bh.houseatreides-第30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！


　had　batted　the　ground　rat　around　for　many　minutes　as　Kynes　observed　through　high…powered　oil　lenses。　Finally　bored；　the　tiger　had　simply　bitten　off　the　creature's　head　and　then　sauntered　away；　leaving　the　carcass　for　carrion　feeders。
　By　contrast；　the　three　Fremen　youths　were　putting　up　more　of　a　fight　than　the　ground　rat；　but　they　had　only　simple　knives　and　stillsuits；　no　body…shields　or　armor。　The　desert　natives　had　no　chance　against　the　fighting　skills　and　weaponry　of　Harkonnen　soldiers。
　But　they　did　not　surrender。
　The　Fremen　snatched　at　the　ground　and　threw　sharp　rocks　with　deadly　aim；　but　the　projectiles　bounced　harmlessly　off　the　shimmering　shields。　The　Harkonnens　laughed　and　pressed　closer。
　Out　of　sight；　Kynes　climbed　from　his　groundcar；　fascinated　by　the　tableau。　He　adjusted　his　stillsuit；　loosening　binders　to　give　him　more　freedom　of　movement。　He　made　sure　the　face　mask　was　in　place　but　not　sealed。　At　the　moment；　he　didn't　know　whether　to　observe　from　a　distance；　as　he　had　done　with　the　Laza　tiger。。。or　whether　he　should　aid　in　some　way。
　The　Harkonnen　troops　outnumbered　the　Fremen　two　to　one；　and　if　Kynes　came　to　the　defense　of　the　youths；　he　would　likely　find　himself　either　wounded　or　at　least　charged　with　interference　by　Harkonnen　officials。　A　sanctioned　Imperial　Planetologist　wasn't　supposed　to　meddle　in　local　events。
　He　rested　his　hand　near　the　weapon　blade　at　his　waist。　In　any　event；　he　was　ready；　but　hopeful　that　he　would　see　no　more　than　an　extended　exchange　of　insults；　escalating　threats；　and　perhaps　a　scuffle　that　would　end　in　hard　feelings　and　a　few　bruises。
　But　in　a　moment；　the　character　of　the　confrontation　changed　　and　Kynes　realized　his　stupidity。　This　was　not　a　mere　taunting　game；　but　a　deadly　serious　standoff。　The　Harkonnens　were　out　for　a　kill。
　The　six　soldiers　waded　in；　blades　flashing；　shields　pulsing。　The　Fremen　youths　fought　back。　Within　seconds；　one　of　the　natives　was　down；　gushing　bright　foaming　blood　from　a　severed　neck　artery。
　Kynes　was　about　to　shout；　but　swallowed　his　words　as　anger　turned　his　vision　red。　While　he'd　been　driving　along；　he　had　made　grandiose　plans　of　using　the　Fremen　as　a　resource；　a　true　desert　people　with　whom　he　could　share　ideas。　He　had　dreamed　of　adapting　them　as　a　grand　workforce　for　his　sparkling　scheme　of　ecological　transformation。　They　were　to　be　his　willing　allies；　enthusiastic　assistants。
　Now　these　blockheaded　Harkonnens　were　　for　no　apparent　reason　　trying　to　kill　his　workers；　the　tools　with　which　he　intended　to　remake　the　planet！　He　could　not　let　that　happen。
　While　the　third　member　of　their　band　lay　bleeding　to　death　on　the　sands；　the　other　two　Fremen；　with　only　primitive　milky　blue　knives　and　no　shields；　attacked　in　a　wild　frenzy　that　astounded　Kynes。　〃Taqwa！〃　they　screamed。
　Two　Harkonnens　fell　under　the　surprise　rally；　and　their　four　remaining　rades　were　slow　in　ing　to　their　aid。　Hesitantly；　the　blue…uniformed　soldiers　moved　toward　the　youths。
　Indignant　at　the　Harkonnens'　gross　injustice；　Kynes　reacted　on　impulse。　He　slid　toward　the　bravos　from　the　rear；　moving　quickly　and　silently。　Switching　on　his　personal　shield；　he　unsheathed　the　short…bladed　slip…tip　he　kept　for　self…defense　　a　shield…fighting　weapon；　with　poison　in　its　point。
