bh.houseatreides-第51节

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h　other；　watching　with　wide　eyes。　Two　of　them　picked　up　muscle…soothing　devices　and　toyed　with　the　controls。
　Shaddam　whispered　to　one　of　the　attendants　to　have　the　doctor　go　with　Chamberlain　Hesban；　who　would　arrange　for　the　transfer　of　payment。　Hesban　obviously　wanted　to　stay　in　the　bedchamber　and　discuss　certain　documents；　treaties；　and　other　state　matters　with　the　sick　old　man；　but　Shaddam　　feeling　he　could　take　care　of　such　things　himself　　wanted　the　dour　advisor　out　of　the　way。
　When　the　Suk　was　gone；　old　Elrood　said　to　his　son；　〃Perhaps　the　doctor　is　right；　Shaddam。　There　is　a　matter　I　wish　to　discuss　with　you　and　Hasimir。　A　policy　and　project　I　wish　to　continue；　regardless　of　my　personal　health。　Have　I　told　you　about　our　plans　on　Ix；　and　the　eventual　Tleilaxu　takeover？〃
　Shaddam　rolled　his　eyes。　Of　course；　you　old　fool！　Fenring　and　I　have　already　done　most　of　the　work。　It　was　our　idea　to　send　Tleilaxu　Face　Dancers　to　Ix；　because　they　could　disguise　themselves　and　infiltrate　the　working　classes。
　〃Yes；　Father。　We　know　of　the　plans。〃
　Elrood　waved　a　hand　to　beckon　them　closer；　and　the　old　man's　features　darkened。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Shaddam　saw　Fenring　chase　the　hovering　concubines　away；　then　approach　to　hear　the　Emperor's　words。　〃This　morning　I　received　a　cipher　from　our　operatives　on　Ix。　You　know　about　the　enmity　between　myself　and　Earl　Dominic　Vernius？〃
　〃Ah；　yes　　we　do；　Father；〃　Shaddam　said。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃An　old　affront；　a　stolen　woman。。。〃
　Elrood's　rheumy　eyes　brightened。　〃It　seems　that　our　brash　Dominic　has　been　playing　with　fire；　training　his　men　with　mobile　fighting　meks　that　scan　opponents　and　process　data；　probably　through　a　puter　brain。　He　has　also　been　selling　these　'intelligent　machines'　on　the　black　market。〃
　〃Sacrilege；　Sire；〃　Fenring　murmured。　〃That　clearly　goes　against　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Convention。〃
　〃Quite　so；〃　Elrood　agreed；　〃and　this　isn't　the　only　infraction。　House　Vernius　has　been　developing　sophisticated　cyborg　enhancements　as　well。　Mechanical　body　replacements。　We　can　use　that　to　our　advantage。〃
　Shaddam　frowned；　leaning　closer　and　smelling　the　sour　spice　beer　on　the　old　man's　breath。　〃Cyborgs？　But　they　are　human　minds　attached　to　robot　bodies；　and　therefore　not　in　violation　of　the　Jihad。〃
　Elrood　smiled。　〃But　we　understand　there　have　been　certain。。promises。　True　or　not；　it's　exactly　the　sort　of　excuse　our　impostors　need　to　finish　the　job　　the　time　to　act　is　now。　House　Vernius　is　poised　on　the　brink　of　destruction；　and　a　small　nudge　will　topple　them。〃
　〃Hmm…m…ah；　that　is　interesting；〃　Fenring　said。　〃Then　the　Tleilaxu　can　take　over　the　sophisticated　Ixian　facilities　for　their　research。〃
　〃This　is　very　important；　and　you　will　watch　how　I　handle　this　situation；〃　Elrood　said　with　a　sniff。　〃Watch；　and　learn。　Already　I　have　set　my　plan　in　motion。　Ixian　suboid　workers　are；　shall　we　say；　troubled　by　these　developments；　and　we　are。。。〃　the　Emperor　paused　to　finish　his　mug　of　spice　beer　with　a　smack　of　his　lips；　〃。。。encouraging　their　discontent　through　our　own　representatives。〃
