bh.houseatreides-µÚ128½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
e¡¡free¡¡time¡¡for¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡¡¡that¡¡they¡¡make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡and¡¡untried¡¡method¡¡being¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Spacing¡¡Guild£»¡¡an¡¡instantaneous¡¡process¡¡called¡¡Guildlink¡£¡¡It¡¡involved¡¡the¡¡mental¡¡connection¡¡of¡¡two¡¡Guild¡¡Navigators¡¡positioned¡¡in¡¡separate¡¡star¡¡systems£»¡¡a¡¡Heighliner¡¡in¡¡orbit¡¡around¡¡Caladan¡¡and¡¡another¡¡over¡¡Kaitain¡¡could¡¡theoretically¡¡arrange¡¡a¡¡conversation¡¡involving¡¡Duke¡¡Leto¡¡Atreides¡¡and¡¡Emperor¡¡Shaddam¡¡IV
¡¡¡¨At¡¡last¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡my¡¡piece£»¡¨¡¡Leto¡¡said£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡before¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡this¡¡munication¡¡method¡£¡¡Shaddam¡¡seemed¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡try¡¡it¡¡for¡¡his¡¡own¡¡purposes£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡way¡¡no¡¡one¡¡would¡¡see¡¡him¡¡actually¡¡meeting¡¡with¡¡Duke¡¡Leto¡¡Atreides¡£
¡¡Kailea's¡¡emerald¡¡eyes¡¡lit¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡even¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡distasteful¡¡bull's¡head¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡hall¡£¡¡She¡¡went¡¡to¡¡change¡¡her¡¡dress¡¡into¡¡proud¡¡Vernius¡¡colors£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡likely¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡transmission¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Rhombur¡¡came¡¡at¡¡the¡¡appointed¡¡hour£»¡¡acpanied¡¡by¡¡Thufir¡¡Hawat¡£¡¡Leto¡¡sent¡¡all¡¡the¡¡other¡¡retainers£»¡¡guards£»¡¡and¡¡household¡¡staff¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£
¡¡The¡¡Heighliner¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡original¡¡Courier¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡geostationary¡¡orbit¡¡over¡¡Caladan£»¡¡another¡¡already¡¡waited¡¡over¡¡Kaitain¡£¡¡The¡¡sophisticated¡¡Guild¡¡Steersmen¡¡aboard¡¡each¡¡ship¡¡¡¡separated¡¡from¡¡one¡¡another¡¡by¡¡vast¡¡distances¡¡¡¡would¡¡use¡¡an¡¡unfathomable¡¡procedure¡¡that¡¡allowed¡¡them¡¡to¡¡stretch¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡across¡¡the¡¡void£»¡¡joining¡¡thoughts¡¡to¡¡form¡¡a¡¡connection¡£¡¡The¡¡Guild¡¡had¡¡tested¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡their¡¡Navigators¡¡before¡¡finding¡¡two¡¡that¡¡could¡¡establish¡¡a¡¡tentative¡¡direct¡¡link¡¡¡¡through¡¡telepathy£»¡¡melange¡fostered¡¡prescience£»¡¡or¡¡some¡¡other¡¡method£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡determined¡£
¡¡Leto¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath£»¡¡wishing¡¡he¡¡had¡¡more¡¡time¡¡to¡¡practice¡¡his¡¡words£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡waited¡¡far¡¡too¡¡long¡£¡¡He¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡request¡¡another¡¡delay¡£¡£¡£¡£
¡¡From¡¡a¡¡magnificent¡¡hedge¡lined¡¡arboretum¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Palace£»¡¡Shaddam¡¡spoke¡¡into¡¡a¡¡tiny¡¡microphone¡¡on¡¡his¡¡chin£»¡¡which¡¡transmitted¡¡to¡¡speakers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡navigation¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Heighliner¡¡over¡¡his¡¡planet¡£¡¡¡¨Can¡¡you¡¡hear¡¡me£»¡¡Leto¡¡Atreides£¿¡¡It's¡¡a¡¡sunny¡¡morning¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡I've¡¡just¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡my¡¡morning¡¡walk¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡took¡¡a¡¡sip¡¡from¡¡a¡¡goblet¡¡of¡¡syrupy¡¡juice¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡Emperor's¡¡words¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡navigation¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡orbiting¡¡Kaitain£»¡¡the¡¡Steersman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Heighliner¡¡over¡¡Caladan¡¡experienced¡¡them¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡echo¡¡of¡¡what¡¡his¡¡patriot¡¡had¡¡heard¡£¡¡Breaking