bh.houseatreides-第8节

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　Decades　ago　Dominic　had　led　legions　of　Imperial　troops　during　the　rough　civil　wars；　and　he　had　not　truly　respected　his　Emperor　since。　Elrood　had　gotten　himself　into　political　trouble　late　in　his　impulsive　marriage　to　his　fourth　wife　Habla；　and　several　Landsraad　leaders　had　been　forced　to　use　their　House　military　might　to　enforce　stability　again。　House　Vernius　of　Ix　had　been　among　these　allies；　as　had　the　Atreides。
　Now　Dominic　smiled　beneath　an　extravagant　mustache；　and　looked　on　Elrood　with　a　jaded　eye。　The　old　vulture　had　not　earned　his　throne　through　great　deeds　or　passion。　Dominic's　great…uncle　Gaylord　had　once　said；　〃If　you　are　born　to　power；　you　must　prove　you　deserve　it　through　good　works　　or　give　it　up。　To　do　any　less　is　to　act　without　conscience。〃
　Standing　impatiently　on　the　checkerboard　floor　of　polished　stone　squares　　purportedly　samples　from　all　the　worlds　in　the　Imperium　　Dominic　waited　for　Elrood　to　speak。　A　million　worlds？　There　couldn't　possibly　be　that　many　stones　here；　though　I　don't　want　to　be　the　one　to　count　them。
　The　Chamberlain　stared　down　at　him　as　if　his　diet　consisted　entirely　of　soured　milk。　But　Earl　Vernius　could　play　the　game　himself　and　refused　to　fidget；　refused　to　inquire　into　the　nature　of　his　summons。　He　just　stood　still；　smiling　at　the　old　man。　Dominic's　expression　and　bright　eyes　implied　knowledge　of　many　more　embarrassing　personal　secrets　about　the　old　man　than　Shando　had　actually　confessed　to　him　　but　the　suspicion　galled　Elrood；　like　an　Elaccan　bitterthorn　in　his　side。
　Something　moved　on　the　right；　and　in　the　shadows　of　an　arched　doorway　Dominic　saw　a　black…robed　woman；　one　of　those　Bene　Gesserit　witches。　He　couldn't　make　out　her　face；　partially　concealed　as　it　was　by　an　overhanging　cowl。　Notorious　hoarders　of　secrets；　the　Bene　Gesserit　were　always　close　to　the　centers　of　power；　constantly　watching。。nstantly　manipulating。
　〃I　won't　ask　you　if　it's　true；　Vernius；〃　the　Emperor　finally　said。　〃My　sources　are　unerring；　and　I　know　you　have　mitted　this　terrible　act。　Ixian　technology！　Pah！〃　He　made　as　if　to　spit　from　his　withered　lips。　Dominic　did　not　roll　his　eyes　upward；　Elrood　always　overestimated　the　effectiveness　of　his　melodramatic　gestures。
　Dominic　continued　to　smile；　showing　plenty　of　teeth。　〃I　am　unaware　of　mitting　any　'terrible　act；'　Sire。　Ask　your　Truthsayer；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃　He　flicked　a　glance　at　the　dark…robed　Bene　Gesserit　woman。
　〃Mere　semantics　　don't　play　dumb；　Dominic。〃
　Still；　he　simply　waited；　forcing　the　Emperor　to　state　his　charge　explicitly。
　Elrood　huffed；　and　the　Chamberlain　huffed　with　him。　〃Damn　it；　your　new　Heighliner　design　will　allow　the　Guild；　with　their　damnable　monopoly　on　space　transport；　to　carry　sixteen　percent　more　in　each　load！〃
　Dominic　bowed；　still　smiling　mildly。　〃Actually；　m'Lord；　we　have　been　able　to　boost　the　increase　to　eighteen　percent。　That's　a　substantial　improvement　over　the　previous　design；　involving　not　only　a　new　hull　but　a　shield　technology　that　weighs　less　and　takes　up　less　room。　Therefore；　boosted　efficiency。　This　is　the　very　heart　of　Ixian　innovation；　which　has　made　House　Vernius　great　over　the　centuries。〃
