bh.houseatreides-第7部分

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　The　Old　Duke　scowled。　〃Once；　we　were　not　so　different　from　them；　but　those　are　not　stories　you're　ready　to　hear　yet。　Remember　the　play　we　just　watched。〃　He　held　up　a　finger。　〃Things　change　in　the　Imperium。　Alliances　form　and　dissolve　on　whims。〃
　〃Not　our　alliances。〃
　Paulus　met　the　boy's　gray…eyed　stare；　then　looked　away；　into　a　corner　where　the　smoke　from　his　pipe　swirled　in　thick　curtains。
　Leto　sighed。　There　was　so　much　he　wanted　to　know；　and　quickly。　But　it　was　being　fed　to　him　in　little　morsels；　like　petit　fours　at　one　of　his　mother's　fancy　parties。
　Outside；　they　heard　people　moving　about；　clearing　the　theatre　for　the　next　performance　of　Agamemnon。　The　actors　would　be　resting；　changing　costumes；　preparing　for　another　audience。
　Sitting　in　this　private　room　with　his　father；　Leto　felt　more　like　a　man　than　ever　before。　Maybe　next　time　he　would　light　a　pipe　of　his　own。　Maybe　he　would　drink　something　stronger　than　cidrit　juice。　Paulus　looked　at　him　with　a　proud　glow　in　his　eyes。
　Leto　smiled　back　and　tried　to　imagine　what　it　would　be　like　to　be　Duke　Atreides　　then　felt　a　sudden　rush　of　guilt　as　he　realized　his　father　would　have　to　die　first　in　order　for　him　to　slip　the　ducal　signet　ring　onto　his　finger。　He　didn't　want　that；　and　was　thankful　that　it　would　be　a　long　time　yet。　Too　far　in　the　future　to　think　about。
　Spacing　Guild：　one　leg　of　the　political　tripod　maintaining　the　Great　Convention。　The　Guild　was　the　second　mental…physical　training　school　（see　Bene　Gesserit）　after　the　Butlerian　Jihad。　The　Guild　monopoly　on　space　travel　and　transport　and　upon　international　banking　is　taken　as　the　beginning　point　of　the　Imperial　Calendar。
　…Terminology　of　the　Imperium
　From　his　perch　on　the　Golden　Lion　Throne；　Emperor　Elrood　IX　scowled　down　at　the　broad…shouldered　and　too…confident　man　who　stood　at　the　base　of　the　royal　dais；　with　one　of　his　boots；　still　dirty　probably；　on　the　lowest　step。　As　polished…bald　as　a　marble　banister　knob；　Earl　Dominic　Vernius　still　carried　himself　like　a　popular　and　decorated　war　hero；　though　those　days　were　long　over。　Elrood　doubted　anyone　still　remembered　the　man's　reckless　glory　days。
　The　Imperial　Chamberlain；　Aken　Hesban；　moved　swiftly　to　the　visitor's　side；　and　in　a　brusque　tone　ordered　Dominic　to　remove　the　offending　foot。　Hesban's　face　was　sallow；　his　mouth　framed　with　long　and　drooping　mustaches。　The　last　rays　of　Kaitain's　afternoon　sunlight　cast　streaks　high　on　a　wall；　shining　golden　rivers　through　the　narrow　prismatic　windows。
　Earl　Vernius　of　Ix　removed　his　foot　as　he　was　instructed；　but　continued　to　stare　cordially　at　Elrood。　The　Ixian　crest；　a　purple…and…copper　helix；　adorned　the　collar　of　Dominic's　tunic。　Though　House　Corrino　was　vastly　more　powerful　than　the　ruling　family　of　Ix；　Dominic　had　the　maddening　habit　of　treating　the　Emperor　as　an　equal；　as　if　their　past　history　　good　and　bad　　allowed　him　to　dispense　with　formalities。　Chamberlain　Hesban　did　not　at　all　approve。
　Decades　ago　Dominic　had　led　legions　of　Imperial　troops　during　the　rough　civil　wars；　and　he　had　not　truly　respected　his　Emperor　since。　Elrood　had　gotten　himself　into　political　trouble　late　in　his　impulsive　marriage　to　his　fourth　wife　Habla；　and　several　Landsraad　leaders　had　been　forced　to　use　their　House　military　might　to　enforce　stability　again。　House　Vernius　of　Ix　had　been　among　these　allies；　as　had　the　Atreides。
