bh.houseatreides-第42部分

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al。　The　Court　attendees　watched；　amused　and　eager。
　Hasimir　Fenring　rapidly　stepped　forward；　knowing　he　had　only　an　instant　to　intercede。　〃Emperor　Elrood；　may　I　speak？〃　He　didn't　wait　for　permission；　but　tried　to　appear　innocent　and　interested。　〃The　sheer　audacity　of　this　Tleilaxu's　arrival　has　me　curious。　I　find　myself　wondering　what　he　has　to　say。〃　He　glanced　over　at　the　emotion…masked　face　of　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica；　the　gray…skinned　Master　seemed　impervious　to　any　harsh　treatment　foisted　upon　him。　Nothing　in　his　demeanor　betrayed　his　connection　with　Fenring；　who　had　suggested　the　synthetic　spice　idea　to　him　　an　idea　that　had　quickly　found　support　among　Tleilaxu　scientists。
　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　took　the　lead　and　looked　up　at　his　father　with　a　guileless；　anticipatory　expression。　〃Father；　you　have　instructed　me　to　learn　everything　I　can　from　the　example　of　your　leadership。　It　would　be　most　educational　for　me　to　observe　how　you　handle　this　situation　with　an　open　mind　and　a　firm　hand。〃
　Elrood　raised　a　ring…adorned　hand　that　trembled　with　faint；　uncontrollable　spasms。　〃Very　well；　we　will　hear　briefly　what　this　Tleilaxu　his　to　say。　Briefly；　under　pain　of　severe　punishment　if　we　determine　he　has　wasted　our　precious　time。　Watch；　and　learn。〃　The　Emperor　slid　a　sidelong　glance　at　Shaddam；　then　took　a　sip　of　the　spice　beer　at　his　side。　〃This　shouldn't　take　much　time。〃
　How　true；　Father。　You　don't　have　much　time　left；　Shaddam　thought；　still　smiling　attentively　and　innocently。
　〃My　words　require　privacy；　my　Lord　Emperor；〃　Ajidica　said；　〃and　the　utmost　discretion。〃
　〃I　will　determine　that；〃　Elrood　snapped。　〃Speak　of　your　plan。〃
　The　Tleilaxu　Master　folded　his　hands　in　the　voluminous　sleeves　of　his　maroon　robes。　〃Rumors　are　like　a　disease　epidemic；　Sire。　Once　they　escape；　they　spread　from　person　to　person；　often　with　deadly　effect。　Better　to　take　simple　initial　precautions　than　be　forced　into　eradication　measures　at　a　later　date。〃　Ajidica　fell　silent；　standing　rigid；　and　refused　to　speak　further　until　the　audience　chamber　had　been　emptied。
　Impatiently；　the　Emperor　gestured　to　dismiss　all　the　functionaries；　pages；　ambassadors；　jesters；　and　guards。　Sardaukar　security　men　stationed　themselves　at　the　doorways；　where　they　could　protect　the　throne；　but　everyone　else　departed；　muttering　and　shuffling。　Humming　privacy　screens　were　erected　to　prevent　any　potential　eavesdroppers　from　listening　in。
　Fenring　and　Shaddam　sat　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　pretending　to　be　intent　students；　though　they　were　both　in　their　thirties。　Looking　frail　and　battling　illness；　the　old　Emperor　indicated　for　them　to　remain　as　observers；　and　the　Tleilaxu　man　did　not　object。
　In　all　this　time；　Ajidica's　hard　gaze　never　strayed　from　Elrood。　The　Emperor　looked　back　at　the　little　man；　feigning　boredom。　Finally　satisfied　with　the　privacy　precautions；　and　ignoring　the　Emperor's　distaste　for　him　and　his　race；　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　spoke。
　〃We　Bene　Tleilax　have　continued　experiments　in　all　areas　of　genetics；　organic　chemistry；　and　mutations。　In　our　factories　we　have　recently　developed　highly　unorthodox　techniques　to　synthesize；　shall　we　say；　unusual　substances。〃　His　words　were　clipped　and　efficient；　providing　no　more　detail　than　necessary。　〃Our　initial　results　indicate　that　a　synthetic　could　be　fashioned　that；　in　all　important　chemical　properties；　is　identical　to　melange。〃