　〃Your　alteration　reduces　the　number　of　flights　the　Guild　must　make　to　haul　the　same　amount　of　cargo。〃
　〃Why；　naturally；　Sire。〃　Dominic　looked　at　the　old　man　as　if　he　were　incredibly　dense。　〃If　you　increase　the　capacity　of　each　Heighliner；　you　decrease　the　number　of　flights　required　to　haul　the　same　amount　of　material。　Simple　mathematics。〃
　〃Your　redesign　causes　great　hardship　for　the　Imperial　House；　Earl　Vernius；〃　said　Aken　Hesban；　clutching　his　chain　of　office　as　if　it　were　a　handkerchief。　His　long　mustaches　looked　like　the　tusks　of　a　walrus。
　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　can　understand　the　shortsighted　reason　for　your　concern；　Sire；〃　Dominic　said；　not　deigning　to　look　at　the　stuffed…shirt　Chamberlain。　Imperial　tax　was　based　on　the　number　of　flights　rather　than　on　the　amount　of　cargo；　and　the　Heighliner　redesign　therefore　resulted　in　a　substantial　reduction　in　ine　for　House　Corrino。
　Dominic　spread　his　broad　scarred　hands；　looking　eminently　reasonable。　〃But　how　can　you　request　that　we　blatantly　hold　back　progress？　Ix　has　in　no　way　countermanded　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Revolt。　We　have　the　full　support　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　Landsraad。〃
　〃You　did　this　knowing　it　would　incur　my　wrath？〃　Elrood　leaned　forward　on　the　massive　throne；　looking　even　more　the　vulture。
　〃e　now；　Sire！〃　Dominic　laughed；　belittling　the　Emperor's　concerns。　〃Personal　feelings　can　have　no　place　in　the　march　of　progress。〃
　Elrood　raised　himself　off　the　chair；　standing　in　his　billowy　robes　of　state　that　hung　like　awnings　over　his　skeletal　body。　〃I　can't　renegotiate　with　the　Guild　for　a　tax　based　on　metric　tonnage；　Vernius。　You　know　that！〃
　〃And　I　can't　change　the　simple　laws　of　economics　and　merce。〃　He　shook　his　gleaming　head；　then　shrugged。　〃It's　just　business；　Elrood。〃
　The　Court　functionaries　stopped　with　a　gasp；　listening　to　the　candor　and　familiarity　Dominic　Vernius　used　with　the　Emperor。　〃Watch　yourself；〃　the　Chamberlain　warned。
　But　Dominic　ignored　him　and　continued。　〃This　design　modification　affects　many　people；　most　of　them　positively。　We　are　only　concerned　about　progress；　and　about　doing　the　best　possible　job　for　our　client；　the　Spacing　Guild。　The　cost　of　one　new　Heighliner　is　more　than　most　planetary　systems　make　in　a　Standard　Year。〃
　Elrood　stared　him　down。　〃Perhaps　it　is　time　for　my　administrators　and　licensors　to　inspect　your　manufacturing　facilities。〃　His　voice　carried　a　threatening　tone。　〃I　have　reports　that　Ixian　scientists　may　be　developing　secret；　illegal　thinking　machines　in　violation　of　the　Jihad。　Yes；　I　have　also　heard　plaints　of　repression　against　your　suboid　working　class。　Haven't　we；　Aken？〃
　The　Chamberlain　nodded　dourly。　〃Yes；　Highness。〃
　〃There　have　been　no　such　rumors。〃　Dominic　chuckled；　though　a　bit　uncertainly。　〃No　evidence　whatsoever。〃
