bh.houseatreides-第99节

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d　your　oath　of　fealty；　when　he　formally　ascends　to　the　Golden　Lion　Throne。　Details　of　the　coronation　ceremony　are　being　arranged。〃
　Leto　glanced　briefly　at　Thufir　Hawat　and　replied；　〃It　shall　be　done。〃
　With　a　curt　nod；　the　messenger　said；　〃When　the　protocol　has　been　set　and　all　schedules　are　made；　proper　word　will　be　brought　to　Caladan。〃　He　bowed；　sweeping　his　scarlet…and…gold　cape　around　his　arms；　and　spun　about　with　a　neat　click　of　his　shoes。　He　marched　back　out　of　the　hall；　bound　for　a　flitter　that　would　take　him　back　to　the　spaceport　for　his　trip　to　the　next　Imperial　planet；　where　he　would　deliver　his　report　again。
　〃Well；　uh。。。that　was　good　news；〃　Rhombur　said　sourly。　His　face　was　pale　but　hard。　He　stood　quietly　in　the　doorway；　absorbing　the　information。　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　the　Emperor's　petty　jealousy　and　intervention；　my　family　could　have　recovered　from　the　crisis　on　Ix。　The　Landsraad　would　have　sent　help。〃
　〃Elrood　didn't　want　us　to　recover；〃　Kailea　said；　glancing　up　from　her　accounting　records。　〃I'm　just　sorry　my　mother　couldn't　have　lived　to　hear　those　tidings。〃
　Leto's　lips　turned　upward　in　a　smile　of　guarded　optimism。　〃Wait；　this　gives　us　an　unexpected　opportunity。　Think　about　it。　Elrood　alone　bore　personal　animosity　against　House　Vernius。　He　and　your　mother　had　their　painful　past；　which　we　know　to　be　the　true　reason　behind　his　refusal　to　erase　the　blood　price　on　your　family。　It　was　personal。〃
　Standing　under　the　bull's…head；　Hawat　looked　closely　at　Leto。　He　listened　in　silence；　waiting　to　see　what　his　new　Duke　would　suggest。
　〃I've　tried　speaking　to　the　Landsraad　Council；〃　Leto　said；　〃but　they're　useless；　nonmittal。　They　won't　do　anything　to　help　us。　But　my　distaff　cousin　Shaddam。。。〃　He　passed　his　tongue　over　the　inside　of　his　lower　lip。　〃I've　only　met　him　three　times；　but　my　maternal　grandmother　was　also　a　child　of　Elrood's。　I　can　claim　blood　ties。　When　Shaddam　bees　the　new　Emperor；　I　will　petition　him　to　offer　you　amnesty　as　a　gesture　of　forgiveness。　When　I　swear　the　eternal　loyalty　of　House　Atreides；　I　will　ask　him　to　remember　the　great　history　of　House　Vernius。〃
　〃Why　would　he　assent　to　that？〃　Kailea　wanted　to　know。　〃What's　the　advantage　for　him？〃
　〃It　would　be　the　right　thing　to　do；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃The　fair　thing。〃　His　sister　looked　at　him　as　if　he　had　lost　his　mind。
　〃He'll　do　it　to　establish　the　tenor　of　his　reign；〃　Leto　said。　〃Any　new　Emperor　wants　to　create　an　identity；　show　how　he's　different　from　his　predecessor；　not　locked　into　old　ways　and　old　decisions。　Shaddam　just　might　be　in　a　forgiving　mood。　Word　has　it　that　he　was　not　on　the　best　of　terms　with　his　father　anyway；　and　he'll　certainly　want　to　show　his　own　colors　after　more　than　a　century　under　Elrood。〃
　Kailea　threw　herself　into　Leto's　arms；　and　he　hugged　her　awkwardly。　〃It　would　be　so　wonderful　to　have　our　freedom　back；　Leto　　and　our　family　holdings！　Maybe　there's　something　we　can　salvage　from　Ix　after　all。〃
　〃Let's　all　keep　our　hopes　up；　Kailea；〃　Rhombur　said　with　cautious　optimism。　〃Try　to　envision　it；　and　it　just　might　happen。〃
