"Very well," says Galen. "Let's hear your proposition, if you have one, Vorkosigan."
"I propose life. I have concealed a credit chit for a hundred thousand Betan dollars - half a million Imperial marks - payable to the bearer. I can give you that plus information on how to evade Barrayaran security, who are hot on your trail at this very moment, in exchange for: my cousin, my brother," this with a slight gesture to Mark, "and your promise to retire and trouble Barrayar no more. All you can gain with more plotting is useless bloodshed and unnecessary pain to your surviving relatives. The war is over, Ser Galen, long over. It's time to try something new. Peace, for example."
"The revolt must not die," murmurs Galen.
"'It didn't work, so let's do it some more'," Miles summarizes. "In my line of work they call that military stupidity."
"My older sister once surrendered on a Barrayaran's word," Galen observes. "Admiral Vorkosigan, too, was full of persuasion and promises."
"My father's word was betrayed by an underling who couldn't recognize when the war was over and it was time to quit. He was executed for his crime. There's your revenge. It is all he could give you, and I can do no more; I have no power to bring the dead to life. All I can do is try to prevent more dying."
"And you, David?" asks Galen, turning to his son. "What bribe will you offer me to betray Komarr, to lay alongside your Barrayaran master's money?"
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-09-10 07:05 pm (UTC)"I propose life. I have concealed a credit chit for a hundred thousand Betan dollars - half a million Imperial marks - payable to the bearer. I can give you that plus information on how to evade Barrayaran security, who are hot on your trail at this very moment, in exchange for: my cousin, my brother," this with a slight gesture to Mark, "and your promise to retire and trouble Barrayar no more. All you can gain with more plotting is useless bloodshed and unnecessary pain to your surviving relatives. The war is over, Ser Galen, long over. It's time to try something new. Peace, for example."
"The revolt must not die," murmurs Galen.
"'It didn't work, so let's do it some more'," Miles summarizes. "In my line of work they call that military stupidity."
"My older sister once surrendered on a Barrayaran's word," Galen observes. "Admiral Vorkosigan, too, was full of persuasion and promises."
"My father's word was betrayed by an underling who couldn't recognize when the war was over and it was time to quit. He was executed for his crime. There's your revenge. It is all he could give you, and I can do no more; I have no power to bring the dead to life. All I can do is try to prevent more dying."
"And you, David?" asks Galen, turning to his son. "What bribe will you offer me to betray Komarr, to lay alongside your Barrayaran master's money?"