bh.houseatreides-第58节

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　Narrowing　his　eyes；　Leto　remained　silent。　If　his　suspicions　were　correct；　it　could　well　take　much　longer　than　that。
　〃This　chamber　is　just　a　rendezvous　point；　Master　Rhombur；〃　Captain　Zhaz　said。　〃We'll　await　the　Earl　and　follow　his　orders。〃
　Rhombur　nodded　vigorously。　〃Yes；　my　father'll　know　what　to　do。　He's　been　in　plenty　of　challenging　military　situations　before。〃　He　smiled　brightly。　〃Some　of　them　with　your　own　father；　Leto。〃
　Leto　clapped　a　strong　hand　on　the　other　Prince's　shoulder；　in　a　display　of　support　for　his　friend。　But　he　didn't　know　how　many　of　Dominic　Vernius's　previous　battle　engagements　had　been　desperate　defensive　measures　like　this；　it　was　Leto's　impression　that　Dominic's　victories　in　the　past　had　always　been　overwhelming　charges　against　crumbling　groups　of　rebels。
　Remembering　what　his　father　had　taught　him　　know　the　details　of　your　surroundings　in　any　difficult　circumstance　　Leto　took　a　moment　to　inspect　their　hideaway。　He　searched　for　escape　routes；　vulnerable　points。　The　algae…chamber　had　been　hacked　out　of　solid　crustal　rock；　with　an　outer　shell　of　thick　green　growth　that　gave　the　air　a　sour；　organic　taint。　The　bolt…hole　had　four　apartments；　an　extensive　kitchen　plete　with　survival　supplies；　and　a　last…chance　emergency　ship　that　could　make　low…planetary　orbit。
　Frictionless；　noiseless　machinery　operated　nullentropy　bins　at　the　core　of　the　chamber；　keeping　food　and　beverages　fresh。　Other　bins　contained　clothing；　weapons；　filmbooks；　and　clever　Ixian　games　for　hidden　refugees　to　while　away　the　time。　The　endless　waiting　could　be　the　most　difficult　part　of　this　protected　sanctuary；　and　boredom　was　an　often…overlooked　part　of　isolation　and　escape。　The　Ixians；　though；　had　thought　of　all　necessary　preparations。
　It　was　already　evening；　as　determined　by　their　chronos。　Zhaz　set　up　his　guards　in　the　outer　corridors　and　at　the　camouflaged　doorhatch。　Rhombur　rattled　off　an　endless　stream　of　questions；　most　of　which　the　captain　could　not　answer：　What　was　going　on　outside？　Did　they　dare　hope　to　be　freed　by　Ixian　loyalists；　or　would　Tleilaxu　invaders　imprison　them；　or　worse？　Would　an　Ixian　e　to　notify　Rhombur　of　the　death　of　his　parents？　Why　hadn't　the　others　shown　up　at　the　rendezvous　point　yet？　Did　they　have　any　idea　how　much　of　the　capital　city　of　Vernii　remained　intact？　If　not；　who　could　find　out　for　them？
　The　klaxon　of　an　intruder　warning　interrupted　him。　Someone　was　trying　to　enter　the　chamber。
　Captain　Zhaz　flipped　out　a　handheld　monitor；　pressed　a　button　to　illuminate　the　room　and　activate　a　videoscreen。　Leto　saw　three　familiar　faces　pressed　close　to　the　eyes　in　the　secondary　corridor　　Dominic　Vernius；　and　his　daughter　Kailea；　her　dress　torn　and　her　coppery　hair　in　disarray。　Between　them　they　supported　the　Lady　Shando；　who　seemed　barely　conscious；　her　arm　and　ribs　crudely　bandaged。
　〃Permission　to　enter；〃　Dominic　said；　his　voice　tinny　and　granular　across　the　speakers。　〃Open　up；　Rhombur。　Zhaz！　We　need　medical　attention　for　Shando。〃　His　eyes　were　shadowed；　his　teeth　very　white　beneath　the　bushy　mustache。