　During　the　harsh　years　on　Salusa　Secundus；　he　had　learned　how　to　fight　with　it；　and　how　to　kill。　His　parents　had　worked　in　one　of　the　Imperium's　most　infamous　prisons；　and　the　day…to…day　environments　in　Kynes's　explorations　had　often　required　him　to　defend　himself　against　powerful　predators。
　He　uttered　no　cry　of　battle；　for　that　would　have　promised　his　element　of　surprise。　Kynes　held　his　weapon　low。　He　wasn't　particularly　brave；　merely　single…minded。　As　if　driven　by　a　force　beyond　the　person　who　held　it；　the　tip　of　Kynes's　blade　passed　slowly　through　the　bodyshield　of　the　nearest　Harkonnen；　then　pushed　hard　and　thrust　upward；　into　flesh；　cartilage；　and　bone。　The　blade　penetrated　beneath　the　man's　rib　cage；　pierced　his　kidneys；　and　severed　his　spinal　cord。
　Kynes　yanked　out　the　knife　and　rotated　halfway　to　his　left；　sliding　the　knife　into　the　side　of　a　second　Harkonnen　soldier；　who　was　just　turning　to　face　him。　The　shield　slowed　the　poisoned　blade　for　a　moment；　but　as　the　Harkonnen　thrashed；　Kynes　drove　the　point　home；　deep　into　the　soft　flesh　of　the　abdomen；　again　cutting　upward。
　Thus；　two　Harkonnens　lay　mortally　wounded　and　writhing　before　anyone　had　made　an　outcry。　Now　four　of　them　were　down；　including　those　the　Fremen　had　killed。　The　remaining　pair　of　Harkonnen　bullies　stared　in　shock　at　this　turn　of　events；　then　howled　at　the　brash　boldness　of　the　tall　stranger。　They　exchanged　bat　signals　and　spread　apart；　eyeing　Kynes　more　than　the　Fremen；　who　stood　ferocious　and　ready　to　fight　with　their　fingernails　if　necessary。
　Again　the　Fremen　lunged　against　their　attackers。　Again；　they　screamed；　〃Taqwa！〃
　One　of　the　two　surviving　Harkonnen　soldiers　thrust　his　sword　at　Kynes；　but　the　Planetologist　moved　rapidly　now；　still　angry　and　flushed　with　the　blooding　of　his　first　two　victims。　He　reached　upward；　rippling　through　the　shield；　and　neatly　slit　the　attacker's　throat。　An　entrisseur。　The　guard　dropped　his　sword　and　grasped　his　neck　in　a　futile　attempt　to　hold　his　lifeblood　inside。
　The　fifth　Harkonnen　crumpled　to　the　ground。
　As　the　two　Fremen　fighters　turned　their　revenge　upon　the　lone　remaining　enemy；　Kynes　bent　over　the　seriously　wounded　desert　youth　and　spoke　to　him。　〃Stay　calm。　I　will　help　you。〃
　The　young　man　had　already　sprayed　copious　amounts　of　blood　into　the　gravelly　dust；　but　Kynes　had　an　emergency　medpak　on　his　belt。　He　slapped　a　wound　sealant　on　the　ragged　neck　cut；　then　used　hypovials　with　ready　plasma　and　high…powered　stimulants　to　keep　the　victim　alive。　He　felt　the　young　man's　pulse　at　the　wrist。　A　steady　heartbeat。
　Kynes　saw　the　depth　of　the　damage　now　and　was　astonished　that　the　youth　hadn't　bled　more。　Without　medical　attention；　he　would　have　died　within　minutes。　But　still；　Kynes　was　amazed　the　boy　had　survived　this　long。　This　Fremen's　blood　coagulates　with　extreme　efficiency。　Another　fact　to　file　away　in　his　memory　　a　survival　adaptation　to　reduce　moisture　loss　in　the　driest　desert？
　〃Eeeeah！〃
　〃No！〃
　Kynes　looked　up　at　the　cries　of　pain　and　terror。　Off　to　one　side；　the　Fremen　had　dug　the　surviving　Harkonnen's　eyes　out　of　their　sockets；　using　their　blade　tips。　Then　they　made　slow　work　of　flaying　their　victim　alive；　stripping　away　ribbons　of　pink　skin；　which　they　stored　in　sealed　pouches　at　their　hips。
　Covered　with　blood；　Kynes　stood　up；　panting。　Seeing　their　viciousness　now　that　the　tables　had　been　turned；　he　began　to　wonder　if　he'd　done　the　right　thing。　These　Fremen　were　like　wild　animals　and　had　worked　themselves　into　a　frenzy。　Would　they　attempt　to　kill　him　now；　despite　what　he　had　done　for　them？　He　was　a　plete　stranger　to　these　desperate　young　men。
