bh.houseatreides-第95部分

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s　had　a　right　to　be。　He　looked　down　at　the　sword　and　then　through　the　arched　columns　into　the　dining　hall；　where　the　portrait　of　dashing　Paulus　Atreides　hung　on　the　far　wall。　The　hawkish　patriarch　stared　from　the　painting　with　burning　green　eyes；　he　wore　his　gaudy　matador　clothes　as　if　nothing　in　the　universe　could　knock　him　from　his　intended　course。
　〃I　miss　him　very　much；〃　Duncan　said。
　Feeling　a　lump　in　his　throat　that　gradually　expanded　to　bee　a　leaden　weight　in　his　chest；　Leto　approached　the　boy。
　Paulus　had　left　his　mark　upon　many　lives。　Even　this　youth　who　worked　with　the　bulls；　a　mere　boy　who　had　somehow　managed　to　outwit　Harkonnen　hunters　and　escape　from　Giedi　Prime；　felt　the　loss　like　a　mortal　wound。
　I　am　not　the　only　one　who　still　feels　the　pain　of　my　father's　death；　Leto　realized。　He　clasped　Duncan's　shoulder；　and　in　silence　they　spoke　more　than　hours　of　conversation　could　have　municated。
　Duncan　finally　pulled　away　and　leaned　on　the　tall　sword　as　if　it　were　a　crutch。　His　flushed　skin　returned　to　its　normal　tone；　and　he　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃I　came。。。I　came　to　ask　you　a　question；　m'Lord；　before　you　go　to　Kaitain。〃
　Pots　clanged　in　the　distance；　and　servants　moved　about。　Before　long；　someone　would　e　up　to　Leto's　room　bearing　a　breakfast　tray。　They　would　find　his　room　empty。　〃Ask；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　about　the　bulls；　sir。　With　Yresk　gone　now；　I've　been　tending　them　every　day；　me　and　some　of　the　other　stableboys　　but　what　do　you　mean　to　do　with　them？　Will　you　fight　the　bulls　just　like　your　father？〃
　〃No！〃　Leto　said　quickly；　as　a　bolt　of　fear　shot　through　him。　He　pushed　the　reflex　away。　〃No；〃　he　repeated　more　calmly。　〃I　think　not。　The　days　of　bullfighting　on　Caladan　are　over。〃
　〃Then　what　shall　I　do；　m'Lord？〃　Duncan　said。　〃Do　I　still　need　to　tend　the　animals？〃
　Leto　tried　not　to　laugh。　At　his　age　the　boy　should　be　playing；　doing　a　few　chores；　and　filling　his　head　with　imaginings　of　the　grand　adventures　that　awaited　him　in　life。
　But　when　Leto　looked　into　Duncan's　eyes；　he　saw　that　the　person　before　him　was　far　more　than　just　a　boy。　He　was　much　older　inside。　〃You've　eluded　Harkonnens　in　their　prison　city；　correct？〃
　Duncan　nodded；　biting　his　lower　lip。
　〃You　fought　them　in　a　forest　preserve　when　you　were　only　eight　years　of　age。　You　killed　several；　and　if　I　remember　your　story　right；　you　cut　a　tracking　device　out　of　your　own　shoulder　and　laid　a　trap　for　Harkonnen　hunters。　You　humiliated　Glossu　Rabban　himself。〃
　Again　Duncan　nodded；　not　with　pride；　but　simply　confirming　the　summary　of　events。
　〃And　you　found　your　way　across　the　Imperium；　ing　here　to　Caladan　because　this　is　where　you　wanted　to　be。　Even　the　distance　of　several　continents　didn't　divert　you　from　our　doorstep。〃
　〃All　that　is　true；　m'Lord　Duke。〃
　Leto　indicated　the　large　ceremonial　sword。　〃My　father　used　that　blade　for　training。　It's　overlarge　for　you　　at　least　for　now；　Duncan　　but　perhaps　with　some　instruction；　you　could　bee　a　formidable　fighter。　A　Duke　is　always　in　need　of　trustworthy　guards　and　protectors。〃　He　pursed　his　lips；　considering。　〃Do　you　think　you're　fit　to　be　one　of　mine？〃
　The　boy's　blue…green　eyes　shone　and　he　grinned；　crinkling　his　skin　around　the　drying　tracks　of　tears。　〃Will　you　send　me　to　the　weapon　schools　of　Ginaz　so　I　can　bee　a　swordmaster？〃