　Setting　down　the　empty　mug；　Elrood　grew　suddenly　lethargic。　He　adjusted　his　pillows；　shifted　onto　his　back；　and　fell　into　a　fitful　sleep。
　Exchanging　a　knowing　glance　with　Fenring；　Shaddam　thought　of　the　conspiracy　within　the　conspiracy　　their　own　secret　participation　in　the　events　on　Ix；　and　how　he　and　Fenring　had　put　the　Tleilaxu　Master　in　contact　with　Elrood　in　the　first　place。　Now　the　Bene　Tleilax；　employing　their　own　genetically　altered　shape…shifters；　were　stirring　up　religious　fervor　and　discontent　among　Ix's　lower　classes。　To　the　fanatical　Tleilaxu；　any　hint　of　a　thinking　machine　　and　the　Ixians　who　created　them　　was　the　work　of　Satan。
　As　the　two　young　men　left　the　Emperor's　chamber；　Fenring　smiled　with　similar　thoughts。　〃Watch；　and　learn；〃　the　old　fool　had　said。
　Elrood；　you　condescending　bastard；　you　have　much　to　learn　yourself　　and　no　time　left　in　which　to　learn　it。
　The　leaders　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad　did　not　adequately　define　artificial　intelligence；　failing　to　foresee　all　possibilities　of　an　imaginative　society。　Therefore；　we　have　substantial　gray　areas　in　which　to　maneuver。
　…Confidential　Ixian　Legal　Opinion
　Though　the　explosion　was　distant；　the　concussion　rocked　the　table　where　Leto　and　Rhombur　sat　studying　sample　resource　ledgers。　Small　chunks　of　decorative　plascrete　trickled　from　the　ceiling　above　them；　where　a　long　crack　had　just　appeared。　A　jagged　lightning　bolt　zigzagged　across　one　of　the　broad　plaz　observation　windows；　fracturing　it。
　〃Vermilion　hells！　What　was　that？〃　Rhombur　said。
　Leto　had　already　surged　to　his　feet；　knocking　the　ledgers　aside　and　looking　for　the　source　of　the　explosion。　He　saw　the　farside　of　the　underground　grotto；　where　several　badly　damaged　buildings　crumbled　into　rubble。　The　two　young　men　exchanged　blank　looks。
　〃Get　ready；〃　Leto　said；　instantly　on　guard。
　〃Uh；　ready　for　what？〃
　Leto　didn't　know。
　They　had　gone　together　into　one　of　the　tutorial　rooms　of　the　Grand　Palais；　first　studying　Calculus　Philosophy　and　the　underpinnings　of　the　Holtzman　Effect；　and　then　Ixian　manufacturing　and　distribution　systems。　On　the　walls　around　them；　ancient　paintings　hung　in　hermetically　sealed　frames；　including　works　of　the　Old　Terran　masters　Claude　Monet　and　Paul　Gauguin；　with　interactive　plates　that　allowed　enhancements　by　Ixian　depth　artists。　Since　Leto　had　reported　his　adventure　down　in　the　suboid　tunnels；　he　had　heard　of　no　further　discussions　or　investigations。　Perhaps　the　Earl　hoped　the　problem　would　just　go　away。
　Another　concussion　rocked　the　room；　this　one　closer；　stronger。　The　Prince　of　Ix　gripped　the　table　to　keep　it　from　toppling。　Leto　rushed　over　to　the　cracked　window。　〃Rhombur；　look　out　here！〃
　From　the　crosswalk　streets　connecting　the　stalactite　buildings；　someone　screamed。　Off　to　the　left；　an　out…of…control　transport　capsule　plummeted　to　smash　into　the　ground　far　below　with　a　spray　of　crystal　shards　and　mutilated　passengers。
