fh.godemperorofdune-第85章

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extended　out　across　the　sparsely　planted　sand　toward　the　troop；　ending　in　a　ragged　edge　of　broken　paving。
　A　robed　delegation　waited　near　the　building　of　the　green　flag；　standing　there　expectantly　with　the　Fish　Speaker　messenger　Nayla　had　sent　on　ahead。　Idaho　counted　eight　in　the　delegation；　all　men　in　what　appeared　to　be　authentic　Fremen　robes　of　dark　brown。　A　green　headband　could　be　glimpsed　beneath　the　hood　on　one　of　the　delegation…the　Naib；　no　doubt。　Children　waited　to　one　side　with　flowers。　Black…hooded　women　could　be　seen　peering　from　side…streets　in　the　background。　Idaho　found　the　whole　scene　distressing。
　〃Let's　get　it　over　with；〃　Siona　said。
　Nayla　nodded　and　led　the　way　down　the　slope　onto　the　street。　Siona　and　Idaho　stayed　a　few　paces　behind　her。　The　rest　of　the　troop　straggled　along　after　them；　silent　now　and　peering　around　with　undisguised　curiosity。
　As　Nayla　neared　the　delegation；　the　one　with　the　green　headband　stepped　forward　and　bowed。　He　moved　like　an　old　man　but　Idaho　saw　that　he　was　not　old；　barely　into　his　middle　years；　the　cheeks　smooth　and　unwrinkled；　a　stubby　nose　with　no　scars　from　breath…filter　tubes；　and　the　eyes！　The　eyes　revealed　definite　pupils；　not　the　all…blue　of　spice　addiction。　They　were　brown　eyes。　Brown　eyes　in　a　Fremen！
　〃I　am　Garun；〃　the　man　said　as　Nayla　stopped　in　front　of　him。　〃I　am　Naib　of　this　place。　I　give　you　a　Fremen　wele　to　Tuono。〃
　Nayla　gestured　over　her　shoulder　at　Siona　and　Idaho；　who　had　stopped　just　behind　her。　〃Are　quarters　prepared　for　your　guests？〃
　〃We　Fremen　are　noted　for　our　hospitality；〃　Garun　said。　〃All　is　ready。〃
　Idaho　sniffed　at　the　sour　smells　and　sounds　of　this　place。　He　glanced　through　open　windows　of　the　flag…topped　building　on　his　right。　The　Atreides　banner　flying　over　that？　The　window　opened　into　an　auditorium　with　low　ceiling；　a　band…shell　at　the　far　end　enclosing　a　small　platform。　He　saw　rows　of　seats；　maroon　carpeting　on　the　floor。　It　had　all　the　look　of　a　stage　setting；　a　place　to　entertain　tourists。
　The　sound　of　shuffling　feet　brought　Idaho's　attention　back　to　Garun。　Children　were　pressing　forward　around　the　delegation；　extending　clumps　of　garish　red　flowers　in　their　grimy　hands。　The　flowers　were　wilted。
　Garun　addressed　himself　to　Siona；　correctly　identifying　the　gold　piping　of　Fish　Speaker　mand　in　her　uniform。
　〃Will　you　wish　a　performance　of　our　Fremen　rituals？〃　he　asked。　〃The　music；　perhaps？　The　dance？〃
　Nayla　accepted　a　bunch　of　flowers　from　one　of　the　children；　sniffed　them　and　sneezed。
　Another　urchin　extended　flowers　toward　Siona；　lifting　a　wide…eyed　stare　toward　her。　She　accepted　the　flowers　without　looking　at　the　child。　Idaho　merely　waved　the　children　aside　as　they　approached　him。　They　hesitated；　staring　up　at　him；　then　scurried　around　him　toward　the　rest　of　the　troop。
　Garun　spoke　to　Idaho。　〃If　you　give　them　a　few　coins；　they　will　not　bother　you。〃
　Idaho　shuddered。　Was　this　the　training　for　Fremen　children？
　Garun　returned　his　attention　to　Siona。　With　Nayla　listening；　Garun　began　explaining　the　layout　of　his　village。
　Idaho　moved　away　from　them　down　the　street；　noting　how　glances　flicked　toward　him　and　then　avoided　his　gaze。　He　felt　deeply　offended　by　the　surface　decorations　on　the　buildings；　none　of　it　disguising　the　evidence　of　decay。　He　stared　in　an　open　doorway　at　the　auditorium。　There　was　a　harshness　in　Tuono；　a　struggling　something　behind　the　wilting　flowers　and　the　servile　tone　of　Garun's　voice。　In　another　time　and　on　another　planet；　this　would　have　been　a　donkey…in…the…street　village　rope…belted　peasants　pressing　forward　with　petitions。　He　could　hear　the　whine　of　supplication　in　Garun's　voice。　These　were　not　Fremen！　These　poor　creatures　lived　on　the　margins；　trying　to　retain　parts　of　an　ancient　wholeness。　And　all　the　while；　that　lost　reality　slipped　farther　and　farther　from　their　grasp。　What　had　Leto　created　here？　These　Museum　Fremen　were　lost　to　everything　except　a　bare　existence　and　the　rote　mouthing　of　old　words　which　they　did　not　understand　and　which　they　did　not　even　pronounce　correctly！
