bh.houseatreides-第41部分

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Pardot　Kynes　had　saved　their　lives。　Even　brash　young　men　such　as　those　three　realized　the　water　burden　that　had　been　placed　on　them。〃
　〃But　what　of　their　obligations　to　Red　Wall　Sietch　and　our　people？〃　long…haired　Garnah　insisted。　〃Does　a　debt　owed　to　a　mere　Imperial　servant　outweigh　their　loyalty　to　us？〃
　〃The　question　isn't　about　the　boys；〃　Aliid　interrupted。　〃Ommun；　Turok；　and　Stilgar　did　what　they　thought　was　best。　We　are　now　left　to　decide　about　this　Planetologist　and　his　fate。〃
　〃He's　a　madman；〃　the　first　elder；　Jerath；　said。　〃Have　you　heard　him　talk？　He　wants　trees；　open　water；　irrigation；　crops　　he　envisions　a　verdant　planet　instead　of　desert。〃　A　snort；　then　a　toying　with　the　ring　in　his　ear。　〃He's　mad；　I　say。〃
　Puckering　his　mouth　skeptically；　Aliid　pointed　out；　〃After　the　thousands　of　years　of　wandering　that　finally　brought　us　here　and　made　our　people　what　we　are　　how　can　you　scorn　one　man's　dream　of　paradise？〃
　Jerath　frowned；　but　accepted　the　point。
　〃Perhaps　Kynes　is　mad；〃　Garnah　said；　〃but　just　mad　enough　to　be　holy。　Perhaps　he's　mad　enough　to　hear　the　words　of　God　in　a　way　that　we　cannot。〃
　〃That　is　a　question　we　cannot　decide　among　us；〃　Heinar　said；　finally　using　a　Naib's　voice　of　mand　to　focus　the　discussion　back　on　the　matter　at　hand。　〃The　choice　we　face　is　not　about　the　word　of　God；　but　about　the　survival　of　our　sietch。　Pardot　Kynes　has　seen　our　ways；　lived　in　our　hidden　home。　By　Imperial　mand；　he　sends　reports　back　to　Kaitain　whenever　he　finds　himself　in　a　city。　Think　of　the　risk　to　us。〃
　〃But　what　of　all　his　talk　about　paradise　on　Dune？〃　Aliid　asked；　still　trying　to　defend　the　stranger。　〃Open　water；　dunes　anchored　by　grass；　palmaries　filled　with　tall　date　palms；　open　qanats　flowing　across　the　desert。〃
　〃Crazy　talk　and　no　more；〃　grumbled　Jerath。　〃The　man　knows　too　much　　about　us；　about　the　Fremen；　about　Dune。　He　cannot　be　allowed　to　hold　such　secrets。〃
　Doggedly；　Aliid　tried　again。　〃But　he　killed　Harkonnens。　Doesn't　that　place　upon　us；　and　our　sietch；　a　water　debt？　He　saved　three　members　of　our　tribe。〃
　〃Since　when　do　we　owe　the　Imperium　anything？〃　Jerath　asked　with　another　tug　on　his　earring。
　〃Anyone　can　kill　Harkonnens；〃　Garnah　added　with　a　shrug；　shifting　his　pointed　chin　to　his　other　fist。　〃I've　done　it　myself。〃
　Heinar　leaned　forward。　〃All　right；　Aliid　　what　of　this　talk　about　the　flowering　of　Dune？　Where　is　the　water　for　all　this？　Is　there　any　possibility　the　Planetologist　can　do　what　he　says？〃
　〃Haven't　you　heard　him？〃　Garnah　replied　in　a　mocking　tone。　〃He　says　the　water　is　here；　far　more　than　the　miserable　amounts　we　collect　for　our　sustenance。〃
　Jerath　raised　his　eyebrows　and　snorted。　〃Oh？　This　man　has　been　on　our　world　for　a　Standard　Month　or　two；　and　already　he　knows　where　to　find　the　precious　treasure　that　no　Fremen　has　discovered　in　generations　upon　generations　of　living　in　the　desert？　An　oasis　on　the　equator　perhaps？　Hah！〃
　〃He　did　save　three　of　our　own；〃　Aliid　persisted。
　〃Three　fools　put　themselves　in　the　way　of　the　Harkonnen　fist。　I　feel　no　obligation　to　him　for　their　rescue。　And　he　has　seen　crysknives。　You　know　our　law：　Who　sees　that　knife　must　be　cleansed　or　slain。。。。〃　Garnah's　voice　trailed　off。
　〃It　is　as　you　say；〃　Aliid　admitted。
　〃Kynes　is　known　to　travel　alone　and　explore　many　inhospitable　areas；〃　Heinar　said　with　a　shrug。　〃If　he　disappears；　he　disappears。　No　Harkonnen　or　Imperium　officials　will　ever　be　the　wiser。〃