　〃Spice？〃　Elrood　now　gave　the　Tleilaxu　his　full　attention。　Shaddam　noticed　a　twitching　tic　in　his　father's　right　cheek　below　his　eye。　〃Created　in　a　laboratory？　Impossible！〃
　〃Not　impossible；　my　Lord。　Given　the　proper　time　and　conditions　for　development；　this　artificially　created　spice　could　bee　an　inexhaustible　supply；　mass…produced　and　inexpensive　　and　it　could　be　earmarked　exclusively　for　House　Corrino；　if　you　wish。〃
　Elrood　leaned　forward　like　a　mummified　carrion　bird。　〃Such　a　thing　has　never　been　possible　before。〃
　〃Our　analysis　shows　that　the　spice　is　an　organically　based　substance。　Through　careful　experimentation　and　development；　we　believe　our　axlotl　tanks　can　be　modified　to　produce　melange。〃
　〃The　same　way　you　grow　gholas　from　dead　human　cells？〃　the　Emperor　said；　scowling　with　revulsion。　〃And　clones？〃
　Intrigued　and　surprised；　Shaddam　glanced　over　at　Fenring。　Axlotl　tanks？
　Ajidica　continued　to　focus　on　Elrood。　〃In。。。effect；　my　Lord。〃
　〃Why　e　to　me？〃　Elrood　asked。　〃I　should　think　the　diabolical　Tleilaxu　would　create　a　spice　substitute　for　themselves　and　leave　the　Imperium　at　their　mercy。〃
　〃The　Bene　Tleilax　are　not　a　mighty　race；　Sire。　If　we　discovered　how　to　produce　our　own　melange；　and　kept　the　secret　for　ourselves；　we　know　it　would　bring　down　the　wrath　of　the　Imperium。　You　yourself　would　send　in　Sardaukar；　tear　the　secret　from　our　grasp；　and　destroy　us。　The　Spacing　Guild　and　CHOAM　would　be　happy　to　assist　you　　and　the　Harkonnens；　too；　would　defend　their　spice　monopoly　at　all　costs。〃　Ajidica　gave　a　thin；　humorless　smile。
　〃It's　good　to　see　that　you　understand　your　subordinate　position；〃　Elrood　said；　resting　his　bony　elbow　on　the　arm　of　the　heavy　throne。　〃Not　even　the　wealthiest　Great　House　has　ever　developed　a　military　force　to　oppose　my　Sardaukar。〃
　〃Thus；　we　have　prudently　decided　to　ingratiate　ourselves　with　the　most　powerful　presence　in　the　galaxy　　the　Imperial　House。　In　that　way　we　can　reap　the　greatest　benefit　from　our　new　research。〃
　Elrood　placed　a　long　finger　on　his　papery　lips；　considering。　These　Tleilaxu　were　clever；　and　if　they　could　manufacture　the　substance　exclusively　for　House　Corrino；　and　cost…effectively；　the　Emperor　would　have　a　powerful　bargaining　chip。
　The　economic　difference　could　be　huge。　House　Harkonnen　could　be　driven　into　the　ground；　bankrupted。　Arrakis　would　bee　of　little　value；　with　the　product　there　paratively　expensive　to　get　out　of　the　sand。
　If　this　gnome　could　do　as　he　suggested；　the　Landsraad；　CHOAM；　the　Spacing　Guild；　the　Mentats；　and　the　Bene　Gesserit　would　be　forced　to　seek　favors　from　the　Emperor　in　order　to　get　their　supplies。　Most　of　the　important　scions　of　noble　families　were　already　addicted　to　melange；　and　Elrood　himself　could　bee　their　supplier。　Excitement　blossomed　within　him。
　Ajidica　interrupted　Elrood's　train　of　thought。　〃Let　me　emphasize　that　this　will　be　no　simple　task；　Sire。　The　precise　chemical　structure　of　melange　is　extraordinarily　difficult　to　analyze；　and　we　must　separate　out　which　ponents　are　necessary　for　the　substance　to　be　effective；　and　which　are　irrelevant。　In　order　to　achieve　this　goal；　the　Tleilaxu　will　require　enormous　resources；　as　well　as　the　freedom　and　time　to　pursue　our　avenues　of　research。〃
　Fenring　shifted　on　the　polished　steps　and；　while　looking　up　at　old　Emperor；　interjected：　〃My　Lord；　I　see　now　that　Master　Ajidica　was　right　in　seeking　privacy　for　this　audience。　Such　an　undertaking　must　be　carried　out　entirely　in　secret　if　House　Corrino　is　to　have　an　exclusive　source。　Ah；　certain　powers　in　the　Imperium　would　do　anything　to　prevent　you　from　creating　an　independent　and　inexpensive　supply　of　spice；　hm…m…m…m？〃
