bh.houseatreides-第8章
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industrial petitor of Richese； House Vernius of Ix had survived as a technological powerhouse。 The royal family of Ix was one of the wealthiest in the Imperium and he was going to study there。
His father's words broke through his thoughts。 〃Your training partner will be Prince Rhombur； heir to the noble title of Vernius。 I hope you two get along。 You're about the same age。〃
The Prince of Ix。 Leto's thoughts soured； hoping the young man wasn't spoiled； like so many other children of powerful Landsraad families。 Why couldn't it at least have been a princess； one with a face and figure like the Guild banker's daughter he had met last month at the Tidal Solstice Ball？
〃So。。。what is this Prince Rhombur like？〃 Leto asked。
Paulus laughed； a blustery offering that suggested a lifetime of revelry and bawdy stories。 〃Why； I don't think I know。 It's been a long time since I visited Dominic at home with his wife Shando。〃 He smiled with an inner joke。 〃Ah； Shando she was an Imperial concubine once； but Dominic stole her right out from under old Elrood's nose。〃 He gave a loud； impertinent chuckle。 〃Now they have a son。。。and a daughter； too。 Her name is Kailea。〃
Smiling enigmatically； the Old Duke continued； 〃There is much for you to learn； my boy。 A year hence； both of you will e to study on Caladan； an exchange of teaching services。 You and Rhombur will be taken to pundi rice farms in the lowland marshes on the southern continent； to live in shacks and work the paddies。 You'll travel beneath the sea in a Nells chamber； and you'll dive for coral gems。〃 He smiled and clapped his son on the shoulder。 〃Some things can't be taught with filmbooks or in classrooms。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 He smelled the iodine…sweetness of the seaweed tobacco。 He frowned； hoping the smoke covered his expression。 This drastic and unexpected change in his life wasn't to his liking； but he respected his father； Leto had learned through many hard lessons that the Old Duke knew exactly what he was talking about； and that Paulus had only the greatest desire to ensure that his son would follow in his footsteps。
The Duke lounged back in his suspensor chair； bobbing in the air。 〃Lad； I can tell you're not entirely pleased； but this will be a vital experience for you and for Dominic's son。 Here on Caladan you'll both learn our greatest secret how we foster the intense loyalty of our subjects； why we trust our people implicitly in a way the Ixians do not trust theirs。〃
Paulus became most serious now； without the slightest glint of humor in his eyes。 〃My son； this is more essential than anything you will learn on an industrial world： People are more important than machines。〃
It was an adage Leto had heard often； the phrase was part of him； almost as important to him as breathing。 〃That's why our soldiers fight so well。〃
Paulus leaned forward into the curling smoke from his last puff。 〃One day you will be Duke； lad； patriarch of House Atreides and a respected representative in the Landsraad。 Your voice there will be equal to that of any other ruler among the Great Houses。 That's a great responsibility。〃
〃I'll handle it。〃
〃I'm sure you will； Leto。。。but let yourself relax a bit。 The people can tell when you're not happy and when their Duke is not happy； the population is not happy。 Let pressure pass over and through you； that way you can't be harmed by it。〃 He extended a scolding finger。 〃Have more fun。〃
Fun。 Leto thought again of the Guild banker's daughter； envisioning the fullness of her breasts and hips； the moist pout of her mouth； the way she had looked at him so enticingly。
Maybe he wasn't as serious as his father thought he was 。。。。
He took another drink of cidrit juice； the tart coolness dissipated in his throat。 〃Sir； with your proven loyalty； with the known faithfulness of the Atreides to its allies； why do the Ixians still put us through their interrogation procedures？ Do you think an Atreides； even with all that has been instilled in him； could ever bee a traitor？ Could we ever bee like。。。like the Harkonnens？〃
The Old Duke scowled。 〃Once； we were not so different from them； but those are not stories you're ready to hear yet。 Remember the play we just watched。〃 He held up a finger。 〃Things change in the Imperium。 Alliances form and dissolve on whims。〃
〃Not our alliances。〃
Paulus met the boy's gray…eyed stare； then looked away； into a corner where the smoke from his pipe swirled in thick curtains。
Leto sighed。 There was so much he wanted to know； and quickly。 But it was being fed to him in little morsels； like petit fours at one of his mother's fancy parties。
Outside； they heard people moving about； clearing the theatre for the next performance of Agamemnon。 The actors would be resting； changing costumes； preparing for another audience。
Sitting in this private room with his father； Leto felt more like a man than ever before。 Maybe next time he would light a pipe of his own。 Maybe he would drink something stronger than cidrit juice。 Paulus looked at him with a proud glow in his eyes。
Leto smiled back and tried to imagine what it would be like to be Duke Atreides then felt a sudden rush of guilt as he realized his father would have to die first in order for him to slip the ducal signet ring onto his finger。 He didn't want that； and was thankful that it would be a long time yet。 Too far in the future to think about。
Spacing Guild： one leg of the political tripod maintaining the Great Convention。 The Guild was the second mental…physical training school （see Bene Gesserit） after the Butlerian Jihad。 The Guild monopoly on space travel and transport and upon international banking is taken as the beginning point of the Imperial Calendar。
…Terminology of the Imperium
From his perch on the Golden Lion Throne； Emperor Elrood IX scowled down at the broad…shouldered and too…confident man who stood at the base of the royal dais； with one of his boots； still dirty probably； on the lowest step。 As polished…bald as a marble banister knob； Earl Dominic Vernius still carried himself like a popular and decorated war hero； though those days were long over。 Elrood doubted anyone still remembered the man's reckless glory days。
The Imperial Chamberlain； Aken Hesban； moved swiftly to the visitor's side； and in a brusque tone ordered Dominic to remove the offending foot。 Hesban's face was sallow； his mouth framed with long and drooping mustaches。 The last rays of Kaitain's afternoon sunlight cast streaks high on a wall； shining golden rivers through the narrow prismatic windows。
Earl Vernius of Ix removed his foot as he was instructed； but continued to stare cordially at Elrood。 The Ixian crest； a purple…and…copper helix； adorned the collar of Dominic's tunic。 Though House Corrino was vastly more powerful than the ruling family of Ix； Dominic had the maddening habit of treating the Emperor as an equal； as if their past history good and bad allowed him to dispense with formalities。 Chamberlain Hesban did not at all approve。
Decades ago Dominic had led legions of Imperial troops during the rough civil wars； and he had not truly respected his Emperor since。 Elrood had gotten himself into political trouble late in his impulsive marriage to his fourth wife Habla； and several Landsraad leaders had been forced to use their House military might to enforce stability again。 House Vernius of Ix had been among these allies； as had the Atreides。
Now Dominic smiled beneath an extravagant mustache； and looked on Elrood with a jaded eye。 The old vulture had not earned his throne through great deeds or passion。 Dominic's great…uncle Gaylord had once said； 〃If you are born to power； you must prove you deserve it through good works or give it up。 To do any less is to act without conscience。〃
Standing impatiently on the checkerboard floor of polished stone squares purportedly samples from all the worlds in the Imperium Dominic waited for Elrood to speak。 A million worlds？ There couldn't possibly be that many stones here； though I don't want to be the one to count them。
The Chamberlain stared down at him as if his diet consisted entirely of soured milk。 But Earl Vernius could play the game himself and refused to fidget； refused t
