bh.houseatreides-第79部分

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rom　Kailea。〃
　Down　below；　the　young　woman　nibbled　on　fruit；　eyed　Leto　with　coy　admiration；　and　laughed　at　a　particularly　outrageous　maneuver　he　had　pulled　off。　Rhombur　countered　him；　their　shields　clashing　and　sparking　against　each　other。　When　Leto　turned　to　smile　back　at　her；　Kailea　looked　at　her　breakfast　plate　with　feigned　aloofness。
　Helena　recognized　the　movements　of　the　courtship　dance；　as　intricate　as　any　swordplay。　〃See　how　they　look　at　each　other？〃
　The　Old　Duke　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃At　one　time　the　daughter　of　House　Vernius　might　have　been　an　excellent　match　for　Leto。〃
　It　saddened　him　to　know　how　his　friend　Dominic　Vernius　was　being　hunted　down　by　Imperial　decree。　Emperor　Elrood；　seemingly　irrational；　had　branded　Vernius　not　only　a　renegade　and　an　exile；　but　also　a　traitor。　Neither　Earl　Dominic　nor　Lady　Shando　had　sent　any　word　to　Caladan；　but　Paulus　hoped　they　remained　alive；　both　were　fair　game　for　ambitious　fortune　seekers。
　House　Atreides　had　risked　a　great　deal　by　accepting　the　two　children　into　sanctuary　on　Caladan。　Dominic　Vernius　had　called　in　all　his　remaining　favors　among　the　Houses　of　the　Landsraad；　which　had　confirmed　the　young　exiles　in　their　protected　status；　so　long　as　they　did　not　aspire　to　regain　the　former　title　of　their　House。
　〃I'd　never　agree　to　a　marriage　between　our　son　and。　。　。　her；〃　Helena　said。　〃While　you've　strutted　around　with　bullfights　and　parades；　I've　had　my　ear　to　the　ground。　House　Vernius　has　been　falling　into　disfavor　for　years　now。　I've　told　you　that；　but　you　never　listen。〃
　Paulus　said　in　a　mild　voice；　〃Ah；　Helena；　your　Richesian　bias　keeps　you　from　seeing　Ix　fairly。　Vernius　has　always　been　your　family's　rival；　and　they　roundly　defeated　you　in　the　trade　wars。〃　Despite　their　disagreements；　he　tried　to　accord　her　the　respect　due　a　Lady　of　a　Great　House；　even　when　nobody　was　listening。
　〃Clearly；　the　wrath　of　God　has　fallen　upon　Ix；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃You　can't　deny　that。　You　should　get　rid　of　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　Send　them　away；　or　even　kill　them　　it　would　be　a　kindness。〃
　Duke　Paulus　smoldered。　He'd　known　she'd　get　back　around　to　the　subject　before　long。　〃Helena！　Watch　your　words。〃　He　looked　at　her　in　disbelief。　〃That's　an　outrageous　suggestion；　even　from　you。〃
　〃Why？　Their　House　brought　about　its　own　destruction　by　scorning　the　strictures　of　the　Great　Revolt。　House　Vernius　taunted　God　with　their　hubris。　Anyone　could　see　it。　I　warned　you　myself　before　Leto　went　to　Ix。〃　She　held　the　edge　of　his　robe；　trembling　with　her　passion　as　she　tried　to　make　a　reasoned　plea。　〃Hasn't　humanity　learned　its　lesson　well　enough？　Think　of　the　horrors　we　went　through；　the　enslavement；　the　near　extermination。　We　must　never　stray　from　the　correct　path　again。　Ix　was　trying　to　bring　back　thinking　machines。　'Thou　shalt　not　make　a　machine　in　the　'〃
　〃No　need　to　quote　verses　to　me；〃　he　said；　cutting　her　off。　When　Helena　dropped　into　her　rigid　and　zealous　mind…set；　no　rebuttal　could　penetrate　her　blinders。
　〃But　if　you　would　just　listen　and　read；〃　Helena　pleaded。　〃I　can　show　you　the　passages　in　the　Book　〃
　〃Dominic　Vernius　was　my　friend；　Helena；〃　Paulus　said。　〃And　House　Atreides　stands　by　its　friends。　Rhombur　and　Kailea　are　my　guests　here　at　Castle　Caladan；　and　I　will　hear　no　more　of　this　talk　from　you。〃
　Though　Helena　turned　and　vanished　back　into　the　bedchamber；　he　knew　she　would　try　to　convince　him　again；　at　some　other　time。　He　sighed。
　Gripping　the　balcony　railing；　Paulus　looked　back　down　to　where　the　boys　continued　their　exercises。　It　was　more　like　a　brawl；　with　Leto　and　Rhombur　battering　at　each　other；　laughing　and　running　around　and　wasting　energy。
　Despite　her　self…righteousness；　Helena　had　made　some　valid　points。　This　was　the　kind　of　opening　their　age…old　enemies；　the　Harkonnens；　would　use　to　try　and　destroy　House　Atreides。　Enemy　legal　minds　were　probably　already　working　on　it。　If　House　Vernius　had　in　fact　violated　Butlerian　precepts；　then　House　Atreides　might　be　considered　guilty　by　association。