　The　door　to　the　tutorial　room　crashed　open。　Captain　Zhaz　of　the　Palace　Guard　burst　in；　carrying　one　of　the　new　pulsed　assault　lasguns。　Four　subordinates　followed　him；　all　armed　in　the　same　fashion；　all　wearing　the　silver…and…white　uniforms　of　House　Vernius。　No　one　on　Ix；　especially　not　the　Earl　himself；　had　ever　thought　Leto　or　Rhombur　would　need　the　protection　of　personal　bodyguards。
　〃e　with　us；　young　masters！〃　Zhaz　said；　breathing　hard。　The　man's　dark　eyes；　framed　by　his　squarish　brown　beard；　darted　with　excitement　as　he　noted　the　stone　fragments　falling　from　the　ceiling；　then　the　cracked　windowplaz。　Though　he　was　ready　to　fight　to　the　death；　Zhaz　clearly　didn't　understand　what　had　taken　place　in　the　normally　peaceful　city　of　Vernii。
　〃What's　happening；　Captain？〃　Rhombur　asked；　as　the　retinue　of　guards　hustled　them　out　of　the　room　and　into　the　corridor；　where　the　lights　flickered。　His　voice　quavered　for　a　moment；　then　sounded　stronger；　like　an　Earl's　heir　should。　〃Tell　me…is　my　family　safe？〃
　Other　guards　and　members　of　the　Ixian　court　ran　helter…skelter；　with　excited　shouts　ringing　out；　high…pitched　and　strident；　in　counterpoint　to　yet　another　explosion。　From　far　below　came　the　hubbub　of　an　angry　mob；　so　distant　it　sounded　like　a　deep　murmur。　Then　Leto　made　out　the　buzzing　hum　of　lasgun　fire。　Even　before　the　captain　answered　Rhombur；　Leto　guessed　the　source　of　the　disturbance。
　〃There's　trouble　with　the　suboids；　my　Lords！〃　Zhaz　shouted。　〃Don't　worry；　though　　we'll　have　it　under　control　soon。〃　He　touched　a　button　on　his　belt；　and　a　previously　unseen　door　opened　in　the　marble…mirrored　wall。　The　captain　and　the　household　guard　had　drilled　and　prepared　for　so　long　against　large…scale　external　attacks；　they　didn't　seem　to　know　how　to　deal　with　a　revolt　from　within。　〃This　way　to　safety。　I'm　sure　your　family　will　be　there　waiting　for　you。〃
　When　the　two　young　men　ducked　under　the　low　half　door　behind　the　mirrors；　the　portal　sealed　shut　behind　them。　In　the　yellow　light　of　emergency　glowglobes；　Leto　and　Rhombur　ran　alongside　an　electromagnetic　track；　while　the　captain　of　the　guard　shouted　frantically　into　a　tiny　handheld　ceiver。　Lavender　light　flashed　from　the　face　of　the　instrument；　and　Leto　heard　the　metallic　sound　of　a　responding　voice：　〃Help　is　on　the　way！〃
　Seconds　later　an　armored　personnel　car　roared　along　the　sheltered　track　and　screeched　to　a　stop。　Zhaz　boarded　with　the　two　young　heirs　and　a　pair　of　guards；　leaving　the　rest　of　the　security　men　behind　to　defend　their　exit。　Leto　tumbled　into　a　bucket　seat；　while　Zhaz　and　Rhombur　clambered　into　the　front。　The　railcar　began　to　move。
　〃Suboids　blew　two　of　the　diamond　columns；〃　Zhaz　said；　breathlessly　consulting　the　lavender　screen　of　his　ceiver。　〃Part　of　the　overhead　crust　has　collapsed。〃　His　face　turned　gray　with　disbelief；　and　he　scratched　his　brown　beard。　〃This　is　impossible。〃

　Leto；　who　had　seen　the　signs　of　the　gathering　storm　all　along；　knew　that　the　situation　was　probably　even　worse　than　the　guard　captain　imagined。　Ix's　troubles　would　not　be　solved　within　an　hour。
　A　metallic…voiced　report　clattered　in；　sounding　desperate。　〃Suboids　are　boiling　up　from　the　lower　levels！　How　did。。。how　could　they　bee　so　organized？〃
　Rh