bh.houseatreides-第25部分

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　The　basic　rule　is　this：　Never　support　weakness；　always　support　strength。
　…The　Bene　Gesserit　Azhar　Book；
　pilation　of　Great　Secrets
　The　light　cruiser　soared　out　over　a　night　wasteland　unmarked　by　Giedi　Prime's　city　lights　or　industrial　smoke。　Alone　in　a　holding　pen　in　the　belly　of　the　aircraft；　Duncan　Idaho　watched　through　a　plaz　port　as　the　expanse　of　Barony　prison　dropped　behind　them　like　a　geometrical　bubo；　festering　with　trapped　and　tortured　humanity。
　At　least　his　parents　were　no　longer　prisoners。　Rabban　had　killed　them；　just　to　make　him　angry　and　willing　to　fight。　Over　the　past　several　days　of　preparations；　Duncan's　anger　had　indeed　increased。
　The　bare　metal　walls　of　the　cruiser's　lower　hold　were　etched　with　a　verdigris　of　frost。　Duncan　was　numb；　his　heart　leaden；　his　nerves　shocked　into　silence；　his　skin　an　unfeeling　blanket　around　him。　The　engines　throbbed　through　the　floor　plates。　On　the　decks　above；　he　could　hear　the　restive　hunting　party　shuffling　about　in　their　padded　armor。　The　men　carried　guns　with　tracking　scopes。　They　laughed　and　chatted；　ready　for　the　evening's　game。
　Rabban　was　up　there；　too。
　In　order　to　give　young　Duncan　what　they　called　〃a　sporting　chance；〃　the　hunting　party　had　armed　him　with　a　dull　knife　（saying　they　didn't　want　him　to　hurt　himself）；　a　handlight；　and　a　small　length　of　rope：　everything　an　eight…year…old　child　should　need　to　elude　a　squadron　of　professional　Harkonnen　hunters　on　their　own　well…scouted　ground　。。。。
　Above；　in　a　warm　and　padded　seat；　Rabban　smiled　at　the　thought　of　the　terrified；　angry　child　in　the　hold。　If　this　Duncan　Idaho　were　bigger　and　stronger；　he　would　be　as　dangerous　as　any　animal。　The　kid　was　tough　for　his　size；　Rabban　had　to　admit。　The　way　he　had　eluded　elite　Harkonnen　trainers　inside　the　bowels　of　Barony　was　admirable；　especially　that　trick　with　the　suspensor　tube。
　The　cruiser　flew　far　from　the　prison　city；　away　from　the　oil…soaked　industrial　areas；　to　a　wilderness　preserve　on　high　ground；　a　place　with　dark　pines　and　sandstone　bluff　faces；　caves　and　rocks　and　streams。　The　tailored　wilderness　even　hosted　a　few　examples　of　genetically　enhanced　wildlife；　vicious　predators　as　eager　for　a　boy's　tender　flesh　as　the　Harkonnen　sportsmen　themselves。
　The　cruiser　alighted　in　a　boulder…strewn　meadow；　the　deck　canted　at　a　steep　angle；　then　shifted　to　norm　as　stabilizers　leveled　the　craft。　Rabban　sent　a　signal　from　the　control　band　at　his　waist。
　The　hydraulic　door　in　front　of　the　boy　hissed　open；　freeing　him　from　his　cage。　The　chill　night　air　stung　his　cheeks。　Duncan　considered　just　dashing　out　into　the　open。　He　could　run　fast　and　take　refuge　in　the　thick　pines。　Once　there；　he　would　burrow　beneath　the　dry　brown　needles　and　drift　into　a　self…protective　slumber。
　But　Rabban　wanted　the　boy　to　run　and　hide；　and　he　knew　he　wouldn't　get　very　far。　For　the　moment　Duncan　had　to　act　on　instinct　tempered　with　cleverness。　It　wasn't　the　time　for　an　unexpected；　reckless　action。　Not　yet。
　Duncan　would　wait　at　the　cruiser　until　the　hunters　explained　the　rules　to　him；　though　he　could　certainly　guess　what　he　was　supposed　to　do。　It　was　a　bigger　arena；　a　longer　chase；　higher　stakes。。。but　in　essence　the　same　game　he　had　trained　for　in　the　prison　city。
　The　upper　hatch　slid　open　behind　him　to　reveal　two　light…haloed　forms：　a　person　he　recognized　as　the　hunt　captain　from　Barony；　and　the　broad…shouldered　man　who　had　killed　Duncan's　mother　and　father。　Rabban。
