bh.houseatreides-第111章

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　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　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　in