bh.houseatreides-第125节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Informed　them；　or　asked　them？　Or　did　they　send　you　after　me　in　the　first　place？〃
　The　Dame　of　House　Venette　strolled　by；　leading　a　brace　of　small；　coiffed　dogs。　Her　gilded　dress　was　so　voluminous　that　other　guests　had　to　back　out　of　her　way。　With　each　step；　the　noblewoman　fixed　her　blank　gaze　forward；　as　if　just　concentrating　on　keeping　her　balance。
　Margot　watched　the　spectacle；　then　turned　back　to　Fenring。　〃There　are　obvious　advantages　to　all　of　us；　and　Mother　Superior　Harishka　has　already　given　me　her　blessing。　You　would　gain　a　valuable　connection　with　the　Sisterhood；　though　I　wouldn't　necessarily　tell　you　all　of　our　secrets。〃　She　nudged　him　playfully；　nearly　causing　him　to　spill　his　plate　of　food。
　〃Mm…m…m…m；〃　he　said；　looking　over　the　perfection　of　her　figure；　〃and　I　am　a　key　to　the　power　of　Shaddam。　He　trusts　no　one　more　than　me。〃
　Bemused；　Margot　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃Oh？　Is　that　why　he　sent　you　away　to　Arrakis？　Because　you're　so　close　to　him？　I'm　told　that　you　aren't　happy　with　the　new　duty。〃
　〃How　did　you　find　out　about　that？〃　Fenring　scowled；　felt　the　unfortable　sensation　of　losing　his　balance。　〃I　just　learned　of　the　assignment　myself　two　days　ago。〃　This　clever　witch　had　more　to　say；　and　he　waited　for　her。
　〃Hasimir　Fenring；　you　must　learn　to　use　every　circumstance　to　your　advantage。　Arrakis　is　the　key　to　melange；　and　the　spice　opens　the　universe。　Our　new　Emperor　may　think　he　has　merely　reassigned　you；　but　in　reality　he　has　entrusted　you　with　something　vitally　important。　Think　of　it　　Imperial　Observer　on　Arrakis。〃
　〃Yes；　and　the　Baron　Harkonnen　won't　like　it　one　bit。　I　suspect　he's　been　hiding　many　small　details　all　along。〃
　She　graced　him　with　a　lush；　full　smile。　〃No　one　can　hide　such　things　from　you；　my　dear。　Or　me。〃
　He　smiled　back　at　her。　〃Then　we　can　while　away　the　miserable　days　ferreting　out　his　secrets。〃
　She　ran　her　long；　thin　fingers　along　his　sleeve。　〃Arrakis　is　a　most　difficult　place　in　which　to　live；　but。。。perhaps　you　would　enjoy　it　more　in　my　pany？〃
　He　grew　wary；　as　was　his　nature。　Though　the　crowd　was　filled　with　extravagant　costumes　and　exotic　plumage；　Margot　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　entire　hall。　〃I　might。　But　why　would　you　want　to　go　there？　A　horrible　place；　by　all　accounts。〃
　〃My　Sisters　describe　it　as　a　planet　of　ancient　mysteries；　and　my　spending　time　there　would　greatly　increase　my　standing　among　the　Bene　Gesserit。　It　could　be　an　important　step　in　my　training　to　bee　a　Reverend　Mother。　Use　your　imagination：　sandworms；　Fremen；　spice。　It　could　be　most　interesting　if　you　and　I　were　to　solve　those　mysteries　together。　I'm　stimulated　by　your　panionship；　Hasimir。〃
　〃I'll　give　your。。。proposal　some　thought。〃
　He　was　drawn　to　this　woman　physically　and　emotionally。。。bothersome　feelings。　When　he　had　experienced　such　strong　emotions　in　the　past；　he　had　felt　pelled　to　dismiss　the　attraction；　get　rid　of　it　in　any　manner　necessary。　This　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　was　different；　though　　or　seemed　to　be。　Only　time　would　tell。