　Rhombur　Vernius　rushed　toward　the　controls；　but　the　guard　captain　stopped　him　with　an　urgent　tug　at　his　arm。　〃By　all　the　saints　and　sinners；　remember　the　Face　Dancers；　young　master！〃　Leto　suddenly　realized　that　Tleilaxu　shape…shifters　could　assume　familiar　guises　and　walk　into　the　most　secure　area。　Leto　held　the　Ixian　Prince's　other　arm　while　Zhaz　interrogated　and　received　a　countersign。　Finally；　a　message　appeared　from　the　shielded　chamber's　biometric　identity　scanner。　Confirmed：　Earl　Dominic　Vernius。
　〃Permission　granted；〃　Rhombur　said　into　the　voice　pickup。　〃e　in　　Mother；　what　happened？〃
　Kailea　looked　stricken；　as　if　the　floor　had　dropped　out　from　beneath　her　plans　for　the　future　and　she　still　couldn't　believe　she　was　falling。　All　of　the　newers　smelled　of　sweat　and　smoke　and　fear。
　〃Your　sister　was　scolding　the　suboids　and　telling　them　to　get　back　to　work；〃　Shando　said　with　a　bit　of　mirth　shining　through　her　pain。　〃Very　foolish。〃
　〃And　some　of　them　were　about　to　do　it；　too　〃the　young　woman　said　as　a　flush　of　anger　blossomed　beneath　the　soot　smudges　on　her　cheeks。
　〃Until　one　pulled　a　maula　pistol　and　opened　fire。　Good　thing　the　man　couldn't　aim。〃　Shando　touched　her　arm　and　side；　wincing　at　the　open　wound。
　Dominic　knocked　the　guards　aside　and　tore　open　a　medkit　to　tend　his　wife's　injuries　himself。　〃Not　serious；　my　love。　I'll　be　around　to　kiss　the　scars　later。　But　you　shouldn't　have　taken　such　a　risk。〃
　〃Not　even　to　save　Kailea？〃　Shando　coughed；　and　her　eyes　sparkled　with　tears。　〃You　would　have　done　the　same　to　protect　either　of　our　children　　or　even　Leto　Atreides。　And　don't　you　deny　it。〃
　Averting　his　gaze；　Dominic　grudgingly　nodded。　〃It　still　upsets　me。。。how　close　you　came　to　death。　Then　what　would　I　have　left　to　fight　for？〃　He　stroked　her　hair；　and　she　clasped　the　palm　of　his　hand　against　her　cheek。
　〃Plenty；　Dominic。　You'd　still　have　plenty　to　fight　for。〃
　Watching　the　exchange；　Leto　could　see　what　had　driven　a　beautiful　young　concubine　to　leave　her　Emperor；　and　why　a　war　hero　had　risked　Elrood's　wrath　to　marry　her。
　Outside　in　the　hidden　corridor；　half　a　dozen　armed　soldiers　took　up　positions　again；　sealing　the　access　door　behind　them。　On　the　external…monitor　screen；　Leto　saw　the　rest　of　them　　shock　troops　in　case　of　a　violent　rebel　incursion　　setting　up　lascannons；　sensors；　and　sonic　defensive　equipment　in　the　chamber's　access　tube。
　Relieved　to　see　his　family　safe　at　last；　Rhombur　hugged　his　parents　and　sister。　〃It'll　be　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　see。〃
　Despite　her　wound；　the　Lady　Shando　appeared　proud　and　brave；　though　salty　tracks　around　her　reddened　eyes　showed　evidence　of　tears。　Self…consciously；　Kailea　glanced　over　at　Leto；　then　dropped　her　emerald　gaze。　She　looked　defeated　now；　and　fragile；　without　her　usual　aloof　demeanor。　He　wanted　to　fort　her；　but　hesitated。　Everything　seemed　too　unsettled　now；　too　frightening。
　〃We　don't　have　much　time；　children；〃　Dominic　said；　wiping　perspiration　from　his　brow；　then　rubbing　his　sweaty　biceps；　〃and　this　time　calls　for　desperate　measures。〃　His　shaved　scalp　was　smudged　with　someone　else's　blood　　ally　or　enemy？　Leto　wondered。　The　torn　helix　insignia　dangled　from　his　lapel。
