bh.houseatreides-第76节

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　Though　they　trained　vigorously；　the　Old　Duke　hoped　to　acplish　more　than　just　turning　the　exiled　Prince　into　a　petent　fighter：　He　also　wanted　to　keep　his　friend's　son　happy　and　make　him　feel　at　home。　Paulus　could　only　imagine　what　terrors　Rhombur's　renegade　parents　must　be　enduring　out　in　the　wilds　of　the　galaxy。
　Thufir　Hawat　let　the　two　fight　with　recklessness　and　abandon；　honing　their　skills。　Leto　soon　noticed　remarkable　improvement；　both　in　himself　and　in　the　heir　to　what　little　remained　of　House　Vernius。
　Following　the　Master　of　Assassins'　advice　about　the　weapons　of　culture　and　diplomacy　as　well　as　swordplay；　Rhombur　took　an　interest　in　music。　He　dabbled　with　several　instruments　before　finally　settling　on　the　soothing　but　plex　tones　of　the　nine…string　baliset。　Leaning　against　a　castle　wall；　he　would　strum　and　play　simple　songs；　fingering　melodies　by　ear　that　he　recalled　from　childhood　or　pleasant　tunes　he　made　up　for　himself。
　Often；　his　sister　Kailea　would　listen　to　him　play　as　she　studied　her　lessons　in　history　and　religion　that　were　the　traditional　fare　of　young　noblewomen。　Helena　Atreides　aided　in　the　teaching；　at　the　insistence　of　Duke　Paulus。　Kailea　studied　with　good　grace；　occupying　her　mind；　resigned　to　her　situation　as　a　political　prisoner　inside　Castle　Caladan；　but　trying　to　imagine　more　for　herself。
　Leto　knew　that　his　mother's　resentment　ran　at　depths　invisible　beneath　the　still　waters　of　her　public　face。　Helena　was　a　hard　taskmaster　to　Kailea；　who　responded　with　even　greater　determination。
　Late　one　evening；　Leto　went　up　to　the　tower　room　after　his　parents　had　retired　for　the　night。　He'd　intended　to　ask　his　father　about　taking　them　on　one　of　the　Atreides　schooners　for　a　day…trip　up　and　down　the　coast。　But　as　he　approached　the　wooden　door　to　the　ducal　chambers；　he　heard　Paulus　and　Helena　engaged　in　deep　discussion。
　〃What　have　you　done　to　find　a　new　place　for　those　two？〃　The　way　his　mother　said　the　words；　Leto　knew　exactly　whom　she　meant。　〃Surely　some　Minor　House　on　the　fringe　will　take　them　in　if　you　pay　a　large　enough　bribe。〃
　〃I　don't　intend　to　send　those　children　anywhere；　and　you　know　that。　They　are　our　guests　here；　and　safe　from　the　loathsome　Tleilaxu。〃　His　voice　dropped　to　a　grumble。　〃I　don't　understand　why　Elrood　doesn't　just　send　his　Sardaukar　in　to　flush　those　vermin　out　of　the　caves　on　Ix。〃
　Lady　Helena　said　crisply；　〃Despite　their　unpleasant　qualities；　the　Tleilaxu　will　undoubtedly　bring　the　factories　of　Ix　back　to　the　path　of　righteousness　and　obey　the　strictures　established　by　the　Butlerian　Jihad。〃
　Paulus　gave　an　exasperated　snort；　but　Leto　knew　his　mother　was　deadly　serious；　and　that　frightened　him　all　the　more。　Her　voice　grew　more　fervent　as　she　tried　to　convince　her　husband。
　〃Can't　you　see；　perhaps　all　of　these　events　were　meant　to　happen？　You　never　should　have　sent　Leto　to　Ix…he's　already　been　corrupted　by　their　ways；　their　prideful　thinking；　their　high…handed　ignorance　of　the　laws　of　God。　But　the　takeover　on　Ix　brought　Leto　back　to　us。　Don't　make　the　same　mistake　again。〃
