bh.houseatreides-第86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！


fter　the　near　obliteration　of　House　Corrino；　the　Imperium　and　its　business　would　continue　at　a　more　exalted　level　than　ever　before。
　Banners　of　the　Great　Houses　rippled　like　a　rainbow　of　dragon　scales　along　the　outer　walls　of　the　Landsraad　Hall。　Standing　there　in　the　glittering　mons　surrounded　by　towering　metal…and…plaz　buildings；　Leto　was　hard…pressed　to　locate　the　green…and…black　flag　of　House　Atreides；　but　finally　found　it。　The　purple…and…copper　colors　of　House　Vernius　had　been　taken　down　and　publicly　burned。
　Thufir　Hawat　stood　beside　the　young　Duke。　Leto　longed　for　the　presence　of　his　friend　Rhombur；　but　it　was　not　yet　safe　for　the　exiled　Ixian　Prince　to　leave　the　sanctuary　of　Caladan。　Dominic　Vernius　still　had　not　emerged　from　hiding；　even　following　reports　of　Shando's　death；　Leto　knew　the　sharp…eyed　man　would　be　mourning　in　his　own　way。　And　plotting　revenge。。。。
　In　any　case；　Leto　would　have　to　do　this　himself。　His　father　would　have　expected　no　less　of　him。　So；　under　the　bright　Kaitain　sunshine；　he　squared　his　shoulders；　thought　of　his　family　history　and　all　that　had　occurred　since　the　dark　days　of　Atreus；　and　fixed　his　gaze　forward。　He　marched　ahead　along　the　flagstoned　streets；　not　allowing　himself　to　feel　small　in　the　face　of　the　Landsraad's　grandeur。
　As　they　entered　the　Hall　of　Oratory　in　the　pany　of　other　family　representatives；　Leto　spotted　the　colors　of　House　Harkonnen；　with　its　pale　blue　griffin　symbol。　Just　looking　at　the　banners；　he　could　name　a　few　other　families：　Houses　Richese；　Teranos；　Mutelli；　Ecaz；　Dyvetz；　and　Canidar。　In　the　center　of　all　the　flags　hung　the　much　larger　Imperial　banner　of　House　Corrino；　in　striking　scarlet　and　gold　with　its　central　lion　symbol。
　The　fanfare　surrounding　his　entrance；　and　that　of　the　other　arriving　representatives；　was　deafening　and　constant。　As　the　men　and　a　few　women　entered；　a　crier　announced　each　person's　name　and　position。　Leto　saw　only　a　few　true　nobles；　most　arrivals　were　Ambassadors；　political　leaders；　or　paid　sycophants。
　Even　though　he　himself　carried　a　royal　title；　Leto　did　not　feel　powerful　or　important。　After　all；　what　was　the　Duke　of　a　mid…level　House　pared　with　even　the　prime　minister　of　one　of　the　wealthy　families？　Though　he　controlled　the　economy　and　population　of　Caladan　and　the　other　holdings　of　Atreides；　many　Great　Houses　held　dominion　over　far　more　wealth　and　worlds。　He　envisioned　himself　for　a　moment　as　a　small　fish　among　sharks；　then　quashed　such　thoughts　before　they　could　diminish　his　confidence。　The　Old　Duke　had　never　allowed　him　the　luxury　of　feeling　small。
　In　the　enormous　Hall　he　wondered　where　he　might　find　the　empty　seats　formerly　occupied　by　House　Vernius；　he　took　only　small　satisfaction　in　knowing　that；　though　they　now　held　Ix；　the　Bene　Tleilax　would　never　receive　any　such　honors。　The　Landsraad　would　not　allow　despised　Tleilaxu　representatives　into　this　exclusive　club。　Normally　Leto　would　have　had　no　patience　for　such　wholesale　prejudice；　but　in　this　case　he　made　an　exception。
　As　the　Council　meeting　menced　with　interminable　formalities；　Leto　took　his　seat　in　a　plush　black…and…maroon　booth　along　one　side；　similar　to　those　provided　for　the　dignitaries　of　other　Houses。　Hawat　joined　him；　and　Leto　watched　the　business　unfold；　eager　to　learn；　ready　to　do　his　part。　But　he　had　to　wait　until　his　name　was　called。
