bh.houseatreides-第108节

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　The　Bene　Gesserit　looked　at　Shaddam　strangely。　Has　she　noticed　my　distress？　he　wondered；　suddenly　panicked。　Does　she　know　the　reason　for　my　feelings？
　The　sigh　of　the　fountain　drowned　out　their　words。　Margot　took　Shaddam's　hands　in　hers；　and　they　were　pleasingly　soft　and　warm　to　him。　Gazing　into　her　sensual　eyes；　he　felt　her　strength　flow　back　into　him；　a　fort。　〃You　must　have　a　wife；　Sire；〃　she　said。　〃And　the　Bene　Gesserit　can　provide　the　best　match　for　you　and　House　Corrino。〃
　Startled；　Shaddam　glanced　over　at　his　friend　and　snatched　his　hands　back。　Fenring　smiled；　uneasily。
　〃Soon　you　will　be　crowned　Emperor；〃　Margot　continued。　〃The　Sisterhood　can　help　you　secure　your　power　base　　more　than　an　alliance　with　any　single　Great　House　of　the　Landsraad。　During　his　life；　your　father　married　into　the　Mutelli；　Hagal；　and　Ecaz　families；　as　well　as　your　own　mother　from　Hassika　V。　However；　in　these　difficult　times；　we　believe　you　would　gain　the　greatest　advantage　by　allying　your　throne　with　the　power　and　resources　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　Sisterhood。〃　She　spoke　firmly；　convincingly。
　He　noticed　that　the　entourage　of　Sisters　had　stopped　a　distance　away　and　stood　watching　them。　Out　of　earshot；　the　Sardaukar　remained　watchful　but　motionless；　like　statues。　He　looked　at　Margot's　perfectly　formed　face；　her　golden　hair；　her　hypnotic　presence。
　She　surprised　him　by　turning　back　to　the　entourage　and　pointing。　〃Do　you　see　the　woman　in　the　center　over　there？　The　one　with　bronze　hair？〃
　Noting　the　gesture；　a　robed　Reverend　Mother　stepped　forward。　Shaddam　squinted；　assessing　her　features；　her　doelike　face。　Even　from　a　distance；　he　found　her　rather　attractive；　though　she　was　not　a　classic　beauty。　Not　as　lovely　as　Margot；　unfortunately；　but　she　did　seem　young　and　fresh。
　〃Her　name　is　Anirul；　a　Bene　Gesserit　of　Hidden　Rank。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It's　just　one　of　our　titles；　Sire；　quite　mon　in　the　Sisterhood。　It　means　nothing　outside　the　order　and　is　irrelevant　to　your　work　as　Emperor。〃　Margot　paused　a　beat。　〃You　need　only　know　that　Anirul　is　one　of　our　best。　We　are　offering　her　to　you　in　marriage。〃
　Shaddam　felt　a　jolt　of　surprise。　〃What？〃
　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　are　quite　influential；　you　know。　We　can　work　behind　the　scenes　to　smooth　over　any　difficulties　you　currently　have　with　the　Landsraad。　This　would　free　you　to　perform　the　work　of　being　Emperor　and　secure　your　place　in　history。　A　number　of　your　grandfathers　have　done　this；　to　good　effect。〃　She　narrowed　her　gray…green　eyes。　〃We　are　aware　of　the　troubles　you　currently　face；　Sire。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　all　that。〃　He　looked　over　at　Fenring；　as　if　the　weasel…faced　man　could　explain　himself。　Then　Shaddam　beckoned　for　Anirul　herself　to　e　forward。　The　guards　looked　at　one　another　uneasily；　not　knowing　whether　they　should　acpany　her。
　In　front　of　him；　Margot's　gaze　intensified。　〃You　are　now　the　most　powerful　man　in　the　universe；　Sire；　but　your　political　rule　is　balanced　between　yourself；　the　Landsraad　Council；　and　the　powerful　forces　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　Bene　Gesserit。　Your　marriage　to　one　of　my　Sisters　would　be。。。mutually　beneficial。〃
