bh.houseatreides-第119节

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　Fenring　twitched　with　enough　nervous　energy　for　both　of　them。　〃These　are　files　for　the　Major　Houses　of　the　Landsraad　who　will　be　sitting　at　the　Atreides　Trial　by　Forfeiture。〃　His　large　eyes　were　like　black　holes　into　the　labyrinth　of　his　mind。　〃I　believe　I've　found　something　either　embarrassing　or　illegal　about　each　one　of　concern。　All　told；　I　believe　we　have　the　means　of　persuasion　we　need。〃
　Lurching　forward　on　the　throne；　Shaddam　looked　as　if　he'd　been　taken　pletely　by　surprise。　His　eyes　became　wild　and　concerned；　red　from　lack　of　sleep　and　flashing　with　anger。
　Fenring　had　seen　him　on　the　verge　of　panic　before；　just　as　when　they　had　arranged　for　the　death　of　his　older　brother　Fafnir。　〃Calm　yourself；　Shaddam；　hm…m…m…m…m？〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I've　taken　care　of　everything。〃
　〃Damn　you；　Hasimir！　If　word　ever　gets　out　about　any　bribery　attempts；　it　would　ruin　House　Corrino。　We　can't　allow　anyone　to　see　our　connection　to　this！〃　Shaddam　shook　his　head　as　if　the　Imperium　was　already　crumbling　around　him；　and　he　hadn't　even　been　crowned　yet。　〃They'll　wonder　why　we　would　go　to　such　lengths　to　save　an　insignificant　Duke。〃
　Fenring　smiled；　trying　to　steady　Shaddam　with　his　own　confidence。　〃The　Landsraad　is　posed　of　Great　Houses；　many　of　which　are　already　your　allies；　Sire。　A　few　carefully　phrased　suggestions　among　the　nobles；　a　bit　of　melange　exchanged；　some　well…placed　bribes　and　threats。。。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　I've　always　gone　along　with　you　　perhaps　too　often；　as　if　I　had　no　brain　of　my　own。　Soon　I　will　be　Emperor　of　a　Million　Worlds；　and　I'll　have　to　think　for　myself。　I'm　doing　that　now。〃
　〃Emperors　have　advisors；　Shaddam。　Always。〃　Fenring　suddenly　realized　he　had　to　be　more　cautious。　Something　had　unsettled　Shaddam；　something　recent。　What　does　he　know　that　I　don't？
　〃For　once　we　won't　use　your　methods；　Hasimir。〃　He　was　firm；　insistent。　〃I　forbid　it。　We　will　find　some　other　way。〃
　Intense　now；　Fenring　climbed　the　steps　to　stand　beside　the　Crown　Prince；　like　an　equal。　For　some　reason；　though；　the　atmosphere　was　unfortably　changed。　What　had　gone　wrong？　As　babies　had　they　not　both　sucked　on　the　same　breast　when　Fenring's　mother　had　been　Shaddam's　wet　nurse？　As　boys；　hadn't　they　been　tutored　side　by　side？　Had　they　not　concocted　plots　and　schemes　together　as　they　grew　older？　Why　was　Shaddam　suddenly　refusing　to　listen　to　his　advice？
　Fenring　leaned　close　to　the　Crown　Prince's　ear。　He　sounded　as　contrite　as　he　could　be。　〃My　apologies；　Sire；　but；　hm…m…m…ah；　it　has。。。already　been　done。　I　was　certain　of　your　approval；　and　so　the　notes　were　cleverly　delivered　to　the　appropriate　representatives；　asking　for　them　to　support　their　Emperor　when　it　es　time　to　call　for　a　vote　in　the　trial。〃
　〃You　dared　that？　Without　consulting　me　first？〃　Shaddam　purpled　with　outrage　and　could　not　find　his　voice　for　some　moments。　〃You　just　thought　I'd　follow　your　lead？　In　whatever　schemes　you　might　contrive？〃
