bh.houseatreides-第74章
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could have concocted such a story； however much he might have been coached。
〃And so I came here； sir；〃 Duncan said； 〃to see you。〃
〃You landed in which city on Caladan？〃 the Duke asked again。 〃Describe it for us。〃
Duncan couldn't remember its name but recounted what he had seen； and the Old Duke agreed that he must have indeed made his way from across the world。
〃I was told to e to you； m'Lord； and ask if you might have something for me to do。 I hate the Harkonnens； sir； and I'd willingly pledge my loyalty forever to House Atreides if only I can stay here。〃
〃I think I believe him； Father；〃 Leto said quietly； studying the boy's deep…set blue…green eyes。 〃Or is this a lesson you're trying to teach me？〃
Paulus sat back； hands folded on his lap； and his chest wrenched with spasms。 After a moment Duncan realized that the big man was holding in great rumbles of laughter。 When the Old Duke could no longer restrain himself； he burst out with a deep chuckle and slapped his knees。 〃Boy； I admire what you've done。 Any young man with balls as big as yours is a man I must have as part of my household！〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 Duncan said。
〃I'm sure we can find some urgent work for him to do； Father；〃 Leto said with a tired smile。 He found this brave and persistent boy to be a hopeful change from everything he had seen recently。
The Old Duke rose from the fort of his chair and bellowed for retainers； insisting that they supply the boy with clothes and a bath and more food。 〃On second thought〃 he held up a hand 〃bring an entire banquet table。 My son and I wish to share lunch with young Master Idaho。〃
They entered an adjacent dining room； where workers scurried and clattered about； setting up everything their Duke had manded。 One servant brushed flat the boy's dark and curly hair； and ran a static cleaner over his dusty clothes。 At the head of the table； with Duncan seated on his right and gray…eyed Leto on the left； Paulus Atreides sank his chin into a large fist。
〃I've got an idea； boy。 Since you proved you could handle those monstrous Harkonnens； do you think a mere Salusan bull is beyond your capabilities？〃
〃No； sir；〃 Duncan said。 He had heard about the Duke's grand spectacles。 〃If you want me to fight them for you； I'll be happy to do it。〃
〃Fight them？〃 Paulus laughed。 〃That isn't exactly what I have in mind。〃 The Duke sat back with a huge grin； looking over at Leto。
Leto said； 〃I think we've discovered a position for you here at Castle Caladan； young man。 You can work in the stables； under the guidance of Stablemaster Yresk。 You'll help tend my father's bulls： feed them and； if you can get close enough； groom them； too。 I've done it myself。 I'll introduce you to the stablemaster。〃 He looked over at his father。 〃Remember； Yresk used to let me pet the bulls when I was Duncan's age？〃
〃Oh； this boy will do a lot more than pet the beasts；〃 the Old Duke said。 Paulus cocked a gray eyebrow as platters and platters of magnificent food were brought to the table。 He noted the enchanted look on Duncan's face。 〃And if you do a good enough job in the stables；〃 he added； 〃maybe we can find some more glamorous tasks for you。〃
History has seldom been good to those who must be punished。 Bene Gesserit punishments cannot be forgotten。
…Bene Gesserit Dictum
A new Bene Gesserit delegation bearing Gaius Helen Mohiam arrived on Giedi Prime。 Freshly delivered of her sickly Harkonnen daughter； Mohiam found herself in the Baron's Keep for the second time in the space of a year。
She arrived in daylight this time； though the greasy cloud cover and pillars of smoke from unfiltered factories gave the sky a bruised appearance that strangled any hint of sunshine。
The Reverend Mother's shuttle touched down at the same spaceport as before； with the same demand for 〃special services。〃 But this time Baron Harkonnen had secretly vowed to do things differently。
Stepping in perfect rhythm； a stony…faced regiment of the Baron's household troops marched up to surround the Bene Gesserit shuttle more than sufficient to intimidate the witches。
