bh.houseatreides-第96节

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s　of　House　Harkonnen。　He　didn't　know　the　names　or　titles　of　the　two　men　there　representing　the　enemy　household。
　His　implication　was　clear　enough；　though　he　made　no　specific　accusation；　nor　did　he　have　any　specific　proof。　Stablemaster　Yresk；　who　had　not　survived　his　interrogation　as　Leto　had　requested；　had　confirmed　Helena's　plicity；　but　could　give　no　further　details　about　coconspirators。　So　the　new　Duke　Atreides　simply　used　his　statement　to　gain　the　attention　of　the　bored　people　in　the　chamber　　and　now　he　certainly　had　it。
　The　Harkonnens　whispered　among　themselves；　casting　nervous　and　angry　looks　at　the　podium。　Leto　ignored　them　and　turned　back　to　the　central　cluster　of　representatives。
　Directly　in　front　of　him　in　the　seat　of　House　Mutelli　he　recognized　old　Count　Flambert；　an　utterly　ancient　gentleman　whose　memory　was　said　to　have　failed　him　many　years　before。　With　his　long…term　recollection　gone；　he　kept　at　his　side　a　squat　former　Mentat　candidate　with　blond　hair；　who　served　as　a　portable　memory　for　the　Count。　The　failed　Mentat's　sole　duty　was　to　remind　the　ancient　Flambert　of　things；　providing　every　bit　of　data　the　nobleman　might　require。　Though　he　had　never　pleted　his　training　as　a　human　puter；　the　failed　Mentat　served　the　senile　Count's　needs　well　enough。
　Leto's　voice　carried　across　the　assemblage；　as　clear　and　concise　as　the　pealing　of　buoy　bells　on　a　cool　Caladan　morning：　〃A　sign　over　the　Emperor's　own　door　declares　that　'Law　is　the　ultimate　science。'　Thus；　I　stand　here　not　on　my　own　behalf；　but　on　behalf　of　a　former　Great　House；　one　that　can　no　longer　e　here　to　speak。　House　Vernius　was　a　close　ally　of　my　family。〃
　Several　people　on　nearby　benches　groaned。　A　few　others　fidgeted　impatiently。　They　had　already　heard　too　much　about　Vernius。
　Boldly；　the　young　Atreides　continued：　〃Earl　Dominic　Vernius　and　his　family　were　forced　to　declare　themselves　renegade　after　the　illegal　takeover　of　Ix　by　the　Bene　Tleilax　　whom　all　here　know　to　be　a　depraved　and　disgusting　breed；　and　unworthy　of　representation　before　this　august　body。　While　House　Vernius　cried　out　for　help　and　support　against　this　outrageous　invasion；　all　of　you　hid　in　the　shadows　and　dallied　until　such　assistance　became　irrelevant。〃　Leto　was　careful　not　to　point　the　finger　at　Elrood　himself；　though　it　was　clear　in　his　mind　that　the　Emperor　had　encouraged　the　stalling。
　A　great　murmur　arose　in　the　Landsraad　Hall；　acpanied　by　expressions　of　confusion　and　outrage。　Leto　could　see　that　they　now　viewed　him　as　a　young　upstart；　a　brash　and　ill…mannered　rebel　who　didn't　know　the　true　order　of　things　in　the　Imperium。　He'd　had　the　bad　form　to　bring　such　unpleasant　matters　out　into　the　open。
　Leto　was　unswayed；　though。　〃You　all　knew　Dominic　Vernius　as　an　honorable；　trustworthy　man。　You　all　traded　with　Ix。　How　many　of　you　did　not　call　Dominic　your　friend？〃　He　looked　around　quickly；　but　spoke　again　before　anyone　could　get　up　the　nerve　to　raise　a　hand　in　public。
