bh.houseatreides-第113节

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ill　remain　here；　nowhere。〃
　Leto　thought　of　bluffing；　threatening　to　fire　lasguns　at　his　own　shields　to　cause　the　dreadful　atomic　interaction　that　would　leave　the　gigantic　Heighliner　nothing　but　bits　of　molten　flotsam。　Instead；　he　tried　to　be　reasonable。　〃What　is　the　point　in　further　argument？　I　have　surrendered；　and　will　submit　myself　to　the　Landsraad　on　Kaitain　for　a　Trial　by　Forfeiture。　I　am　merely　trying　to　prevent　a　full…scale　war　over　a　mistaken　assumption。　We　did　not　mit　this　crime。　We　are　prepared　to　face　the　accusations　and　the　consequences　if　we　are　found　guilty。〃
　The　line　went　dead；　then　crackled　back　on。　〃Spacing　Guild　agrees　to　conditions。　I　guarantee　safety　of　ship　and　crew。〃
　〃Know　this；　then；〃　Leto　said。　〃Under　the　rules　of　Trial　by　Forfeiture；　I；　Duke　Leto　Atreides；　intend　to　give　up　all　legal　rights　to　my　fief　and　will　place　myself　at　the　mercy　of　the　tribunal。　No　other　member　of　my　House　may　be　subjected　to　arrest　or　to　any　legal　proceeding。　Do　you　acknowledge　the　jurisdiction　of　the　Landsraad　in　this　matter？〃
　〃I　do；〃　the　Navigator　assured　him；　in　a　firmer　tone；　more　accustomed　to　speaking　now。
　Finally；　still　nervous；　Leto　switched　off　the　frigate's　shields　and　sagged　into　his　chair；　trembling。　The　other　ships　in　the　immense　hold　powered　down　their　weapons；　though　the　tempers　of　their　crews　continued　to　flare。
　Now　the　real　battle　would　begin。
　In　the　long　history　of　our　House；　we　have　been　constantly　shadowed　by　Misfortune；　as　if　we　were　its　prey。　One　might　almost　believe　the　curse　of　Atreus　from　ancient　Greek　times　on　Old　Terra。
　…DUKE　PAULUS　ATREIDES；
　from　a　speech　to　his　generals
　On　the　prism…lined　promenade　of　the　Imperial　Palace；　the　Crown　Prince's　new　fiancee　Anirul　and　her　panion　Margot　Rashino…Zea　strode　past　three　young　women；　members　of　the　Imperial　Court。　The　showpiece　city　extended　all　the　way　to　the　horizon；　and　massive　works　filled　the　streets　and　buildings；　colorful　preparations　for　the　uping　spectacular　coronation　ceremony　and　the　Emperor's　wedding。
　The　trio　of　young　Court　women　chattered　excitedly；　barely　able　to　move　in　their　stuffed　gowns；　sparkling　ornamental　feathers；　and　kilograms　of　gaudy　jewelry。　But　now　they　fell　silent　as　the　black…robed　Bene　Gesserit　drew　near。
　〃Just　a　moment；　Margot。〃　Pausing　in　front　of　the　elaborately　coiffed　women；　Anirul　snapped　with　the　barest　hint　of　Voice；　〃Don't　waste　your　time　gossiping。　Do　something　productive　for　a　change。　We　have　much　to　prepare　before　all　the　representatives　arrive。〃
　One　of　the　young　women；　a　dark…haired　beauty；　glared　for　a　moment　with　large　brown　eyes；　but　then　had　second　thoughts。　Her　manner　took　on　a　conciliatory　expression　and　tone。　〃You　are　right；　Lady；〃　she　said；　and　abruptly　led　her　panions　down　the　promenade　toward　a　wide；　arched　doorway　of　pitted　Salusan　lava　rock　that　led　to　the　Ambassadors'　apartments。
　Exchanging　smiles　with　the　secret　Kwisatz　Mother；　Margot　quipped；　〃But　aren't　Imperial　Courts　about　gossiping；　Anirul？　Isn't　that　their　primary　business？　The　ladies　were　performing　their　duties　admirably；　I'd　say。〃
