bh.houseatreides-第108章
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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
