bh.houseatreides-第117章
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the animal first。 The side gunner leaned out of his open window； his sunburned face smiling。 He fired a near…invisible bolt of white…orange fire from the lasgun； which sliced the desert ass into slumping hunks of meat； several of which tumbled down the steep cliffside； while the head and forelegs lay steaming on the path。
Then lasgun explosions began to track down the rock wall； sparking chips of stone that flew off。 Barely able to keep their footing； Kynes and Frieth ran pell…mell。 She threw him against the wall behind the barest protrusion of lava rock； and the lasgun bolts ricocheted off； missing them by centimeters。 Kynes could smell the fresh ozone and stone smoke in the air。
The 'thopter came closer。 The side gunner leaned out； aiming his weapon； choosing this kind of sport rather than letting the pilot target them with the heavier weaponry built into the craft itself。
At that moment Kynes's guardian troops opened fire。
From hidden battlements in the camouflaged cliff wall near the cave； Fremen gunners shot the armored hull of the 'thopter。 Brilliant lasers dazzled the cockpit viewport。 One unseen defender used an old…fashioned artillery launcher； shoulder…mounted； to fire small explosives obtained from smugglers。 The artillery shell struck the underbelly of the scout craft； making it lurch and rock in the air。
The sudden jolt knocked the precariously balanced side gunner from his seat。 He tumbled out of the craft； screaming； and fell through the air to shatter in an explosive spray of red flesh against the rocks far below； his abandoned lasgun rifle clattered after him。
Frieth huddled against the cliff wall； holding Kynes close； astonished at the unexpected Fremen defense。 He could tell she had expected to fight the attackers single…handedly but he had other protectors as well。
As the Harkonnen 'thopter reeled in the sky； Fremen defenders opened fire on its vulnerable engine ponents。 The air smelled of fire and burned metal。 The pilot desperately attempted to stabilize； while black smoke spewed from exhaust ports and lifeblood lubricants sizzled out of severed transport lines。 The craft spun； whined； and lumbered toward the ground。
The 'thopter struck the side of the cliff； split open； and continued to scrape down the rock wall。 In vain； the articulated wings kept beating； twitching like involuntary muscles； until the craft smashed into the base of the ridge。
〃I know of no sietch up here；〃 Frieth said； breathless and confused。 〃Who are these people？ What tribe claims them？〃
〃Troops of mine； defending the project。〃
Below； he noticed that the Harkonnen pilot had survived the crash。 Part of the canopy popped open； and the wounded man began to crawl out； holding one dangling arm。 Within moments camouflaged Fremen troops boiled out of the rocks and swarmed over the wreckage。
The pilot tried to duck back into the dubious safety of his craft； but two Fremen pulled him out。 A flash of blue…white crysknife； then a splatter of crimson； and the pilot was dead。 Watermen consecrated body handlers whisked away the corpse to where its water could be recovered。 Kynes knew any moisture or fertilizer chemicals derived from this victim would be devoted to the Plaster Basin project； rather than to enriching any particular family unit。
〃But what could be so important up here？〃 Frieth asked。 〃What is it you are doing； husband？〃
He rewarded her with a sparkling smile。 〃You will see。 I wanted you to be our first visitor。〃
Frieth hurried back to retrieve their child from his sheltered hiding place。 She picked up the baby； checked him for injuries。 Young Liet had not even begun to cry。 〃He's a true Fremen；〃 she said proudly； holding him up for Kynes to see。
Below； organized teams began dismantling the ruined 'thopter； stripping away the metal； the engines； the stash of supplies。 Younger Fremen crawled up the dangerous cliff face to retrieve the fallen lasgun rifle。
Kynes led his wife past the remains of the butchered kulon。 He gave a sad sigh。 〃We'll have meat at least that's a rarity。 And I think there's good cause for celebration； once we get to the cave。〃
The Fremen worked furiously to scour away all traces of the crash； dragging the heavy ponents into hidden tunnels； repairing scars in the rock； even bing the sand on the desert floor。 Though Kynes had been with these people for some time； their hardened efficiency still astonished him。
Striding in the lead now； he led Frieth to the low； shielded opening shortly past noon。 The sun burned down； its line of yellow fire sharpening the jagged crest of the mountains。 Drifting out of the cave； the smell of cool； rock…moist air was like a refreshing breath。
Kynes plucked out his nose plugs and inhaled deeply； gesturing for his wife to do the same； though she seemed reluctant to shuck her desert survival instincts。 Then she grinned in amazement as she looked deep into the shadows。 〃I smell water； my husband。〃
He took her arm。 〃e with me。 This is something I want you to see。〃
As they rounded a sharp corner whose purpose was to block light and evaporation from the grotto； Kynes gestured magnanimously to indicate the Eden he had made in Plaster Basin。
Yellow glowglobes hovered at the ceiling。 The air was rich with humidity； redolent with the scents of flowers； shrubs； trees。 The sweet sound of running water chuckled from narrow grooved troughs。 In a carefully arranged appearance of randomness； flower beds burst with magenta and orange blossoms。
Irrigation systems trickled droplets into algae…packed tanks； while fans stirred the air to keep the moisture level constant。 The grotto was alive with flittering patches of color； butterflies； moths； and bees； heady with the treasure of pollen and nectar around them。
Frieth gasped； and for a moment Kynes saw through the porcelain mask of her face； saw much more than he had ever noticed before。 〃This is paradise； my love！〃
A hummingbird hovered in front of her with a tiny blur of wings； then darted off again。 In their own euphoria Fremen gardeners moved about； tending the plants。
〃One day gardens like this will grow all across Dune； out in the open air。 This is a showcase with growing crops and plants and open water； fruit trees； decorative flowers； green grasses。 We have here a symbol for all Fremen； to show them my vision。 Seeing this； they'll understand what they can acplish。〃
Moisture ran down the walls of the cavern； touching parched rock that had known nothing but thirst for uncounted eons。 〃Even I did not truly prehend；〃 Frieth said； 〃。 。 。 until now。〃
〃Do you see why all this is worth fighting for？ And dying for？〃
Kynes walked around； inhaling the scents of the leaves； sniffing the perfume of the flowers。 He found a tree from which dangled orange globes of ripening fruit。 He plucked one； large and golden。 None of the workers would question his right to the fresh produce。
〃A portygul；〃 he said； 〃one of the fruits I was talking about back at Red Wall Sietch。〃 He gave it to Frieth as a gift； and she held it reverently in her tanned hands as the greatest treasure she had ever been offered。
Kynes waved expansively at the enclosed grotto。 〃Remember this well； my wife。 All the Fremen must see this。 Dune； our Dune； can be like this in only a few centuries。〃
Even innocents carry within them their own guilt in their own way。 No one makes it through life without paying； in one fashion or another。
…LADY HELENA ATREIDES；
her personal journals
Immediately after hearing the announcement of the first Imperial coronation ceremony in almost a century and a half； House Atreides began work on their family preparations。 From dawn until the fall of darkness； the servants in Castle Caladan went from wardrobe to storeroom； gathering the clothing； trinkets； and gifts necessary for the formal journey to the Imperial Court。
Meanwhile； Leto wandered through his rooms； trying to refine his plan and decide the best way to obtain a dispensation for Rhombur and Kailea。 The new Emperor Shaddam must hear my plea。
His protocol advisors had bickered for hours over the proper colors of capes； armbands； and merh…silk tunics。。。whether the jewelry should be gaudy or understated； expens
