bh.houseatreides-第67章
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the Guild's monopoly on space travel； orships were among the most closely held Ixian secrets； to be employed only as a last resort。
A hatch slid open on the side of the craft； and Leto heard the ship's systems surround him with a hum of machinery and electronics。 Rhombur led the way into a pact mand center with two high…backed chairs and glimmering finger…panel controls in front of each。 He slid into one seat； and Leto into the other。 The resilient sensiform material conformed to their bodies。 Soft green lights glowed on the finger panels。 Kailea stood behind her brother； her hands on the back of his chair。
With his fingers dancing over the glowing control panels； Rhombur said； 〃I'm setting yours on tutorial。 The ship will teach you how to pilot it。〃
Leto's panel changed color to yellow。 Wondering again about the machine…mind taboos of the Butlerian Jihad； he scrunched his face in confusion。 How much could this craft think for itself？ His mother had warned him about accepting too many things； especially Ixian things； at face value。 Through the clear plaz windshield he saw only gray rock outside； the rough interior surface of the algae…chamber。
〃So it thinks for itself？ Like those new training meks you showed me？〃
Rhombur paused。 〃Uh； I know what's on your mind； Leto； but this machine does not emulate human thought processes。 The suboids just don't understand。 Like our adaptive fighting mek； which scans an adversary to make bat decisions； it doesn't think it only reacts； at lightning speed。 It reads your movements； anticipates； and responds。〃
〃That sounds like thinking to me。〃 In the finger…panel zone before Leto； lights danced within lights。
Kailea sighed with frustration。 〃The Butlerian Jihad has been over for thousands of years； and still humankind acts as if we're terrified rodents hiding from shadows。 There is an anti…Ixian prejudice throughout the Imperium because we make plex machines。 People don't understand what we do； and misunderstanding breeds suspicion。〃
Leto nodded。 〃Then help me understand。 Let's get started。〃 He looked at the control panel and tried not to be too impatient。 After the past few days； they were all feeling the effects of unrelenting stress。
〃Place your fingers over the identity plates；〃 Rhombur said。 〃Don't actually touch the panel。 Stay a little above it。〃
After doing so； Leto's body was surrounded by a pale yellow glow that made his skin tingle。
〃It's absorbing the identity ponents of your body： the shape of your face； tiny scars； fingerprints； hair follicles； retina prints。 I've instructed the machine to accept your inputs。〃 When the glow receded； Rhombur said； 〃You're authorized now。 Activate the tutorial by passing your right thumb over the second row of lights。〃
Leto plied； and a synthetic…reality box appeared in front of his eyes depicting an aerial view that passed over craggy mountains and rocky gorges the same scenery he had observed months ago； the day he'd been unceremoniously stranded outside by the Guild shuttle。
Suddenly sparks filled the air in the hiding chamber below。 Explosions and static bursts inundated his ears。 The synthetic landscape image went hazy； came into focus again； and faded。 Leto's head rang from the noise。
〃Sit down；〃 Rhombur barked。 〃Uh this isn't a simulation anymore。〃
〃They've found us already！〃 Kailea tumbled into a low bulkhead seat behind Leto's and was automatically surrounded by a personal safety field。 Leto felt the warmth of another PSF cocooning him as Rhombur tried to lock himself into the piloting seat。
On the orship's surveillance screen； Rhombur saw Tleilaxu soldiers and armed suboids filling the hidden chamber's access tube； firing lasgun bursts to break open the hidden doorways。 The attackers were already through the second barrier。 Captain Zhaz and a few remaining men lay in smoking mounds on the floor。
〃Maybe your parents got away；〃 Leto said。 〃I hope they're safe。〃
Rhombur thrust his hands into the finger…control field； removing the orship from tutorial mode and preparing for actual takeoff。 Leto sat back； trying to relinquish mand。 The external simulation still filled his eyes； distracting him with visions of pristine Ixian landscapes。
Blue light flashed from outside the craft。 An explosion rocked all of them。 Leto heard Rhombur grunt in pain and shook his head to scatter the rest of the tutorial hologram。 The Ixian Prince slumped forward in his chair； blood trickled down his face。
〃What the hells？〃 Leto said。 〃Rhombur？〃
〃This is real； Leto！〃 Kailea shouted。 〃Fly this thing out of here。〃
Leto jammed his fingers against the panel； struggling to switch from tutorial to active status； but Rhombur hadn't finished prepping the ship。 Another explosion blasted through the wall of the chamber； strewing algae…covered shards of rock。 Ominous figures surged into the main room below。
Rhombur groaned。 From beneath them； suboids shouted and pointed up at the ship that held the three refugees。 Lasgun fire scorched the stone walls and the orship's plated hull。 Leto activated the auto…launch sequence。 Despite his earlier concerns； he now fervently hoped the ship's interactive puter mind would function efficiently。
The orship shot straight up through a channel； then a rock cap； a layer of snow； and finally into an open sky full of dazzling clouds。 Steering with his fingers； Leto narrowly avoided a brilliant stream of laser bursts； automated defenses the rebels had mandeered。 He squinted against the sudden sunlight。
Looping high in the stratosphere and trying to get a bead on any enemy that might strike them from space； Leto noticed a hulking Heighliner in low…planetary orbit。 Two streaks of light shot out of the massive craft in separate V…patterns a familiar signal to Leto： Atreides ships。
From the board Leto 〃sent an identifier signal in the special battle language his father and teachers had hammered into him。 Rescue craft fell in on each side of the orship； acting as escorts。 The pilots signaled him to acknowledge his identity。 Bursts of purple from the starboard craft pulverized a cloud below； where enemy ships had been concealed。
〃Rhombur； are you all right？〃 Kailea took a moment to assess her brother's injuries。
The young Vernius heir stirred； put a hand to his head； and groaned。 A ceiling…mounted electronics box had struck him on the skull； then shattered on the floor。 〃Uh； vermilion hells！ didn't get the blasted PSF activated in time。〃 He blinked repeatedly； then swiped dark blood from his eyes。
Using his new skills； Leto followed his escort into the safety of the waiting Heighliner； where he saw two large Atreides battle frigates。 As his orship hovered inside the hold； a message came over the system in Galach； but he recognized a familiar Caladanian drawl。 〃Good thing we got the Heighliner to wait an extra hour。 Wele aboard； Prince Leto。 Are you and your panions all right？ How many survivors？〃
He looked over at Rhombur nursing his battered skull。 〃Three of us； more or less intact。 Just get us away from Ix。〃
After the orship was parked between Atreides escorts within assigned stalls inside the immense Heighliner hold； Leto looked to each side。 Through the portholes of the larger ships he saw uniformed Atreides soldiers in green…and…black livery； familiar hawk crests。 He breathed a deep； relieved sigh。
Next he looked with concern at Rhombur； whose sister was wiping blood off his brow with a cloth。 Focusing on Leto； the Ixian Prince said； 〃Well； forget the simulations； friend。 It's always best to learn by doing。〃
Then he passed out and crumpled to one side。
Even the poorest House can be rich in loyalty。 Allegiance that must be purchased by bribes or wages is hollow and flawed； and could break at the worst possible moment。 Allegiance that es from the heart； though； is stronger than adamantium and more valuable than purest melange。
…DUKE PAULUS ATREIDES
Far across the galaxy； within the cargo hold of another Heighliner； a single unmarked Ixian space cruiser rested alone and indistinguishable among the crowded ships。 The runaway cruiser had hopped from one freight line to another； changing designations each time。
Inside the unmarked ship； Dominic and