　But　the　die　was　cast；　and　Paulus　was　up　to　the　challenge。　Still；　he　had　to　make　sure　nothing　terrible　happened　to　his　own　son。
　Below　the　boys　fought　on；　still　playful；　though　the　Old　Duke　knew　Rhombur　ached　to　strike　back　at　the　myriad　faceless　foes　who　had　driven　his　family　from　their　ancestral　home。　To　do　that；　however；　both　young　men　needed　training　　not　only　the　required　brutal　instruction　in　the　use　of　personal　weaponry；　but　in　the　skills　required　to　lead　men；　and　the　abstractions　of　large…scale　government。
　Smiling　grimly；　the　Duke　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　Rhombur　and　Kailea　had　been　placed　in　his　care。　He　had　sworn　to　keep　them　safe；　had　given　his　blood　oath　to　Dominic　Vernius。　He　must　give　them　the　best　chance　they　could　possibly　have。
　He　would　send　Rhombur　and　Leto　to　his　Master　of　Assassins；　Thufir　Hawat。
　THE　WARRIOR　MENTAT　stood　like　an　iron　pillar；　glaring　at　his　two　new　students。　They　stood　atop　a　barren　sea　cliff　kilometers　north　of　Castle　Caladan。　The　wind　smashed　against　the　slick　rocks　and　blasted　upward；　rustling　clumps　of　pampas　grass。　Gray　gulls　wheeled　overhead；　shrieking　to　each　other；　scanning　for　edible　flotsam　on　the　rocky　beach。　Stunted　cypress　trees　huddled　like　hunchbacks；　bowed　against　the　constant　ocean　breeze。
　Leto　had　no　idea　how　old　Thufir　Hawat　was。　The　sinewy　Mentat　had　trained　Duke　Paulus　when　he　was　much　younger；　and　now　the　Master　of　Assassins　fended　off　any　appearance　of　age　through　brute　force。　His　skin　was　leathery；　having　been　exposed　to　harsh　environments　on　many　worlds　during　previous　Atreides　campaigns；　from　blistering　heat　to　numbing　cold；　whipping　storms　and　the　hard　rigors　of　open　space。
　Thufir　Hawat　stared　at　the　young　men　in　silence。　He　crossed　his　arms　over　his　scuffed　leather　chestplate。　His　eyes　were　like　weapons；　his　silence　a　goad。　His　unsmiling　lips　were　stained　the　deep　cranberry　of　sapho　juice。
　Leto　stood　next　to　his　friend；　fidgeting。　His　fingers　were　chilled　enough　that　he　wished　he　had　brought　gloves。　When　are　we　going　to　begin　training？　He　and　Rhombur　glanced　at　each　other；　impatient；　waiting。
　〃Look　at　me；　I　said！〃　Hawat　snapped。　〃I　could　have　leaped　forward　and　gutted　both　of　you　in　the　instant　you　exchanged　those　cute　little　glances。〃　He　took　a　menacing　step　toward　them。
　Leto　and　Rhombur　wore　fine　clothes；　fortable　yet　regal…looking。　Their　capes　snapped　about　in　the　breeze。　Leto's　was　brilliant　emerald　merh…silk　trimmed　in　black；　while　the　Prince　of　Ix　proudly　sported　the　purple　and　copper　of　House　Vernius。　But　Rhombur　looked　decidedly　uneasy　to　be　out　under　the　towering　sky。　〃It's　all　so。。。wide…open；〃　he　whispered。
　After　interminable　silence；　Hawat　raised　his　chin；　ready　to　begin。　〃First　of　all；　remove　those　ridiculous　capes。〃
　Leto　reached　up　to　the　clasp　at　his　throat；　but　Rhombur　hesitated　just　a　moment。　Within　the　space　of　a　heartbeat；　Hawat　had　ripped　out　his　short　sword　and　slashed　the　tiny　cord　mere　millimeters　from　the　Prince's　jugular　vein。　The　wind　grasped　the　purple…on…copper　cape　and　carried　it　like　a　lost　banner　over　the　cliff。　The　cloth　flew　like　a　kite　until　it　drifted　to　the　churning　water　below。
　〃Hey！〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Why　did　you　〃
　Hawat　sidestepped　the　indignant　outcry。　〃You　came　here　to　learn　weapons　training。　So　why　did　you　dress　for　a　Landsraad　ball　or　an　Imperial　banquet？〃　The　Mentat　snorted；　then　spat　with　the　wind。　〃Fighting　is　dirty　work；　and　unless　you　intend　to　conceal　weapons　in　those　capes；　wearing　them　is　foolish。　It's　like　carrying　your　own　burial　shroud　on　your　shoulders。〃
　Leto　still　held　his　green　cape　in　his　hands。　Hawat　reached　forward；　grabbed　the　end　of　the　fabric；　snapped　it；　twirled　it　around…and　in　a　flash　had　captured　Leto's　right　hand；　his　fighting　hand。　Hawat　yanked　hard　and　thrust　out　with　his　foot　to　catch　the　young　man's　ankle。　Leto　sprawled　on　the　rocky　ground。
　Static　spun　in　front　of　his　eyes；　and　he　gasped　to　catch　his　breath。　Rhombur　laughed　at　his　friend；　then　managed　to　restrain　himself。
　Hawat　yanked　the　cape　free　and　tossed　it　up　in　the　air；　where　it　blew　out　on　the　ocean　winds　to　join　Rhombur's。　〃Anything　can　be　a　weapon；〃　he　said。　〃You're　carrying　your　swords；　and　I　see　daggers　at　your　sides。　You　have　shields；　all　of　wh