bh.houseatreides-第86部分

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　THE　NEXT　DAY；　a　calm　and　sunny　morning；　Leto　stood　next　to　Rhombur　at　an　open　window；　admiring　the　quays　at　the　base　of　the　promontory。　The　ocean　spread　out　like　a　blue…green　prairie；　curving　off　to　the　distant　horizon。　〃A　perfect　day；〃　Leto　said；　realizing　that　his　friend　was　homesick　for　the　lost　underground　city　of　Vernii；　probably　tired　of　too　much　weather。　〃Now　it's　my　turn　to　show　you　around　Caladan。〃
　The　two　of　them　descended　the　narrow　cliffside　path　and　staircase；　holding　on　to　rails　and　vaulting　weathered　steps；　avoiding　the　slippery　moss　and　the　white　encrustations　of　salty　spray。
　The　Duke　had　several　boats　tied　up　at　the　dock；　and　Leto　chose　his　favorite　coracle；　a　white　motorcraft　around　fifteen　meters　in　length。　With　a　wide；　beamy　hull；　it　featured　a　spacious　cutty　cabin　in　the　front　and　sleeping　quarters　beneath；　reached　via　a　spiral　staircase。　Aft　of　the　cabin　were　two　decks；　at　midship　and　aftship；　with　cargo　holds　below：　a　nice　setup　for　fishing　or　motor　cruising。　Additional　modules　stored　on　shore　could　be　installed　to　change　the　functions　of　the　craft：　adding　more　cabin　space　or　converting　one　or　both　cargo　holds　to　additional　sleeping　or　habitation　areas。
　Servants　packed　them　a　lunch　while　three　mariner　assistants　checked　all　the　onboard　systems　in　preparation　for　a　day…long　voyage。　Rhombur　watched　Leto　treat　these　people　as　friends　while　they　loaded　the　gear。　〃Is　your　wife's　leg　better；　Jerrik？　Did　you　finish　the　roof　on　your　smoke　shed；　Dom？〃
　Finally；　as　Rhombur　looked　on　with　curiosity　and　trepidation；　Leto　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃Remember　your　rock　collection？　You　and　I　are　going　to　dive　for　coral　gems。〃
　These　precious　stones；　found　in　knobby　coral　reefs；　were　popular　pieces　on　Caladan；　but　perilous　to　handle。　Coral　gems　were　said　to　hold　tiny　living　creatures　that　caused　their　inner　fires　to　dance　and　simmer。　Because　of　the　hazards　and　expense　of　containment；　the　gems　did　not　support　much　of　an　off…world　export　market；　given　the　more　viable　alternative　of　soostones　from　Buzzell。　But　local　coral　gems　were　lovely；　nonetheless。
　Leto　thought　he　wanted　to　give　one　to　Kailea　as　a　present。　With　the　wealth　of　House　Atreides；　he　could　afford　to　buy　Rhombur's　sister　many　greater　treasures　if　he　wished；　but　the　gift　might　mean　more　if　he　procured　it　himself。　She　would　probably　appreciate　it　either　way。
　After　all　preparations　were　pleted；　he　and　Rhombur　boarded　the　wickerwood　coracle。　An　Atreides　burgee　flew　from　the　stern；　snapping　in　the　breeze。　As　the　mariner　assistants　cast　off　the　lines；　one　asked；　〃You　can　handle　this　yourself；　m'Lord？〃
　Leto　laughed　and　waved　the　man　away。　〃Jerrik；　you　know　I've　been　handling　these　boats　for　years　now。　The　seas　are　calm；　and　we　have　a　shore…　aboard。　But　thank　you　for　your　concern。　Don't　worry；　we　won't　go　far；　just　to　the　reefs。〃
　Rhombur　wandered　the　deck　and　tried　to　help；　doing　whatever　Leto　told　him　to　do。　He'd　never　been　on　an　open　boat　before。　The　engines　carried　them　away　from　the　cliffs；　beyond　the　shielded　harbor；　and　out　into　open　water。　Sunlight　glittered　like　sparkflies　on　the　rippled　surface　of　the　sea。
　The　Prince　of　Ix　stood　at　the　bow　while　Leto　worked　the　controls。　Rhombur　soaked　up　the　experience　of　water　and　wind　and　sun；　smiling。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　feel　so　alone　and　so　free　out　here。〃
　Looking　overboard；　Rhombur　saw　rafts　of　leathery…leafed　seaweed　and　round　gourdlike　fruits　that　held　up　the　plants　like　air　bladders。　〃Paradan　melons；〃　Leto　said。　〃If　you　want　one；　just　reach　over　the　side　and　take　it。　If　you've　never　had　paradan　fresh　from　the　sea；　you're　in　for　a　taste　treat。。。though　the　fruit's　a　bit　salty　for　me。〃
　Far　off　to　starboard　a　pod　of　murmons　swam　like　furred　logs；　large　but　harmless　creatures　that　drifted　with　ocean　currents；　singing　to　themselves　with　low；　hooting　sounds。
　Leto　sailed　the　coracle　for　about　an　hour；　consulting　satellite　maps　and　charts；　making　for　a　knot　of　outlying　reefs。　He　handed　Rhombur　a　set　of　binoculars　and　indicated　a　frothy；　tumultuous　patch　on　the　sea。　Isolated　black　ridges　of　rock　barely　poked　above　the　waves　like　the　spine　of　a　sleeping　leviathan。
