bh.houseatreides-第70节

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polished…coral　bench　in　the　sunshine；　daintily　eating　from　a　plate　of　assorted　fruits。　She　had　her　padded　copy　of　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible　beside　her　on　the　bench　　Helena's　gift　　but　she　wasn't　reading　it。
　Puzzled；　Paulus　scratched　his　beard。　〃Does　the　girl　always　get　up　this　early？　I　suspect　she's　not　adjusted　to　our　Caladan　days　yet。〃
　Helena　watched　as　Leto　pressed　with　fury　against　Rhombur's　shield　and　slipped　his　stun…dagger　in；　jolting　the　Ixian　Prince　with　an　electric　shock。　Rhombur　howled；　then　chuckled　as　he　backed　off。　Leto　raised　his　training　sword　as　if　scoring　a　point。　He　flashed　a　gray…eyed　glance　at　Kailea；　touching　the　tip　of　his　sword　to　his　forehead　in　a　salute。
　〃Have　you　never　seen　the　way　your　son　looks　at　her；　Paulus？〃　Helena's　voice　was　stern　and　disapproving。
　〃No；　I　hadn't　much　noticed。〃　The　Old　Duke　looked　from　Leto　to　the　young　woman　again。　In　his　mind　Kailea；　daughter　of　Dominic　Vernius；　was　just　a　child。　He　had　last　seen　her　in　infancy。　Perhaps　his　sluggish　old　mind　hadn't　seen　her　adulthood　ing　so　fast。　Nor　Leto's。
　Considering　this；　he　said；　〃That　boy's　hormones　are　reaching　their　peak。　Let　me　speak　to　Thufir。　We'll　find　some　appropriate　wenches　for　him。〃
　〃Mistresses　like　yours？〃　Helena　turned　away　from　her　husband；　looking　hurt。
　〃Nothing　wrong　with　it。〃　He　prayed　with　all　his　heart　she　wouldn't　pursue　that　subject　again。　〃As　long　as　it　never　bees　anything　serious。〃
　Like　any　Lord　in　the　Imperium；　Paulus　had　his　dalliances。　His　marriage　to　Helena；　one　of　the　daughters　of　House　Richese；　had　been　arranged　for　strictly　political　reasons　after　much　consideration　and　bargaining。　He'd　done　his　best；　had　even　loved　her　for　a　time　　which　had　e　as　a　genuine　surprise　to　him。　But　then　Helena　had　drifted　away；　being　absorbed　in　religion　and　lost　dreams　instead　of　current　realities。
　Discreetly；　quietly；　Paulus　had　eventually　gone　back　to　his　mistresses；　treating　them　well；　enjoying　himself；　and　careful　not　to　produce　any　bastards　from　them。　He　never　spoke　of　it；　but　Helena　knew。　She　always　knew。
　And　she　had　to　live　with　the　fact。
　〃Never　bees　serious？〃　Helena　leaned　over　the　balcony　to　see　Kailea　better。　〃I'm　afraid　Leto　feels　something　for　this　girl；　that　he's　falling　in　love　with　her。　I　told　you　not　to　send　him　to　Ix。〃
　〃It　isn't　love；〃　Paulus　said；　pretending　to　pay　attention　to　the　movements　of　the　sword…and…shield　duel　below。　The　boys　had　more　energy　than　skill；　they　needed　to　work　on　finesse。　The　clumsiest　of　Harkonnen　guards　would　be　able　to　wade　in　and　dispatch　both　of　them　in　an　eyeblink。
　〃You're　sure　about　that？〃　Helena　asked　in　a　worried　tone。　〃A　great　deal　is　at　stake　here。　Leto　is　the　heir　to　House　Atreides；　the　son　of　a　Duke。　He　has　to　take　care　and　choose　his　romantic　assignations　with　forethought。　Consult　with　us；　negotiate　for　terms；　get　the　most　he　can　〃
　〃I　know　that；〃　Paulus　muttered。
　〃You　know　it　all　too　well。〃　His　wife's　voice　became　cold　and　brittle。　〃Maybe　one　of　your　wenches　isn't　such　a　bad　idea　after　all。　At　least　it'll　keep　him　away　from　Kailea。〃