　The　real　family　heads　could　not　be　bothered　to　attend　every　such　meeting；　and　as　a　number　of　trivial　matters　were　heard　　items　that　dragged　on　for　far　longer　than　was　necessary　　Leto　soon　understood　why。　Little　business　was　acplished　despite　all　the　talking　and　arguing　and　niggling　over　fine　points　of　protocol　or　Imperial　law。
　Newly　installed　in　his　title；　though；　Leto　would　make　this　his　formal　reception。　When　the　scrolling　agenda　signaled　his　turn　to　speak　at　long　last；　the　young　man　crossed　the　dizzying　expanse　of　polished　floor　in　the　cavernous　chamber；　unacpanied　by　the　warrior　Mentat　or　any　other　assistant；　and　climbed　to　a　central　lectern。　Trying　not　to　look　like　a　mere　teenager；　he　remembered　his　father's　powerful　presence　and　recalled　the　cheers　as　they　stood　in　the　arena；　holding　a　bull's…head　high。
　Gazing　across　the　sea　of　bored；　dignified　representatives；　Leto　took　a　deep　breath。　Amplifiers　would　snatch　his　words　and　transmit　them　so　that　all　listeners　could　hear；　shigawire　recordings　were　made　for　documentation　purposes。　This　would　be　a　vital　speech　for　him　　most　of　these　people　had　no　inkling　of　his　personality；　and　few　even　knew　his　name。　Realizing　that　they　would　form　their　impression　of　him　from　the　words　he　said　that　day；　Leto　felt　the　weight　on　his　shoulders　grow　even　heavier。
　He　waited　to　be　certain　he　had　everyone's　attention；　though　so　late　in　the　Council　meeting　he　doubted　anyone　had　the　mental　energy　required　to　concentrate　on　anything　new。
　〃Many　of　you　were　friends　and　allies　of　my　father；　Paulus　Atreides；〃　he　began；　then　dropped　his　bombshell；　〃who　was　recently　murdered　through　a　heinous　and　cowardly　act　of　assassination。〃　He　glanced　pointedly　over　at　the　seats　held　by　representatives　of　House　Harkonnen。　He　didn't　know　the　names　or　titles　of　the　two　men　there　representing　the　enemy　household。
　His　implication　was　clear　enough；　though　he　made　no　specific　accusation；　nor　did　he　have　any　specific　proof。　Stablemaster　Yresk；　who　had　not　survived　his　interrogation　as　Leto　had　requested；　had　confirmed　Helena's　plicity；　but　could　give　no　further　details　about　coconspirators。　So　the　new　Duke　Atreides　simply　used　his　statement　to　gain　the　attention　of　the　bored　people　in　the　chamber　　and　now　he　certainly　had　it。
　The　Harkonnens　whispered　among　themselves；　casting　nervous　and　angry　looks　at　the　podium。　Leto　ignored　them　and　turned　back　to　the　central　cluster　of　representatives。
　Directly　in　front　of　him　in　the　seat　of　House　Mutelli　he　recognized　old　Count　Flambert；　an　utterly　ancient　gentleman　whose　memory　was　said　to　have　failed　him　many　years　before。　With　his　long…term　recollection　gone；　he　kept　at　his　side　a　squat　former　Mentat　candidate　with　blond　hair；　who　served　as　a　portable　memory　for　the　Count。　The　failed　Mentat's　sole　duty　was　to　remind　the　ancient　Flambert　of　things；　providing　every　bit　of　data　the　nobleman　might　require。　Though　he　had　never　pleted　his　training　as　a　human　puter；　the　failed　Mentat　served　the　senile　Count's　needs　well　enough。
　Leto's　voice　carried　across　the　assemblage；　as　clear　and　concise　as　the　pealing　of　buoy　bells　on　a　cool　Caladan　morning：　〃A　sign　over　the　Emperor's　own　door　declares　that　'Law　is　the　ultimate　science。'　Thus；　I　stand　here　not　on　my　own　behalf；　but　on　behalf　of　a　former　Great　House；　one　that　can　no　longer　e　here　to　speak。　House　Vernius　was　a　close　ally　of　my　family。〃
　Several　people　on　nearby　benches　groaned。　A　few　others　fidgeted　impatiently。　They　had　already　heard　too　much　about　Vernius。
