fh.godemperorofdune-第63部分

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　〃He　was　a　seeker　after　sensations；〃　Moneo　said。　〃The　fat　was　a　side…effect；　then　perhaps　something　to　experience　for　itself　because　it　offended　people　and　he　enjoyed　offending。〃
　〃The　Baron　only　consumed　a　few　planets；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Leto　consumes　the　universe。〃
　〃Love；　please！〃　Hwi　protested。
　〃Let　him　rant；〃　Moneo　said。　〃When　I　was　young　and　ignorant；　even　as　my　Siona　and　this　poor　fool；　I　said　similar　things。〃
　‘　Is　that　why　you　let　your　daughter　go　out　to　die？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　〃Love；　that's　cruel；〃　Hwi　said。
　〃Duncan；　it　has　always　been　one　of　your　flaws　to　seek　hysteria；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　warn　you　that　ignorance　thrives　on　hysteria。　Your　genes　provide　vigor　and　you　may　inspire　some　among　the　Fish　Speakers；　but　you　are　a　poor　leader。〃
　〃Don't　try　to　anger　me；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I　know　better　than　to　attack　you；　but　don't　push　me　too　far。〃
　Hwi　tried　to　take　Idaho's　hand；　but　he　pulled　away。
　〃I　know　my　place；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I'm　a　useful　follower。　I　can　carry　the　Atreides　banner。　The　green　and　black　is　on　my　back！〃
　〃The　undeserving　maintain　power　by　promoting　hysteria；〃　Moneo　said。　〃The　Atreides　art　is　the　art　of　ruling　without　hysteria；　the　art　of　being　responsible　for　the　uses　of　power。〃
　Idaho　pushed　back　and　heaved　himself　to　his　feet。　〃When　has　your　damned　God　Emperor　ever　been　responsible　for　anything？〃
　Moneo　looked　down　at　his　cluttered　table　and　spoke　without　looking　up。　〃He　is　responsible　for　what　he　has　done　to　himself。〃　Moneo　looked　up　then；　his　eyes　frosty。　〃You　haven't　the　guts；
　Duncan；　to　learn　why　he　did　that　to　himself！〃
　〃And　you　have？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃When　I　was　most　angry；〃　Moneo　said；　〃and　he　saw　himself　through　my　eyes；　he　said：　'How　dare　you　be　offended　by　me？'　It　was　then…'　Moneo　swallowed…　‘that　he　made　me　look　into　the　horror。。。　that　he　had　seen。〃　Tears　welled　from　Moneo's　eyes　and　ran　down　his　cheeks。　〃And　I　was　only　glad　that　I　did　not　have　to　make　his　decision。。。that　I　could　content　myself　with　being　a　follower。〃
　〃I　have　touched　him；〃　Hwi　whispered。
　〃Then　you　know？〃　Moneo　asked　her。
　〃Without　seeing　it；　I　know；〃　she　said。
　In　a　low　voice；　Moneo　said：　〃I　almost　died　of　it。　I　。　。　。〃　He　shuddered；　then　looked　up　at　Idaho。　〃You　must　not。　。　。〃
　〃Damn　you　all！〃　Idaho　snarled。　He　turned　and　dashed　from　the　room。
　Hwi　stared　after　him；　her　face　a　mask　of　anguish。　〃Ohhh；　Duncan；〃　she　whispered。
　〃You　see？〃　Moneo　asked。　〃You　were　wrong。　Neither　you　nor　the　Fish　Speakers　have　gentled　him。　But　you；　Hwi；　you　have　only　contributed　to　his　destruction。〃
　Hwi　turned　her　anguish　toward　Moneo。　〃I　will　not　see　him　again；〃　she　said。
　For　Idaho；　the　passage　down　to　his　quarters　became　one　of　the　most　difficult　times　in　his　memory。　He　tried　to　imagine　that　his　face　was　a　plasteel　mask　held　immobile　to　hide　the　turmoil　within。　None　of　the　guards　he　passed　could　be　permitted　to　see　his　pain。　He　did　not　know　that　most　of　them　made　accurate　guesses　about　his　emotion　and　shared　a　passion　for　him。　All　of　them　had　sat　through　briefings　on　the　Duncans　and　had　learned　to　read　them　well。
　In　the　corridor　near　his　quarters；　Idaho　encountered　Nayla　walking　slowly　toward　him。　Something　in　her　face；　a　look　of　indecision　and　loss；　stopped　him　briefly　and　almost　brought　him　out　of　his　internal　concentration。
