bh.houseatreides-第82节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Turning；　he　spotted　Yresk　standing　close　beside　him。　The　stablemaster　nodded　coolly　at　the　ferocious　Salusan　bull；　his　puffy　eyes　haunted　and　tired。　〃Looks　like　he's　eager　to　fight　our　Duke。〃
　〃Something's　still　wrong；　sir；〃　Duncan　insisted。　〃I've　never　seen　the　animal　this　riled。〃
　Yresk　raised　his　bushy　eyebrows　and　scratched　his　shock　of　white　hair。　〃Oh；　in　all　your　years　of　experience？　I　told　you　not　to　trouble　yourself。〃
　Duncan　bridled　at　the　sarcasm。　〃Can't　you　see　it　yourself；　sir？〃
　〃Stable…rat；　Salusan　bulls　are　bred　to　be　vicious。　The　Duke　knows　what　he's　doing。〃　Yresk　crossed　his　scarecrow　arms　over　his　chest；　but　he　didn't　move　closer　to　the　cage。　〃Besides；　the　more　keyed…up　this　one　is；　the　better　he'll　fight；　and　our　Duke　certainly　likes　to　give　a　good　performance。　His　people　love　it。〃
　As　if　to　emphasize　Yresk's　point；　the　bull　battered　itself　against　the　force　field；　bellowing　a　deep　roar　from　the　vast　engine　of　its　chest。　Its　horned　head　and　leathery　hide　were　gashed　in　places　where　it　had　injured　itself　trying　to　trample　anything　in　sight。
　〃I　think　we　should　pick　a　different　bull；　Master　Yresk。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　the　other　replied；　growing　more　impatient　now。　〃The　Atreides's　own　stable　veterinarian　has　performed　body　tissue　tests；　and　everything　checked　out。　You　should　be　ready　for　the　paseo；　not　in　here　causing　trouble。　Run　along　now；　before　you　miss　your　chance。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　prevent　trouble；　sir；〃　Duncan　insisted。　He　looked　defiantly　at　Yresk。　〃I'm　going　to　go　talk　to　the　Duke　myself。　Maybe　he'll　listen。〃
　〃You'll　do　no　such　thing；　stable…rat。〃　Moving　like　an　eel；　Yresk　grabbed　him　by　the　slippery　fabric　of　the　costume。　〃I've　been　patient　enough　with　you；　for　the　Duke's　sake；　but　I　can't　let　you　ruin　his　bullfight。　Don't　you　see　all　the　people　out　there？〃
　Duncan　struggled　and　cried　for　help。　But　the　others　had　already　lined　up　at　the　gates　for　the　grand　parade　around　the　arena。　The　fanfare　sounded　a　deafening　note；　and　the　crowd　cheered　in　anticipation。
　Without　being　unduly　rough；　Yresk　tossed　him　into　one　of　the　empty　stalls；　turning　on　the　containment　field　to　keep　him　in　it。　Duncan　stumbled　onto　piles　of　trampled　feed　smeared　with　green…brown　manure。
　〃You　can　sit　out　the　event　here；〃　Yresk　said；　looking　sad。　〃I　should　have　known　to　expect　trouble　from　you；　a　Harkonnen　sympathizer。〃
　〃But　I　hate　the　Harkonnens！〃　Duncan　stood　up；　trembling　with　rage。　His　silk　clothes　were　ruined。　He　hurled　himself　against　the　bars　just　as　the　bull　had　done；　but　he　had　no　chance　of　escaping。
　Brushing　himself　off　to　look　presentable　again；　Yresk　strode　toward　the　arched　openings　for　the　paseo。　The　stablemaster　flashed　a　glance　over　his　shoulder。　〃The　only　reason　you're　here；　stable…rat；　is　because　the　Duke　likes　you。　But　I've　run　his　stables　for　nigh　on　twenty　years；　and　I　know　exactly　what　I'm　doing。　You　just　leave　it　be　　I've　got　work　to　do。〃
　In　the　cage　beside　Duncan；　the　Salusan　bull　simmered　like　a　boiler　about　to　explode。