　Turning　away　from　the　sudden　light；　the　boy　kept　his　dark…adapted　eyes　toward　the　open　meadow　and　the　thick　shadows　of　black…needled　trees。　It　was　a　starlit　night。　Pain　shot　through　Duncan's　ribs　from　the　earlier　rough　training；　but　he　tried　to　put　it　out　of　his　mind。
　〃Forest　Guard　Station；〃　the　hunt　captain　said　to　him。　〃Like　a　vacation　in　the　wilderness。　Enjoy　it！　This　is　a　game；　boy　　we　leave　you　here；　give　you　a　head　start；　and　then　we　e　hunting。〃　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃Make　no　mistake；　though。　This　is　different　from　your　training　sessions　in　Barony。　If　you　lose；　you'll　be　killed；　and　your　stuffed　head　will　join　Lord　Rabban's　other　trophies　on　a　wall。〃
　Beside　him；　the　Baron's　nephew　gave　Duncan　a　thick…lipped　smile。　Rabban　trembled　with　excitement　and　anticipation；　and　his　sunburned　face　flushed。
　〃What　if　I　get　away？〃　Duncan　said　in　a　piping　voice。
　〃You　won't；〃　Rabban　answered。
　Duncan　didn't　press　the　issue。　If　he　forced　an　answer；　the　man　would　simply　have　lied　to　him　anyway。　If　he　managed　to　escape；　he　would　just　have　to　make　up　his　own　rules。
　They　dumped　him　out　onto　the　frost…smeared　meadow。　He　had　only　thin　clothes；　worn　shoes。　The　cold　of　the　night　hit　him　like　a　hammer。
　〃Stay　alive　as　long　as　you　can；　boy；〃　Rabban　called　from　the　door　of　the　cruiser；　ducking　back　inside　as　the　throb　of　the　engines　increased　in　tempo。　〃Give　me　a　good　hunt。　My　last　one　was　very　disappointing。〃
　Duncan　stood　immobile　as　the　craft　lifted　into　the　air　and　roared　off　toward　a　guarded　lodge　and　outpost。　From　there；　after　a　few　drinks；　the　hunting　party　would　march　out　and　track　down　their　prey。
　Maybe　the　Harkonnens　would　toy　with　him　a　while；　enjoying　their　sport。。。or　maybe　by　the　time　they　caught　him　they　would　be　chilled　to　the　bone；　longing　for　a　hot　beverage；　and　they'd　simply　use　their　weapons　to　cut　him　to　pieces　at　the　first　opportunity。
　Duncan　sprinted　toward　the　shelter　of　trees。
　Even　when　he　left　the　meadow　behind；　his　feet　left　an　obvious　trail　of　bent　grass　blades　in　the　frost。　He　brushed　against　thick　evergreen　boughs；　disturbed　the　chuff　of　dead　needles　as　he　scrambled　upslope　toward　some　rugged　sandstone　outcroppings。
　In　the　handlight　beam；　he　saw　cold　steam…breath　bursting　like　heartbeats　from　his　nostrils　and　mouth。　He　toiled　up　a　talus　slope；　tending　toward　the　steepest　bluff　faces。　When　he　struck　the　rocks；　he　grasped　with　his　hands；　digging　into　crumbling　sedimentary　rock。　Here；　at　least；　he　wouldn't　leave　many　footprints；　though　pockets　of　old；　crystalline　snow　had　drifted　like　small　dunes　on　the　ledges。
　The　outcroppings　protruded　from　the　side　of　the　ridge；　sentinels　above　the　carpet　of　forest。　Wind　and　rain　had　eaten　holes　and　notches　out　of　the　cliffs；　some　barely　large　enough　for　rodents'　nests；　some　sufficient　to　hide　a　grown　man。　Driven　by　desperation；　Duncan　climbed　until　he　could　barely　breathe　from　the　exertion。
　When　he　reached　the　top　of　an　exposed　sandwich　of　rock　that　was　rust　and　tan　in　his　light　beam；　he　squatted　on　his　heels　and　looked　all　around；　assessing　his　wilderness　surroundings。　He　wondered　if　the　hunters　were　ing　yet。　They　wouldn't　be　far　behind　him。
　Animals　howled　in　the　distance。　He　flipped　off　the　light　to　conceal　himself　better。　The　old　injuries　to　his　ribs　and　back　burned　with　pain；　and　his　upper　arm　throbbed　where　the　pulsing　locator　beacon　was　implanted。
