bh.houseatreides-第62节

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iber…optic　sky　on　the　rock　ceiling　was　damaged　and　the　projections　were　splotchy　now。　The　dour　and　fanatical　Tleilaxu　had　never　been　known　to　appreciate　art。　To　them；　it　simply　got　in　the　way。
　He　remembered　that　Kailea　Vernius　had　dabbled　in　painting　and　motile　sculptures。　She　had　talked　with　C'tair　about　certain　styles　that　were　all　the　rage　on　Kaitain　and　had　greedily　absorbed　any　tourist　images　his　father　brought　back　from　ambassadorial　duties。　But　now　the　art　was　gone；　and　so　was　Kailea。
　Once　again；　C'tair　felt　paralyzed　by　his　aloneness。
　Slipping　unnoticed　into　the　ruins　of　a　collapsed　outbuilding　in　what　had　once　been　a　botanical　park；　C'tair　stopped　suddenly；　transfixed。　Something　caught　his　eye；　and　he　squinted　to　clear　his　vision。
　Out　of　the　smoldering　rubble　emerged　the　hazy　image　of　a　familiar　old　man；　barely　visible。　C'tair　blinked　　could　this　be　his　imagination；　a　stuttering　hologram　from　a　diary…disk。。。or　something　else？　He　hadn't　eaten　all　day；　and　he　was　tense　and　weary　to　the　point　of　collapse。　But　still　the　image　was　there。　Wasn't　it？
　Through　smoke　and　acrid　fumes；　he　recognized　the　form　of　the　old　inventor　Davee　Rogo；　the　crippled　genius　who　had　befriended　the　twins　and　taught　them　his　innovations。　As　C'tair　gasped；　the　apparition　began　to　whisper　in　a　frail；　creaking　voice。　Was　it　a　ghost。。。a　vision；　a　mad　hallucination？　Eccentric　Rogo　seemed　to　be　telling　C'tair　what　to　do；　what　technological　ponents　he　needed；　and　how　to　put　them　all　together。
　〃Are　you　real？〃　C'tair　whispered；　stepping　closer。　〃What　are　you　telling　me？〃
　For　some　reason　the　blurry　image　of　old　Rogo　did　not　respond　to　questions。　C'tair　didn't　understand；　but　he　listened。　Wires　and　metal　parts　lay　strewn　at　his　feet　where　a　machine　had　been　wrecked　by　indiscriminate　explosives。　These　are　ponents　I　need。
　Bending　over　and　scanning　warily　for　unwanted　observers；　he　gathered　the　pieces　that　stood　out　in　his　mind；　along　with　other　technological　remnants：　small　bits　of　metal；　plaz　crystals；　and　electronic　cells。　The　old　man　had　given　him　some　kind　of　inspiration。
　C'tair　stuffed　the　items　into　his　pockets　and　beneath　his　clothing。　Ix　would　change　mightily　under　the　new　Tleilaxu　rule；　and　any　scrap　of　his　civilization's　precious　past　might　prove　valuable。　The　Tleilaxu　would　confiscate　everything　if　they　found　him。。。。
　In　the　following　days　of　haunted　exploration；　C'tair　never　saw　the　image　of　the　old　man　again；　never　truly　prehended　what　he　had　encountered；　but　he　worked　hard　to　add　to　his　technological　collection；　his　resources。　He　would　continue　this　battle。。。alone；　if　necessary。
　Each　night　he　passed　under　the　noses　of　the　enemy　as　they　settled　in　for　permanent　occupation。　He　ransacked　empty　portions　of　the　upper　and　lower　city；　before　rebuilding　teams　could　clean　up　and　remove　unwanted　memories。
　Remembering　what　the　vision　of　Rogo　had　whispered　into　his　imagination；　he　began　to　construct。。。something。
