bh.houseatreides-第4部分
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not be kept waiting for mere sight…seeing。
The members of Kynes's escort wore gray…and…black uniforms； impeccably clean and adorned with braids and medals； every button and bauble polished； every ribbon straightened and pressed。 Fifteen of the Emperor's handpicked staff； the Sardaukar； surrounded him like an army。
Still； the splendor of the capital world overwhelmed Kynes。 Turning to the guard closest to him； he said； 〃I'm usually out in the dirt； or tromping through swamps on a planet where nobody else wants to be。〃 He had never seen； or even imagined； anything like this in all of the rugged and out…of…the…way landscapes he had studied。
The guard made no response to this tall； lean off…wonder。 Sardaukar were trained to be fighting machines； not conversationalists。
〃Here I've been scrubbed clean down to the third layer of my skin and dressed like a noble。〃 Kynes tugged at the thick corded fabric of his dark blue jacket； smelled the soap and scent of his own skin。 He had a high forehead； with sparse； sandy hair bed straight back。
The escort hurried up a seemingly endless waterfall of polished stone steps； ornately highlighted with gold filigree and creamy； sparkling soostones。
Kynes turned to the guard on his left。 〃This is my first trip to Kaitain。 I'd wager you don't even notice the sights anymore； if you work here all the time？〃 His words hung on a wistful smile； but again fell on deaf ears。
Kynes was an expert and well…respected ecologist； geologist； and meteorologist； with added specialties in botany and microbiology。 Driven； he enjoyed absorbing the mysteries of entire worlds。 But the people themselves often remained a plete mystery to him like these guards。
〃Kaitain is a lot more。。fortable than Salusa Secundus I grew up there； you know；〃 he continued。 〃I've been to Bela Tegeuse； too； and that's almost as bad； dim and bleak with two dwarf suns。〃
Finally Kynes faced forward； consenting to mutter to himself。 〃The Padishah Emperor called me from halfway across the galaxy。 I wish I knew why。〃 None of these men ventured to offer any explanations。
The entourage passed under a pitted archway of crimson lava rock that bore the ponderous oppression of extreme age。 Kynes looked up； and with his geological expertise recognized the massive rare stone： an ancient archway from the devastated world of Salusa Secundus。
It puzzled him that anyone would keep such a relic from the austere planet where Kynes had spent so many years； an isolated prison world with a ruined ecosystem。 But then he recalled； feeling like a fool for having forgotten it； that Salusa had once been the Imperial capital； millennia ago。。。before the disaster changed everything。 No doubt House Corrino had brought this archway here intact as a reminder of their past； or as some sort of trophy to show how the Imperial family had overe planet…destroying adversity。
As the Sardaukar escort stepped through the lava arch and into the echoing splendor of the Palace itself； fanfare rang out from brassy instruments Kynes could not name。 He'd never been much of a student in music or the arts； not even as a child。 Why bother； when there was so much natural science to absorb？
Just before passing beneath the jewel…sparkling roof of the immense royal structure； Kynes craned his neck upward to gaze once more at the clear sky of perfect blue。
On the trip here； inside a cordoned…off section of the Guild Heighliner； Kynes had taken the time to learn about the capital world； though he had never before applied his planet…understanding skills to such a civilized place。 Kaitain was exquisitely planned and produced； with tree…lined boulevards； splendid architecture； well…watered gardens； flower barricades。。。and so much more。
Official Imperial reports claimed it was always warm； the climate forever temperate。 Storms were unknown。 No clouds marred the skies。 At first； he thought the entries might have been mere tourist propaganda； but when the ornate Guild escort craft descended； he had noted the flotilla of weather satellites； climate…bending technology that through brute force kept Kaitain a peaceful and serene place。
Climate engineers could certainly strong…arm the weather to what someone had foolishly decided was optimal though they did it at their own peril； creating an environment that led； ultimately； to malaise of the mind； body； and spirit。 The Imperial family would never understand that。 They continued to relax under their sunny skies and stroll through their well…watered arboretums； oblivious to an environmental catastrophe just waiting to unfold before their covered eyes。 It would be a challenge to stay on this planet and study the effects but somehow Kynes doubted that was why Emperor Elrood IX had summoned him here 。。。。
The escort troops led him deeper into the echoing Palace； passing statuary and classic paintings。 The sprawling audience chamber could well have been an arena for ancient gladiatorial events。 Its floor stretched onward like a polished； multicolored plain of stone squares each one from a different planet in the Imperium。 Alcoves and wings were being added as the Empire grew。
Court functionaries in dazzling raiment and brilliant plumage strutted about； showing off fabrics that had been spun with threads of precious metal。 Carrying documents； they conducted inexplicable business； hurrying to meetings； whispering to each other as if only they understood what their true functions were。
Kynes was an alien in this political world； he would rather have the wilderness any day。 Though the splendor fascinated him； he longed for solitude； unexplored landscapes； and the mysteries of strange flora and fauna。 This bustling place would give him a headache before long。
The Sardaukar guards ushered him across a long promenade beneath prismatic lights； taking sharp； rhythmic footsteps that sounded like weapons fire； Kynes's stumbles provided the only dissonance。
Ahead on a raised dais of blue…green crystal sat the translucent Golden Lion Throne； carved from a single piece of Hagal quartz。 And on the dazzling chair perched the old man himself Elrood Corrino IX； Imperial ruler of the Known Universe。
Kynes stared at him。 The Emperor was a distressingly gaunt man； skeletal with age； with a ponderously large head on a thin neck。 Surrounded by such incredible luxury and dramatic richness； the aged ruler appeared somehow insignificant。 But with a twitch of his large…knuckled finger； the Emperor could condemn entire planets to annihilation； killing billions of people。 Elrood had sat upon the Golden Lion Throne for nearly a century and a half。 How many planets were in the Imperium？ How many people did this man rule？ Kynes wondered how anyone could tally such a staggering amount of information。
As he was led to the base of the dais； Kynes smiled uncertainly at Elrood； then swallowed hard； averted his gaze； and bowed low。 No one had bothered to instruct him in the proper protocol here； and he'd had little use for manners and social niceties。 The faint cinnamon odor of melange touched his nostrils from a mug of spice beer the Emperor kept on a small table beside his throne。
A page stepped forward； nodded to the leader of the Sardaukar guard escort； and turned； booming out in Galach； the mon language； 〃The Planetologist Pardot Kynes！〃
Kynes squared his shoulders and tried to stand straight； wondering why they had made such a loud and portentous introduction when the Emperor obviously knew who he was else why summon him here？ Kynes wondered if he should say hello； but decided instead to wait and let the Court determine the flow of events。
〃Kynes；〃 the old Emperor said in a reedy； scratchy voice that suffered from too many years of issuing firm mands； 〃you e to me highly remended。 Our advisors have studied many candidates； and they've chosen you above all others。 What do you say to that？〃 The Emperor leaned forward； raising his eyebrows so that his skin furrowed all the way to the top of his cranium。
Kynes mumbled something about being honored and pleased； then cleared his throat and asked the real question。 〃But； sir； what exactly have I been chosen for？〃
Elrood cackled at that and sat back。 〃How refreshing to see
