bh.houseatreides-第128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！


e　free　time　for　conversation　with　his　cousin　　that　they　make　use　of　a　new　and　untried　method　being　offered　by　the　Spacing　Guild；　an　instantaneous　process　called　Guildlink。　It　involved　the　mental　connection　of　two　Guild　Navigators　positioned　in　separate　star　systems；　a　Heighliner　in　orbit　around　Caladan　and　another　over　Kaitain　could　theoretically　arrange　a　conversation　involving　Duke　Leto　Atreides　and　Emperor　Shaddam　IV
　〃At　last　I'll　be　able　to　speak　my　piece；〃　Leto　said；　though　he　had　never　before　heard　of　this　munication　method。　Shaddam　seemed　anxious　to　try　it　for　his　own　purposes；　and　this　way　no　one　would　see　him　actually　meeting　with　Duke　Leto　Atreides。
　Kailea's　emerald　eyes　lit　up；　and　she　even　ignored　the　distasteful　bull's…head　that　hung　in　the　dining　hall。　She　went　to　change　her　dress　into　proud　Vernius　colors；　though　it　wasn't　likely　she　would　be　seen　in　the　transmission　at　all。　Rhombur　came　at　the　appointed　hour；　acpanied　by　Thufir　Hawat。　Leto　sent　all　the　other　retainers；　guards；　and　household　staff　out　of　the　room。
　The　Heighliner　that　had　brought　the　original　Courier　remained　in　geostationary　orbit　over　Caladan；　another　already　waited　over　Kaitain。　The　sophisticated　Guild　Steersmen　aboard　each　ship　　separated　from　one　another　by　vast　distances　　would　use　an　unfathomable　procedure　that　allowed　them　to　stretch　their　minds　across　the　void；　joining　thoughts　to　form　a　connection。　The　Guild　had　tested　hundreds　of　their　Navigators　before　finding　two　that　could　establish　a　tentative　direct　link　　through　telepathy；　melange…fostered　prescience；　or　some　other　method；　to　be　determined。
　Leto　took　a　deep　breath；　wishing　he　had　more　time　to　practice　his　words；　though　he　had　already　waited　far　too　long。　He　dared　not　request　another　delay。。。。
　From　a　magnificent　hedge…lined　arboretum　at　the　Imperial　Palace；　Shaddam　spoke　into　a　tiny　microphone　on　his　chin；　which　transmitted　to　speakers　in　the　navigation　chamber　of　the　Heighliner　over　his　planet。　〃Can　you　hear　me；　Leto　Atreides？　It's　a　sunny　morning　here；　and　I've　just　returned　from　my　morning　walk。〃　He　took　a　sip　from　a　goblet　of　syrupy　juice。
　As　the　Emperor's　words　reached　the　navigation　chamber　of　the　ship　orbiting　Kaitain；　the　Steersman　in　the　other　Heighliner　over　Caladan　experienced　them　in　his　mind；　in　an　echo　of　what　his　patriot　had　heard。　Breaking　the　link　temporarily；　the　Steersman　over　Caladan　repeated　the　Emperor's　words　into　the　glittering　speaker　globe　that　floated　within　his　spice…filled　chamber。　In　turn；　standing　in　the　echoing　dining　hall　of　Castle　Caladan；　Leto　heard　the　words　over　his　own　speaker　system；　distorted　and　slow；　without　the　nuances　of　emotion。　But　still；　they　were　the　Emperor's　own　words。
　〃I've　always　preferred　the　morning　sun　of　Caladan；　Cousin；〃　Leto　responded；　using　the　familiar　form　of　address；　trying　to　begin　on　friendly　terms。　〃You　should　visit　our　humble　world　someday。〃
　By　the　time　Leto　said　this；　the　Navigator　above　Caladan　was　again　in　Guildlink　with　his　associate；　and　Leto's　words　were　heard　in　the　other　ship；　then　transmitted　down　to　Kaitain。