　〃Though　I　am　not　a　member　of　the　Vernius　family；　the　Tleilaxu　invaders　threatened　my　own　life；　and　I　barely　escaped　through　my　father's　assistance。　Earl　Vernius　and　his　wife　also　fled；　forsaking　all　their　possessions　　and　recently　the　Lady　Shando　Vernius　was　murdered；　hunted　down　like　an　animal！〃　His　vision　spun　with　anger　and　grief；　but　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　continued。
　〃Know；　all　who　can　hear　me；　that　I　express　grave　reservations　about　the　Bene　Tleilax　and　their　recent　outrageous　actions。　By　any　means；　kanly　or　otherwise；　they　must　be　brought　to　justice。　House　Atreides　is　no　ally　of　the　illegal　government　of　Ix　　how　dare　they　rename　the　planet　Xuttuh？　Is　the　Imperium　civilized；　or　do　we　drown　in　a　sea　of　barbarians？〃　He　waited。　His　pulse　pounded　loudly　in　his　head。　〃If　the　Landsraad　ignores　this　incredible　tragedy；　can　you　not　see　that　this　could　happen　to　any　one　of　you？〃
　A　representative　of　House　Harkonnen　spoke　without　even　the　courtesy　of　standing　to　announce　his　intention。　〃House　Vernius　declared　itself　renegade。　By　ancient　law；　the　Emperor's　Sardaukar　and　any　other　bounty　hunters　had　a　perfect　right　to　hunt　down　and　eliminate　the　renegade's　wife。　Have　a　care；　young　pup　of　a　Duke。　We're　only　granting　you　the　right　to　give　her　children　asylum　out　of　the　goodness　of　our　hearts。　There　is　no　requirement　that　we　do　so。〃
　Leto　believed　the　Harkonnen　was　wrong；　but　did　not　wish　to　argue　a　point　of　law；　especially　without　Thufir's　guidance。　〃So　any　House　can　be　persecuted；　their　members　assassinated　by　Sardaukar　on　a　whim；　and　no　one　here　believes　it　is　wrong？　Any　power　can　crush　a　Great　House　of　the　Landsraad；　and　the　rest　of　you　will　simply　cover　your　eyes　and　hope　it　doesn't　happen　to　you　next？〃
　〃The　Emperor　does　not　act　on　a　whim！〃　someone　shouted。　A　number　of　voices　of　assent　called　out。。。but　not　many。　Leto　realized　this　bit　of　patriotism　and　loyalty　was　probably　a　consequence　of　Elrood's　severely　failing　health。　The　ancient　man　had　not　been　seen　at　functions　for　months；　was　supposedly　bedridden　and　near　death。
　Leto　put　his　hands　on　his　hips。　〃I　may　be　young；　but　I'm　not　blind。　Consider　this；　members　of　the　Landsraad；　with　your　shifting　alliances　and　false　loyalties　　what　pledge　can　you　offer　one　another　if　your　promises　blow　away　like　dust？〃　He　then　repeated　the　words　his　father　had　greeted　him　with　when　he'd　stepped　off　the　rescue　ship　from　Ix。　〃House　Atreides　values　loyalty　and　honor　far　above　politics。〃
　He　raised　a　hand；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　sweeping；　manding　resonance。　〃I　admonish　each　of　you　to　remember　House　Vernius。　It　can　happen　to　you；　and　it　will　if　you　are　not　careful。　Where　can　you　place　your　trust　if　each　House　turns　upon　the　other　at　the　slightest　opportunity？〃　He　saw　his　words　strike　home　to　some　of　the　representatives；　but　he　knew　in　his　heart　that　when　he　called　for　a　vote　to　advocate　removal　of　the　blood　price　on　House　Vernius；　few　would　stand　in　his　support。
　Leto　took　a　long　breath。　He　turned；　pretending　to　be　finished；　but　called　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Perhaps　you　would　all　be　better　advised　to　think　about　your　own　situations。　Ask　yourselves　this：　Whom　can　you　really　trust？〃
