bh.houseatreides-第117节

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anything。　Uh；　my　sister　sends　her　support；　by　the　way；　via　a　fresh　Courier　from　Caladan。　I　thought　you'd　like　to　know。　It　might　cheer　you　up。〃
　His　expression　grew　serious；　and　revealed　the　layered　strain　of　his　long　ordeal；　the　subtle　signs　of　stress　and　instant　maturity　that　a　boy　of　sixteen　shouldn't　have　had　to　endure。　Leto　knew　his　friend　was　concerned　about　where　he　and　Kailea　would　end　up　if　House　Atreides　lost　this　trial。。。two　great　noble　families　destroyed　in　a　frighteningly　short　time。　Perhaps　Rhombur　and　Kailea　would　go　in　search　of　their　renegade　father。。。。
　〃Thufir　and　I　were　just　discussing　the　merits　of　our　case；〃　Leto　said。　〃Or　as　he　might　put　it；　the　lack　of　merits。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　say　that；　my　Duke；〃　Hawat　protested。
　〃Well；　then；　I　bring　good　news；〃　Rhombur　announced。　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　wish　to　provide　Truthsayers　at　the　trial。　Those　Reverend　Mothers　can　draw　falsehoods　out　of　anyone。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Leto　said。　〃They'll　end　this　whole　problem　in　a　moment。　Once　I　speak；　they　can　verify　I'm　telling　the　truth。　Can　it　be　that　simple？〃
　〃Normally　a　Truthsayer's　testimony　would　be　inadmissible；〃　Hawat　cautioned。　〃An　exception　may　be　granted　here；　but　it's　doubtful。　Witches　have　their　own　agendas；　and　legal　analysts　posit　that　they　can　therefore　be　bribed。〃
　Leto　blinked　in　surprise。　〃Bribed？　Then　they　don't　know　very　many　Reverend　Mothers。〃　He　began　to　think　more　about　this；　though；　considering　various　possibilities。　〃But　secret　agendas？　Why　would　the　Bene　Gesserit　make　such　an　offer？　What　do　they　have　to　gain　by　my　innocence　　or　my　guilt；　for　that　matter？〃
　〃Be　cautious；　my　Duke；〃　Hawat　said。
　〃It's　worth　a　try；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Even　if　it　isn't　binding；　a　Truthsayer's　testimony　would　lend　weight　to　Leto's　version　of　events。　You　and　all　the　people　around　you　　including　Thufir；　me；　the　frigate　crew；　and　even　your　servants　from　Caladan　　can　all　be　scrutinized　by　Truthsayers。　And　we　know　the　stories　will　be　consistent。　They'll　prove　your　innocence　beyond　a　shadow　of　a　doubt。〃　He　grinned。　〃We'll　be　back　on　Caladan　before　you　know　it。〃
　Hawat；　though；　remained　unconvinced。　〃Exactly　who　contacted　you；　young　Prince？　Who　among　the　Bene　Gesserit　made　this　generous　offer？　And　what　did　she　ask　in　payment？〃
　〃She；　uh；　didn't　ask　for　anything；〃　Rhombur　said；　surprised。
　〃Not　yet；　maybe；〃　Hawat　said；　〃but　those　witches　think　in　the　long　term。〃
　The　Ixian　Prince　scratched　his　temple。　〃Her　name　is　Margot。　She's　in　Lady　Anirul's　entourage；　here　for　the　Imperial　wedding；　I　suppose。〃
　Leto　drew　a　quick　breath　as　an　idea　occurred　to　him。　〃A　Bene　Gesserit　is　to　be　married　to　the　Emperor。　Is　this　Shaddam's　doing；　then？　In　response　to　our　message？〃
　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　aren't　errand　girls　for　anyone；〃　Hawat　said。　〃They're　notoriously　independent。　They　made　this　offer　because　they　wanted　to；　because　it　benefits　them　somehow。〃
　〃I　didn't　stop　to　wonder　why　she　would　e　to　me；　of　all　people；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃But　think　about　it：　Her　offer　could　be　of　no　advantage　to　us；　unless　Leto　is　indeed　innocent。〃