　〃Besides；　Sire；〃　Fenring　added；　his　eyes　even　larger　than　usual；　〃an　alliance　with　any　other　Great　House　would　bring　with　it　certain。。。baggage。　You　would　join　with　one　family　at　the　risk　of　spurning　another。　We　don't　want　to　trigger　another　rebellion。〃
　Though　surprised　by　the　suggestion；　Shaddam　rather　liked　the　sound　of　it。　One　of　his　father's　adages　about　leadership　indicated　that　a　ruler　needed　to　pay　attention　to　his　instincts。　The　haunted　cloak　hung　heavy　on　his　shoulders　like　a　crushing　weight。　Maybe　the　witching　powers　of　the　Sisterhood　could　ward　off　whatever　malevolent　force　inhabited　the　garment　and　the　Palace。
　〃This　Anirul　of　yours　does　have　an　appealing　look　to　her。〃　Shaddam　watched　as　the　proffered　woman　stepped　forward　and　stood　at　silent　attention；　eyes　averted；　five　paces　from　his　royal　person。
　〃Then　will　you　consider　our　proposal；　Sire？〃　Margot　asked　and　took　a　respectful　step　back；　awaiting　his　decision。
　〃Consider　it？〃　Shaddam　smiled。　〃I　already　have。　In　my　position；　decisions　must　be　made　quickly　and　decisively。〃　He　looked　at　Fenring；　narrowing　his　eyes。　〃Wouldn't　you　agree；　Hasimir？〃
　〃Ah…hm…m…m；　that　depends　upon　whether　you're　choosing　a　new　garment　or　a　wife。〃
　〃Wise　counsel　on　the　surface；〃　Shaddam　said　to　Fenring。　〃But　disingenuous；　I　think。　You　are　obviously　Sister　Margot's　friend；　and　you　arranged　this　meeting；　knowing　full　well　the　request　she　would　make。　I　must；　therefore；　presume　you　concur　with　the　Bene　Gesserit　position。〃
　Fenring　bowed。　〃The　decision　is　yours；　Sire；　no　matter　my　personal　opinion　or　feelings　toward　this　beautiful　woman　beside　me。〃
　〃Very　well；　my　answer　is。。。yes。〃　Hearing　this　from　where　she　stood；　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　did　not　even　smile。　〃Do　you　believe　I　have　made　the　right　choice；　Hasimir？〃
　Unaccustomed　to　being　caught　off…balance；　Fenring　cleared　his　throat　several　times。　〃She　is　a　fine　lady；　Sire；　and　will　no　doubt　make　a　superb　wife。　And　the　Bene　Gesserit　should　make　excellent　allies；　especially　in　these　difficult　transition　times。〃
　The　Crown　Prince　laughed。　〃You　sound　like　one　of　our　diplomats。　Give　me　a　yes　or　a　no；　without　equivocation。〃
　〃Yes；　Majesty。　That　is；　I　give　you　a　yes；　without　hesitation。　Anirul　is　a　woman　of　fine　breeding　and　disposition。。。a　bit　young；　but　she　has　a　great　wisdom　about　her。〃　With　a　glance　at　Margot　beside　him；　Fenring　said；　〃You　assured　me　that　she　can　indeed　bear　children？〃
　〃Royal　heirs　will　flow　from　her　loins；〃　Margot　quipped。
　〃What　an　image！〃　Shaddam　exclaimed；　with　another　hearty　laugh。　〃Bring　her　to　me　so　I　can　meet　her　myself。〃
　Margot　raised　her　hand；　and　Anirul　hurried　to　the　Crown　Prince's　side。　The　rest　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　entourage　buzzed　with　conversation。
　Shaddam　looked　at　the　woman　closely；　noted　that　Anirul　　his　wife…to…be　　had　delicate　features。　He　noted　tiny　lines　around　the　doe　eyes；　though　her　gaze　was　youthful　and　her　movements　lithe。　At　the　moment　she　continued　to　lower　her　head　with　its　ruffled　bronze　hair。　As　if　being　coy；　she　looked　at　the　Crown　Prince　and　then　away　again。