　Shaddam　had　grown　incensed；　too　incensed。　What　else　was　bothering　him？　Fenring　backed　one　step　away　from　the　throne。　〃Please；　Sire。　You're　overreacting；　losing　perspective。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；　I　believe　I'm　gaining　perspective。〃　His　nostrils　flared。　〃You　don't　think　I'm　terribly　bright；　do　you；　Hasimir？　Since　we　were　children　you've　had　a　snide　way　of　explaining　things　to　me　in　training　class；　of　helping　me　on　examinations。　And　you　were　always　the　faster　thinker；　more　intelligent；　more　ruthless　　or　so　you　made　it　appear。　But；　believe　it　or　not；　I　can　handle　situations　by　myself。〃
　〃I've　never　doubted　your　intelligence；　my　friend。〃　Fenring's　overlarge　head　bobbed　on　his　thin　neck。　〃With　your　standing　in　House　Corrino；　your　future　has　always　been　guaranteed；　but　I've　had　to　fight　for　my　position　every　step　of　the　way。　I　want　to　be　your　sounding　board　and　confidant。〃
　Shaddam　sat　forward　on　the　massive　crystal　throne　that　threw　sparkle…fire　from　the　glowglobes　around　the　chamber。　〃Ah；　yes。　You　thought　you'd　be　the　power　behind　the　throne；　with　me　as　your　puppet？〃
　〃Puppet？　Certainly　not。〃　Fenring　backed　another　step　away　now。　Shaddam　was　terrifyingly　unstable；　and　Fenring　didn't　know　how　he　had　strayed　onto　such　uncertain　ground。　He　knows　something　I　don't。　Shaddam　had　never　questioned　his　friend's　actions　before；　had　never　wanted　to　know　the　details　of　bribery　and　violence。　〃Hm…m…m…m。。。I　have　always　considered　how　best　I　might　help　you　to　bee　a　great　ruler。〃
　Shaddam　rose　to　his　feet；　slow　and　regal；　looking　down　his　nose　at　the　weasel…faced　man　who　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　dais。　Fenring　decided　not　to　back　farther　away。　What　does　he　know？　What　news？
　〃But；　I'd　never　do　anything　at　your　expense；　old　friend。　We've；　ahhhh；　known　each　other　too　long。　Indeed；　we　share　too　much　blood　on　our　hands。〃　He　held　his　hand　over　his　heart；　in　the　way　of　the　Imperium。　〃I　am　aware　of　how　you　think；　and　of　your。。。limitations；　hm…m…m…m…ah？　In　fact；　you're　exceptionally　bright。　The　problem　is；　you　often　find　it　hard　to　make　the　difficult　but　necessary　decisions。〃
　Shaddam　climbed　down　from　the　Golden　Lion　Throne　and　stalked　across　the　floor　of　polished　stones　from　a　million　Imperial　worlds。　〃A　hard　decision　is　needed　right　now；　Hasimir；　and　it　regards　your　service　to　me　in　the　immediate　future。〃
　Fenring　waited；　afraid　of　what　ill…advised　ideas　the　Crown　Prince　might　have　gotten　into　his　head。　But　he　dared　not　argue。
　〃Know　this　　I　won't　forget　the　grievous　breach　of　conduct　you　have　mitted。　If　this　bribery　scheme　es　back　to　bite　us；　your　head　will　roll。　I　would　have　no　qualms　about　signing　an　execution　order　for　treason。〃
　Fenring　paled；　and　the　startled　look　on　his　narrow　face　sent　a　wave　of　pleasure　through　the　Crown　Prince。　In　Shaddam's　present　mood；　Fenring　realized　that　his　friend　just　might　be　capable　of　issuing　such　an　order。