　Down　below；　the　young　woman　nibbled　on　fruit；　eyed　Leto　with　coy　admiration；　and　laughed　at　a　particularly　outrageous　maneuver　he　had　pulled　off。　Rhombur　countered　him；　their　shields　clashing　and　sparking　against　each　other。　When　Leto　turned　to　smile　back　at　her；　Kailea　looked　at　her　breakfast　plate　with　feigned　aloofness。
　Helena　recognized　the　movements　of　the　courtship　dance；　as　intricate　as　any　swordplay。　〃See　how　they　look　at　each　other？〃
　The　Old　Duke　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃At　one　time　the　daughter　of　House　Vernius　might　have　been　an　excellent　match　for　Leto。〃
　It　saddened　him　to　know　how　his　friend　Dominic　Vernius　was　being　hunted　down　by　Imperial　decree。　Emperor　Elrood；　seemingly　irrational；　had　branded　Vernius　not　only　a　renegade　and　an　exile；　but　also　a　traitor。　Neither　Earl　Dominic　nor　Lady　Shando　had　sent　any　word　to　Caladan；　but　Paulus　hoped　they　remained　alive；　both　were　fair　game　for　ambitious　fortune　seekers。
　House　Atreides　had　risked　a　great　deal　by　accepting　the　two　children　into　sanctuary　on　Caladan。　Dominic　Vernius　had　called　in　all　his　remaining　favors　among　the　Houses　of　the　Landsraad；　which　had　confirmed　the　young　exiles　in　their　protected　status；　so　long　as　they　did　not　aspire　to　regain　the　former　title　of　their　House。
　〃I'd　never　agree　to　a　marriage　between　our　son　and。　。　。　her；〃　Helena　said。　〃While　you've　strutted　around　with　bullfights　and　parades；　I've　had　my　ear　to　the　ground。　House　Vernius　has　been　falling　into　disfavor　for　years　now。　I've　told　you　that；　but　you　never　listen。〃
　Paulus　said　in　a　mild　voice；　〃Ah；　Helena；　your　Richesian　bias　keeps　you　from　seeing　Ix　fairly。　Vernius　has　always　been　your　family's　rival；　and　they　roundly　defeated　you　in　the　trade　wars。〃　Despite　their　disagreements；　he　tried　to　accord　her　the　respect　due　a　Lady　of　a　Great　House；　even　when　nobody　was　listening。
　〃Clearly；　the　wrath　of　God　has　fallen　upon　Ix；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃You　can't　deny　that。　You　should　get　rid　of　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　Send　them　away；　or　even　kill　them　　it　would　be　a　kindness。〃
　Duke　Paulus　smoldered。　He'd　known　she'd　get　back　around　to　the　subject　before　long。　〃Helena！　Watch　your　words。〃　He　looked　at　her　in　disbelief。　〃That's　an　outrageous　suggestion；　even　from　you。〃
　〃Why？　Their　House　brought　about　its　own　destruction　by　scorning　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Revolt。　House　Vernius　taunted　God　with　their　hubris。　Anyone　could　see　it。　I　warned　you　myself　before　Leto　went　to　Ix。〃　She　held　the　edge　of　his　robe；　trembling　with　her　passion　as　she　tried　to　make　a　reasoned　plea。　〃Hasn't　humanity　learned　its　lesson　well　enough？　Think　of　the　horrors　we　went　through；　the　enslavement；　the　near　extermination。　We　must　never　stray　from　the　correct　path　again。　Ix　was　trying　to　bring　back　thinking　machines。　'Thou　shalt　not　make　a　machine　in　the　'〃
　〃No　need　to　quote　verses　to　me；〃　he　said；　cutting　her　off。　When　Helena　dropped　into　her　rigid　and　zealous　mind…set；　no　rebuttal　could　penetrate　her　blinders。
　〃But　if　you　would　just　listen　and　read；〃　Helena　pleaded。　〃I　can　show　you　the　passages　in　the　Book　〃
