bh.houseatreides-第130章
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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 be grasping at straws； but I've no doubt he'll carry out his threat。〃
The huge eyes darkened。 〃When I ask questions； Shaddam； I get answers。〃 Fenring clenched his fists。 〃You should know that by now； after all I've done for you。〃
〃That Mentat Thufir Hawat won't leave Leto's side； and he is a formidable adversary。 He's called the Master of Assassins。〃
〃My talent； too； Shaddam。 We can find a way to separate them。 You mand it； and I shall see that it is done。〃 He revealed eagerness at the prospect of killing； with his pleasure heightened by the challenge at hand。 Fenring's eyes shone； but Shaddam cut him off。
〃If he's as smart as he seems； Hasimir； he'll have established many guarantees for himself。 Ah； yes。 The moment Leto suspects a threat； he could announce whatever he knows and there's no telling what sort of insurance he's set up for himself； especially if this has been his plan all along。〃
。 。 。 full disclosure of your relationship with the Tleilaxu。。。
A cool breeze drifted across the balcony； but he did not go back inside。 〃If word of our。。。project。。es out； the Great Houses could block me from the throne and a Landsraad attack force would be dispatched against Ix。〃
〃They've named it Xuttah now； Sire；〃 Fenring muttered。
〃Whatever they call it。〃
The Crown Prince ran a hand through his pomaded reddish hair。 The Atreides prisoner's single line of text had shaken him more than the overthrow of a hundred worlds。 He wondered how much this would have disturbed old Elrood。 More than the huge revolt in the Ecaz sector early in his reign？
Watch； and learn。
Oh； shut up； you old vulture！
Shaddam's brow furrowed。 〃Think on it； Hasimir it seems almost too obvious。 Is there any chance at all that Duke Leto didn't destroy the Tleilaxu ships？〃
Fenring ran a finger along his pointed chin。 〃I doubt that very much； Sire。 The Atreides ship was there； as confirmed by witnesses。 The weapons had been fired； and Leto has made no secret of his anger toward the Bene Tleilax。 Remember his speech at the Landsraad？ He is guilty。 No one could believe otherwise。〃
〃I'd think even a sixteen…year…old could be more subtle than that。 Why would he demand a Trial by Forfeiture； then？〃 Shaddam hated it when he couldn't understand people and their actions。 〃A ridiculous risk。〃
Fenring let a long pause hang in the air before he dropped his idea like a bombshell。 〃Because Leto knew all along he would send you that message？〃 He gestured toward the shrapnel of the message cube。 He had to point out the obvious； since Shaddam often let his rage get the best of his reasoning faculties。 He continued quickly。
〃Perhaps you are thinking backward； Sire。 It may be that Leto purposely struck out at the Tleilaxu； knowing he could use the incident as a pretext to demand a Trial by Forfeiture a public forum in the Landsraad court during which he could expose what he knew about us？ All the Imperium will be listening。〃
〃But why； why？〃 Shaddam studied the well…manicured nails on his fingers； flushed with confusion。 〃What does he have against me？ I am his cousin！〃
Fenring sighed。 〃Leto Atreides is in thick with the ousted Prince of Ix。 If he learned about our hand in the overthrow there and the Tleilaxu synthetic…spice work； wouldn't that be motive enough？ He inherited a deep； misplaced sense of honor from his father。 Consider this； then： Leto took it upon himself to punish the Bene Tleilax。 But if we let him stand trial now before the Landsraad； he plans to tell of our involvement and take us down with him。 It's as simple as that； hm…m…m…m？ He mitted the crime； all the while knowing we would have to protect him。。。to protect ourselves。 Either way； he'll have punished us。 At least he left a way out。〃
〃Ah； yes。 But that's 〃
〃Blackmail； Sire？〃
Shaddam drew an icy breath。 〃Damn him！〃 Now he stood up； looking Imperial at last。 〃Damn him！ If you're right； Hasimir； we have no choice but to help him。〃
The written Law of the Imperium cannot be changed； no matter which Great House holds dominion or which Emperor sits on the Golden Lion Throne。 The documents of the Imperial Constitution have been established for thousands of years。 This is not to say that each regime is legally identical； the variations stem from subtleties of interpretation and from microscopic loopholes that bee large enough to drive a Heighliner through。
…Law of the Imperium： mentaries and Rebuttals
Leto lay supine on the sling bed in his cell； feeling the warm throb of a massage mechanism beneath him as it worked the stress…tightened muscles of his neck and back。 He still didn't know what he was going to do。
So far he had received no response from the Crown Prince； and Leto was now convinced that his wild bluff would not work。 Relying on the secret message had been a long shot anyway； and Leto himself had no idea what it meant。 Instead； for hour after hour； he and the Mentat had continued to discuss the merits of their case and the necessity of relying on their own skills。
Personal articles and forts surrounded him for his use during the long hours of anticipation； contemplation； and boredom： filmbooks； fine clothing； writing instruments； even Couriers waiting outside his cell to carry personal message cubes to any recipients he chose。 Everyone knew how much was at stake in this trial； and not everyone on Kaitain wanted Leto to win。
Technically； because of the legal procedures in which he was embroiled； he no longer owned any personal items； still； he appreciated the use of them。 The filmbooks and clothing provided a sense of stability； a link with what he thought of as his 〃former life。〃 Since the mysterious attack inside the Heighliner； he had been thrown into a state of chaos。
Leto's whole future； the fate of his House； and his holdings on Caladan hung precariously on the Trial by Forfeiture； all or nothing。 If he failed here； his Great House would be even worse off than the renegade family Vernius。 House Atreides would no longer exist at all。
At least then； he thought with forced wryness； I won't have to worry about negotiating an appropriate marriage to make the best Landsraad connections。 He released a deep sigh； thinking of copper…haired Kailea and her dreams for a future that would never e to pass。 If he was stripped of his titles and possessions； Leto Atreides could choose to marry her without considering dynasties and politics。。。but would she； with her dreams of Kaitain and the Imperial Court； want him if he wasn't a Duke？
Somehow； I always manage to find advantages； Rhombur had said。 He could use a little more of his friend's optimism now。
At the crowded blueplaz desk； deep in silent concentration； Thufir Hawat flipped through holo…pages projected in front of his eyes a pilation of the probable evidence that would be used against Leto； as well as analyses of Landsraad law。 This information included the input of Atreides attorneys and the Mentat projections Hawat himself had made。
The case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence； but it was highly pelling； beginning with Leto's own angry statement in front of the Landsraad Council。 He had an obvious motive； having already declared a verbal war on the Tleilaxu。
〃It all points to my guilt； doesn't it？〃 Leto said。 He sat up in the swaying bed； and the massage unit automatically paused。
Hawat nodded。 〃Too perfectly； my Lord。 And the evidence continues to grow worse。 The multiphase projectile launchers on our bat pods were checked during the investigation； and found to have been fired。 Quite a damning result； and it adds to the body of evidence。〃
〃Thufir； we know the projectiles were fired。 We've reported that from the beginning。 Rhombur and I went out on skeet…drone practice before the Heighliner folded space。 Every member of our crew can testify to that。〃
〃The magistrates may not believe us。 The explanation sounds too convenient； as if it were a concocted alibi。 They'll think we practiced in order to establish a reason for the weapons results； because we knew we would fire upon the Tleilaxu。 A simple enough tric
