bh.houseatreides-第111部分

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ouse　Atreides　believes。　Any　evidence　to　the　contrary　must　be　false。　My　Truthsayers　have　confirmed　this　after　speaking　to　Leto　and　his　fellow　witnesses。〃
　A　lie；　Leto　thought。　I　spoke　to　no　Truthsayers！
　〃But　Royal　Highness；〃　Magistrate　Prad　Vidal　said；　with　a　dark　scowl　that　lowered　his　black　eyebrows；　〃the　guns　on　his　frigate　showed　evidence　of　having　been　fired。　Are　you　suggesting　the　Tleilaxu　ships　were　damaged　by　a　convenient　accident？　A　mad　coincidence？〃
　Shaddam　shrugged。　〃As　far　as　I　am　concerned；　Duke　Leto　has　explained　this　satisfactorily。　I；　myself；　have　taken　a　bat　pod　into　orbit　for　skeet…drone　practice。　The　remainder　of　the　investigation　is　inconclusive。　Perhaps　an　accident；　yes；　but　not　caused　by　the　Atreides。　It　must　have　been　a　mechanical　malfunction。〃
　〃But　on　two　Tleilaxu　ships？〃　Vidal　said；　in　an　incredulous　tone。
　Leto　looked　around；　speechless；　watching　the　events　play　themselves　out。　Shaddam　was　about　to　begin　his　reign。　If　the　Emperor　himself　threw　his　weight　indisputably　in　support　of　Leto；　would　any　of　the　representatives　declare　themselves　enemies　of　the　crown？　The　repercussions　could　be　severe　and　long…lasting。
　This　is　all　politics；　Landsraad　power　plays；　favors　exchanged；　Leto　thought；　struggling　to　keep　his　expression　calm。　None　of　this　has　anything　to　do　with　the　truth。　Now　that　the　Crown　Prince　had　made　his　stance　clear；　any　magistrate　who　voted　to　convict　Leto　would　be　openly　defying　the　next　Emperor。　Even　the　enemies　of　House　Atreides　would　be　loath　to　risk　that。
　〃Who　can　say？〃　Shaddam　responded；　with　a　toss　of　his　head　that　labeled　the　question　irrelevant。　〃Perhaps　debris　from　the　first　accidental　explosion　hit　the　panion　craft；　damaging　it　less　severely。〃　No　one　believed　the　explanation　for　a　moment；　but　the　Crown　Prince　had　given　them　a　way　out；　a　paper　platform　on　which　to　stand。
　In　low　tones　the　magistrates　conferred　among　themselves。　Some　of　them　agreed　that　Shaddam's　line　of　reasoning　was　plausible　　they　wanted　to　find　some　way　to　agree　with　the　new　Emperor　　but　Vidal　was　not　one　of　them。　Sweat　ran　down　his　brow。
　Looking　over　his　shoulder；　Leto　saw　the　Tleilaxu　spokesman　shaking　his　head　in　silent　disapproval。　In　the　tall　chair　that　had　been　rigged　for　him　at　the　prosecution　table；　he　looked　like　a　displeased　child。
　The　Crown　Prince　continued。　〃I　am　here；　as　is　my　right　and　duty　as　your　Supreme　mander；　to　personally　vouch　for　my　eminent　cousin；　Duke　Leto　Atreides。　I　urgently　request　an　end　to　this　trial　and　the　restoration　of　his　title　and　properties。　If　you　grant　this。。。request；　I　promise　to　send　a　contingent　of　Imperial　diplomats　to　the　Tleilaxu　to　convince　them　to　drop　the　matter　and　not　to　retaliate　against　the　Atreides　in　any　way。〃
　Shaddam　fixed　a　long　glance　at　the　Tleilaxu；　and　Leto　had　the　distinct　impression　that　the　Emperor　also　had　the　gnomish　men　over　a　barrel。　Somehow。　Seeing　that　Shaddam　stood　by　House　Atreides；　their　hauteur　crumbled。
　〃And　if　the　plainants　won't　agree？〃　Vidal　inquired。
　Shaddam　smiled。　〃Oh；　they'll　agree。　I　am　even　willing　to　open　the　Imperial　coffers　to　pay　generous；　ah；　disaster　relief　for　what　was；　undoubtedly；　an　unfortunate　accident。　It　is　my　duty　as　your　new　ruler　to　maintain　peace　and　stability　throughout　the　Imperium。　I　cannot　allow　such　a　feud　to　destroy　what　my　dear　father　built　during　his　long　reign。〃