　Returning　to　Siona；　Idaho　bent　to　study　the　cut　of　Garun's　brown　robe；　seeing　a　tightness　in　it　dictated　by　a　need　to　conserve　fabric。　The　gray　slick　of　a　stillsuit　could　be　seen　underneath；　exposed　to　sunlight　which　no　real　Fremen　would　ever　have　let　touch　his　stillsuit　that　way。　Idaho　looked　at　the　rest　of　the　delegation；　noting　an　identical　parsimonious　treatment　of　fabric。　It　betrayed　their　emotional　bent。　Such　garments　allowed　no　expansive　gestures；　no　freedom　of　movement。　The　robes　were　tight　and　confining　in　the　way　of　these　entire　people！
　Disgust　propelling　him；　Idaho　strode　forward　abruptly　and　parted　Garun's　robe　to　look　at　the　stillsuit。　Just　as　he　suspected！　The　suit　was　another　sham…no　arms　to　it；　no　boot…pumps！
　Garun　pulled　back；　putting　a　hand　to　the　knife　hilt　Idaho　had　exposed　at　the　man's　belt。　〃Here！　What're　you　doing？〃　Garun　demanded；　his　voice　querulous。　〃You　don't　touch　a　Fremen　thus！〃
　〃You；　a　Fremen？〃　Idaho　demanded。　〃I　lived　with　Fremen！　I　fought　by　their　sides　against　Harkonnens！　I　died　with　Fremen！　You？　You're　a　sham！〃
　Garun's　knuckles　went　white　on　the　knife　haft。　He　addressed　himself　to　Siona。　〃Who　is　this　man？〃
　Nayla　spoke　up：　〃This　is　Duncan　Idaho。〃
　〃The　ghola？〃　Garun　turned　to　look　at　Idaho's　face。　〃We　have　never　seen　your　like　here　before。〃
　Idaho　felt　himself　almost　overe　with　desire　to　cleanse　this　place　even　if　it　cost　him　his　life；　this　diminished　life　which　could　be　repeated　endlessly　by　people　who　had　no　real　concerns　for　him。　An　older　model；　yes！　But　this　was　no　Fremen。
　〃Draw　that　knife　or　take　your　hand　off　it；〃　Idaho　said。
　Garun　jerked　his　hand　away　from　the　knife。　〃It　is　not　a　real　knife；〃　he　said。　〃Only　for　decoration。〃　His　voice　became　eager。　〃But　we　have　real　knives；　even　crysknives！　They　are　kept　locked　in　the　display　cases　to　preserve　them。〃
　Idaho　could　not　help　himself。　He　threw　his　head　back　in　laughter。　Siona　smiled；　but　Nayla　looked　thoughtful　and　the　rest　of　the　Fish　Speaker　troop　drew　into　a　close；　watchful　circle　around　them。
　The　laughter　had　an　odd　effect　on　Garun。　He　lowered　his　head　and　clasped　his　hands　tightly　together；　but　not　before　Idaho　saw　them　trembling。　When　Garun　peered　upward　once　more；　it　was　to　look　at　Idaho　from　beneath　heavy　brows。　Idaho　felt　abruptly　sobered。　It　was　as　though　some　terrible　boot　had　crushed　Garun's　ego　into　fearful　subservience。　There　was　watchful　waiting　in　the　man's　eyes。　And　for　no　reason　he　could　explain；　Idaho　remembered　a　passage　from　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible。　He　asked　himself：　Are　these　the　meek　who　will　outwait　us　all　and　inherit　the　universe？
　Garun　cleared　his　throat；　then：　〃Perhaps　the　ghola　Duncan　Idaho　will　witness　our　ways　and　our　ritual　and　judge　them？〃
　Idaho　felt　shamed　by　the　plaintive　request。　He　spoke　without　thinking：　〃I　will　teach　you　anything　Fremen　that　I　know。〃　He　looked　up　to　see　Nayla　scowling　at　him。　〃It　will　help　to　pass　the　time；〃　he　said。　〃And　who　knows？　It　may　return　something　of　the　true　Fremen　to　this　land。〃
　Siona　said：　〃We've　no　need　to　play　old　cultish　games！　Take　us　to　our　quarters。〃
　Nayla　lowered　her　head　in　embarrassment　and　spoke　without　looking　at　Siona。　〃mander；　there　is　a　thing　I　have　not　ventured　to　tell　you。〃
　〃That　you　must　make　sure　we　stay　in　this　filthy　place；〃　Siona　said。
　〃Oh；　no！〃　Nayla　looked　up　at　Siona's　face。　〃Where　could　you　go？　The　Wall　cannot　be　climbed　and　there　is　only　the　river　beyond　it；　anyway。　And　in　the　other　direction；　it　is　the　Sareer。　Oh；　no。。。it　is　something　else。〃　Nayla　shook　her　head。
　〃Out　with　it！〃　Siona　snapped。
　〃I　am　under　the　strictest　orders；　mander；　which　I　dare　not　disobey。〃　Nayla　glanced　at　the　other　members　of　the　troop　then　back　to　Siona。　〃You　and　the。。。Duncan　Idaho　are　to　be　quartered　together。〃
　〃My　father's　orders？〃
　〃Lady　mander；　they　are　said　to　be　the　orders　of　the　God　Emperor　himself　and　we　dare　not　disobey。〃
　Siona　looked　full　at　Idaho。　〃You　will　remember　my　warning；　Duncan；　when　last　we　spoke　at　the　Citadel？〃
　〃My　hands　are　mine　to　do　with　as　I　wish；〃　Idaho　snarled。　〃I　don't　think　you　have　any　doubts　about　my　wishes！〃
　She　turned　away　from　him　after　a　curt　nod　and　looked　at　Gar