bh.houseatreides-第129章
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Hawat tapped his fingers together。 〃Unfortunately； the problem is lack of motive。 Would the Tleilaxu concoct such a plex and outrageous scheme merely to get petty revenge against you for harboring the children of House Vernius？ What would they gain by this？〃
〃Remember； Thufir； I did declare my clear enmity against them in the Landsraad Hall。 They see me as an enemy as well。〃
〃I still don't think that is sufficient provocation； my Duke。 No； this is something bigger； something for which the perpetrator was willing to risk all…out war。〃 He paused； then added； 〃I am unable to determine what the Bene Tleilax could possibly gain by the embarrassment or destruction of House Atreides。 You are a peripheral enemy to them； at best。〃
Leto wrestled with the conundrum himself； but if even the Mentat could not find a chain of associations； then a mere Duke wouldn't be able to follow such subtle threads。 〃All right； what's another possibility？〃
〃Perhaps。。。Ixian sabotage。 The result of an Ixian renegade who sought to strike back against the Tleilaxu。 A misguided attempt to assist the exiled Dominic Vernius。 It's also possible that Dominic himself was involved； though there have been no sightings of him since he went renegade。〃
Leto digested this information； but the practical question nagged him。 〃Sabotage？ By what means？〃
〃Difficult to say。 The gutting of the Tleilaxu ship's interior suggests a multiphase projectile。 Chemical residue analysis also confirms this。〃
Leto leaned back in the unfortable chair。 〃But how？ Who could have fired such a projectile？ Let's not forget that witnesses claim to have seen shots launched from the direction of our frigate。 The Heighliner hold was empty in the vicinity。 You and I were both watching。 Ours was the only ship close enough。〃
〃The few answers I can suggest are extremely unlikely； my Duke。 A small attack craft could have fired such a projectile； but it is not possible to hide such a vessel。 We saw nothing。 Even an individual suited up with breathing apparatus would have been noticed in the cargo hold； so that rules out shoulder…launched missiles。 Besides which； no one is allowed outside the ships during foldspace transit。〃
〃I'm no Mentat； Thufir。。。but I smell Harkonnens in this；〃 Leto mused as he ran his finger in circles on the slick； cold surface of the blueplaz table。 He had to think； had to be strong。
Hawat gave him a concise analysis。 〃When a foul deed occurs； three principal trails invariably lead to the responsible party： money； power； or revenge。 This incident was a setup； designed to destroy House Atreides possibly linked to the scheme that killed your father。〃
Leto heaved an enormous sigh。 〃Our family had a few quiet years under Dmitri Harkonnen and his son Abulurd； when the Harkonnens seemed to let us live in peace。 Now I'm afraid the old feud has resurfaced。 From what I hear； the Baron revels in it。〃
The Mentat smiled grimly。 〃Exactly what I was considering； m'Lord。 I am absolutely baffled as to how they might have acplished such an ambush with so many other ships watching。 Proving such a conjecture in Landsraad court will be even more difficult。〃
A guard appeared at the force…barred cell and entered； carrying a small parcel。 Without uttering a word or even looking Leto in the eyes； he placed the package on the slick table and departed。
Hawat ran a scanner over the suspicious parcel。 〃Message cube；〃 he said。 Gesturing for Leto to stand back； the Mentat removed the wrapping to reveal a dark object。 He found no markings； no indication of the sender； yet it seemed to be important。
Leto held up the cube； and it glowed after recognizing his thumbprint。 Words flowed across its face in synchronization with his eye movements； two sentences that spoke volumes of provocative information。
〃Crown Prince Shaddam； like his father before him； maintains a secret and illegal alliance with the Bene Tleilax。 This information may prove valuable to your defense if you dare use it。〃
〃Thufir！ Look at this。〃 But the words dissolved before he could shift the face of the cube toward the Mentat。 Then the message cube itself crumbled to brittle debris in his palm。 He had no idea who could have sent such a bombshell to him。 Is it possible that I have secret allies on Kaitain？
Suddenly uneasy； even paranoid； Leto switched to Atreides hand signals； the secret language Duke Paulus had taught close members of his household。 The young man's hawklike face darkened as he recounted what he had read and asked who could have sent it。
The Mentat considered for just a moment； then answered with his own flickering hand gestures： 〃The Tleilaxu are not known for their military prowess； but this connection might explain how they could so easily crush the Ixians and their defensive technology。 Sardaukar might secretly maintain control over the downtrodden populace underground。〃 Thufir finished： 〃Shaddam is mixed up in this somehow； and doesn't want that fact revealed。〃
Leto's fingers flashed in inquiry： 〃But what does that have to do with the attack inside the Heighliner？ I don't see a connection。〃
Hawat pursed his stained lips and spoke aloud in a husky whisper。 〃Maybe there isn't one。 But it might not matter； so long as we can use the information in our darkest hour。 I propose a bluff； my Duke。 A spectacular； desperate bluff。〃
In a Trial by Forfeiture； the normal rules of evidence do not apply。 There are no disclosure requirements that evidence be revealed to the opposition or to the magistrates prior to the court proceedings。 This places the person with secret knowledge in a uniquely powerful position mensurate with the extreme risk he takes。
…Rogan's Rules of Evidence； 3rd Edition
As Crown Prince Shaddam read the unexpected message cube from Leto Atreides； a wave of crimson rage tinted his face。
〃Sire； my defense documentation includes a full disclosure of your relationship with the Tleilaxu。〃
〃Impossible！ How could he know？〃 Shouting an obscenity； Shaddam smashed the cube against the wall； chipping the indigo…veined marble。 Fenring scuttled forward to pick up the pieces； anxious to preserve the evidence and read the message for himself。 Shaddam glared at his advisor； as if this were somehow Fenring's fault。
It was early evening； and the two of them had left the Palace to go to Fenring's private penthouse for a few moments of peace。 Now Shaddam paced the perimeter of the spacious room； with furtive Fenring following the other like a shadow。 Shaddam； though not yet formally crowned； settled onto a massive balcony chair as if it were a throne。 With royal reserve； the Crown Prince eyed his friend。 〃So； Hasimir； how do you suppose my cousin learned about the Tleilaxu？ What evidence does he have？〃
〃Hm…m…m…m； he may simply be bluffing。。。。〃
〃Such a guess can't be pure coincidence。 We don't dare call his bluff if it is one。 We can't risk letting the truth e out in Landsraad court。〃 Shaddam groaned。 〃I don't approve of this Trial by Forfeiture business at all。 Never did。 It shifts responsibility for the allocation of a Great House's assets away from the Imperial throne； away from me。 I think it's very bad form。〃
〃But there's nothing you can do about it； Sire。 It's an established law； dating back to Butlerian times when House Corrino was appointed to rule the civilizations of mankind。 Take heart that in the thousands of years since； this is only the fourth time forfeiture has ever been invoked； mm…m…m…m？ It seems the all…or…nothing gambit is not very popular。〃
Shaddam continued to scowl； looking across the evening skies at the prismatic domes of the faraway Palace； his gaze distant。 〃But how could he possibly know？ Who talked？ What did we miss？ This is a disaster！〃
Fenring stopped at the edge of the balcony； looking out at the stars with his close…set； glittering eyes。 He dropped his voice to an ominous whisper。 〃Maybe I should pay Leto Atreides a little visit in his cell； hm…m…m…m…ah？ To find out exactly what he knows and how he learned of it。 It's the most obvious solution to our little dilemma。〃
Shaddam slouched low in the balcony chair； but it felt too hard against his back。 〃The Duke won't tell you anything。 He's got too much to lose。 He may
