bh.houseatreides-第30章

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　〃Well；　I　refuse。〃　The　Baron　turned　about　and　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃Go　away。　Take　your　little　slaves　with　you　and　get　off　Giedi　Prime。〃
　Mohiam　stared　at　him　for　a　few　more　moments；　absorbing　the　details　of　his　chambers。　Using　Bene　Gesserit　analytical　techniques；　she　learned　many　things　about　the　Baron　and　his　personality　from　the　way　he　maintained　this　odorous　private　warren；　a　space　that　was　not　groomed　and　decorated　for　the　view　of　formal　visitors。　He　unknowingly　exhibited　a　wealth　of　information　about　his　inner　self。
　〃If　that　is　your　wish；　Baron；〃　she　said。　〃My　shuttle's　next　stop　will　be　Kaitain；　where　we　have　a　meeting　already　scheduled　with　the　Emperor。　My　personal　data　library　on　the　ship　contains　copies　of　all　the　records　that　give　evidence　of　your　spice…stockpiling　activities　on　Arrakis；　and　documentation　of　how　you　have　altered　your　production　deliberately　to　hide　your　private　stores　from　CHOAM　and　House　Corrino。　Our　preliminary　analysis　contains　enough　information　to　initiate　a　full…scale　Guild　bank　audit　of　your　activities　and　revocation　of　your　temporary　CHOAM　directorship。〃
　The　Baron　stared　back　at　her。　An　impasse；　neither　of　them　budging。　But　he　saw　behind　her　eyes　the　truth　in　her　words。　He　did　not　doubt　the　witches　had　used　their　diabolical　intuitive　methods　to　determine　exactly　what　he　had　done；　how　he　had　been　making　a　secret　fool　out　of　Elrood　IX。　He　also　knew　that　Mohiam　would　not　hesitate　to　follow　through　with　her　threat。
　Copies　of　all　the　records。。。Even　destroying　this　ship　would　do　no　good。　The　infernal　Sisterhood　obviously　had　other　copies　elsewhere。
　The　Bene　Gesserit　probably　had　blackmail　material　on　Imperial　House　Corrino　as　well；　perhaps　even　embarrassing　data　on　the　important　but　surreptitious　dealings　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　powerful　CHOAM　pany。　Bargaining　chips。　The　Sisterhood　was　good　at　learning　the　weaknesses　of　potential　enemies。
　The　Baron　hated　the　Hobson's　choice　she　gave　him；　but　he　could　do　nothing　about　it。　This　witch　could　destroy　him　with　a　word；　and　in　the　end　still　force　him　to　give　her　his　bloodline。
　〃To　make　things　easier　on　you；　I　have　the　ability　to　control　my　bodily　functions；〃　Mohiam　said；　sounding　reasonable。　〃I　can　ovulate　at　will；　and　I　guarantee　that　this　unpleasant　task　will　not　need　to　be　repeated。　From　a　single　encounter　with　you；　I　can　guarantee　the　birth　of　a　girl…child。　You　need　not　worry　about　us　again。〃
　The　Bene　Gesserit　always　had　plans　afoot；　wheels　within　wheels；　and　nothing　with　them　was　ever　as　clear　as　it　seemed。　The　Baron　frowned；　running　through　the　possibilities。　With　this　daughter　they　wanted　so　badly；　did　the　witches　　in　spite　of　their　denials　　intend　to　create　an　illegitimate　heir　and　claim　House　Harkonnen　in　the　following　generation？　That　was　preposterous。　He　was　already　grooming　Rabban　for　that　position；　and　no　one　would　question　it。
　〃I。。。〃　He　fumbled　for　words。　〃I　need　a　moment　to　consider　this；　and　I　must　speak　with　my　advisors。〃
　Reverend　Mother　Mohiam　all　but　rolled　her　eyes　at　the　suggestion；　but　granted　him　leave；　gesturing　for　the　Baron　to　take　his　time。　Tossing　aside　a　bloodstained　towel；　she　lounged　back　on　the　divan；　fortable　to　wait。
　Despite　his　despicable　personality；　Vladimir　Harkonnen　was　an　attractive　man；　well　built　with　pleasant　features：　reddish　hair；　heavy　lips；　pronounced　widow's　peak。　However；　the　Bene　Gesserit　instilled　in　all　their　Sisters　the　critical　belief　that　sexual　intercourse　was　a　mere　tool　for　manipulating　men　and　for　obtaining　offspring　to　add　to　the　genetically　connected　web　of　the　Sisterhood。　Mohiam　never　intended　to　enjoy　the　act；　no　matter　her　orders。　Nevertheless；　she　did　find　it　pleasurable　to　have　the　Baron　under　her　thumb；　to　be　able　to　force　him　into　submission。
　The　Reverend　Mother　sat　back；　closed　her　eyes；　and　concentrated　on　the　flow　and　ebb　of　hormones　in　her　body；　the　inner　workings　of　her　reproductive　system。。。preparing　herself。
　She　knew　what　the　Baron's　answer　had　to　be。
　〃PITER！〃　THE　BARON　strode　down　the　halls。　〃Where's　my　Mentat？〃