　Leto　caught　Shaddam's　gaze；　and　detected　a　glimmer　of　fear　beneath　the　statesmanship　and　bravado。　Without　words　Shaddam　told　Leto　to　keep　his　mouth　shut；　making　Leto　even　more　curious　about　what　alarms　his　mysterious　bluff　had　triggered。
　So　he　held　his　tongue。　But　could　Shaddam　afford　to　let　him　live　afterward；　not　knowing　what　proof　Leto　might　have　against　him？
　Following　a　short　conference　among　themselves；　Baron　Lar　Olin　cleared　his　throat　and　announced；　〃It　is　the　finding　of　this　duly　sworn　Landsraad　Council　that　all　evidence　against　Leto　Atreides　is　circumstantial　and　unprovable。　Given　such　extreme　doubts；　there　are　insufficient　grounds　to　proceed　with　a　trial　of　such　devastating　consequences；　especially　in　light　of　the　extraordinary　testimony　of　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　Corrino。　We　therefore　declare　Leto　Atreides　fully　exonerated　and　restore　to　him　his　title　and　property。〃
　Stunned　at　his　sudden　good　fortune；　Leto　found　himself　congratulated　by　the　Emperor…to…be　and　then　mobbed　by　his　friends　and　supporters。　Many　of　them　were　delighted　to　see　him　win；　but　despite　his　youth　Leto　was　not　naive；　he　knew　just　as　many　of　them　were　happy　simply　to　see　the　Tleilaxu　lose。
　All　around　him　the　courtroom　erupted　in　cheers　and　thunderous　ovations；　with　the　exception　of　a　few　in　attendance　who　remained　conspicuously　silent。　Leto　marked　them　for　further　consideration；　and　knew　Thufir　Hawat　would　be　doing　the　same。
　〃Leto；　there　is　one　more　thing　I　must　do；〃　Shaddam　said；　his　voice　cutting　through　the　din。
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Leto　saw　something　glint　in　the　light。　Shaddam's　hand　moved；　snatching　a　jewel…handled　knife　from　his　sleeve　　translucent　blue…green　like　the　Hagal　quartz　of　the　Imperial　throne。　He　raised　it；　moving　quickly。
　Back　at　the　bench；　Thufir　Hawat　leaped　to　his　feet；　but　too　late。　The　crowd　fell　into　an　instant　hush。
　Then；　with　a　smile；　Shaddam　slipped　the　knife　into　the　empty　sheath　at　Leto's　waist。　〃My　congratulatory　gift　to　you；　Cousin；〃　he　said　in　the　most　pleasant　of　tones。　〃Carry　this　blade　as　a　reminder　of　your　service　to　me。〃
　We　do　what　we　must。　Friendship　and　loyalty　be　damned。　We　do　what　we　must！
　…LADY　HELENA　ATREIDES；
　her　personal　journals
　Hasimir　Fenring　brooded　in　his　private　apartments；　in　shock。　How　can　Shaddam　do　this　to　me？
　The　message　capsule　with　the　formal　Imperial　seal　　the　wax　lion　of　House　Corrino　　lay　discarded　on　his　bed。　He　had　torn　Shaddam's　formal　decree　to　shreds；　but　not　before　memorizing　every　word。
　A　new　assignment　　a　banishment！　　a　promotion？
　〃Hasimir　Fenring；　in　acknowledgment　of　your　unfailing　service　to　the　Imperium　and　the　throne　of　the　Padishah　Emperors；　you　are　hereby　appointed　to　a　newly　created　post　as　official　Imperial　Observer　on　Arrakis。
　〃Because　of　this　planet's　vital　importance　to　the　Imperial　economy；　you　shall　have　all　necessary　resources　made　available　to　your　station。〃
　Blah；　blah；　blah。
　How　could　he　dare　do　this？　What　a　useless　waste　of　his　talent。　What　petty　revenge　to　send　Fenring　off　to　a　sandhole　festering　with　worms　and　unwashed　people。　He　fumed；　wishing　he　could　discuss　the　matter　with　the　fascinating　Margot　Rashino…Zea；　whom　he　trusted　more　than　he　should。　She　was；　after　all；　a　Bene　Gesserit　witch。。。。
　Because　of　the　planet's　vital　importance！　He　snorted　in　disgust；　then　set　about　smashing　everything　breakable　he　could　get　his　hands　on。　He　knew　Shaddam　had　banished　him　in　a　fit　of　pique。　For　a　man　with　Fenring's　capabilities；　the　new　job　was　an　insult；　and　it　removed　him　from　the　center　of　Imperial　power。　He　needed　to　be　here；　on　Kaitain；　at　the　hurricane's　eye　of　politics；　not　lost　out　in　some　forgotten　corner　of　space。