¡¡the¡¡link¡¡temporarily£»¡¡the¡¡Steersman¡¡over¡¡Caladan¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡Emperor's¡¡words¡¡into¡¡the¡¡glittering¡¡speaker¡¡globe¡¡that¡¡floated¡¡within¡¡his¡¡spice¡filled¡¡chamber¡£¡¡In¡¡turn£»¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡echoing¡¡dining¡¡hall¡¡of¡¡Castle¡¡Caladan£»¡¡Leto¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡words¡¡over¡¡his¡¡own¡¡speaker¡¡system£»¡¡distorted¡¡and¡¡slow£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡nuances¡¡of¡¡emotion¡£¡¡But¡¡still£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Emperor's¡¡own¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¨I've¡¡always¡¡preferred¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡sun¡¡of¡¡Caladan£»¡¡Cousin£»¡¨¡¡Leto¡¡responded£»¡¡using¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡form¡¡of¡¡address£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡on¡¡friendly¡¡terms¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡should¡¡visit¡¡our¡¡humble¡¡world¡¡someday¡£¡¨
¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡Leto¡¡said¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡Navigator¡¡above¡¡Caladan¡¡was¡¡again¡¡in¡¡Guildlink¡¡with¡¡his¡¡associate£»¡¡and¡¡Leto's¡¡words¡¡were¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡ship£»¡¡then¡¡transmitted¡¡down¡¡to¡¡Kaitain¡£
¡¡¡¨This¡¡new¡¡munication¡¡is¡¡marvelous£»¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡said£»¡¡avoiding¡¡the¡¡meat¡¡of¡¡Leto's¡¡request¡£¡¡He¡¡did£»¡¡however£»¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡be¡¡enjoying¡¡the¡¡possibilities¡¡of¡¡Guildlink£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡new¡¡toy¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Much¡¡faster¡¡than¡¡human¡¡messengers£»¡¡though¡¡it'll¡¡likely¡¡be¡¡prohibitively¡¡expensive¡£¡¡Ah¡¡yes£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡here¡¡the¡¡makings¡¡of¡¡another¡¡monopoly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Guild¡£¡¡Hopefully¡¡they¡¡won't¡¡charge¡¡too¡¡much¡¡for¡¡urgent¡¡messages¡£¡¨
¡¡Receiving¡¡the¡¡words¡¡in¡¡his¡¡dining¡¡hall£»¡¡Leto¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡that¡¡message¡¡was¡¡for¡¡his¡¡benefit£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Guild¡¡eavesdroppers¡£
¡¡Shaddam¡¡coughed¡¡uneasily£»¡¡sounds¡¡that¡¡were¡¡not¡¡repeated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡translation¡¡process¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡are¡¡so¡¡many¡¡important¡¡issues¡¡on¡¡Imperial¡¡planets£»¡¡and¡¡such¡¡a¡¡shortage¡¡of¡¡time¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡address¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡too¡¡little¡¡time¡¡for¡¡friendships¡¡I'd¡¡like¡¡to¡¡nurture£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡yours£»¡¡Cousin¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡it¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡me¡¡about£¿¡¨
¡¡Leto¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡breath£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hawklike¡¡features¡¡on¡¡his¡¡narrow¡¡face¡¡darkened¡£¡¡¡¨Exalted¡¡Emperor¡¡Shaddam£»¡¡we¡¡beseech¡¡you¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡amnesty¡¡to¡¡House¡¡Vernius¡¡and¡¡restore¡¡them¡¡to¡¡their¡¡rightful¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Landsraad¡£¡¡The¡¡world¡¡of¡¡Ix¡¡is¡¡economically¡¡vital¡¡and¡¡must¡¡not¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tleilaxu¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡already¡¡destroyed¡¡important¡¡manufacturing¡¡facilities¡¡and¡¡have¡¡curtailed¡¡products¡¡vital¡¡to¡¡the¡¡security¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Imperium¡£¡¨¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡with¡¡just¡¡another¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bluff£»¡¡¡¨We¡¡both¡¡know¡¡what¡¡is¡¡really¡¡going¡¡on¡¡there£»¡¡even¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡connection¡¡again£»¡¡Leto¡¡thought¡£¡¡Let's¡¡see¡¡if¡¡I¡¡can¡¡make¡¡him¡¡believe¡¡I¡¡know¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡really¡¡do¡£¡¡Standing¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡Prince¡¡Rhombur¡¡fixed¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wary¡¡gaze¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡cannot¡¡discuss¡¡such¡¡matters¡¡through¡¡intermediaries£»¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡said¡¡quickly¡£
