fh.godemperorofdune-第6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！


　never　edited　and　inescapable。
　Reluctantly；　he　says：　〃Well。　。　。　if　you　want。〃
　〃Duncan；　I　am　all　of　them　and　I　know。　There　has　never　been　a　truly　selfless　rebel；　just　hypocrites…conscious　hypocrites　or　unconscious　hypocrites；　it's　all　the　。same。〃
　That　stirs　up　a　small　hornet's　nest　among　my　ancestral　memories。　Some　of　them　have　never　given　up　the　belief　that　they　and　they　alone　held　the　key　to　all　of　humankind's　problems。　Well；　in　that；　they　are　like　me。　I　can　sympathize　even　while　I　tell　them　that　failure　is　its　own　demonstration。
　I　am　forced　to　block　them　off；　though。　There's　no　sense　dwelling　on　them。　They　now　are　little　more　than　poignant　reminders。。。as　is　this　Duncan　who　stands　in　front　of　me　with　his　lasgun。。。。
　Great　Gods　below！　He　has　caught　me　napping。　He　has　the　lasgun　in　his　hand　and　it　is　pointed　at　my　face。
　〃You；　Duncan'？　Have　you　betrayed　me；　too？〃
　Et　tu；　Brute？
　Every　fiber　of　Leto's　awareness　came　to　full　alert。　He　could　feel　his　body　twitching。　The　worm…flesh　had　a　will　of　its　own。
　Idaho　spoke　with　derision：　〃Tell　me；　Leto：　How　many　times　must　I　pay　the　debt　of　loyalty？〃
　Leto　recognized　the　inner　question：　〃How　many　of　me　have　there　been？〃　The　Duncans　always　wanted　to　know　this。　Every　Duncan　asked　it　and　no　answer　satisfied。　They　doubted。
　In　his　saddest　Muad'Dib　voice；　Leto　asked：　〃Do　you　take　no　pride　in　my　admiration；　Duncan？　Haven't　you　ever　wondered　what　it　is　about　you　that　makes　me　desire　you　as　my　constant　panion　through　the　centuries？〃
　〃You　know　me　to　be　the　ultimate　fool！〃
　〃Duncan！〃
　The　voice　of　an　angry　Muad'Dib　could　always　be　counted　on　to　shatter　Idaho。　Despite　the　fact　that　Idaho　knew　no　Bene　Gesserit　had　ever　mastered　the　powers　of　Voice　as　Leto　had　mastered　them；　it　was　predictable　that　he　would　dance　to　this　one　voice。　The　lasgun　wavered　in　his　hand。
　That　was　enough。　Leto　was　off　the　cart　in　a　hurtling　roil。　Idaho　had　never　seen　him　leave　the　cart　this　way；　had　not　even　suspected　it　could　happen。　For　Leto；　there　were　only　two　requirements…a　real　threat　which　the　worm…body　could　sense　and　the　release　of　that　body。　The　rest　was　automatic　and　the　speed　of　it　always　astonished　even　Leto。
　The　lasgun　was　his　major　concern。　It　could　scratch　him　badly；　but　few　understood　the　abilities　of　the　pre…worm　body　to　deal　with　heat。
　Leto　struck　Idaho　while　rolling　and　the　lasgun　was　deflected　as　it　was　fired。　One　of　the　useless　flippers　which　had　been　Leto's　legs　and　feet　sent　a　shocking　burst　of　sensations　crashing　into　his　awareness。　For　an　instant；　there　was　only　pain。　But　the　worm…body　was　free　to　act　and　reflexes　ignited　a　violent　paroxysm　of　flopping。　Leto　heard　bones　cracking。　The　lasgun　was　thrown　far　across　the　floor　of　the　crypt　by　a　spasmodic　jerk　of　Idaho's　hand。
　Rolling　off　of　Idaho；　Leto　poised　himself　for　a　renewed　attack　but　there　was　no　need。　The　injured　flipper　still　sent　pain　signals　and　he　sensed　that　the　tip　of　the　flipper　had　been　burned　away。　The　sandtrout　skin　already　had　sealed　the　wound。　The　pain　had　eased　to　an　ugly　throbbing。
　Idaho　stirred。　There　could　be　little　doubt　that　he　had　been　mortally　injured。　His　chest　was　visibly　crushed。　There　was　obvious　agony　when　he　tried　to　breathe；　but　he　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　up　at　Leto。
　The　persistence　of　these　mortal　possessions！　Leto　thought。
　〃Siona；〃　Idaho　gasped。
　Leto　saw　the　life　leave　him　then。
