bh.houseatreides-第22部分

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Neither　he　nor　Rhombur　would　ever　get　to　be　Emperor。　Serving　as　Duke　of　House　Atreides　would　offer　enough　of　a　challenge；　Leto　thought。
　The　young　men　exchanged　the　half　handshake　of　the　Imperium；　interlocking　fingertips。　The　Ixian　Prince　wore　a　fire…jewel　ring　on　his　right　hand；　and　Leto　felt　no　rough　calluses。
　〃I　thought　I　was　in　the　wrong　place　after　I'd　landed；〃　Leto　said；　finally　letting　his　uneasiness　and　confusion　show　through。　〃I　believed　I　was　stranded　on　some　uninhabited　rock。　Is　this　really。。。Ix？　The　machine　planet？〃　He　pointed　toward　the　spectacular　peaks；　the　snow　and　rocks；　the　dark　forests。
　Remembering　what　his　father　had　told　him　about　the　Ixian　penchant　for　security；　Leto　noted　Rhombur's　hesitation。　〃Oh；　uh；　you'll　see。　We　try　not　to　make　ourselves　too　obvious。〃
　The　Prince　gestured　him　into　the　tube；　and　the　plaz　door　rotated　shut。　They　plunged　through　what　seemed　to　be　a　kilometer　of　rock。　Rhombur　continued　to　speak　calmly　even　as　they　plummeted。　〃Because　of　the　nature　of　our　technical　operations；　Ix　has　countless　secrets　and　many　enemies　who'd　like　to　destroy　us。　We　try　to　keep　our　dealings　and　our　resources　hidden　from　prying　eyes。〃
　The　two　young　men　passed　through　a　luminescent　honeyb　of　artificial　material；　then　into　a　vast　expanse　of　air　that　revealed　a　huge　grotto…world；　a　fairyland　protected　deep　within　the　crust　of　the　planet。
　Massive　crowns　of　graceful　support　girders　came　into　view；　connected　to　diamond　lattice　columns　so　tall　that　the　bottoms　were　not　visible　below。　The　plaz…walled　capsule　continued　to　descend；　floating　free　on　an　Ixian　suspensor　mechanism。　The　capsule's　transparent　floor　gave　Leto　the　unsettling　illusion　of　dropping　feetfirst　through　thin　air。　He　held　on　to　the　side　railing　while　his　floating　suitcases　bobbed　around　him。
　Overhead；　he　saw　what　looked　like　the　cloudy　Ixian　sky　and　the　blue…white　sun　peeking　through。　Projectors　concealed　on　the　surface　of　the　planet　transmitted　actual　weather　images　onto　high…resolution　screens　that　covered　the　rock　ceilings。
　This　enormous　underworld　made　the　inside　of　even　a　Guild　Heighliner　look　minuscule。　Hanging　down　from　the　roof　of　the　stone　vault；　Leto　saw　geometric　inverted　buildings；　like　inhabited　crystal　stalactites　connected　to　each　other　by　walkways　and　tubes。　Teardrop…shaped　aircraft　sped　noiselessly　through　the　subterranean　realm；　flitting　between　structures　and　supports。　Hang　gliders　carrying　people　flashed　by　in　streaks　of　brilliant　color。
　Far　down　on　the　floor　of　the　rough　cavern　he　spotted　a　lake　and　rivers　　all　deep　underground　and　protected　from　outsiders'　eyes。
　〃Vernii；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Our　capital　city。〃
　As　the　capsule　slid　between　the　hanging　stalactite　buildings；　Leto　could　make　out　groundcars；　buses；　and　an　aerial　tube…transport　system。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　inside　a　magical　snowflake。　〃Your　buildings　are　incredibly　beautiful；〃　he　said；　his　gray　eyes　drinking　in　all　the　details。　〃I　always　thought　of　Ix　as　a　noisy　industrial　world。〃
　〃We；　uh；　foster　that　impression　for　outsiders。　We've　discovered　structural　materials　that　are　not　only　aesthetically　pleasing　but　extremely　light　and　strong。　Living　here　underground；　we're　both　protected　and　hidden。〃
　〃And　it　lets　you　keep　the　surface　of　the　world　in　pristine　condition；〃　Leto　pointed　out。　The　Prince　of　Ix　looked　as　if　he　hadn't　even　considered　that　advantage。
