bh.houseatreides-第98节

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ht　out　an　embroidered　cape　and　unfolded　it。　〃What's　this？　I　never　saw　your　father　wear　it。〃
　Leto　studied　the　design　and　knew　instantly　what　it　was　　the　hawk　of　House　Atreides　embracing　the　Richesian　lamp　of　knowledge。　〃I　believe　that's　his　wedding　cloak；　from　when　he　and　my　mother　were　married。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Rhombur　said；　his　voice　trailing　off　in　embarrassment。　〃Sorry。〃　He　folded　the　cape　and　stuffed　it　back　into　the　box。
　Shaking　his　head；　Leto　took　a　deep　breath。　He'd　known　they　would　encounter　many　such　memory　land　mines；　and　he　would　just　have　to　endure　them。　〃My　father　didn't　choose　to　die　and　leave　me　in　this　position；　Rhombur。　My　mother　made　her　own　choices。　She　could　have　been　a　valued　advisor　to　me。　Under　other　circumstances　I　would　have　weled　her　assistance　and　wise　counsel。　But　instead。。。〃　He　sighed　and　looked　bitterly　over　at　Kailea。　〃As　I　said；　she　made　her　own　choices。〃
　Only　Leto　and　the　warrior　Mentat　knew　the　truth　about　Helena's　plicity　in　the　murder；　and　it　was　a　secret　Leto　vowed　to　carry　with　him　to　his　grave。　With　the　death　of　the　stablemaster　during　interrogation；　Duke　Leto　Atreides　had　fresh；　bright　blood　on　his　hands　　his　first；　but　certainly　not　his　last。　Not　even　Rhombur　or　Kailea　suspected　the　truth。
　He　had　sent　his　mother　out　of　Castle　Caladan　with　two　of　her　servants；　chosen　by　him。　For　her　〃rest　and　well…being；〃　Lady　Helena　had　been　taken　to　the　Eastern　Continent　where　she　would　live　under　primitive　conditions　with　the　Sisters　in　Isolation；　a　retrogressive　religious　mune。　Haughtily；　but　without　bothering　to　demand　explanations　for　her　son's　behavior；　Helena　had　accepted　her　banishment。
　Though　he　put　up　a　strong　front；　Leto　privately　mourned　the　loss　of　his　mother；　and　was　astounded　to　find　himself　without　both　parents　in　the　space　of　a　few　months。　But　Helena　had　mitted　the　most　abhorrent　act　of　betrayal　against　her　own　family；　her　own　House；　and　he　knew　he　could　never　forgive　her；　could　never　see　her　again。　Killing　her　was　out　of　the　question；　the　thought　had　barely　crossed　his　mind。　She　was；　after　all；　his　mother；　and　he　was　not　like　her。　Besides；　getting　her　out　of　his　sight　was　a　practical　matter；　for　he'd　been　left　with　vast　holdings　to　manage；　and　the　welfare　of　the　citizens　of　Caladan　had　priority。　He　needed　to　get　down　to　the　business　of　running　House　Atreides。
　From　a　chest　of　items；　Rhombur　brought　out　a　set　of　old…fashioned　handmade　playing　cards　and　some　of　the　Old　Duke's　awards；　including　military　badges　of　honor；　a　chipped　knife；　and　a　small　bloodstained　banner。　Leto　discovered　seashells；　a　colored　scarf；　an　unsigned　love　poem；　a　lock　of　auburn　hair　（not　Helena's　color）；　then　a　lock　of　blonde　hair；　and　enameled　brass　armbands　designed　for　a　woman；　but　he　had　no　idea　how　to　explain　the　items。
　He　knew　his　father　had　taken　mistresses；　though　Paulus　had　brought　none　of　them　into　the　Castle　as　bound　concubines。　He'd　merely　enjoyed　himself；　and　had　no　doubt　showered　the　women　with　trinkets　or　fabrics　or　sweetmeats。
