bh.houseatreides-第118部分

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　His　protocol　advisors　had　bickered　for　hours　over　the　proper　colors　of　capes；　armbands；　and　merh…silk　tunics。。。whether　the　jewelry　should　be　gaudy　or　understated；　expensive　imported　Ecazi　stones　or　something　simpler。　Finally；　because　of　his　memorable　times　with　Rhombur；　Leto　insisted　on　wearing　a　small　coral　gem　suspended　in　a　transparent　sphere　filled　with　water。
　Kailea　desperately　wanted　to　go。　Visiting　the　Palace　on　Kaitain；　where　her　mother　had　once　served　the　Emperor；　had　been　a　lifelong　dream　of　hers。　Leto　could　see　the　longing　in　her　green　eyes；　the　hope　on　her　face；　but　still　he　had　no　choice　but　to　forbid　it。　Rhombur　had　to　acpany　the　entourage；　to　make　his　family's　case；　but　if　they　failed；　the　Vernius　heir　could　be　executed　for　having　left　his　sanctuary。　Kailea's　life　would　be　forfeit　as　well。
　If　their　mission　succeeded；　though；　Leto　vowed　to　take　Kailea　to　the　capital　world　himself；　a　glamorous　vacation　that　would　be　all　she　imagined　it　to　be。
　Now；　in　the　quiet　hour　before　dawn；　he　paced　back　and　forth　on　the　wooden　floors　of　his　upper　room；　listening　to　the　old　beams　creak。　It　was　the　forting　sound　of　home。　How　many　times　had　other　Dukes　paced　the　same　floor　pondering　decisions　of　state？　Duke　Paulus　had　undoubtedly　done　so　time　and　again；　troubled　as　he　was　by　uprisings　of　the　primitives　in　the　southern　continent　or　by　requests　from　the　Emperor　to　put　out　brushfire　rebellions　on　outer　worlds。　In　those　times；　Paulus　Atreides　had　first　blooded　his　sword；　and　had　bee　a　rade…in…arms　with　Dominic　Vernius。
　Throughout　his　years　the　Old　Duke　had　served　with　talent　and　finesse；　knowing　when　to　be　hard　and　when　to　be　lenient。　He　had　employed　the　ingredients　of　dedication；　ethics；　and　economic　stability　to　create　a　population　devoutly　loyal　to　and　proud　of　House　Atreides。
　How　could　Leto　ever　hope　to　do　the　same？
　His　voice　filled　the　room。　〃Father；　you　left　large　shoes　for　me　to　fill。〃　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　angrily　forcing　away　his　self…pity。　He　could　do　no　less　than　his　very　best；　for　Caladan　and　for　the　memory　of　the　Old　Duke。
　On　calmer　dawns；　he　and　Rhombur　might　have　gone　down　to　the　practice　courtyard　to　train　with　knives　and　shields　under　the　watchful　eye　of　Thufir　Hawat。　Today；　though；　Leto　had　hoped　to　get　more　rest；　a　hope　that　hadn't　materialized。　He'd　slept　badly；　haunted　by　the　weight　of　decisions　that　seemed　to　make　the　stones　of　the　tall　Castle　grind　together　under　the　burden。　Far　below；　the　sea　crashed　like　gnashing　teeth　　uneasy　water　that　reflected　Leto's　churning　thoughts。
　Wrapping　himself　in　a　robe　lined　with　expensive　imported　whalefur；　he　cinched　the　sash　at　his　waist　and　padded　barefoot　down　the　curving　steps　toward　the　main　hall。　He　smelled　bitter　coffee　brewing　and　the　faint　hint　of　melange　that　would　be　added　to　his　cup。　Leto　smiled；　knowing　the　cook　would　insist　on　the　young　Duke　receiving　an　extra　boost　of　energy。
　He　could　hear　noises　from　the　distant　kitchen；　food…prep　units　being　primed；　breakfast　being　prepared；　old…fashioned　fires　being　stoked。　The　Old　Duke　had　always　preferred　real　crackling　fires　in　some　of　the　rooms；　and　Leto　had　continued　the　tradition。
　When　he　passed　on　bare　feet　through　the　Hall　of　Swords　on　the　way　to　the　banquet　hall；　he　stopped　upon　encountering　an　unexpected　person。
　The　young　stableboy；　Duncan　Idaho；　had　removed　one　of　Paulus's　tall　and　ornately　carved　ceremonial　swords　from　the　rack。　He　held　it；　point　downward；　resting　against　the　flagstoned　floor。　Though　the　long　weapon　was　nearly　as　tall　as　the　ten…year…old；　Duncan　gripped　its　pommel　with　determination。　The　inlaid　rope　pattern　on　the　hilt　gave　him　all　the　leverage　he　needed。
　Duncan　spun　around；　startled　at　being　discovered　here。　Leto's　voice　caught　in　his　throat　in　time　to　squelch　a　chiding　speech。　He　meant　to　demand　what　the　boy　was　doing　here；　unsupervised　and　without　permission。　Then　Leto　saw　Duncan's　wide　eyes　with　the　tracks　of　tears　running　like　salty　tributaries　down　his　face。
