bh.houseatreides-第11部分
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the mysteries to explore。 Understanding the importance of such things； Kynes spent a substantial sum to obtain the best stillsuit he could find for desert survival； as well as a parapass； water distilleries； and reliable note…keeping devices。
It was said that many tribes of the enigmatic Fremen lived in the trackless wastes。 Kynes wanted to talk with them； to understand how they squeezed survival from such a harsh environment。 But the out…of…place Fremen seemed reticent within the boundaries of Carthag； and they hurried away whenever he tried to talk with them 。。。。
Kynes didn't much care for the city himself。 House Harkonnen had erected the new headquarters en masse when； four decades earlier； Guild manipulations had given them Arrakis as a quasi…fief to govern。 Carthag had been built with the rapidity of inexhaustible human labor； without finesse or attention to detail： blocky buildings constructed of substandard materials for ostentatious purposes or functionality。 No elegance whatsoever。
Carthag did not appear to belong here； its architecture and placement were offensive to his sensibilities。 Kynes had an innate ability to see how the fabric of an ecosystem meshed； how the pieces fit together in a natural world。 But this population center was wrong； like a pustule on the skin of the planet。
Another outpost to the southwest； Arrakeen； was a more primitive city that had grown slowly； naturally； nestled against a mountainous barrier called the Shield Wall。 Perhaps Kynes should have gone there first。 But political requirements had forced him to establish his base with the rulers of the planet。
At least that had given him the opportunity to search for one of the giant sandworms。
The large 'thopter transport carrying Rabban's hunting party lifted off； and soon Kynes received his initial glimpse of the true desert。 Kynes peered out the windowplaz at the rippled wastelands below。 From experiences in other desert regions； he was able to identify dune patterns。。。shapes and sinuous curves that revealed much about seasonal wind patterns； prevailing air currents； and the severity of storms。 So much could be learned from studying these ripples and lines； the fingerprints of weather。 He pressed his face to the plaz observation ports； none of the other passengers appeared to be interested at all。
The Harkonnen troops fidgeted； hot in their heavy blue uniforms and armor。 Their weapons clattered against each other and scraped the floor plates。 The men seemed uneasy without their personal body； shields； but the presence of a shield and its Holtzman field would drive any nearby worms into a killing frenzy。 Today； Rabban himself wanted to do the killing。
Glossu Rabban； the twenty…one…year…old son of the planet's former lackluster governor； sat up front near the pilot； looking for targets out on the sand。 With severely cropped brown hair； he was broad…shouldered； deep…voiced； and short…tempered。 Icy pale blue eyes looked out from a sunburned face。 He seemed to do everything possible to be the opposite of his father。
〃Will we see worm tracks from the sky？〃 he asked。
Behind him； Thekar the desert guide leaned very close； as if wishing to remain within Rabban's personal space。 〃The sands shift and mask the passage of a worm。 Often they travel deep。 You will not see a worm moving until it approaches the surface and is ready to attack。〃
The tall； angular Kynes listened intently； taking mental notes。 He wanted to record all of these details in his logbook； but that would have to wait until later。
〃Then how are we going to find one？ I heard the open desert is crawling with worms。〃
〃Not that simple； m'Lord Rabban；〃 Thekar responded。 〃The great worms have their own domains； some extending to hundreds of square kilometers。 Within these boundaries they hunt and kill any intruders。〃
Growing impatient； Rabban turned around in his seat。 His skin grew darker。 〃How do we know where to find a worm's domain？〃
Thekar smiled； and his dark； close…set eyes took on a distant look。 〃All of the desert is owned by Shai…Hulud。〃
〃By what？ Stop evading my questions。〃 Within another moment； Kynes was sure Rabban would cuff the desert man across the jaw。
〃You have been on Arrakis for so long； and you did not know this； m'Lord Rabban？ The Fremen consider the great sandworms to be gods；〃 Thekar answered quietly。 〃They name him； collectively； Shai…Hulud。〃
〃Then today we shall kill a god；〃 Rabban announced in a loud voice； causing the other hunters in the back of the partment to cheer。 He turned sharply toward the desert guide。 〃I depart for Giedi Prime in two days； and must have a trophy to take back with me。 This hunt will be successful。〃
Giedi Prime； Kynes thought。 Ancestral homeworld of House Harkonnen。 At least I won't have to worry about him once he's gone。
〃You will have your trophy； m'Lord；〃 Thekar promised。
〃No doubt about that；〃 Rabban said； but in a more ominous tone。
Seated alone in the rear of the troop transport； huddled in his desert gear； Kynes felt unfortable in such pany。 He had no interest in the glorious ambitions of the Baron's nephew。。。but if this excursion gave him a good look at one of the monsters； it could be worth months of intensive effort on his own。
Rabban stared out through the front of the transport； his hard； squinting eyes were surrounded by thick folds of skin。 He scrutinized the desert as if it were a delicacy he intended to eat； seeing none of the beauty Kynes noted in the landscape。
〃I have a plan； and this is how we'll follow it。〃 Rabban turned to the troops and opened the system to the spotter ornithopters flying in formation around the transport。 They cruised out over the expanse of open sand。 The dune ripples below looked like wrinkles on an old man's skin。
〃That outcropping of rock down there〃 he gestured； and read off the coordinates 〃will be our base。 About three hundred meters from the rock we'll touch down in the open sand； where we'll drop Thekar with a gadget he calls a thumper。 Then we'll lift off to the safety of the rock outcroppings； where the worm can't go。〃
The lean desert man looked up in alarm。 〃Leave me out there？ But m'Lord； I'm not 〃
〃You gave me the idea。〃 He turned back to address the uniformed troops。 〃Thekar here says that this Fremen device； a thumper； will bring a worm。 We'll plant one along with enough explosives to take care of the beast when it es。 Thekar； we will leave you behind to rig the explosives and trigger the thumper。 You can run across the sands and make it to safety with us before a worm can e； right？〃 Rabban gave him a delicious little grin。
〃I I。。。〃 Thekar stammered。 〃It appears I have no choice。〃
〃Even if you can't make it； the worm will probably go for the thumper first。 The explosives will get the beast before you bee its next target。〃
〃I take fort in that； m'Lord；〃 Thekar said。
Intrigued by the Fremen device； Kynes considered obtaining one for himself。 He wished he could watch this desert native up close to witness how he ran across the sands； how he eluded pursuit from the vibration…sensitive 〃Old Man of the Desert。〃 But the Planetologist knew enough to remain quiet and avoid Rabban's notice； hoping that the hot…blooded young Harkonnen wouldn't volunteer him to assist Thekar。
Inside the personnel partment at the back of the craft； the Bator a mander of a small troop and his underlings looked through the weapons stockpile； removing lasguns for themselves。 They rigged explosives to the stakelike mechanism that Thekar had brought along。 A thumper。
With curious eyes； Kynes could see that it was just a spring…wound clockwork device that would thunk out a loud； rhythmic vibration。 When plunged into the sand； the thumper would send reverberations deep below the desert to where 〃Shai…Hulud〃 could hear them。
〃As soon as we land； you'd better rig up these explosives fast；〃 Rabban said to Thekar。 〃The engines of these ornithopters will do a good job of attracting the worm； even without the help of your Fremen toy。〃
〃I know that all too well； m'Lord；〃 Thekar said。 His olive skin now had a grayish； oily tinge of terror。
The ornithopter struts kissed the sands； throwing up loose dust。 The hatch opened； an