　〃Ho；　ho！〃　Leto　gave　a　booming　laugh　that　startled　his　own　ears；　because　it　sounded　so　much　like　his　father's。　〃Let's　not　get　ahead　of　ourselves；　Duncan　Idaho。　We'll　train　you　here　to　the　limit　of　your　abilities　　then　we'll　see　if　you're　good　enough　for　such　a　reward。〃
　Duncan　nodded　solemnly。　〃I　will　be　good　enough。〃
　As　Leto　heard　servants　bustling　by　in　the　dining　room；　he　raised　a　hand　to　signal　them　over。　He　would　breakfast　with　this　boy　and　chat　some　more。
　〃You　can　count　on　me；　my　Duke。〃
　Leto　drew　a　long；　deep　breath。　He　wished　he　could　share　the　unshakable　confidence　of　this　young　man。　〃Yes；　Duncan；　I　believe　you。〃
　Innovations　seem　to　have　a　life　and　a　sentience　of　their　own。　When　conditions　are　right；　a　radical　new　idea　　a　paradigm　shift　　may　appear　simultaneously　from　many　minds　at　once。　Or　it　may　remain　secret　in　the　thoughts　of　one　man　for　years；　decades；　centuries。。。until　someone　else　thinks　of　the　same　thing。　How　many　brilliant　discoveries　die　stillborn；　or　lie　dormant；　never　to　be　embraced　by　the　Imperium　as　a　whole？
　…OMBUDSMEN　OF　RICHESE；　Rebuttal　to　the　Landsraad；　The　True　Domain　of　the　Intellect　　Private　Property；　or　Resources　for　the　Galaxy？
　The　tube　transport　dropped　its　two　passengers　into　the　depths　of　Harkonnen　Keep　and　then；　with　programmed　precision；　shot　them　across　an　access　rail。
　The　capsule；　with　the　Baron　and　Glossu　Rabban　inside；　raced　toward　the　swarming　morass　of　Harko　City；　a　smoky　blot　on　the　landscape　where　buildings　crowded　together。　To　the　Baron's　knowledge；　there　was　no　detailed　map　of　the　city's　underworld；　since　it　continued　to　grow　like　a　fungus。　He　wasn't　sure　exactly　where　they　were　going。
　While　scheming　against　the　Atreides；　he　had　insisted　that　Piter　de　Vries　find　extensive　yet　confidential　laboratory　space　and　fabrication　facilities　in　the　armpit　of　Harkonnen　influence。　The　Mentat　said　he'd　done　so；　and　the　Baron　didn't　ask　further　questions。　This　tube　transport；　dispatched　by　de　Vries；　was　taking　them　there。
　〃I　want　to　know　the　whole　plan；　Uncle；〃　Rabban　said；　fidgeting　next　to　him　in　the　partment。　〃Tell　me　what　we're　going　to　do。〃
　Up　front　in　the　piloting　cubicle；　a　deaf…mute　vehicle　specialist　hurried　them　along。　The　Baron　paid　no　attention　to　the　dark　and　blocky　buildings　flashing　by；　the　clouds　of　exhaust　and　residue　spilling　from　the　factories。　Giedi　Prime　produced　sufficient　goods　to　pay　for　itself；　and　tidy　sums　came　in　from　the　whalefur　trade　on　Lankiveil　and　mineral　excavation　on　various　asteroids。　The　really　big　profits　for　House　Harkonnen；　however　　dwarfing　all　the　others　bined　　were　from　spice　exploitation　on　Arrakis。
　〃The　plan；　Rabban；　is　simple；〃　he　answered　finally；　〃and　I　intend　to　offer　you　a　key　part　in　it。　If　you　can　handle　it。〃
　His　nephew's　heavy…lidded　eyes　lit　up；　and　his　thick　lips　twisted　his　generous　mouth　into　a　grin。　Surprisingly；　he　knew　enough　to　remain　quiet　and　wait　for　the　Baron　to　continue。　Maybe；　eventually；　he'll　learn。。。。
　〃If　we　succeed　in　this；　Rabban；　our　fortunes　will　increase　dramatically。　Better　still；　we　can　take　personal　satisfaction　in　knowing　that　we　have　at　last　ruined　House　Atreides；　after　all　these　centuries　of　feuding。〃
　Rabban　rubbed　his　hands　in　delight；　but　the　Baron's　black　stare　became　harder　as　he　continued。　〃If　you　fail；　however；　I'll　see　to　it　that　you're　transferred　back　to　Lankiveil；　where　you'll　be　trained　any　way　your　father　wishes　　plete　with　singalongs　and　the　recitation　of　poems　about　brotherly　love。〃
　Rabban　glowered。　〃I　won't　fail；　Uncle。〃
