bh.houseatreides-第88部分
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Soon they heard the distant but increasing roar of powerful engines； and moments later a high…speed wingboat came into view； a double…hulled craft capable of reaching tremendous speeds over the water。 It drew near and swung clear of the rocks。 On the foredeck stood Thufir Hawat； shaking his head at Leto in disapproval。
Among the responsibilities of mand is the necessity to punish。。。but only when the victim demands it。
…PRINCE RAPHAEL CORRINO； Discourses on Leadership in a Galactic Imperium； 12th Edition
Her chocolate hair in disarray； her clothes torn and inappropriate for the desert； the woman ran across the sands； seeking escape。
Janess Milam looked up over her shoulder； blinking sun…scalded tears from her eyes。 Seeing the shadow of the suspensor platform that held Baron Harkonnen and his nephew Rabban； she put on a burst of speed。 Her feet dug into the powder…sand； making her lose her balance。 She staggered toward the open wasteland； where it was hotter； drier； deadlier。
Buried in the lee of a nearby dune； the thumper throbbed； pulsing。。。calling。
She tried to find a refuge of rocks； cool caves； even the shadow of a boulder。 At the very least； she wanted to die out of sight so they wouldn't be able to laugh at her。 But the Harkonnens had dropped her into a sea of open dunes。 Janess slipped and tasted dust。
From their safe vantage on the suspensor platform； the Baron and his nephew watched her struggles； the pitiful flight of a tiny human figure on the sand。 The observers wore stillsuits like costumes； their masks hung loose。
They had returned to Arrakis from Giedi Prime only a few weeks before； and Janess had arrived on the previous day's prison ship。 At first； the Baron had thought to execute the treacherous woman back at Barony； but Rabban had wanted her to suffer in front of his eyes out on the scorching sands； in punishment for helping Duncan Idaho escape。
〃She seems so insignificant down there； doesn't she？〃 the Baron mented； without interest。 Sometimes； his nephew did have unique ideas； though he lacked the focus to carry them through。 〃This is much more satisfying than a simple beheading； and beneficial to the worms。 Food for them。〃
Rabban made a low sound in his thick throat； remarkably like an animal's growl。 〃It shouldn't be long now。 Those thumpers always call a worm。 Always。〃
The Baron stood tall on the platform； feeling the hot sun； the glistening sweat on his skin。 His body ached； a condition he'd been experiencing for several months now。 He nudged the suspensor platform forward so they could get a better view of their victim。 He mused； 〃That boy is an Atreides now； from what I hear。 Working with the Duke's Salusan bulls。〃
〃He's dead； if I ever see him again。〃 Rabban wiped salty sweat from his sunburned forehead。 〃Him； and any other Atreides I catch alone。〃
〃You're like an ox； Rabban。〃 The Baron gripped his nephew's strong shoulder。〃 But don't waste energy on insignificant things。 House Atreides is our real enemy not some insignificant stableboy。 Stableboy。。。hmmm。。。〃
Below； Janess skidded on her face down the slope of a dune and scrambled to her feet again。 With a basso laugh the Baron said； 〃She'll never get far enough away from the thumper in time。〃 The resonant vibrations continued to throb into the ground； like the distant drumbeat of a death song。
〃It's too hot out here；〃 Rabban grumbled。 〃Couldn't you have brought a canopy？〃 Pulling his stillsuit's water tube to his mouth； he drew in an unsatisfying sip of warm water。
〃I like to sweat。 It's good for the health； purges poisons from the system。〃
Rabban fidgeted。 When he tired of watching the woman's clumsy run； he looked across the seared landscape； searching for the tracks of an oning behemoth。 〃By the way； whatever happened to that Planetologist the Emperor foisted on us？ I took him worm hunting once。
〃Kynes？ Who knows？〃 The Baron snorted。 〃He's always out in the desert； es in to Carthag to deliver reports whenever he feels like it； then disappears again。 Haven't heard from him in a while。〃
