bh.houseatreides-第57部分

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　The　doctor　withdrew　his　scanner；　then　studied　the　Imperial　patient's　case…history　cube。　Presently　he　announced　to　the　groggy　old　man；　〃Even　melange　can't　keep　you　young　forever；　Sire。　At　your　age；　health　naturally　begins　to　decline。　Sometimes　rapidly。〃

　Inaudibly；　Shaddam　released　a　sigh　of　relief。
　With　great　difficulty　Elrood　sat　up；　and　his　concubines　propped　tasseled　pillows　behind　him。　His　cadaverous；　parchment　face　creased　in　a　deep　frown。　〃But　only　a　few　months　ago　I　felt　so　much　better。〃
　〃Aging　is　not　a　perfect　downhill　graph。　There　are　peaks　and　valleys；　recoveries　and　slowdowns。〃　The　doctor　had　the　audacity　to　use　a　know…it…all　tone　that　implied　the　Emperor　could　not　understand　such　plex　concepts。　〃The　human　body　is　a　chemical　and　bioelectric　soup；　and　changes　are　often　triggered　by　seemingly　inconsequential　events。　You　have　been　under　stress　lately？〃
　〃I'm　the　Emperor！〃　Elrood　snapped；　this　time　responding　as　if　the　Suk　were　unbearably　stupid。　〃I　have　many　responsibilities。　Of　course　this　causes　stress。〃
　〃Then　start　to　delegate　more　to　the　Crown　Prince　and　to　your　trusted　aides；　such　as　Fenring　over　there。　You're　not　going　to　live　forever；　you　know。　Not　even　an　Emperor　can　do　that。　Plan　for　the　future。〃　Smugly；　the　doctor　snapped　shut　his　case。　Shaddam　wanted　to　embrace　him。　〃I　will　leave　you　with　a　prescription　and　devices　to　make　you　feel　better。〃
　〃The　only　prescription　I　want　is　more　spice　in　my　beer。〃　Elrood　took　a　deep　drink　from　his　mug；　slurping　loudly。
　〃As　you　wish；〃　the　scrawny　Suk　doctor　said。　From　the　suspensor　pod　he　removed　a　satchel；　which　he　placed　on　a　side　table。　〃These　are　muscle…soothing　devices；　in　case　you　need　them。　Instructions　are　contained　with　each　unit。　Have　your　concubines　use　them　on　your　aches。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　Elrood　said。　〃Now　leave　me。　I　have　work　to　do。〃
　Dr。　Yungar　backed　down　the　steps　from　the　bed　platform　with　a　bow。　〃With　your　permission；　Sire。〃
　Impatiently；　the　Emperor　waved　a　gnarled　hand　in　dismissal。　The　concubines　moved　about；　whispering　to　each　other；　watching　with　wide　eyes。　Two　of　them　picked　up　muscle…soothing　devices　and　toyed　with　the　controls。
　Shaddam　whispered　to　one　of　the　attendants　to　have　the　doctor　go　with　Chamberlain　Hesban；　who　would　arrange　for　the　transfer　of　payment。　Hesban　obviously　wanted　to　stay　in　the　bedchamber　and　discuss　certain　documents；　treaties；　and　other　state　matters　with　the　sick　old　man；　but　Shaddam　　feeling　he　could　take　care　of　such　things　himself　　wanted　the　dour　advisor　out　of　the　way。
　When　the　Suk　was　gone；　old　Elrood　said　to　his　son；　〃Perhaps　the　doctor　is　right；　Shaddam。　There　is　a　matter　I　wish　to　discuss　with　you　and　Hasimir。　A　policy　and　project　I　wish　to　continue；　regardless　of　my　personal　health。　Have　I　told　you　about　our　plans　on　Ix；　and　the　eventual　Tleilaxu　takeover？〃
　Shaddam　rolled　his　eyes。　Of　course；　you　old　fool！　Fenring　and　I　have　already　done　most　of　the　work。　It　was　our　idea　to　send　Tleilaxu　Face　Dancers　to　Ix；　because　they　could　disguise　themselves　and　infiltrate　the　working　classes。
　〃Yes；　Father。　We　know　of　the　plans。〃
　Elrood　waved　a　hand　to　beckon　them　closer；　and　the　old　man's　features　darkened。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Shaddam　saw　Fenring　chase　the　hovering　concubines　away；　then　approach　to　hear　the　Emperor's　words。　〃This　morning　I　received　a　cipher　from　our　operatives　on　Ix。　You　know　about　the　enmity　between　myself　and　Earl　Dominic　Vernius？〃
　〃Ah；　yes　　we　do；　Father；〃　Shaddam　said。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃An　old　affront；　a　stolen　woman。。。〃
　Elrood's　rheumy　eyes　brightened。　〃It　seems　that　our　brash　Dominic　has　been　playing　with　fire；　training　his　men　with　mobile　fighting　meks　that　scan　opponents　and　process　data；　probably　through　a　puter　brain。　He　has　also　been　selling　these　'intelligent　machines'　on　the　black　market。〃
　〃Sacrilege；　Sire；〃　Fenring　murmured。　〃That　clearly　goes　against　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Convention。〃