　He'd　heard　stories　of　Bene　Gesserit　breeding　programs；　but　because　of　his　congenital　deformity；　the　Sisterhood　would　not　be　after　his　genetic　line；　there　had　to　be　something　else　to　it。　Obviously　Margot's　motives　went　beyond　her　personal　feelings　　if　she　truly　had　any　feelings　for　him。　This　woman　had　to　see　the　opportunities　in　him；　both　for　herself　and　for　her　order　of　Sisters。
　And　Margot　offered　him　something　as　well　　a　new　avenue　to　power　he'd　never　dreamed　existed。　Until　now；　his　only　advantage　had　rested　with　Shaddam；　his　fortuitous　childhood　panion。　But　that　status　had　been　recently　damaged　when　the　Crown　Prince　began　behaving　strangely。　Shaddam　had　stepped　beyond　his　abilities；　attempting　to　make　his　own　decisions　and　think　for　himself。　A　dangerous；　foolhardy　course　of　action；　and　he　didn't　even　seem　to　know　it　yet。
　Given　the　circumstances；　Fenring　needed　new　contacts　in　powerful　places。　Such　as　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　With　the　arrival　of　the　Imperial　carriage　outside；　guests　began　streaming　into　the　Grand　Theatre。　Fenring　discarded　his　plate　on　a　side　table；　and　Margot　slipped　her　arm　through　his；　saying；　〃You'll　sit　with　me；　then？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　with　a　wink；　〃and　maybe　a　little　more　than　that。〃
　She　smiled　prettily；　and　he　thought　of　how　difficult　it　would　be　to　kill　this　woman。　If　it　ever　came　to　that。
　EACH　HOUSE　MAJOR　had　received　a　dozen　tickets　to　the　double　event　in　the　Grand　Theatre；　while　the　rest　of　the　population　in　the　Imperium　watched　over　planetary　relays。　Everyone　would　talk　about　the　details　of　the　magnificent　ceremony　for　at　least　the　next　decade　　exactly　as　Shaddam　intended。
　As　the　representative　of　his　restored　House；　Duke　Leto　Atreides　sat　with　his　entourage　in　blackplaz　seats　in　the　second　row；　main　level。　The　Emperor's　〃beloved　cousin〃　had　maintained　pretenses　since　the　ending　of　the　Landsraad　trial；　but　Leto　did　not　believe　the　feigned　friendship　would　last　beyond　his　return　to　Caladan　　unless；　of　course；　Shaddam　intended　to　collect　on　the　favor。　Beware　of　what　you　buy；　the　Old　Duke　had　said；　for　there　may　be　hidden　costs。
　Thufir　Hawat　sat　on　Leto's　right　and　a　proud　and　effusive　Rhombur　Vernius　on　his　left。　On　the　other　side　of　Rhombur　sat　his　sister　Kailea；　who　had　joined　the　delegation　after　Leto　was　freed。　She　had　rushed　to　Kaitain　to　see　the　coronation　and　to　stand　beside　her　brother　　her　emerald　eyes　dazzled　with　every　fresh　sight。　Not　a　moment　went　by　without　Kailea　gasping　or　exclaiming　in　delight　at　some　new　marvel。　Leto's　heart　warmed　to　see　such　utter　joy　in　her；　the　first　he'd　noticed　since　their　flight　from　Ix。
　While　Rhombur　wore　Vernius　purple　and　copper；　Kailea　chose　to　drape　her　creamy　shoulders　with　an　Atreides　cloak　sporting　red　hawk　armorial　crests；　like　Leto's。　Clutching　his　forearm　and　letting　him　escort　her　to　their　seats；　Kailea　told　him　with　a　soft　smile；　〃I　chose　these　colors　out　of　respect　for　the　host　who　granted　us　sanctuary；　and　to　memorate　the　restored　fortunes　of　House　Atreides。〃　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。