The Burseg Kryubi； formerly a pilot on Arrakis and now head of Harkonnen house security； stood in front of the shuttle…debarkation ramp； two steps ahead of his nearest troops。 All were dressed in formal blue。
Mohiam appeared at the top of the ramp； engulfed in her Bene Gesserit robes and flanked by acolyte retainers； personal guards； and other Sisters。 She frowned with disdain at the Burseg and his men。 〃What is the meaning of this reception？ Where is the Baron？〃
Burseg Kryubi looked up at her。 〃Do not attempt your manipulative Voice on me or there will be a。。。dangerous。。。reaction from the troops。 My orders state that you alone are allowed to see the Baron。 No guards； no retainers； no panions。 He awaits you in the formal hall of the Keep。〃 He nodded toward the attendants behind her in the shuttle。 〃None of these others may enter。〃
〃Unthinkable；〃 Mohiam said。 〃I request formal diplomatic courtesy。 All of my party must be received with the respect they are due。〃
Kryubi did not flinch。 〃I know what the witch wants；〃 the Baron had said。 〃And if she thinks she can show up here to rut with me on a regular basis； she's sadly mistaken！〃 whatever that meant。
The Burseg stared her down； eye to eye。 〃Your request is denied。〃 He was far more frightened of the Baron's punishments than of anything this woman could do to him。 〃You are free to leave if this does not meet with your approval。〃
With a snort； Mohiam started down the ramp； flashing a glance at those who remained in the ship。 〃For all his perversions； the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is somewhat prudish；〃 she said mockingly； more for the benefit of the Harkonnen troops than for her own people。 〃Especially when it es to matters of sexuality。〃
Kryubi； who had not been apprised of the situation； was intrigued by this reference。 But he decided that certain things were best left unknown。
〃Tell me； Burseg；〃 the witch said to him in an irritating tone； 〃how would you even know if I was using Voice on you？〃
〃A soldier never reveals his full arsenal of defenses。〃
〃I see。〃 Her tone was soothing； sensual。 Kryubi didn't feel threatened by it； but wondered if his bluff had worked。
Unknown to this foolish soldier； Mohiam was a Truthsayer capable of recognizing nuances of falsehood and deception。 She allowed the pompous Burseg to lead her across an overpass on a walkway tunnel。 Once inside Harkonnen Keep； the Reverend Mother put on her best air of aloof confidence； gliding along with feigned nonchalance。
But every one of her heightened senses was attuned to the slightest anomaly。 The Baron made her extremely suspicious。 She knew he was up to something。
PACING RESTLESSLY IN the Great Hall； Baron Harkonnen looked around； his black eyes flashing and intent。 The room was large and cold； the harsh light too bright from unfiltered glowglobes clustered in the corners and along the ceiling。 As he walked in pointed black boots； his footsteps echoed； making the entire hall sound hollow； empty a good place for an ambush。
Though the residential portion of the Keep might appear vacant； the Baron had stationed guards and electronic spy…eyes in various alcoves。 He knew he couldn't fool the Bene Gesserit whore for long； but it didn't matter。 Even if she learned they were being watched； it might give her pause and prevent her from pulling her insidious tricks。 The caution might at least gain him a few seconds。
Since he planned to be in control this time； the Baron wanted his people to watch。 He'd give them a very good show； something they'd talk about in their barracks and troop ships for years to e。 Best of all； it would put the witches in their place。 Blackmail me； indeed！
Piter de Vries came up behind him； moving so swiftly and silently that he startled the Baron； who snapped； 〃Don't do that； Piter！〃
〃I've brought what you asked； my Baron。〃 The twisted Mentat extended his hand； offering two small plugs； white…noise transmitters。 〃Insert these deeply into your ear canals。 They're designed to distort any Voice she might try to use。 You can still hear normal conversation； but the plugs will scramble the unwanted； preventing i
