bh.houseatreides-第137章
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Both Bruda Viol and Clere Ruitt looked at him as if he had uttered the most ridiculous ment imaginable。
〃Three to two； my Duke；〃 Hawat said。 〃We must therefore win over both of the undecided judges and lose none of the tentative support we've counted on。〃
〃It'll turn out all right；〃 Rhombur said。
The windowless； armored courtroom had once been a ducal chancery during the construction work on Kaitain。 Its vaulted Gothic ceiling was inset with military paintings and the designs and shields of the Great Houses。 Leto focused on the red hawk crest of the Atreides among the other shields and coats of arms。 Though he tried to remain stoic； a terrible feeling of loss swept over him； a longing for what might never be again。 In a short time he had brought down everything his father had left him； and House Atreides was crashing toward ruin。
When he felt tears welling in his eyes； he cursed himself for the momentary weakness。 All was not lost。 He could still win。 He would win！ Iciness infused him； and he stemmed the threatening flow of despair。 The Landsraad was watching； and he had to be strong enough to face whatever needed to be done here。 He could ill afford despair； or any other emotion。
Behind him； observers filed into the courtroom； speaking in low； excited tones。 Two larger tables flanked the defense table at which he sat。 His enemies took seats at the table on the left designated representatives of the Tleilaxu； probably sponsored by the Harkonnens and other Atreides foes。 But the hated Baron and his entourage sat far back in the simple spectator seats； as if to keep their hands pletely clean of the matter。 At the other table sat allies and friends of the Atreides。 Leto nodded to each of them with a confident smile。
But his thoughts were far from brave； and he had to admit he didn't have much of a case； even now。 The prosecutors would present the evidence of weapons fired from the Atreides bat pod； firsthand accounts of dozens of neutral parties who claimed the shots couldn't have e from anywhere but the tiny craft berthed in Leto's ship。 Even without the Tleilaxu pilot as a witness； the other observers would be sufficient。 The offsetting testimony of his panions and crew wouldn't be enough； nor would the numerous family friends who would act as character witnesses。
〃Perhaps the denial of Truthsayers will give us sufficient grounds for an appeal；〃 Clere Ruitt suggested； but Leto took no fort from this。
Then； through a side passage； the somber Tleilaxu prosecution team entered with their own attorneys and twisted Mentat scholars。 They came with minimal fanfare； but much clanking and motion as they brought with them a diabolical…looking machine。 It rolled in on creaking wheels with a clatter of hinges and bars。 A hush fell over the room as the spectators craned forward to get a better look at the most frightening contraption any of them had ever seen。
This has to be intentional； Leto thought； to make me more uneasy。
The Tleilaxu ponderously hauled the ominous machine past Leto's defense table； the gray…skinned men glared at him with fiery； dark eyes。 The audience began to buzz and whisper。 Presently the Tleilaxu team stopped； leaving their device in the center of the main speaking floor； below the curved stonewood bench of the chosen judges。
〃What is this？〃 One of the central magistrates； Baron Terkillian Sor； leaned forward； scowling。
The leader of the Tleilaxu team； a wiry man who had not been introduced by name； looked hatefully at Leto； then gazed up at the questioner。 〃My Lords； in all the recorded annals of Imperial Law； the specific subsections pertaining to Trial by Forfeiture are few； but clear。 'Should the accused not succeed in his legal bid； he shall lose everything he possesses； without exception。' Everything。〃
〃I can read。〃 Terkillian Sor continued to scowl。 〃And what does this have to do with your contraption here？〃
The Tleilaxu spokesman drew a deep breath。 〃We intend to claim not only the holdings of House Atreides； but also the actual person of the heinous criminal Duke Leto Atreides himself； down to his cells and genetic material。〃
While the audience muttered in shock； the Tleilaxu attendees worked controls on the machine； causing hidden saw blades to whir； and electrical arcs to crackle from one long needle to another。 The ominous machine was outrageous and exaggerated obviously by design。
〃With this device； we will exsanguinate Duke Leto Atreides in this very courtroom； draining him of every drop of his blood。 We will flay the skin from his body； and remove his eyes for our testing and experimentation。 Every cell will be ours； for whatever purposes the Tleilaxu determine to use them。〃 He sniffed。 〃It is our right！〃
Then the grayish little man smiled at Leto。
Leto held steady and tried desperately not to show the disfort raging inside。 A trickle of cold sweat ran down his back。 He wanted his lawyers to say something； but they held their damnable silence。
〃Perhaps the accused can even see an advantage to this fate；〃 the Tleilaxu spokesman suggested with a wicked grin； 〃since he has no heirs。 If he loses； there will be no more House Atreides。 With his cells； however； we have the option of resurrecting him as a ghola。〃
To do their bidding； Leto thought； with horror。
At the defense table； Rhombur glared defiantly at the Tleilaxu； while Thufir Hawat sat beside him like a statue。 Flanking Leto on either side； the two Elaccan attorneys scribbled notes。
〃Enough of this showmanship；〃 boomed Lord Bain O'Garee。 〃We can decide this matter later。 Let us get on with the trial。 I want to hear what the Atreides has to say for himself。〃
Though he fought not to show it； Leto suddenly knew he was lost。 Every person present in the hall knew his professed hatred for the Tleilaxu； his clear support of the ousted Ixian family。 He could summon character witnesses； but no one here really knew him。 He was young and untried； thrust by tragedy into his role as Duke。 The only time these members of the Landsraad had seen Leto Atreides was when he'd spoken before the Council； revealing a glimpse of his hot temper。
Sparks crackled from the Tleilaxu vivisection and execution device； like a hungry； waiting beast。 Leto knew there would be no appeal。
Before the first witness could be called； though； the immense brass…inlaid doors at the rear of the hall slammed open against the stone walls。 A hush fell over the courtroom； and Leto heard the crisp cadence of metal…heeled boots on the marbleite floor。
Looking back to the grand entrance doors； he saw Crown Prince Shaddam； dressed in scarlet…and…gold Imperial fur…satins instead of his customary Sardaukar uniform。 Followed by an escort of his elite force； the soon…to…be…crowned Emperor strode forward； manding the full attention of those in the hall。 Four heavily armed men scanned the crowd in all directions； every muscle poised for violence。
The Trial by Forfeiture was already highly unusual for the Landsraad court but the appearance of the future Padishah Emperor himself was unprecedented。
Shaddam made his way up the long aisle and passed Leto with hardly a glance。 The Sardaukar took positions behind the defense table； increasing Leto's feeling of uneasiness。
Shaddam's face was stony； his upper lip slightly twisted。 He gave no sign of his intentions。 Did my message offend him？ Leto wondered。 Does he mean to call my bluff？ WILL he crush me here in the hall before all the Landsraad？ Who could oppose him if he did？
Reaching the towering bench； Shaddam looked up and announced； 〃Before this trial actually begins； I have a statement to make。 Will the court recognize me at this time？〃
Though Leto didn't trust his distaff cousin； he had to admit that Shaddam looked especially regal and elegant。 For the first time； he saw this man as a genuine presence in his own right； not just the shadow of his ancient father Elrood。 Shaddam's coronation was set for two days hence； to be followed immediately by his magnificent wedding to Anirul events that Leto might never live to see。 The powerful Bene Gesserit faction had thrown its support to Shaddam's uping reign； and all of the Great and Minor Houses of the Landsraad wanted to sta