　〃Friend？〃　he　said；　speaking　when　he　was　only　a　few　paces　from　her。
　She　looked　at　him；　abrupt　recognition　obvious　on　her　square　face。
　What　an　odd…looking　woman；　he　thought。
　〃I　am　no　longer　Friend；〃　she　said　and　passed　by　him　down　the　corridor。
　Idaho　turned　on　one　heel　and　stared　at　her　retreating　back…
　those　heavy　shoulders；　that　plodding　sense　of　terrible　muscles。
　What　was　she　bred　for？　he　wondered。
　It　was　only　a　passing　thought。　His　own　concerns　returned　more　strongly　than　before。　He　strode　the　few　paces　to　his　door　and　into　his　quarters。
　Once　inside；　Idaho　stood　a　moment　with　clenched　fists　at　his　sides。
　　have　no　more　ties　to　any　time；　he　thought。　And　how　odd　that　this　was　not　a　liberating　thought。　He　knew；　though；　that　he　had　done　the　thing　which　would　begin　freeing　Hwi　from　her　love　for　him。　He　was　diminished。　She　would　think　of　him　soon　as　a　small；　petulant　fool；　a　subject　only　of　his　own　emotions。　He　could　feel　himself　fading　from　her　immediate　concerns。
　And　that　poor　Moneo！
　Idaho　sensed　the　shape　of　the　things　which　had　formed　the　pliant　majordomo。　Duty　and　responsibility。　What　a　safe　haven　those　were　in　a　time　of　difficult　decisions。
　I　was　like　that　once；　Idaho　thought。　But　that　was　in　another　life；　another　time。
　
　The　Duncans　sometimes　ask　if　I　understand　the　exotic　ideas　of　our　past？　And　if　I　understand　them；　why　can't　I　explain　them？　Knowledge；　the　Duncans　believe；　resides　only　in　particulars。　I　try　to　tell　them　that　all　words　are　plastic。　Word　images　begin　to　distort　in　the　instant　of　utterance。　Ideas　imbedded　in　a　language　require　that　particular　language　for　expression。　This　is　the　very　essence　of　the　meaning　within　the　word　exotic。　See　how　it　begins　to　distort？　Translation　squirms　in　the　presence　of　the　exotic。　The　Galach　which　I　speak　here　imposes　itself。　It　is　an　outside　frame　of　reference；　a　particular　system。　Dangers　lurk　in　all　systems。　Systems　incorporate　the　unexamined　beliefs　of　their　creators。　Adopt　a　system；　accept　its　beliefs；　and　you　help　strengthen　the　resistance　to　change。　Does　it　serve　any　purpose　for　me　to　tell　the　Duncans　that　there　are　no　languages　for　some　things？　Ahhh！　But　the　Duncans　believe　that　all　languages　are　mine。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　Fort　Two　full　turns　of　days　and　nights；　Siona　failed　to　seal　her　face　mask；　losing　precious　water　with　every　breath。　It　had　taken　the　Fremen　admonition　to　children　before　Siona　remembered　her　father's　words。　Leto　had　spoken　to　her　finally　on　the　cold　third　morning　of　their　traverse　when　they　stopped　within　a　rock　shadow　on　the　windswept　flat　of　the　erg。
　〃Guard　every　breath　for　it　carries　the　warmth　and　moisture　of　your　life；〃　he　said。
　He　had　known　they　would　be　three　more　days　on　the　erg　and　three　more　nights　beyond　that　before　they　reached　water。　Now；　it　was　the　fifth　morning　from　the　Little　Citadel's　tower。　They　had　entered　shallow　drifts　of　sand　during　the　night…not　dunes；　but　dunes　could　be　glimpsed　ahead　of　them　and　even　the　remnants　of　Habbanya　Ridge　were　a　thin；　broken　line　in　the　distance　if　you　knew　where　to　look。　Now；　Siona　took　down　the　mouth　flap　of　her　stillsuit　only　to　speak　clearly。　And　she　spoke　through　black　and　bleeding　lips。