　〃Mistake？　I'm　quite　pleased　with　everything　our　boy's　learned。　He's　going　to　be　a　fine　Duke　someday。〃　Leto　heard　the　thump　of　a　boot　tossed　into　the　corner。　〃Stop　your　worrying。　Don't　you　feel　at　all　sorry　for　poor　Rhombur　and　Kailea？〃
　Unswayed；　she　said；　〃In　their　pride；　the　people　of　Ix　have　broken　the　Law；　and　they　have　paid　for　it。　Should　I　feel　sorry　for　them？　I　think　not。〃
　Paulus　hit　a　piece　of　furniture　hard　with　his　hand；　and　Leto　heard　wood　scraping　across　stone；　a　chair　shoved　aside。　〃And　I'm　to　believe　you　are　familiar　enough　with　the　inner　workings　of　Ix　to　make　such　a　judgment？　Or　have　you　already　e　to　a　conclusion　based　on　what　you　want　to　hear；　without　being　troubled　by　mere　lack　of　evidence？〃　He　laughed；　and　his　tone　turned　more　gentle。〃　Besides；　you　seem　to　be　working　well　with　young　Kailea。　She　enjoys　your　pany。　How　can　you　say　such　things　about　her　to　me；　and　then　pretend　to　be　kind　to　her　face？〃
　Helena　sounded　eminently　reasonable。　〃The　children　can't　help　who　they　are；　Paulus　　they　didn't　ask　to　be　born　there；　raised　there；　exposed　to　anything　but　proper　teachings。　Do　you　think　they've　ever　held　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible？　It's　not　their　fault。　They　are　what　they　are；　and　I　can't　hate　them　for　it。〃
　〃Then　what　〃
　She　lashed　out　at　him　with　such　vehemence　that　Leto　took　a　silent　step　backward　in　surprise　out　in　the　shadowy　hall。　〃You're　the　one　who　has　made　a　choice　here；　Paulus。　And　you've　made　the　wrong　one。　That　choice　will　cost　you　and　our　House　dearly。〃
　He　made　a　rude　noise。　〃There　was　no　choice；　Helena。　On　my　honor　and　my　word　　there　was　no　choice。〃
　〃Still　it　was　your　own　decision；　despite　my　warnings　and　despite　my　advice。　Your　decision　alone；　Paulus　Atreides。〃　Her　voice　was　frighteningly　cold。　〃You　must　live　with　the　consequences；　and　be　damned　by　them。〃
　〃Oh；　calm　down　and　go　to　sleep；　Helena。〃
　Unsettled；　Leto　crept　away；　his　question　forgotten；　without　waiting　to　see　how　soon　they　extinguished　the　lights。
　THE　NEXT　DAY；　a　calm　and　sunny　morning；　Leto　stood　next　to　Rhombur　at　an　open　window；　admiring　the　quays　at　the　base　of　the　promontory。　The　ocean　spread　out　like　a　blue…green　prairie；　curving　off　to　the　distant　horizon。　〃A　perfect　day；〃　Leto　said；　realizing　that　his　friend　was　homesick　for　the　lost　underground　city　of　Vernii；　probably　tired　of　too　much　weather。　〃Now　it's　my　turn　to　show　you　around　Caladan。〃
　The　two　of　them　descended　the　narrow　cliffside　path　and　staircase；　holding　on　to　rails　and　vaulting　weathered　steps；　avoiding　the　slippery　moss　and　the　white　encrustations　of　salty　spray。
　The　Duke　had　several　boats　tied　up　at　the　dock；　and　Leto　chose　his　favorite　coracle；　a　white　motorcraft　around　fifteen　meters　in　length。　With　a　wide；　beamy　hull；　it　featured　a　spacious　cutty　cabin　in　the　front　and　sleeping　quarters　beneath；　reached　via　a　spiral　staircase。　Aft　of　the　cabin　were　two　decks；　at　midship　and　aftship；　with　cargo　holds　below：　a　nice　setup　for　fishing　or　motor　cruising。　Additional　modules　stored　on　shore　could　be　installed　to　change　the　functions　of　the　craft：　adding　more　cabin　space　or　converting　one　or　both　cargo　holds　to　additional　sleeping　or　habitation　areas。
