bh.houseatreides-第112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！


　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　made　her　voice　sultry；　or　if　it　just　came　naturally　to　her。　He　held　a　plate　of　food　containing　exotic　hors　d'oeuvres。　Poison…snoopers　fluttered　like　hummingbirds　over　the　crowded　guests。　The　day's　ceremonies　would　last　for　hours　upon　hours；　and　the　guests　could　relax　and　partake　of　refreshments　at　their　leisure。
　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　stood　taller　than　Fenring；　and　leaned　intimately　close　to　him　when　she　spoke。　Her　coral…and…jet　dress　shimmered　around　the　exquisite　perfection　of　her　form　and　features。　She　wore　a　Caladanian　pearl　necklace　and　a　brooch　encrusted　with　gold　and　precious　stones。　Her　skin　looked　like　rich；　honeyed　milk。
　Around　them　in　the　balcony　lobby　of　the　Grand　Theatre；　elegantly　dressed　noblemen　and　ladies　chatted　and　drank　grand　cru　wines　from　tall…stemmed　glasses。　The　octave…crystal　hummed　as　glasses　were　touched　together　in　repeated　toasts。　Within　the　hour；　the　assemblage　would　witness　the　climactic　double　event　that　would　be　held　on　center　stage：　the　coronation　of　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　Corrino　IV　and　his　wedding　to　the　Lady　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　Fenring　nodded　his　large　head　and　executed　a　brief　bow　to　her。　〃I　would　be　honored　to　sit　next　to　you；　lovely　Margot。〃　Balancing　his　plate；　Fenring　lowered　himself　onto　the　bench　beside　her。　She　inspected　the　hors　d'oeuvres　he　had　chosen　and；　without　asking；　reached　over　to　pluck　one　of　them　for　herself。
　It　was　a　cheerful　gathering；　Fenring　thought；　without　the　whisperings　of　discontent　that　had　so　poisoned　the　Palace　in　recent　months。　He　was　satisfied　with　his　own　efforts　in　this　regard。　Key　alliances　had　been　solidified；　and　the　Federated　Houses　no　longer　made　any　serious　talk　of　revolt　against　Shaddam。　The　Bene　Gesserit　had　thrown　their　public　support　behind　the　Corrino　reign；　and　no　doubt　the　witches　had　continued　their　machinations　behind　the　scenes　at　other　Great　Houses。　Fenring　found　it　curious　that　many　of　those　who'd　been　the　most　suspicious　and　outspoken　nobles　were　no　longer　counted　among　the　living　　and　even　more　curious　that　he'd　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。
　The　trial　of　Leto　Atreides　had　ended　by　fiat；　and　the　only　ones　openly　dissatisfied　with　the　verdict　were　the　Bene　Tleilax。　He　and　Shaddam　would　work　to　quiet　them　quickly；　though。　The　greatest　mystery　in　Fenring's　mind　was　that　no　one　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　had　happened　inside　the　Guild　Heighliner。
　The　more　he　observed　and　the　more　he　considered　the　strange　sequence　of　events；　the　more　he　began　to　believe　the　possibility　that　young　Leto　Atreides　had　been　framed　after　all　　but　how　and　by　whom？　No　other　House　had　e　forward　to　gloat；　and　since　virtually　everyone　had　believed　in　Atreides　culpability；　even　the　most　imaginative　and　loose　tongues　had　not　bothered　to　spread　additional　rumors。
　Fenring　would　dearly　love　to　know　what　had　happened；　if　only　to　add　the　technique　to　his　own　repertoire。　But；　once　he　went　off　to　his　new　assignment　on　Arrakis；　he　doubted　he　would　have　any　opportunity　to　unravel　the　secret。
　Before　he　could　advance　his　pleasant　conversation　with　Margot；　though；　he　heard　thunderous　crowds　outside　and　resonating　trumpets。　〃Shaddam　and　the　royal　entourage　are　ing；〃　Margot　said　with　a　toss　of　her　honey…blonde　hair。　〃We'd　best　go　find　our　seats。〃
