bh.houseatreides-第61部分

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　…Bene　Gesserit　Analysis
　A　breathless　Ixian　woman　with　full　Courier　credentials　arrived　on　Kaitain；　bearing　an　important　munique　for　the　Emperor。　She　marched　into　the　Palace　without　pause；　stopping　to　answer　no　questions。　Even　Cammar　Pilru；　the　official　Ambassador　from　Ix；　had　not　yet　heard　the　message　or　the　dire　news　of　the　underground　suboid　revolt。
　Since　instantaneous　foldspace　munication　did　not　exist　between　planets；　certified　and　bonded　Couriers　booked　passage　on　express　Heighliners；　bearing　flash…memorized　munications　for　personal　delivery　to　the　intended　recipients。　The　net　result　was　much　faster　than　radio　or　other　electronic　signals　that　would　take　years　to　cross　vast　space。
　Under　the　escort　of　two　Guildsmen；　Courier　Yuta　Brey　arranged　for　an　immediate　appointment　with　the　Emperor。　The　woman　staunchly　refused　to　reveal　anything　to　her　planet's　own　Ambassador；　who　got　wind　of　the　excitement　and　rushed　into　the　audience　chamber。　The　magnificent　Golden　Lion　Throne　sat　empty；　Elrood　was　again　feeling　tired　and　ill。
　〃This　is　for　the　Emperor's　ears　only；　an　urgent　private　request　from　Earl　Dominic　Vernius；〃　Brey　said　to　Ambassador　Pilru；　turning　hard　eyes　toward　him。　The　Guild　and　CHOAM　used　various　harsh　techniques　to　indoctrinate　official　Couriers；　ensuring　accuracy　and　loyalty。　〃However；　please　remain　at　hand；　Ambassador。　I　also　bear　vital　news　regarding　the　possible　downfall　of　Ix。　You　must　be　apprised　of　the　situation。〃
　Gasping；　Ambassador　Pilru　beseeched　the　Courier　for　more　information；　but　the　woman　remained　silent。　Leaving　her　Guild　escorts　and　the　Ixian　diplomat　behind　in　the　audience　chamber；　Sardaukar　elite　guards　examined　her　credentials　and　ushered　her　alone　into　an　anteroom　adjacent　to　Elrood's　bedchamber。
　The　Emperor；　looking　aged　and　drawn；　wore　a　robe　bearing　the　Imperial　crest　on　its　lapel。　He　sat　slumped　in　a　high…backed　chair；　with　his　feet　on　a　heated　ottoman。　Beside　him　stood　a　tall；　fussy…looking　man　with　drooping　mustaches；　Chamberlain　Aken　Hesban。
　It　surprised　Brey　to　see　the　old　man　seated　in　this　rather　ordinary　fashion　instead　of　on　the　massive　throne。　His　blue…tinted　eyes　were　filled　with　sickness；　and　he　could　hardly　hold　his　head　erect　on　its　rail…thin；　wattled　neck。　Elrood　seemed　ready　to　pass　out　at　any　moment。
　With　a　curt　bow　she　announced；　〃I　am　Courier　Yuta　Brey　from　Ix；　Sire；　with　an　important　request　from　Lord　Dominic　Vernius。〃
　The　Emperor　scowled　upon　hearing　his　old　rival's　name；　but　said　nothing；　waiting　and　ready　to　pounce。　He　coughed；　hawking　something　onto　a　lacy　handkerchief。　〃I　am　listening。〃
　〃It　is　for　the　Emperor's　ears　only；〃　she　said；　staring　insolently　at　Hesban。
　〃Well？〃　Elrood　said；　with　a　terse　smile。　〃I　don't　hear　so　well　anymore；　and　this　distinguished　gentleman　is　my　ears。　Or　should　I　say；　'are　my　ears'？　Does　one　use　the　plural　in　a　situation　like　this？〃
　The　Chamberlain　bent　over　to　whisper　something　to　him。
　〃I　am　informed　that　he　is　my　ears；〃　Elrood　said　with　a　decisive　nod。
　〃As　you　wish；〃　Brey　said。　She　recited　the　memorized　words；　using　even　the　intonations　Dominic　Vernius　had　used。
　〃We　are　under　attack　from　the　Bene　Tleilax　under　a　false　guise　of　internal　unrest。　Through　infiltration　by　Face　Dancer　mimics；　the　Tleilaxu　have　fomented　an　insurrection　among　our　working　class。　By　these　treacherous　means；　the　rebels　have　gained　the　advantage　of　surprise。　Many　of　our　defense　installations　have　either　been　destroyed　or　are　besieged。　Like　madmen；　they　scream　'Jihad！　Jihad！'　〃
　〃Holy　war？〃　Hesban　said。　〃Over　what？　What　has　Ix　done　now？〃
　〃We　have　no　idea；　Monsieur　Chamberlain。　The　Tleilaxu　are　known　to　be　religious　fanatics。　Our　suboids　are　bred　to　follow　instructions；　and　thus　are　easily　manipulated。〃　Yuta　Brey　hesitated；　with　a　slight　trembling　of　her　lips。　〃Earl　Dominic　Vernius　respectfully　requests　the　immediate　intervention　of　the　Emperor's　Sardaukar　against　this　illegal　act。〃
　She　recited　extensive　details　on　Ixian　and　Tleilaxu　military　positions；　including　the　extent　of　the　uprising；　the　manufacturing　facilities　crippled；　and　the　citizens　murdered。　Prominent　among　the　victims　was　the　Ambassador's　own　wife；　a　Guild　banker；　who　had　died　in　an　explosion　at　the　Guild　Embassy　Building。
