bh.houseatreides-第141章

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rough　his；　saying；　〃You'll　sit　with　me；　then？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　with　a　wink；　〃and　maybe　a　little　more　than　that。〃
　She　smiled　prettily；　and　he　thought　of　how　difficult　it　would　be　to　kill　this　woman。　If　it　ever　came　to　that。
　EACH　HOUSE　MAJOR　had　received　a　dozen　tickets　to　the　double　event　in　the　Grand　Theatre；　while　the　rest　of　the　population　in　the　Imperium　watched　over　planetary　relays。　Everyone　would　talk　about　the　details　of　the　magnificent　ceremony　for　at　least　the　next　decade　　exactly　as　Shaddam　intended。
　As　the　representative　of　his　restored　House；　Duke　Leto　Atreides　sat　with　his　entourage　in　blackplaz　seats　in　the　second　row；　main　level。　The　Emperor's　〃beloved　cousin〃　had　maintained　pretenses　since　the　ending　of　the　Landsraad　trial；　but　Leto　did　not　believe　the　feigned　friendship　would　last　beyond　his　return　to　Caladan　　unless；　of　course；　Shaddam　intended　to　collect　on　the　favor。　Beware　of　what　you　buy；　the　Old　Duke　had　said；　for　there　may　be　hidden　costs。
　Thufir　Hawat　sat　on　Leto's　right　and　a　proud　and　effusive　Rhombur　Vernius　on　his　left。　On　the　other　side　of　Rhombur　sat　his　sister　Kailea；　who　had　joined　the　delegation　after　Leto　was　freed。　She　had　rushed　to　Kaitain　to　see　the　coronation　and　to　stand　beside　her　brother　　her　emerald　eyes　dazzled　with　every　fresh　sight。　Not　a　moment　went　by　without　Kailea　gasping　or　exclaiming　in　delight　at　some　new　marvel。　Leto's　heart　warmed　to　see　such　utter　joy　in　her；　the　first　he'd　noticed　since　their　flight　from　Ix。
　While　Rhombur　wore　Vernius　purple　and　copper；　Kailea　chose　to　drape　her　creamy　shoulders　with　an　Atreides　cloak　sporting　red　hawk　armorial　crests；　like　Leto's。　Clutching　his　forearm　and　letting　him　escort　her　to　their　seats；　Kailea　told　him　with　a　soft　smile；　〃I　chose　these　colors　out　of　respect　for　the　host　who　granted　us　sanctuary；　and　to　memorate　the　restored　fortunes　of　House　Atreides。〃　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。
　Since　the　matter　of　the　death　sentence　on　House　Vernius　still　hung　like　a　thick　cloud　on　the　horizon；　the　siblings　attended　the　festivities　at　considerable　personal　risk。　In　the　present　atmosphere　of　celebration；　however；　Thufir　Hawat　surmised　that　they　were　probably　safe；　provided　they　didn't　overstay　their　wele。　When　Leto　first　heard　this；　he　laughed。　〃Thufir；　do　Mentats　ever　provide　guarantees？〃　Hawat　did　not　find　this　amusing。
　Though　the　coronation　and　Imperial　wedding　were　among　the　safest　places　in　the　universe　because　of　the　intense　public　attention；　Leto　doubted　that　Dominic　Vernius　would　show　his　face。　Even　now；　after　vindictive　Elrood's　death；　Rhombur's　father　had　not　ventured　out　of　hiding；　had　not　sent　them　any　sort　of　message　whatsoever。
　Across　the　rear　of　the　cavernous　theatre；　on　both　the　main　and　upper　levels；　sat　representatives　of　Houses　Minor　and　various　factions　among　CHOAM；　the　Spacing　Guild；　the　Mentats；　the　Suk　doctors；　and　other　power　bases　scattered　across　the　million　worlds。　House　Harkonnen　had　their　own　segregated　section　in　an　upper　balcony；　the　Baron；　attending　without　his　nephew　Rabban；　refused　even　to　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　Atreides　seats。
　〃The　colors；　the　sounds；　the　perfumes　　it's　making　me　dizzy；〃　Kailea　said；　drawing　a　deep　breath　and　leaning　closer　to　Leto。　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　this　　on　Ix；　or　on　Caladan。〃
　Leto　said；　〃No　one　in　the　Imperium　has　seen　anything　like　this　in　almost　a　hundred　and　forty　years。〃
　In　the　first　row；　directly　in　front　of　the　Atreides；　sat　a　contingent　of　Bene　Gesserit　women　in　identical　black　robes；　including　withered　Mother　Superior　Harishka。　On　the　other　side　of　the　aisle　from　the　quiet　and　manipulative　women　stood　fully　armed　Sardaukar　in　ceremonial　uniforms。
　The　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　greeted　fresh…faced　Reverend　Mother　Anirul；　the　Empress…to…be；　as　she　passed　the　group；　acpanied　by　a　large　honor　guard　and　garishly　dressed　ladies…in…waiting。　Rhombur　searched　for　the　stunning　blonde　woman　who'd　given　him　the　mysterious　message　cube；　and　found　her　sitting　with　Hasimir　Fenring　instead　of　with　the　other　Sisters。
