bh.houseatreides-第4节

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ame。　He'd　never　been　much　of　a　student　in　music　or　the　arts；　not　even　as　a　child。　Why　bother；　when　there　was　so　much　natural　science　to　absorb？
　Just　before　passing　beneath　the　jewel…sparkling　roof　of　the　immense　royal　structure；　Kynes　craned　his　neck　upward　to　gaze　once　more　at　the　clear　sky　of　perfect　blue。
　On　the　trip　here；　inside　a　cordoned…off　section　of　the　Guild　Heighliner；　Kynes　had　taken　the　time　to　learn　about　the　capital　world；　though　he　had　never　before　applied　his　planet…understanding　skills　to　such　a　civilized　place。　Kaitain　was　exquisitely　planned　and　produced；　with　tree…lined　boulevards；　splendid　architecture；　well…watered　gardens；　flower　barricades。。。and　so　much　more。
　Official　Imperial　reports　claimed　it　was　always　warm；　the　climate　forever　temperate。　Storms　were　unknown。　No　clouds　marred　the　skies。　At　first；　he　thought　the　entries　might　have　been　mere　tourist　propaganda；　but　when　the　ornate　Guild　escort　craft　descended；　he　had　noted　the　flotilla　of　weather　satellites；　climate…bending　technology　that　　through　brute　force　　kept　Kaitain　a　peaceful　and　serene　place。
　Climate　engineers　could　certainly　strong…arm　the　weather　to　what　someone　had　foolishly　decided　was　optimal　　though　they　did　it　at　their　own　peril；　creating　an　environment　that　led；　ultimately；　to　malaise　of　the　mind；　body；　and　spirit。　The　Imperial　family　would　never　understand　that。　They　continued　to　relax　under　their　sunny　skies　and　stroll　through　their　well…watered　arboretums；　oblivious　to　an　environmental　catastrophe　just　waiting　to　unfold　before　their　covered　eyes。　It　would　be　a　challenge　to　stay　on　this　planet　and　study　the　effects　　but　somehow　Kynes　doubted　that　was　why　Emperor　Elrood　IX　had　summoned　him　here　。。。。
　The　escort　troops　led　him　deeper　into　the　echoing　Palace；　passing　statuary　and　classic　paintings。　The　sprawling　audience　chamber　could　well　have　been　an　arena　for　ancient　gladiatorial　events。　Its　floor　stretched　onward　like　a　polished；　multicolored　plain　of　stone　squares　　each　one　from　a　different　planet　in　the　Imperium。　Alcoves　and　wings　were　being　added　as　the　Empire　grew。
　Court　functionaries　in　dazzling　raiment　and　brilliant　plumage　strutted　about；　showing　off　fabrics　that　had　been　spun　with　threads　of　precious　metal。　Carrying　documents；　they　conducted　inexplicable　business；　hurrying　to　meetings；　whispering　to　each　other　as　if　only　they　understood　what　their　true　functions　were。
　Kynes　was　an　alien　in　this　political　world；　he　would　rather　have　the　wilderness　any　day。　Though　the　splendor　fascinated　him；　he　longed　for　solitude；　unexplored　landscapes；　and　the　mysteries　of　strange　flora　and　fauna。　This　bustling　place　would　give　him　a　headache　before　long。
　The　Sardaukar　guards　ushered　him　across　a　long　promenade　beneath　prismatic　lights；　taking　sharp；　rhythmic　footsteps　that　sounded　like　weapons　fire；　Kynes's　stumbles　provided　the　only　dissonance。
　Ahead　on　a　raised　dais　of　blue…green　crystal　sat　the　translucent　Golden　Lion　Throne；　carved　from　a　single　piece　of　Hagal　quartz。　And　on　the　dazzling　chair　perched　the　old　man　himself　　Elrood　Corrino　IX；　Imperial　ruler　of　the　Known　Universe。