　Interesting；　Leto　thought。　Is　it　possible　that　this　Duncan　and　Siona。。。No！　This　Duncan　always　displayed　a　true　sneering　disdain　for　Siona's　foolishness。
　Leto　climbed　back　onto　the　Royal　Cart。　That　had　been　a　close　one。　There　could　be　little　doubt　that　the　Duncan　had　been　aiming　for　the　brain。　Leto　was　always　aware　that　his　hands　and　feet　were　vulnerable；　but　he　had　allowed　no　one　to　learn　that　what　had　once　been　his　brain　was　no　longer　directly　associated　with　his　face。　It　was　not　even　a　brain　of　human　dimensions　anymore；　but　had　spread　in　nodal　congeries　throughout　his　body。　He　had　told　this　to　no　one　but　his　journals。
　
　Oh；　the　landscapes　I　have　seen！　And　the　people！　The　far　wanderings　of　the　Fremen　and　all　the　rest　of　it。　Even　back　through　the　myths　to　Terra。　Oh；　the　lessons　in　astronomy　and　intrigue；　the　migrations；　the　disheveled　flights；　the　leg　aching　and　lung…aching　runs　through　so　many　nights　on　all　of　those　cosmic　specks　where　we　have　defended　our　transient　possession。　I　tell　you　we　are　a　marvel　and　my　memories　leave　no　doubt　of　this。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　THE　WOMAN　working　at　the　small　wall　desk　was　too　big　for　the　narrow　chair　on　which　she　perched。　Outside；　it　was　midmorning；　but　in　this　windowless　room　deep　beneath　the　city　of　Onn　there　was　but　a　single　glowglobe　high　in　a　corner。　It　had　been　tuned　to　warm　yellow　but　the　light　failed　to　dispel　the　gray　utility　of　the　small　room。　Walls　and　ceiling　were　covered　by　identical　rectangular　panels　of　dull　gray　metal。
　There　was　only　one　other　piece　of　furniture；　a　narrow　cot　with　a　thin　pallet　covered　by　a　featureless　gray　blanket。　It　was　obvious　that　neither　piece　of　furniture　had　been　designed　for　the　occupant。
　She　wore　a　one…piece　pajama　suit　of　dark　blue　which　stretched　tightly　across　her　wide　shoulders　as　she　hunched　over　the　desk。　The　glowglobe　illuminated　closely　cropped　blonde　hair　and　the　right　side　of　her　face；　emphasizing　the　square　block　of　jaw。　The　jaw　moved　with　silent　words　as　her　thick　fingers　carefully　depressed　the　keys　of　a　thin　keyboard　on　the　desk。　She　handled　the　machine　with　a　deference　which　had　originated　as　awe　and　moved　reluctantly　into　fearsome　excitement。　Long　familiarity　with　the　machine　had　eliminated　neither　emotion。
　As　she　wrote；　words　appeared　on　a　screen　concealed　within　the　wall　rectangle　exposed　by　the　downward　folding　of　the　desk。
　〃Siona　continues　actions　which　predict　violent　attack　on　Your　Holy　Person；〃　she　wrote。　〃Siona　remains　unswerving　in　her　avowed　purpose。　She　told　me　today　that　she　will　give　copies　of　the　stolen　books　to　groups　whose　loyalty　to　You　cannot　be　trusted。　The　named　recipients　are　the　Bene　Gesserit；　the　Guild　and　the　Ixians。　She　says　the　books　contain　Your　enciphered　words　and；　by　this　gift；　she　seeks　help　in　translating　Your　Holy　Words。
　〃Lord；　I　do　not　know　what　great　revelations　may　be　concealed　on　those　pages　but　if　they　contain　anything　of　threat　to　Your　Holy　Person；　I　beg　You　to　relieve　me　from　my　vow　of　obedience　to　Siona。　I　do　not　understand　why　You　made　me　take　this　vow；　but　I　fear　it。
　〃I　remain　Your　worshipful　servant；　Nayla。〃
　The　chair　creaked　as　Nayla　sat　back　and　thought　about　her　words。　The　room　fell　into　the　almost　soundless　withdrawal　of　thick　insulation。　There　was　only　Nayla's　faint　breathing　and　a　distant　throbbing　of　machinery　felt　more　in　the　floor　than　in　the　air。