　The　tube　car　arrived　at　an　armored　high…security　laboratory；　and　the　deaf…mute　motioned　for　them　to　exit　the　vehicle。　The　Baron　couldn't　have　found　his　way　back　to　Harkonnen　Keep　if　his　life　had　depended　upon　it。
　〃What　is　this　place？〃　Rabban　asked。
　〃A　research　establishment；〃　the　Baron　said；　waving　him　forward　〃One　where　we　are　preparing　a　nasty　surprise。〃
　Rabban　marched　ahead；　eager　to　see　the　facility。　The　place　smelled　of　solder　and　waste　oils；　blown　fuses；　and　sweat。　From　the　cluttered；　open　floor；　Piter　de　Vries　came　up　to　greet　them；　stained　lips　smiling。　His　mincing　footsteps　and　slithery；　jerky　movements　gave　him　the　demeanor　of　a　lizard。
　〃You've　had　weeks　here　already；　Piter。　This　had　better　be　good。　I　told　you　not　to　waste　my　time。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；　my　Baron；〃　the　Mentat　answered；　gesturing　for　them　to　e　deeper　into　the　building's　high　bay。　〃Our　pet　researcher　Chobyn　has　outdone　himself。〃
　〃And　I　always　thought　Richesians　were　better　at　cheap　imitations　than　actual　innovations；〃　Rabban　said。
　〃There　are　exceptions　everywhere；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃Let's　see　what　Piter　has　to　show　us。〃
　Filling　most　of　the　chamber　was　what　de　Vries　had　secretly　promised　the　Baron：　a　modified　Harkonnen　warship；　140　meters　in　diameter。　Sleek　and　highly　polished；　this　craft　had　been　used　to　good　effect　in　conventional　battles　to　strike　hard　and　escape　quickly。　Now　it　had　been　converted　according　to　Chobyn's　exacting　specifications；　with　the　tail　fins　trimmed；　the　engine　replaced；　and　a　section　of　the　troop　cabin　cut　away　to　make　room　for　the　required　technology。　All　records　of　the　craft's　existence　had　been　expunged　from　Harkonnen　ledgers。　Piter　de　Vries　was　good　at　manipulations　like　that。
　A　rotund　man　with　a　bald　pate　and　steel…gray　goatee　emerged　from　the　engine　partment　of　the　attack　ship；　stained　with　grease　and　other　lubricants。
　〃My　Baron；　sir；　I'm　pleased　you　have　e　to　see　what　I've　acplished　for　you。〃　Chobyn　tucked　a　tool　into　the　pocket　of　his　overalls。　〃Installation　is　plete。　My　no…field　will　operate　perfectly。　I've　synchronized　it　with　the　machinery　of　this　ship。〃
　Rabban　rapped　his　knuckles　on　the　hull　near　the　cockpit。　〃Why　is　it　so　big？　This　hulk　is　large　enough　to　carry　an　armored　groundcar　unit。　How　are　we　going　to　do　any　secret　work　with　this？〃
　Chobyn　raised　his　eyebrows；　not　recognizing　the　burly　young　man。　〃And　you　are。。。？〃
　〃This　is　Rabban；　my　nephew；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃He　raises　a　valid　question。　I　asked　for　a　small　stealth　ship。〃
　〃This　is　the　tiniest　I　could　make　it；〃　Chobyn　answered　with　a　huff。　〃A　hundred　and　forty　meters　is　the　smallest　cloak　of　invisibility　the　no…field　generator　can　project。　The　constraints　are。。。incredible。　I…〃
　The　inventor　cleared　his　throat；　suddenly　impatient。　〃You　must　learn　to　think　beyond　your　preconceptions；　sir。　Realize　what　we　have　here。　Naturally；　the　invisibility　more　than　makes　up　for　any　diminished　maneuvering　capability。〃　He　wrinkled　his　brow　again。　〃What　difference　does　the　size　make；　if　no　one　can　see　it　anyway？　This　attack　craft　will　still　fit　easily　inside　the　hold　of　a　frigate。〃
　〃It　will　do；　Chobyn；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃If　it　works。〃
　De　Vries　scuttled　back　and　forth　along　the　length　of　the　ship。　〃If　no　one　knows　to　look　for　the　ship；　Rabban；　you　won't　be　in　any　danger。　Imagine　the　chaos　you　can　create！　You'll　be　like　a　killer　ghost。〃
　〃Oh；　yes！〃　Rabban　paused　as　realization　flooded　across　his　face。　〃