　Fenring　knew　the　Crown　Prince's　carriage　would　now　be　entering　the　quadrangle　containing　the　theatre　and　Imperial　government　buildings。　He　tried　to　cover　his　disappointment。　〃But　you'll　be　in　the　Bene　Gesserit　section；　my　dear。〃　He　stared　at　her　with　glittering　dark　eyes　as　he　dipped　a　piece　of　pheasant　Kaitain　into　a　bowl　of　plum　sauce。　〃Would　you　like　me　to　dress　in　one　of　those　costumes　and　pretend　to　be　in　the　Sisterhood？〃　He　swallowed　the　morsel；　savored　its　sweetness。　〃I'd　do　it；　to　be　next　to　you；　hm…m…m…m？〃
　She　tapped　him　on　the　chest　playfully。　〃You　aren't　what　you　appear　to　be；　that's　for　certain；　Hasimir　Fenring。〃
　His　overlarge　eyes　narrowed。　〃Meaning？〃
　〃Meaning。。。we　have　much　in　mon；　you　and　I。〃　She　pressed　one　of　her　soft　breasts　against　his　arm。　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　wise　for　the　two　of　us　to　continue　　and　formalize　　this　alliance　we　seem　to　be　forming。〃
　Fenring　glanced　around　to　see　if　anyone　was　eavesdropping。　He　didn't　like　snoopers。　Leaning　close　to　her；　he　spoke　in　a　passionless　voice。　〃I　never　intended　to　take　a　wife。　I　am　a　genetic…eunuch　and　cannot　father　children。〃
　〃Then　we　may　be　required　to　make　certain　sacrifices；　each　in　our　own　ways。　That　need　be　nothing　personal。〃　She　arched　her　golden　eyebrows。　〃Besides；　I　imagine　you　have　your　ways　of　pleasing　a　woman？　I；　too；　have　had　extensive。。。training。〃
　A　cruel　smile　slashed　his　face。　〃Ah…um…m…m…m。　Is　that　so？　My　dear　Margot；　it　sounds　as　if　you're　presenting　me　with　a　business　plan。〃
　〃And　you；　Hasimir；　seem　to　be　a　man　who　prefers　practicality　over　romanticism。　I　think　we're　well　matched；〃　she　said。　〃Both　of　us　are　skilled　at　recognizing　layered　plans；　the　labyrinthine　ways　in　which　seemingly　unrelated　actions　are　actually　connected。〃
　〃The　results　are　often　quite　deadly；　aren't　they？〃
　She　reached　over　with　her　napkin　to　wipe　plum　sauce　from　the　side　of　his　mouth。　〃Mmm；　you　need　someone　to　take　care　of　you。〃
　He　studied　her；　the　finishing…school　way　she　held　her　chin　high；　the　perfection　and　steady　tempo　of　her　speech　　such　a　contrast　to　his　occasional　slurs　and　verbal　hesitations。　Her　gray…green　eyes　gazed　at　him　without　apparent　concealment。　But　he　could　see　the　sparkle　of　secrets　held　behind　those　lovely　pupils。。。so　many　secrets。
　And　he　could　spend　years　and　years　reveling　in　the　challenge　of　uncovering　them。
　Fenring　reminded　himself　how　clever　these　witches　were；　they　did　not　take　individual　action。　Nothing　was　as　it　seemed。　〃You　and　your　Sisterhood　have　a　larger　purpose　in　mind；　Margot；　my　dear。　I　know　something　of　the　ways　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。　You　are　a　group　organism。〃
　〃Well；　I've　informed　the　organism　of　what　I　wish　to　do。〃
　〃Informed　them；　or　asked　them？　Or　did　they　send　you　after　me　in　the　first　place？〃
　The　Dame　of　House　Venette　strolled　by；　leading　a　brace　of　small；　coiffed　dogs。　Her　gilded　dress　was　so　voluminous　that　other　guests　had　to　back　out　of　her　way。　With　each　step；　the　noblewoman　fixed　her　blank　gaze　forward；　as　if　just　concentrating　on　keeping　her　balance。
　Margot　watched　the　spectacle；　then　turned　back　to　Fenring。　〃There　are　obvious　advantages　to　all　of　us；　and　Mother　Superior　Harishka　has　already　given　me　her　blessing。　You　would　gain　a　valuable　connection　with　the　Sisterhood；　though　I　wouldn't　necessarily　tell　you　all　of　our　secrets。〃　She　nudged　him　playfully；　nearly　causing　him　to　spill　his　plate　of　food。
