bh.houseatreides-第53部分

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ally　saw　the　Atreides　boy　as　a　man。　〃Leto；　your　father　would　never　forgive　me　if　anything　happened　to　his　son。　We　have　already　sent　a　message　to　the　Old　Duke；　notifying　him　of　the　situation。　In　response；　your　father　has　promised　limited　assistance　and　has　dispatched　a　rescue　mission　to　take　you；　Rhombur；　and　Kailea　to　safety　on　Caladan。〃　Dominic　placed　beefy　hands　on　the　shoulders　of　his　two　children　　children　who　now　needed　to　be　much　more　than　that。　〃Duke　Atreides　will　protect　you；　give　you　sanctuary　from　this。　It　is　all　he　can　do　for　now。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous；〃　Leto　said；　his　gray　eyes　flashing。　〃You　should　take　refuge　with　House　Atreides　as　well；　m'Lord。　My　father　would　never　turn　you　away。〃
　Dominic　gave　a　wan　smile。　〃No　doubt　Paulus　would　do　exactly　as　you　say　　but　I　cannot；　because　that　would　doom　my　children。〃
　Rhombur　looked　over　at　his　sister　in　alarm。　Lady　Shando　nodded　and　continued；　she　and　her　husband　had　already　discussed　the　various　possibilities。　〃Rhombur；　if　you　and　Kailea　live　in　exile　on　Caladan；　then　you　may　be　safe；　not　worth　anyone's　trouble。　I　suspect　that　this　bloody　revolt　has　been　engineered　with　Imperial　influence　and　support；　and　all　the　pieces　have　fallen　into　place。〃
　Rhombur　and　Kailea　stared　at　each　other　in　disbelief；　then　at　Leto。　〃Imperial　support？〃
　〃Why　the　Emperor　wants　Ix；　I　do　not　know；〃　Dominic　said；　〃but　Elrood's　grudge　is　against　me　and　your　mother。　If　I　go　with　you　to　House　Atreides；　the　hunters　will　e　for　all　of　us。　They'll　find　some　reason　to　attack　Caladan。　No；　your　mother　and　I　have　to　find　a　way　to　draw　this　fight　away　from　you。〃
　Rhombur　stood　indignant。　His　pale　skin　flushed。　〃We　can　hold　out　here　a　while　longer；　Father。　I　don't　want　to　leave　you　behind。〃
　〃The　deal　is　done；　my　son。　It's　already　negotiated。　Other　than　the　Atreides　rescue　operation；　there　is　no　help　ing　　no　Imperial　Sardaukar　to　assist　us；　no　Landsraad　armies　to　drive　back　the　Tleilaxu。　The　suboids　are　their　pawns。　We　have　sent　appeals　to　all　the　Houses　Major　and　to　the　Landsraad；　but　no　one　will　move　fast　enough。　Someone　has　outmaneuvered　us。。。。〃
　At　her　husband's　side；　Lady　Shando　held　her　head　high；　despite　her　pain　and　disheveled　appearance。　She　had　been　the　Lady　of　a　Great　House；　and　an　Imperial　concubine　before　that；　but　first　of　all　she　had　been　lowborn。　Shando　could　be　happy　even　without　the　riches　of　an　Ixian　governorship。
　〃But　what　happens　to　the　two　of　you　now？〃　Leto　asked；　since　Rhombur　and　Kailea　didn't　have　the　courage　to　inquire。
　〃House　Vernius　will　go。。。renegade。〃　Shando　let　the　word　hang　in　an　astonished　silence　for　a　heartbeat。
　〃Vermilion　hells！〃　Rhombur　finally　said；　and　his　sister　also　gasped。
　Shando　stood　and　kissed　her　children。
　〃We'll　take　what　we　can　salvage；　then　Dominic　and　I　will　separate　and　go　into　hiding。　Maybe　for　years。　A　few　of　the　most　loyal　will　acpany　us；　others　will　flee　entirely；　still　others　will　stay　here；　for　better　or　worse。　We'll　make　new　lives　for　ourselves；　and　eventually　our　fortunes　will　turn　again。〃
　Dominic　gave　Leto　an　awkward　handshake；　not　quite　the　Imperial　clasp　of　fingers；　but　more　the　way　Old　Terrans　used　to　do　it；　since　the　Imperium　　from　the　Emperor　to　all　of　the　Houses　Major　　had　let　House　Vernius　down。　Once　they　declared　themselves　renegade；　the　family　Vernius　would　no　longer　be　part　of　the　Imperium。