　〃I　am！〃
　Hawat　smiled　at　Rhombur　in　admiration。　〃Of　course。　But　now　we　have　proof　that　the　Bene　Gesserit　know　Leto's　telling　the　truth；　too；　else　they　would　never　have　made　such　a　suggestion。〃　He　wondered　what　the　Sisters　knew；　and　what　they　hoped　to　gain。
　〃Unless　they　were　testing　me；〃　Leto　suggested。　〃Just　by　accepting　their　Truthsayer；　they'd　know　I　wasn't　lying。　If　I　turned　them　down；　they'd　be　convinced　I　have　something　to　hide。〃
　Standing　by　the　cell　wall；　Hawat　gazed　through　an　armor…plaz　window。　〃Be　mindful　that　we're　in　a　trial　that　is　a　shell　only。　Prejudices　exist　against　the　Bene　Gesserit　as　well　and　their　arcane　weirding　ways。　Truthsayers　might　betray　their　oath　and　lie　for　a　greater　purpose。　Witchcraft；　sorcery。。。Perhaps　we　should　not　be　so　quick　to　accept　their　help。〃
　〃You　think　it's　a　trick？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃I　always　suspect　deception；〃　the　Mentat　said。　His　eyes　flashed。　〃It's　in　my　nature　to　do　so。〃　He　switched　to　Atreides　hand　signals　and　signed　to　Leto；　〃These　witches　may　be　on　an　Imperial　errand　after　all。　What　alliances　are　hidden　from　us？〃
　The　worst　sort　of　alliances　are　those　which　weaken　us。　Worse　still　is　when　an　Emperor　fails　to　recognize　such　an　alliance　for　what　it　is。
　…PRINCE　RAPHAEL　CORRINO；
　Discourses　on　Leadership
　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　did　as　little　as　possible　to　make　the　Tleilaxu　representative　feel　fortable　or　wele　in　the　Palace。　Shaddam　hated　even　being　in　the　same　room　with　him；　but　this　meeting　could　not　be　helped。　Heavily　armed　Sardaukar　escorted　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　through　a　back　passageway；　through　maintenance　corridors；　down　unmarked　stairways；　and　finally　behind　a　succession　of　barred　doors。
　Shaddam　chose　the　most　private　room；　a　chamber　so　discreet　it　appeared　on　no　printed　floor　plans。　Long　ago；　a　few　years　after　the　death　of　Crown　Prince　Fafnir；　Hasimir　Fenring　had　uncovered　this　place　during　his　usual　skulking　around。　Apparently；　the　hidden　room　had　been　used　by　Elrood　in　the　early　days　of　his　interminable　reign；　when　he　had　taken　numerous　unofficial　concubines　as　well　as　those　he　formally　adopted　into　his　household。
　A　single　table　remained　in　the　chill　room；　illuminated　by　new　glowglobes　dragged　in　for　the　occasion。　The　walls　and　floor　smelled　of　dust。　The　sheets　and　blankets　on　the　narrow　bed　against　the　wall　were　now　little　more　than　frayed　fibers　and　lint。　An　ancient　bouquet；　now　petrified　into　a　clump　of　blackened　leaves　and　stems；　lay　in　a　corner　where　it　had　been　tossed　decades　ago。　The　place　conveyed　the　desired　impression；　though　Shaddam　knew　the　Bene　Tleilax　were　not　known　for　their　attention　to　subtleties。
　Across　the　plain　table；　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica；　swathed　in　his　maroon　robes；　folded　his　grayish　hands　on　the　wooden　surface。　He　blinked　his　close…set　eyes　and　looked　across　at　Shaddam。　〃You　summoned　me；　Sire？　I　came　from　my　researches　at　your　mand。〃
　Shaddam　picked　at　a　plate　of　glazed　slig　meat　one　of　the　guards　had　brought　him；　since　he'd　had　no　time　today　for　a　formal　dinner。　He　savored　the　buttery　mushroom　sauce；　then　grudgingly　nudged　the　platter　toward　Ajidica　to　offer　his　guest　a　morsel。
