bh.houseatreides-第95部分
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t plied the void far beyond the Imperium。
If his outstanding work for the Guild continued； the Navigator trainee who had been D'murr Pilru would be promoted to transporting goods and personnel between the primary worlds of the Houses Major； and perhaps along the coveted Kaitain routes。 He would bee an actual Navigator； possibly even working his way up to Steersman。。。。
But the munications device exhibited persistent problems。 The silicate crystals had to be sliced with a cutteray and connected in a precise manner； then they functioned only briefly before disintegrating from the strain。 Hairline cracks rendered them useless。 C'tair had used the device on four occasions to reach his brother； and after each time he'd had to painstakingly cut and refit new crystals。
C'tair established careful ties to black market groups that furnished him with what he required。 The contraband silicate crystals surreptitiously bore laser…scribed approvals by the Religious Review Board。 Ever resourceful； the black marketers had their own means of counterfeiting the approval marks； and had scribed them everywhere； thus frustrating the controlling efforts of the occupation forces。
Still； he dealt with the furtive salesmen as little as possible to reduce his own risk of being caught。。。but that also limited the number of times he could talk with his brother。
C'TAIR STOOD BEHIND a barricade with other restless； sweaty people who studiously refused to recognize each other。 He looked out across the sprawling grotto floor to the construction yards where the skeleton of the partially built Heighliner sat。 Overhead； portions of the projected sky remained dark and damaged； and the Tleilaxu showed no inclination to repair it。
Suspensor…borne searchlights and speakers hovered over the crowd as the gathered people waited for an announcement and further instructions。 No one wanted to ask； and no one wanted to hear。
〃This Heighliner is of an unapproved Vernius design；〃 the floating speakers boomed in a sexless voice that resonated against the rock walls； 〃and does not meet the standards of the Religious Review Board。 Your Tleilaxu masters are returning to the previous design； so this craft is to be dismantled immediately。〃
A soft susurration of dismay crept across the crowd。
〃Raw materials are to be salvaged and new work crews established。 Construction begins again in five days。〃
C'tair's mind whirled as maroon…robed organizers marched through the crowds； assigning teams。 As the son of an ambassador he'd had access to information that had not been available to others of his age。 He knew the old…style Heighliners had a significantly smaller cargo capacity and operated less efficiently。 But what possible religious objection could the invaders have to increased profits？ What did the Tleilaxu have to gain from less efficient space transport？
Then he remembered a story that his ambassador father had told back in a time of smug assurance； that old Emperor Elrood had been displeased with the innovation； since it curtailed his tariff revenue。 Pieces began to fit into place。 House Corrino had provided disguised Sardaukar troops to maintain an iron grip on the Ixian population； and C'tair realized that reverting to the old Heighliner design might be how the Tleilaxu intended to repay the Emperor for his military support。
Wheels within wheels within wheels。。。
He felt sick inside。 If true； it was such a petty reason for so many lives to have been lost； for the glorious traditions of Ix to have been destroyed； for the overthrow of an entire noble family and a planetary way of life。 He was angry with everyone involved even with Earl Vernius； who should have foreseen this and taken steps not to create such powerful enemies。
The call to work came across the PA system； and C'tair was assigned to join suboid crews as they dismantled the partially finished ship and salvaged its parts in the grotto yard。 Struggling to maintain a bland expression on his face as he wielded a construction laser to sever ponents； he wiped sweat from his dark hair。 He wished instead that he could use the laser to attack the Tleilaxu。 Other teams hauled the girders and plates away； stacking them for the next assembly project。
With ringing and clanging all around him； C'tair recalled a better； more ordered time； when he'd stood with D'murr and Kailea on the observation deck above。 So long ago； it seemed。 They had watched a Navigator guide the last new Heighliner out of the grotto。 Perhaps it would be the last such ship ever built。。。unless C'tair could help overthrow these destroyers。
The magnificent ship gradually fell to pieces； and the echoing sounds and chemical smells were horrific。 Did suboids work this way all the time？ If so； he could begin to imagine how they might have been dissatisfied enough to consider a rebellion。 But C'tair could not believe the violence had been entirely at the workers' instigation。
Had this all been part of the Emperor's plan？ To destroy House Vernius and quash progress？ Where and how the Bene Tleilax came into play in the scheme of influences； C'tair wasn't certain。 Of all races； these were the most hated people in the known galaxy。 Surely； Elrood could have found any number of Great Houses to take over the operations on Ix without disrupting the economics of the Imperium。 What else could the Padishah Emperor have in mind for these religious fanatics？ Why would he dirty his hands with them？
In disgust； C'tair watched other changes in the grotto； facilities being modified； as he continued the work of dismantling the Heighliner。 The new Tleilaxu overlords were busy little creatures； always hurrying about in a mysterious manner； setting up clandestine operations in the largest structures on Ix； locking formerly open facilities； shuttering windows； erecting stun…fences and minefields。 Keeping their filthy little secrets。
C'tair took it as his mission to learn all those secrets； by whatever means necessary； however long it might take him。 The Tleilaxu must fall。。。。
The ultimate question： Why does life exist？ The answer： For life's sake。
…ANONYMOUS； thought to be of Zensunni origin
Two Reverend Mothers stood talking on a treeless knoll： one old； one young。 Behind clouds； the waning sun； Laoujin； threw the long shadows of their hooded black robes down the slope。 Over the centuries an untold number of other Reverend Mothers had stood on the same spot； under the same sun； discussing grave matters relevant to their times。
If the two women wished； they could revisit those past crises through Other Memory。 The Reverend Mother Anirul Sadow Tonkin made such thought…journeys more than most； each circumstance was just another minor step along the long； long road。 Over the past year she had let her bronze…brown hair grow long； until its locks hung down to her narrow chin。
At the base of the knoll a whitecrete building was under construction。 Like worker bees； female laborers； each one with an entire blueprint in her mind； operated heavy equipment； preparing to lift roof modules into place。 To the rare outside observer； Wallach IX with its Bene Gesserit libraries and schools seemed always the same； but the Sisterhood was ever adapting for survival； ever changing； ever growing。
〃They're working too slowly。 I wanted them finished already；〃 Anirul said； rubbing her forehead； she had been experiencing chronic headaches of late。 As Mohiam came closer to term； Anirul's responsibilities as Kwisatz Mother were tremendous。 〃Do you realize how few days remain until the baby is due？〃
〃Blame no one but yourself； Anirul。 You demanded that this be no ordinary birthing facility；〃 Mother Superior Harishka said sternly。 The Kwisatz Mother flushed and looked away。 〃Every Sister knows how important it is。 Many of them suspect this is not just another child to be lost in the web of our breeding programs。 A few have even been talking about the Kwisatz Haderach。〃
Anirul tucked a loose strand of bronze hair behind her ear。 Unavoidable。 All the Sisters know of our dream； but few suspect how close it is to reality。〃 She shifted her skirts around her and sat down on the soft grass of the knoll。 She gestured toward the construction where the sound
