bh.houseatreides-第122节

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d　to　be　strong　enough　to　face　whatever　needed　to　be　done　here。　He　could　ill　afford　despair；　or　any　other　emotion。
　Behind　him；　observers　filed　into　the　courtroom；　speaking　in　low；　excited　tones。　Two　larger　tables　flanked　the　defense　table　at　which　he　sat。　His　enemies　took　seats　at　the　table　on　the　left　　designated　representatives　of　the　Tleilaxu；　probably　sponsored　by　the　Harkonnens　and　other　Atreides　foes。　But　the　hated　Baron　and　his　entourage　sat　far　back　in　the　simple　spectator　seats；　as　if　to　keep　their　hands　pletely　clean　of　the　matter。　At　the　other　table　sat　allies　and　friends　of　the　Atreides。　Leto　nodded　to　each　of　them　with　a　confident　smile。
　But　his　thoughts　were　far　from　brave；　and　he　had　to　admit　he　didn't　have　much　of　a　case；　even　now。　The　prosecutors　would　present　the　evidence　of　weapons　fired　from　the　Atreides　bat　pod；　firsthand　accounts　of　dozens　of　neutral　parties　who　claimed　the　shots　couldn't　have　e　from　anywhere　but　the　tiny　craft　berthed　in　Leto's　ship。　Even　without　the　Tleilaxu　pilot　as　a　witness；　the　other　observers　would　be　sufficient。　The　offsetting　testimony　of　his　panions　and　crew　wouldn't　be　enough；　nor　would　the　numerous　family　friends　who　would　act　as　character　witnesses。
　〃Perhaps　the　denial　of　Truthsayers　will　give　us　sufficient　grounds　for　an　appeal；〃　Clere　Ruitt　suggested；　but　Leto　took　no　fort　from　this。
　Then；　through　a　side　passage；　the　somber　Tleilaxu　prosecution　team　entered　with　their　own　attorneys　and　twisted　Mentat　scholars。　They　came　with　minimal　fanfare；　but　much　clanking　and　motion　as　they　brought　with　them　a　diabolical…looking　machine。　It　rolled　in　on　creaking　wheels　with　a　clatter　of　hinges　and　bars。　A　hush　fell　over　the　room　as　the　spectators　craned　forward　to　get　a　better　look　at　the　most　frightening　contraption　any　of　them　had　ever　seen。
　This　has　to　be　intentional；　Leto　thought；　to　make　me　more　uneasy。
　The　Tleilaxu　ponderously　hauled　the　ominous　machine　past　Leto's　defense　table；　the　gray…skinned　men　glared　at　him　with　fiery；　dark　eyes。　The　audience　began　to　buzz　and　whisper。　Presently　the　Tleilaxu　team　stopped；　leaving　their　device　in　the　center　of　the　main　speaking　floor；　below　the　curved　stonewood　bench　of　the　chosen　judges。
　〃What　is　this？〃　One　of　the　central　magistrates；　Baron　Terkillian　Sor；　leaned　forward；　scowling。
　The　leader　of　the　Tleilaxu　team；　a　wiry　man　who　had　not　been　introduced　by　name；　looked　hatefully　at　Leto；　then　gazed　up　at　the　questioner。　〃My　Lords；　in　all　the　recorded　annals　of　Imperial　Law；　the　specific　subsections　pertaining　to　Trial　by　Forfeiture　are　few；　but　clear。　'Should　the　accused　not　succeed　in　his　legal　bid；　he　shall　lose　everything　he　possesses；　without　exception。'　Everything。〃
　〃I　can　read。〃　Terkillian　Sor　continued　to　scowl。　〃And　what　does　this　have　to　do　with　your　contraption　here？〃
　The　Tleilaxu　spokesman　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃We　intend　to　claim　not　only　the　holdings　of　House　Atreides；　but　also　the　actual　person　of　the　heinous　criminal　Duke　Leto　Atreides　himself；　down　to　his　cells　and　genetic　material。〃