　Leto　ignored　those　items　and　closed　the　heavy　lid　of　the　box。　Duke　Paulus　was　entitled　to　his　own　memories；　his　past；　and　his　secrets。　None　of　these　mementos　had　any　bearing　on　the　fortunes　of　House　Atreides。　He　needed　to　concern　himself　with　politics　and　business。　Thufir　Hawat；　other　Court　advisors；　and　even　Prince　Rhombur　were　doing　their　best　to　guide　him；　but　Leto　felt　like　a　newborn；　having　to　learn　everything　from　scratch。
　As　the　rain　continued　outside；　Kailea　poured　a　mug　of　the　mulled　wine　and　handed　it　to　Leto；　then　drew　two　more　for　herself　and　her　brother。　Thoughtfully　the　Duke　sipped　it；　savoring　the　spicy　flavor。　Warmth　seeped　into　his　bones；　and　he　smiled　when　he　thanked　her。
　She　looked　down　at　the　odd　paraphernalia　and　adjusted　one　of　the　gold　bs　in　her　deep　copper　hair。　Leto　noticed　that　her　lower　lip　was　trembling。　〃What　is　it；　Kailea？〃
　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　at　her　brother；　then　at　Leto。　〃I'll　never　have　a　chance　to　go　through　my　mother's　things　like　this。　Not　from　the　Grand　Palais；　not　even　the　few　precious　items　she　took　with　her　when　we　fled。〃
　Rhombur　came　forward　and　held　his　sister；　but　she　continued　to　look　at　Leto。　〃My　mother　had　keepsakes　from　the　Emperor　himself；　treasures　he　gave　her　when　she　left　his　service。　She　had　so　many　memories；　so　many　stories　left　to　tell　me。　I　didn't　spend　enough　time　listening　to　her　when　she　was　alive。〃
　〃It'll　be　all　right；〃　Rhombur　said；　trying　to　console　her。　〃We'll　make　our　own　memories。〃
　〃And　we'll　make　them　remember　us；〃　Kailea　said；　her　voice　suddenly　brittle。
　Feeling　sick　inside；　and　deeply　weary；　Leto　rubbed　the　ducal　signet　ring　on　his　finger。　It　still　felt　strange　and　heavy　there；　but　he　knew　he　would　never　remove　it　until　someday　far　in　the　future；　when　he　would　pass　it　to　his　own　son　to　continue　the　traditions　of　House　Atreides。
　Outside；　the　storm　flung　more　rain　at　the　walls　and　windows　of　the　ancient　stone　Castle；　while　the　sea　shushed　a　foamy　lullaby　against　the　cliffs　far　below。　Caladan　felt　very　large　and　overwhelming　around　him；　and　Leto　seemed　incredibly　small。　Though　it　was　still　an　inhospitable　night；　when　the　young　Duke　exchanged　smiles　with　Kailea　and　Rhombur；　he　felt　warm　and　fortable　in　his　home。
　LETO　LEARNED　OF　the　Emperor's　death　as　he　and　three　attendants　were　struggling　to　hang　the　mounted　Salusan　bull's…head　in　the　dining　hall。　Workers　used　ropes　and　pulleys　to　haul　the　monstrous　trophy　onto　a　spot　on　the　previously　unadorned；　highly　polished　walls。
　A　grim　Thufir　Hawat　stood　by；　watching　with　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　Absently；　the　Mentat　touched　the　long　scar　on　his　leg；　a　souvenir　of　the　time　when　he　had　rescued　a　much　younger　Paulus　from　another　rampaging　bull。　This　time；　however；　he　had　not　acted　swiftly　enough。。。。
　Kailea　shuddered　as　she　looked　up　at　the　ugly　creature。　〃It's　going　to　be　hard　to　eat　in　this　hall；　with　that　thing　staring　down　at　us。　I　can　still　see　the　blood　on　its　horns。〃
