bh.houseatreides-第106节

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ratory　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。　〃Me？〃
　Chobyn　closed　an　access　hatch　behind　the　engines。　〃Everything　is　simple　and　functional。　The　ship　will　be　ready　by　tomorrow　when　you　depart　for　the　Padishah　Emperor's　coronation。〃
　〃I　have　verified　it；　my　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said。
　〃Excellent；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃You　have　proven　yourself　most　valuable；　Chobyn。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　pilot　it？〃　Rabban　said　again；　as　if　he　still　couldn't　believe　the　idea。　His　voice　cracked　with　excitement。　Baron　Harkonnen　nodded。　His　nephew；　despite　his　shortings；　was　at　least　an　excellent　pilot　and　an　excellent　shot；　along　with　being　the　Baron's　heir　apparent。
　The　inventor　smiled。　〃I　believe　I　made　the　correct　choice　in　ing　to　you　directly；　Baron。　House　Harkonnen　has　immediately　seen　the　possibilities　of　my　discovery。〃
　〃When　the　new　Emperor　learns　of　this；　he'll　demand　a　no…ship　for　himself；〃　Rabban　pointed　out。　〃He　might　even　send　the　Sardaukar　in　to　take　it　away　from　us。〃
　〃Then　we　must　make　sure　Shaddam　doesn't　find　out。　At　least　not　yet；〃　Piter　de　Vries　replied；　rubbing　his　hands　together。
　〃You　must　be　a　brilliant　man；　Chobyn；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃ing　up　with　all　this。〃
　〃Actually；　I　just　adapted　a　Holtzman　field　to　our　uses。　Centuries　ago　Tio　Holtzman's　mathematics　were　developed　for　shields　and　foldspace　engines。　I　simply　carried　the　principles　several　steps　further。〃
　〃And　now　you　expect　to　bee　wealthy　beyond　your　wildest　dreams？〃　the　Baron　mused。
　〃Deservedly　so；　would　you　not　agree；　Baron？〃　Chobyn　said。　〃Look　what　I've　done　for　you。　If　I'd　stayed　on　Richese　and　gone　through　channels；　I　would　have　had　to　endure　years　of　legalities；　title　searches；　and　patent　investigations；　after　which　my　government　would　have　taken　the　lion's　share　of　profit　derived　from　my　own　invention　　not　to　speak　of　the　imitators　who　would　set　to　work　once　they　got　wind　of　what　I　was　doing。　A　minor　adjustment　here；　another　there；　and　then　someone　else　has　a　different　patent；　one　that　acplishes　essentially　the　same　thing。〃
　〃So　you　kept　it　a　secret　until　you　came　to　us？〃　Rabban　said。　〃No　one　else　knows　of　the　technology？〃
　〃I'd　have　been　foolish　to　tell　anyone　else。　You　have　the　only　no…field　generators　in　the　universe。〃　Chobyn　crossed　his　arms　over　his　stained　jumpsuit。
　〃Perhaps　for　the　time　being；〃　the　Baron　said；　〃but　the　Ixians　were　a　clever　lot；　and　so　are　the　Tleilaxu。　Sooner　or　later　someone　else　will　have　something　like　this；　if　they　don't　already。〃
　Rabban　maneuvered　himself　closer　to　the　unwary　Richesian。
　〃I　see　your　point；　Baron；〃　Chobyn　said；　with　a　shrug。　〃I　am　not　a　greedy　man；　but　I　would　like　to　profit　from　my　own　invention。〃
　〃You　are　a　wise　man；〃　the　Baron　said；　flashing　a　meaningful　glance　at　his　burly　nephew。　〃And　deserve　to　be　paid　in　full。〃
　〃It's　good　to　keep　secrets　about　important　things；〃　Rabban　chimed　in。
　He　stood　directly　behind　the　rotund　inventor；　who　beamed　at　the　praise　and　wiped　his　hands　on　his　pant　legs。
　Rabban　moved　swiftly；　like　a　whiplash；　wrapping　his　muscular　forearm　around　Chobyn's　neck；　then　squeezed　tightly　like　a　vise。　The　inventor　gasped　but　could　make　no　other　sound。　Rabban's　face　reddened　with　the　strain　as　he　pulled　back　with　his　arm　until　he　was　rewarded　with　the　loud　crack　of　a　crushed　spine。
　〃We　must　all　be　more　careful　with　our　secrets；　Chobyn；〃　the　Baron　muttered；　smiling。　〃You　haven't　been　careful　enough。〃
　Like　a　broken　doll；　Chobyn　collapsed　with　only　a　rustle　of　his　clothes　to　the　oil…stained　floor。　Rabban　had　been　so　forceful　that　Chobyn　gurgled　no　death　rattle；　gasped　out　no　final　curses。
　〃Was　that　wise；　my　Baron？〃　de　Vries　asked。　〃Shouldn't　we　have　tested　the　ship　first；　to　make　sure　we　can　reproduce　the　technology？〃
　〃Why？　Don't　you　trust　our　inventor。。。the　late　Chobyn？〃
　〃It　works；〃　Rabban　said。　〃Besides；　you've　had　him　under　eye　surveillance；　and　we　have　the　detailed　plans　and　holorecordings　he　made　during　the　construction　process。〃
　〃I've　already　taken　care　of　the　workers；〃　the　Mentat　said；　nodding　in　agreement。　〃No　chance　for　leaks　there。〃
　Rabban　smiled　greedily。　〃Did　you　save　me　any　of　them？