　De　Vries　slipped　out　of　an　adjoining　hall；　where　he'd　been　intending　to　use　the　hidden　observation　holes　he'd　placed　in　the　Baron's　private　chambers。
　〃I'm　here；　my　Baron；〃　he　said；　then　swigged　from　a　tiny　vial。　The　sapho　taste　triggered　responses　in　his　brain；　firing　his　neurons；　stoking　his　mental　capabilities。　〃What　did　the　witch　request？　What　is　she　up　to？〃
　The　Baron　wheeled；　finally　finding　an　appropriate　target　for　his　rage。　〃She　wants　me　to　impregnate　her！　The　sow！〃
　Impregnate　her？　de　Vries　thought；　adding　this　to　his　Mentat　database。　At　hyper　speed　he　reassessed　the　problem。
　〃She　wants　to　bear　my　girl…child！　Can　you　believe　it？　They　know　about　my　spice　stockpiles；　too！〃
　De　Vries　was　in　Mentat　mode。　Fact：　The　Baron　would　never　have　children　any　other　way。　He　loathes　women。　Besides；　politically；　he　is　too　careful　to　spread　his　seed　indiscriminately。
　Fact：　The　Bene　Gesserit　have　broad　genetic　records　on　Wallach　IX；　numerous　breeding　plans；　the　results　of　which　are　open　to　interpretation。　Given　a　child　by　the　Baron　　a　daughter　instead　of　a　son？　　what　could　the　witches　hope　to　acplish？
　Is　there　some　flaw　　or　advantage　　in　Harkonnen　genetics　they　wish　to　exploit？　Do　they　simply　wish　to　do　this　because　they　consider　it　the　most　humiliating　punishment　they　can　inflict　upon　the　Baron？　If　so；　how　has　the　Baron　personally　offended　the　Sisterhood？
　〃The　thought　of　it　disgusts　me！　Rutting　with　that　broodmare；〃　the　Baron　growled。　〃But　I'm　nearly　mad　with　curiosity。　What　can　the　Sisterhood　possibly　want？〃
　〃I'm　unable　to　make　a　projection；　Baron。　Insufficient　data。〃
　The　Baron　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　strike　de　Vries；　but　refrained。　〃I'm　not　a　Bene　Gesserit　stud！〃
　〃Baron；〃　de　Vries　said　calmly；　〃if　they　truly　have　information　about　your　spice…stockpiling　activities；　you　cannot　afford　to　have　that　exposed。　Even　if　they　were　bluffing；　your　reaction　has　no　doubt　already　told　them　all　they　need　to　know。　If　they　offer　proof　to　Kaitain；　the　Emperor　will　bring　his　Sardaukar　here　to　exterminate　House　Harkonnen　and　set　up　another　Great　House　in　our　stead　on　Arrakis；　just　as　they　removed　Richese　before　us。　Elrood　would　like　that；　no　doubt。　He　and　CHOAM　can　withdraw　their　contracts　from　any　of　your　holdings　at　any　time。　They　might　even　give　Arrakis　and　the　spice　production　to；　say；　House　Atreides。。。just　to　spite　you。〃
　〃Atreides！〃　The　Baron　wanted　to　spit。　〃I'd　never　let　my　holdings　fall　into　their　hands。〃
　De　Vries　knew　he　had　struck　the　right　chord。　The　feud　between　Harkonnen　and　Atreides　had　started　many　generations　before；　during　the　tragic　events　of　the　Battle　of　Corrin。
　〃You　must　do　as　the　witch　demands；　Baron；〃　he　said。　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　have　won　this　round　of　the　game。　Priority：　Protect　the　fortunes　of　your　House；　your　spice　holdings；　and　your　illicit　stockpiles。〃　The　Mentat　smiled。　〃Then　get　your　revenge　later。〃

　The　Baron　looked　gray；　his　skin　suddenly　blotched。　〃Piter；　from　this　instant　forward　I　want　you　to　begin　erasing　the　evidence　and　dispersing　our　stockpiles。　Spread　them　to　places　where　no　one　will　think　to　look。〃
　〃On　the　planets　of　our　allies；　too？　I　wouldn't　remend　that；　Baron。　Too　many　plexities　setting　it　up。　And　alliances　change。〃
　〃Very　well。〃　His　spider…black　eyes　lit　up。　〃Put　most　of　it　on　Lankiveil；　right　under　the　nose　of　my　stupid　half　brother。　They'll　never　suspect　Abulurd's　collusion　in　any　of　this。〃
　〃Yes；　my　Baron。　A　very　good　idea。〃
　〃Of　course　it's　a　good　idea！〃　He　frowned；　looked　around。　Thinking　of　his　half　brother　had　reminded　him　of　his　cherished　nephew。　〃Where　is　Rabban？　Maybe　the　witch　can　use　his　sperm　instead。〃
　〃I　doubt　it；　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said。　〃Their　genetic　plans　are　usually　specific。〃
　〃Well；　where　is　he　anyway？　Rabban！〃　The　Baron　spun　about　and　paced　the　hall；　as　if　looking　for　something　to　stalk。　〃I　haven't　seen　him　in　a　day。〃
　〃Off　on　another　one　of　his　silly　hunts；　up　at　Forest　Guard　Station。〃　De　Vries　suppressed　a　smile。　〃You　are　on　your　own　here；　my　Baron；　and　I　think　you'd　better　get　to　your　bedchamber。　You　have　a　duty　to　perform。〃
　The　basic　rule　is　this：　Never　support　weakness；　always　support　strength。
　…The　Bene　Gesserit