　He　stalked　toward　the　arched　doorway　of　the　Landsraad　Council　chamber。　There　was　no　applause。。。no　laughter　either。　Only　shocked　silence；　and　he　suspected　he　had　gotten　through　to　some　of　them。　Or　perhaps　he　was　just　being　optimistic。　Duke　Leto　Atreides　had　much　to　learn　about　statecraft　　as　no　doubt　Hawat　would　tell　him　on　the　trip　home　　but　he　vowed　not　to　bee　like　the　lip…service　importers　in　that　chamber。　For　all　of　his　days；　for　as　long　as　he　could　draw　breath；　Leto　would　remain　reliable　and　faithful　and　true。　Eventually　the　others　would　see　that　in　him。。。perhaps　even　his　enemies　would。
　Thufir　Hawat　joined　him　at　the　colonnaded　portals；　and　they　both　passed　out　of　the　enormous　Hall　of　Oratory　as　the　Landsraad　continued　its　business　without　them。
　History　demonstrates　that　the　advancement　of　technology　is　not　a　steady　upward　curve。　There　are　flat　periods；　upward　spurts；　and　even　reversals。
　…Technology　of　the　Imperium；　532nd　Edition
　While　two　shadowy　figures　watched；　a　bland…faced　Dr。　Yungar　passed　a　Suk　scanner　over　the　old　man；　who　lay　ashen…faced　on　the　bed　as　if　drowning　in　voluminous　coverings；　embroidered　sheets；　and　diaphanous　netting。　The　diagnostic　instrument　hummed。
　He　won't　be　needing　his　concubines　ever　again；　Shaddam　thought。
　〃The　Emperor　is　dead；〃　Yungar　announced；　tossing　his　long　iron…gray　ponytail　over　his　shoulder。
　〃Ah；　yes。　At　least　now　he's　at　peace；〃　Shaddam　said　in　a　low；　husky　voice；　though　a　superstitious　chill　ran　down　his　spine。　Had　Elrood　known；　at　the　very　end；　who　had　been　responsible　for　his　demise？　Just　before　death；　the　ancient　man's　reptilian　eyes　had　focused　on　his　son。　With　a　twisting　in　his　gut；　the　Crown　Prince　remembered　the　terrible　day　when　the　Emperor　had　discovered　Shaddam's　plicity　in　the　murder　of　his　elder　son　Fafnir。。。and　how　the　old　man　had　chortled　upon　discovering　that　his　younger　child　had　been　slipping　contraceptives　into　the　food　of　his　own　mother；　Habla；　so　she　couldn't　conceive　another　son　and　rival　to　him。
　Had　Elrood　suspected　this？　Had　he　cursed　his　own　son　and　heir　with　his　dying　thoughts？
　Well；　it　was　certainly　too　late　to　change　his　mind　now。　The　ancient　ruler　was　dead；　at　last；　and　Shaddam　had　been　the　cause　of　it。　No；　not　him。　Fenring。　Let　him　be　the　scapegoat；　if　necessary。　A　Crown　Prince　could　never　admit　such　guilt。
　Soon　he　would　no　longer　be　Crown　Prince　　he　would　be　Emperor；　at　last。　Padishah　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe。　It　was　imperative；　though；　that　he　not　show　his　excitement　or　triumph。　He　would　wait　until　after　the　formal　coronation。
　〃Not　that　this　is　unexpected；〃　Hasimir　Fenring　said　at　his　side；　his　large　head　bowed　low；　weak　chin　tucked　against　his　throat。　〃The　poor　man　has　been　degenerating　for　some　time；　ah…mm…m…m…m。〃
　The　Suk　doctor　folded　his　scanning　instrument　shut　and　slipped　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　tunic。　Everyone　else　had　been　ordered　out　of　the　room：　the　concubines；　the　guards；　even　Chamberlain　Hesban。
　〃Something　odd　about　this　case；　though；〃　Yungar　said。　〃For　days　now　I've　had　a　feeling　of　unease。。。something　more　here　than　an　old　man　dying　of　natural　causes。　We　mus