　〃We　must　not　be　afraid　to　ask；〃　Leto　said。
　〃All　right；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃If　anyone　can　acplish　this；　it's　you；　my　friend。〃
　Fiery　with　determination　and　optimism；　Leto　began　to　develop　plans　for　his　formal　procession　to　Kaitain。　〃We'll　do　something　they　won't　expect；〃　he　said。　〃Rhombur　and　I　will　show　up　for　the　coronation；　together。〃
　He　met　the　Mentat　advisor's　alarmed　gaze。　〃It　is　dangerous　to　bring　the　son　of　Vernius；　m'Lord。〃
　〃And　precisely　what　they　will　not　expect。〃
　What　senses　do　we　lack　that　we　cannot　see　or　hear　another　world　all　around　us？
　…The　Orange　Catholic　Bible
　Some　considered　the　rocky　wilderness　of　Forest　Guard　Station　to　be　beautiful；　a　pristine　and　natural　wonderland。　But　Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen　disliked　being　so　far　from　enclosed　buildings；　sharp　angles；　metal；　and　plaz。　The　cold　air　smelled　harsh　and　unpleasant　without　the　familiar　fumes　of　industry；　lubricants；　and　machinery。　Too　raw；　too　hostile。
　The　Baron　knew　the　importance　of　their　destination；　though；　and　entertained　himself　by　watching　the　even　greater　disfort　exhibited　by　his　twisted　Mentat。　With　a　dirty　robe　and　mussed　hair；　Piter　de　Vries　struggled　to　keep　up。　Though　his　mind　operated　like　a　powerful　machine；　his　body　was　pampered；　scrawny；　and　weak。
　〃Everything　is　so　primitive　out　here；　my　Baron；　so　filthy　and　cold；〃　de　Vries　said；　his　eyes　feral。　〃Are　you　certain　we　have　to　go　this　far？　Have　we　no　alternative；　other　than　jaunting　out　into　the　forest？〃
　〃Some　people　pay　dearly　to　visit　places　like　this；〃　the　Baron　said。　〃They　call　them　resorts。〃
　〃Piter；　shut　your　mouth　and　keep　up　with　us；〃　Rabban　said。　They　trudged　up　a　steep　hillside　toward　an　ice…glazed　and　cave…pocked　wall　of　sandstone。
　Scowling；　the　Mentat　returned　the　jab　with　his　own　barbed　words。　〃Isn't　this　the　place　where　that　little　boy　bested　you　and　all　your　hunting　team；　Rabban？〃
　The　Baron's　nephew　turned　back；　his　thick…lidded　eyes　staring　at　de　Vries；　and　growled；　〃I'll　hunt　you　next　time　if　you　don't　watch　your　tongue。〃
　〃Your　uncle's　priceless　Mentat？〃　de　Vries　said　in　a　carefree　tone。　〃But　how　would　he　possibly　replace　me？〃
　〃He　has　a　point；〃　the　Baron　agreed；　with　a　chuckle。
　Rabban　muttered　something　to　himself。
　Earlier；　the　Baron's　guards　and　hunting　experts　had　bed　the　isolated　hunting　preserve；　a　security　check　so　that　the　three　men　could　walk　alone；　without　their　usual　entourage。　Carrying　a　maula　pistol　on　his　hip　and　a　heat…scattering　rifle　slung　over　his　shoulder；　Rabban　insisted　that　he　could　take　care　of　any　gaze　hounds　or　other　predators　that　might　attack。　The　Baron　didn't　share　such　plete　confidence　in　his　nephew；　considering　the　fact　that　a　small　boy　had　indeed　outwitted　him　　but　at　least　out　here　they　could　stay　away　from　prying　eyes。
　At　the　top　of　a　bluff　the　three　of　them　rested　on　a　ledge；　then　ascended　another　slope。　Rabban　led　the　way；　clawing　aside　thick　scrub　brush　until　they　reached　more　exposed　sandstone。　There；　a　low　crack　yielded　a　black　space　between　crumbling　stone　and　the　ground。
　〃It's　down　here；〃　Rabban　said。　〃e　on。〃
