canisters lined up in a row。 The technician on duty joined them trundling some equipment obviously borrowed from some other hospital's obstetrics department。
〃Good morning； sir；〃 he said cheerfully。 〃Going to watch us hatch this chick today？〃
〃I wish you'd find some other term for it；〃 said the doctor。
〃Yes； but you can't call it being born；〃 he pointed out reasonably。 〃Technically； they've all been born once already。 You tell me what it is； then。〃
〃They call it cracking the bottle at home；〃 suggested Cordelia helpfully； watching the preparations with interest。
The technician； laying out measuring devices and placing a bassinet under a warming light； shot her a look of great curiosity。 〃You're Betan； aren't you； Milady？ My wife caught the Admiral's marriage announcement in the news； way down in the fine print。 I never read the vital statistics section； myself。〃
The doctor looked up； startled； then returned to his checklist。 Bothari pretended to lean against the wall； eyes half closed； concealing his sharp attention。 The doctor and the technician finished their preparations and motioned them closer。
〃Got the soup ready； sir？〃 muttered the technician to the doctor。
〃Right here。 Inject into feed line C。。。〃 The correct hormone mixture was inserted into the right aperture； the doctor rechecking the instruction disk on his monitor repeatedly。
〃Five minute wait； mark…now。〃 The doctor turned to Vorkosigan。 〃Fantastic machine； sir。 Have you heard any more about getting funding and engineering personnel to try and duplicate them？〃
〃No；〃 replied Vorkosigan。 〃I'm out of this project officially as soon as the last live child is…released； finished； whatever you call it。 You're going to have to work on your own regular superiors for it； and you'll have to think up a military application to justify it； or at least something that sounds like one； to camouflage it。〃
The doctor smiled thoughtfully。 〃It's worth pursuing； I think。 It might be a nice change from thinking up novel ways of killing people。〃
〃Time mark； sir；〃 said the technician； and he turned back to the current project。
〃Placental separation looks good…tightening up just like it's supposed to。 You know； the more I study this； the more impressed I am with the surgeons who did the sections on the mothers。 We've got to get more medical students off planet； somehow。 Getting those placentas out undamaged must be the most…there。 There。 And there。 Break seal。〃 He pleted the adjustments and lifted the top。 〃Cut the membrane…and out she es。 Suction； quickly； please。〃
Cordelia realized that Bothari； still pinned to the wall； was holding his breath。
The wet and squirming infant took a breath and coughed as the cold air hit her。 Bothari breathed too。 She looked rather pretty to Cordelia； unbloodied； and much less red and squashed…looking than the vids of vivo newborns she had seen。 The infant cried； loud and strong。 Vorkosigan jumped； and Cordelia laughed out loud。
〃Why； she looks quite perfect。〃 Cordelia hovered at the shoulders of the two medical men； who were making their measurements and taking their samples from their tiny； astonished； bewildered and blinking charge。
〃Why is she crying so loudly？〃 asked Vorkosigan nervously； like Bothari still in his original spot。
Because she knows she's been born on Barrayar； was the ment Cordelia suppressed on her lips。 Instead she said； 〃What； you'd cry too if a bunch of giants hooked you out of a nice warm doze and tossed you around like a bag of beans。〃 Cordelia and the technician exchanged a look half…amused； half…glowering。
〃All right； Milady；〃 surrendered the technician； as the doctor turned back to his precious machine。
〃My sister…in…law says you're supposed to hold them close； like this。 Not out at arm's length。 I'd squall too if I thought I was being held over a pit about to be dropped。 There； baby。 Smile or something for Auntie Cordelia。 That's it； nice and calm。 Were you old enough to remember your mother's heartbeat； I wonder？〃 She hummed at the infant； who smacked her lips and yawned； and tucked the receiving blanket around her more firmly。 〃What a long； strange journey you've had。〃
〃Want a look at the inside of this； sir？〃 the doctor went on。 〃You； too； Sergeant…you were asking so many questions the last time you were here。。。〃
Bothari shook his head； but Vorkosigan went over for the technical exposition the doctor was obviously itching to supply。 Cordelia carried the baby over to the Sergeant。
〃Want to hold her？〃
〃Is it all right； Milady？〃
〃Heavens； you don't have to ask me for permission。 If anything； the other way around。〃
Bothari picked her up gingerly； his large hands seeming almost to engulf her； and stared into her face。 〃Are they sure it's the right one？ I thought she'd have a bigger nose。〃
〃They've been checked and rechecked；〃 Cordelia reassured him； hoping he wouldn't ask her how she knew。 But it seemed a safe assumption。 〃All babies have little noses。 You don't know what kids are going to look like till they're eighteen。〃
〃Maybe she'll look like her mother；〃 he said hopefully。 Cordelia seconded the hope； silently。
The doctor finished dragging Vorkosigan through the guts of his dream machine； Vorkosigan politely managing to look only a little unsettled。
〃Want to hold her too； Aral？〃 Cordelia offered。