　Now　Dominic　smiled　beneath　an　extravagant　mustache；　and　looked　on　Elrood　with　a　jaded　eye。　The　old　vulture　had　not　earned　his　throne　through　great　deeds　or　passion。　Dominic's　great…uncle　Gaylord　had　once　said；　〃If　you　are　born　to　power；　you　must　prove　you　deserve　it　through　good　works　　or　give　it　up。　To　do　any　less　is　to　act　without　conscience。〃
　Standing　impatiently　on　the　checkerboard　floor　of　polished　stone　squares　　purportedly　samples　from　all　the　worlds　in　the　Imperium　　Dominic　waited　for　Elrood　to　speak。　A　million　worlds？　There　couldn't　possibly　be　that　many　stones　here；　though　I　don't　want　to　be　the　one　to　count　them。
　The　Chamberlain　stared　down　at　him　as　if　his　diet　consisted　entirely　of　soured　milk。　But　Earl　Vernius　could　play　the　game　himself　and　refused　to　fidget；　refused　to　inquire　into　the　nature　of　his　summons。　He　just　stood　still；　smiling　at　the　old　man。　Dominic's　expression　and　bright　eyes　implied　knowledge　of　many　more　embarrassing　personal　secrets　about　the　old　man　than　Shando　had　actually　confessed　to　him　　but　the　suspicion　galled　Elrood；　like　an　Elaccan　bitterthorn　in　his　side。
　Something　moved　on　the　right；　and　in　the　shadows　of　an　arched　doorway　Dominic　saw　a　black…robed　woman；　one　of　those　Bene　Gesserit　witches。　He　couldn't　make　out　her　face；　partially　concealed　as　it　was　by　an　overhanging　cowl。　Notorious　hoarders　of　secrets；　the　Bene　Gesserit　were　always　close　to　the　centers　of　power；　constantly　watching。。nstantly　manipulating。
　〃I　won't　ask　you　if　it's　true；　Vernius；〃　the　Emperor　finally　said。　〃My　sources　are　unerring；　and　I　know　you　have　mitted　this　terrible　act。　Ixian　technology！　Pah！〃　He　made　as　if　to　spit　from　his　withered　lips。　Dominic　did　not　roll　his　eyes　upward；　Elrood　always　overestimated　the　effectiveness　of　his　melodramatic　gestures。
　Dominic　continued　to　smile；　showing　plenty　of　teeth。　〃I　am　unaware　of　mitting　any　'terrible　act；'　Sire。　Ask　your　Truthsayer；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃　He　flicked　a　glance　at　the　dark…robed　Bene　Gesserit　woman。
　〃Mere　semantics　　don't　play　dumb；　Dominic。〃
　Still；　he　simply　waited；　forcing　the　Emperor　to　state　his　charge　explicitly。
　Elrood　huffed；　and　the　Chamberlain　huffed　with　him。　〃Damn　it；　your　new　Heighliner　design　will　allow　the　Guild；　with　their　damnable　monopoly　on　space　transport；　to　carry　sixteen　percent　more　in　each　load！〃
　Dominic　bowed；　still　smiling　mildly。　〃Actually；　m'Lord；　we　have　been　able　to　boost　the　increase　to　eighteen　percent。　That's　a　substantial　improvement　over　the　previous　design；　involving　not　only　a　new　hull　but　a　shield　technology　that　weighs　less　and　takes　up　less　room。　Therefore；　boosted　efficiency。　This　is　the　very　heart　of　Ixian　innovation；　which　has　made　House　Vernius　great　over　the　centuries。〃
　〃Your　alteration　reduces　the　number　of　flights　the　Guild　must　make　to　haul　the　same　amount　of　cargo。〃
　〃Why；　naturally；　Sire。〃　Dominic　looked　at　the　old　man　as　if　he　were　incredibly　dense。　〃If　you　increase　the　capacity　of　each　Heighliner；　you　decrease　the　number　of　flights　required　to　haul　the　same　amount　of　material。　Simple　mathematics。〃
　〃Your　redesign　causes　great　hardship　for　the　Imperial　House；　Earl　Vernius；〃　said　Aken　Hesban；　clutching　his　chain　of　office　as　if　it　were　a　handkerchief。　His　long　mustaches　looked　like　the　tusks　of　a　walrus。