　Anirul　glowered；　looking　much　older　than　her　young　features。　〃I　should　have　given　them　explicit　instructions。　Those　women　are　merely　decorations；　like　the　jeweled　fountains。　They　don't　have　the　slightest　idea　how　to　be　productive。〃
　After　her　years　on　Wallach　IX；　knowing　through　her　Other　Memory　just　how　much　the　Bene　Gesserit　had　acplished　over　the　landscape　of　Imperial　history；　she　considered　human　lives　precious；　each　one　a　tiny　spark　in　the　bonfire　of　eternity。　But　such　courtesans　aspired　to　be　no　more　than。。。than　morsels　for　the　appetites　of　powerful　men。
　In　reality；　Anirul　had　no　jurisdiction　over　such　women；　not　even　as　the　Crown　Prince's　future　wife。　Margot　placed　a　soft　hand　on　her　forearm。　〃Anirul；　you　must　be　less　impulsive。　Mother　Superior　recognizes　your　talent　and　skill；　but　says　you　must　be　tempered。　All　successful　life…forms　adapt　to　their　surroundings。　You　are　now　at　the　Imperial　Court；　so　adapt　to　your　new　environment。　We　Bene　Gesserit　must　work　invisibly。〃
　Anirul　gave　her　a　wry　smile。　〃I　always　considered　my　outspokenness　to　be　one　of　my　primary　strengths。　Mother　Superior　Harishka　knows　that。　It　enables　me　to　discuss　matters　of　interest　and　to　learn　things　I　might　not　have　learned　otherwise。〃
　〃If　others　are　capable　of　listening。〃　Margot　raised　her　pale　eyebrows　on　her　flawless　forehead。
　Anirul　continued　down　the　promenade；　head　held　high；　like　an　Empress。　Precious　gems　glittered　in　a　headpiece　that　covered　her　bronze　hair　like　a　spiderweb。　She　knew　the　courtesans　gossiped　about　her；　wondering　what　secret　tasks　the　Bene　Gesserit　witches　were　performing　at　Court；　what　spells　they　had　woven　to　lure　Shaddam。　Ah；　if　they　only　knew。　Their　gossip　and　speculations　would　only　serve　to　enhance　Anirul's　mystique。
　〃It　seems　that　we　have　things　to　whisper　about；　ourselves；〃　she　said。
　Margot　brushed　a　lock　of　honey…blonde　hair　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Of　course。　Mohiam's　child？〃
　〃And　the　Atreides　matter　as　well。〃
　Anirul　drew　a　deep　breath　from　a　hedge　of　sapphire　roses　as　they　reached　a　patio　garden。　The　sweet　perfume　awakened　her　senses。　She　and　Margot　sat　together　on　a　bench；　where　they　could　observe　anyone　approaching；　though　they　spoke　in　directed　whispers；　secure　from　any　spies。
　〃What　can　the　Atreides　have　to　do　with　Mohiam's　daughter？〃　As　one　of　the　Bene　Gesserit's　most　acplished　operatives；　Sister　Margot　possessed　inner…circle　details　on　the　next　stage　of　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　program；　and　now　Mohiam　herself　had　been　briefed　as　well。
　〃Think　in　the　long　term；　Margot；　think　of　genetic　patterns；　of　the　ladder　of　generations　we　have　plotted。　Duke　Leto　Atreides　lies　imprisoned；　in　peril　of　his　life　and　title。　He　may　seem　to　be　an　insignificant　noble　of　an　unimpressive　Great　House。　But　have　you　considered　what　a　disaster　this　situation　could　be　for　us？〃
　Margot　took　a　deep　breath　as　pieces　fell　into　place　for　her。　〃Duke　Leto？　You　don't　mean　he　is　needed　for。。。〃　She　couldn't　utter　the　most　secret　of　names；　Kwisatz　Haderach。
