bh.houseatreides-第63部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　…EMPEROR　ELROOD　IX；
　Deathbed　Insights
　Half　an　hour　later；　Shaddam　watched　the　opposing　Ambassadors　enter　the　Emperor's　anteroom　for　a　private　audience　meant　to　〃resolve　the　matter。〃　At　Fenring's　suggestion；　he　had　changed　into　a　more　formal　outfit　with　subtle　military　trappings；　so　that　while　his　father　looked　unkempt　and　sloppy；　he　had　the　appearance　of　a　leader。
　The　Ixian　Ambassador　had　a　broad；　flesh…fat　face　with　pink　cheeks。　His　entire　body　looked　rumpled　in　a　serge　singlesuit　with　wide　lapels　and　fluffed　collar。　His　thin　gray　hair　had　been　bed　hurriedly。　Since　he　admitted　he　wasn't　personally　familiar　with　the　crisis　conditions　on　Ix；　he　brought　along　the　Courier　Yuta　Brey；　an　eyewitness。
　The　only　Tleilaxu　delegate　they　could　find；　Mofra　Tooy；　was　a　man　of　small　stature　with　scruffy　orange　hair　and　grayish　skin。　The　man　exuded　a　barely　suppressed　rage；　seething　as　his　small　dark　eyes　bored　holes　through　his　Ixian　counterpart。　Tooy　had　been　briefed　in　exactly　what　to　say。
　Ambassador　Pilru　remained　shocked　by　the　entire　situation；　only　now　beginning　to　grasp　the　death　of　his　wife　S'tina　and　mourn　her。　It　all　seemed　unreal　to　him。　A　nightmare。　He　shifted　uneasily　on　his　feet；　concerned　for　his　world；　his　position；　and　his　missing　son　C'tair。　The　Ambassador's　gaze　flitted　around　the　room；　looking　for　support　among　the　Emperor's　advisors　and　staff。　It　gave　him　a　chill　to　see　their　hard　gazes　turned　back　at　him。
　Two　Guild　agents　hovered　at　the　rear　of　the　anteroom；　looking　on　expressionlessly。　One　of　them　had　a　ruddy　face　with　scars。　The　other's　head　was　misshapen；　bubbled　out　at　the　back。　Shaddam　had　seen　similar　people　before；　people　who　had　begun　training　as　Guild　Navigators；　but　had　failed　the　rigors　of　the　selection　process。
　〃We　will　hear　from　Mofra　Tooy　first；〃　the　Emperor　said　in　a　rasping　voice。　〃I　would　have　him　explain　himself　and　his　people's　suspicions。〃
　〃And　why　they　are　taking　such　unprecedented　and　violent　action！〃　Pilru　interjected。　The　others　ignored　his　outburst。
　〃We　have　discovered　illegal　activities　on　Ix；〃　the　Tleilaxu　began；　in　a　childlike　voice。　〃The　Bene　Tleilax　felt　it　imperative　to　stop　this　scourge　before　another　insidious　machine　intelligence　could　be　unleashed　in　the　Imperium。　If　we　had　waited；　the　human　race　might　have　been　subjected　to　more　millennia　of　slavery。　We　had　no　choice　but　to　act　as　we　did。〃
　〃Liar！〃　Pilru　snarled。　〃What　makes　you　the　enforcers　of　the　strictures；　without　due　process　of　law？　You　have　no　proof　because　there　have　been　no　illegal　activities　on　Ix。　We　have　adhered　carefully　to　all　guidelines　from　the　Jihad。〃
　With　remarkable　calm　for　a　Tleilaxu；　Tooy　kept　his　gaze　on　the　others　in　the　room；　as　if　Pilru　were　beneath　contempt。　〃Our　forces　took　necessary　action　before　the　evidence　could　be　destroyed。　Have　we　not　learned　from　the　Great　Revolt？　Once　active；　a　machine　intelligence　may　bee　vindictive　and　it　can　develop　the　ability　to　copy　itself　and　spread　like　wildfire。　Ix　is　the　source　of　all　machine　minds。　We　Tleilaxu　are　continuing　the　holy　war　only　to　keep　the　universe　free　of　this　enemy。〃　Though　Ambassador　Pilru　stood　two　heads　taller　than　he；　Tooy　screamed　at　him；　〃Jihad！　Jihad！〃
　〃Now　see　here；　sir；〃　Pilru　said；　falling　back　several　steps。　〃This　behavior　is　uncalled…for。〃
　〃　'Thou　shalt　not　make　a　machine　in　the　likeness　of　a　human　mind；'　〃　the　Tleilaxu　snapped。　〃You　and　House　Vernius　will　be　damned　for　your　sins！〃
　〃Calm　yourself。〃　Artfully　suppressing　a　smile；　Elrood　motioned　for　Tooy　to　return　to　his　earlier　position。　Reluctantly；　the　diminutive　delegate　cooperated。
　Pilru　and　the　Ixian　Courier　conferred　in　low；　anxious　tones；　before　the　Ambassador　said；　〃I　ask　the　Emperor　to　require　proof　of　such　violations。　The　Bene　Tleilax　have　acted　as　a　rogue　element；　destroying　our　mercial　base　without　first　submitting　their　accusations　to　the　Landsraad。〃　Then　he　added　quickly；　〃Or　to　the　Emperor。〃
　〃Evidence　is　being　piled；〃　Tooy　responded。　〃And　it　will　include　the　true　motive　behind　the　criminal　acts　you　Ixians　have　mitted。　Your　profit　margins　have　been　slipping；　putting　your　CHOAM　membership　in　jeopardy。〃