　〃Dominic　Vernius　was　my　friend；　Helena；〃　Paulus　said。　〃And　House　Atreides　stands　by　its　friends。　Rhombur　and　Kailea　are　my　guests　here　at　Castle　Caladan；　and　I　will　hear　no　more　of　this　talk　from　you。〃
　Though　Helena　turned　and　vanished　back　into　the　bedchamber；　he　knew　she　would　try　to　convince　him　again；　at　some　other　time。　He　sighed。
　Gripping　the　balcony　railing；　Paulus　looked　back　down　to　where　the　boys　continued　their　exercises。　It　was　more　like　a　brawl；　with　Leto　and　Rhombur　battering　at　each　other；　laughing　and　running　around　and　wasting　energy。
　Despite　her　self…righteousness；　Helena　had　made　some　valid　points。　This　was　the　kind　of　opening　their　age…old　enemies；　the　Harkonnens；　would　use　to　try　and　destroy　House　Atreides。　Enemy　legal　minds　were　probably　already　working　on　it。　If　House　Vernius　had　in　fact　violated　Butlerian　precepts；　then　House　Atreides　might　be　considered　guilty　by　association。
　But　the　die　was　cast；　and　Paulus　was　up　to　the　challenge。　Still；　he　had　to　make　sure　nothing　terrible　happened　to　his　own　son。
　Below　the　boys　fought　on；　still　playful；　though　the　Old　Duke　knew　Rhombur　ached　to　strike　back　at　the　myriad　faceless　foes　who　had　driven　his　family　from　their　ancestral　home。　To　do　that；　however；　both　young　men　needed　training　　not　only　the　required　brutal　instruction　in　the　use　of　personal　weaponry；　but　in　the　skills　required　to　lead　men；　and　the　abstractions　of　large…scale　government。
　Smiling　grimly；　the　Duke　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　Rhombur　and　Kailea　had　been　placed　in　his　care。　He　had　sworn　to　keep　them　safe；　had　given　his　blood　oath　to　Dominic　Vernius。　He　must　give　them　the　best　chance　they　could　possibly　have。
　He　would　send　Rhombur　and　Leto　to　his　Master　of　Assassins；　Thufir　Hawat。
　THE　WARRIOR　MENTAT　stood　like　an　iron　pillar；　glaring　at　his　two　new　students。　They　stood　atop　a　barren　sea　cliff　kilometers　north　of　Castle　Caladan。　The　wind　smashed　against　the　slick　rocks　and　blasted　upward；　rustling　clumps　of　pampas　grass。　Gray　gulls　wheeled　overhead；　shrieking　to　each　other；　scanning　for　edible　flotsam　on　the　rocky　beach。　Stunted　cypress　trees　huddled　like　hunchbacks；　bowed　against　the　constant　ocean　breeze。
　Leto　had　no　idea　how　old　Thufir　Hawat　was。　The　sinewy　Mentat　had　trained　Duke　Paulus　when　he　was　much　younger；　and　now　the　Master　of　Assassins　fended　off　any　appearance　of　age　through　brute　force。　His　skin　was　leathery；　having　been　exposed　to　harsh　environments　on　many　worlds　during　previous　Atreides　campaigns；　from　blistering　heat　to　numbing　cold；　whipping　storms　and　the　hard　rigors　of　open　space。
　Thufir　Hawat　stared　at　the　young　men　in　silence。　He　crossed　his　arms　over　his　scuffed　leather　chestplate。　His　eyes　were　like　weapons；　his　silence　a　goad。　His　unsmiling　lips　were　stained　the　deep　cranberry　of　sapho　juice。
　Leto　stood　next　to　his　friend；　fidgeting。　His　fingers　were　chilled　enough　that　he　wished　he　had　brought　gloves。　When　are　we　going　to　begin　training？　He　and　Rhombur　glanced　at　each　other；　impatient；　waiting。
　〃Look　at　me；　I　said！〃　Hawat　snapped。　〃I　could　have　leaped　forward　and　gutted　both　of　you　in　the　in