　〃They've　gone　too　far。〃　Indignant；　Hesban　appeared　ready　to　issue　the　order　himself　for　the　defense　of　Ix。　The　request　of　House　Vernius　was　eminently　reasonable。　Looking　down　at　the　Emperor；　he　said；　〃Sire；　if　the　Tleilaxu　wish　to　accuse　Ix　of　violating　any　strictures　of　the　Great　Convention；　let　them　do　so　in　open　Landsraad　court。〃
　Although　incense　burned　in　the　air；　and　spicy　hors　d'oeuvres　sat　arrayed　on　mother…of…pearl　serving　trays；　Brey　could　still　smell　a　sour　odor　of　sickness　hanging　in　the　stuffy　air　of　the　anteroom。　Elrood　fidgeted　under　the　weight　of　his　heavy　robe。　He　narrowed　his　rheumy　eyes。　〃We　will　take　your　request　under　advisement；　Courier。　I　feel　as　if　I　need　to　rest　a　bit　now。　Doctor's　orders；　you　know。　We　will　discuss　the　matter　tomorrow。　Please　take　refreshment　and　select　a　chamber　in　our　visiting　dignitaries'　quarters。　You　may　also　wish　to　meet　with　the　Ixian　Ambassador。〃
　A　look　of　alarm　electrified　the　woman's　gaze。　〃This　information　is　already　several　hours　old；　Sire。　We　are　in　a　most　desperate　situation。　I　have　been　instructed　to　tell　you　that　Earl　Vernius　believes　any　delay　will　be　fatal。〃
　Hesban　responded　loudly；　still　confused　as　to　why　Elrood　would　not　take　immediate　action。　〃One　does　not　tell　the　Emperor　anything；　young　lady。　One　makes　requests　of　him；　no　more。〃
　〃My　deepest　apologies；　Sire。　Please　forgive　my　agitation；　but　today　I　have　seen　my　world　struck　a　deadly　blow。　What　response　may　I　give　to　Earl　Vernius？〃
　〃Be　patient。　I　will　get　back　to　him　in　due　time；　after　I　have　considered　my　reply。〃
　All　color　drained　from　Brey's　face。　〃May　I　ask　when？〃
　〃You　may　not！〃　Elrood　thundered。　〃Your　audience　is　concluded。〃　He　glared　back　at　her。
　Taking　charge；　Chamberlain　Hesban　stepped　forward；　placing　a　hand　on　Brey's　shoulder　and　steering　her　toward　the　door　as　he　looked　curiously　over　his　shoulder　at　the　Emperor。
　〃As　you　wish；　Sire。〃　Brey　bowed；　and　the　elite　guards　escorted　her　from　the　room。
　ELROOD　HAD　NOT　failed　to　notice　anger　and　despair　in　the　Courier's　expression　when　she　realized　that　her　mission　had　failed。　He　had　seen　desperation　and　the　beginnings　of　tears　in　her　eyes。　So　tiresome；　so　predictable。
　But　everything　had　proceeded　perfectly。
　As　soon　as　the　Ixian　Courier　and　the　Court　Chamberlain　were　gone；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　and　Fenring　entered　the　anteroom　and　stood　before　Elrood。　The　old　man　knew　they　had　been　eavesdropping。
　〃Quite　an　education　you　two　are　getting；　eh？〃　Elrood　said。　〃Watch；　and　learn。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　You　handled　the　situation　masterfully；　Father。　Events　are　unfolding　exactly　as　you　predicted。〃　With　a　great　deal　of　invisible　help　from　me　and　Fenring。
　The　Emperor　beamed；　then　fell　into　a　bout　of　coughing。　〃My　Sardaukar　would　have　been　more　efficient　than　Tleilaxu；　but　I　couldn't　risk　showing　my　hand　too　early。　A　formal　Ixian　plaint　to　the　Landsraad　could　spell　trouble。　We've　got　to　get　rid　of　House　Vernius　and　put　the　Tleilaxu　in　place　as　our　puppets；　with　legions　of　Sardaukar　sent　in　afterward　to　crack　down　and　ensure　the　takeover。〃
　〃Hm…m…m…m…ah；　perhaps　it　would　be　preferable　to　refer　to　it　as　'fostering　a　smooth　and　orderly　transition。'　Avoid　using　the　term　'crack　down。'　〃
　Elrood　smiled　with　his　papery　lips；　exposing　teeth　in　a　way　that　made　his　head　look　even　more　like　a　skull。　〃See；　Hasimir；　you　are　learning　to　be　a　politician　after　all　　despite　your　rather　direct　methods。〃
　Though　all　three　of　them　knew　the　underlying　reasons　for　the　overthrow　of　Ix；　none　of　them　spoke　of　the　benefits　they　would　receive　after　Hidar　Fen　Ajidica　had　begun　the　artificial　spice　research　there。
　Chamberlain　Hesban　burst　back　into　the　room；　uncharacteristically　flustered。　He　bowed。　〃Sire；　pardon　me；　please？　As　I　was　transferring　the　Courier　back　to　her　Guild　escorts；　she　informed　them　that　you　had　refused　to　act　in　accordance　with　Imperial　regulations。　She　has　already　joined　with　Ambassador　Pilru　in　requesting　an　immediate　audience　with　the　members　of　the　Landsra