　Kynes　stared　at　him。　The　Emperor　was　a　distressingly　gaunt　man；　skeletal　with　age；　with　a　ponderously　large　head　on　a　thin　neck。　Surrounded　by　such　incredible　luxury　and　dramatic　richness；　the　aged　ruler　appeared　somehow　insignificant。　But　with　a　twitch　of　his　large…knuckled　finger；　the　Emperor　could　condemn　entire　planets　to　annihilation；　killing　billions　of　people。　Elrood　had　sat　upon　the　Golden　Lion　Throne　for　nearly　a　century　and　a　half。　How　many　planets　were　in　the　Imperium？　How　many　people　did　this　man　rule？　Kynes　wondered　how　anyone　could　tally　such　a　staggering　amount　of　information。
　As　he　was　led　to　the　base　of　the　dais；　Kynes　smiled　uncertainly　at　Elrood；　then　swallowed　hard；　averted　his　gaze；　and　bowed　low。　No　one　had　bothered　to　instruct　him　in　the　proper　protocol　here；　and　he'd　had　little　use　for　manners　and　social　niceties。　The　faint　cinnamon　odor　of　melange　touched　his　nostrils　from　a　mug　of　spice　beer　the　Emperor　kept　on　a　small　table　beside　his　throne。
　A　page　stepped　forward；　nodded　to　the　leader　of　the　Sardaukar　guard　escort；　and　turned；　booming　out　in　Galach；　the　mon　language；　〃The　Planetologist　Pardot　Kynes！〃
　Kynes　squared　his　shoulders　and　tried　to　stand　straight；　wondering　why　they　had　made　such　a　loud　and　portentous　introduction　when　the　Emperor　obviously　knew　who　he　was　　else　why　summon　him　here？　Kynes　wondered　if　he　should　say　hello；　but　decided　instead　to　wait　and　let　the　Court　determine　the　flow　of　events。
　〃Kynes；〃　the　old　Emperor　said　in　a　reedy；　scratchy　voice　that　suffered　from　too　many　years　of　issuing　firm　mands；　〃you　e　to　me　highly　remended。　Our　advisors　have　studied　many　candidates；　and　they've　chosen　you　above　all　others。　What　do　you　say　to　that？〃　The　Emperor　leaned　forward；　raising　his　eyebrows　so　that　his　skin　furrowed　all　the　way　to　the　top　of　his　cranium。
　Kynes　mumbled　something　about　being　honored　and　pleased；　then　cleared　his　throat　and　asked　the　real　question。　〃But；　sir；　what　exactly　have　I　been　chosen　for？〃
　Elrood　cackled　at　that　and　sat　back。　〃How　refreshing　to　see　someone　more　concerned　with　satisfying　his　own　curiosity　than　with　saying　the　right　thing；　or　pandering　to　these　stupid　clingers　and　buffoons。〃　As　he　smiled；　Elrood's　face　turned　rubbery；　the　wrinkles　stretching　back。　His　skin　had　a　grayish；　parchment　tone。　〃The　report　says　you　grew　up　on　Salusa　Secundus；　and　you　wrote　definitive；　plex　reports　on　the　ecology　of　the　planet。〃
　〃Yes；　Sire；　uh；　Your　Majesty。　My　parents　were　bureaucratic　functionaries；　sent　to　work　in　your　Imperial　prison　there。　I　was　just　a　child　and　went　along　with　them。〃
　In　truth；　Kynes　had　heard　rumors　that　his　mother　or　father　had　displeased　Elrood　somehow；　and　that　they　had　been　transferred　in　disgrace　to　the　punishment　planet。　But　young　Pardot　Kynes　had　found　the　wastelands　fascinating。　After　the　tutors　were　finished　with　him；　he'd　spent　his　days　exploring　the　blasted　wilderness　　taking　notes；　studying　the　insects　and　weeds　and　hardy　animals　that　had　managed　to　survive　the　ancient　atomic　holocaust。