　Shando　and　Kailea　were　crying　softly　as　they　hugged　one　another；　while　Dominic　clasped　his　son　by　the　shoulders。　Moments　later；　Earl　Vernius　and　his　wife　hurried　out　through　the　chamber's　access　tube；　taking　a　contingent　of　guards　with　them；　while　Rhombur　and　his　sister　held　one　another　and　watched　them　go　on　the　eye　screen。
　THE　FOLLOWING　MORNING；　the　three　refugees　sat　in　unfortable　but　efficient　suspensor　chairs；　eating　energy　bars　and　drinking　Ixap　juice。　And　waiting。
　Kailea　said　little；　as　if　she　had　lost　her　energy　for　fighting　the　circumstances。　Her　older　brother　tried　to　cheer　her　up；　but　to　no　avail。　Isolated　here；　walled　off；　they　had　heard　no　word　from　outside；　didn't　know　if　reinforcements　had　arrived；　or　if　the　city　continued　to　burn。。。。
　Kailea　had　cleaned　herself　up；　made　a　valiant　effort　to　reconstruct　her　damaged　gown　and　torn　lace；　and　then　wore　her　altered　appearance　like　a　badge。　〃I　should　have　been　attending　a　ball　this　week；〃　she　said；　her　voice　empty　as　if　all　the　emotion　had　been　scrubbed　from　it。　〃The　Solstice　of　Dur；　one　of　the　largest　social　events　on　Kaitain。　My　mother　said　I　could　attend　one　when　I　was　old　enough。〃　She　looked　over　at　Leto　and　gave　a　mirthless　laugh。　〃Since　I　could　have　gotten　betrothed　to　an　appropriate　husband　this　year；　I　must　be　old　enough　to　attend　a　dance。　Don't　you　think？〃
　She　plucked　at　her　torn　lace　sleeve。　Leto　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　her。　He　tried　to　think　of　what　Helena　would　have　said　to　the　Vernius　daughter。　〃When　we　get　to　Caladan；　I'll　have　my　mother　throw　a　grand　ball　to　wele　you　there。　Would　you　like　that；　Kailea？〃　He　knew　the　Lady　Helena　resented　the　two　Ixian　children　because　of　her　religious　bias；　but　surely　his　mother　would　soften　her　heart；　considering　the　situation。　If　nothing　else；　she　would　never　be　seen　mitting　a　social　faux　pas。
　Kailea's　eyes　flared　at　his　suggestion；　and　Leto　shrank　back。　〃What；　with　fishermen　dancing　a　bawdy　jig　and　rice　farmers　performing　some　fertility　rite？〃　Her　words　cut　deep；　and　Leto　felt　his　world　and　his　heritage　to　be　inadequate　for　someone　like　her。

　Kailea　softened；　though；　and　rested　her　fingers　on　Leto's　forearm。　〃I'm　sorry；　Leto。　Very　sorry。　It's　just　that　I　wanted　so　badly　to　go　to　Kaitain；　to　see　the　Imperial　Palace；　the　wonders　of　the　Court。〃
　Rhombur　sat　sullen。　〃Elrood　never　would　have　allowed　it；　if　only　because　he's　still　angry　at　Mother。〃
　Kailea　got　up　and　paced　the　small；　algae…smelling　chamber。　〃Why　did　she　ever　have　to　leave　him？　She　could　have　stayed　in　the　Palace；　lived　her　life　in　luxury　　but　instead　she　came　here　to　this。。。cave。　A　cave　that's　now　overrun　with　vermin。　If　Father　really　cared　for　her；　would　he　have　asked　her　to　sacrifice　so　much？　It　makes　no　sense。〃
　Leto　tried　to　console　her。　〃Don't　you　believe　in　love；　Kailea？　I've　seen　the　way　your　parents　look　at　each　other。〃
　〃Of　course　I　believe　in　love；　Leto。　But　I　also　believe　in　mon　sense；　and　you　have　to　weigh　one　against　the　other。〃
　Kailea　turned　her　back　on　them　and　rummaged　in　the　entertainment　files　for　something　to　amuse　herself。　Leto　decided　not　to　pursue　the　matter。　Instead；　he　turned　to　Rhombur　with　a　suggestion。　〃We　should　each　take　the　time　to　learn　how　to　operate　the　orship。　just　in　case。〃
　〃No　need。　I　can　run　it　myself；〃　Rhombur　said。
　After　taking　a　drink　of　the　tart；　preserved　juice；　Leto　puckered　his　lips。　〃But　what　if　you're　injured　　or　worse？　What　do　we　do　then？〃