　DUKE　PAULUS　ATREIDES　stood　in　the　center　of　the　arena。　He　turned　slowly；　drawing　energy　from　the　enthusiasm　of　the　crowd；　residual　heat　rose　from　the　packed　stands。　He　flashed　them　all　a　sparkling；　confident　grin。　They　roared　with　approval。　Oh；　how　his　people　loved　to　be　entertained！
　Paulus　switched　on　his　body…shield　at　partial　setting。　He　would　have　to　maneuver　carefully　for　his　protection。　The　element　of　danger　kept　him　on　his　toes；　and　it　made　for　greater　suspense　among　the　spectators。　He　held　the　muleta；　a　brightly　colored　cloth　on　a　pole；　which　he　would　use　to　distract　the　attacking　animal　and　divert　its　attention　from　his　body　core。
　The　long　barbed　staffs；　poison…dipped　banderillas；　were　wrapped　close　to　the　pole　for　Paulus　to　use　when　he　needed　them。　He　would　get　near　to　the　creature　and　spike　them　into　its　neck　muscles；　injecting　a　neuropoison　that　would　gradually　weaken　the　Salusan　bull　so　that　he　could　deliver　the　coup　de　grace。
　Paulus　had　been　through　these　performances　dozens　of　times　before；　often　for　major　Caladan　holidays。　He　was　at　the　top　of　his　form　in　front　of　crowds　and　enjoyed　showing　off　his　bravery　and　skills。　It　was　his　way　of　repaying　his　subjects　for　their　devotion。　Each　time；　it　seemed；　his　physical　abilities　rose　to　their　peak　as　he　rode　the　narrow　edge　in　the　contest　between　living　his　own　life　to　the　hilt　and　risking　it　as　he　fought　a　raging　beast。　He　hoped　Rhombur　and　Kailea　would　enjoy　the　show　and　feel　more　at　home。
　Only　once；　back　when　he　was　younger；　had　Paulus　actually　felt　threatened：　A　sluggish；　plodding　bull　had　lured　him　into　switching　off　his　shield　during　a　practice　session；　and　then　had　turned　into　a　whirlwind　of　horns　and　hooves。　These　mutated　creatures　were　not　just　violent；　but　two…brain　smart　as　well；　and　Paulus　had　made　the　mistake　of　forgetting　that　　but　only　once。　The　bull　had　slashed　him　with　its　horns；　laying　his　side　open。　Paulus　had　fallen　onto　the　sand　and　would　have　been　gored　to　death　had　he　not　been　practicing　at　the　same　time　as　a　much　younger　Thufir　Hawat。
　Seeing　the　danger；　the　warrior　Mentat　had　instantly　dropped　all　pretense　of　protocol　in　the　bullring　and　leaped　forth　single…handedly　to　attack　and　dispatch　the　creature。　During　the　ensuing　fight；　the　ferocious　bull　had　ripped　a　long　wound　in　Hawat's　leg；　leaving　him　with　a　permanent；　curling　scar。　The　scar　had　bee　a　reminder　to　all　of　the　Mentat's　intense　devotion　to　his　Duke。
　Now；　under　the　cloudy　skies　and　surrounded　by　his　subjects；　Duke　Paulus　waved　and　took　a　long；　deep　breath。　Fanfare　signaled　that　the　fight　was　to　begin。
　House　Atreides　was　not　the　most　powerful　family　in　the　Landsraad；　nor　the　wealthiest。　Still；　Caladan　provided　many　resources：　the　pundi　rice　fields；　the　bountiful　fish　in　the　seas；　the　kelp　harvest；　all　the　fruit　and　produce　from　the　arable　land；　and　handmade　musical　instruments　and　bone　carvings　done　by　the　aboriginal　people　in　the　south。　In　recent　years　there　had　been　an　increased　demand　for　tapestries　woven　by　the　Sisters　in　Isolation；　a　religious　group　sequestered　in　the　terraced　hills　of　the　eastern　continent。　In　all；　Caladan　provided　everything　its　people　could　possibly　want；　and　Duke　Paulus　knew　his　family's　fortunes　were　secure。　He　was　immensely　pleased　that　one　day　he　could　pass　it　all　on　to　his　son　Leto。