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　understand　that；〃　Elrood　said。　〃After　a　while　your　parents　were　transferred　to　another　world。〃
　Kynes　nodded。　〃Yes；　Sire。　They　went　to　Harmonthep。〃
　The　Emperor　waved　a　hand　to　dismiss　the　reference。　〃But　later　you　returned　to　Salusa；　of　your　own　free　will？〃
　〃Well；　uh；　there　was　still　much　more　for　me　to　learn　on　Salusa；〃　he　answered；　stifling　an　embarrassed　shrug。
　Kynes　had　spent　years　by　himself　in　the　outback；　piecing　together　the　mysteries　of　the　climate　and　ecosystems。　He　had　suffered　many　hardships；　endured　much　disfort。　He　had　even　been　pursued　once　by　Laza　tigers　and　survived。　Afterward；　Kynes　had　published　an　extensive　treatise　about　his　years　there；　opening　remarkable　windows　of　understanding　to　the　once…lovely；　now…abandoned　Imperial　capital　planet。
　〃The　wild　desolation　of　the　place　whetted　my　interest　in　ecology。　It's　so　much　more　interesting　to　study　a。。。damaged　world。　I　find　it　difficult　to　learn　anything　in　a　place　that's　too　civilized。〃
　Elrood　laughed　at　the　visitor's　ment　and　looked　around　so　that　all　the　other　members　of　the　Court　chuckled　as　well。　〃Like　Kaitain；　you　mean？〃
　〃Well；　I'm　sure　there　must　be　interesting　places　here；　too；　Sire；〃　Kynes　said；　hoping　he　hadn't　made　an　inexcusable　faux　pas。
　〃Well　spoken！〃　Elrood　boomed。　〃My　advisors　have　chosen　you　wisely；　Pardot　Kynes。〃
　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do　or　say；　the　Planetologist　bowed　awkwardly。
　After　his　years　on　Salusa　Secundus；　he　had　gone　on　to　the　swampy　tangles　of　dimly　lit　Bela　Tegeuse；　and　then　to　other　places　that　interested　him。　He　could　live　off　the　land　just　about　anywhere；　his　needs　were　few。　To　him；　most　important　of　all　was　the　harvesting　of　scientific　knowledge；　looking　under　rocks　and　seeing　what　secrets　the　natural　processes　had　left　for　him　to　find。
　But　his　curiosity　was　piqued　now。　What　had　brought　him　to　such　impressive　attention？　〃If　I　may　ask　again；　Your　Majesty。。。what　exactly　do　you　have　in　mind　for　me？〃　Then　he　added　quickly；　〃Of　course；　I　am　happy　to　serve　in　whatever　capacity　my　Emperor　wishes。〃
　〃You；　Kynes；　have　been　recognized　as　a　true　world…reader；　a　man　capable　of　analyzing　plex　ecosystems　in　order　to　harness　them　to　the　needs　of　the　Imperium。　We　have　chosen　you　to　go　to　the　desert　planet　of　Arrakis　and　work　your　magic　there。〃
　〃Arrakis！〃　Kynes　could　not　restrain　his　astonishment　　and　yes；　pleasure…at　the　prospect。　〃I　believe　the　nomadic　Fremen　inhabitants　call　it　Dune。〃
　〃Whatever　its　name；〃　Elrood　said　a　little　sharply；　〃it　is　one　of　the　most　unpleasant　yet　important　worlds　in　the　Imperium。　You　know；　of　course；　Arrakis　is　the　sole　source　of　the　spice　melange。〃
　Kynes　nodded。　〃I've　always　wondered　why　no　searchers　have　ever　found　spice　on　any　other　world。　And　why　doesn't　anyone　understand　how　the　spice　is　created　or　deposited？〃
　〃You　are　going　to　understand　it　for　us；〃　the　Emperor　said。　〃And　it's　about　time；　too。〃
　Kynes　suddenly　realized　he　might　have　overstepped　his　bounds；　and　he　balked　a　little。　Here　he　was　in　the　grandest　throne　room　on　a　million　worlds；　having　an　actual　conversation　wit