bh.houseatreides-第35章

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ng。　But　my　friend　Renno　says　you　can　ride　in　the　hold；　just　as　long　as　you　don't　eat　anything　other　than　standard　rations　or　cost　anyone　time　or　credits。〃
　Duncan　watched　the　spaceport　activities　around　him。　He　had　no　real　conception　of　what　life　would　be　like　on　any　other　world。　The　cargo　ship　looked　old　and　unimpressive　　but　if　it　provided　him　with　passage　away　from　Giedi　Prime；　then　it　was　a　golden　bird　from　heaven。
　Janess　took　him　roughly　by　his　arm　and　marched　him　toward　the　loading　ramp。　His　sore　shoulder　throbbed。　〃They're　hauling　recyclable　materials　and　other　salvage；　which　they'll　take　to　a　processing　station　on　Caladan。　That's　the　home　of　House　Atreides。。。archenemies　of　the　Harkonnens。　You　know　about　the　feud　between　those　Houses？〃　When　Duncan　shook　his　head；　Janess　laughed。　〃Of　course　not。　How　would　a　little　dirt　rodent　like　you　have　learned　anything　about　the　Landsraad　and　the　Great　Houses？〃
　She　stopped　one　of　the　workers　guiding　a　precariously　loaded　suspensor　platform。　〃Where's　Renno？　Tell　him　Janess　Milam　is　here　and　I　want　to　see　him　right　away。〃　She　glanced　down　at　Duncan；　who　stood　up　straight　and　tried　to　look　presentable。　〃Tell　him　I　brought　the　package　I　promised。〃
　Touching　a　municator　on　his　lapel；　the　man　mumbled　something　into　it。　Then；　without　acknowledging　Janess；　he　pushed　his　load　up　into　the　squat　cargo　hauler。
　Duncan　waited；　analyzing　the　activity　around　him；　while　Janess　frowned　and　fidgeted。　Before　long；　a　grubby…looking　man　emerged；　his　skin　smeared　with　colored　lubricants；　grime；　and　oily　sweat。
　〃Renno！〃　Janess　waved　to　him。　〃It's　about　damn　time！〃
　He　gave　her　a　tight　embrace；　followed　by　a　long　and　wet　kiss。　Janess　broke　away　as　quickly　as　she　could　and　pointed　to　Duncan。　〃There　he　is。　Take　him　to　Caladan。〃　She　smiled。　〃I　can't　think　of　a　better　revenge　than　to　deliver　this　boy　right　where　they　least　want　him　to　be　　and　where　they're　least　likely　to　find　him。〃
　〃You　play　dangerous　games；　Janess；〃　Renno　said。
　〃I　enjoy　games。〃　She　balled　her　fist　and　playfully　punched　him　in　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　tell　anyone。〃
　Renno　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃What's　the　point　of　ing　back　to　this　scummy　port　if　you're　not　here　waiting　for　me？　Who'd　keep　me　pany　in　a　dark　and　lonely　bunk？　Nah；　it　wouldn't　be　worth　my　while　to　turn　you　in。　But　you　still　owe　me。〃
　Before　going；　Janess　knelt　and　fixed　her　eyes　on　young　Duncan　Idaho。　She　seemed　to　be　trying　for　some　semblance　of　passion。　〃Look；　kid。　Here's　what　I　want　you　to　do。　When　you　get　to　Caladan；　step　off　that　ship　and　insist　on　seeing　Duke　Paulus　Atreides　himself。　Duke　Atreides。　Tell　him　you've　e　from　the　Harkonnens；　and　demand　to　be　taken　into　service　in　his　household。〃
　Renno's　eyebrows　shot　high　on　his　forehead；　and　he　muttered　something　unintelligible。
　Janess　kept　her　face　firm　and　intent；　thinking　to　play　a　last　cruel；　joke　on　the　boy　she　had　betrayed。　She　realized　there　would　be　no　chance　whatsoever　that　a　dirty；　nameless　street　urchin　could　possibly　set　foot　in　the　Grand　Hall　of　Castle　Caladan　　but　that　wouldn't　stop　him　from　trying。。。maybe　for　years。
　She'd　already　had　her　victory　by　stealing　the　boy　from　Rabban's　hunting　party。　She　had　known　they　were　taking　Duncan　to　the　Forest　Guard　Station　and　so　she　made　a　particular　effort　to　find　him；　to　snatch　him　away　and　turn　him　over　to　the　Harkonnens'　greatest　enemies。　Whatever　else　happened　to　the　boy　was　now　irrelevant　to　her；　but　Janess　amused　herself　by　imagining　all　the　tribulations　Duncan　Idaho　would　undergo　before　finally　giving　up。
　〃e　on；〃　Renno　said　gruffly；　pulling　Duncan's　arm。　〃I'll　find　you　a　place　in　the　cargo　hold；　where　you　can　sleep　and　hide。〃
