bh.houseatreides-第39章
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shirt； as the wild gaze hound had done。
Duncan decided to make his way to the mysterious signaler and hope for the best。 He couldn't imagine finding anyone to help him； but he had not given up hope。 Maybe he could find a means of escape； perhaps as a stowaway。
First； though； he would lay another trap for the hunters。 He had an idea； something that would surprise them； and it seemed simple enough。 If he could kill a few more of the enemy； he'd have a better chance of getting away。
After studying the rocks； the patches of snow； the trees； Duncan selected the best point for his second ambush。 He switched on his handlight and directed the beam at the ground so that no sensitive eyes would spot a telltale gleam in the distance。
The pursuers weren't far behind him。 Occasionally； he heard a muffled shout in the deep silence； saw the hunting party's firefly glowglobes illuminating their way through the forest； as the trackers tried to anticipate the path their quarry would take。
Right then Duncan wanted them to anticipate where he would go。。。but they would never guess what he meant to do。 Kneeling beside a particularly light and fluffy snowdrift； he inserted the handlight into the snow and pushed it down through the cold iciness as far as he could。 Then he withdrew his hand。
The glow reflected from the white snow like water diffusing into a sponge。 Tiny crystals of ice refracted the light； magnifying it； the drift itself shone like a phosphorescent island in the dark clearing。
Slinging the lasgun in front of him； ready to fire； he trotted back to the sheltering trees。 He lay on a cushion of pine needles flat against the ground； careful to present no visible target； then rested the barrel of the lasgun on a small rock； propping it in position。
Waiting。
The hunters came； predictably； and Duncan felt that their roles had reversed： Now he was the hunter； and they were his game。 He aimed the weapon； fingers tense on the firing stud。 At last the group entered the clearing。 Startled to find the shining snowdrift； they milled about； trying to figure out what it was； what their prey had done。
Two of the trackers faced outward； suspicious of an attack from the forest。 Others stood silhouetted in the ghostly light； perfect targets exactly as Duncan had hoped。
At the rear of the party； he recognized one burly man with a manding presence。 Rabban！ Duncan thought of how his parents had fallen； remembered the smell of their burning flesh and squeezed the firing stud。
But at that moment； one of the scouts stepped in front of Rabban to give a report。 The beam scored through his armor； burning and smoking。 The man flung out his arms and gave a wild shriek。
Reacting with lightning speed for his burly body； Rabban hurled himself to one side as the beam melted all the way through the hunter's padded chest and sizzled into the snowdrift。 Duncan cut loose another blast； shooting a second tracker who stood outlined against the glowing snow。 Then the remaining guards began firing wildly into the trees； into the darkness。
Duncan next targeted the drifting glowglobes。 Bursting one after another； he left his hapless pursuers alone in flame…haunted darkness。 He picked off two more men； while the rest of the party scrambled for cover。
With the charge in his lasgun running low； the boy scrabbled back behind the ridge where he had set up his attack； and then he headed out at top speed toward the blinking signal light he had seen。 Whatever the beacon might be； it was his best chance。
The Harkonnens would be startled and disorganized for a few moments； and overly suspicious for much longer than that。 Knowing he had one last opportunity； Duncan threw caution to the wind。 He ran； slipping； down the hillside； smashing against rocks； but taking no time to feel the pain of scrapes or bruises。 He could not cover his tracks in time； did not attempt to hide。
Somewhere behind him； as he increased the distance； he heard muffled growls and snarls； and shouts from the hunters。 A pack of the wild gaze hounds had converged on them； seeking wounded prey。 Duncan hid a smile and continued toward the intermittently blinking light。 He saw it now； up ahead near the edge of the forest preserve。
He finally approached； treading lightly toward a shallow clearing。 He came upon a silent flitter 'thopter； a high…speed aircraft that could take several passengers。 The flashing beacon signaled from the top of the craft but Duncan saw no one。
He waited in silence for a few moments； then cautiously left the shadows of the trees and moved forward。 Was the craft abandoned？ Left there for him？ Some kind of trap the Harkonnens had laid？ But why would they do that？ They were already hunting him。
Or did he have a mysterious rescuer？
Duncan Idaho had acplished much this evening and was already exhausted； stunned at how much had changed in his life。 But he was only eight years old and could never pilot this flitter； even if it was his only way to escape。 Still； he might find supplies inside； more food； another weapon 。。。。
He leaned against the hull； surveying the area； making no sound。 The hatch stood open like an invitation； but the mysterious flitter was dark inside。 Wishing he still had his handlight； he moved forward cautiously and probed the shadows ahead of him with the barrel of the lasgun。
Then hands snatched out from the shadows of the craft to yank the gun from his grip before he could even flinch。 Fingers stinging； flesh torn； Duncan staggered backward； biting back an outcry。
The person inside the flitter tossed the lasgun with a clatter onto the deckplates and lunged out to grab hold of the boy's arms。 Rough hands squeezed the wound in his shoulder and made him gasp in pain。
Duncan kicked and struggled； then looked up to see a wiry； bitter…faced woman with chocolate…colored hair and dusky skin。 He recognized her instantly： Janess Milam； who had stood next to him during the yard games。。。just before Harkonnen troops had captured his parents and sent his entire family to the prison city of Barony。
This woman had betrayed him to the Harkonnens。
Janess pressed a hand over his mouth before he could cry out and clamped his head in a firm arm lock。 He couldn't escape。
〃Got you；〃 she said； her voice a harsh whisper。
She had betrayed him again。
We consider the various worlds as gene pools； sources of teachings and teachers； sources of the possible。
…Bene Gesserit Analysis；
Wallach IX Archives
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was no stranger to despicable acts。 Still； being coerced into this encounter disturbed him more than any vile situation he had ever been in。 It threw him pletely off…balance。
And throughout it all； why did this damned Reverend Mother have to be so calm； so smug？
Embarrassed； he sent away his guards and officials； purging all possible eavesdroppers from the brooding Harkonnen citadel。 Where is Rabban when I need him？ Off on a hunt！ He sulked back to his private chambers； as ready as he would ever be。 His stomach churned。
Nervous sweat glistened on his forehead as he stepped through the ornate arched doorway； then flicked on the privacy curtains。 Perhaps if he extinguished the glowglobes and pretended he was doing something else。。。。
When he entered； the Baron was relieved to see that the witch had not taken off her clothes； had not reclined seductively on the mussed bedcoverings in anticipation of his return。 Instead； she sat fully robed； a prim Bene Gesserit Sister； just waiting for him。 But a maddeningly superior smile curved her lips。
The Baron wanted to slash that smile away with a sharp instrument。 He took a deep breath； appalled that this witch could make him feel so helpless。
〃The best I can offer you is a vial of my sperm；〃 he said； trying to be gruff and in control。 〃Impregnate yourself。 That should be sufficient for your purposes。〃 He lifted his firm chin。 〃You Bene Gesserit will just have to accept that。〃
〃But it's not acceptable； Baron；〃 the Reverend Mother said； sitting up straighter on the divan。 〃You know the strictures。 We're not Tleilaxu growing offspring in tanks。 We Bene Gesserit must have birth through natural processes； with no artificial meddling； for reasons