　〃Then　now　is　not　the　time　to　call　us　children；〃　Kailea　said　with　surprising　strength。　〃We're　a　part　of　this　fight。〃
　Rhombur　stood　tall；　looking　unusually　regal　beside　his　broad…shouldered　father；　rather　than　spoiled　and　stocky。　〃And　we're　ready　to　help　you　retake　Ix。　Vernii　is　our　city；　and　we　have　to　get　it　back。〃
　〃No；　all　three　of　you　are　going　to　stay　here。〃　Dominic　held　up　a　wide；　callused　hand　to　silence　Rhombur's　instant　objection。　〃First　order　of　business　is　to　keep　the　heirs　safe。　I'll　hear　no　argument　in　this。　Each　moment　of　arguing　takes　me　away　from　my　people；　and　they　desperately　need　my　leadership　right　now。〃
　〃You　boys　are　too　young　to　fight；〃　Shando　said；　her　delicate　face　now　looking　hard　and　unbreakable。　〃You're　the　future　of　your　respective　Houses　　both　of　you。〃
　Dominic　came　forward　to　stand　in　front　of　Leto　and　looked　him　directly　in　the　eye　for　the　first　time；　as　if　he　finally　saw　the　Atreides　boy　as　a　man。　〃Leto；　your　father　would　never　forgive　me　if　anything　happened　to　his　son。　We　have　already　sent　a　message　to　the　Old　Duke；　notifying　him　of　the　situation。　In　response；　your　father　has　promised　limited　assistance　and　has　dispatched　a　rescue　mission　to　take　you；　Rhombur；　and　Kailea　to　safety　on　Caladan。〃　Dominic　placed　beefy　hands　on　the　shoulders　of　his　two　children　　children　who　now　needed　to　be　much　more　than　that。　〃Duke　Atreides　will　protect　you；　give　you　sanctuary　from　this。　It　is　all　he　can　do　for　now。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous；〃　Leto　said；　his　gray　eyes　flashing。　〃You　should　take　refuge　with　House　Atreides　as　well；　m'Lord。　My　father　would　never　turn　you　away。〃
　Dominic　gave　a　wan　smile。　〃No　doubt　Paulus　would　do　exactly　as　you　say　　but　I　cannot；　because　that　would　doom　my　children。〃
　Rhombur　looked　over　at　his　sister　in　alarm。　Lady　Shando　nodded　and　continued；　she　and　her　husband　had　already　discussed　the　various　possibilities。　〃Rhombur；　if　you　and　Kailea　live　in　exile　on　Caladan；　then　you　may　be　safe；　not　worth　anyone's　trouble。　I　suspect　that　this　bloody　revolt　has　been　engineered　with　Imperial　influence　and　support；　and　all　the　pieces　have　fallen　into　place。〃
　Rhombur　and　Kailea　stared　at　each　other　in　disbelief；　then　at　Leto。　〃Imperial　support？〃
　〃Why　the　Emperor　wants　Ix；　I　do　not　know；〃　Dominic　said；　〃but　Elrood's　grudge　is　against　me　and　your　mother。　If　I　go　with　you　to　House　Atreides；　the　hunters　will　e　for　all　of　us。　They'll　find　some　reason　to　attack　Caladan。　No；　your　mother　and　I　have　to　find　a　way　to　draw　this　fight　away　from　you。〃
　Rhombur　stood　indignant。　His　pale　skin　flushed。　〃We　can　hold　out　here　a　while　longer；　Father。　I　don't　want　to　leave　you　behind。〃
　〃The　deal　is　done；　my　son。　It's　already　negotiated。　Other　than　the　Atreides　rescue　operation；　there　is　no　help　ing　　no　Imperial　Sardaukar　to　assist　us；　no　Landsraad　armies　to　drive　back　the　Tleilaxu。　The　suboids　are　their　pawns。　We　have　sent　appeals　to　all　the　Houses　Major　and　to　the　Landsraad；　but　no　one　will　move　fast　enough。　Someone