bh.houseatreides-第78节

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chor；　and　raced　toward　the　reef。　The　flaming　coracle　was　like　a　et　on　the　water。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Rhombur　cried。　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃The　reef！〃　he　shouted。　〃I'll　try　to　run　aground　there　so　we　don't　sink。　Then　you　and　I　can　work　to　put　out　the　fire。〃
　〃You're　going　to　crash　us　into　a　reef？　That's　crazy！〃
　〃You'd　rather　sink　out　here？　This　boat　is　going　down；　one　way　or　another。〃　As　if　to　emphasize　his　point　another　small　container　of　fuel　exploded　belowdecks；　sending　a　shudder　through　the　floor。
　Rhombur　grasped　the　secured　galley　table　to　keep　his　balance。　〃Whatever　you　say。〃
　〃Did　you　get　an　acknowledgment　on　the　shore…？〃
　〃No。　I；　uh；　hope　they　heard　us。〃　Leto　told　him　to　keep　trying；　which　he　did；　still　without　receiving　a　response。
　The　waves　curled　around　them；　low　to　the　deck　rail。　Black　smoke　poured　into　the　sky。　Fire　licked　at　the　engine　partment。　The　coracle　dipped　lower；　dragging；　taking　on　water　rapidly。　Leto　pushed　the　engines；　still　charging　toward　the　rocks。　He　didn't　know　if　he　would　win　this　race。　If　he　could　just　run　them　up　on　the　reef；　he　and　Rhombur　could　stay　safely　beside　the　wreckage。　He　didn't　know　how　long　it　would　take　for　rescuers　to　arrive。
　As　if　driven　by　a　demon；　whitecaps　rose　in　front　of　them；　threatening　to　form　a　barrier。　But　Leto　held　course　and　did　not　slacken　the　acceleration。　〃Hang　on！〃
　At　the　last　moment；　the　engines　died　as　fire　engulfed　them。　The　coracle　cruised　forward　on　sheer　momentum　and　crashed　into　the　jagged　reef。　The　grinding　halt　threw　both　Leto　and　Rhombur　to　the　deck。　Rhombur　struck　his　head　and　stood　up；　blinking；　dazed。　Blood　trickled　down　his　forehead；　very　close　to　the　old　injury　he　had　received　during　the　orship　escape　from　Ix。
　〃Let's　go！　Overboard！〃　Leto　yelled。　He　grabbed　his　friend's　arm　and　pushed　him　out　of　the　cabin。　From　the　forward　partment；　Leto　tossed　hoses　and　portable　pumps　into　the　frothing　water。　〃Dip　this　end　of　the　hose　into　the　deepest　water　you　can　reach！　And　try　not　to　cut　yourself　on　the　reef。〃
　Rhombur　scrambled　over　the　rail；　while　Leto　followed；　trying　to　maintain　his　balance　in　the　churning　tide　pools　and　rough　surf。　The　boat　was　snagged；　so　for　the　moment　they　needn't　worry　about　drowning　　just　disfort。
　The　pumps　started；　and　seawater　sprayed　out　of　two　hoses；　one　held　by　each　boy。　The　water　fell　in　a　thick　curtain　onto　the　flames。　Rhombur　swiped　blood　out　of　his　eyes　and　kept　directing　his　hose。　They　doused　the　coracle　with　endless　torrents　until　finally；　slowly；　the　flames　began　to　die　back。
　Rhombur　looked　bedraggled　and　miserable；　but　Leto　felt　oddly　exhilarated。　〃Perk　up；　Rhombur。　Think　about　it。　On　Ix　we　had　to　escape　from　a　revolution　that　nearly　destroyed　the　whole　planet。　Makes　this　little　mishap　seem　like　child's　play；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　〃Uh；　right；〃　the　other　said；　glumly。　〃Most　fun　I've　had　in　ages。〃
　The　two　of　them　sat　waist　deep　in　the　surging　water；　playing　their　hoses　over　the　fire。　Smoke　continued　to　rise　into　the　clear　Caladan　sky　like　a　distress　beacon。