　While　the　audience　muttered　in　shock；　the　Tleilaxu　attendees　worked　controls　on　the　machine；　causing　hidden　saw　blades　to　whir；　and　electrical　arcs　to　crackle　from　one　long　needle　to　another。　The　ominous　machine　was　outrageous　and　exaggerated　　obviously　by　design。
　〃With　this　device；　we　will　exsanguinate　Duke　Leto　Atreides　in　this　very　courtroom；　draining　him　of　every　drop　of　his　blood。　We　will　flay　the　skin　from　his　body；　and　remove　his　eyes　for　our　testing　and　experimentation。　Every　cell　will　be　ours；　for　whatever　purposes　the　Tleilaxu　determine　to　use　them。〃　He　sniffed。　〃It　is　our　right！〃
　Then　the　grayish　little　man　smiled　at　Leto。
　Leto　held　steady　and　tried　desperately　not　to　show　the　disfort　raging　inside。　A　trickle　of　cold　sweat　ran　down　his　back。　He　wanted　his　lawyers　to　say　something；　but　they　held　their　damnable　silence。
　〃Perhaps　the　accused　can　even　see　an　advantage　to　this　fate；〃　the　Tleilaxu　spokesman　suggested　with　a　wicked　grin；　〃since　he　has　no　heirs。　If　he　loses；　there　will　be　no　more　House　Atreides。　With　his　cells；　however；　we　have　the　option　of　resurrecting　him　as　a　ghola。〃
　To　do　their　bidding；　Leto　thought；　with　horror。
　At　the　defense　table；　Rhombur　glared　defiantly　at　the　Tleilaxu；　while　Thufir　Hawat　sat　beside　him　like　a　statue。　Flanking　Leto　on　either　side；　the　two　Elaccan　attorneys　scribbled　notes。
　〃Enough　of　this　showmanship；〃　boomed　Lord　Bain　O'Garee。　〃We　can　decide　this　matter　later。　Let　us　get　on　with　the　trial。　I　want　to　hear　what　the　Atreides　has　to　say　for　himself。〃
　Though　he　fought　not　to　show　it；　Leto　suddenly　knew　he　was　lost。　Every　person　present　in　the　hall　knew　his　professed　hatred　for　the　Tleilaxu；　his　clear　support　of　the　ousted　Ixian　family。　He　could　summon　character　witnesses；　but　no　one　here　really　knew　him。　He　was　young　and　untried；　thrust　by　tragedy　into　his　role　as　Duke。　The　only　time　these　members　of　the　Landsraad　had　seen　Leto　Atreides　was　when　he'd　spoken　before　the　Council；　revealing　a　glimpse　of　his　hot　temper。
　Sparks　crackled　from　the　Tleilaxu　vivisection　and　execution　device；　like　a　hungry；　waiting　beast。　Leto　knew　there　would　be　no　appeal。
　Before　the　first　witness　could　be　called；　though；　the　immense　brass…inlaid　doors　at　the　rear　of　the　hall　slammed　open　against　the　stone　walls。　A　hush　fell　over　the　courtroom；　and　Leto　heard　the　crisp　cadence　of　metal…heeled　boots　on　the　marbleite　floor。
　Looking　back　to　the　grand　entrance　doors；　he　saw　Crown　Prince　Shaddam；　dressed　in　scarlet…and…gold　Imperial　fur…satins　instead　of　his　customary　Sardaukar　uniform。　Followed　by　an　escort　of　his　elite　force；　the　soon…to…be…crowned　Emperor　strode　forward；　manding　the　full　attention　of　those　in　the　hall。　Four　heavily　armed　men　scanned　the　crowd　in　all　directions；　every　muscle　poised　for　violence。
　The　Trial　by　Forfeiture　was　already　highly　unusual　for　the　Landsraad　court　　but　the　appearance　of　the　future　Padishah　Emperor　himself　was　unprecedented。
　Shaddam　made　his　way　up　the　long　aisle　and　passed　Leto　with　hardly　a　glance。　The　Sardaukar　took　positions　behind　the　defense　table；　increasing　Leto's　feeling　of　uneasiness。