　〃He's　right；　you　know；〃　Kailea　said；　not　even　lifting　her　emerald　eyes　from　the　entertainment　files。　Her　voice　sounded　weary　and　brittle。　〃Let's　show　him；　Rhombur。〃
　He　stared　across　the　table　at　Leto。　〃Well；　you　know　how　an　ornithopter　works？　Or　a　shuttle？〃
　〃I　learned　to　pilot　a　'thopter　by　the　time　I　was　ten。　But　the　only　shuttles　I've　seen　were　robo…controlled。〃
　〃Brainless　machines；　performing　set　functions　the　same　way　every　time。　I　hate　those　things。。。even　though　we　manufacture　them。〃　He　took　a　bite　of　energy　bar。　〃Well；　we　used　to；　anyway。　Before　the　Tleilaxu　came。〃　He　lifted　his　right　hand　overhead　and　rubbed　the　firejewel　ring　that　designated　him　as　heir　of　the　Ixian　House。
　At　his　signal；　a　large　square　in　the　ceiling　dropped　smoothly　and　came　to　rest　on　the　floor。　Looking　up　through　the　aperture；　Leto　saw　a　sleek　silver　shape　stored　above。　〃e　with　me。〃　Rhombur　stepped　onto　the　panel；　and　Kailea　joined　him。　〃We'll　do　a　systems　check。〃
　As　Leto　stepped　aboard；　he　felt　an　upward　thrust。　The　three　of　them　surged　through　the　ceiling　and　beyond；　up　the　side　of　a　silver　airship　to　a　platform　high　on　the　craft's　fuselage。
　The　orship　reminded　Leto　of　a　space　lighter；　a　small　craft　with　a　narrow　body　and　plaz　windows。　A　bination　ornithopter…spacecraft；　the　orship　could　operate　either　on…planet　or　in　low　orbit。　In　violation　of　the　Guild's　monopoly　on　space　travel；　orships　were　among　the　most　closely　held　Ixian　secrets；　to　be　employed　only　as　a　last　resort。
　A　hatch　slid　open　on　the　side　of　the　craft；　and　Leto　heard　the　ship's　systems　surround　him　with　a　hum　of　machinery　and　electronics。　Rhombur　led　the　way　into　a　pact　mand　center　with　two　high…backed　chairs　and　glimmering　finger…panel　controls　in　front　of　each。　He　slid　into　one　seat；　and　Leto　into　the　other。　The　resilient　sensiform　material　conformed　to　their　bodies。　Soft　green　lights　glowed　on　the　finger　panels。　Kailea　stood　behind　her　brother；　her　hands　on　the　back　of　his　chair。
　With　his　fingers　dancing　over　the　glowing　control　panels；　Rhombur　said；　〃I'm　setting　yours　on　tutorial。　The　ship　will　teach　you　how　to　pilot　it。〃
　Leto's　panel　changed　color　to　yellow。　Wondering　again　about　the　machine…mind　taboos　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad；　he　scrunched　his　face　in　confusion。　How　much　could　this　craft　think　for　itself？　His　mother　had　warned　him　about　accepting　too　many　things；　especially　Ixian　things；　at　face　value。　Through　the　clear　plaz　windshield　he　saw　only　gray　rock　outside；　the　rough　interior　surface　of　the　algae…chamber。
　〃So　it　thinks　for　itself？　Like　those　new　training　meks　you　showed　me？〃
　Rhombur　paused。　〃Uh；　I　know　what's　on　your　mind；　Leto；　but　this　machine　does　not　emulate　human　thought　processes。　The　suboids　just　don't　understand。　Like　our　adaptive　fighting　mek；　which　scans　an　adversary　to　make　bat　decisions；　it　doesn't　think　　it　only　reacts；　at　lightning　speed。　It　reads　your　movements；　anticipates；　and　responds。〃
　〃That　sounds　like　thinking　to　me。〃　In　the　finger…panel　zone　before　Leto；　lights　danced　within　lights。
　Kailea　sighed　with　frustration。　〃The　Butlerian　Jihad　has　been　over　for　thousands　of　years；　and　still　humankind　acts　as　if　we're　terrified　rodents　hiding　from　shadows。　There　is　an　anti…Ixian　prejudice　throughout　the　Imperium　because　we　make　plex　machines。　People　don't　understand　what　we　do；　and　misunderstanding　breeds　suspicion。〃
　Leto　nodded。　〃Then　help　me　understand。　Let's　get　started。〃　He　looked　at　the　control　panel　and　tried　not　to　be　too　impatie