　Servants　packed　them　a　lunch　while　three　mariner　assistants　checked　all　the　onboard　systems　in　preparation　for　a　day…long　voyage。　Rhombur　watched　Leto　treat　these　people　as　friends　while　they　loaded　the　gear。　〃Is　your　wife's　leg　better；　Jerrik？　Did　you　finish　the　roof　on　your　smoke　shed；　Dom？〃
　Finally；　as　Rhombur　looked　on　with　curiosity　and　trepidation；　Leto　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃Remember　your　rock　collection？　You　and　I　are　going　to　dive　for　coral　gems。〃
　These　precious　stones；　found　in　knobby　coral　reefs；　were　popular　pieces　on　Caladan；　but　perilous　to　handle。　Coral　gems　were　said　to　hold　tiny　living　creatures　that　caused　their　inner　fires　to　dance　and　simmer。　Because　of　the　hazards　and　expense　of　containment；　the　gems　did　not　support　much　of　an　off…world　export　market；　given　the　more　viable　alternative　of　soostones　from　Buzzell。　But　local　coral　gems　were　lovely；　nonetheless。
　Leto　thought　he　wanted　to　give　one　to　Kailea　as　a　present。　With　the　wealth　of　House　Atreides；　he　could　afford　to　buy　Rhombur's　sister　many　greater　treasures　if　he　wished；　but　the　gift　might　mean　more　if　he　procured　it　himself。　She　would　probably　appreciate　it　either　way。
　After　all　preparations　were　pleted；　he　and　Rhombur　boarded　the　wickerwood　coracle。　An　Atreides　burgee　flew　from　the　stern；　snapping　in　the　breeze。　As　the　mariner　assistants　cast　off　the　lines；　one　asked；　〃You　can　handle　this　yourself；　m'Lord？〃
　Leto　laughed　and　waved　the　man　away。　〃Jerrik；　you　know　I've　been　handling　these　boats　for　years　now。　The　seas　are　calm；　and　we　have　a　shore…　aboard。　But　thank　you　for　your　concern。　Don't　worry；　we　won't　go　far；　just　to　the　reefs。〃
　Rhombur　wandered　the　deck　and　tried　to　help；　doing　whatever　Leto　told　him　to　do。　He'd　never　been　on　an　open　boat　before。　The　engines　carried　them　away　from　the　cliffs；　beyond　the　shielded　harbor；　and　out　into　open　water。　Sunlight　glittered　like　sparkflies　on　the　rippled　surface　of　the　sea。
　The　Prince　of　Ix　stood　at　the　bow　while　Leto　worked　the　controls。　Rhombur　soaked　up　the　experience　of　water　and　wind　and　sun；　smiling。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　feel　so　alone　and　so　free　out　here。〃
　Looking　overboard；　Rhombur　saw　rafts　of　leathery…leafed　seaweed　and　round　gourdlike　fruits　that　held　up　the　plants　like　air　bladders。　〃Paradan　melons；〃　Leto　said。　〃If　you　want　one；　just　reach　over　the　side　and　take　it。　If　you've　never　had　paradan　fresh　from　the　sea；　you're　in　for　a　taste　treat。。。though　the　fruit's　a　bit　salty　for　me。〃
　Far　off　to　starboard　a　pod　of　murmons　swam　like　furred　logs；　large　but　harmless　creatures　that　drifted　with　ocean　currents；　singing　to　themselves　with　low；　hooting　sounds。
　Leto　sailed　the　coracle　for　about　an　hour；　consulting　satellite　maps　and　charts；　making　for　a　knot　of　outlying　reefs。　He　handed　Rhombur　a　set　of　binoculars　and　indicated　a　frothy；　tumultuous　patch　on　the　sea。　Isolated　black　ridges　of　rock　barely　poked　above　the　waves　like　the　spine　of　a　sleeping　leviathan。
　〃There's　the　reef；〃　Leto　said。　〃We'll　anchor