bh.houseatreides-第74部分

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　could　have　concocted　such　a　story；　however　much　he　might　have　been　coached。
　〃And　so　I　came　here；　sir；〃　Duncan　said；　〃to　see　you。〃
　〃You　landed　in　which　city　on　Caladan？〃　the　Duke　asked　again。　〃Describe　it　for　us。〃
　Duncan　couldn't　remember　its　name　but　recounted　what　he　had　seen；　and　the　Old　Duke　agreed　that　he　must　have　indeed　made　his　way　from　across　the　world。
　〃I　was　told　to　e　to　you；　m'Lord；　and　ask　if　you　might　have　something　for　me　to　do。　I　hate　the　Harkonnens；　sir；　and　I'd　willingly　pledge　my　loyalty　forever　to　House　Atreides　if　only　I　can　stay　here。〃
　〃I　think　I　believe　him；　Father；〃　Leto　said　quietly；　studying　the　boy's　deep…set　blue…green　eyes。　〃Or　is　this　a　lesson　you're　trying　to　teach　me？〃
　Paulus　sat　back；　hands　folded　on　his　lap；　and　his　chest　wrenched　with　spasms。　After　a　moment　Duncan　realized　that　the　big　man　was　holding　in　great　rumbles　of　laughter。　When　the　Old　Duke　could　no　longer　restrain　himself；　he　burst　out　with　a　deep　chuckle　and　slapped　his　knees。　〃Boy；　I　admire　what　you've　done。　Any　young　man　with　balls　as　big　as　yours　is　a　man　I　must　have　as　part　of　my　household！〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　Duncan　said。
　〃I'm　sure　we　can　find　some　urgent　work　for　him　to　do；　Father；〃　Leto　said　with　a　tired　smile。　He　found　this　brave　and　persistent　boy　to　be　a　hopeful　change　from　everything　he　had　seen　recently。
　The　Old　Duke　rose　from　the　fort　of　his　chair　and　bellowed　for　retainers；　insisting　that　they　supply　the　boy　with　clothes　and　a　bath　and　more　food。　〃On　second　thought〃　　he　held　up　a　hand　　〃bring　an　entire　banquet　table。　My　son　and　I　wish　to　share　lunch　with　young　Master　Idaho。〃
　They　entered　an　adjacent　dining　room；　where　workers　scurried　and　clattered　about；　setting　up　everything　their　Duke　had　manded。　One　servant　brushed　flat　the　boy's　dark　and　curly　hair；　and　ran　a　static　cleaner　over　his　dusty　clothes。　At　the　head　of　the　table；　with　Duncan　seated　on　his　right　and　gray…eyed　Leto　on　the　left；　Paulus　Atreides　sank　his　chin　into　a　large　fist。
　〃I've　got　an　idea；　boy。　Since　you　proved　you　could　handle　those　monstrous　Harkonnens；　do　you　think　a　mere　Salusan　bull　is　beyond　your　capabilities？〃
　〃No；　sir；〃　Duncan　said。　He　had　heard　about　the　Duke's　grand　spectacles。　〃If　you　want　me　to　fight　them　for　you；　I'll　be　happy　to　do　it。〃
　〃Fight　them？〃　Paulus　laughed。　〃That　isn't　exactly　what　I　have　in　mind。〃　The　Duke　sat　back　with　a　huge　grin；　looking　over　at　Leto。
　Leto　said；　〃I　think　we've　discovered　a　position　for　you　here　at　Castle　Caladan；　young　man。　You　can　work　in　the　stables；　under　the　guidance　of　Stablemaster　Yresk。　You'll　help　tend　my　father's　bulls：　feed　them　and；　if　you　can　get　close　enough；　groom　them；　too。　I've　done　it　myself。　I'll　introduce　you　to　the　stablemaster。〃　He　looked　over　at　his　father。　〃Remember；　Yresk　used　to　let　me　pet　the　bulls　when　I　was　Duncan's　age？〃
　〃Oh；　this　boy　will　do　a　lot　more　than　pet　the　beasts；〃　the　Old　Duke　said。　Paulus　cocked　a　gray　eyebrow　as　platters　and　platters　of　magnificent　food　were　brought　to　the　table。　He　noted　the　enchanted　look　on　Duncan's　face。　〃And　if　you　do　a　good　enough　job　in　the　stables；〃　he　added；　〃maybe　we　can　find　some　more　glamorous　tasks　for　you。〃
　History　has　seldom　been　good　to　those　who　must　be　punished。　Bene　Gesserit　punishments　cannot　be　forgotten。
　…Bene　Gesserit　Dictum
　A　new　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　bearing　Gaius　Helen　Mohiam　arrived　on　Giedi　Prime。　Freshly　delivered　of　her　sickly　Harkonnen　daughter；　Mohiam　found　herself　in　the　Baron's　Keep　for　the　second　time　in　the　space　of　a　year。
　She　arrived　in　daylight　this　time；　though　the　greasy　cloud　cover　and　pillars　of　smoke　from　unfiltered　factories　gave　the　sky　a　bruised　appearance　that　strangled　any　hint　of　sunshine。
　The　Reverend　Mother's　shuttle　touched　down　at　the　same　spaceport　as　before；　with　the　same　demand　for　〃special　services。〃　But　this　time　Baron　Harkonnen　had　secretly　vowed　to　do　things　differently。
　Stepping　in　perfect　rhythm；　a　stony…faced　regiment　of　the　Baron's　household　troops　marched　up　to　surround　the　Bene　Gesserit　shuttle　　more　than　sufficient　to　intimidate　the　witches。