　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　can　understand　the　shortsighted　reason　for　your　concern；　Sire；〃　Dominic　said；　not　deigning　to　look　at　the　stuffed…shirt　Chamberlain。　Imperial　tax　was　based　on　the　number　of　flights　rather　than　on　the　amount　of　cargo；　and　the　Heighliner　redesign　therefore　resulted　in　a　substantial　reduction　in　ine　for　House　Corrino。
　Dominic　spread　his　broad　scarred　hands；　looking　eminently　reasonable。　〃But　how　can　you　request　that　we　blatantly　hold　back　progress？　Ix　has　in　no　way　countermanded　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Revolt。　We　have　the　full　support　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　Landsraad。〃
　〃You　did　this　knowing　it　would　incur　my　wrath？〃　Elrood　leaned　forward　on　the　massive　throne；　looking　even　more　the　vulture。
　〃e　now；　Sire！〃　Dominic　laughed；　belittling　the　Emperor's　concerns。　〃Personal　feelings　can　have　no　place　in　the　march　of　progress。〃
　Elrood　raised　himself　off　the　chair；　standing　in　his　billowy　robes　of　state　that　hung　like　awnings　over　his　skeletal　body。　〃I　can't　renegotiate　with　the　Guild　for　a　tax　based　on　metric　tonnage；　Vernius。　You　know　that！〃
　〃And　I　can't　change　the　simple　laws　of　economics　and　merce。〃　He　shook　his　gleaming　head；　then　shrugged。　〃It's　just　business；　Elrood。〃
　The　Court　functionaries　stopped　with　a　gasp；　listening　to　the　candor　and　familiarity　Dominic　Vernius　used　with　the　Emperor。　〃Watch　yourself；〃　the　Chamberlain　warned。
　But　Dominic　ignored　him　and　continued。　〃This　design　modification　affects　many　people；　most　of　them　positively。　We　are　only　concerned　about　progress；　and　about　doing　the　best　possible　job　for　our　client；　the　Spacing　Guild。　The　cost　of　one　new　Heighliner　is　more　than　most　planetary　systems　make　in　a　Standard　Year。〃
　Elrood　stared　him　down。　〃Perhaps　it　is　time　for　my　administrators　and　licensors　to　inspect　your　manufacturing　facilities。〃　His　voice　carried　a　threatening　tone。　〃I　have　reports　that　Ixian　scientists　may　be　developing　secret；　illegal　thinking　machines　in　violation　of　the　Jihad。　Yes；　I　have　also　heard　plaints　of　repression　against　your　suboid　working　class。　Haven't　we；　Aken？〃
　The　Chamberlain　nodded　dourly。　〃Yes；　Highness。〃
　〃There　have　been　no　such　rumors。〃　Dominic　chuckled；　though　a　bit　uncertainly。　〃No　evidence　whatsoever。〃
　〃Alas；　they　were　anonymous　reports　and　therefore　no　records　have　been　kept。〃　The　Emperor　tapped　his　long…nailed　fingertips　together　as　a　real　smile　crossed　his　face。　〃Yes；　I　believe　the　best　thing　would　be　an　unannounced　inspection　of　Ix　　before　you　can　send　a　warning　and　arrange　for　anything　to　be　hidden。〃
　〃The　inner　workings　of　Ix　are　off…limits　to　you；　according　to　a　long…established　Imperium…Landsraad　pact。〃　Dominic　was　riled　now；　but　he　tried　to　maintain　his　posure。
　〃I　made　no　such　agreement。〃　Elrood　looked　down　at　his　fingernails。　〃And　I've　been　Emperor　for　a　long；　long　time。〃
　〃Your　ancestor　did；　and　you're　bound　by　it。〃
　〃I　have　the　power　to　make　and　break　agreements。　You　don't　seem　to　realize　that　I　am　the　Padishah　Emperor；　and　I　can　do　as　I　please。〃
　〃The　Landsraad　will　have　something　to　say　about　that；　Roody。〃　Instantly　Dominic　regretted　using　the　nickname　and　wished　he　could　take　it　back。　But　it　was　too　late。
　Flushing　with　rage；　the　Emperor　leaped　to　his　feet　and　pointed　an　accusing；　shaking　finger　at　Dominic。　〃How　dare　you！〃　The　Sardaukar　guards　snapped　to　attention；　shifting　their　weapons。
　〃If　you　insist　on　an　Imperial　inspection；〃　Dominic　said　with　a　contemptuous；　dismissive　gesture；　〃I　will　resist　it　and　file　a　formal　plaint　in　Landsraad　court。　You　have　no　case；　and　you　know　it。〃　He　bowed　and　backed　away。