　〃It　will　no　doubt　be　interpreted　as　a　simple　accident。　Our　world　is　not　a　fortable　place；〃　said　Garnah。
　Jerath　simply　smiled。　〃If　the　truth　is　told；　the　Harkonnens　may　be　perfectly　happy　to　get　rid　of　this　meddlesome　man　anyway。　There　is　no　risk　to　us　if　we　kill　him。〃
　Silence　hung　in　the　dusty　air　for　a　moment。　〃What　must　be；　must　be；〃　Heinar　said；　rising　to　his　feet　at　the　head　of　the　table。　〃All　of　us　know　this。　There　can　be　no　other　answer；　no　changing　of　our　minds。　We　must　protect　the　sietch　above　all；　no　matter　the　cost；　no　matter　the　burden　it　places　on　our　hearts。〃
　He　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃It　is　decided。　Kynes　must　die。〃
　Two　hundred　thirty…eight　planets　searched；　many　of　only　marginal　habitability。　（See　star　charts　attached　in　separate　file。）　Resource　surveys　list　valuable　raw　materials。　Many　of　these　planets　deserve　a　second　look；　either　for　mineral　exploitation　or　possible　colonization。　As　in　previous　reports；　however；　no　spice　found。
　…Independent　scout　survey；　third　expedition；　delivered　to　EMPEROR　FONDIL　CORRINO　III
　Hasimir　Fenring　had　bribed　old　Elrood's　guards　and　retainers；　setting　up　what　he　called　〃a　surprise　secret　meeting　with　an　important；　though　unexpected；　representative。〃　The　weasel…faced　man　had　used　his　silken　tongue　and　his　iron　will　to　manipulate　the　Emperor's　schedules　to　leave　an　opening。　As　a　fixture　around　the　Palace　for　more　than　three　decades；　Fenring；　by　virtue　of　his　association　with　Crown　Prince　Shaddam；　was　a　man　of　influence。　With　various　methods　of　persuasion；　he　convinced　everyone　he　needed　to　convince。
　Old　Elrood　suspected　nothing。
　At　the　appointed　hour　of　the　Tleilaxu　delegate's　arrival；　Fenring　made　certain　he　and　Shaddam　were　present　in　the　audience　chamber　　ostensibly　as　eager　students　of　the　bureaucracy；　intent　on　being　viable　leaders　of　the　Imperium。　Elrood；　who　liked　to　think　he　was　instructing　these　proteges　in　important　matters　of　state；　had　no　idea　the　two　young　men　laughed　at　him　behind　his　back。
　Fenring　leaned　close　to　the　Crown　Prince　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃This　is　going　to　be　most　entertaining；　hm…m…m…m…ah？〃
　〃Watch；　and　learn；〃　Shaddam　said　ponderously；　then　raised　his　chin　in　the　air　and　snickered。
　The　huge　embossed　doors　swung　open；　sparkling　with　soostones　and　rain　crystals；　etched　with　ghlavan　metal。　Sardaukar　guards；　standing　stiff　and　formal　in　their　gray…and…black　uniforms；　snapped　to　attention　for　the　new　arrival。
　〃Now　the　show　begins；〃　Fenring　said。　He　and　Shaddam　kept　further　chuckles　to　themselves。
　Liveried　house　pages　stepped　forward　to　introduce　the　off…world　visitor　in　a　rippling　overtone　of　processed；　electronically　translated　pomp。　〃My　Lord　Emperor；　Highness　of　a　Million　Worlds　　the　Master　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica；　representative　of　the　Bene　Tleilax；　is　here　at　your　request　for　a　private　meeting。〃
　A　gnomelike　man　with　grayish　skin　walked　proudly　into　the　hall　flanked　by　pasty…faced　guards　and　his　own　retainers。　His　slippered　feet　scuttled　like　whispered　gossip　across　the　polished　stones　of　the　floor。
　A　ripple　of　surprise　and　distaste　passed　through　the　attendees　at　court。　Chamberlain　Aken　Hesban；　his　mustaches　drooping；　stood　indignantly　behind　the　throne　and　glared　at　the　Emperor's　scheduling　advisors　as　if　this　were　some　sort　of　trick。
　Elrood　IX　lurched　forward　in　his　massive　throne　and　demanded　to　see　his　calendar。