　〃You　have　just　made　one　of　the　best　decisions　of　your　life；　Sire；〃　Margot　said。　〃Your　reign　will　have　a　strong　foundation。〃
　〃This　is　cause　for　celebration；　with　all　the　pomp　and　splendor　the　Imperium　can　muster；〃　Shaddam　said。　〃In　fact；　I　plan　to　announce　that　the　marriage　will　take　place　on　the　same　day　as　my　coronation。〃
　Fenring　beamed。　〃It　will　be　the　grandest　spectacle　in　Imperial　history；　my　friend。〃
　Shaddam　and　Anirul　exchanged　smiles；　and　touched　hands　for　the　first　time　as　he　reached　out　to　her。
　When　the　center　of　the　storm　does　not　move；　you　are　in　its　path。
　…Ancient　Fremen　Wisdom
　The　Atreides　frigate　departed　from　Cala　City　Spaceport　for　the　Padishah　Emperor's　coronation；　loaded　with　an　abundance　of　banners；　exquisite　clothes；　jewels；　and　gifts。　Duke　Leto　wanted　to　make　sure　he　contributed　visibly　to　the　magnificence　of　the　Imperial　ceremony。
　〃It　is　a　good　tactic；〃　Thufir　Hawat　agreed　with　a　grim　nod。　〃Shaddam　has　always　reveled　in　the　trappings　of　his　position。　The　more　finery　you　wear　and　the　more　gifts　you　present　him；　the　more　impressed　he'll　be。。。and　therefore　the　more　inclined　to　grant　your　request。〃
　〃He　appears　to　value　form　over　substance；〃　Leto　mused。　〃But　appearances　can　be　deceiving；　and　I　dare　not　underestimate　him。〃
　Kailea　had　worn　her　own　gorgeous　sky…blue…and…lilac　dress　to　see　them　off；　but　she　would　remain　at　the　Castle；　with　no　one　to　see　her　finery。　Leto　could　see　how　much　she　longed　to　go　to　the　Imperial　Court；　but　he　refused　to　bend　in　his　decision。　Old　Paulus　had　taught　him　stubbornness　as　well。
　Rhombur　emerged　into　the　staging　area　wearing　pantaloons；　a　synthetic　merh…silk　shirt；　and　a　billowing　cape　of　purple　and　copper；　colors　of　the　lost　House　Vernius。　He　stood　proudly；　while　Kailea　gasped　at　her　brother's　bravery　for　flaunting　his　family　heritage。　He　seemed　much　more　a　man　now；　muscular　and　tanned；　without　the　gentle　roundings　of　baby　fat。
　〃Some　might　see　that　as　arrogance；　my　Duke；〃　Hawat　said；　nodding　toward　Rhombur's　clothes。
　〃This　is　all　a　gamble；　Thufir；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　need　to　hark　back　to　the　grandeur　that　was　lost　when　Tleilaxu　treachery　forced　this　noble　family　to　go　renegade。　We　must　show　the　shortsightedness　of　Emperor　Elrood's　malicious　decision。　We　must　help　Shaddam　see　what　a　great　ally　House　Vernius　could　be　to　the　Imperial　throne。　After　all〃…he　gestured　to　the　proud　Rhombur…〃would　you　rather　have　this　man　as　your　ally；　or　the　filthy　Tleilaxu？〃
　The　Master　of　Assassins　favored　him　with　a　small；　contained　smile。　〃I　wouldn't　e　out　and　say　that　directly　to　Shaddam。〃
　〃We'll　say　it　without　words；〃　Leto　replied。
　〃You　are　going　to　make　a　formidable　Duke；　m'Lord；〃　Hawat　said。
　They　walked　together　from　the　staging　area　to　the　landing　field；　where　twice　the　usual　plement　of　Atreides　troops　had　just　finished　boarding　the　frigate　that　would　take　them　up　to　the　waiting　Heighliner。
　Kailea　came　forward　and　gave　Leto　a　brief；　formal　hug。　Her　pastel　dress　rustled　with　her　movements；　and　he　pressed　his　cheek　against　one　of　the　gold　bs　in　her　copper…