　But　Shaddam's　decree　could　not　be　questioned　or　denied。　Fenring　had　thirty　days　to　report　to　the　notorious　arid　planet。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　return。
　All　persons　are　contained　within　a　single　individual；　just　as　all　time　is　in　a　moment；　and　the　entire　universe　is　in　a　grain　of　sand。
　…Fremen　Saying
　On　the　day　of　Shaddam　IV's　coronation　and　wedding；　a　carnival　air　prevailed　on　all　the　worlds　of　the　Imperium。　Jubilant　crowds　immersed　themselves　in　drinking；　dancing；　sporting　events；　and　fireworks　exhibitions。　Old　Emperor　Elrood　had　held　his　throne　for　so　long　that　few　people　could　remember　the　last　time　a　new　ruler　had　been　crowned。
　In　Kaitain's　capital　city；　throngs　gathered　along　the　magnificent　boulevards；　lining　up　beside　the　route　the　royal　procession　would　take。　It　was　a　sunny　day　　as　usual　　and　vendors　did　a　brisk　business　hawking　souvenirs；　memorative　items；　and　refreshments。
　Royal　Corrino　flags　fluttered　in　the　breeze；　everyone　wore　their　scarlet　and　gold　to　mark　the　occasion。　Sardaukar　soldiers　guarded　the　convoluted　route；　wearing　ceremonial　gold　brocade　over　their　dress　gray…and…black　uniforms。　Standing　like　stone　guardians；　they　held　their　lasrifles　in　the　present…arms　position；　unmoved　by　the　blaring　fanfare　or　the　roar　of　the　crowd。　But　they　remained　ready　to　react　with　deadly　force　at　the　slightest　hint　of　threat　to　the　Imperial　presence。
　Boisterous　cheers　rose　from　thousands　of　throats　as　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　and　his　betrothed　Lady　Anirul　rolled　by　in　a　velvet…cushioned　coach　pulled　by　six　golden　lions　from　Harmonthep；　braided　with　jewels；　the　animals'　magnificent　manes　ruffled　in　the　gentle　breeze。　Royal　footmen　and　pikemen　jogged　alongside　the　carriage；　which　was　barely　obscured　by　the　gossamer　shimmer　of　a　protective　shield。
　Looking　intensely　regal；　Anirul　waved　and　smiled；　she　had　shed　her　black　Bene　Gesserit　robes　and　wore　a　waterfall　of　laces；　ruffles；　and　pearl　drops。　Her　tiara　dazzled　with　prisms　and　jewels；　catching　the　sunlight　from　the　ever…cloudless　sky。　Beside　her；　Shaddam　looked　magnificent　with　his　reddish　hair　perfectly　pomaded；　his　military…style　uniform　decked　with　braids　and　shoulder　boards　and　clanking　medals。
　Since　the　Crown　Prince's　marriage　displayed　no　favoritism　to　any　Great　or　Minor　House；　the　Landsraad　had　accepted　Anirul　as　the　Imperial　consort；　though　many　questioned　her　mysterious　background　and　〃hidden　rank〃　in　the　Bene　Gesserit。　After　the　death　of　Elrood；　though；　followed　by　this　grandiose　coronation　and　wedding；　the　Imperium　was　awash　in　a　sea　of　changes。　Shaddam　hoped　to　use　that　to　his　advantage。
　With　a　paternal　smile　fixed　on　his　face；　he　scattered　solari　coins　and　packets　of　gemdust　to　the　crowd；　following　a　tradition　of　Imperial　largesse　that　was　believed　to　bring　blessings　upon　a　new　reign。　The　people　loved　him；　he　was　surrounded　by　wealth；　with　the　snap　of　his　fingers　he　could　obliterate　entire　worlds。　This　was　exactly　how　he　had　imagined　the　role　of　Emperor　would　be。
　A　flourish　of　trumpets　made　joyful　clarion　sounds。
　WON'T　YOU　SIT　with　me；　Hasimir？〃　the　willowy　blonde　asked；　giving　him　a　coquettish　smile　during　the　pre…coronation　reception。　Fenring　couldn't　tell　if　Margot　Rashino…Zea　had　purposely