　Thus　caught　off　guard；　the　old　reprobate　might　just　be　surprised　enough　to　listen；　Fenring　thought。　With　surprising　astuteness；　Chamberlain　Hesban's　eagle　gaze　fell　on　him；　but　Fenring　returned　the　look　with　only　a　bland；　curious　expression。
　Ajidica；　the　Tleilaxu　representative；　waited　patiently；　letting　the　chatter　and　whispers　flow　around　him。　He　had　a　narrow　face；　long　nose；　and　a　pointed　black　beard　that　protruded　like　a　trowel　from　his　cleft　chin。　Maroon　robes　gave　Ajidica　an　air　of　some　importance。　His　skin　was　weathered…looking；　and　pale　and　discolored　blotches　marked　his　hands；　especially　on　the　fingers　and　palms；　as　if　frequent　exposure　to　harsh　chemicals　had　neutralized　the　melanin。　Despite　his　diminutive　stature；　the　Tleilaxu　Master　came　forward　as　if　he　had　a　perfect　right　to　be　in　the　Imperial　audience　chamber　of　Kaitain。
　From　the　side　of　the　room　Shaddam　studied　Ajidica；　and　his　nose　wrinkled；　from　the　lingering　food　odors　that　were　so　characteristic　of　the　Tleilaxu。
　〃May　the　one　true　God　shine　his　light　upon　you　from　all　the　stars　in　the　Imperium；　my　Lord　Emperor；〃　said　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica；　placing　his　palms　together　and　bowing　as　he　quoted　from　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible。　He　stopped　in　front　of　the　massive　Hagal…quartz　throne。
　The　Tleilaxu　were　notorious　for　handling　the　dead　and　harvesting　corpses　for　cellular　resources；　yet　they　were　unquestionably　brilliant　geneticists。　One　of　their　first　creations　had　been　a　remarkable　new　food　source；　the　slig　（〃sweetest　meat　this　side　of　heaven〃）；　a　cross　between　a　giant　slug　and　a　Terran　pig。　The　overall　populace　still　thought　of　sligs　as　tank…bred　mutations；　however　　ugly　creatures　who　excreted　slimy；　foul…smelling　residue；　and　whose　multiple　mouths　ground　incessantly　on　garbage。　This　was　the　context　in　which　people　thought　of　the　Bene　Tleilax；　even　as　they　savored　marinated　slig　medallions　in　sauces　prepared　from　rich　Caladan　wines。
　Elrood　drew　back　his　bony　shoulders　into　a　firm　line。　He　frowned　down　at　the　visitor。　〃What　is。。。this　doing　here？　Who　let　this　man　in？〃　The　old　Emperor　looked　around　the　echoing　room；　his　eyes　flashing　bright。　〃No　Tleilaxu　Master　has　ever　entered　my　Court　for　a　private　audience。　How　do　I　know　he's　not　a　Face　Dancer　mimic？〃　Elrood　glared　down　at　his　personal　secretary；　then　over　at　his　Chamberlain。　〃And　since　he　got　on　my　schedule　at　all；　how　do　I　know　you're　not　a　Face　Dancer　yourself？　This　is　outrageous。〃
　The　personal　secretary　stepped　back；　appalled　at　the　suggestion。　Diminutive　Ajidica　looked　up　at　the　Emperor；　calmly　letting　the　resentment　and　prejudice　wash　past　without　being　affected　by　it。　〃My　Lord　Elrood；　tests　can　be　performed　to　prove　that　none　of　our　shapeshifters　has　subsumed　the　identity　of　anyone　in　your　Court。　I　assure　you；　I　am　no　Face　Dancer。　Neither　am　I　an　assassin；　nor　a　Mentat。〃
　〃And　why　are　you　here？〃　Elrood　demanded。
　〃As　one　of　the　premier　scientists　of　the　Bene　Tleilax；　my　presence　here　was　requested。〃　The　gnomish　man　hadn't　moved　a　centimeter；　and　remained　at　the　foot　of　the　Golden　Lion　Throne；　unflappable　in　his　maroon　robes。　〃I　have　developed　an　ambitious　plan　that　can　benefit　the　Imperial　family；　as　well　as　my　own　people。〃
　〃Not　interested；〃　the　Padishah　Emperor　said。　He　flicked　a　glance　at　his　Sardaukar；　began　to　raise　his　gnarled　hand　to　issue　a　mand　of　forceful　dismissal。　The　Court　attendees　watched；　amused　and　eager。
　Hasimir　Fenring　rapidly　stepped　forward；　knowi