　The　diminutive　man　drew　back　and　refused　to　touch　the　food。　Shaddam　frowned。　〃Slig　meat　is　of　your　own　manufacture。　Don't　you　Tleilaxu　eat　your　own　delicacies？〃
　Ajidica　shook　his　head。　〃Though　we　breed　those　creatures；　we　do　not　consume　them　ourselves。　Please　forgive　me；　Sire。　You　need　offer　me　no　amenities。　Let　us　discuss　what　we　must。　I　am　anxious　to　return　to　Xuttah　and　my　laboratories。〃
　Shaddam　sniffed；　relieved　that　he　didn't　have　to　make　any　further　attempts　to　be　polite。　He　had　no　interest　in　displaying　proper　etiquette　to　this　man。　Instead；　he　rubbed　his　temples；　where　his　long…standing　headache　threatened　to　grow　even　worse　within　the　hour。　〃I　must　make　a　request　　no；　a　demand　as　your　Emperor。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lord　Prince；〃　Ajidica　interrupted；　〃but　you　have　not　yet　been　crowned。〃
　The　guards　at　the　door　stiffened。　Shaddam's　eyes　flew　open　wide　in　astonishment。　〃Does　any　man's　mand　bear　more　weight　than　mine？　In　all　the　Imperium？〃
　〃No；　m'Lord。　I　was　merely　correcting　a　matter　of　semantics。〃
　Shaddam　pushed　the　food　platter　to　one　side　and　leaned　over　the　table　like　a　predator；　so　close　that　he　could　smell　the　man's　unpleasant　odors。　〃Listen　to　me；　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica。　Your　people　must　withdraw　your　charges　in　the　trial　of　Leto　Atreides。　I　don't　want　this　matter　to　e　to　open　court。〃　He　sat　back　again；　took　another　bite　of　slig　meat；　and　continued　with　his　mouth　full。　〃So；　just　drop　your　accusations；　I'll　send　some　treasure　your　way；　and　everything　will　settle　down。〃
　He　made　the　solution　sound　so　simple。　When　the　Tleilaxu　man　did　not　respond　immediately；　Shaddam　rambled　on；　trying　to　be　gracious。　〃After　discussing　this　with　my　advisors；　I　have　decided　that　the　Tleilaxu　can　be　pensated；　paid　blood　money　for　their　losses。〃　Shaddam　brought　his　reddish　eyebrows　together　in　a　stern　expression。　〃Real　losses　only；　though。　Gholas　don't　count。〃
　〃I　understand；　Sire；　but　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　what　you　ask　is　impossible。〃　Ajidica's　voice　remained　low　and　smooth。　〃We　cannot　ignore　such　a　crime　mitted　against　the　Tleilaxu　people。　It　strikes　to　the　heart　of　our　honor。〃
　Shaddam　nearly　choked　on　another　bite　of　his　food。　〃　'Tleilaxu'　and　'honor'　aren't　words　usually　used　in　the　same　conversation。〃
　Ajidica　brushed　the　insult　aside。　〃Nevertheless；　all　of　the　Landsraad　is　aware　of　this　horrible　event。　If　we　withdraw　our　objections；　then　House　Atreides　will　have　attacked　us　openly　　destroyed　our　ships　and　people　　with　impunity。〃　The　pointed　tip　of　his　nose　twitched。　〃Surely　you　have　enough　statecraft；　Sire；　to　know　that　we　cannot　back　down　on　this　matter。〃
　Shaddam　fumed。　His　headache　was　getting　worse。　〃I'm　not　asking　you。　I'm　telling　you。〃
　The　little　man　considered　this　for　some　time；　his　dark　eyes　glittering。　〃Might　I　inquire　as　to　why　the　fate　of　Leto　Atreides　is　so　important　to　you；　Sire？　The　Duke　represents　a　relatively　unimportant　House。　Why　not　throw　him　to　the　wolves　and　give　us　our　satisfaction？〃
　Shaddam　growled　deep　in　his　throat。　〃Because　somehow　Leto　knows　about　your　artificial…spice　activities　on　Ix。〃
　Alarm　fina