　Soon　they　heard　the　distant　but　increasing　roar　of　powerful　engines；　and　moments　later　a　high…speed　wingboat　came　into　view；　a　double…hulled　craft　capable　of　reaching　tremendous　speeds　over　the　water。　It　drew　near　and　swung　clear　of　the　rocks。　On　the　foredeck　stood　Thufir　Hawat；　shaking　his　head　at　Leto　in　disapproval。
　Among　the　responsibilities　of　mand　is　the　necessity　to　punish。。。but　only　when　the　victim　demands　it。
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　Her　chocolate　hair　in　disarray；　her　clothes　torn　and　inappropriate　for　the　desert；　the　woman　ran　across　the　sands；　seeking　escape。
　Janess　Milam　looked　up　over　her　shoulder；　blinking　sun…scalded　tears　from　her　eyes。　Seeing　the　shadow　of　the　suspensor　platform　that　held　Baron　Harkonnen　and　his　nephew　Rabban；　she　put　on　a　burst　of　speed。　Her　feet　dug　into　the　powder…sand；　making　her　lose　her　balance。　She　staggered　toward　the　open　wasteland；　where　it　was　hotter；　drier；　deadlier。
　Buried　in　the　lee　of　a　nearby　dune；　the　thumper　throbbed；　pulsing。。。calling。
　She　tried　to　find　a　refuge　of　rocks；　cool　caves；　even　the　shadow　of　a　boulder。　At　the　very　least；　she　wanted　to　die　out　of　sight　so　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　laugh　at　her。　But　the　Harkonnens　had　dropped　her　into　a　sea　of　open　dunes。　Janess　slipped　and　tasted　dust。
　From　their　safe　vantage　on　the　suspensor　platform；　the　Baron　and　his　nephew　watched　her　struggles；　the　pitiful　flight　of　a　tiny　human　figure　on　the　sand。　The　observers　wore　stillsuits　like　costumes；　their　masks　hung　loose。
　They　had　returned　to　Arrakis　from　Giedi　Prime　only　a　few　weeks　before；　and　Janess　had　arrived　on　the　previous　day's　prison　ship。　At　first；　the　Baron　had　thought　to　execute　the　treacherous　woman　back　at　Barony；　but　Rabban　had　wanted　her　to　suffer　in　front　of　his　eyes　out　on　the　scorching　sands；　in　punishment　for　helping　Duncan　Idaho　escape。
　〃She　seems　so　insignificant　down　there；　doesn't　she？〃　the　Baron　mented；　without　interest。　Sometimes；　his　nephew　did　have　unique　ideas；　though　he　lacked　the　focus　to　carry　them　through。　〃This　is　much　more　satisfying　than　a　simple　beheading；　and　beneficial　to　the　worms。　Food　for　them。〃
　Rabban　made　a　low　sound　in　his　thick　throat；　remarkably　like　an　animal's　growl。　〃It　shouldn't　be　long　now。　Those　thumpers　always　call　a　worm。　Always。〃
　The　Baron　stood　tall　on　the　platform；　feeling　the　hot　sun；　the　glistening　sweat　on　his　skin。　His　body　ached；　a　condition　he'd　been　experiencing　for　several　months　now。　He　nudged　the　suspensor　platform　forward　so　they　could　get　a　better　view　of　their　victim。　He　mused；　〃That　boy　is　an　Atreides　now；　from　what　I　hear。　Working　with　the　Duke's　Salusan　bulls。〃
　〃He's　dead；　if　I　ever　see　him　again。〃　Rabban　wiped　salty　sweat　from　his　sunburned　forehead。　〃Him；　and　any　other　Atreides　I　catch　alone。〃
　〃You're　like　an　ox；　Rabban。〃　The　Baron　gripped　his　nephew's　strong　shoulder。〃　But　don't　waste　energy　on　insignificant　things。　House　Atreides　is　our　real　enemy　　not　some　insignificant　stableboy。　Stableboy。。。hmmm。。。〃
