bh.houseatreides-第60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！


　〃A　soldier　never　reveals　his　full　arsenal　of　defenses。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Her　tone　was　soothing；　sensual。　Kryubi　didn't　feel　threatened　by　it；　but　wondered　if　his　bluff　had　worked。
　Unknown　to　this　foolish　soldier；　Mohiam　was　a　Truthsayer　capable　of　recognizing　nuances　of　falsehood　and　deception。　She　allowed　the　pompous　Burseg　to　lead　her　across　an　overpass　on　a　walkway　tunnel。　Once　inside　Harkonnen　Keep；　the　Reverend　Mother　put　on　her　best　air　of　aloof　confidence；　gliding　along　with　feigned　nonchalance。
　But　every　one　of　her　heightened　senses　was　attuned　to　the　slightest　anomaly。　The　Baron　made　her　extremely　suspicious。　She　knew　he　was　up　to　something。
　PACING　RESTLESSLY　IN　the　Great　Hall；　Baron　Harkonnen　looked　around；　his　black　eyes　flashing　and　intent。　The　room　was　large　and　cold；　the　harsh　light　too　bright　from　unfiltered　glowglobes　clustered　in　the　corners　and　along　the　ceiling。　As　he　walked　in　pointed　black　boots；　his　footsteps　echoed；　making　the　entire　hall　sound　hollow；　empty　　a　good　place　for　an　ambush。
　Though　the　residential　portion　of　the　Keep　might　appear　vacant；　the　Baron　had　stationed　guards　and　electronic　spy…eyes　in　various　alcoves。　He　knew　he　couldn't　fool　the　Bene　Gesserit　whore　for　long；　but　it　didn't　matter。　Even　if　she　learned　they　were　being　watched；　it　might　give　her　pause　and　prevent　her　from　pulling　her　insidious　tricks。　The　caution　might　at　least　gain　him　a　few　seconds。
　Since　he　planned　to　be　in　control　this　time；　the　Baron　wanted　his　people　to　watch。　He'd　give　them　a　very　good　show；　something　they'd　talk　about　in　their　barracks　and　troop　ships　for　years　to　e。　Best　of　all；　it　would　put　the　witches　in　their　place。　Blackmail　me；　indeed！
　Piter　de　Vries　came　up　behind　him；　moving　so　swiftly　and　silently　that　he　startled　the　Baron；　who　snapped；　〃Don't　do　that；　Piter！〃
　〃I've　brought　what　you　asked；　my　Baron。〃　The　twisted　Mentat　extended　his　hand；　offering　two　small　plugs；　white…noise　transmitters。　〃Insert　these　deeply　into　your　ear　canals。　They're　designed　to　distort　any　Voice　she　might　try　to　use。　You　can　still　hear　normal　conversation；　but　the　plugs　will　scramble　the　unwanted；　preventing　it　from　reaching　your　ears。〃
　The　Baron　heaved　a　deep　breath　and　flexed　his　muscles。　The　preparations　had　to　be　perfect。
　〃You　just　take　care　of　your　part；　Piter。　I　know　what　I'm　doing。〃　He　went　to　a　small　alcove；　snatched　up　the　decanter　of　kirana　brandy；　and　took　a　long　deep　swig　directly　from　the　bottle。　Feeling　the　brandy　burn　in　his　chest；　he　wiped　his　mouth　and　the　top　of　the　bottle。
　The　Baron　had　already　imbibed　more　alcohol　than　was　usual　for　him；　perhaps　more　than　was　wise　considering　the　ordeal　he　was　about　to　face。　De　Vries；　who　recognized　the　Baron's　anxiety；　looked　at　his　master　as　if　laughing　at　him。　With　a　scowl；　the　Baron　took　another　deep　swallow；　just　to　spite　the　Mentat。
　De　Vries　scuttled　about；　relishing　their　joint　plan；　eager　to　participate。　〃Perhaps；　Baron；　the　witch　is　returning　here　because　she　enjoyed　her　first　encounter　with　you　so　much。〃　He　cackled。　〃Do　you　think　she's　been　lusting　after　you　ever　since？〃
　The　Baron　scowled　at　him　again　　this　time　sharply　enough　that　the　Mentat　wondered　if　he　had　pushed　too　far。　But　de　Vries　always　managed　to　talk　his　way　out　of　reprisals。
