bh.houseatreides-第27节

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　〃To　make　things　easier　on　you；　I　have　the　ability　to　control　my　bodily　functions；〃　Mohiam　said；　sounding　reasonable。　〃I　can　ovulate　at　will；　and　I　guarantee　that　this　unpleasant　task　will　not　need　to　be　repeated。　From　a　single　encounter　with　you；　I　can　guarantee　the　birth　of　a　girl…child。　You　need　not　worry　about　us　again。〃
　The　Bene　Gesserit　always　had　plans　afoot；　wheels　within　wheels；　and　nothing　with　them　was　ever　as　clear　as　it　seemed。　The　Baron　frowned；　running　through　the　possibilities。　With　this　daughter　they　wanted　so　badly；　did　the　witches　　in　spite　of　their　denials　　intend　to　create　an　illegitimate　heir　and　claim　House　Harkonnen　in　the　following　generation？　That　was　preposterous。　He　was　already　grooming　Rabban　for　that　position；　and　no　one　would　question　it。
　〃I。。。〃　He　fumbled　for　words。　〃I　need　a　moment　to　consider　this；　and　I　must　speak　with　my　advisors。〃
　Reverend　Mother　Mohiam　all　but　rolled　her　eyes　at　the　suggestion；　but　granted　him　leave；　gesturing　for　the　Baron　to　take　his　time。　Tossing　aside　a　bloodstained　towel；　she　lounged　back　on　the　divan；　fortable　to　wait。
　Despite　his　despicable　personality；　Vladimir　Harkonnen　was　an　attractive　man；　well　built　with　pleasant　features：　reddish　hair；　heavy　lips；　pronounced　widow's　peak。　However；　the　Bene　Gesserit　instilled　in　all　their　Sisters　the　critical　belief　that　sexual　intercourse　was　a　mere　tool　for　manipulating　men　and　for　obtaining　offspring　to　add　to　the　genetically　connected　web　of　the　Sisterhood。　Mohiam　never　intended　to　enjoy　the　act；　no　matter　her　orders。　Nevertheless；　she　did　find　it　pleasurable　to　have　the　Baron　under　her　thumb；　to　be　able　to　force　him　into　submission。
　The　Reverend　Mother　sat　back；　closed　her　eyes；　and　concentrated　on　the　flow　and　ebb　of　hormones　in　her　body；　the　inner　workings　of　her　reproductive　system。。。preparing　herself。
　She　knew　what　the　Baron's　answer　had　to　be。
　〃PITER！〃　THE　BARON　strode　down　the　halls。　〃Where's　my　Mentat？〃
　De　Vries　slipped　out　of　an　adjoining　hall；　where　he'd　been　intending　to　use　the　hidden　observation　holes　he'd　placed　in　the　Baron's　private　chambers。
　〃I'm　here；　my　Baron；〃　he　said；　then　swigged　from　a　tiny　vial。　The　sapho　taste　triggered　responses　in　his　brain；　firing　his　neurons；　stoking　his　mental　capabilities。　〃What　did　the　witch　request？　What　is　she　up　to？〃
　The　Baron　wheeled；　finally　finding　an　appropriate　target　for　his　rage。　〃She　wants　me　to　impregnate　her！　The　sow！〃
　Impregnate　her？　de　Vries　thought；　adding　this　to　his　Mentat　database。　At　hyper　speed　he　reassessed　the　problem。
　〃She　wants　to　bear　my　girl…child！　Can　you　believe　it？　They　know　about　my　spice　stockpiles；　too！〃
　De　Vries　was　in　Mentat　mode。　Fact：　The　Baron　would　never　have　children　any　other　way。　He　loathes　women。　Besides；　politically；　he　is　too　careful　to　spread　his　seed　indiscriminately。
　Fact：　The　Bene　Gesserit　have　broad　genetic　records　on　Wallach　IX；　numerous　breeding　plans；　the　results　of　which　are　open　to　interpretation。　Given　a　child　by　the　Baron　　a　daughter　instead　of　a　son？　　what　could　the　witches　hope　to　acplish？
