bh.houseatreides-第131章

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ld　fire　upon　the　Tleilaxu。　A　simple　enough　trick。〃
　〃You　were　always　good　at　the　intricate　details；〃　Leto　said　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃It's　your　security…corps　training。　You　pore　over　everything　repeatedly；　searching　each　layer；　making　calculations　and　projections。〃
　〃That　is　exactly　what　we　need　right　now；　my　Duke。〃
　〃Don't　forget　that　we　have　truth　on　our　side；　Thufir；　and　that's　a　powerful　ally。　Holding　our　heads　high；　we　will　stand　before　the　tribunal　of　our　peers　and　tell　them　everything　that　happened；　and　most　of　all　what　didn't　happen。　They　must　believe　us；　or　else　centuries　of　Atreides　honor　and　honesty　will　mean　nothing。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　your　strength。。。your　optimism；〃　Hawat　responded。　〃You　show　remarkable　steadiness　and　posure。〃　A　bittersweet　expression　crossed　his　weathered　face。　〃Your　father　taught　you　well。　He　would　be　proud　of　you。〃　He　flicked　off　the　holoprojector；　and　the　dancing　pages　of　evidence　disappeared　in　the　heavy　prison　air。　〃So　far；　among　the　magistrates　and　voting　members　of　the　Landsraad　jury；　we　do　have　a　few　who　are　likely　to　find　you　innocent；　thanks　to　past　allegiances。〃
　Leto　smiled；　but　noted　how　uneasy　his　Mentat　was。　He　swung　out　of　bed　onto　the　floor。　Wearing　a　blue　robe；　Leto　left　his　feet　bare　as　he　paced。　A　chill　ran　up　his　arms；　and　he　adjusted　the　temperature　in　the　cell。　〃There'll　be　more　believers　after　they　listen　to　my　statement　and　see　the　evidence。〃
　Hawat　looked　at　Leto　as　if　he　were　a　mere　child　again。　〃One　advantage　we　have　is　that　most　of　your　allies　will　vote　to　acquit　you　solely　because　they　despise　the　Tleilaxu。　Regardless　of　what　they　think　you　may　have　done；　you　are　of　noble　blood　from　a　respected　Landsraad　family。　You　are　one　of　them；　and　they　would　not　destroy　you　to　reward　the　Bene　Tleilax。　Several　Houses　have　given　us　their　support　because　of　prior　respect　for　your　father。　At　least　one　magistrate　was　impressed　by　the　boldness　of　your　initial　presentation　at　the　Landsraad　Council　months　ago。〃
　〃But　everybody　still　believes　I　did　such　a　terrible　thing？〃　He　frowned　dejectedly。　〃Those　other　reasons　are　incidental。〃
　〃You　are　unknown　to　them；　little　more　than　a　boy；　reputed　to　be　brash　and　impulsive。　For　now；　my　Duke；　we　must　be　more　concerned　with　the　verdict　itself；　and　less　with　the　reasons。　If　you　succeed；　you　will　have　many　years　to　rebuild　your　reputation。〃
　〃And　if　I　lose；　it　won't　matter　a　bit。〃
　Nodding　solemnly；　Hawat　stood　like　a　monolith。　〃There　are　no　set　rules　for　conducting　a　Trial　by　Forfeiture。　It　is　a　freestyle　forum　without　rules　of　evidence　or　procedures；　a　container　without　contents。　Without　a　disclosure　process；　we　don't　have　to　reveal　to　the　court　what　evidence　we'll　present　　but　neither　does　anyone　else。　We　can't　know　the　lies　our　enemies　may　tell；　or　what　exhibits　they　may　have　doctored。　We　won't　see　ahead　of　time　what　alleged　proof　the　Tleilaxu　possess；　how　their　main　witnesses　will　testify。　Many　ugly　things　will　be　said　about　House　Atreides。　Prepare　yourself　for　it。〃
　Looking　up　at　a　noise；　Leto　saw　a　guard　shut　down　the　humming　confinement　field　to　let　Rhombur　enter。　The　Ixian　Prince　wore　a　white　shirt　with　a　Vernius　helix　on　the　collar。　His　face　was　flushed　from　a　session　in　the　gym；　his　hair　wet　from　a　shower。　On　his　right　hand；　the　fire…jewel　ring　glinted。
　Leto　thought　of　the　similarities　between　his　situation　and　his　friend's；　with　their　Houses　in　disarray　and　near　annihilation。　Rhombur；　who　had　received　the　temporary　protection　of　the　court；　came　at　the　same　time　each　day。
　〃Finish　your　exercises？〃　Leto　inquired；　forcing　a　hearty　tone　despite　Hawat's　grim　pessimism。
　〃Today　I　broke　the　physical…training　machine；〃　Rhombur　responded　with　an　impish　smile。　〃The　device　must　have　been　built　by　one　of　those　disreputable　Houses　Minor。　No　quality　control。　Certainly　not　good　Ixian　stuff。〃　Leto　laughed　as　he　and　Rhombur　interlocked　fingertips　in　the　half　handshake　of　the　Imperium。
　Rhombur　scratched　his　damp；　tousled　blond　hair。　〃The　hard　exercise　helps　me　to　think。　These　days　it's　difficult　enough　to　concentrate　on　anything。　Uh；　my　sister　sends　her　support；　by　the　way；　via　a　fresh　Courier　from　Caladan。　I　thought　you'd　like　to　know。　It　might　cheer　you　up。〃