　〃Mm…m…m…m；〃　he　said；　looking　over　the　perfection　of　her　figure；　〃and　I　am　a　key　to　the　power　of　Shaddam。　He　trusts　no　one　more　than　me。〃
　Bemused；　Margot　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃Oh？　Is　that　why　he　sent　you　away　to　Arrakis？　Because　you're　so　close　to　him？　I'm　told　that　you　aren't　happy　with　the　new　duty。〃
　〃How　did　you　find　out　about　that？〃　Fenring　scowled；　felt　the　unfortable　sensation　of　losing　his　balance。　〃I　just　learned　of　the　assignment　myself　two　days　ago。〃　This　clever　witch　had　more　to　say；　and　he　waited　for　her。
　〃Hasimir　Fenring；　you　must　learn　to　use　every　circumstance　to　your　advantage。　Arrakis　is　the　key　to　melange；　and　the　spice　opens　the　universe。　Our　new　Emperor　may　think　he　has　merely　reassigned　you；　but　in　reality　he　has　entrusted　you　with　something　vitally　important。　Think　of　it　　Imperial　Observer　on　Arrakis。〃
　〃Yes；　and　the　Baron　Harkonnen　won't　like　it　one　bit。　I　suspect　he's　been　hiding　many　small　details　all　along。〃
　She　graced　him　with　a　lush；　full　smile。　〃No　one　can　hide　such　things　from　you；　my　dear。　Or　me。〃
　He　smiled　back　at　her。　〃Then　we　can　while　away　the　miserable　days　ferreting　out　his　secrets。〃
　She　ran　her　long；　thin　fingers　along　his　sleeve。　〃Arrakis　is　a　most　difficult　place　in　which　to　live；　but。。。perhaps　you　would　enjoy　it　more　in　my　pany？〃
　He　grew　wary；　as　was　his　nature。　Though　the　crowd　was　filled　with　extravagant　costumes　and　exotic　plumage；　Margot　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　entire　hall。　〃I　might。　But　why　would　you　want　to　go　there？　A　horrible　place；　by　all　accounts。〃
　〃My　Sisters　describe　it　as　a　planet　of　ancient　mysteries；　and　my　spending　time　there　would　greatly　increase　my　standing　among　the　Bene　Gesserit。　It　could　be　an　important　step　in　my　training　to　bee　a　Reverend　Mother。　Use　your　imagination：　sandworms；　Fremen；　spice。　It　could　be　most　interesting　if　you　and　I　were　to　solve　those　mysteries　together。　I'm　stimulated　by　your　panionship；　Hasimir。〃
　〃I'll　give　your。。。proposal　some　thought。〃
　He　was　drawn　to　this　woman　physically　and　emotionally。。。bothersome　feelings。　When　he　had　experienced　such　strong　emotions　in　the　past；　he　had　felt　pelled　to　dismiss　the　attraction；　get　rid　of　it　in　any　manner　necessary。　This　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　was　different；　though　　or　seemed　to　be。　Only　time　would　tell。
　He'd　heard　stories　of　Bene　Gesserit　breeding　programs；　but　because　of　his　congenital　deformity；　the　Sisterhood　would　not　be　after　his　genetic　line；　there　had　to　be　something　else　to　it。　Obviously　Margot's　motives　went　beyond　her　personal　feelings　　if　she　truly　had　any　feelings　for　him。　This　woman　had　to　see　the　opportunities　in　him；　both　for　herself　and　for　her　order　of　Sisters。
　And　Margot　offered　him　something　as　well　　a　new　avenue　to　power　he'd　never　dreamed　existed。　Until　now；　his　only　advantage　had　rested　with　Shaddam；　his　fortuitous　childhood　panion。　But　that　status　had　been　recently　damaged　when　the　Crown　Prince　began　behaving　strangely。　Shaddam　had　stepped　beyond　his　abilities；　attempting　to　make　his　own　decisions　and　think　for　himself。　A　dangerous；　foolhardy　course　of　action；　and　he　didn't　even　seem　to　know　it　yet。
　Given　the　circumstances；　Fenring　needed　new　contacts　in　powerful　places。　Such　as　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　With　the　arrival　of　the　Imperial　carriage　outside；　guests　began　streaming　into　the　Grand　Theatre。　Fenring　discarded　his　plate　on　a　side　table；　and　Margot　slipped　her　arm　through　his；　sayi