　Is　there　some　flaw　　or　advantage　　in　Harkonnen　genetics　they　wish　to　exploit？　Do　they　simply　wish　to　do　this　because　they　consider　it　the　most　humiliating　punishment　they　can　inflict　upon　the　Baron？　If　so；　how　has　the　Baron　personally　offended　the　Sisterhood？
　〃The　thought　of　it　disgusts　me！　Rutting　with　that　broodmare；〃　the　Baron　growled。　〃But　I'm　nearly　mad　with　curiosity。　What　can　the　Sisterhood　possibly　want？〃
　〃I'm　unable　to　make　a　projection；　Baron。　Insufficient　data。〃
　The　Baron　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　strike　de　Vries；　but　refrained。　〃I'm　not　a　Bene　Gesserit　stud！〃
　〃Baron；〃　de　Vries　said　calmly；　〃if　they　truly　have　information　about　your　spice…stockpiling　activities；　you　cannot　afford　to　have　that　exposed。　Even　if　they　were　bluffing；　your　reaction　has　no　doubt　already　told　them　all　they　need　to　know。　If　they　offer　proof　to　Kaitain；　the　Emperor　will　bring　his　Sardaukar　here　to　exterminate　House　Harkonnen　and　set　up　another　Great　House　in　our　stead　on　Arrakis；　just　as　they　removed　Richese　before　us。　Elrood　would　like　that；　no　doubt。　He　and　CHOAM　can　withdraw　their　contracts　from　any　of　your　holdings　at　any　time。　They　might　even　give　Arrakis　and　the　spice　production　to；　say；　House　Atreides。。。just　to　spite　you。〃
　〃Atreides！〃　The　Baron　wanted　to　spit。　〃I'd　never　let　my　holdings　fall　into　their　hands。〃
　De　Vries　knew　he　had　struck　the　right　chord。　The　feud　between　Harkonnen　and　Atreides　had　started　many　generations　before；　during　the　tragic　events　of　the　Battle　of　Corrin。
　〃You　must　do　as　the　witch　demands；　Baron；〃　he　said。　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　have　won　this　round　of　the　game。　Priority：　Protect　the　fortunes　of　your　House；　your　spice　holdings；　and　your　illicit　stockpiles。〃　The　Mentat　smiled。　〃Then　get　your　revenge　later。〃

　The　Baron　looked　gray；　his　skin　suddenly　blotched。　〃Piter；　from　this　instant　forward　I　want　you　to　begin　erasing　the　evidence　and　dispersing　our　stockpiles。　Spread　them　to　places　where　no　one　will　think　to　look。〃
　〃On　the　planets　of　our　allies；　too？　I　wouldn't　remend　that；　Baron。　Too　many　plexities　setting　it　up。　And　alliances　change。〃
　〃Very　well。〃　His　spider…black　eyes　lit　up。　〃Put　most　of　it　on　Lankiveil；　right　under　the　nose　of　my　stupid　half　brother。　They'll　never　suspect　Abulurd's　collusion　in　any　of　this。〃
　〃Yes；　my　Baron。　A　very　good　idea。〃
　〃Of　course　it's　a　good　idea！〃　He　frowned；　looked　around。　Thinking　of　his　half　brother　had　reminded　him　of　his　cherished　nephew。　〃Where　is　Rabban？　Maybe　the　witch　can　use　his　sperm　instead。〃
　〃I　doubt　it；　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said。　〃Their　genetic　plans　are　usually　specific。〃
　〃Well；　where　is　he　anyway？　Rabban！〃　The　Baron　spun　about　and　paced　the　hall；　as　if　looking　for　something　to　stalk。　〃I　haven't　seen　him　in　a　day。〃
　〃Off　on　another　one　of　his　silly　hunts；　up　at　Forest　Guard　Station。〃　De　Vries　suppressed　a　smile。　〃You　are　on　your　own　here；　my　Baron；　and　I　think　you'd　better　get　to　your　bedchamber。　You　have　a　duty　to　perform。〃
　The　basic　rule　is　this：　Never　support　weakness；　always　support　strength。