　The　Baron　knelt　and　shined　a　ring…light　into　the　opening　of　a　cave。　〃Follow　me；　Piter。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　spelunker；〃　the　Mentat　replied。　〃Besides；　I'm　tired。〃
　〃You're　just　not　physically　fit　enough；〃　the　Baron　countered　as　he　took　a　deep　breath　to　feel　his　own　muscles。　〃You　need　more　exercise。　Keep　yourself　in　shape。〃
　〃But　this　isn't　what　you　purchased　me　for；　my　Baron。〃
　〃I　purchased　you　to　do　anything　I　tell　you　to　do。〃　He　bent　and　crawled　through　the　opening；　the　tiny　but　powerful　beam　of　light　on　his　finger　probed　the　darkness　ahead。
　Though　the　Baron　tried　to　maintain　his　physique　in　a　perfect　condition；　he　had　been　plagued　with　body　aches　and　unexpected　weakness　over　the　past　year。　No　one　had　noticed　　or　perhaps　no　one　had　dared　mention　　the　fact　that　he'd　also　begun　to　gain　weight；　through　no　change　in　his　diet。　His　skin　had　a　thicker；　pastier　appearance。　He　had　considered　discussing　his　problem　with　medical　experts；　maybe　even　a　Suk　doctor；　no　matter　the　incredible　expense　of　consulting　one。　Life；　it　seemed；　was　an　endless　string　of　problems。
　〃It　smells　like　bear　piss　in　here；〃　de　Vries　plained　as　he　squirmed　through　the　hole。
　〃How　would　you　know　what　bear　piss　smells　like？〃　Rabban　said；　pushing　the　Mentat　deeper　inside　to　make　room　for　himself。
　〃I've　smelled　you。　A　wild　animal　can't　be　any　more　rank　than　that。〃
　The　three　men　stood　up　inside；　and　the　Baron　illuminated　a　small　glowglobe；　which　floated　up　to　shine　against　the　near　wall　in　the　back　of　the　low　cave。　The　place　was　rough　and　moss…covered；　smudged　with　dust；　showing　no　sign　of　human　habitation。
　〃Quite　a　good　mimetic　projection；　isn't　it？〃　the　Baron　said。　〃The　best　work　our　people　have　done。〃　He　reached　forward　with　a　ring…studded　hand；　and　the　image　of　the　wall　blurred；　became　indistinct。
　Rabban　located　a　slight　protrusion　of　rock　and　pushed；　the　entire　rear　wall　rumbled　back　and　fell　away　to　reveal　an　access　tube。
　〃A　very　special　hiding　place；〃　the　Baron　said。
　Lights　flared　on；　illuminating　a　passage　that　led　into　the　heart　of　the　bluff。　After　they　stepped　inside　and　sealed　the　false…wall　projection　behind　them；　de　Vries　looked　around　in　amazement。　〃You　kept　this　a　secret　even　from　me；　my　Baron？〃
　〃Rabban　found　this　cave　on　one　of　his　hunts。　We've。。。made　some　modifications　using　a　new　technology；　an　exciting　technique。　I　think　you'll　see　the　possibilities；　once　I　explain　it　all　to　you。〃
　〃Quite　an　elaborate　hiding　place；〃　the　Mentat　agreed。　〃One　can't　be　too　careful　about　spies。〃
　The　Baron　raised　his　hands　toward　the　ceiling　and　shouted　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　〃Damn　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　to　the　cesspits！　No　　make　that　to　the　lowest　depths　of　a　filth…encrusted；　lava…blasted　hell…grotto！〃
　The　treasonous　outburst　shocked　even　de　Vries；　and　the　Baron　chuckled。　〃Here；　Piter　　and　nowhere　else　on　Giedi　Prime　　I'm　not　in　the　least　worried　about　eavesdroppers。〃
　He　led　them　into　a　main　chamber。　〃We　three　could　hide　here　and　resist　an　attack　even　from　contraband　atomics。　No　one　would　find　us。　Nullentropy　bins　hold　supplies　and　weapons　to　last　forever。　I　hav