　〃Is　that　the　best　prime　projection　my　Mentat　can　offer？　Think；　damn　you！　Why　would　the　Bene　Gesserit　want　another　child　from　me？　Are　they　just　trying　to　twist　the　knife　deeper；　to　make　me　hate　them　even　more　than　I　already　do？〃　He　snorted；　wondered　if　that　could　be　possible。
　Maybe　they　needed　two　daughters　for　some　reason。　Or　maybe　something　was　wrong　with　the　first　one。。。。　The　Baron's　generous　lips　curved　upward　in　a　slight　smile。　This　child　would　certainly　be　the　last。
　No　evidence　remained　for　the　Bene　Gesserit　to　use　as　blackmail。
　Lankiveil　now　hid　the　largest　treasure　of　Harkonnen　melange　right　under　Abulurd's　nose。　The　fool　had　no　inkling　of　how　he　was　being　used　to　cover　the　Baron's　secret　activities。　But　though　softhearted　and　softheaded；　Abulurd　was　still　a　Harkonnen。　Even　if　he　discovered　the　deception；　he　wouldn't　dare　expose　it　for　fear　of　destroying　his　own　family　holdings。　Abulurd　revered　the　memory　of　their　father　too　much　for　that。
　The　Baron　walked　away　from　the　kirana　brandy；　and　the　sweet　burning　taste　turned　sour　in　the　back　of　his　mouth。　He　wore　a　loose　maroon…and…black　pajama　top　tightly　sashed　across　his　flat　stomach。　The　pale　blue　griffin　crest　of　House　Harkonnen　emblazoned　the　left　breast。　He'd　left　his　arms　bare　to　show　off　his　biceps。　His　reddish　hair　was　cut　short；　tousled　for　a　rakish　look。
　He　looked　hard　at　de　Vries。　The　Mentat　gulped　from　a　small　bottle　of　deep　red　sapho　juice。　〃Are　we　ready；　my　Baron？　She's　waiting　outside。〃
　〃Yes；　Piter。〃　He　lounged　back　in　a　chair。　His　silky　pants　were　loose；　and　the　prying　eyes　of　the　Reverend　Mother　would　be　able　to　detect　no　bulge　of　a　weapon　　no　expected　weapon。　He　smiled。　〃Go　and　send　her　in。〃
　WHEN　MOHIAM　PASSED　into　the　main　hall　of　the　Keep；　Burseg　Kryubi　and　his　troops　closed　the　doors　behind　her；　remaining　outside。　The　locks　sealed　with　a　click。　Immediately　on　her　guard；　she　noted　that　the　Baron　had　orchestrated　every　detail　of　this　encounter。
　The　two　of　them　seemed　to　be　alone　in　the　long　room；　which　was　austere　and　cold；　awash　in　glaring　light。　The　entire　Keep　conveyed　the　impression　of　square　corners　and　unsoftened　harshness　the　Harkonnens　loved　so　well；　this　place　was　more　an　industrial　conference　room　than　a　sumptuous　palace　hall。
　〃Greetings　again；　Baron　Harkonnen；〃　Mohiam　said　with　a　smile　that　overlaid　politeness　on　top　of　her　scorn。　〃I　see　you've　been　anticipating　our　meeting。　Perhaps　you're　even　eager？〃　She　looked　away；　glancing　at　her　fingertips。　〃It's　possible　I　shall　allow　you　a　bit　more　pleasure　this　time。〃
　〃Maybe　so；〃　the　Baron　said；　affably。
　She　didn't　like　the　answer。　What　is　his　game？　Mohiam　looked　around；　sensing　the　air　currents；　peering　into　shadows；　trying　to　hear　the　heartbeat　of　some　other　person　lying　in　wait。　Someone　was　there。。。but　where？　Did　they　plan　to　murder　her？　Would　they　dare？　She　monitored　her　pulse；　prevented　it　from　accelerating。
　The　Baron　definitely　had　more　in　mind　than　simple　cooperation。　She　had　never　expected　an　easy　victory　over　him；　especially　not　this　second　time。　The　heads　of　some　Minor　Houses　could　be　crushed　or　manipulated　　the　Bene　Gesserit　certainly　knew　how　to　do　it　　but　this　wouldn't　be　the　fate　of　House　Harkonnen。
　She　looked　at　the　Baron's　stygian　eyes；　straining　with　her　Truthsayer　abilities；　but　unable　to　see　what　he　was　thinking；　unable　to　unravel　his　plans。　Mohiam　felt　a　twinge　of　fear　deep　inside；　barely　recognized。　Just　how　much　would　the　Harkonnens　dare？　This　Baron　couldn't　afford　to　refuse　the　Sisterhood's　demand；　knowing　what　information　the　Bene　Gesserit　held　against　him。　Or　would　he　risk　the　possibility　of　heavy　Imperial　penalties？