　〃There's　the　reef；〃　Leto　said。　〃We'll　anchor　about　half　a　kilometer　away　so　we　don't　risk　ripping　open　the　hull。　Then　we　can　go　diving。〃　He　opened　a　partment　and　withdrew　a　sack　and　a　small　spatulaknife　for　each　of　them。　〃The　coral　gems　don't　grow　very　deep。　We　can　dive　without　air　tanks。〃　He　slapped　Rhombur　on　the　back。　〃It's　about　time　you　started　to　earn　your　keep　around　here。〃
　〃Just　keeping　you　out　of　trouble　is；　uh；　effort　enough；〃　Rhombur　countered。
　After　the　coracle　was　secured　on　its　anchor　cord；　Leto　pointed　a　scanner　overboard　to　map　out　the　contours　of　the　reefs　below。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said；　letting　his　friend　view　the　screen。　〃See　those　crannies　and　tiny　caves？　That's　where　you'll　find　the　coral　gems。〃
　Rhombur　peered　at　the　scanner；　nodding。
　〃Each　one　is　encrusted　with　a　husk；　like　an　organic　scab　that　grows　around　them。　Doesn't　look　like　much　until　you　crack　one　open　and　see　the　most　beautiful　pearls　in　all　creation；　like　molten　droplets　from　a　star。　You　have　to　keep　them　wet　at　all　times；　because　the　open　air　oxidizes　them　instantly　and　they　bee　extremely　pyrophoric。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Rhombur　said；　unsure　what　the　word　meant；　though　he　was　too　proud　to　ask。　Fumbling；　he　attached　his　belt；　which　held　the　spatulaknife　and　a　small　waterlume　for　probing　the　darkest　caves。
　〃I'll　show　you　when　we　get　down　there；〃　Leto　said。　〃How　long　can　you　hold　your　breath？〃
　〃As　long　as　you；〃　the　Prince　of　Ix　said；　〃naturally。〃
　Leto　stripped　off　his　shirt　and　pants；　while　Rhombur　hurried　to　do　the　same。　Simultaneously；　both　young　men　dived　overboard。　Leto　stroked　downward　into　the　warm　water；　pulling　himself　deeper　until　he　felt　the　pressure　around　his　skull。
　The　large　reef　was　a　convoluted；　permanently　submerged　landscape。　Tufts　of　coralweed　waved　in　the　gentle　currents；　the　tiny　mouths　on　their　leaves　snaring　bits　of　plankton。　Jewel…toned　fish　darted　in　and　out　of　holes　in　the　layered　coral。
　Rhombur　grabbed　his　arm　and　pointed　at　a　long　purplish　eel　that　drifted　by；　streaming　a　rainbow…hued；　feathery　tail。　The　Ixian　looked　ical　with　his　cheeks　swollen；　trying　to　hold　in　his　air。
　Grasping　the　rough　coral；　Leto　pulled　himself　along　and　peered　into　cracks　and　crevices。　He　shined　the　beam　of　his　waterlume　all　around　in　his　search。　With　his　lungs　aching；　he　finally　found　a　discolored　knob　and　signaled　for　Rhombur；　who　swam　over。　But　as　Leto　pulled　out　his　spatula…knife　to　pry　free　the　coral　gem；　Rhombur　flailed　his　arms　and　swam　upward　as　fast　as　he　could；　his　air　exhausted。
　Leto　remained　beneath　the　water；　though　his　chest　pounded。　Finally；　he　pried　loose　the　nodule；　which　would　likely　yield　a　medium…sized　coral　gem。　With　it　he　swam　upward；　his　chest　ready　to　burst；　and　finally　splashed　to　the　surface　where　Rhombur　clung；　panting；　to　the　edge　of　the　coracle。
　〃Found　one；〃　Leto　said。　〃Look。〃　Holding　the　gem　underneath　the　water；　he　tapped　it　with　the　blunt　edge　of　his　knife　until　the　outer　covering　cracked　free。　Inside；　a　slightly　misshapen　ovoid　gleamed　with　self…contained　pearly　light。　Tiny　glimmering　specks　circulated　like　molten　sand　trapped　within　transparent　epoxy。
　〃Exquisite；〃　Rhombur　said。
　Dripping　wet；　Leto　climbed　out　of　the　water　and　onto　the　midship　deck；　by　the　lifeboat　station。　He　dipped　a　bucket　overboard；　filling　it　with　seawater；　and　dropped　the　coral　gem　inside　before　it　could　dry　out　in　his　hands。　〃Now　you　have　to　find　one　of　your　own。〃
　With　his　blond　hair　plastered　to　his　head　by　seawater；　the　Prince　nodded；　drew　several　deep　gulps　of　air；　then　swam　downward　again。　Leto　dived　after　him。
　Within　an　hour　the　pair　had　gathered　half　a　bucket　of　the　beautiful　gems。　〃Nice　haul；〃　Leto　said；　squatting　on　the　deck　beside　Rhombur；　who；　fascinated　with　the　treasure；　dipped　his　fingers　into　the　bucket。　〃You　like　those？〃
　Rhombur　grunted。　His　eyes　danced　with　a　child's　delight。
　〃I've　worked　up　quite　an　appetite；〃　Leto　said。　〃I'll　go　prep　the　foodpaks。〃
　〃I'm　starving；　too；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Uh；　need　any　help？〃
　Leto　drew　himself　up　and　raised　his　aquiline　nose　haughtily　in　the　air。　〃