　〃Alas；　they　were　anonymous　reports　and　therefore　no　records　have　been　kept。〃　The　Emperor　tapped　his　long…nailed　fingertips　together　as　a　real　smile　crossed　his　face。　〃Yes；　I　believe　the　best　thing　would　be　an　unannounced　inspection　of　Ix　　before　you　can　send　a　warning　and　arrange　for　anything　to　be　hidden。〃
　〃The　inner　workings　of　Ix　are　off…limits　to　you；　according　to　a　long…established　Imperium…Landsraad　pact。〃　Dominic　was　riled　now；　but　he　tried　to　maintain　his　posure。
　〃I　made　no　such　agreement。〃　Elrood　looked　down　at　his　fingernails。　〃And　I've　been　Emperor　for　a　long；　long　time。〃
　〃Your　ancestor　did；　and　you're　bound　by　it。〃
　〃I　have　the　power　to　make　and　break　agreements。　You　don't　seem　to　realize　that　I　am　the　Padishah　Emperor；　and　I　can　do　as　I　please。〃
　〃The　Landsraad　will　have　something　to　say　about　that；　Roody。〃　Instantly　Dominic　regretted　using　the　nickname　and　wished　he　could　take　it　back。　But　it　was　too　late。
　Flushing　with　rage；　the　Emperor　leaped　to　his　feet　and　pointed　an　accusing；　shaking　finger　at　Dominic。　〃How　dare　you！〃　The　Sardaukar　guards　snapped　to　attention；　shifting　their　weapons。
　〃If　you　insist　on　an　Imperial　inspection；〃　Dominic　said　with　a　contemptuous；　dismissive　gesture；　〃I　will　resist　it　and　file　a　formal　plaint　in　Landsraad　court。　You　have　no　case；　and　you　know　it。〃　He　bowed　and　backed　away。　〃I'm　extremely　busy；　Sire。　If　you　will　excuse　me；　I　must　take　my　leave。〃
　Elrood　glared　at　him；　stabbed　by　the　pet　name　Dominic　had　used。　Roody。　Both　men　knew　that　particular　personal　nickname　had　been　used　only　by　a　former　concubine　of　Elrood's；　the　beautiful　Shando。。。who　was　now　Lady　Vernius。
　After　the　Ecazi　Rebellion；　Emperor　Elrood　had　decorated　brave　young　Dominic　and　granted　him　an　expansion　of　his　fief　to　include　other　worlds　in　the　Alkaurops　system。　At　Elrood's　invitation；　the　young　Earl　Vernius　had　spent　much　time　at　court；　a　war　hero　to　be　seen　as　a　decoration　at　Imperial　banquets　and　state　functions。　Hearty　Dominic　had　been　very　popular；　a　wele　guest；　a　proud　and　humorous　panion　in　the　dining　hall。
　But　it　was　there　that　Dominic　had　met　Shando；　one　of　the　Emperor's　many　concubines。　At　the　time；　Elrood　had　been　married　to　no　one；　his　fourth　and　last　wife　Habla　had　died　five　years　earlier；　and　he　already　had　two　male　heirs　（though　his　eldest；　Fafnir；　would　be　poisoned　later　that　year）。　The　Emperor　continued　to　keep　a　retinue　of　beautiful　women；　though　primarily　to　maintain　appearances；　since　he　rarely　took　Shando　or　any　of　his　other　concubines　to　bed。
　Dangerously；　Dominic　and　Shando　had　fallen　in　love；　but　had　kept　their　relationship　secret　for　many　months。　It　was　clear　that　Elrood　had　lost　interest　in　her　after　five　years；　and　when　she　asked　to　be　freed　from　service　and　to　leave　the　Imperial　Court；　Elrood　　though　perplexed　　had　plied。　He　thought　fondly　of　her；　and　saw　no　reason　to　deny　her　a　simple　request。
　The　other　concubines　had　thought　Shando　foolish　to　give　up　such　riches　and　pampering；　but　she'd　had　enough　of　the　lavish　life　and　instead　wanted　a　real　marriage　and　children。　Elrood；　of　course；　would　never　take　her　as　his　wife。
　As　soon　as　she　was　freed　from　Imperial　service；　Dominic　Vernius　married　her；　and　they　had　pleted　their　vows　with　minimal　pomp　and　ceremony；　but　airtight　legality。
　Upon