bh.houseatreides-第54节

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dared　to　kill　the　long…awaited　messenger　sent　by　God！
　But　he　had　accepted　a　mission　from　his　sietch　leader；　and　knew　that　the　crysknife　could　never　be　put　away　without　shedding　blood。　In　this　case；　the　dilemma　could　not　be　resolved　by　a　minor　cut　either；　for　the　blade　was　poisoned；　the　merest　scratch　would　kill。
　Those　facts　could　not　be　reconciled　with　each　other。　Uliet's　hands　trembled　on　the　hilt　of　the　curved　knife。
　Without　noticing　that　everyone　had　fallen　silent　around　him；　Kynes　rambled　on　about　windtrap　placement；　but　his　audience；　knowing　what　must　happen；　watched　their　esteemed　warrior。
　Then　Uliet's　mouth　watered。　He　tried　not　to　think　of　it；　but　　as　if　in　a　dream　　he　seemed　to　taste　the　sweet；　sticky　juice　of　portyguls；　fresh　fruit　that　one　could　simply　pluck　from　a　tree　and　eat。。。a　mouthful　of　lush　pulp　washed　down　with　pure　water　from　an　open　pond。　Water　for　everyone。
　Uliet　took　a　step　back；　and　another；　holding　the　knife　up　in　a　ceremonial　gesture。　He　took　a　third　step　away；　as　Kynes　spoke　of　wheat…　and　rye…covered　plains　and　gentle　rain　showers　in　the　spring。
　The　assassin　turned；　dizzy；　thinking　of　the　two　words　the　messenger　had　said　to　him；　〃Remove　yourself。〃
　He　turned　away　and　stared　down　at　the　knife　he　held　in　front　of　him。　Then；　Uliet　swayed；　stopped；　then　swayed　forward　again；　deliberately　　and　fell　on　his　knife。　His　knees　did　not　bend；　nor　did　he　flinch　or　try　to　avoid　his　fate　as　he　let　himself　fall　facefirst　onto　the　floor；　onto　the　tip　of　the　blade。　The　poisoned　crysknife　plunged　below　his　sternum　and　up　into　his　heart。　Sprawled　on　the　stone　floor；　his　body　trembled。　Within　moments　Uliet　was　dead。　There　was　very　little　blood。
　The　sietch　audience　cried　out　at　the　omen　they　had　just　witnessed　and　backed　away。　Now；　as　the　Fremen　gazed　at　Kynes　with　religious　awe；　his　words　finally　stuttered　to　a　halt。　He　turned　and　saw　the　sacrifice　this　Fremen　had　just　made　for　him；　the　bloodletting。
　〃What's　going　on　here？〃　Kynes　demanded。　〃Who　was　that　man？〃
　The　watermen　rushed　forward　to　remove　Uliet's　body。　With　a　rustle　of　robes；　a　shrouding　of　blankets　and　towels　and　cloths；　they　whisked　away　the　fallen　assassin；　taking　him　to　the　deathstills　for　processing。
　The　other　Fremen　now　stared　at　Kynes　with　reverence。　〃Look！　God　has　shown　us　what　to　do；〃　one　woman　exclaimed。　〃He　has　guided　Uliet。　He　has　spoken　to　Pardot　Kynes。〃
　〃Umma　Kynes；〃　someone　said。　Prophet　Kynes。
　One　man　stood　up　and　glared　at　the　others　gathered　around。　〃We　would　be　fools　not　to　listen　to　him　now。〃
　Runners　departed　and　dashed　through　the　sietch。　Not　understanding　the　Fremen　religion；　Kynes　couldn't　grasp　it　all。
　From　that　point　on；　however；　he　didn't　think　he　would　have　trouble　getting　anyone　to　listen　to　him。
　No　outsider　has　ever　seen　a　Tleilaxu　female　and　lived　to　tell　about　it。　Considering　the　Tleilaxu　penchant　for　genetic　manipulation　　see；　e。g。；　related　memos　on　clones　and　gholas　　this　simple　observation　raises　a　wealth　of　additional　questions。
　…Bene　Gesserit　Analysis
