bh.houseatreides-第9章
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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 to inquire into the nature of his summons。 He just stood still； smiling at the old man。 Dominic's expression and bright eyes implied knowledge of many more embarrassing personal secrets about the old man than Shando had actually confessed to him but the suspicion galled Elrood； like an Elaccan bitterthorn in his side。
Something moved on the right； and in the shadows of an arched doorway Dominic saw a black…robed woman； one of those Bene Gesserit witches。 He couldn't make out her face； partially concealed as it was by an overhanging cowl。 Notorious hoarders of secrets； the Bene Gesserit were always close to the centers of power； constantly watching。。nstantly manipulating。
〃I won't ask you if it's true； Vernius；〃 the Emperor finally said。 〃My sources are unerring； and I know you have mitted this terrible act。 Ixian technology！ Pah！〃 He made as if to spit from his withered lips。 Dominic did not roll his eyes upward； Elrood always overestimated the effectiveness of his melodramatic gestures。
Dominic continued to smile； showing plenty of teeth。 〃I am unaware of mitting any 'terrible act；' Sire。 Ask your Truthsayer； if you don't believe me。〃 He flicked a glance at the dark…robed Bene Gesserit woman。
〃Mere semantics don't play dumb； Dominic。〃
Still； he simply waited； forcing the Emperor to state his charge explicitly。
Elrood huffed； and the Chamberlain huffed with him。 〃Damn it； your new Heighliner design will allow the Guild； with their damnable monopoly on space transport； to carry sixteen percent more in each load！〃
Dominic bowed； still smiling mildly。 〃Actually； m'Lord； we have been able to boost the increase to eighteen percent。 That's a substantial improvement over the previous design； involving not only a new hull but a shield technology that weighs less and takes up less room。 Therefore； boosted efficiency。 This is the very heart of Ixian innovation； which has made House Vernius great over the centuries。〃
〃Your alteration reduces the number of flights the Guild must make to haul the same amount of cargo。〃
〃Why； naturally； Sire。〃 Dominic looked at the old man as if he were incredibly dense。 〃If you increase the capacity of each Heighliner； you decrease the number of flights required to haul the same amount of material。 Simple mathematics。〃
〃Your redesign causes great hardship for the Imperial House； Earl Vernius；〃 said Aken Hesban； clutching his chain of office as if it were a handkerchief。 His long mustaches looked like the tusks of a walrus。
〃Well； I suppose I can understand the shortsighted reason for your concern； Sire；〃 Dominic said； not deigning to look at the stuffed…shirt Chamberlain。 Imperial tax was based on the number of flights rather than on the amount of cargo； and the Heighliner redesign therefore resulted in a substantial reduction in ine for House Corrino。
Dominic spread his broad scarred hands； looking eminently reasonable。 〃But how can you request that we blatantly hold back progress？ Ix has in no way countermanded the strictures of the Great Revolt。 We have the full support of the Spacing Guild and the Landsraad。〃
〃You did this knowing it would incur my wrath？〃 Elrood leaned forward on the massive throne； looking even more the vulture。
〃e now； Sire！〃 Dominic laughed； belittling the Emperor's concerns。 〃Personal feelings can have no place in the march of progress。〃
Elrood raised himself off the chair； standing in his billowy robes of state that hung like awnings over his skeletal body。 〃I can't renegotiate with the Guild for a tax based on metric tonnage； Vernius。 You know that！〃
〃And I can't change the simple laws of economics and merce。〃 He shook his gleaming head； then shrugged。 〃It's just business； Elrood。〃
The Court functionaries stopped with a gasp； listening to the candor and familiarity Dominic Vernius used with the Emperor。 〃Watch yourself；〃 the Chamberlain warned。
But Dominic ignored him and continued。 〃This design modification affects many people； most of them positively。 We are only concerned about progress； and about doing the best possible job for our client； the Spacing Guild。 The cost of one new Heighliner is more than most planetary systems make in a Standard Year。〃
Elrood stared him down。 〃Perhaps it is time for my administrators and licensors to inspect your manufacturing facilities。〃 His voice carried a threatening tone。 〃I have reports that Ixian scientists may be developing secret； illegal thinking machines in violation of the Jihad。 Yes； I have also heard plaints of repression against your suboid working class。 Haven't we； Aken？〃
The Chamberlain nodded dourly。 〃Yes； Highness。〃
〃There have been no such rumors。〃 Dominic chuckled； though a bit uncertainly。 〃No evidence whatsoever。〃
〃Alas； they were anonymous reports and therefore no records have been kept。〃 The Emperor tapped his long…nailed fingertips together as a real smile crossed his face。 〃Yes； I believe the best thing would be an unannounced inspection of Ix before you can send a warning and arrange for anything to be hidden。〃
〃The inner workings of Ix are off…limits to you； according to a long…established Imperium…Landsraad pact。〃 Dominic was riled now； but he tried to maintain his posure。
〃I made no such agreement。〃 Elrood looked down at his fingernails。 〃And I've been Emperor for a long； long time。〃
〃Your ancestor did； and you're bound by it。〃
〃I have the power to make and break agreements。 You don't seem to realize that I am the Padishah Emperor； and I can do as I please。〃
〃The Landsraad will have something to say about that； Roody。〃 Instantly Dominic regretted using the nickname and wished he could take it back。 But it was too late。
Flushing with rage； the Emperor leaped to his feet and pointed an accusing； shaking finger at Dominic。 〃How dare you！〃 The Sardaukar guards snapped to attention； shifting their weapons。
〃If you insist on an Imperial inspection；〃 Dominic said with a contemptuous； dismissive gesture； 〃I will resist it and file a formal plaint in Landsraad court。 You have no case； and you know it。〃 He bowed and backed away。 〃I'm extremely busy； Sire。 If you will excuse me； I must take my leave。〃
Elrood glared at him； stabbed by the pet name Dominic had used。 Roody。 Both men knew that particular personal nickname had been used only by a former concubine of Elrood's； the beautiful Shando。。。who was now Lady Vernius。
After the Ecazi Rebellion； Emperor Elrood had decorated brave young Dominic and granted him an expansion of his fief to include other worlds in the Alkaurops system。 At Elrood's invitation； the young Earl Vernius had spent much time at court； a war hero to be seen as a decoration at Imperial banquets and state functions。 Hearty Dominic had been very popular； a wele guest； a proud and humorous panion in the dining hall。
But it was there that Dominic had met Shando； one of the Emperor's many concubines。 At the time； Elrood had been married to no one； his fourth and last wife Habla had died five years earlier； and he already had two male heirs （though his eldest； Fafnir； would be poisoned later that year）。 The Emperor continued to keep a retinue of beautiful women； though primarily to maintain appearances； since he rarely took Shando or any of his other concubines to bed。
Dangerously； Dominic and Shando had fallen in love； but had kept their relationship secret for many months。 It was clear that Elrood had lost interest in her after five years； and when she asked to be freed from service and to leave the Imperial Court； Elrood though perplexed had plied。 He thought fondly of her； and saw no reason to deny her a simple request。
The other concubines had thought Shando foolish to give up such riches and pampering； but she'd had enough of the lavish life and instead wanted a real marriage and children。 Elrood； of course； would never take her as his wife。
As soon as she was freed from Imperial service； Dominic Vernius married her； and they had pleted their vows with minimal pomp and ceremony； but airtight legality。
Upon hearing that someone else wanted h