　Fenring　could　see　that　the　old　man　recognized　the　enormous　political　and　economic　advantages　Ajidica's　proposal　could　bring　him　　even　in　light　of　everyone's　instinctive　loathing　for　the　Tleilaxu。　He　sensed　the　balance　shifting；　the　senile　Emperor　ing　to　exactly　the　conclusion　Fenring　wished。　Yes；　the　ancient　creature　can　still　be　manipulated。
　Elrood　himself　saw　many　forces　hanging　in　the　balance。　Since　the　Harkonnens　were　ambitious　and　intractable；　he　would　have　preferred　to　place　another　Great　House　in　charge　of　Arrakis；　but　the　Baron　would　remain　in　power　for　decades　yet。　For　political　reasons；　the　Emperor　had　been　forced　to　grant　this　valuable　quasi…fief　to　House　Harkonnen　after　ousting　Richese；　and　the　new　fief　holders　had　dug　themselves　in。　Too　much　so。　Even　the　debacle　of　Abulurd's　governorship　（he'd　been　installed　in　his　position　at　the　request　of　his　father　Dmitri　Harkonnen）　had　not　brought　the　desired　result。　The　effect　had　been　the　exact　opposite；　in　fact；　once　the　Baron　had　maneuvered　himself　into　a　position　of　power。
　But　what　to　do　with　Arrakis　afterward？　Elrood　thought。　I　would　want　total　control　of　it　as　well。　Without　its　monopoly　on　spice；　the　place　might　e　cheap。　At　the　right　price；　it　could　prove　useful　for　something　else。。。an　incredibly　harsh　military　training　area；　perhaps？
　〃You　were　correct　in　bringing　your　ideas　to　our　attention；　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica。〃　Elrood　clasped　his　hands　on　his　lap；　clinking　gold　rings　together；　refusing　to　apologize　for　his　earlier　rudeness。　〃Please　give　us　a　detailed　summary　of　your　needs。〃
　〃Yes；　my　Lord　Emperor。〃　Ajidica　bowed　again；　keeping　his　hands　folded　in　his　billowing　maroon　sleeves。　〃Most　importantly；　my　people　will　need　equipment　and　resources。。。a　place　in　which　to　do　our　research。　I　will　be　in　charge　of　this　program　myself；　but　the　Bene　Tleilax　require　an　appropriate　technological　base　and　industrial　facilities。　Preferably　ones　that　are　already　functional　　and　well　defended。〃
　Elrood　pondered　the　question。　Surely；　among　all　the　worlds　in　the　Imperium；　there　must　be　someplace；　a　high…tech　world　with　industrial　capabilities。。。。
　Puzzle　pieces　snicked　into　place；　and　he　saw　it：　a　way　to　obliterate　his　old　rival　House　Vernius　　payback　for　Dominic's　effrontery　involving　the　royal　concubine　Shando；　and　for　the　new　Heighliner　design　that　threatened　to　wreak　havoc　on　Imperial　profit　systems。　Oh；　this　will　be　magnificent！
　Sitting　on　the　steps　to　the　crystal　pedestal　of　the　throne；　Hasimir　Fenring　did　not　understand　why　the　Emperor　smiled　with　such　smug　satisfaction。　The　silence　drew　out　for　a　long　moment。　He　wondered　if　it　might　have　something　to　do　with　the　mind…eating　effects　of　the　slow　chaumurky。　The　old　man　would　soon　bee　increasingly　irrational　and　paranoid。　And　after　that　he　would　die。　Horribly；　I　hope。
　But　before　then；　all　the　proper　wheels　would　have　been　set　in　motion。
　〃Yes；　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica。　We　do　have　the　place　for　your　efforts；　I　believe；〃　Elrood　said。　〃A　perfect　place。〃
　Dominic　must　not　know　until　it　is　too　late；　the　Emperor　thought。　And　then　he　must　know　who　did　it　to　him。　Right　before　he　dies。
　The　timing；　as　in　so　many　matters　of　the　Imperium；　had　to　be　precise。
　The　Spacing　Guild　has　worked　for　ce