　〃This　new　munication　is　marvelous；〃　Shaddam　said；　avoiding　the　meat　of　Leto's　request。　He　did；　however；　seem　to　be　enjoying　the　possibilities　of　Guildlink；　as　if　it　were　a　new　toy　for　him。　〃Much　faster　than　human　messengers；　though　it'll　likely　be　prohibitively　expensive。　Ah　yes；　we　have　here　the　makings　of　another　monopoly　for　the　Guild。　Hopefully　they　won't　charge　too　much　for　urgent　messages。〃
　Receiving　the　words　in　his　dining　hall；　Leto　wondered　if　that　message　was　for　his　benefit；　or　the　Guild　eavesdroppers。
　Shaddam　coughed　uneasily；　sounds　that　were　not　repeated　in　the　translation　process。　〃There　are　so　many　important　issues　on　Imperial　planets；　and　such　a　shortage　of　time　in　which　to　address　them。　I　have　too　little　time　for　friendships　I'd　like　to　nurture；　such　as　yours；　Cousin。　What　is　it　you　wish　to　talk　with　me　about？〃
　Leto　drew　a　sharp　breath；　and　the　hawklike　features　on　his　narrow　face　darkened。　〃Exalted　Emperor　Shaddam；　we　beseech　you　to　grant　amnesty　to　House　Vernius　and　restore　them　to　their　rightful　place　in　the　Landsraad。　The　world　of　Ix　is　economically　vital　and　must　not　remain　in　the　hands　of　the　Tleilaxu。　They　have　already　destroyed　important　manufacturing　facilities　and　have　curtailed　products　vital　to　the　security　of　the　Imperium。〃　Then　he　added；　with　just　another　hint　of　his　bluff；　〃We　both　know　what　is　really　going　on　there；　even　now。〃
　The　Tleilaxu　connection　again；　Leto　thought。　Let's　see　if　I　can　make　him　believe　I　know　more　than　I　really　do。　Standing　beside　him　in　the　room；　Prince　Rhombur　fixed　him　with　a　wary　gaze。
　〃I　cannot　discuss　such　matters　through　intermediaries；〃　Shaddam　said　quickly。
　Leto's　eyes　widened　at　the　possible　mistake　Shaddam　had　just　made。　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　the　Guild　can't　be　trusted；　Sire？　They　haul　armies　for　the　Imperium　and　the　Great　Houses；　they　know　or　suspect　battle　plans　before　they　are　implemented。　This　Guildlink　is　even　more　secure　than　a　face…to…face　discussion　in　the　Imperial　audience　chamber。〃
　〃But　we　haven't　studied　the　merits　of　the　matter；〃　Shaddam　protested；　clearly　stalling。　He　had　been　watching　the　rising　popularity　and　influence　of　Duke　Leto　Atreides。　Did　this　upstart　have　connections　that　extended　even　to　the　Spacing　Guild？　He　looked　around　his　empty　gardens；　wishing　Fenring　were　with　him　after　all；　but　the　ferretlike　man　was　preparing　for　his　journey　to　Arrakis。　Perhaps　it　was　a　mistake　to　save　Leto　after　all。
　Keeping　his　phraseology　lean　and　to　the　point；　Leto　presented　the　noble　case　of　the　Ixians；　asserting　that　House　Vernius　had　never　manufactured　forbidden　technology。　Despite　their　promises；　the　Tleilaxu　had　brought　no　case　and　no　evidence　to　the　governing　body　of　the　Landsraad；　and　had　instead　taken　matters　into　their　own　hands　in　their　greed　to　acquire　the　riches　of　Ix。　Based　upon　conversations　he'd　had　with　Rhombur；　Leto　provided　a　value　for　the　fief　and　how　much　damage　the　Tleilaxu　had　caused。
　〃That　sounds　excessive；〃　Shaddam　said；　too　quickly。　〃Reports　from　the　Bene　Tleilax　indicate　a　much　lower　figure。〃