　A　breathless　Ixian　woman　with　full　Courier　credentials　arrived　on　Kaitain；　bearing　an　important　munique　for　the　Emperor。　She　marched　into　the　Palace　without　pause；　stopping　to　answer　no　questions。　Even　Cammar　Pilru；　the　official　Ambassador　from　Ix；　had　not　yet　heard　the　message　or　the　dire　news　of　the　underground　suboid　revolt。
　Since　instantaneous　foldspace　munication　did　not　exist　between　planets；　certified　and　bonded　Couriers　booked　passage　on　express　Heighliners；　bearing　flash…memorized　munications　for　personal　delivery　to　the　intended　recipients。　The　net　result　was　much　faster　than　radio　or　other　electronic　signals　that　would　take　years　to　cross　vast　space。
　Under　the　escort　of　two　Guildsmen；　Courier　Yuta　Brey　arranged　for　an　immediate　appointment　with　the　Emperor。　The　woman　staunchly　refused　to　reveal　anything　to　her　planet's　own　Ambassador；　who　got　wind　of　the　excitement　and　rushed　into　the　audience　chamber。　The　magnificent　Golden　Lion　Throne　sat　empty；　Elrood　was　again　feeling　tired　and　ill。
　〃This　is　for　the　Emperor's　ears　only；　an　urgent　private　request　from　Earl　Dominic　Vernius；〃　Brey　said　to　Ambassador　Pilru；　turning　hard　eyes　toward　him。　The　Guild　and　CHOAM　used　various　harsh　techniques　to　indoctrinate　official　Couriers；　ensuring　accuracy　and　loyalty。　〃However；　please　remain　at　hand；　Ambassador。　I　also　bear　vital　news　regarding　the　possible　downfall　of　Ix。　You　must　be　apprised　of　the　situation。〃
　Gasping；　Ambassador　Pilru　beseeched　the　Courier　for　more　information；　but　the　woman　remained　silent。　Leaving　her　Guild　escorts　and　the　Ixian　diplomat　behind　in　the　audience　chamber；　Sardaukar　elite　guards　examined　her　credentials　and　ushered　her　alone　into　an　anteroom　adjacent　to　Elrood's　bedchamber。
　The　Emperor；　looking　aged　and　drawn；　wore　a　robe　bearing　the　Imperial　crest　on　its　lapel。　He　sat　slumped　in　a　high…backed　chair；　with　his　feet　on　a　heated　ottoman。　Beside　him　stood　a　tall；　fussy…looking　man　with　drooping　mustaches；　Chamberlain　Aken　Hesban。
　It　surprised　Brey　to　see　the　old　man　seated　in　this　rather　ordinary　fashion　instead　of　on　the　massive　throne。　His　blue…tinted　eyes　were　filled　with　sickness；　and　he　could　hardly　hold　his　head　erect　on　its　rail…thin；　wattled　neck。　Elrood　seemed　ready　to　pass　out　at　any　moment。
　With　a　curt　bow　she　announced；　〃I　am　Courier　Yuta　Brey　from　Ix；　Sire；　with　an　important　request　from　Lord　Dominic　Vernius。〃
　The　Emperor　scowled　upon　hearing　his　old　rival's　name；　but　said　nothing；　waiting　and　ready　to　pounce。　He　coughed；　hawking　something　onto　a　lacy　handkerchief。　〃I　am　listening。〃
　〃It　is　for　the　Emperor's　ears　only；〃　she　said；　staring　insolently　at　Hesban。
　〃Well？〃　Elrood　said；　with　a　terse　smile。　〃I　don't　hear　so　well　anymore；　and　this　distinguished　gentleman　is　my　ears。　Or　should　I　say；　'are　my　ears'？　Does　one　use　the　plural　in　a　situation　like　this？〃
　The　Chamberlain　bent　over　to　whisper　something　to　him。
　〃I　am　informed　that　he　is　my　ears；〃　Elrood　said　with　a　decisive　nod。
　〃As　you　wish；〃　Brey　said。　She　recited　the　memorized　words；　using　even　the　intonations　Dominic　Vernius　had　used。