　〃We　must　have　Atreides　genes　in　the　next　generation！〃　Anirul　said；　echoing　the　agitated　voices　in　her　head。　〃People　are　afraid　to　support　Leto　in　this　matter；　and　we　all　know　why。　Some　of　the　key　magistrates　can　be　made　sympathetic　to　his　cause　for　political　reasons；　but　no　one　truly　believes　in　Leto's　innocence。　Why　would　the　young　fool　do　such　an　unwise　thing？　It　goes　beyond　prehension。〃
　Margot　shook　her　head　sadly。
　〃Although　Shaddam　has　publicly　expressed　his　neutrality；　he　speaks　against　House　Atreides　in　private。　He　certainly　doesn't　believe　in　Leto's　innocence；〃　Anirul　said。　〃Yet　there　could　be　more　to　it。　The　Crown　Prince　may　have　some　relationship　with　the　Tleilaxu；　something　he　isn't　revealing　to　anyone。　Do　you　think　it　possible？〃
　〃Hasimir　has　said　nothing　to　me　of　it。〃　Margot　realized　she　had　used　the　familiar　name；　and　smiled　back　at　her　panion。　〃And　he　does　share　some　secrets　with　me。　In　time；　your　man　will　share　them　with　you　as　well。〃
　Anirul　frowned；　thinking　of　Shaddam　and　Fenring　with　their　never…ending　schemes；　like　games　of　politics。　〃So；　they're　up　to　something。　Together。　Maybe　Leto's　fate　is　part　of　their　plan？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　Anirul　leaned　forward　on　the　stone　bench　to　be　more　sheltered　by　the　rose　hedge。　〃Margot；　our　men　want　House　Atreides　to　fall；　for　some　reason。。。but　the　Sisterhood　must　have　Leto's　bloodline　for　the　culmination　of　our　program。　It　is　our　best　hope；　and　the　work　of　centuries　hangs　on　this。〃
　Not　entirely　understanding；　Margot　Rashino…Zea　gazed　at　Anirul　with　her　gray…green　eyes。　〃Our　need　for　Atreides　offspring　is　not　dependent　on　their　status　as　a　House　Major。〃
　〃Isn't　it？〃　Anirul　patiently　explained　her　greatest　fears。　〃Duke　Leto　has　no　brothers　or　sisters。　If　he　fails　in　his　gambit　　the　Trial　by　Forfeiture　　he　could　very　well　mit　suicide。　He's　a　young　man　of　tremendous　pride；　and　it　would　be　a　terrible　blow　to　him　so　soon　after　the　loss　of　his　father。〃
　Margot　narrowed　her　eyes　skeptically。　〃This　Leto　is　exceptionally　strong。　With　his　character；　he'll　fight　on；　no　matter　what。〃
　Kitebirds　flew　overhead；　their　songs　like　broken　crystal。　Anirul　looked　up　into　the　cloudless　sky　and　watched　them。　〃And　what　if　a　vengeful　Tleilaxu　assassinates　him；　even　if　the　Emperor　pardons　him？　What　if　a　Harkonnen　sees　an　opportunity　to　create　an　'accident'？　Leto　Atreides　can　ill　afford　to　lose　the　protection　of　his　noble　status。　We　need　to　keep　him　alive；　and　preferably　in　his　position　of　power。
　〃I　see　your　point；　Anirul。〃
　〃This　young　Duke　must　be　protected　at　all　costs　　and　to　begin；　we　must　protect　the　status　of　his　Great　House。　He　cannot　lose　this　trial。〃
　〃Hm…m…m；　there　may　be　a　way；〃　Margot　said　with　a　tight…upped　smile。　She　spoke　in　a　low；　musing　tone。　〃Hasimir　might　even　admire　my　idea；　if　he　learns　of　it；　despite　his　instinctive　opposition。　Of　course　we　don't　dare　breathe　a　word　of　it　to　him；　or　to　Shaddam。　But　it　will　throw　all　the　players　into　plete　confusion。〃
　Anirul　waited　in　silence；　but　her　eyes　burned　with　bright　curiosity。　Margot　moved　closer　to　her　Bene　Gesserit　panion。　〃Our　suspicion　of。。。the　Tleilaxu　connection。　We　can　use　that　for　a　convoluted　bluff　within