　Leto　regarded　the　bull's…head　with　an　appraising　eye。　〃I　see　it　as　a　reminder　that　I　must　never　let　my　guard　down。　Even　a　dumb　animal　　albeit　with　the　interference　of　human　conspirators　　can　conquer　the　leader　of　a　Great　House　of　the　Landsraad。〃　He　felt　a　shiver。　〃Think　of　that　lesson；　Kailea。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that's　not　a　very　forting　thought；〃　she　murmured；　her　green　eyes　bright　with　unshed　tears。　Blinking　to　clear　her　vision；　she　turned　back　to　her　own　activities。
　With　a　ridulian　crystal　report　folder　open　before　her　on　the　table；　she　devoted　her　energies　to　studying　the　household　accounts。　Using　what　she　had　learned　in　the　Orb　Office　on　Ix；　Kailea　analyzed　the　ine　streams　for　Atreides　holdings　in　order　to　determine　how　work　and　productivity　were　distributed　on　Caladan's　continents　and　seas。　She　and　Leto　had　been　discussing　the　matter　in　depth；　despite　their　youth。　The　exiled　Kailea　Vernius　had　an　excellent　head　for　business；　Leto　was　delighted　to　discover。
　〃Being　a　good　Duke　is　not　all　swordplay　and　bullfighting；〃　Thufir　Hawat　had　told　him　once；　long　before　all　the　latest　troubles　and　challenges。　〃Management　of　little　things　is　often　a　more　difficult　battle。〃　For　some　reason　the　statement　had　stuck　in　Leto's　mind；　and　now　he　was　discovering　the　wisdom　of　the　words。。。。
　When　the　Imperial　messenger　marched　into　the　dining　hall；　fresh　off　a　Guild　Heighliner；　he　stood　tall；　formally　dressed　in　scarlet…and…gold　Imperial　colors。　〃I　request　an　audience　with　Duke　Leto　Atreides。〃
　Leto；　Rhombur；　and　Kailea　all　froze；　remembering　the　horrible　news　they'd　received　the　last　time　a　crier　had　entered　the　great　receiving　room。　Leto　prayed　that　nothing　had　happened　to　the　fugitive　Dominic　Vernius　in　his　continued　flight。　But　this　official　messenger　wore　House　Corrino　colors；　and　looked　as　if　he　had　delivered　his　announcement　a　dozen　times　already。
　〃It　is　my　duty　to　announce　to　all　members　of　the　Great　and　Minor　Houses　of　the　Landsraad　that　the　Padishah　Emperor　Elrood　Corrino　IX　has　died；　struck　down　by　an　extended　illness　in　the　one　hundred　thirty…eighth　year　of　his　reign。　May　history　fondly　remember　his　long　rule；　and　may　his　soul　find　eternal　peace。〃
　Leto　stepped　back；　astounded。　One　of　the　workers　almost　let　the　mounted　bull's…head　slip　from　its　position　on　the　wall；　but　Hawat　shouted　for　the　man　to　attend　to　his　tasks。
　The　Emperor　had　been　a　fixture　in　the　galaxy　for　two　normal　lifetimes。　Elrood　lived　on　Kaitain；　surrounded　by　guards；　protected　from　all　threats；　and　heavily　addicted　to　the　geriatric　spice。　Leto　had　never　considered　that　the　old　man　might　die　someday；　though　in　the　past　year　or　two　he'd　heard　that　Elrood　had　been　growing　increasingly　frail。
　Leto　turned　to　the　messenger；　nodded　formally。　〃Please　give　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　my　condolences。　When　is　the　funeral　of　state　to　be　held？　House　Atreides　will　attend；　of　course。〃
　〃Not　necessary；〃　the　Courier　replied　in　a　crisp　voice。　〃At　the　request　of　the　throne；　there　will　only　be　a　small　private　ceremony　for　the　immediate　family。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃However；　Shaddam　Corrino；　soon　to　be　crowned　Padishah　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe；　Shaddam　IV；　graciously　requests　your　appearance；　and　your　oath　of　fealty；　when　he　formally　ascends　to　the　Golden　Lion　Throne。　Details　of　the　coronation