bh.houseatreides-第139章

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ecially　in　light　of　the　extraordinary　testimony　of　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　Corrino。　We　therefore　declare　Leto　Atreides　fully　exonerated　and　restore　to　him　his　title　and　property。〃
　Stunned　at　his　sudden　good　fortune；　Leto　found　himself　congratulated　by　the　Emperor…to…be　and　then　mobbed　by　his　friends　and　supporters。　Many　of　them　were　delighted　to　see　him　win；　but　despite　his　youth　Leto　was　not　naive；　he　knew　just　as　many　of　them　were　happy　simply　to　see　the　Tleilaxu　lose。
　All　around　him　the　courtroom　erupted　in　cheers　and　thunderous　ovations；　with　the　exception　of　a　few　in　attendance　who　remained　conspicuously　silent。　Leto　marked　them　for　further　consideration；　and　knew　Thufir　Hawat　would　be　doing　the　same。
　〃Leto；　there　is　one　more　thing　I　must　do；〃　Shaddam　said；　his　voice　cutting　through　the　din。
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Leto　saw　something　glint　in　the　light。　Shaddam's　hand　moved；　snatching　a　jewel…handled　knife　from　his　sleeve　　translucent　blue…green　like　the　Hagal　quartz　of　the　Imperial　throne。　He　raised　it；　moving　quickly。
　Back　at　the　bench；　Thufir　Hawat　leaped　to　his　feet；　but　too　late。　The　crowd　fell　into　an　instant　hush。
　Then；　with　a　smile；　Shaddam　slipped　the　knife　into　the　empty　sheath　at　Leto's　waist。　〃My　congratulatory　gift　to　you；　Cousin；〃　he　said　in　the　most　pleasant　of　tones。　〃Carry　this　blade　as　a　reminder　of　your　service　to　me。〃
　We　do　what　we　must。　Friendship　and　loyalty　be　damned。　We　do　what　we　must！
　…LADY　HELENA　ATREIDES；
　her　personal　journals
　Hasimir　Fenring　brooded　in　his　private　apartments；　in　shock。　How　can　Shaddam　do　this　to　me？
　The　message　capsule　with　the　formal　Imperial　seal　　the　wax　lion　of　House　Corrino　　lay　discarded　on　his　bed。　He　had　torn　Shaddam's　formal　decree　to　shreds；　but　not　before　memorizing　every　word。
　A　new　assignment　　a　banishment！　　a　promotion？
　〃Hasimir　Fenring；　in　acknowledgment　of　your　unfailing　service　to　the　Imperium　and　the　throne　of　the　Padishah　Emperors；　you　are　hereby　appointed　to　a　newly　created　post　as　official　Imperial　Observer　on　Arrakis。
　〃Because　of　this　planet's　vital　importance　to　the　Imperial　economy；　you　shall　have　all　necessary　resources　made　available　to　your　station。〃
　Blah；　blah；　blah。
　How　could　he　dare　do　this？　What　a　useless　waste　of　his　talent。　What　petty　revenge　to　send　Fenring　off　to　a　sandhole　festering　with　worms　and　unwashed　people。　He　fumed；　wishing　he　could　discuss　the　matter　with　the　fascinating　Margot　Rashino…Zea；　whom　he　trusted　more　than　he　should。　She　was；　after　all；　a　Bene　Gesserit　witch。。。。
　Because　of　the　planet's　vital　importance！　He　snorted　in　disgust；　then　set　about　smashing　everything　breakable　he　could　get　his　hands　on。　He　knew　Shaddam　had　banished　him　in　a　fit　of　pique。　For　a　man　with　Fenring's　capabilities；　the　new　job　was　an　insult；　and　it　removed　him　from　the　center　of　Imperial　power。　He　needed　to　be　here；　on　Kaitain；　at　the　hurricane's　eye　of　politics；　not　lost　out　in　some　forgotten　corner　of　space。
　But　Shaddam's　decree　could　not　be　questioned　or　denied。　Fenring　had　thirty　days　to　report　to　the　notorious　arid　planet。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　return。
　All　persons　are　contained　within　a　single　individual；　just　as　all　time　is　in　a　moment；　and　the　entire　universe　is　in　a　grain　of　sand。
　…Fremen　Saying
　On　the　day　of　Shaddam　IV's　coronation　and　wedding；　a　carnival　air　prevailed　on　all　the　worlds　of　the　Imperium。　Jubilant　crowds　immersed　themselves　in　drinking；　dancing；　sporting　events；　and　fireworks　exhibitions。　Old　Emperor　Elrood　had　held　his　throne　for　so　long　that　few　people　could　remember　the　last　time　a　new　ruler　had　been　crowned。
　In　Kaitain's　capital　city；　throngs　gathered　along　the　magnificent　boulevards；　lining　up　beside　the　route　the　royal　procession　would　take。　It　was　a　sunny　day　　as　usual　　and　vendors　did　a　brisk　business　hawking　souvenirs；　memorative　items；　and　refreshments。
