bh.houseatreides-第48章
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〃You play dangerous games； Janess；〃 Renno said。
〃I enjoy games。〃 She balled her fist and playfully punched him in the shoulder。 〃Don't tell anyone。〃
Renno raised his eyebrows。 〃What's the point of ing back to this scummy port if you're not here waiting for me？ Who'd keep me pany in a dark and lonely bunk？ Nah； it wouldn't be worth my while to turn you in。 But you still owe me。〃
Before going； Janess knelt and fixed her eyes on young Duncan Idaho。 She seemed to be trying for some semblance of passion。 〃Look； kid。 Here's what I want you to do。 When you get to Caladan； step off that ship and insist on seeing Duke Paulus Atreides himself。 Duke Atreides。 Tell him you've e from the Harkonnens； and demand to be taken into service in his household。〃
Renno's eyebrows shot high on his forehead； and he muttered something unintelligible。
Janess kept her face firm and intent； thinking to play a last cruel； joke on the boy she had betrayed。 She realized there would be no chance whatsoever that a dirty； nameless street urchin could possibly set foot in the Grand Hall of Castle Caladan but that wouldn't stop him from trying。。。maybe for years。
She'd already had her victory by stealing the boy from Rabban's hunting party。 She had known they were taking Duncan to the Forest Guard Station and so she made a particular effort to find him； to snatch him away and turn him over to the Harkonnens' greatest enemies。 Whatever else happened to the boy was now irrelevant to her； but Janess amused herself by imagining all the tribulations Duncan Idaho would undergo before finally giving up。
〃e on；〃 Renno said gruffly； pulling Duncan's arm。 〃I'll find you a place in the cargo hold； where you can sleep and hide。〃
Duncan didn't look back at Janess。 He wondered if she expected him to say goodbye or thank her for what she'd done； but he refused to do that。 She hadn't helped him because she cared； or even out of remorse。 No； he wouldn't demean himself； and he could never forgive Janess for her part in destroying his family。 Strange woman。
He walked up the ramp； looking straight ahead； not knowing where he was going。 Lost and parentless； without any idea of what he would do next； Duncan Idaho headed off。。。。
RENNO GAVE HIM no fort and little nourishment； but at least he left the boy in peace。 What Duncan Idaho needed most in the entire universe was time to recover； a few days to sort out his memories and learn to live with the ones he could not forget。
He slept alone like a rat in the cargo hold of the battered transport； surrounded by scrap metal and recyclables。 None of it was soft； but he still slept well enough on the rust…smelling floor； with his back against a cold bulkhead。 It was the most peaceful time he'd had in recent memory。
Finally； when the ship descended toward Caladan to deliver its load and dump him alone and friendless on a strange world； Duncan was ready for anything。 He had his drive and his energy； nothing would sway him from his chosen quest。
Now he just had to find Duke Paulus Atreides。
History allows us to see the obvious but unfortunately； not until it is too late。
…PRINCE RAPHAEL CORRINO
When he surveyed Leto's bedraggled black hair； his dust…smeared clothes； and the perspiration streaks down his cheeks； Rhombur actually chuckled。 He meant no insult by his response； but seemed incapable of believing the preposterous story Leto had told。 He stood back and assessed his friend。 〃Vermilion hells！ Don't you think you're； uh。。。overreacting a bit； Leto？〃
Rhombur strode over to one of the broad windows。 Alcoves all along the wall of the stocky Prince's room displayed handpicked geological oddities； his delight and pride。 Far beyond the amenities of his station as the Earl's son； Rhombur found joy in his collection of minerals； crystals； and gems。 He could have purchased more magnificent specimens many times over； but the Prince had personally found each rock in his own explorations of cave floors and small tunnels。
But in all his explorations； Rhombur indeed； the entire Vernius ruling family had been blind to the unrest among the workers。 Now Leto understood why the Old Duke had insisted that his son learn to read his subjects and know the mood of the populace。 〃At the heart of it all； lad； we rule at their sufferance；〃 Paulus had told him； 〃though thankfully most of the population doesn't realize it。 If you're a good enough ruler； none of your people will think to question it。〃
As if embarrassed by Leto's dramatic news and rumpled appearance； the tousle…haired young man peered down at the swirling masses of workers in the production yards below。 Everything seemed quiet； business as usual。 〃Leto； Leto。。。〃 He pointed a pudgy finger at the apparently content lower classes who labored like dutiful drones。 〃Suboids can't even decide for themselves what to eat for dinner； much less band together and start a rebellion。 That takes too much。。。initiative。〃
Leto shook his head； still panting。 His sweaty hair clung to his forehead。 He felt more shaky now that he was safe； sitting slumped in a fortable self…forming chair in Rhombur's private quarters。 When he'd been fleeing for his life； he had reacted on instinct alone。 Now； trying to relax； he couldn't keep his pulse from racing。 He took a long gulp of sour cidrit juice from a goblet on Rhombur's breakfast tray。
〃I'm only reporting what I saw； Rhombur； and I don't imagine threats。 I've seen enough real ones to know the difference。〃 He leaned forward； his gray eyes flashing at his friend。 〃I tell you； something's going on。 The suboids were talking about overthrowing House Vernius； tearing down what you've built； and taking Ix for themselves。 They were preparing for violence。〃
Rhombur hesitated； as if still waiting to hear the punch line。 〃Well； I'll tell my father。 You can give him your version of the events； and I'm； uh； sure he'll look into the matter。〃
Leto's shoulders sagged。 What if Earl Vernius ignored the problem until it was too late？
Rhombur brushed down his purple tunic and smiled； then scratched his head in perplexity。 It seemed to take great stamina for him to address the subject again； he appeared genuinely baffled。 〃But。。。if you've been down there； Leto； you see that we take care of the suboids。 They're given food； shelter； families； jobs。 Sure； maybe we take the lion's share of the profits。。。that's the way of things。 That's our society。 But we don't abuse our workers。 What can they possibly plain about？〃
〃Maybe they see it differently；〃 Leto said。 〃Physical oppression isn't the only kind of abuse。〃
Rhombur brightened； then extended his hand。 〃e； my friend。 This might just make an interesting twist for our political lectures today。 We can use it as a hypothetical case。〃
Leto followed； more saddened than distraught。 He was afraid the Ixians would never see this trouble as anything more than an interesting political discussion。
FROM THE TALLEST spire of the Grand Palais； Earl Dominic Vernius ruled an industrial empire hidden from outside view。 The big man paced back and forth on the transparent floor of his Orb Office that hung like a magnificent crystal ball from the cavern ceiling。
The office walls and floor were constructed of perfectly bonded Ixian glass with no seams or distortions； he seemed to be walking on air； floating over his domain。 At times； Dominic felt like a deity on high； gazing out upon his universe。 He ran a callused palm across his smooth； newly shaven head； the skin still tingled there from the invigorating lotions Shando used when she massaged his scalp。
His daughter Kailea sat in a suspensor chair and watched him。 He approved of her taking an interest in Ixian business； but today he felt too troubled to spend much time debating with her。 He brushed imaginary crumbs off his newly laundered sleeveless tunic； turned about； and circled his quicksilver desk again。
Kailea continued to study him； offering no advice； though his daughter understood the problem they faced。
Dominic didn't expect old 〃Roody〃 to roll over and meekly accept the loss of tax revenues caused by the new Ixian Heighliner design。 No； the Emperor would find some way to twist a simple business decision into a personal af
