bh.houseatreides-第121部分

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had　hung　in　the　wardrobe　with　many　other　garments　he　had　never　worn。　Only　now　did　he　remember　that　this　particular　article　had　been　a　favorite　of　his　father's。
　Realizing　this；　Shaddam's　skin　crawled。　He　felt　the　fine　material　prickle　him　suddenly；　making　him　shiver。　The　fine　gold　chain　seemed　to　tighten　at　his　throat　like　a　noose。
　Ridiculous；　he　told　himself。　Inanimate　objects　did　not　carry　spirits　of　the　dead；　couldn't　possibly　harm　him。　He　tried　to　put　such　concerns　out　of　his　mind。　A　Bene　Gesserit　would　certainly　be　able　to　read　his　disfort；　and　he　couldn't　allow　this　woman　so　much　power　over　him。
　〃I　love　the　artwork　here；〃　Margot　said。　She　pointed　toward　a　scaffold　fixed　to　the　face　of　the　Landsraad　Hall　of　Oratory；　where　fresco　painters　worked　on　a　mural　depicting　scenes　of　natural　beauty　and　technological　achievement　from　around　the　Imperium。　〃I　believe　your　great…grandfather　Vutier　Corrino　II　was　responsible　for　much　of　this？〃
　〃Ah；　yes　　Vutier　was　a　great　patron　of　the　arts；〃　Shaddam　said　with　some　difficulty。　Resisting　an　urge　to　remove　the　haunted　cloak　and　throw　it　to　the　ground；　he　vowed　to　wear　only　his　own　clothes　henceforth。　〃He　said　that　spectacle　without　warmth　or　creativity　meant　nothing。〃
　〃I　think　you　should　make　your　point；　please；　Sister；〃　Fenring　suggested；　noting　his　friend's　disfort；　but　guessing　incorrectly　as　to　its　cause。　〃The　Crown　Prince's　time　is　valuable。　There　is　much　turmoil　after　the　Emperor's　death。〃
　Shaddam　and　Fenring　had　murdered　Elrood　IX。　That　fact　could　never　be　erased；　and　they　hadn't　escaped　suspicion　entirely；　not　according　to　rumors。　War　between　the　Landsraad　and　House　Corrino　might　result　unless　the　Crown　Prince　consolidated　his　position；　and　soon。
　Margot　had　been　so　persistent　about　the　importance　of　a　certain　matter；　using　all　the　quiet　clout　of　the　Bene　Gesserit；　that　an　audience　had　been　granted　to　her　on　short　notice。　The　only　time　open　was　during　one　of　Shaddam's　morning　walks；　an　hour　he　normally　reserved　for　quiet　personal　reflection　（〃grief　for　his　dead　father；〃　according　to　the　Court　gossip　Fenring　had　fostered）。
　Margot　favored　the　weasel…faced　man　beside　her　with　a　pretty　smile　and　a　casual　toss　of　her　honey…blonde　hair。　Her　gray…green　eyes　studied　him。　〃You　know　very　well　what　I　wish　to　discuss　with　your　friend；　Hasimir；〃　she　said；　employing　a　familiar　tone　that　astonished　the　Imperial　heir。　〃Didn't　you　prepare　him？〃
　Fenring　shook　his　head　jerkily；　and　Shaddam　saw　him　weaken　in　her　presence。　The　deadly　man　wasn't　his　usual　forceful　self。　The　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　had　been　here　for　some　days；　waiting；　and　Margot　Rashino…Zea　had　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　with　Fenring　in　close　discussions。　Shaddam　cocked　his　head；　sensing　some　affection　　or　at　least　mutual　respect　　between　the　two。　Impossible！
　〃Hmm…m…m…ah；　I　thought　you　might　phrase　it　better　than　I　could；　Sister；〃　Fenring　said。　〃Sire；　the　lovely　Margot　has　an　interesting　proposal　for　you。　I　think　you　should　listen　to　her。〃
　The　Bene　Gesserit　looked　at　Shaddam　strangely。　Has　she　noticed　my　distress？　he　wondered；　suddenly　panicked。　Does　she　know　the　reason　for　my　feelings？
　The　sigh　of　the　fountain　drowned　out　their　words。　Margot　took　Shaddam's　hands　in　hers；　and　they　were　pleasingly　soft　and　warm　to　him。　Gazing　into　her　sensual　eyes；　he　felt　her　strength　flow　back　into　him；　a　fort。　〃You　must　have　a　wife；　Sire；〃　she　said。　〃And　the　Bene　Gesserit　can　provide　the　best　match　for　you　and　House　Corrino。〃
　Startled；　Shaddam　glanced　over　at　his　friend　and　snatched　his　hands　back。　Fenring　smiled；　uneasily。
　〃Soon　you　will　be　crowned　Emperor；〃　Margot　continued。　〃The　Sisterhood　can　help　you　secure　your　power　base　　more　than　an　alliance　with　any　single　Great　House　of　the　Landsraad。　During　his　life；　your　father　married　into　the　Mutelli；　Hagal；　and　Ecaz　families；　as　well　as　your　own　mother　from　Hassika　V。　However；　in　these　difficult　times；　we　believe　you　would　gain　the　greatest　advantage　by　allying　your　throne　with　the　power　and　resources　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　Sisterhood。〃　She　spoke　firmly；　convincingly。