　〃The　nobles　and　administrators　live　in　the　upper　stalactite　buildings；〃　Rhombur　continued。　〃Workers；　shift　supervisors；　and　all　the　suboid　crews　live　below　in　warrens。　Everyone　works　together　for　the　prosperity　of　Ix。〃
　〃More　levels　beneath　this　city？　People　live　even　deeper　down　there？〃　〃Well；　not　really　people。　They're　suboids；〃　Rhombur　said；　with　a　dismissive　wave　of　one　hand。　〃We've　specifically　bred　them　to　perform　drudgery　without　plaint。　Quite　a　triumph　of　genetic　engineering。　I　don't　know　what　we'd　do　without　them。〃
　Their　floating　partment　skirted　a　tube…transport　path　and　continued　to　follow　the　upside…down　skyline。　As　they　approached　the　most　spectacular　of　the　inverted　ceiling　palaces　　a　huge；　angled　structure　hanging　suspended　like　an　archaic　cathedral　　Leto　said；　〃I　assume　your　Inquisitors　await　me？〃　He　raised　his　chin　and　prepared　himself　for　the　ordeal。　〃I've　never　had　a　deep　mental　scan　before。〃
　Rhombur　laughed　at　him。　〃I　can；　uh；　arrange　a　mind　probe　if　you　really　wish　to　undergo　the　rigors。。。。〃　The　Ixian　Prince　studied　Leto　intently。　〃Leto；　Leto；　if　we　didn't　trust　you　in　the　first　place；　you　never　would　have　been　allowed　on　Ix。　Security　has；　um；　changed　a　lot　here　since　your　father's　day。　Don't　listen　to　all　those　dark；　sinister　stories　we　spread　about　ourselves。　They're　just　to　scare　away　the　curious。〃
　The　capsule　finally　settled　onto　a　sprawling　balcony　constructed　of　interlocking　tiles；　and　Leto　felt　a　holding　apparatus　engage　underneath　them。　The　chamber　began　to　move　laterally　toward　an　armorplaz　building。
　Leto　tried　not　to　let　his　relief　show。　〃All　right。　I'll　defer　to　your　judgment。〃
　〃And　I'll　do　the　same　when　we're　on　your　planet。　Water　and　fish　and　open　skies。　Caladan　sounds。。。uh；　wonderful。〃　His　tone　said　the　exact　opposite。
　Household　personnel　clad　in　black…and…white　livery　streamed　out　of　the　armor…plaz　building。　Forming　a　neat　line　on　each　side　of　the　tube　path；　the　uniformed　men　and　women　stood　rigidly　at　attention。
　〃This　is　the　Grand　Palais；〃　Rhombur　said；　〃where　our　staff　will　see　to　your　every　wish。　Since　you're　the　only　current　visitor；　you　might　be　in　for　some　pampering。〃
　〃All　these　people　just　to　serve。。。me？〃　Leto　remembered　the　times　when　he'd　had　to　scale　and　fillet　the　fish　he　caught；　if　he　wanted　to　eat。
　〃You　are　an　important　dignitary；　Leto。　The　son　of　a　Duke；　the　friend　of　our　family；　an　ally　in　the　Landsraad。　Do　you　expect　anything　less？〃
　〃In　truth；　I'm　from　a　House　with　no　substantial　wealth；　on　a　planet　where　the　only　glamour　es　from　fishermen；　harvesters　of　floating　paradan　melons；　and　pundi　rice　farmers。〃
　Rhombur　laughed；　a　friendly　peal。　〃Oh；　and　you're　modest；　too！〃
　Followed　by　the　suspensor…borne　luggage；　the　young　men　walked　side　by　side　up　three　wide；　elegant　stairs　into　the　Grand　Palais。
　Looking　around　the　central　lobby；　Leto　identified　Ixian　crystal　chandeliers；　the　finest　in　all　the　Imperium。　Crystal　goblets　and　vases　adorned　marbleplaz　tables；　and　on　each　side　of　a　blackite　reception　desk　were　full…size　lapisjade　statuaries　of　Earl　Dominic　Vernius　and　his　Lady　Shando　Vernius。　Leto　recognized　the　royal　couple　from　triphotos　he　had　seen。
　The　uniformed　household　staff　filtered　back　into　the　building　and　took　up　positions　where　they　would　be　available　for　instructions　from　superiors。　Across　the　lobby；　double　doors　opened　and　big…shouldered；　bald　Dominic　Vernius　himself　approached；　looking　like　some　djinn　out　of　a　bottle。　He　wore　a　silver…and…gold　sleeveless　tunic　trimmed　in　white　at　the　collar。　A　purple…and…copper　Ixian　helix　adorned　his　breast。