　Duncan　didn't　look　back　at　Janess。　He　wondered　if　she　expected　him　to　say　goodbye　or　thank　her　for　what　she'd　done；　but　he　refused　to　do　that。　She　hadn't　helped　him　because　she　cared；　or　even　out　of　remorse。　No；　he　wouldn't　demean　himself；　and　he　could　never　forgive　Janess　for　her　part　in　destroying　his　family。　Strange　woman。
　He　walked　up　the　ramp；　looking　straight　ahead；　not　knowing　where　he　was　going。　Lost　and　parentless；　without　any　idea　of　what　he　would　do　next；　Duncan　Idaho　headed　off。。。。
　RENNO　GAVE　HIM　no　fort　and　little　nourishment；　but　at　least　he　left　the　boy　in　peace。　What　Duncan　Idaho　needed　most　in　the　entire　universe　was　time　to　recover；　a　few　days　to　sort　out　his　memories　and　learn　to　live　with　the　ones　he　could　not　forget。
　He　slept　alone　like　a　rat　in　the　cargo　hold　of　the　battered　transport；　surrounded　by　scrap　metal　and　recyclables。　None　of　it　was　soft；　but　he　still　slept　well　enough　on　the　rust…smelling　floor；　with　his　back　against　a　cold　bulkhead。　It　was　the　most　peaceful　time　he'd　had　in　recent　memory。
　Finally；　when　the　ship　descended　toward　Caladan　to　deliver　its　load　and　dump　him　alone　and　friendless　on　a　strange　world；　Duncan　was　ready　for　anything。　He　had　his　drive　and　his　energy；　nothing　would　sway　him　from　his　chosen　quest。
　Now　he　just　had　to　find　Duke　Paulus　Atreides。
　History　allows　us　to　see　the　obvious　　but　unfortunately；　not　until　it　is　too　late。
　…PRINCE　RAPHAEL　CORRINO
　When　he　surveyed　Leto's　bedraggled　black　hair；　his　dust…smeared　clothes；　and　the　perspiration　streaks　down　his　cheeks；　Rhombur　actually　chuckled。　He　meant　no　insult　by　his　response；　but　seemed　incapable　of　believing　the　preposterous　story　Leto　had　told。　He　stood　back　and　assessed　his　friend。　〃Vermilion　hells！　Don't　you　think　you're；　uh。。。overreacting　a　bit；　Leto？〃
　Rhombur　strode　over　to　one　of　the　broad　windows。　Alcoves　all　along　the　wall　of　the　stocky　Prince's　room　displayed　handpicked　geological　oddities；　his　delight　and　pride。　Far　beyond　the　amenities　of　his　station　as　the　Earl's　son；　Rhombur　found　joy　in　his　collection　of　minerals；　crystals；　and　gems。　He　could　have　purchased　more　magnificent　specimens　many　times　over；　but　the　Prince　had　personally　found　each　rock　in　his　own　explorations　of　cave　floors　and　small　tunnels。
　But　in　all　his　explorations；　Rhombur　　indeed；　the　entire　Vernius　ruling　family　　had　been　blind　to　the　unrest　among　the　workers。　Now　Leto　understood　why　the　Old　Duke　had　insisted　that　his　son　learn　to　read　his　subjects　and　know　the　mood　of　the　populace。　〃At　the　heart　of　it　all；　lad；　we　rule　at　their　sufferance；〃　Paulus　had　told　him；　〃though　thankfully　most　of　the　population　doesn't　realize　it。　If　you're　a　good　enough　ruler；　none　of　your　people　will　think　to　question　it。〃
　As　if　embarrassed　by　Leto's　dramatic　news　and　rumpled　appearance；　the　tousle…haired　young　man　peered　down　at　the　swirling　masses　of　workers　in　the　production　yards　below。　Everything　seemed　quiet；　business　as　usual。　〃Leto；　Leto。。。〃　He　pointed　a　pudgy　finger　at　the　apparently　content　lower　classes　who　labored　like　dutiful　drones。　〃Suboids　can't　even　decide　for　themselves　what　to　eat　for　dinner；　much　less　band　together　and　start　a　rebellion。　That　takes　too　much。。。initiative。〃
　Leto　shook　his　head；　still　panting。　His　sweaty　hair　clung　to　his　forehead。　He　felt　more　shaky　now　that　he　was　safe；　sitting　slumped　in　a　fortable　self…forming　chair　in　Rhombur's　private　quarters。　When　he'd　been　fleeing　for　his　life；　he　had　reacted　on　instinct　alone。　Now；　trying　to　relax；　he　couldn't　keep　his　pulse　from　racing。　He　took　a　long　gulp　of　sour　cidrit　juice　from　a　goblet　on　Rhombur's　breakfast　tray。