　Embarrassed　but　filled　with　pride；　the　young　man　stood　up　straighter。　〃I　am　sorry；　m'Lord　Duke。〃　His　voice　was　full　of　sorrow　and　much　deeper　than　any　child's　had　a　right　to　be。　He　looked　down　at　the　sword　and　then　through　the　arched　columns　into　the　dining　hall；　where　the　portrait　of　dashing　Paulus　Atreides　hung　on　the　far　wall。　The　hawkish　patriarch　stared　from　the　painting　with　burning　green　eyes；　he　wore　his　gaudy　matador　clothes　as　if　nothing　in　the　universe　could　knock　him　from　his　intended　course。
　〃I　miss　him　very　much；〃　Duncan　said。
　Feeling　a　lump　in　his　throat　that　gradually　expanded　to　bee　a　leaden　weight　in　his　chest；　Leto　approached　the　boy。
　Paulus　had　left　his　mark　upon　many　lives。　Even　this　youth　who　worked　with　the　bulls；　a　mere　boy　who　had　somehow　managed　to　outwit　Harkonnen　hunters　and　escape　from　Giedi　Prime；　felt　the　loss　like　a　mortal　wound。
　I　am　not　the　only　one　who　still　feels　the　pain　of　my　father's　death；　Leto　realized。　He　clasped　Duncan's　shoulder；　and　in　silence　they　spoke　more　than　hours　of　conversation　could　have　municated。
　Duncan　finally　pulled　away　and　leaned　on　the　tall　sword　as　if　it　were　a　crutch。　His　flushed　skin　returned　to　its　normal　tone；　and　he　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃I　came。。。I　came　to　ask　you　a　question；　m'Lord；　before　you　go　to　Kaitain。〃
　Pots　clanged　in　the　distance；　and　servants　moved　about。　Before　long；　someone　would　e　up　to　Leto's　room　bearing　a　breakfast　tray。　They　would　find　his　room　empty。　〃Ask；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　about　the　bulls；　sir。　With　Yresk　gone　now；　I've　been　tending　them　every　day；　me　and　some　of　the　other　stableboys　　but　what　do　you　mean　to　do　with　them？　Will　you　fight　the　bulls　just　like　your　father？〃
　〃No！〃　Leto　said　quickly；　as　a　bolt　of　fear　shot　through　him。　He　pushed　the　reflex　away。　〃No；〃　he　repeated　more　calmly。　〃I　think　not。　The　days　of　bullfighting　on　Caladan　are　over。〃
　〃Then　what　shall　I　do；　m'Lord？〃　Duncan　said。　〃Do　I　still　need　to　tend　the　animals？〃
　Leto　tried　not　to　laugh。　At　his　age　the　boy　should　be　playing；　doing　a　few　chores；　and　filling　his　head　with　imaginings　of　the　grand　adventures　that　awaited　him　in　life。
　But　when　Leto　looked　into　Duncan's　eyes；　he　saw　that　the　person　before　him　was　far　more　than　just　a　boy。　He　was　much　older　inside。　〃You've　eluded　Harkonnens　in　their　prison　city；　correct？〃
　Duncan　nodded；　biting　his　lower　lip。
　〃You　fought　them　in　a　forest　preserve　when　you　were　only　eight　years　of　age。　You　killed　several；　and　if　I　remember　your　story　right；　you　cut　a　tracking　device　out　of　your　own　shoulder　and　laid　a　trap　for　Harkonnen　hunters。　You　humiliated　Glossu　Rabban　himself。〃
　Again　Duncan　nodded；　not　with　pride；　but　simply　confirming　the　summary　of　events。
　〃And　you　found　your　way　across　the　Imperium；　ing　here　to　Caladan　because　this　is　where　you　wanted　to　be。　Even　the　distance　of　several　continents　didn't　divert　you　from　our　doorstep。〃
　〃All　that　is　true；　m'Lord　Duke。〃
　Leto　indicated　the　large　ceremonial　sword。　〃My　father　used　that　blade　for　training。　It's　overlarge　for　you　　at　least　for　now；　Duncan　　but　perhaps　with　some　instruction；　you　could　bee　a　formidable　fighter。　A　Duke　is　always　in　need　of　trustworthy　guards　and　protectors。〃　He　pursed　his　lips；　considering。　〃Do　you　think　you're　fit　to　be　one　of　mine？〃
　The　boy's　blue…green　eyes　shone　and　he　grinned；　crinkling　his　skin　around　the　drying　tracks　of　tears。　〃Will　you　send　me　to　the　weapon　schools　of　Ginaz　so　I　can　bee　a　swordmaster？〃
　〃Ho；　ho！〃　Leto　gave　a　booming　laugh　that　startled　his　own　ears；　because　it　sounded　so　much　like　his　father's。　〃Let's　not　get　ahead　of　ourselves；　Duncan　Idaho。　We'll　train　you　here　to　the　limit　of　your　abilities　　then　we'll　see　if　you're　good　enough　for　such　a　reward。〃
　Duncan　nodded　solemnly。　〃I　will　be　good　enough。〃
　As　Leto　heard　servants　bustling　by　in　the　dining　room；　he　raised　a　hand　to　signal　them　over。　He　would　breakfast　with　this　boy　and　chat　some　more。
　〃You　can　count　on　me；　my　Duke。〃
　Leto　drew　a　long；　deep　breath。　He　wished　he　could　share　the　unshakable　confidence　of　this　young　man。　〃Yes；　Duncan；　I　believe　you。〃
　Innovations　seem　to　have　a　life　and　a　sentience　of　their　own。　When　conditions　are　right；　a　radical　new　idea　　a　paradigm　shift　　may　appear　simultaneously　fro