〃What happens if he gets hurt？ Could we get in trouble for not keeping a better eye on him？〃
〃I doubt it。 Elrood's mind isn't what it used to be。〃 The Baron laughed； a thin； nasal tone of derision。 〃Not that the Emperor's mind was much even in its prime。〃
The dark…haired woman； coated now with clinging dust； fought her way across the dunes。 She kicked up sand； falling and struggling back onto her feet； refusing to give up。
〃This bores me；〃 Rabban said。 〃No challenge just to stand here and watch。〃
〃Some punishments are easy；〃 the Baron observed； 〃but easy isn't always sufficient。 Erasing this woman does nothing to erase the black mark she made on the honor of House Harkonnen。。。with the help of House Atreides。〃
〃Then let's do more；〃 Rabban said with a thick…lipped grin； 〃to the Atreides。〃
The Baron felt the heat shimmering on his exposed face； absorbed the thrumming silence of the baked desert。 When he smiled； the skin on his cheeks threatened to crack。 〃Maybe we will。〃
〃What； Uncle？〃
〃Perhaps it's time to get rid of the Old Duke。 No more thorns in our side。〃
Rabban bubbled with anticipation。
With a calmness designed to agitate his nephew； the Baron focused the oil lenses of his binoculars and scanned the distance at varying magnifications。 He hoped to spot the wormsign himself rather than relying on the security ornithopters。 Finally he sensed the tremors approaching。 He felt his pulse synchronize with the thumper： Lump。。。Lump。。。Lump。。。
Crescent dune tracks spread shadow ripples toward the horizon； an elongated mound…in…motion； a cresting of sand like a big fish swimming just under the surface。 In the still； hot air； the Baron heard the rasping； abrasive sound of the slithering beast。 Excitedly； he grabbed Rabban's elbow and pointed。
The …unit at Rabban's ear chirped； and a filtered voice spoke so loudly that the Baron could hear the muffled words。 Rabban swatted at the device。 〃We know！ We see it。〃
The Baron continued his musings as the buried worm approached like a lootive。 〃I've kept up my contacts with。。。individuals on Caladan； you know。 The Old Duke is a creature of habit。 And habits can be dangerous。〃 He smiled； his lips hard； his eyes squinting against the glare。 〃We've already put operatives in place； and I have a plan。〃
Far out in the dunes ahead of them； Janess spun around and ran in blind panic。 She had seen the oning worm。
The rippling upheaval of sand reached the thumper in the lee of a whaleback dune。 In an explosion like a tidal wave engulfing a dock； the thumper vanished into an immense mouth lined with crystal teeth。
〃Move the platform；〃 the Baron urged。 〃Follow her！〃 Rabban worked the suspensor controls； floating them up over the desert for a better view of the action。
Following the vibrations of the woman's footsteps； the worm changed course。 The sand rippled again as the behemoth dived underground and prowled like a shark searching for new prey。
Janess collapsed on the top of a dune； shuddering； holding her knees up against her chin as she tried not to make any sound that might attract the great worm。 Sand skittered around her。 She froze； held her breath。
The monster paused。 Janess huddled in terror； praying silently。
Rabban brought the suspensor platform above the trapped woman。 Janess glared up at the Harkonnens； her jaw clenched； her eyes like daggers； a cornered animal afraid to move。
Baron Harkonnen reached down to grab an empty bottle of spice liquor； drained during their long hot wait for her execution。 He raised the brown glass bottle as if in a toast； grinning。
The sandworm waited underground； alert for even a fractional movement。
The Baron tossed the bottle at the dusky…skinned woman。 The glass tumbled in the air； reflecting glints of sunlight； end over end。 It struck the sand within meters of Janess's feet with a loud thunk。
The worm lunged into motion； toward her。
Screaming curses at the Harkonnens； Janess plunged down the hillside； followed by a small avalanche of sand。 But the ground dropped out from underneath her； like a gaping trapdoor。
The mouth of the worm rose up； a cavern of glittering teeth in the sun