　She　has　the　thirst　of　desperation；　he　thought；　as　he　let　his　senses　probe　their　surroundings。　She　will　reach　the　moments　of　crisis　soon。　His　senses　told　him　that　they　were　still　alone　here　at　the　edge　of　the　flat。　Dawn　lay　only　minutes　behind　them。　The　low　light　created　barriers　of　dust　reflection　which　twisted　and　lifted　and　dipped　in　the　unceasing　wind。　His　senses　filtered　out　the　wind　that　he　might　hear　other　things　Siona's　heaving　breaths；　the　tumble　of　a　small　sandspill　from　the　rocks　beside　them；　his　own　gross　body　grating　in　the　thin　sand　cover。
　Siona　peeled　her　face　mask　aside　but　held　it　in　her　hand　for　quick　restoration。
　〃How　much　longer　until　we　find　water？〃　she　asked。
　〃Three　nights。〃
　〃Is　there　a　better　direction　to　go？〃
　〃No。〃
　She　had　e　to　appreciate　the　Fremen　economy　with　important　information。　She　sipped　greedily　at　a　few　drops　in　her　catchpocket。
　Leto　recognized　the　message　of　her　movements…familiar　gestures　for　Fremen　in　extremis。　Siona　was　now　fully　aware　of　a　mon　experience　among　her　ancestors　patiyeh；　the　thirst　at　the　edge　of　death。
　The　few　drops　in　her　catchpocket　were　gone。　He　heard　her　sucking　air。　She　restored　the　mask　and　spoke　in　a　muffed　voice。
　〃I　won't　make　it；　will　I？〃
　Leto　looked　into　her　eyes；　seeing　there　the　clarity　of　thought　brought　on　by　the　nearness　of　death；　a　penetrating　awareness　seldom　otherwise　achieved。　It　amplified　only　that　which　was　required　for　survival。　Yes；　she　was　well　into　the　tedah　riagrimi；　the　agony　which　opens　the　mind。　Soon；　she　would　have　to　make　that　ultimate　decision　which　she　yet　believed　she　had　already　made。　Leto　knew　by　the　signs　that　he　was　required　to　treat　Siona　now　with　extreme　courtesy。　He　would　have　to　answer　every　question　with　candor　for　in　every　question　lurked　a　judgment。
　〃Will　I？〃　she　insisted。
　There　was　still　a　trace　of　hope　in　her　desperation。
　〃Nothing　is　certain；〃　he　said。
　This　dropped　her　into　despair。
　That　had　not　been　Leto's　intention；　but　he　knew　that　it　often　happened…an　accurate；　though　ambiguous；　answer　was　taken　as　confirmation　of　one's　deepest　fears。
　She　sighed。
　Her　mask…muffled　voice　probed　at　him　once　more。　〃You　had　some　special　intention　for　me　in　your　breeding　program。〃
　It　was　not　a　question。
　〃All　people　have　intentions；〃　he　told　her。
　〃But　you　wanted　my　full　agreement。〃
　〃That　is　true。〃
　〃How　could　you　expect　agreement　when　you　know　I　hate　everything　about　you？　Be　honest　with　me！〃
　〃The　three　legs　of　the　agreement…tripod　are　desire；　data　and　doubt。　Accuracy　and　honesty　have　little　to　do　with　it。〃
　〃Please　don't　argue　with　me。　You　know　I'm　dying。〃
　〃I　respect　you　too　much　to　argue　with　you。〃
　He　lifted　his　front　segments　slightly　then；　probing　the　wind。　It　already　was　beginning　to　bring　the　day's　heat　but　there　was　too　much　moisture　in　it　for　his　fort。　He　was　reminded　that　the　more　he　ordered　the　weather　controlled；　the　more　there　was　that　required　control。　Absolutes　only　brought　him　closer　to　vagueries。
　〃You　say　you're　not　arguing；　but。。
　。〃
　〃Argument　closes　off　the　doors　of　the　senses；〃　he　said；　lowering　himself　back　to　the　surface。　〃It　always　masks　violence。　Continued　too　long；　argument　always　leads　to　violence。　I　have　no　violent　intentions　toward　you。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean…desire；　data　and　doubt？〃
　〃Desire　brings　the　participants　together。　Data　set　the　limits　of　their　dialogue。　Doubt　frames　the　questions。〃
　She　moved　closer　to　stare　directly　into　his　face　from　less　than　a　meter　away。
　How　odd；　he　thought；　that　hatred　could　be　mingled　so　pletely　with　hope　and　fear　and　awe。
　〃Could　you　save　me？〃
　〃There　is　a　way。〃
　She　nodded　and　he　knew　she　had　leaped　to　the　wrong　conclusion。
　〃You　want　to　trade　that　for　my　agreement！〃　she　accused。
　〃No。〃
　〃If