bh.houseatreides-第128章
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ter what。〃
Kitebirds flew overhead； their songs like broken crystal。 Anirul looked up into the cloudless sky and watched them。 〃And what if a vengeful Tleilaxu assassinates him； even if the Emperor pardons him？ What if a Harkonnen sees an opportunity to create an 'accident'？ Leto Atreides can ill afford to lose the protection of his noble status。 We need to keep him alive； and preferably in his position of power。
〃I see your point； Anirul。〃
〃This young Duke must be protected at all costs and to begin； we must protect the status of his Great House。 He cannot lose this trial。〃
〃Hm…m…m； there may be a way；〃 Margot said with a tight…upped smile。 She spoke in a low； musing tone。 〃Hasimir might even admire my idea； if he learns of it； despite his instinctive opposition。 Of course we don't dare breathe a word of it to him； or to Shaddam。 But it will throw all the players into plete confusion。〃
Anirul waited in silence； but her eyes burned with bright curiosity。 Margot moved closer to her Bene Gesserit panion。 〃Our suspicion of。。。the Tleilaxu connection。 We can use that for a convoluted bluff within a bluff。 But can we do it without harming Shaddam or House Corrino？〃
Anirul stiffened。 〃My future husband and even the Golden Lion Throne itself are secondary to our breeding program。〃
〃Of course you're right。〃 Margot nodded in resignation； as if shocked at her own gaffe。 〃But how should we proceed？〃
〃We begin with a message to Leto。〃
Truth is a chameleon。
…Zensunni Aphorism
On the second morning of Leto's confinement in Landsraad Prison on Kaitain； an official arrived with important documents for him to sign the official demand for a Trial by Forfeiture； and Leto's formal surrender of all property held by House Atreides。 It was the moment of truth for him； the point at which he had to certify the dangerous course of action he had demanded。
Though undeniably a prison； the cell had two rooms； a fortable sling couch； a desk made of polished Ecaz jacaranda； a filmbook reader； and other fine appointments。 These so…called courtesies had been granted to him because of his status in the Landsraad。 No leader of a Great House would ever be treated as a mon criminal at least； not until he either lost everything through due process； or went renegade like House Vernius。 Leto knew he might never again be surrounded by such elegant trappings； unless he could prove his innocence。
His cell was warm； the food sufficient and palatable； the bed fortable though he had hardly slept at all while preparing for his ordeal。 He had little hope of a swift and simple resolution to this matter。 The Courier could only be bringing more problems。
The official； a Landsraad courtech with security clearance； wore a brown…and…teal Landsraad uniform with silver epaulets。 He referred to Leto as 〃Monsieur Atreides；〃 without the customary ducal title； as if the forfeiture documents had already been processed。
Leto chose not to make a point of this faux pas； though officially he remained a Duke until the papers were signed and the sentence thumbprint…sealed by the magistrates of the court。 In all the centuries of the Imperium； Trial by Forfeiture had been invoked previously only three times； in two of those cases； the defendant had lost； and the accused Houses were ruined。
Leto hoped to beat those odds。 He could not allow House Atreides to crumble to dust less than a year after his father's death。 That would earn him a permanent place in the Landsraad annals as the most inpetent House leader in recorded history。
Wearing his black…and…red Atreides uniform； Leto took a seat at a blueplaz table。 Thufir Hawat； acting as Mentat…advisor； lowered himself ponderously into a chair beside his Duke。 Together； they examined the sheaf of legal documents。 Like most formal matters of the Imperium； the evidence forms and trial documents were inscribed on microthin sheets of ridulian…crystal paper； permanent records that could last for thousands of years。
At their touch； each sheet illuminated so that Leto and Hawat could study the fine text。 The old Mentat used his skills to imprint each page onto his memory； he would absorb and prehend it all in greater detail later。 The documents spelled out precisely what was to occur during the preparations and the actual trial。 Each page bore the identification marks of various officers of the court； including Leto's own attorneys。
As part of the unorthodox procedure； the crew of the Atreides frigate had been released and permitted to return to Caladan； though many loyal followers remained on Kaitain to offer their silent support。 Any individual or collective culpability had been shouldered entirely by the mander； Duke Atreides。 In addition； the guaranteed sanctuary of the Vernius children would continue； regardless of the status of the House。 Even with the worst possible oute of the trial； Leto could take fort in that small victory。 His friends would remain safe。
Under the forfeiture provision which even his estranged mother could not countermand from her retreat with the Sisters in Isolation Duke Leto surrendered all of his family assets （including the House atomics and stewardship of the planet Caladan itself） to the general supervision of the Landsraad Council； while he prepared for a trial before his peers。
A trial that might be rigged against him。
Win or lose； though； Leto knew he had averted a major war and saved billions of lives。 His action had been the right one； regardless of the consequences to himself。 Old Duke Paulus himself would have made no other choice； given the alternatives。
〃Yes； Thufir； this is all correct；〃 Leto said； turning the last page of shimmering ridulian crystal。 He removed his ducal signet ring； snipped the red armorial hawk from his uniform； and handed the items over to the courtech。 He felt as if he had just cut away pieces of himself。
If he lost this desperate gambit； the holdings on Caladan would bee the prize in a Landsraad free…for…all； the citizens on the watery world no more than helpless bystanders。 He had been stripped； his future and fortune placed in limbo。 Perhaps they'll give Caladan to the Harkonnens； Leto thought in despair； just to spite us。
The courtech handed him a magnapen。 Leto pressed his forefinger against the soft side of the tiny inking device and signed the crystal documents in a wide； flowing script。 He felt a faint crackle of static electricity on the top sheet； or perhaps that was just his own anxiety。 The courtech added his own ID print to witness the papers。 With obvious reluctance； Hawat did the same。
As the courtech departed in a swirl of brown…and…teal livery； Leto announced across the table； 〃I am a moner now； without title or fief。〃
〃Only until our victory；〃 Hawat said。 With the faintest tremor in his voice； he added； 〃Regardless of the oute； you will always be my Honored Duke。〃
The Mentat paced the length of the cell like a captive marsh panther。 He paused with his back to a tiny window that looked out on the immense flat black plain of an outbuilding to the Imperial Palace。 The morning sun flowing from behind him cast Hawat's face in shadow。
〃I have studied the official evidence； the data taken by scanners in the Heighliner hold； and eyewitness accounts。 I agree with your attorneys that it looks very bad for you； m'Lord。 We must begin with the assumption that you did not instigate this act in any way and extrapolate from there。〃
Leto sighed。 〃Thufir； if you don't believe me； we have no chance whatsoever in the Landsraad court。〃
〃I take your innocence as fact。 Now； there are several possibilities； which I will list in the order of least likelihood。 First； though it is a remote possibility； the destruction of the Tleilaxu ship may have been an accident。〃
〃We need something better than that； Thufir。 No one will believe it。〃
〃More likely； the Tleilaxu blew up their own ship simply to incriminate you。 We know the small value they place on life。 The passengers and crew on the destroyed craft may have only been gholas； and thus expendable。 They can always grow more duplicates in their axlotl tanks。〃
Hawat tapped his fingers together。 〃Unfortunately； the problem is lack of motive。 Would the Tleil