　〃I'm　only　reporting　what　I　saw；　Rhombur；　and　I　don't　imagine　threats。　I've　seen　enough　real　ones　to　know　the　difference。〃　He　leaned　forward；　his　gray　eyes　flashing　at　his　friend。　〃I　tell　you；　something's　going　on。　The　suboids　were　talking　about　overthrowing　House　Vernius；　tearing　down　what　you've　built；　and　taking　Ix　for　themselves。　They　were　preparing　for　violence。〃
　Rhombur　hesitated；　as　if　still　waiting　to　hear　the　punch　line。　〃Well；　I'll　tell　my　father。　You　can　give　him　your　version　of　the　events；　and　I'm；　uh；　sure　he'll　look　into　the　matter。〃
　Leto's　shoulders　sagged。　What　if　Earl　Vernius　ignored　the　problem　until　it　was　too　late？
　Rhombur　brushed　down　his　purple　tunic　and　smiled；　then　scratched　his　head　in　perplexity。　It　seemed　to　take　great　stamina　for　him　to　address　the　subject　again；　he　appeared　genuinely　baffled。　〃But。。。if　you've　been　down　there；　Leto；　you　see　that　we　take　care　of　the　suboids。　They're　given　food；　shelter；　families；　jobs。　Sure；　maybe　we　take　the　lion's　share　of　the　profits。。。that's　the　way　of　things。　That's　our　society。　But　we　don't　abuse　our　workers。　What　can　they　possibly　plain　about？〃
　〃Maybe　they　see　it　differently；〃　Leto　said。　〃Physical　oppression　isn't　the　only　kind　of　abuse。〃
　Rhombur　brightened；　then　extended　his　hand。　〃e；　my　friend。　This　might　just　make　an　interesting　twist　for　our　political　lectures　today。　We　can　use　it　as　a　hypothetical　case。〃
　Leto　followed；　more　saddened　than　distraught。　He　was　afraid　the　Ixians　would　never　see　this　trouble　as　anything　more　than　an　interesting　political　discussion。
　FROM　THE　TALLEST　spire　of　the　Grand　Palais；　Earl　Dominic　Vernius　ruled　an　industrial　empire　hidden　from　outside　view。　The　big　man　paced　back　and　forth　on　the　transparent　floor　of　his　Orb　Office　that　hung　like　a　magnificent　crystal　ball　from　the　cavern　ceiling。
　The　office　walls　and　floor　were　constructed　of　perfectly　bonded　Ixian　glass　with　no　seams　or　distortions；　he　seemed　to　be　walking　on　air；　floating　over　his　domain。　At　times；　Dominic　felt　like　a　deity　on　high；　gazing　out　upon　his　universe。　He　ran　a　callused　palm　across　his　smooth；　newly　shaven　head；　the　skin　still　tingled　there　from　the　invigorating　lotions　Shando　used　when　she　massaged　his　scalp。
　His　daughter　Kailea　sat　in　a　suspensor　chair　and　watched　him。　He　approved　of　her　taking　an　interest　in　Ixian　business；　but　today　he　felt　too　troubled　to　spend　much　time　debating　with　her。　He　brushed　imaginary　crumbs　off　his　newly　laundered　sleeveless　tunic；　turned　about；　and　circled　his　quicksilver　desk　again。
　Kailea　continued　to　study　him；　offering　no　advice；　though　his　daughter　understood　the　problem　they　faced。
　Dominic　didn't　expect　old　〃Roody〃　to　roll　over　and　meekly　accept　the　loss　of　tax　revenues　caused　by　the　new　Ixian　Heighliner　design。　No；　the　Emperor　would　find　some　way　to　twist　a　simple　business　decision　into　a　personal　affront；　but　Dominic　had　no　idea　how　the　retaliation　would　e；　or　where　it　would　strike。　Elrood　had　always　been　unpredictable。
　〃You　just　have　to　stay　one　step　ahead　of　him；〃　Kailea　said。　〃You're　good　at　that。〃　She　thought　of　the　wily　way　her　father　had　stolen　the　Emperor's　concubine　right　out　from　under　his　nose。。。and　how　Elrood　had　never　forgotten　the　fact。　The　slightest　touch　of　resentment　darkened　her　words。　She　would　rather　have　grown　up　on　marvelous　Kaitain；　instead　of　here；　under　the　ground。
　〃I　can't　stay　ahead　of　him　if　I　don't　know　which　direction　he's　moving；〃　Dominic　replied。　The　Ixian　Earl　seemed　to　be　floating　upside　down；　with　the　solid　rock　ceiling　and　the　spires　of　the　Grand　Palais　above　his　head；　and　only　open　air　beneath　his　feet。

　Kailea　straightened　the　lace　on　her　gown；　adjusted　the　trim；　and　bent　as　she　studied　shipping　records　and　pared　manifests　again；　hoping　to　determine　a　better　pattern　for　distributing　Ixian　technology。　Dominic　didn't　expect　her　to　do　better　than　his　experts；　but　he　let　her　have　her　fun。　Her　idea　to　send　out　Ixian　self…learning　fighting　meks　to　a　few　black