　〃Ah；　so　this　is　our　young　visitor！〃　Dominic　effused　with　blustery　good　humor。　Crow's…feet　became　laugh　lines　around　his　bright　brown　eyes。　His　facial　construction　looked　very　much　like　that　of　his　son　Rhombur；　except　the　fat　he　carried　had　set　into　ruddy　folds　and　creases；　and　his　dark　bushy　mustache　made　for　a　striking　frame　around　white　teeth。　Earl　Dominic　was　several　centimeters　taller　than　his　son。　The　Earl's　features　were　not　narrow　and　hard　like　the　Atreides　and　Corrino　bloodlines；　but　came　instead　from　a　lineage　that　had　been　ancient　at　the　time　of　the　Battle　of　Corrin。
　Behind　him　came　his　wife　Shando；　former　concubine　of　the　Emperor；　dressed　in　a　formal　gown。　Her　finely　chiseled　features；　delicately　pointed　nose；　and　creamy　skin　suffused　her　appearance　with　a　regal　beauty　that　would　have　shone　through　even　the　most　drab　of　garments。　She　looked　slight　and　delicate　at　first　glance；　but　carried　a　toughness　and　resilience　about　her。
　Beside　her；　their　daughter　Kailea　seemed　to　be　trying　to　outshine　even　her　mother　in　a　brocaded　lavender　dress　that　set　off　copper…dark　hair。　Kailea　looked　a　little　younger　than　Leto；　but　she　walked　with　a　studied　grace　and　concentration；　as　if　she　dared　not　let　formality　or　appearances　slip。　She　had　thin　arched　eyebrows；　striking　emerald　eyes；　and　a　generous；　catlike　mouth　above　a　narrow　chin。　With　the　faintest　of　smiles；　Kailea　executed　an　extravagant　and　perfect　curtsy。
　Leto　nodded　and　responded　to　each　introduction；　trying　to　keep　his　eyes　from　the　Vernius　daughter。　Hurriedly　going　through　the　motions　his　mother　had　drilled　into　him；　Leto　snapped　open　the　seal　on　one　of　his　suitcases　and　removed　a　heavy　jeweled　box；　one　of　the　Atreides　family　treasures。　Holding　it；　he　stood　erect。　〃For　you；　Lord　Vernius。　This　contains　unique　items　from　our　planet。　I　also　have　a　gift　for　Lady　Vernius。〃
　〃Excellent；　excellent！〃　Then；　as　if　impatient　with　overblown　ceremony；　Dominic　accepted　the　gift　and　motioned　for　a　servant　to　e　and　take　it。　〃I'll　enjoy　its　contents　this　evening；　when　there　is　more　time。〃　He　rubbed　his　broad　hands　together。　This　man　seemed　to　belong　more　in　a　smoky　blacksmith's　shop　or　on　a　battlefield　than　in　a　fancy　palace。　〃So；　did　you　have　a　good　trip　to　Ix；　Leto？〃
　〃Uneventful；　sir。〃
　〃Ah；　the　best　kind　of　trip。〃　Dominic　laughed　easily。
　Leto　smiled；　not　certain　how　best　to　make　a　good　impression　on　this　man。　He　cleared　his　throat；　embarrassed　to　confess　his　concerns　and　worries。　〃Yes；　sir；　except　I　thought　I　was　abandoned　when　the　Guild　left　me　on　your　planet　and　I　saw　only　wilderness。〃
　〃Ah！　I　asked　your　father　not　to　mention　that　to　you　　our　little　prank。　I　did　the　same　to　him　on　his　first　visit　here。　You　must　have　imagined　yourself　good　and　lost。〃　Dominic　beamed　with　pleasure。　〃You　look　rested　enough；　young　man。　At　your　age；　space　lag　isn't　much　of　a　factor。　You　left　Caladan；　what；　two　days　ago？〃
　〃Less　than　that；　sir。〃
　〃Amazing　how　quickly　Heighliners　can　span　great　distances。　Positively　incredible。　And　we're　making　improvements　in　Heighliner　design；　enabling　each　ship　to　carry　a　larger　payload。〃　His　booming　voice　made　the　acplishments　seem　even　more　grandiose。　〃Our　second　construction　is　to　be　pleted　later　today；　another　triumph　for　us。　We'll　take　you　through　all　the　modifications　we've　made