　His　expression　grew　serious；　and　revealed　the　layered　strain　of　his　long　ordeal；　the　subtle　signs　of　stress　and　instant　maturity　that　a　boy　of　sixteen　shouldn't　have　had　to　endure。　Leto　knew　his　friend　was　concerned　about　where　he　and　Kailea　would　end　up　if　House　Atreides　lost　this　trial。。。two　great　noble　families　destroyed　in　a　frighteningly　short　time。　Perhaps　Rhombur　and　Kailea　would　go　in　search　of　their　renegade　father。。。。
　〃Thufir　and　I　were　just　discussing　the　merits　of　our　case；〃　Leto　said。　〃Or　as　he　might　put　it；　the　lack　of　merits。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　say　that；　my　Duke；〃　Hawat　protested。
　〃Well；　then；　I　bring　good　news；〃　Rhombur　announced。　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　wish　to　provide　Truthsayers　at　the　trial。　Those　Reverend　Mothers　can　draw　falsehoods　out　of　anyone。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Leto　said。　〃They'll　end　this　whole　problem　in　a　moment。　Once　I　speak；　they　can　verify　I'm　telling　the　truth。　Can　it　be　that　simple？〃
　〃Normally　a　Truthsayer's　testimony　would　be　inadmissible；〃　Hawat　cautioned。　〃An　exception　may　be　granted　here；　but　it's　doubtful。　Witches　have　their　own　agendas；　and　legal　analysts　posit　that　they　can　therefore　be　bribed。〃
　Leto　blinked　in　surprise。　〃Bribed？　Then　they　don't　know　very　many　Reverend　Mothers。〃　He　began　to　think　more　about　this；　though；　considering　various　possibilities。　〃But　secret　agendas？　Why　would　the　Bene　Gesserit　make　such　an　offer？　What　do　they　have　to　gain　by　my　innocence　　or　my　guilt；　for　that　matter？〃
　〃Be　cautious；　my　Duke；〃　Hawat　said。
　〃It's　worth　a　try；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Even　if　it　isn't　binding；　a　Truthsayer's　testimony　would　lend　weight　to　Leto's　version　of　events。　You　and　all　the　people　around　you　　including　Thufir；　me；　the　frigate　crew；　and　even　your　servants　from　Caladan　　can　all　be　scrutinized　by　Truthsayers。　And　we　know　the　stories　will　be　consistent。　They'll　prove　your　innocence　beyond　a　shadow　of　a　doubt。〃　He　grinned。　〃We'll　be　back　on　Caladan　before　you　know　it。〃
　Hawat；　though；　remained　unconvinced。　〃Exactly　who　contacted　you；　young　Prince？　Who　among　the　Bene　Gesserit　made　this　generous　offer？　And　what　did　she　ask　in　payment？〃
　〃She；　uh；　didn't　ask　for　anything；〃　Rhombur　said；　surprised。
　〃Not　yet；　maybe；〃　Hawat　said；　〃but　those　witches　think　in　the　long　term。〃
　The　Ixian　Prince　scratched　his　temple。　〃Her　name　is　Margot。　She's　in　Lady　Anirul's　entourage；　here　for　the　Imperial　wedding；　I　suppose。〃
　Leto　drew　a　quick　breath　as　an　idea　occurred　to　him。　〃A　Bene　Gesserit　is　to　be　married　to　the　Emperor。　Is　this　Shaddam's　doing；　then？　In　response　to　our　message？〃
　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　aren't　errand　girls　for　anyone；〃　Hawat　said。　〃They're　notoriously　independent。　They　made　this　offer　because　they　wanted　to；　because　it　benefits　them　somehow。〃
　〃I　didn't　stop　to　wonder　why　she　would　e　to　me；　of　all　people；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃But　think　about　it：　Her　offer　could　be　of　no　advantage　to　us；　unless　Leto　is　indeed　innocent。〃
　〃I　am！〃
　Hawat　smiled　at　Rhombur　in　admiration。　〃Of　course。　But　now　we　have　proof　that　the　Bene　Gesserit　know　Leto's　telling　the　truth；　too；　else　they　would　never　have　made　such　a　suggestion。〃　He　wondered　what　the　Sisters　knew；　and　what　they　hoped　to　gain。
　〃Unless　they　were　testing　me；〃　Leto　suggested。　〃Just　by　accepting　their　Truthsayer；　they'd　know　I　wasn't　lying。　If　I　turned　them　down；　they'd　be　convinced　I　have　something　to　hide。〃
　Standing　by　the　cell　wall；　Hawat　gazed　through　an　armor…plaz　window。　〃Be　mindful　that　we're　in　a　trial　that　is　a　shell　only。　Prejudices　exist　against　the　Bene　Gesserit　as　well　and　their　arcane　weirding　ways。　Truthsayers　might　betray　their　oath　and　lie　for　a　greater　purpose。　Witchcraft；　sorcery。。。Perhaps　we　should　not　be　so　quick　to　accept　their　help。〃
　〃You　think　it's　a　trick？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃I　always　suspect　deception；〃　the　Mentat　said。　His　eyes　flashed。　〃It's　in　my　nature　to　do　so。〃　He　switched　to　Atreides　hand　signals　and　signed　to　Leto；　〃These　witches　may　be　on　an　Imperial　errand　after　all。　What　alliances　are　hidden　from　us？〃
　The　worst　sort　of　alliances　are