　He's　been　there　himself；　Leto　thought；　and　is　concealing　it。　〃Of　course　the　Tleilaxu　would　try　to　establish　a　low　number；　Sire；　in　order　to　reduce　reparations；　if　they　are　ever　forced　to　pay　them。〃
　Leto　went　on　to　estimate　the　loss　of　Ixian　life；　and　even　mented　on　Elrood's　unwarranted　blood　price　for　the　death　of　the　Lady　Shando。　Then；　in　an　emotion…filled　voice；　he　conjectured　about　the　desperate　plight　of　Earl　Vernius；　who　remained　in　hiding　on　some　unknown；　distant　world。
　During　an　extended　pause　on　his　end　of　the　conversation；　Shaddam　seethed。　He　desperately　wondered　how　much　this　brash　Duke　truly　knew　about　the　Tleilaxu　matter。　There　had　been　hints；　nuances。。。but　was　he　bluffing？　As　new　Emperor；　Shaddam　needed　to　do　something　quickly；　to　keep　the　situation　under　control　　but　he　could　never　afford　to　allow　House　Vernius　to　return　to　its　ancestral　home。　The　Tleilaxu　synthetic…spice　research　was　vital　and　not　easily　moved。　The　Vernius　family　was　an　unfortunate　casualty　　Shaddam　didn't　care　about　his　father's　stung　pride　or　petty　revenge　　but　those　people　could　not　be　rescued　now；　as　if　nothing　had　happened。
　Finally　the　Emperor　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃The　best　we　can　offer　is　limited　amnesty。　Since　Rhombur　and　Kailea　Vernius　are　in　your　personal　care；　Duke　Leto；　we　grant　them　our　full　protection　and　pardon。　From　this　day　forth　there　shall　be　no　price　on　their　heads。　They　are　absolved　of　any　wrongdoing。　You　have　my　guarantee　on　this。〃
　Seeing　a　look　of　disbelieving　exultation　on　the　faces　of　the　two　exiled　Ixians；　Leto　said；　〃Thank　you；　Sire；　but　what　about　reparations　to　the　family　fortunes？〃
　〃No　reparations！〃　Shaddam　said　in　a　much　sterner　tone　than　the　Guildsman　managed　to　duplicate。　〃And　no　restoration　of　House　Vernius　to　its　position　on　Xuttah；　formerly　Ix。　Ah；　yes。　The　Bene　Tleilax　have　in　fact　presented　extensive；　conclusive　documentation　to　me；　and　I　am　satisfied　as　to　its　veracity。　For　reasons　of　Imperial　security　I　cannot　divulge　details。　You　have　taxed　my　patience　enough。〃
　Irritated；　Leto　growled；　〃Any　evidence　that　is　denied　scrutiny　is　no　evidence　at　all；　Sire。　It　should　be　presented　before　a　court。〃
　〃What　about　my　father　and　other　surviving　members　of　House　Vernius？〃　Rhombur　said　into　the　microphone　Leto　had　been　using。　〃Can　he　have　your　amnesty　as　well；　wherever　he　is？　He's　not　hurting　anybody。〃
　Shaddam's　response；　directed　at　Leto；　was　swift　and　stinging；　like　the　bite　of　a　venomous　serpent。　〃I've　been　lenient　with　you；　Cousin　　but　I　caution　you　not　to　press　your　luck。　If　I　weren't　so　favorably　inclined　toward　you；　personally；　I　would　never　have　mitted　myself　by　testifying　on　your　behalf；　nor　would　I　have　granted　this　impromptu　audience　today　　or　the　concessions　for　your　friends。　Amnesty　for　the　two　children；　and　that　is　all。〃
　Hearing　the　harsh　relayed　words；　Leto　reeled；　but　maintained　his　posure。　It　was　clear　he　could　not　push　Shaddam　further。
　〃We　suggest　you　accept　these　terms　while　we　remain　in　a　mood　to　grant　them；〃　Shaddam　said。　〃At　any　moment　additional　evidence　could　be　presented　to　me　against　House　Vernius；　causin