　Of　equal　import；　would　he　risk　a　Bene　Gesserit　punishment？　That；　too；　was　no　small　matter。
　At　another　time　she　might　have　enjoyed　playing　games　with　him；　mental　and　physical　sparring　with　a　strong　opponent。　He　was　slippery　and　could　bend　and　twist　far　more　easily　than　he　could　break。　But　right　now　the　Baron　fell　beneath　her　contempt；　serving　as　a　stud　whose　genes　were　required　by　the　Sisterhood。　She　didn't　know　why；　or　what　importance　this　daughter　might　hold；　but　if　Mohiam　returned　to　Wallach　IX　with　her　mission　unfulfilled；　she　would　receive　a　severe　reprimand　from　her　superiors。
　She　decided　not　to　waste　any　additional　time。　Summoning　the　full　Voice　talents　the　Bene　Gesserit　had　taught　her；　word　and　tone　manipulations　that　no　untrained　human　could　resist；　she　said　curtly；　〃Cooperate　with　me。〃　It　was　a　mand　she　expected　him　to　obey。
　The　Baron　just　smiled。　He　didn't　move；　but　his　eyes　flicked　to　one　side。　Mohiam　was　so　startled　at　the　ineffectiveness　of　Voice　that　she　realized　too　late　the　Baron　had　set　a　different　trap　for　her。
　The　Mentat　Piter　de　Vries　had　already　launched　himself　out　of　a　hidden　alcove。　She　turned；　battle…ready；　but　the　Mentat　moved　as　swiftly　as　any　Bene　Gesserit　could。
　The　Baron　took　it　all　in；　and　enjoyed　what　he　was　seeing。
　De　Vries　held　a　crude　but　effective　weapon　in　his　hands。　The　old…fashioned　neural　scrambler　would　serve　as　a　brutal　high…powered　stunning　device。　He　fired　a　volley　before　she　could　move。　The　crackling　waves　slammed　into　her；　short…circuiting　her　mind/muscle　control。
　Mohiam　fell　backward；　twitching　and　wrenching　with　painful　spasms；　every　square　centimeter　of　her　skin　alive　with　imaginary　biting　ants。
　Such　a　delightful　effect；　the　Baron　thought　as　he　watched。
　She　dropped　to　the　polished…stone　floor；　arms　and　legs　akimbo；　as　if　she　had　been　squashed　by　a　giant　foot。　Her　head　struck　the　hard　tiles；　and　her　ears　rang　from　the　blow。　Unblinking；　her　eyes　stared　up　at　the　vaulted　ceiling。　Even　with　extreme　prana…bindu　muscular　control；　she　couldn't　move。
　Finally　the　mocking　face　of　the　Baron　loomed　over　her；　pushing　itself　into　her　limited　field　of　view。　Her　arms　and　legs　jittered　with　random　nerve　impulses。　She　felt　warm　wetness　and　realized　that　her　bladder　had　let　go。　A　thin　line　of　spittle　trickled　from　the　corner　of　her　lip　down　her　cheek；　weaving　a　path　to　the　base　of　her　ear。
　〃Now　then；　witch；〃　the　Baron　said；　〃that　stunner　will　do　no　permanent　damage。　In　fact；　you'll　have　bodily　control　again　in　about　twenty　minutes。　Time　enough　for　us　to　get　to　know　one　another。〃　He　walked　around　her；　smiling；　passing　in　and　out　of　her　peripheral　vision。
　Raising　his　voice　so　that　electronic　pickups　would　transmit　everything　to　the　hidden　observers；　he　continued。　〃I　know　what　false　blackmail　material　you　have　fabricated　against　House　Harkonnen；　and　my　lawyers　are　prepared　to　deal　with　it　in　any　court　of　the　Imperium。　You　have　threatened　to　use　it　if　I　don't　grant　you　another　child；　but　that　is　a　toothless　threat　from　toothless　witches。〃
　He　paused；　then　smiled　as　if　an　idea　had　just　occurred　to　him。　〃Still；　I　don't　mind　giving　you　the　additional　daughter　you　desire。　Really；　I　don't。　But　know　this；　witch；　and　take　my　message　back　to　your　Sisterhood：　You　cannot　twist　Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen　to　your　purpose　without　suffering　the　consequences。〃