　Shaddam's　face　was　stony；　his　upper　lip　slightly　twisted。　He　gave　no　sign　of　his　intentions。　Did　my　message　offend　him？　Leto　wondered。　Does　he　mean　to　call　my　bluff？　WILL　he　crush　me　here　in　the　hall　before　all　the　Landsraad？　Who　could　oppose　him　if　he　did？
　Reaching　the　towering　bench；　Shaddam　looked　up　and　announced；　〃Before　this　trial　actually　begins；　I　have　a　statement　to　make。　Will　the　court　recognize　me　at　this　time？〃
　Though　Leto　didn't　trust　his　distaff　cousin；　he　had　to　admit　that　Shaddam　looked　especially　regal　and　elegant。　For　the　first　time；　he　saw　this　man　as　a　genuine　presence　in　his　own　right；　not　just　the　shadow　of　his　ancient　father　Elrood。　Shaddam's　coronation　was　set　for　two　days　hence；　to　be　followed　immediately　by　his　magnificent　wedding　to　Anirul　　events　that　Leto　might　never　live　to　see。　The　powerful　Bene　Gesserit　faction　had　thrown　its　support　to　Shaddam's　uping　reign；　and　all　of　the　Great　and　Minor　Houses　of　the　Landsraad　wanted　to　stay　on　his　good　side。
　Does　he　feel　threatened　by　me？
　The　head　magistrate　bowed　deeply　and　made　an　expansive　gesture。　〃Sire；　we　are　honored　by　your　presence　and　your　interest　in　this　case。　Of　course　the　Landsraad　tribunal　will　hear　you。〃　Leto　knew　only　the　most　basic　facts　about　this　magistrate；　the　Baron　Lar　Olin　from　the　titanium…rich　planet　of　Risp　VII。　〃Please　speak。〃
　Shaddam　pointed　over　his　shoulder；　in　Leto's　direction。　〃With　the　permission　of　the　court；　I'd　like　my　cousin　Leto　Atreides　to　stand　with　me。　I　wish　to　address　the　matter　of　these　malicious　accusations　and；　I　hope；　prevent　the　court　from　wasting　the　valuable　time　of　all　its　members。〃
　Leto's　mind　raced；　and　he　looked　over　at　Hawat。　What　is　he　doing？　〃Cousin〃？　The　way　he　says　it；　the　word　sounds　like　a　term　of　endearment。。。but　he　and　I　have　never　been　close。　Leto　was　merely　the　grandson　of　one　of　Elrood's　daughters；　by　the　ancient　Emperor's　second　wife；　not　even　Shaddam's　mother。　The　Corrino　family　tree　sprawled　among　the　Houses　of　the　Landsraad；　any　blood　connection　should　have　meant　little　to　Shaddam。
　The　head　magistrate　nodded。　At　the　table　beside　Leto；　his　lawyers　sat　in　astonishment；　not　knowing　how　to　respond。　Warily；　Leto　levered　himself　to　his　feet。　With　shaking　knees；　he　marched　forward　to　join　the　Crown　Prince；　standing　a　pace　away　from　his　side；　on　his　left。　While　of　similar　height　and　facial　appearance；　the　men　were　dressed　in　radically　different　fashion；　representing　two　social　extremes。　Leto　stood　in　his　rough　fisherman　clothes；　feeling　like　a　dust　mote　in　the　middle　of　a　whirlwind。
　He　made　a　formal　bow　before　Shaddam　closed　the　gap　between　them；　placing　a　hand　on　Leto's　shoulder。　The　fine；　loosely　fitted　satin　of　the　Crown　Prince's　tunic　cascaded　over　the　arm　of　the　young　Atreides。
　〃I　speak　from　the　heart　of　House　Corrino；　the　blood　of　the　Padishah　Emperors；〃　Shaddam　began；　〃with　the　supportive　voices　of　all　my　ancestors　who　have　ever　associated　with　House　Atreides。　This　man's　father；　Duke　Paulus　Atreides；　fought　bravely　for　the　Imperial　cause　against　the　rebels　on　Ecaz。　Through　battle　and