　Ah；　Shaddam　thought；　exchanging　glances　with　Hasimir　Fenring。　Those　reports　that　we　falsified　so　skillfully！　No　one　could　manipulate　documents　as　well　as　Fenring。
　〃That's　patently　false；〃　Pilru　said。　〃We're　more　profitable　than　ever；　especially　with　our　new　Heighliner　design。　Simply　ask　the　Guild。　Your　people　had　no　right　to　incite　such　violence　〃
　〃We　had　every　right；　the　moral　right；　to　protect　the　Imperium　from　another　epoch　of　domination　by　machines。　We　see　through　your　subterfuges　to　your　motivation　for　making　machine…minds。　Is　your　profit　worth　more　than　the　safety　of　humanity？　You　have　sold　your　souls！〃
　Veins　throbbed　at　Pilru's　temples；　and　he　lost　his　ambassadorial　calm。　〃You　lying　little　bastard；　this　is　a　plete　fabrication！〃　He　turned　to　Elrood。　〃Sire；　I　demand　that　you　send　Sardaukar　to　Ix　to　intervene　and　protect　our　people　from　the　illegal　invasion　mitted　by　forces　of　the　Bene　Tleilax。　We　have　broken　no　laws。〃
　〃Violating　the　Butlerian　Jihad　is　a　most　serious　charge；〃　the　Emperor　said　in　a　thoughtful　tone；　though　he　didn't　really　care　a　whit　about　it。　He　covered　his　mouth　as　he　coughed　again。　〃Such　an　accusation　cannot　be　taken　lightly。　Think　of　the　consequences。。。〃　Elrood　spoke　with　deliberate　slowness；　which　Shaddam　found　amusing。　The　Crown　Prince　couldn't　help　admiring　some　things　about　his　doomed　father；　but　Elrood　was　far　beyond　his　prime；　and　it　was　time　for　new　blood　to　step　in。
　The　Courier　spoke　up。　〃Emperor　Elrood；　the　Tleilaxu　are　stalling　for　time　while　battles　rage　on　Ix。　Use　your　Sardaukar　to　enforce　a　cessation　of　hostilities；　then　let　each　side　present　its　case　and　evidence　in　court。〃
　The　Emperor's　eyebrows　arched；　and　he　gazed　down　his　thin　nose　at　her。　〃As　a　mere　Courier；　you　are　not　qualified　to　present　arguments　to　me。〃　He　flicked　his　glance　at　the　Sardaukar　guards。　〃Remove　this　woman。
　Desperation　gave　her　voice　a　ragged　edge。　〃Pardon；　Sire；　but　I　am　the　one　most　familiar　with　the　crisis　on　Ix；　and　my　Lord　Vernius　instructed　me　to　take　all　necessary　steps。　We　demand　that　the　Bene　Tleilax　present　proof　immediately；　or　withdraw　their　forces。　They　aren't　piling　evidence。　That's　just　a　delaying　tactic！〃
　〃When　can　you　submit　the　proof　to　me？〃　the　Emperor　inquired；　sliding　his　gaze　to　Tooy。
　〃Alleged　proof；〃　Pilru　objected。
　〃Three　Imperial　days；　Sire。〃
　Gasps　of　protest　issued　from　the　Ixians。　〃But；　Sire；　in　that　amount　of　time；　they　can　solidify　their　military　gains　　fabricate　any　evidence　they　wish。〃　Pilru's　eyes　glittered。　〃They　have　already　murdered　my　wife；　destroyed　buildings。。。My　son　is　missing。　Please　do　not　allow　them　to　continue　their　rampage　unchecked　for　three　days！〃
　The　Emperor　considered　this　for　a　moment；　while　the　assemblage　grew　quiet。　〃I'm　sure　you　are　exaggerating　the　unpleasantness　to　force　me　into　making　a　rash　decision。　Considering　the　gravity　of　the　charges；　I'm　inclined　to　await　the　evidence；　or　lack　of　it。〃　He　looked　at　his　Chamberlain。　〃What　say　you；　Aken？　Does　that　follow　the　letter　of　Imperial　Law　in　a　situation　such　as　this？〃　Hesban　murmured　in　concurrence。
　Elrood　nodded　at　Pilru　as　if　he　were　granting　him　an　incredible　personal　favor。　〃I　think；　however；　that　the　proof　should　be　submitted　in　two　days　instead　of　three。　Can　you　acplish　that；　Ambassador　Tooy？〃
　〃It　will　be　difficult；　Sire；　but。。。as　you　wish。〃
　Aghast；　Pilru　flushed　with　anger。　〃My　Lord；　how　can　you　side　against　us　with　these。。。these　filthy　Tleilaxu？〃
　〃Ambassador；　your　prejudice　is　not　wele　here　in　my　Imperial　anteroom。　I　have　nothing　but　the　utmost　respect　for　your　Earl。。。and；　of　course；　his　Lady　Shando。〃
　Shaddam　looked　at　the　Guild　agents　at　the　rear　of　the　room。　In　subdued　tones　they　conversed　in　a　secret　language。　Presently　they　nodded　to　each　other。　A　violation　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad　was　a　most　serious　matter　to　them。
　〃But　in　two　days　my　planet　will　be　lost。〃　Pilru　sent　a　pleading　look　to　the　Guildsmen　for　support；　but　they　remained　silent　and　would　not　make　eye　contact。
　〃You　can't　do　this　　you'll　doom　our　people　to　destruction！〃　Yuta　Brey　shouted　at　Elrood。
　〃Messe