　The　mutated　Salusan　bull　charged。
　〃Ho；　ho！〃　The　Duke　laughed　and　flailed　his　multihued　muleta；　skittering　backward　as　the　bull　thundered　past。　Its　head　tossed　from　side　to　side；　thrashing　with　its　spiny　shovel　of　a　skull。　One　of　the　horns　moved　slowly　enough　to　ripple　through　the　pulsing　Holtzman　shield；　and　the　Duke　slid　sideways；　just　enough　so　that　the　bone　spike　barely　scratched　his　outer　armor。
　Seeing　how　close　the　horn　had　e　to　their　beloved　leader；　the　audience　let　out　a　collective　gasp。　The　Duke　sidestepped　the　bull　as　it　charged　past；　kicking　up　powdered　sand。　The　beast　skidded　to　a　stop。　Paulus　held　his　muleta　with　one　hand；　jiggling　the　cloth；　and　snatched　out　one　of　his　barbed　banderillas。
　He　glanced　up　at　the　ducal　box；　touching　the　hooked　tip　of　the　banderilla　to　his　forehead　in　a　salute。　Leto　and　Prince　Rhombur　had　leaped　to　their　feet　in　excitement；　but　Helena　remained　frozen　in　her　chair；　her　expression　clouded；　hands　clasped　in　her　lap。
　The　bull　wheeled　about　and　reoriented　itself。　Normally；　Salusan　bulls　became　dizzy　after　missing　their　target；　but　this　one　did　not　slow　a　bit。　Duke　Paulus　realized　that　his　monstrous　opponent　had　a　greater　energy　than　he　had　ever　seen；　keener　eyesight；　hotter　fury。　Still；　he　smiled。　Defeating　this　worthy　opponent　would　be　his　finest　hour；　and　a　fitting　tribute　to　the　exiled　Ixians　in　his　care。
　The　Duke　played　with　the　bull　for　a　few　more　passes；　dancing　beyond　the　reach　of　its　horns；　pleting　his　expected　performance　for　the　excited　spectators。　Around　him　the　partial　shield　shimmered。
　Seeing　that　the　bull　did　not　tire　after　the　better　part　of　an　hour；　though；　and　that　it　remained　focused　on　killing　him；　Duke　Paulus　grew　concerned　enough　that　he　made　up　his　mind　to　end　the　contest　as　swiftly　as　possible。　He　would　use　his　shield；　a　trick　he　had　learned　from　one　of　the　finest　matadors　in　the　Imperium。
　The　next　time　the　creature　shot　past；　hooves　hammering　the　packed　sand；　its　horns　ricocheted　off　the　Duke's　personal　shield；　a　collision　that　finally　disoriented　the　beast。
　The　Duke　grasped　the　banderilla　and　plunged　it　into　the　bull's　back　like　a　stake；　setting　the　barbed　hook　into　cable…thick　neck　muscles。　Oily　blood　spilled　out　from　the　slash　in　its　hide。　Paulus　released　the　handle　of　the　poisoned　spear　as　he　twirled　out　of　the　way。　The　drug　on　the　barbed　tip　should　begin　to　act　immediately；　burning　out　the　neurotransmitters　in　the　beast's　double　brain。
　The　crowd　cheered；　and　the　bull　roared　with　pain。　It　spun　about　and　stumbled　as　its　legs　seemed　to　give　way。　The　Duke　thought　this　was　caused　by　the　poison；　but　to　his　surprise　the　Salusan　bull　floundered　to　its　feet　once　more　and　rocketed　toward　him。　Paulus　again　sidestepped；　but　the　bull　managed　to　snag　the　muleta　on　its　multiple　horns；　thrashing　its　head　and　tearing　the　bright　ceremonial　cloth　to　shreds。
　The　Duke　narrowed　his　eyes　and　released　his　hold。　This　was　going　to　be