bh.houseatreides-第17章
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s。 The Duke had never charged any fee to witness his performances； he was too proud of them； enjoyed showing off too much。
Enormous green…and…black banners flapped in the breeze； while fanfare blasted from speakers。 Pillars emblazoned with Atreides hawk crests sparkled with emblems that had been newly polished and painted for the event。 Thousands of floral bouquets harvested from the fields and lowlands had been placed about the bullring an unsubtle hint that the Duke liked the people to strew the ground with blossoms each time he dispatched a bull。
Below； in the preparation chambers at ground level； Paulus girded up before the fight。 Leto stood with him behind a barricade； listening to the impatient crowd。 〃Father； I'm uneasy about the risk you're taking。 You shouldn't do this。。。especially not for me。〃
The Old Duke brushed aside the ment。 〃Leto； lad； you must understand that governing people and winning their loyalty consists of more than just signing papers； collecting taxes； and attending Landsraad meetings。〃 He straightened his magenta cape； preened in front of a mirror。
〃I depend on those people out there to produce the most that Caladan can provide。 They must do so willingly； with hard work and not just for their own profit； but for their honor and glory。 If House Atreides was ever to go to war again； these people would shed their blood for me。 They would lay down their lives under our banner。〃 He fiddled with his armor。 〃Tighten this for me？〃
Leto grabbed the string fasteners of the back leather plate； tugged them； and cinched the knots tight。 He kept silent but nodded to show he understood。
〃As their Duke； I need to give them something back； prove that I'm worthy。 And it's not just for entertainment； but to instill in their minds that I'm a man of grand stature； of heroic proportions。。。someone blessed by God to rule them。 I can't do that unless I put myself before them。 Leadership is not a passive process。〃
Paulus checked his shield belt； then smiled through his beard。 〃 'No one is too old to learn；' 〃 he quoted。 〃That's a line from the Agamemnon play just to show you that I'm not always sleeping when I appear to be。〃
Thufir Hawat； the stern…faced weapons master； stood beside his Duke。 As a loyal Mentat； Hawat would not speak out against his superior's decisions； instead； he gave the best advice he could； whispering to Paulus the patterns he had seen in the movements of this new batch of mutated Salusan bulls。
Leto knew his mother would be up in the stands in the ducal spectator box。 She would be dressed in her finery； wearing colorful gauzy veils and robes； playing her part； waving to the people。 The night before； once again； there had been much heated discussion behind the bedroom doors； finally； Duke Paulus had simply silenced her with a barked mand。 Afterward he had gone to sleep； resting for the following day's exertions。
The Duke put on his green…bordered cap； then took the equipment he would need to conquer the wild bull： his poniards and a long； feathered vara with nerve toxin on the lance tip。 Thufir Hawat had suggested that the stablemaster slightly tranquilize the bull to deaden its rampaging impulses； but the Duke was a man who loved to face a challenge。 No drug…dulled opponent for him！
Paulus clipped the activation pack onto his shield belt and powered up the field。 It was only a half shield； used to guard his side； the Duke used a garishly brilliant cape called a muleta to cover his other side。
Paulus bowed first to his son； then his Mentat； and then the trainers waiting at the entrance to the arena。 〃Time for the show to begin。〃 Leto watched him swirl about and； like a bird on a mating display； strut out into the open Plaza de Toros。 At his appearance； cheers thundered out with a roar far louder than any Salusan bull's。
Leto stood behind the barricade； blinking into the glare of the open sun。 He smiled as his father made a slow circuit of the arena； waving his cape； bowing； greeting his ecstatic people。 Leto could sense the love and admiration they had for this brave man； and it warmed his heart。
Waiting there in the shadows； Leto vowed to do all he could to study his father's triumphs； so that one day he would mand such respect and devotion from the people。 Triumphs。。。this would be another in a long list of them for his father； Leto assured himself。 But he couldn't help worrying。 Too much could change in the flicker of a shield； the flash of a sharp horn； the stamp of a hoof。
Tones sounded； and an announcer's voice gave introductory details of the impending corrida de toros。 With a flourish of a sequined glove； Duke Paulus gestured toward the broad reinforced doors on the opposite side of the arena。
Moving to another archway for a better view； Leto reminded himself that this would be no sham performance。 His father would be battling for his very life。
Stableboys had been tending the ferocious beasts； and Stablemaster Yresk had personally selected one for the day's corrida。 After inspecting the animal； the Old Duke had been satisfied； certain the crowd would be equally pleased by its ferocity。 He looked forward to the fight。
Heavy gates opened with a grinding of suspensor hinges； and the Salusan bull charged out； shaking its massive； multiple…horned head in the dazzling light。 Its faceted eyes glittered with feral rage。 The scales on the mutated creature's back reflected iridescent colors from its black hide。
Duke Paulus whistled and waved his cape。 〃Over here； stupid！〃 The spectators laughed。
Turning toward him； the bull lowered its head with a loud bubbling snort。 Leto noticed that his father hadn't yet switched on his protective shield。 Instead； Paulus snapped and fluttered his colorful cape； trying to draw the wrath of the beast。 The Salusan bull pawed and snorted on the sandy arena floor； then charged。 Leto wanted to cry out； to warn his father。 Had the man simply forgotten to switch on his protection？ How could he possibly survive without a shield？
But the bull thundered past； and Paulus swept his cape gracefully to one side； letting the creature strike the diversionary target。 Its hooked horns shredded the bottom of the fabric into ragged frays。 While it was ing about； the Old Duke turned his back to the bull； exposed and overconfident。 He bowed mockingly toward the crowd before he stood straight then calmly； patiently； flicked on his personal shield。
The bull attacked again； and now the Duke used his poniard to toy with it； pricking through its thick； scaled hide before slashing a stinging yet minor wound along its flank。 The creature's faceted eyes saw multiple images of its colorfully garbed tormentor。
It charged again。
Moving too fast to penetrate the shield； Leto thought。 But if the bull tires and slows； he could be even more dangerous 。。。。
As the fight continued； Leto saw how his father was playing this up for all the spectacle he could muster； tantalizing the audience to amuse them。 Old Paulus could have killed the Salusan bull at any time； yet he drew out the moment； savored it。
From the reactions of the spectators； Leto knew this would be an event talked about for years。 The rice farmers and fishermen led such dreary； hardworking lives。 But this celebration would fix a proud image of their Duke forever in their minds。 Look what Old Paulus was doing； they would say； despite his age！
Eventually the bull became exhausted； its eyes reddened with blood； its snorts heavy and tired as it spilled its life fluid onto the powdery surface of the arena。 Duke Paulus himself now chose to end the fight。 He had dragged the sport along for nearly an hour。 Though dripping with sweat； he somehow maintained his regal appearance and did not allow his manner to show weariness； or his fine clothes to be disheveled。
Up in the stands； Lady Helena continued to wave her pennants； smiling fixedly down at the spectacle。
By now； the Salusan bull was like a maddened machine； a rampaging monster that had few vulnerable spots in its black…scaled armor。 As the beast ran at him again； its gait staggering； its gleaming horns pointed like spears； Duke Paulus feinted to the left； then returned as the bull surged past。
Then Paulus swung sidew