　He　noticed　that　the　entourage　of　Sisters　had　stopped　a　distance　away　and　stood　watching　them。　Out　of　earshot；　the　Sardaukar　remained　watchful　but　motionless；　like　statues。　He　looked　at　Margot's　perfectly　formed　face；　her　golden　hair；　her　hypnotic　presence。
　She　surprised　him　by　turning　back　to　the　entourage　and　pointing。　〃Do　you　see　the　woman　in　the　center　over　there？　The　one　with　bronze　hair？〃
　Noting　the　gesture；　a　robed　Reverend　Mother　stepped　forward。　Shaddam　squinted；　assessing　her　features；　her　doelike　face。　Even　from　a　distance；　he　found　her　rather　attractive；　though　she　was　not　a　classic　beauty。　Not　as　lovely　as　Margot；　unfortunately；　but　she　did　seem　young　and　fresh。
　〃Her　name　is　Anirul；　a　Bene　Gesserit　of　Hidden　Rank。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It's　just　one　of　our　titles；　Sire；　quite　mon　in　the　Sisterhood。　It　means　nothing　outside　the　order　and　is　irrelevant　to　your　work　as　Emperor。〃　Margot　paused　a　beat。　〃You　need　only　know　that　Anirul　is　one　of　our　best。　We　are　offering　her　to　you　in　marriage。〃
　Shaddam　felt　a　jolt　of　surprise。　〃What？〃
　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　are　quite　influential；　you　know。　We　can　work　behind　the　scenes　to　smooth　over　any　difficulties　you　currently　have　with　the　Landsraad。　This　would　free　you　to　perform　the　work　of　being　Emperor　and　secure　your　place　in　history。　A　number　of　your　grandfathers　have　done　this；　to　good　effect。〃　She　narrowed　her　gray…green　eyes。　〃We　are　aware　of　the　troubles　you　currently　face；　Sire。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　all　that。〃　He　looked　over　at　Fenring；　as　if　the　weasel…faced　man　could　explain　himself。　Then　Shaddam　beckoned　for　Anirul　herself　to　e　forward。　The　guards　looked　at　one　another　uneasily；　not　knowing　whether　they　should　acpany　her。
　In　front　of　him；　Margot's　gaze　intensified。　〃You　are　now　the　most　powerful　man　in　the　universe；　Sire；　but　your　political　rule　is　balanced　between　yourself；　the　Landsraad　Council；　and　the　powerful　forces　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　Bene　Gesserit。　Your　marriage　to　one　of　my　Sisters　would　be。。。mutually　beneficial。〃
　〃Besides；　Sire；〃　Fenring　added；　his　eyes　even　larger　than　usual；　〃an　alliance　with　any　other　Great　House　would　bring　with　it　certain。。。baggage。　You　would　join　with　one　family　at　the　risk　of　spurning　another。　We　don't　want　to　trigger　another　rebellion。〃
　Though　surprised　by　the　suggestion；　Shaddam　rather　liked　the　sound　of　it。　One　of　his　father's　adages　about　leadership　indicated　that　a　ruler　needed　to　pay　attention　to　his　instincts。　The　haunted　cloak　hung　heavy　on　his　shoulders　like　a　crushing　weight。　Maybe　the　witching　powers　of　the　Sisterhood　could　ward　off　whatever　malevolent　force　inhabited　the　garment　and　the　Palace。
　〃This　Anirul　of　yours　does　have　an　appealing　look　to　her。〃　Shaddam　watched　as　the　proffered　woman　stepped　forward　and　stood　at　silent　attention；　eyes　averted；　five　paces　from　his　royal　person。
　〃Then　will　you　consider　our　proposal；　Sire？〃　Margot　asked　and　took　a　respectful　step　back；　awaiting　his　decision。
　〃Consider　it？〃　Shaddam　smiled。　〃I　already　have。　In　my　position；　decisions　must　be　made　quickly　and　decisively。〃　He　looked　at　Fenring；　narrowing　his　eyes。　〃Wouldn't　you　agree；　Hasimir？〃
　〃Ah…hm…m…m；　that　depends　upon　whether　you're　choosing　a　new　garment　or　a　wife。〃
　〃Wise　counsel　on　the　surface；〃　Shaddam　said　to　Fenring。　〃But　disingenuous；　I　think。　You　are　obviously　Sister　Margot's　friend；　and　you　arranged　this　meeting；　knowing　full　well　the　request　she　would　make。　I　must；　therefore；　presume　you　concur　with　the　Bene　Gesserit　position。〃
　Fenring　bowed。　〃The　decision　is　yours；　Sire；　no　matter　my　personal　opinion　or　feelings　toward　this　beautiful　woman　beside　me。〃
　〃Very　well；　my　answer　is。。。yes。〃　Hearing　this　from　where　she　stood；　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　did　not　even　smile。　〃Do　you　believe　I　have　made　the　right　choice；　Hasimir？〃
　Unaccustomed　to　being　caught　off…balance；　Fenring　cleared　his　throat　several　times。　〃She　is　a　fine　lady；　Sire；　and　will　no　doubt　make　a　superb　wife。　And　the　Bene　Gesserit　should　make　excellent　allies；　especially　in　these　difficult　transition　times。〃
　The　Crown　Prince　laughed。　〃You　sound　like　one　of　our　diplomats。　Give　me　a　yes　o