　The　fidgety　man's　jaw　clenched；　and　he　decided　to　put　an　end　to　this　foolishness　immediately。　〃What　I've　said　to　you　about　friendship　is　the　truth；　Shaddam。〃　He　measured　his　words　carefully。　〃But　I'd　be　a　fool　if　I　hadn't　taken　certain　precautions　that　could　expose　your　involvement　in　certain。。。mm…m…m…m。。。shall　we　call　them；　ah。。。adventures？　If　anything　happens　to　me；　all　will　be　revealed：　how　your　father　really　died；　the　artificial…spice　activities　on　Ix；　even　the　assassination　of　Fafnir　when　you　were　a　teenager。　If　I　hadn't　poisoned　your　brother；　he　would　be　sitting　on　the　throne　right　now；　not　you。　We're　in　lockstep；　you　and　I。　Up　or　down。。。together。〃
　Shaddam　looked　as　if　he　had　expected　to　hear　nothing　else。　〃Ah；　yes。　Very　predictable；　Hasimir。　You　always　warned　me　not　to　be　predictable。〃
　Fenring　had　the　good　grace　to　look　embarrassed。　He　held　his　silence。
　〃You're　the　one　who　got　me　into　this　risky　scheme　in　the　first　place；　and　who　knows　when　we'll　see　any　payback　from　our　dangerous　investment　on　Ix。〃　Shaddam's　eyes　flashed　fire。　〃Synthetic　spice；　indeed！　I　wish　we'd　never　allied　with　the　Tleilaxu。　And　now　I'm　stuck　with　the　unpleasant　aftermath。　See　where　your　scheming　has　gotten　us？〃
　〃Hm…m…m…m…ah；　I　won't　be　drawn　into　an　argument　with　you；　Shaddam。　It　wouldn't　be　productive。　But　you　knew　the　risks　from　the　outset；　and　the　enormous　possible　gains。　Please　be　patient。〃
　〃Patient？　At　the　moment　we're　faced　with　two　distinct　possibilities。〃　Shaddam　sat　back　down　and　hunched　forward　on　the　throne；　hawklike。　〃As　you　said；　either　I　will　be　crowned；　and　you　and　I　can　rise　to　the　top　together　　or　we　go　down　together。。。into　exile　or　death。〃　He　let　his　breath　out　in　a　slow　whistle。　〃At　the　moment　we're　both　in　mortal　danger；　all　because　of　your　infernal　spice　scheme。〃
　Fenring　pressed　his　last　desperate　idea；　large　eyes　flicking　from　side　to　side　in　search　of　some　escape。　〃You　have　had　some　disturbing　news；　Sire。　I　can　sense　it。　Tell　me　what　has　happened。〃　Few　things　in　the　Imperial　Palace　or　the　capital　city　occurred　without　Fenring　knowing　about　them　immediately。
　Shaddam　clasped　his　long…fingered　hands　together。　Fenring　flushed　and　leaned　forward；　his　dark　eyes　widening　with　interest。　The　Crown　Prince　sighed　in　resignation。　〃The　Tleilaxu　sent　two　assassins　to　kill　Leto　Atreides　in　his　protected　cell。〃
　Fenring's　heart　leaped；　wondering　if　this　was　good　news　or　bad。　〃And　did　they　succeed？〃
　〃No；　no。　Our　young　Duke　somehow　managed　to　smuggle　a　weapon　in　and　protected　himself。　But　this　causes　me　great　concern。〃
　Fenring　hunkered　down；　astonished　at　the　news。　〃That's　impossible。　I　thought　you'd　already　spoken　to　our　Tleilaxu　contact　and　told　him　in　no　uncertain　terms　〃
　〃I　did；〃　Shaddam　snapped。　〃But　apparently　you　aren't　the　only　one　who　no　longer　listens　to　my　mands。　Either　Ajidica　ignored　my　instructions；　or　he　has　no　power　to　control　his　own　people。〃
　Fenring　growled；　happy　to　divert　the　Crown　Prince's　anger。　〃We　need　to　strike　back　in　a　similar　manner：　Let　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　know　that　he　must　heed　all　orders　from　his　Emperor；　or　the　price　will　grow　much　higher。〃
　Shaddam　looked　at　him；　but　his　eyes　were　weary　now　and　no　longer　as　warm　or　open　as　they　had　once　been。　〃You　know　exactly　what　to　do；　Hasimir。〃
　Fenring　seized　the　chance　to　restore　himself　to　the　Crown　Prince's　good　graces。　〃I　always　do；　Sire。〃　He　scuttled　away　across　the　long　reception　hall。
　Shaddam　paced　the　polished　floor　in　fron