　…The　Bene　Gesserit　Azhar　Book；
　pilation　of　Great　Secrets
　The　light　cruiser　soared　out　over　a　night　wasteland　unmarked　by　Giedi　Prime's　city　lights　or　industrial　smoke。　Alone　in　a　holding　pen　in　the　belly　of　the　aircraft；　Duncan　Idaho　watched　through　a　plaz　port　as　the　expanse　of　Barony　prison　dropped　behind　them　like　a　geometrical　bubo；　festering　with　trapped　and　tortured　humanity。
　At　least　his　parents　were　no　longer　prisoners。　Rabban　had　killed　them；　just　to　make　him　angry　and　willing　to　fight。　Over　the　past　several　days　of　preparations；　Duncan's　anger　had　indeed　increased。
　The　bare　metal　walls　of　the　cruiser's　lower　hold　were　etched　with　a　verdigris　of　frost。　Duncan　was　numb；　his　heart　leaden；　his　nerves　shocked　into　silence；　his　skin　an　unfeeling　blanket　around　him。　The　engines　throbbed　through　the　floor　plates。　On　the　decks　above；　he　could　hear　the　restive　hunting　party　shuffling　about　in　their　padded　armor。　The　men　carried　guns　with　tracking　scopes。　They　laughed　and　chatted；　ready　for　the　evening's　game。
　Rabban　was　up　there；　too。
　In　order　to　give　young　Duncan　what　they　called　〃a　sporting　chance；〃　the　hunting　party　had　armed　him　with　a　dull　knife　（saying　they　didn't　want　him　to　hurt　himself）；　a　handlight；　and　a　small　length　of　rope：　everything　an　eight…year…old　child　should　need　to　elude　a　squadron　of　professional　Harkonnen　hunters　on　their　own　well…scouted　ground　。。。。
　Above；　in　a　warm　and　padded　seat；　Rabban　smiled　at　the　thought　of　the　terrified；　angry　child　in　the　hold。　If　this　Duncan　Idaho　were　bigger　and　stronger；　he　would　be　as　dangerous　as　any　animal。　The　kid　was　tough　for　his　size；　Rabban　had　to　admit。　The　way　he　had　eluded　elite　Harkonnen　trainers　inside　the　bowels　of　Barony　was　admirable；　especially　that　trick　with　the　suspensor　tube。
　The　cruiser　flew　far　from　the　prison　city；　away　from　the　oil…soaked　industrial　areas；　to　a　wilderness　preserve　on　high　ground；　a　place　with　dark　pines　and　sandstone　bluff　faces；　caves　and　rocks　and　streams。　The　tailored　wilderness　even　hosted　a　few　examples　of　genetically　enhanced　wildlife；　vicious　predators　as　eager　for　a　boy's　tender　flesh　as　the　Harkonnen　sportsmen　themselves。
　The　cruiser　alighted　in　a　boulder…strewn　meadow；　the　deck　canted　at　a　steep　angle；　then　shifted　to　norm　as　stabilizers　leveled　the　craft。　Rabban　sent　a　signal　from　the　control　band　at　his　waist。
　The　hydraulic　door　in　front　of　the　boy　hissed　open；　freeing　him　from　his　cage。　The　chill　night　air　stung　his　cheeks。　Duncan　considered　just　dashing　out　into　the　open。　He　could　run　fast　and　take　refuge　in　the　thick　pines。　Once　there；　he　would　burrow　beneath　the　dry　brown　needles　and　drift　into　a　self…protective　slumber。
　But　Rabban　wanted　the　boy　to　run　and　hide；　and　he　knew　he　wouldn't　get　very　far。　For　the　moment　Duncan　had　to　act　on　instinct　tempered　with　cleverness。　It　wasn't　the　time　for　an　unexpected；　reckless　action。　Not　yet。
　Duncan　would　wait　at　the　cruiser　until　the　hunters　explained　the　rules　to　him；　though　he　could　certainly　guess　what　he　was　supposed　to　do。　It　was　a　bigger　arena；　a　longer　chase；　higher　stakes。。。but　in　essence　the　same　game　he　had　tr