　Behind　him；　more　shadowy　bluffs　rose　tall　and　steep；　honeybed　with　notches　and　ledges；　adorned　with　scraggly　trees　like　unsightly　whiskers　sprouting　from　a　facial　blemish。　It　was　a　long；　long　way　to　the　nearest　city；　the　nearest　spaceport。
　Forest　Guard　Station。　His　mother　had　told　him　of　this　isolated　hunting　preserve；　a　particular　favorite　of　the　Baron's　nephew。　〃Rabban's　so　cruel　because　he　needs　to　prove　he's　not　like　his　father；〃　she　had　once　said。
　The　young　boy　had　spent　most　of　the　nearly　nine　years　of　his　life　inside　giant　buildings；　smelling　recycled　air　laden　with　lubricants；　solvents；　and　exhaust　chemicals。　He　had　never　known　how　cold　this　planet　could　get；　how　frigid　the　nights。。。or　how　clear　the　stars。
　Overhead；　the　sky　was　a　vault　of　immense　blackness；　filled　with　tiny　light…splashes；　a　rainstorm　of　pinpricks　piercing　the　distances　of　the　galaxy。　Far　out　there；　Guild　Navigators　used　their　minds　to　guide　city…sized　Heighliners　between　stars。
　Duncan　had　never　seen　a　Guild　ship；　had　never　been　away　from　Giedi　Prime　　and　now　doubted　he　ever　would。　Living　inside　an　industrial　city；　he'd　never　had　reason　to　learn　the　patterns　of　stars。　But　even　if　he　had　known　his　pass　points　or　recognized　the　constellations；　he　still　had　no　place　to　go　。。。。
　Sitting　atop　the　outcropping；　looking　out　into　the　sharp　coldness；　Duncan　studied　his　world。　He　huddled　over　and　drew　his　knees　up　to　his　chest　to　conserve　body　heat；　though　he　still　shivered。
　In　the　distance；　where　the　high　ground　dipped　into　a　wooded　valley　toward　the　stark　silhouette　of　the　guarded　lodge　building；　he　saw　a　train　of　lights；　bobbing　glowglobes　like　a　fairy　procession。　The　hunting　party　itself；　warm　and　well　armed；　was　sniffing　him　out；　taking　their　time。　Enjoying　themselves。
　From　his　vantage　point；　Duncan　watched　and　waited；　cold　and　forlorn。　He　had　to　decide　if　he　wanted　to　live　at　all。　What　would　he　do？　Where　would　he　go？　Who　would　care　for　him？
　Rabban's　lasgun　had　left　nothing　of　his　mother's　face　for　him　to　kiss；　nothing　of　her　hair　for　him　to　stroke。　He　would　never　again　hear　her　voice　as　she　called　him　her　〃sweet　Duncan。〃
　Now　the　Harkonnens　intended　to　do　the　same　to　him；　and　he　couldn't　prevent　it。　He　was　just　a　boy　with　a　dull　knife；　a　handlight；　and　a　rope。　The　hunters　had　Richesian　beacon　trackers；　heated　body　armor；　and　powerful　weapons。　They　outnumbered　him　ten　to　one。　He　had　no　chance。
　It　might　be　easier　if　he　just　sat　there　and　waited　for　them　to　e。　Eventually　the　trackers　would　find　him；　inexorably　following　his　implanted　signal。。。but　he　could　deny　them　their　sport；　spoil　their　fun。　By　surrendering；　by　showing　his　utter　contempt　for　their　barbaric　amusements；　he　could　gain　a　small　victory　at　least：　the　only　one　he　was　likely　to　have。
　Or　Duncan　Idaho　could　fight　back；　try　to　hurt　the　Harkonnens　even　as　they　hunted　him　down。　His　mother　and　father　hadn't　had　an　opportunity　to　fight　for　their　lives；　but　Rabban　was　giving　him　that　chance。
　Rabban　considered　him　a　mere　helpless　boy。　The　hunting　party　thought　that　gunning　down　a　child　would　provide　them　with　some　amusement。
　He　stood　up　on　stiff　legs；　brushed　his　clothes；　and　stopped　his　shivers。　I　won't　go　down　like　that；　he　decided　just　to　show　them；　just　to　prove　they　can't　laugh　at　me。
　He　doubted　the　hunters　would　be　wearing　personal　shields。　They　wouldn't　think　they'd　need　such　protection；　not　against　the　likes　of　him。
　The　knife　h