　The　Burseg　Kryubi；　formerly　a　pilot　on　Arrakis　and　now　head　of　Harkonnen　house　security；　stood　in　front　of　the　shuttle…debarkation　ramp；　two　steps　ahead　of　his　nearest　troops。　All　were　dressed　in　formal　blue。
　Mohiam　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　ramp；　engulfed　in　her　Bene　Gesserit　robes　and　flanked　by　acolyte　retainers；　personal　guards；　and　other　Sisters。　She　frowned　with　disdain　at　the　Burseg　and　his　men。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this　reception？　Where　is　the　Baron？〃
　Burseg　Kryubi　looked　up　at　her。　〃Do　not　attempt　your　manipulative　Voice　on　me　or　there　will　be　a。。。dangerous。。。reaction　from　the　troops。　My　orders　state　that　you　alone　are　allowed　to　see　the　Baron。　No　guards；　no　retainers；　no　panions。　He　awaits　you　in　the　formal　hall　of　the　Keep。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　attendants　behind　her　in　the　shuttle。　〃None　of　these　others　may　enter。〃
　〃Unthinkable；〃　Mohiam　said。　〃I　request　formal　diplomatic　courtesy。　All　of　my　party　must　be　received　with　the　respect　they　are　due。〃
　Kryubi　did　not　flinch。　〃I　know　what　the　witch　wants；〃　the　Baron　had　said。　〃And　if　she　thinks　she　can　show　up　here　to　rut　with　me　on　a　regular　basis；　she's　sadly　mistaken！〃　　whatever　that　meant。
　The　Burseg　stared　her　down；　eye　to　eye。　〃Your　request　is　denied。〃　He　was　far　more　frightened　of　the　Baron's　punishments　than　of　anything　this　woman　could　do　to　him。　〃You　are　free　to　leave　if　this　does　not　meet　with　your　approval。〃
　With　a　snort；　Mohiam　started　down　the　ramp；　flashing　a　glance　at　those　who　remained　in　the　ship。　〃For　all　his　perversions；　the　Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen　is　somewhat　prudish；〃　she　said　mockingly；　more　for　the　benefit　of　the　Harkonnen　troops　than　for　her　own　people。　〃Especially　when　it　es　to　matters　of　sexuality。〃
　Kryubi；　who　had　not　been　apprised　of　the　situation；　was　intrigued　by　this　reference。　But　he　decided　that　certain　things　were　best　left　unknown。
　〃Tell　me；　Burseg；〃　the　witch　said　to　him　in　an　irritating　tone；　〃how　would　you　even　know　if　I　was　using　Voice　on　you？〃
　〃A　soldier　never　reveals　his　full　arsenal　of　defenses。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Her　tone　was　soothing；　sensual。　Kryubi　didn't　feel　threatened　by　it；　but　wondered　if　his　bluff　had　worked。
　Unknown　to　this　foolish　soldier；　Mohiam　was　a　Truthsayer　capable　of　recognizing　nuances　of　falsehood　and　deception。　She　allowed　the　pompous　Burseg　to　lead　her　across　an　overpass　on　a　walkway　tunnel。　Once　inside　Harkonnen　Keep；　the　Reverend　Mother　put　on　her　best　air　of　aloof　confidence；　gliding　along　with　feigned　nonchalance。
　But　every　one　of　her　heightened　senses　was　attuned　to　the　slightest　anomaly。　The　Baron　made　her　extremely　suspicious。　She　knew　he　was　up　to　something。
　PACING　RESTLESSLY　IN　the　Great　Hall；　Baron　Harkonnen　looked　around；　his　black　eyes　flashing　and　intent。　The　room　was　large　and　cold；　the　harsh　light　too　bright　from　unfiltered　glowglobes　clustered　in　the　corners　and　along　the　ceiling。　As　he　walked　in　pointed　black　boots；　his　footsteps　echoed；　making　the　entire　hall　sound　hollow；　empty　　a　good　place　for　an　ambush。
　Though　the　residential　portion　of　the　Keep　might　appear　vacant；　the　Baron　had　stationed　guards　and　electronic　spy…eyes　in　various　alcoves。　He　knew　he　couldn't　fool　the　Bene　Gesserit　whore　for　long；　but　it　didn't　matter。　Even　if　she　learned　they　were　being　watched；　it　might　give　her　pause　and　prevent　her　from　pulling　her　insidious　tricks。　The　caution　might　at　least　gain　him　a　few　seconds。
　Since　he　planned　to　be　in　control　this　time；　the　Baron　wanted　his　people　to　watch。　He'd　give　them　a　very　good　show；　something　they'd　talk　about　in　their　barracks　and　troop　ships　for　years　to　e。　Best　of　all；　it　would　put　the　witches　in　their　place。　Blackmail　me；　indeed！
　Piter　de　Vries　came　up　behind　him；　moving　so　swiftly　and　silently　that　he　startled　the　Baron；　who　snapped；　〃Don't　do　that；　Piter！〃
　〃I've　brought　what　you　asked；　my　Baron。〃　The　twisted　Mentat　extended　his　hand；　offering　two　small　plugs；　white…noise　transmitters。　〃Insert　these　deeply　into　your　ear　canals。　They're　designed　to　distort　any　Voice　she　might　try　to　use。　You　can　still　hear　normal　conversation；　but　the　plugs　will　scramble　the　unwanted；　preventing　i