　Royal　Corrino　flags　fluttered　in　the　breeze；　everyone　wore　their　scarlet　and　gold　to　mark　the　occasion。　Sardaukar　soldiers　guarded　the　convoluted　route；　wearing　ceremonial　gold　brocade　over　their　dress　gray…and…black　uniforms。　Standing　like　stone　guardians；　they　held　their　lasrifles　in　the　present…arms　position；　unmoved　by　the　blaring　fanfare　or　the　roar　of　the　crowd。　But　they　remained　ready　to　react　with　deadly　force　at　the　slightest　hint　of　threat　to　the　Imperial　presence。
　Boisterous　cheers　rose　from　thousands　of　throats　as　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　and　his　betrothed　Lady　Anirul　rolled　by　in　a　velvet…cushioned　coach　pulled　by　six　golden　lions　from　Harmonthep；　braided　with　jewels；　the　animals'　magnificent　manes　ruffled　in　the　gentle　breeze。　Royal　footmen　and　pikemen　jogged　alongside　the　carriage；　which　was　barely　obscured　by　the　gossamer　shimmer　of　a　protective　shield。
　Looking　intensely　regal；　Anirul　waved　and　smiled；　she　had　shed　her　black　Bene　Gesserit　robes　and　wore　a　waterfall　of　laces；　ruffles；　and　pearl　drops。　Her　tiara　dazzled　with　prisms　and　jewels；　catching　the　sunlight　from　the　ever…cloudless　sky。　Beside　her；　Shaddam　looked　magnificent　with　his　reddish　hair　perfectly　pomaded；　his　military…style　uniform　decked　with　braids　and　shoulder　boards　and　clanking　medals。
　Since　the　Crown　Prince's　marriage　displayed　no　favoritism　to　any　Great　or　Minor　House；　the　Landsraad　had　accepted　Anirul　as　the　Imperial　consort；　though　many　questioned　her　mysterious　background　and　〃hidden　rank〃　in　the　Bene　Gesserit。　After　the　death　of　Elrood；　though；　followed　by　this　grandiose　coronation　and　wedding；　the　Imperium　was　awash　in　a　sea　of　changes。　Shaddam　hoped　to　use　that　to　his　advantage。
　With　a　paternal　smile　fixed　on　his　face；　he　scattered　solari　coins　and　packets　of　gemdust　to　the　crowd；　following　a　tradition　of　Imperial　largesse　that　was　believed　to　bring　blessings　upon　a　new　reign。　The　people　loved　him；　he　was　surrounded　by　wealth；　with　the　snap　of　his　fingers　he　could　obliterate　entire　worlds。　This　was　exactly　how　he　had　imagined　the　role　of　Emperor　would　be。
　A　flourish　of　trumpets　made　joyful　clarion　sounds。
　WON'T　YOU　SIT　with　me；　Hasimir？〃　the　willowy　blonde　asked；　giving　him　a　coquettish　smile　during　the　pre…coronation　reception。　Fenring　couldn't　tell　if　Margot　Rashino…Zea　had　purposely　made　her　voice　sultry；　or　if　it　just　came　naturally　to　her。　He　held　a　plate　of　food　containing　exotic　hors　d'oeuvres。　Poison…snoopers　fluttered　like　hummingbirds　over　the　crowded　guests。　The　day's　ceremonies　would　last　for　hours　upon　hours；　and　the　guests　could　relax　and　partake　of　refreshments　at　their　leisure。
　Sister　Margot　Rashino…Zea　stood　taller　than　Fenring；　and　leaned　intimately　close　to　him　when　she　spoke。　Her　coral…and…jet　dress　shimmered　around　the　exquisite　perfection　of　her　form　and　features。　She　wore　a　Caladanian　pearl　necklace　and　a　brooch　encrusted　with　gold　and　precious　stones。　Her　skin　looked　like　rich；　honeyed　milk。
　Around　them　in　the　balcony　lobby　of　the　Grand　Theatre；　elegantly　dressed　noblemen　and　ladies　chatted　and　drank　grand　cru　wines　from　tall…stemmed　glasses。　The　octave…crystal　hummed　as　glasses　were　touched　together　in　repeated　toasts。　Within　the　hour；　the　assemblage　would　witness　the　climactic　double　event　that　would　be　held　on　center　stage：　the　coronation　of　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　Corrino　IV　and　his　wedding　to　the　Lady　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin　of　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　Fenring　nodded　his　large　head　and　executed　a　brief　bow　to　her。　〃I　would　be　honored　to　sit　next　to　you；　lovely　Margot。〃　Balancing　his　plate；　Fenring　lowered　himself　onto　the　bench　beside　her。　She　inspected　the　hors　d'oeuvres　he　had　chosen　and；　without　asking；　reached　over　to　pluck　one　of　them　for　herself。
　It　was　a　cheerful　gathering；　Fenring　thought；　without　the　whisperings　of　discontent　that　had　so　poisoned　the　Palace　in　recent　months。　He　was　satisfied　with　his　own　efforts　in　this　regard。　Key　alliances　had　been　solidified；　and　the　Federated　Houses　no　longer　made　any　serious　talk　of　revolt　against　Shaddam。　The　Bene　Gesserit　had　thrown　their　public　support　behind　the　Corrino　reign；　and　no　doubt　the　witches　had　continued　their　machinations　behind　the　scenes　at　other　Great　Houses。　Fenring　found　it　curious　that　many　of　those　who'd　been　the　most　suspicious　and　outspoken　nobles　were　no　longer　counted　among　the　living　　an