　WHEN　THE　ATREIDES　rescue　ships　returned　to　Caladan　and　approached　the　spaceport　fields　of　Cala　City；　the　Old　Duke　made　only　minimal　attempts　at　a　grand　wele。　The　times　and　circumstances　were　too　somber　for　the　usual　protocol　ministers；　band；　and　banner　carriers。
　Duke　Atreides　stood　in　the　open　air；　squinting　up　into　the　cloud…dappled　sunshine　as　the　ships　landed。　He　wore　his　favorite　cape　of　spotted　whale…fur　to　block　the　brisk　wind；　though　it　did　not　match　his　patterned　tunic。　All　the　mustered　retainers　and　household　troops　waited　at　attention　beside　the　receiving　platform；　but　he　didn't　care　about　his　dress；　or　the　impression　he　might　make。　Paulus　was　just　glad　to　have　his　son　home；　and　safe。
　Lady　Helena　stood　beside　him；　rigid…backed　and　dressed　in　a　formal　gown　and　cape；　her　appearance　impeccable。　As　the　frigate　settled　down　onto　the　spaceport　landing　area；　Helena　regarded　her　husband　with　an　〃I　told　you　so〃　expression；　then　she　posed　her　face　into　a　weling　smile　for　all　to　see。　No　observer　would　ever　guess　at　the　repeated　shouting　matches　they'd　engaged　in　while　the　Heighliner　was　en　route；　bringing　their　son　home。
　〃I　don't　see　how　you　could　offer　those　two　sanctuary；〃　she　said；　her　voice　quiet　but　icy。　Her　lips　continued　to　smile。　〃The　Ixians　have　gone　beyond　the　strictures　of　the　Jihad；　and　now　they're　paying　the　price　for　it。　It's　dangerous　to　interfere　with　the　punishments　of　God。〃
　〃These　two　Vernius　children　are　innocents　and　will　stay　here　as　guests　of　House　Atreides　for　as　long　as　necessary。　Why　must　you　keep　arguing　with　me？　I　have　made　my　decision。〃
　〃Your　decisions　need　not　be　etched　in　stone。　If　you　listen　to　me；　perhaps　this　veil　will　be　lifted　from　your　eyes　and　you　can　see　the　peril　we　all　face　because　of　their　presence。〃　Helena　stood　exactly　as　close　to　her　husband　as　any　observers　would　expect。　〃I'm　concerned　for　us；　and　for　our　son。〃
　The　ship　on　the　landing　field　extended　its　struts；　and　locked　down。　Exasperated；　Paulus　turned　to　her。　〃Helena；　I　owe　Dominic　Vernius　more　than　you　can　know　　and　I　do　not　shirk　my　obligations。　Even　without　the　blood…debt　we　owe　each　other　after　Ecaz；　I'd　still　offer　to　protect　his　children。　I　do　this　as　much　from　my　own　heart　as　from　a　sense　of　duty。　Soften　your　heart；　woman。　Think　of　what　those　two　children　have　been　through。〃
　A　gust　of　wind　whipped　her　auburn　hair；　but　Helena　did　not　flinch。　Ironically；　she　was　the　first　to　raise　her　hand　in　greeting　as　the　boarding　door　opened。　She　spoke　out　of　the　side　of　her　mouth。　〃Paulus；　you're　baring　your　throat　to　the　Imperial　executioner；　and　smiling　while　you're　doing　it！　We'll　pay　for　this　folly　in　ways　you　can't　imagine。　I　just　want　the　best　for　everyone。〃
　Around　them；　the　house　guards　studiously　ignored　the　argument。　A　green…and…black　banner　snapped　in　the　breeze。　The　ship's　ramp　extended。
　〃Am　I　the　only　one　who　thinks　of　our　family　honor　instead　of　politics？〃　Paulus　growled。
　〃Hush！　Keep　your　voice　down。〃
　〃If　I　lived　my　life　only　by　safe　decisions　and　advantageous　alliances；　I　would　be　no　man　at　all；　and　certainly　not　one　worthy　of　being　a　Duke。〃