　〃We　are　under　attack　from　the　Bene　Tleilax　under　a　false　guise　of　internal　unrest。　Through　infiltration　by　Face　Dancer　mimics；　the　Tleilaxu　have　fomented　an　insurrection　among　our　working　class。　By　these　treacherous　means；　the　rebels　have　gained　the　advantage　of　surprise。　Many　of　our　defense　installations　have　either　been　destroyed　or　are　besieged。　Like　madmen；　they　scream　'Jihad！　Jihad！'　〃
　〃Holy　war？〃　Hesban　said。　〃Over　what？　What　has　Ix　done　now？〃
　〃We　have　no　idea；　Monsieur　Chamberlain。　The　Tleilaxu　are　known　to　be　religious　fanatics。　Our　suboids　are　bred　to　follow　instructions；　and　thus　are　easily　manipulated。〃　Yuta　Brey　hesitated；　with　a　slight　trembling　of　her　lips。　〃Earl　Dominic　Vernius　respectfully　requests　the　immediate　intervention　of　the　Emperor's　Sardaukar　against　this　illegal　act。〃
　She　recited　extensive　details　on　Ixian　and　Tleilaxu　military　positions；　including　the　extent　of　the　uprising；　the　manufacturing　facilities　crippled；　and　the　citizens　murdered。　Prominent　among　the　victims　was　the　Ambassador's　own　wife；　a　Guild　banker；　who　had　died　in　an　explosion　at　the　Guild　Embassy　Building。
　〃They've　gone　too　far。〃　Indignant；　Hesban　appeared　ready　to　issue　the　order　himself　for　the　defense　of　Ix。　The　request　of　House　Vernius　was　eminently　reasonable。　Looking　down　at　the　Emperor；　he　said；　〃Sire；　if　the　Tleilaxu　wish　to　accuse　Ix　of　violating　any　strictures　of　the　Great　Convention；　let　them　do　so　in　open　Landsraad　court。〃
　Although　incense　burned　in　the　air；　and　spicy　hors　d'oeuvres　sat　arrayed　on　mother…of…pearl　serving　trays；　Brey　could　still　smell　a　sour　odor　of　sickness　hanging　in　the　stuffy　air　of　the　anteroom。　Elrood　fidgeted　under　the　weight　of　his　heavy　robe。　He　narrowed　his　rheumy　eyes。　〃We　will　take　your　request　under　advisement；　Courier。　I　feel　as　if　I　need　to　rest　a　bit　now。　Doctor's　orders；　you　know。　We　will　discuss　the　matter　tomorrow。　Please　take　refreshment　and　select　a　chamber　in　our　visiting　dignitaries'　quarters。　You　may　also　wish　to　meet　with　the　Ixian　Ambassador。〃
　A　look　of　alarm　electrified　the　woman's　gaze。　〃This　information　is　already　several　hours　old；　Sire。　We　are　in　a　most　desperate　situation。　I　have　been　instructed　to　tell　you　that　Earl　Vernius　believes　any　delay　will　be　fatal。〃
　Hesban　responded　loudly；　still　confused　as　to　why　Elrood　would　not　take　immediate　action。　〃One　does　not　tell　the　Emperor　anything；　young　lady。　One　makes　requests　of　him；　no　more。〃
　〃My　deepest　apologies；　Sire。　Please　forgive　my　agitation；　but　today　I　have　seen　my　world　struck　a　deadly　blow。　What　response　may　I　give　to　Earl　Vernius？〃
　〃Be　patient。　I　will　get　back　to　him　in　due　time；　after　I　have　considered　my　reply。〃
　All　color　drained　from　Brey's　face。　〃May　I　ask　when？〃
　〃You　may　not！〃　Elrood　thundered。　〃Your　audience　is　concluded。〃　He　glared　back　at　her。
　Taking　charge；　Chamberlain　Hesban　stepped　forward；　placing　a　hand　on　Brey's　shoulder　and　steering　her　toward　the　door　as　he　looked　curiously　over　his　shoulder　at　the　Emperor。
　〃As　you　wish；　Sire。〃　Brey　bowed；　and　the　elite　guards　escorted　her　from　the　room。
　ELROOD　HAD　NOT　failed　to　notic