　An　air　of　expectation　filled　the　high…ceilinged；　tiered　facility。　Finally；　a　hush　fell　over　the　Grand　Theatre；　and　everyone　stood　respectfully；　holding　their　hats　and　caps。
　Crown　Prince　Shaddam；　attired　in　a　formal　Sardaukar　mander's　uniform　with　silver　epaulets　and　the　Golden　Lion　crest　of　House　Corrino；　marched　down　the　aisle　on　a　carpet　of　velvet　and　damask。　His　red　hair　was　pomaded　with　glitter。　Members　of　his　royal　Court　followed　him；　all　of　them　wearing　scarlet　and　gold。
　Bringing　up　the　rear　was　the　green…robed　High　Priest　of　Dur；　who　had　by　tradition　crowned　every　Emperor　since　the　fall　of　the　thinking　machines。　Despite　the　varying　fortunes　of　his　ancient　religion；　the　High　Priest　proudly　sprinkled　the　iron…red　holy　dust　of　Dur　right　and　left　onto　the　audience。
　Seeing　Shaddam's　stately　pace　and　how　smartly　uniformed　he　was；　Leto　recalled　when　the　Crown　Prince　had　marched　up　another　aisle　only　days　earlier　to　testify　on　his　behalf。　In　a　way；　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　royal　cousin　had　looked　even　more　regal　then；　swathed　in　the　fine　silks　and　jewels　of　an　Emperor。　Now　he　looked　more　like　a　soldier　　the　mander　in　chief　of　all　Imperial　forces。
　〃An　obvious　political　move；〃　Hawat　said；　leaning　over　to　mutter　in　his　ear。　〃Do　you　notice？　Shaddam　is　letting　the　Sardaukar　know　that　their　new　Emperor　considers　himself　a　member　of　their　organization；　that　they　are　important　to　his　reign。〃
　Leto　nodded；　understanding　this　practice　well。　Like　his　father　before　him；　the　young　Duke　fraternized　with　his　men；　dining　with　them　and　joining　them　in　everyday　functions　to　show　that　he　would　never　ask　his　troops　to　do　what　he　wouldn't　do　himself。
　〃Looks　to　me　like　more　show　than　substance；〃　Rhombur　said。
　〃In　ruling　a　vast　empire；　there's　a　place　for　show；〃　Kailea　said。　With　a　pang；　Leto　recalled　the　Old　Duke's　penchant　for　bullfights　and　other　spectacles。
　Shaddam　reveled　in　the　grandeur；　bathed　himself　in　glory。　He　bowed　as　he　strutted　past　his　future　wife　and　the　Bene　Gesserit　contingent。　His　coronation　would　e　first。　At　the　designated　place；　Shaddam　came　to　a　stop　and　turned　to　face　the　High　Priest　of　Dur；　who　now　held　the　glittering　Imperial　crown　on　a　gilded　pillow。
　Behind　the　Crown　Prince；　a　wide　curtain　opened　to　reveal　the　royal　dais；　which　had　been　moved　here。　The　massive　Imperial　throne；　empty　now；　had　been　carved　from　a　single　piece　of　blue…green　quartz　　the　largest　such　gem　ever　found；　dating　back　to　the　days　of　Emperor　Hassik　III。　Hidden　projectors　shot　fine…tuned　lasers　into　the　depths　of　the　block　of　crystal；　refracting　a　nova　of　rainbows。　The　audience　gasped　at　the　translucent　beauty　of　the　throne。
　Indeed；　there　is　a　place　for　ceremony　in　the　daily　workings　of　the　Imperium；　Leto　thought。　It　has　a　unifying　influence；　making　people　feel　they　belong　to　something　significant。
　Such　ceremonies　cemented　the　impression　that　Humanity；　not　Chaos；　reigned　over　the　universe。　Even　a　self…serving　Emperor　like　Shaddam　could　do　some　good；　Leto　felt。。。and　fervently　hoped。
　Solemnly；　the　Crown　Prince　climbed　the　steps　of　the　royal　dais　and　seated　himself　on　the　throne；　staring　fixedly　ahead。　Following　time…honored　procedure；　the　High　Priest　moved　behind　him　and　raised　the　jeweled　crown　high　in　the　air。
　〃Do　you；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　Raphael　Corrino　IV；　swear　fidelity　to　the　Holy　Empire？〃
　The　priest's　voice　carried　throughout　the　theatre；　over　speakers　of　such　high　quality　that　everyone　in　the　audience　heard　pletely　natural；　undistorted　sounds。　The　same　words　were　transmitted　around　the　planet　of　Kaitain；　and　would　be　spread　throughout　the　Imperium。
　〃I　do；〃　Shaddam　said；　his　voice　booming。
　The　High　Priest　lowered　the　symbol　of　office　onto　the　seated　man's　brow；　and　to　the　gathered　dignitaries　he　said；　〃I　give　you　the　new　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　IV；　may　his　reign　shine　as　long　as　the　stars！〃
　〃May　his　reign　shine　as　long　as　the　stars！〃　the　audience　intoned　in　a　thunderous　response。
　When　Shaddam　rose　from　the　throne　with　the　glittering　crown　on　his　head；　he　did　so　as　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe。　Thousands　inside　the　chamber　applauded　and　cheered　him。　He　looked　across　the　audience　that　was　a　microcosm　of　e