　Nayla　stared　at　her　message　on　the　screen。　Destined　only　for　the　eyes　of　the　God　Emperor；　it　required　more　than　holy　truthfulness。　It　demanded　a　deep　candor　which　she　found　draining。　Presently；　she　nodded　and　pressed　the　key　which　would　encode　the　words　and　prepare　them　for　transmission。　Bowing　her　head；　she　prayed　silently　before　concealing　the　desk　within　the　wall。　These　actions；　she　knew；　transmitted　the　message。　God　himself　had　implanted　a　physical　device　within　her　head；　swearing　her　to　secrecy　and　warning　her　that　there　might　e　a　time　when　he　would　speak　to　her　through　the　thing　within　her　skull。　He　had　never　done　this。　She　suspected　that　Ixians　had　fashioned　the　device。　It　had　possessed　some　of　their　look。　But　God　Himself　had　done　this　thing　and　she　could　ignore　the　suspicion　that　there　might　be　a　puter　in　it；　that　it　might　be　prohibited　by　the　Great　Convention。
　〃Make　no　device　in　the　likeness　of　the　mind！〃
　Nayla　shuddered。　She　stood　then　and　moved　her　chair　to　its　regular　position　beside　the　cot。　Her　heavy；　muscular　body　strained　against　the　thin　blue　garment。　There　was　a　steady　deliberation　about　her；　the　actions　of　someone　constantly　adjusting　to　great　physical　strength。　She　turned　at　the　cot　and　studied　the　place　where　the　desk　had　been。　There　was　only　a　rectangular　gray　panel　like　all　the　others。　No　bit　of　lint；　no　strand　of　hair；　nothing　caught　there　to　reveal　the　panel's　secret。
　Nayla　took　a　deep；　restorative　breath　and　let　herself　out　of　the　room's　only　door　into　a　gray　passage　dimly　lighted　by　widely　spaced　white　glowglobes。　The　machinery　sounds　were　louder　here。　She　turned　left　and　a　few　minutes　later　was　with　Siona　in　a　somewhat　larger　room；　a　table　at　its　center　upon　which　things　stolen　from　the　Citadel　had　been　arranged。　Two　silvery　glowglobes　illuminated　the　scene…Siona　seated　at　the　table；　with　an　assistant　named　Topri　standing　beside　her。
　Nayla　nurtured　grudging　admiration　for　Siona；　but　Topri；　there　was　a　man　worthy　of　nothing　except　active　dislike。　He　was　a　nervous　fat　man　with　bulging　green　eyes；　a　pug　nose　and　thin　lips　above　a　dimpled　chin。　Topri　squeaked　when　he　spoke。
　〃Look　here；　Nayla！　Look　what　Siona　has　found　pressed　between　the　pages　of　these　two　books。〃
　Nayla　closed　and　locked　the　room's　single　door。
　〃You　talk　too　much；　Topri；〃　Nayla　said。　〃You're　a　blurter。　How　could　you　know　if　I　was　alone　in　the　passage？〃
　Topri　paled。　An　angry　scowl　settled　onto　his　face。
　〃I'm　afraid　she's　right；〃　Siona　said。　〃What　made　you　think　I　wanted　Nayla　to　know　about　my　discovery？〃
　〃You　trust　her　with　everything！〃
　Siona　turned　her　attention　to　Nayla。　〃Do　you　know　why　I　trust　you；　Nayla？〃　The　question　was　asked　in　a　flat；　unemotional　voice。
　Nayla　put　down　a　sudden　surge　of　fear。　Had　Siona　discovered　her　secret？
　Have　I　failed　my　Lord？
　〃Have　you　no　response　to　my　question？〃　Siona　asked。
　〃Have　I　ever　given　you　cause　to　do　otherwise？〃　Nayla　asked。
　〃That's　not　a　sufficient　cause　for　trust；〃　Siona　said。　〃There's　no　such　thing　as　perfection…not　in　human　or　machine。〃
　〃Then　why　do　you　trust　me？〃
　〃Your　words　and　your　actions　always　agree。　It's　a　marvelous　quality。　For　instance；　you　don't　like　Topri　and　you　never　try　to　conceal　your　dislike。〃
　Nayla　glanced　at　Topri；　who　cleared　his　throat。
　〃I　don't　trust　him；〃　Nayla　said。
　The　words　popped　into　her　mind　and　out　of　her　mouth　without　reflection。　Only　after　she　had　spoken　did　Nayla　realize　the　true　core　of　her　dislike：　Topri　would　betray　anyone　for　personal　gain