　He　watched　and　waited；　and　when　the　youths　had　finished　with　their　grisly　torture；　he　met　their　eyes　and　cleared　his　throat　before　speaking　in　Imperial　Galach。　〃My　name　is　Pardot　Kynes；　the　Imperial　Planetologist　assigned　to　Arrakis。〃
　He　looked　down　at　his　blood…smeared　skin　and　decided　not　to　extend　a　hand　in　greeting。　In　their　culture；　they　might　misinterpret　the　gesture。　〃I'm　very　pleased　to　introduce　myself。　I've　always　wanted　to　meet　the　Fremen。〃
　It's　easier　to　be　terrified　by　an　enemy　you　admire。
　…THUFIR　HAWAT；　Mentat　and　Security　mander　to　House　Atreides
　Hidden　by　the　thick　pines；　Duncan　Idaho　knelt　in　the　soft　needles　on　the　ground；　feeling　little　warmth。　The　chill　night　air　deadened　the　resinous　evergreen　scent；　but　at　least　here　he　was　sheltered　from　the　razor　breezes。　He　had　gone　far　enough　from　the　cave　that　he　could　pause　and　catch　his　breath。　For　just　a　moment。
　He　knew　the　Harkonnen　hunters　wouldn't　rest；　though。　They　would　be　particularly　incensed　now　that　he'd　killed　one　of　their　party。　Maybe；　he　thought；　they　might　even　enjoy　the　chase　more。　Especially　Rabban。
　Duncan　opened　the　medpak　he'd　stolen　from　the　ambushed　tracker　and　brought　out　a　small　package　of　newskin　ointment；　which　he　slathered　over　the　incision　on　his　shoulder；　where　it　hardened　to　an　organic　bond。　Then　he　wolfed　down　the　nutrition　bar　and　stuffed　the　wrappings　into　his　pockets。
　Using　the　glow　of　his　handlight；　he　turned　to　study　the　lasgun。　He'd　never　fired　such　a　weapon　before；　but　he　had　watched　the　guards　and　the　hunters　operate　their　rifles。　He　cradled　the　weapon　and　fiddled　with　its　mechanisms　and　controls。　Pointing　the　barrel　upward；　he　attempted　to　understand　what　he　was　supposed　to　do。　He　had　to　learn　if　he　meant　to　fight。
　With　a　sudden　surge　of　power；　a　white…hot　beam　lanced　out　toward　the　upper　boughs　of　the　pine　trees。　They　burst　into　flames；　crackling　and　snapping。　Smoldering　clumps　of　evergreen　needles　fell　around　him　like　red…hot　snow。
　Yelping；　he　dropped　the　gun　to　the　ground　and　scrambled　backward。　But　he　snatched　it　up　again　before　he　could　forget　which　bination　of　buttons　he　had　pushed。　He　had　to　remember　and　know　how　to　use　them。
　The　flames　overhead　flared　like　a　bonfire　beacon；　exuding　curls　of　sharp　smoke。　With　nothing　to　lose　now；　Duncan　fired　again；　aiming　this　time；　just　to　make　sure　he　could　use　the　lasgun　to　defend　himself。　The　cumbersome　weapon　was　not　built　for　a　small　boy；　especially　not　with　his　throbbing　shoulder　and　sore　ribs；　but　he　could　use　it。　He　had　to。
　Knowing　the　Harkonnens　would　run　toward　the　blaze；　Duncan　scampered　out　of　the　trees；　searching　for　another　place　to　hide。　Once　again　he　made　for　higher　ground；　keeping　to　the　ridgeline　so　he　could　continue　observing　the　hunting　party's　scattered　glowglobes。　He　knew　exactly　where　the　men　were；　exactly　how　close。
　But　how　can　they　be　so　stupid；　he　wondered；　making　themselves　so　obvious？　Overconfidence。。。was　that　their　flaw？　If　so；　it　might　help　him。　The　Harkonnens　expected　him　to　play　their　game；　then　cower　and　die　when　he　was　supposed　to。　Duncan　would　just　have　to　disappoint　them。
　Maybe　this　time　we'll　play　my　game　instead。
　As　he　dashed　along；　he　avoided　patches　of　snow　and　kept　away　from　noisy　underbrush。　However；　Duncan's　focus　on　the　clustered　pursuers　distracted　him　from　seeing　his　real　danger。　He　heard　a