　Boldly；　the　young　Atreides　continued：　〃Earl　Dominic　Vernius　and　his　family　were　forced　to　declare　themselves　renegade　after　the　illegal　takeover　of　Ix　by　the　Bene　Tleilax　　whom　all　here　know　to　be　a　depraved　and　disgusting　breed；　and　unworthy　of　representation　before　this　august　body。　While　House　Vernius　cried　out　for　help　and　support　against　this　outrageous　invasion；　all　of　you　hid　in　the　shadows　and　dallied　until　such　assistance　became　irrelevant。〃　Leto　was　careful　not　to　point　the　finger　at　Elrood　himself；　though　it　was　clear　in　his　mind　that　the　Emperor　had　encouraged　the　stalling。
　A　great　murmur　arose　in　the　Landsraad　Hall；　acpanied　by　expressions　of　confusion　and　outrage。　Leto　could　see　that　they　now　viewed　him　as　a　young　upstart；　a　brash　and　ill…mannered　rebel　who　didn't　know　the　true　order　of　things　in　the　Imperium。　He'd　had　the　bad　form　to　bring　such　unpleasant　matters　out　into　the　open。
　Leto　was　unswayed；　though。　〃You　all　knew　Dominic　Vernius　as　an　honorable；　trustworthy　man。　You　all　traded　with　Ix。　How　many　of　you　did　not　call　Dominic　your　friend？〃　He　looked　around　quickly；　but　spoke　again　before　anyone　could　get　up　the　nerve　to　raise　a　hand　in　public。
　〃Though　I　am　not　a　member　of　the　Vernius　family；　the　Tleilaxu　invaders　threatened　my　own　life；　and　I　barely　escaped　through　my　father's　assistance。　Earl　Vernius　and　his　wife　also　fled；　forsaking　all　their　possessions　　and　recently　the　Lady　Shando　Vernius　was　murdered；　hunted　down　like　an　animal！〃　His　vision　spun　with　anger　and　grief；　but　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　continued。
　〃Know；　all　who　can　hear　me；　that　I　express　grave　reservations　about　the　Bene　Tleilax　and　their　recent　outrageous　actions。　By　any　means；　kanly　or　otherwise；　they　must　be　brought　to　justice。　House　Atreides　is　no　ally　of　the　illegal　government　of　Ix　　how　dare　they　rename　the　planet　Xuttuh？　Is　the　Imperium　civilized；　or　do　we　drown　in　a　sea　of　barbarians？〃　He　waited。　His　pulse　pounded　loudly　in　his　head。　〃If　the　Landsraad　ignores　this　incredible　tragedy；　can　you　not　see　that　this　could　happen　to　any　one　of　you？〃
　A　representative　of　House　Harkonnen　spoke　without　even　the　courtesy　of　standing　to　announce　his　intention。　〃House　Vernius　declared　itself　renegade。　By　ancient　law；　the　Emperor's　Sardaukar　and　any　other　bounty　hunters　had　a　perfect　right　to　hunt　down　and　eliminate　the　renegade's　wife。　Have　a　care；　young　pup　of　a　Duke。　We're　only　granting　you　the　right　to　give　her　children　asylum　out　of　the　goodness　of　our　hearts。　There　is　no　requirement　that　we　do　so。〃
　Leto　believed　the　Harkonnen　was　wrong；　but　did　not　wish　to　argue　a　point　of　law；　especially　without　Thufir's　guidance。　〃So　any　House　can　be　persecuted；　their　members　assassinated　by　Sardaukar　on　a　whim；　and　no　one　here　believes　it　is　wrong？　Any　power　can　crush　a　Great　House　of　the　Landsraad；　and　the　rest　of　you　will　simply　cover　your　eyes　and　hope　it　doesn't　happen　to　you　next？〃
　〃The　Emperor　does　not　act　on　a　whim！〃　someone　shouted。　A　number　of　voices　of　assent　called　out。。。but　not　many。　Leto　realized　this　bit　of　patriotism　and　loyalty　was　probably　a　consequence　of　Elrood's　severely　failing　health。　The　ancient　man　had　not　been　seen　at　functions　for　months；　was　supposedly　bedridden　and　near　death。
　Leto　put　his　hands　on　his　hips。　〃I　may　be　young；　but　I'm　not　blind。　Consider　this；　members　of　the　Landsraad；　with　your　shifting　alliances　and　false　loyalties　　what　pledge