　Below；　Janess　skidded　on　her　face　down　the　slope　of　a　dune　and　scrambled　to　her　feet　again。　With　a　basso　laugh　the　Baron　said；　〃She'll　never　get　far　enough　away　from　the　thumper　in　time。〃　The　resonant　vibrations　continued　to　throb　into　the　ground；　like　the　distant　drumbeat　of　a　death　song。
　〃It's　too　hot　out　here；〃　Rabban　grumbled。　〃Couldn't　you　have　brought　a　canopy？〃　Pulling　his　stillsuit's　water　tube　to　his　mouth；　he　drew　in　an　unsatisfying　sip　of　warm　water。
　〃I　like　to　sweat。　It's　good　for　the　health；　purges　poisons　from　the　system。〃
　Rabban　fidgeted。　When　he　tired　of　watching　the　woman's　clumsy　run；　he　looked　across　the　seared　landscape；　searching　for　the　tracks　of　an　oning　behemoth。　〃By　the　way；　whatever　happened　to　that　Planetologist　the　Emperor　foisted　on　us？　I　took　him　worm　hunting　once。
　〃Kynes？　Who　knows？〃　The　Baron　snorted。　〃He's　always　out　in　the　desert；　es　in　to　Carthag　to　deliver　reports　whenever　he　feels　like　it；　then　disappears　again。　Haven't　heard　from　him　in　a　while。〃
　〃What　happens　if　he　gets　hurt？　Could　we　get　in　trouble　for　not　keeping　a　better　eye　on　him？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　Elrood's　mind　isn't　what　it　used　to　be。〃　The　Baron　laughed；　a　thin；　nasal　tone　of　derision。　〃Not　that　the　Emperor's　mind　was　much　even　in　its　prime。〃
　The　dark…haired　woman；　coated　now　with　clinging　dust；　fought　her　way　across　the　dunes。　She　kicked　up　sand；　falling　and　struggling　back　onto　her　feet；　refusing　to　give　up。
　〃This　bores　me；〃　Rabban　said。　〃No　challenge　just　to　stand　here　and　watch。〃
　〃Some　punishments　are　easy；〃　the　Baron　observed；　〃but　easy　isn't　always　sufficient。　Erasing　this　woman　does　nothing　to　erase　the　black　mark　she　made　on　the　honor　of　House　Harkonnen。。。with　the　help　of　House　Atreides。〃
　〃Then　let's　do　more；〃　Rabban　said　with　a　thick…lipped　grin；　〃to　the　Atreides。〃
　The　Baron　felt　the　heat　shimmering　on　his　exposed　face；　absorbed　the　thrumming　silence　of　the　baked　desert。　When　he　smiled；　the　skin　on　his　cheeks　threatened　to　crack。　〃Maybe　we　will。〃
　〃What；　Uncle？〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　time　to　get　rid　of　the　Old　Duke。　No　more　thorns　in　our　side。〃
　Rabban　bubbled　with　anticipation。
　With　a　calmness　designed　to　agitate　his　nephew；　the　Baron　focused　the　oil　lenses　of　his　binoculars　and　scanned　the　distance　at　varying　magnifications。　He　hoped　to　spot　the　wormsign　himself　rather　than　relying　on　the　security　ornithopters。　Finally　he　sensed　the　tremors　approaching。　He　felt　his　pulse　synchronize　with　the　thumper：　Lump。。。Lump。。。Lump。。。
　Crescent　dune　tracks　spread　shadow　ripples　toward　the　horizon；　an　elongated　mound…in…motion；　a　cresting　of　sand　like　a　big　fish　swimming　just　under　the　surface。　In　the　still；　hot　air；　the　Baron　heard　the　rasping；　abrasive　sound　of　the　slithering　beast。　Excitedly；　he　grabbed　Rabban's　elbow　and　pointed。
　The　…unit　at　Rabban's　ear　chirped；　and　a　filtered　voice　spoke　so　loudly　that　the　Baron　could　hear　the　muffled　words。　Rabban　swatted　at　the　device。　〃We　know！　We　see　it。〃
　The　Baron　continued　his　musings　as　the　buried　worm　approached　like　a　lootive。　〃I've　kept　up　my　contacts　with。。。individuals　on　Caladan；　you　know。　The　Old　Duke　is　a　creature　of　habit。　And　habits