　〃Quite　so；〃　Elrood　agreed；　〃and　this　isn't　the　only　infraction。　House　Vernius　has　been　developing　sophisticated　cyborg　enhancements　as　well。　Mechanical　body　replacements。　We　can　use　that　to　our　advantage。〃
　Shaddam　frowned；　leaning　closer　and　smelling　the　sour　spice　beer　on　the　old　man's　breath。　〃Cyborgs？　But　they　are　human　minds　attached　to　robot　bodies；　and　therefore　not　in　violation　of　the　Jihad。〃
　Elrood　smiled。　〃But　we　understand　there　have　been　certain。。promises。　True　or　not；　it's　exactly　the　sort　of　excuse　our　impostors　need　to　finish　the　job　　the　time　to　act　is　now。　House　Vernius　is　poised　on　the　brink　of　destruction；　and　a　small　nudge　will　topple　them。〃
　〃Hmm…m…ah；　that　is　interesting；〃　Fenring　said。　〃Then　the　Tleilaxu　can　take　over　the　sophisticated　Ixian　facilities　for　their　research。〃
　〃This　is　very　important；　and　you　will　watch　how　I　handle　this　situation；〃　Elrood　said　with　a　sniff。　〃Watch；　and　learn。　Already　I　have　set　my　plan　in　motion。　Ixian　suboid　workers　are；　shall　we　say；　troubled　by　these　developments；　and　we　are。。。〃　the　Emperor　paused　to　finish　his　mug　of　spice　beer　with　a　smack　of　his　lips；　〃。。。encouraging　their　discontent　through　our　own　representatives。〃
　Setting　down　the　empty　mug；　Elrood　grew　suddenly　lethargic。　He　adjusted　his　pillows；　shifted　onto　his　back；　and　fell　into　a　fitful　sleep。
　Exchanging　a　knowing　glance　with　Fenring；　Shaddam　thought　of　the　conspiracy　within　the　conspiracy　　their　own　secret　participation　in　the　events　on　Ix；　and　how　he　and　Fenring　had　put　the　Tleilaxu　Master　in　contact　with　Elrood　in　the　first　place。　Now　the　Bene　Tleilax；　employing　their　own　genetically　altered　shape…shifters；　were　stirring　up　religious　fervor　and　discontent　among　Ix's　lower　classes。　To　the　fanatical　Tleilaxu；　any　hint　of　a　thinking　machine　　and　the　Ixians　who　created　them　　was　the　work　of　Satan。
　As　the　two　young　men　left　the　Emperor's　chamber；　Fenring　smiled　with　similar　thoughts。　〃Watch；　and　learn；〃　the　old　fool　had　said。
　Elrood；　you　condescending　bastard；　you　have　much　to　learn　yourself　　and　no　time　left　in　which　to　learn　it。
　The　leaders　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad　did　not　adequately　define　artificial　intelligence；　failing　to　foresee　all　possibilities　of　an　imaginative　society。　Therefore；　we　have　substantial　gray　areas　in　which　to　maneuver。
　…Confidential　Ixian　Legal　Opinion
　Though　the　explosion　was　distant；　the　concussion　rocked　the　table　where　Leto　and　Rhombur　sat　studying　sample　resource　ledgers。　Small　chunks　of　decorative　plascrete　trickled　from　the　ceiling　above　them；　where　a　long　crack　had　just　appeared。　A　jagged　lightning　bolt　zigzagged　across　one　of　the　broad　plaz　observation　windows；　fracturing　it。
　〃Vermilion　hells！　What　was　that？〃　Rhombur　said。
　Leto　had　already　surged　to　his　feet；　knocking　the　ledgers　aside　and　looking　for　the　source　of　the　explosion。　He　saw　the　farside　of　the　underground　grotto；　where　several　badly　damaged　buildings　crumbled　into　rubble。　The　two　young　men　exchanged　blank　looks。
　〃Get　ready；〃　Leto　said；　instantly　on　guard。
　〃Uh；　ready　for　what？〃
　Leto　didn't　know。
　They　had　gone　together　into　one　of　the　tutorial　rooms　of　the　Grand　Palais；　first　studying　Calculus　Philosophy　and　the　underpinnings　of　the　Holtzman　Effect；　and　then　Ixian　manufacturing　and　distribution　systems。　On　the　walls　around　them；　ancient　paintings　hung　in　hermetically　sealed　frames；　including　works　of　the　Old　Terran　masters　Claude　Monet　and　Paul　Gauguin；　with　interactive　plates　that　allowed　enhancements　by　Ixian　depth　artists。　Since　Leto　had　reported　his　adventure　down　in　the　suboid　tunnels；　he　had　heard　of　no　further　discussions　or　investigations。　Perhaps　the　Earl　hoped　the　problem　would　just　go　away。
　Another　concussion　rocked　the　room；　this　one　closer；　stronger。　The　Prince　of　Ix　gripped　the　table　to　keep　it　from　toppling。　Leto　rushed　over　to　the　cracked　window。　〃Rhombur；　look　out　here！〃
　From　the　crosswalk　streets　connecting　the　stalactite　buildings；　someone　screamed。　Off　to　the　left；　an　out…of…control　transport　capsule　plummeted　to　smash　into　the　ground　far　below　with　a　spray　of　crystal　shards　and　mutilated　passengers。
　The　door　to　the　tutorial　room　crashed　open。　Captain　Zhaz　of　the　Palace　Guard　burst　in；　carrying　one　of　the　new　pulsed　assault　lasguns。　Four　subordinates　foll