　Since　the　matter　of　the　death　sentence　on　House　Vernius　still　hung　like　a　thick　cloud　on　the　horizon；　the　siblings　attended　the　festivities　at　considerable　personal　risk。　In　the　present　atmosphere　of　celebration；　however；　Thufir　Hawat　surmised　that　they　were　probably　safe；　provided　they　didn't　overstay　their　wele。　When　Leto　first　heard　this；　he　laughed。　〃Thufir；　do　Mentats　ever　provide　guarantees？〃　Hawat　did　not　find　this　amusing。
　Though　the　coronation　and　Imperial　wedding　were　among　the　safest　places　in　the　universe　because　of　the　intense　public　attention；　Leto　doubted　that　Dominic　Vernius　would　show　his　face。　Even　now；　after　vindictive　Elrood's　death；　Rhombur's　father　had　not　ventured　out　of　hiding；　had　not　sent　them　any　sort　of　message　whatsoever。
　Across　the　rear　of　the　cavernous　theatre；　on　both　the　main　and　upper　levels；　sat　representatives　of　Houses　Minor　and　various　factions　among　CHOAM；　the　Spacing　Guild；　the　Mentats；　the　Suk　doctors；　and　other　power　bases　scattered　across　the　million　worlds。　House　Harkonnen　had　their　own　segregated　section　in　an　upper　balcony；　the　Baron；　attending　without　his　nephew　Rabban；　refused　even　to　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　Atreides　seats。
　〃The　colors；　the　sounds；　the　perfumes　　it's　making　me　dizzy；〃　Kailea　said；　drawing　a　deep　breath　and　leaning　closer　to　Leto。　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　this　　on　Ix；　or　on　Caladan。〃
　Leto　said；　〃No　one　in　the　Imperium　has　seen　anything　like　this　in　almost　a　hundred　and　forty　years。〃
　In　the　first　row；　directly　in　front　of　the　Atreides；　sat　a　contingent　of　Bene　Gesserit　women　in　identical　black　robes；　including　withered　Mother　Superior　Harishka。　On　the　other　side　of　the　aisle　from　the　quiet　and　manipulative　women　stood　fully　armed　Sardaukar　in　ceremonial　uniforms。
　The　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　greeted　fresh…faced　Reverend　Mother　Anirul；　the　Empress…to…be；　as　she　passed　the　group；　acpanied　by　a　large　honor　guard　and　garishly　dressed　ladies…in…waiting。　Rhombur　searched　for　the　stunning　blonde　woman　who'd　given　him　the　mysterious　message　cube；　and　found　her　sitting　with　Hasimir　Fenring　instead　of　with　the　other　Sisters。
　An　air　of　expectation　filled　the　high…ceilinged；　tiered　facility。　Finally；　a　hush　fell　over　the　Grand　Theatre；　and　everyone　stood　respectfully；　holding　their　hats　and　caps。
　Crown　Prince　Shaddam；　attired　in　a　formal　Sardaukar　mander's　uniform　with　silver　epaulets　and　the　Golden　Lion　crest　of　House　Corrino；　marched　down　the　aisle　on　a　carpet　of　velvet　and　damask。　His　red　hair　was　pomaded　with　glitter。　Members　of　his　royal　Court　followed　him；　all　of　them　wearing　scarlet　and　gold。
　Bringing　up　the　rear　was　the　green…robed　High　Priest　of　Dur；　who　had　by　tradition　crowned　every　Emperor　since　the　fall　of　the　thinking　machines。　Despite　the　varying　fortunes　of　his　ancient　religion；　the　High　Priest　proudly　sprinkled　the　iron…red　holy　dust　of　Dur　right　and　left　onto　the　audience。
　Seeing　Shaddam's　stately　pace　and　how　smartly　uniformed　he　was；　Leto　recalled　when　the　Crown　Prince　had　marched　up　another　aisle　only　days　earlier　to　testify　on　his　behalf。　In　a　way；　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　royal　cousin　had　looked　even　more　regal　then；　swathed　in　the　fine　silks　and　jewels　of