　The　soldiers　marched　out　and　stood　at　attention；　forming　a　path　for　the　three　who　had　been　rescued　from　Ix。　Leto　emerged　first；　taking　a　deep　breath　of　the　sea…freshened　air；　blinking　in　the　hazy　sunshine　of　Caladan。　He　was　washed　and　dressed　in　clean　clothes　again；　but　his　manner　still　conveyed　weariness；　his　skin　seemed　gray；　his　dark　hair　mussed；　his　brow　above　the　hawklike　eyes　and　nose　scarred　by　memories。
　Leto　took　another　huge　breath；　as　if　he　couldn't　get　enough　of　the　salt…iodine　scents　of　the　nearby　sea；　the　hint　of　fish　and　woodsmoke。　Home。　He　never　wanted　to　spend　time　away　from　Caladan　again。　He　looked　beyond　the　ramp　to　meet　his　father's　bright　gaze　　sparkling　to　see　his　son　again；　fiery　with　indignation　and　rage　at　what　had　happened　to　House　Vernius。
　Rhombur　and　Kailea　came　out　uncertainly　to　stand　beside　Leto　at　the　top　of　the　ramp。　Kailea's　emerald　eyes　were　haunted；　and　she　looked　around　the　new　world；　as　if　the　sky　was　far　too　vast　overhead。　Leto　wanted　to　fort　her。　Again；　he　held　himself　back；　this　time　because　of　his　mother's　presence。
　Rhombur　drew　himself　up　and　made　a　visible　attempt　to　square　his　shoulders　and　straighten　his　tousled　blond　hair。　He　knew　he　was　now　all　that　remained　of　House　Vernius；　the　face　that　all　members　of　the　Landsraad　would　see　while　his　father　the　renegade　Earl　went　into　hiding。　He　knew　the　fight　was　just　beginning。　Leto　put　a　strong　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder　and　urged　him　toward　the　reception　platform。
　After　a　moment　of　stillness；　Leto　and　Paulus　moved　toward　each　other　at　the　same　time。　The　Old　Duke　pressed　his　salt…and…pepper　beard　against　the　side　of　his　son's　head；　they　pounded　one　another　on　the　back；　saying　no　words。　They　drew　apart；　and　Paulus　placed　broad；　callused　hands　on　his　son's　biceps；　just　looking　at　him。
　Leto　looked　past　his　father　to　see　his　mother　standing　behind　them；　wearing　a　warm；　but　forced；　smile　of　greeting。　Her　glance　flicked　toward　Rhombur　and　Kailea　and　then　back　to　him；　Leto　knew　Lady　Helena　Atreides　would　receive　the　two　exiles　with　all　the　ceremony　due　important　visiting　dignitaries。　He　did　note；　however；　that　she　had　chosen　jewelry　and　colors　resplendent　with　the　markings　of　House　Richese；　rival　to　Ix；　as　if　to　twist　a　knife　into　the　Vernius　exiles。　Duke　Paulus　didn't　seem　to　notice。
　The　Old　Duke　turned　to　give　a　vigorous　greeting　to　Rhombur；　who　still　wore　a　small　bandage　over　his　head　injury。　〃Wele；　wele；　lad；〃　he　said。　〃As　I　promised　your　father；　you　and　your　sister　will　remain　here　with　us；　protected　by　the　might　of　House　Atreides；　until　all　this　blows　over。〃
　Kailea　stared　up　at　the　scudding　clouds　as　if　she'd　never　seen　open　sky　before。　She　shivered；　looking　lost。　〃What　if　it　never　blows　over？〃
　Following　her　obligation；　Helena　came　forward　to　take　the　Vernius　daughter　by　the　arm。　〃e；　child。　We'll　help　you　settle　in；　just　in　case　this　has　to　be　your　home　for　a　while。〃
　Rhombur　gripped　the　Old　Duke　with　an　Imperial　handshake。　〃Uh；　I　can't　express　my　appreciation　enough；　sir。　Kailea　and　I　both　understand　the　risk　you've　taken　to　shelter　us。〃
　Helena　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　her　husband；　who　ignored　her。
　Paulus　gestured　toward　the