¡¡Leto's¡¡eyes¡¡widened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡possible¡¡mistake¡¡Shaddam¡¡had¡¡just¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡suggesting¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Guild¡¡can't¡¡be¡¡trusted£»¡¡Sire£¿¡¡They¡¡haul¡¡armies¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Imperium¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Houses£»¡¡they¡¡know¡¡or¡¡suspect¡¡battle¡¡plans¡¡before¡¡they¡¡are¡¡implemented¡£¡¡This¡¡Guildlink¡¡is¡¡even¡¡more¡¡secure¡¡than¡¡a¡¡face¡to¡face¡¡discussion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡audience¡¡chamber¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨But¡¡we¡¡haven't¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡merits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡protested£»¡¡clearly¡¡stalling¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡popularity¡¡and¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡Duke¡¡Leto¡¡Atreides¡£¡¡Did¡¡this¡¡upstart¡¡have¡¡connections¡¡that¡¡extended¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Spacing¡¡Guild£¿¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡his¡¡empty¡¡gardens£»¡¡wishing¡¡Fenring¡¡were¡¡with¡¡him¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡ferretlike¡¡man¡¡was¡¡preparing¡¡for¡¡his¡¡journey¡¡to¡¡Arrakis¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mistake¡¡to¡¡save¡¡Leto¡¡after¡¡all¡£
¡¡Keeping¡¡his¡¡phraseology¡¡lean¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point£»¡¡Leto¡¡presented¡¡the¡¡noble¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ixians£»¡¡asserting¡¡that¡¡House¡¡Vernius¡¡had¡¡never¡¡manufactured¡¡forbidden¡¡technology¡£¡¡Despite¡¡their¡¡promises£»¡¡the¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡no¡¡case¡¡and¡¡no¡¡evidence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡governing¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Landsraad£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡instead¡¡taken¡¡matters¡¡into¡¡their¡¡own¡¡hands¡¡in¡¡their¡¡greed¡¡to¡¡acquire¡¡the¡¡riches¡¡of¡¡Ix¡£¡¡Based¡¡upon¡¡conversations¡¡he'd¡¡had¡¡with¡¡Rhombur£»¡¡Leto¡¡provided¡¡a¡¡value¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fief¡¡and¡¡how¡¡much¡¡damage¡¡the¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡had¡¡caused¡£
¡¡¡¨That¡¡sounds¡¡excessive£»¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡said£»¡¡too¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¨Reports¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Bene¡¡Tleilax¡¡indicate¡¡a¡¡much¡¡lower¡¡figure¡£¡¨
¡¡He's¡¡been¡¡there¡¡himself£»¡¡Leto¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡concealing¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡the¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡would¡¡try¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡a¡¡low¡¡number£»¡¡Sire£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡reparations£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡are¡¡ever¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡Leto¡¡went¡¡on¡¡to¡¡estimate¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡Ixian¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡mented¡¡on¡¡Elrood's¡¡unwarranted¡¡blood¡¡price¡¡for¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lady¡¡Shando¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡emotion¡filled¡¡voice£»¡¡he¡¡conjectured¡¡about¡¡the¡¡desperate¡¡plight¡¡of¡¡Earl¡¡Vernius£»¡¡who¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡hiding¡¡on¡¡some¡¡unknown£»¡¡distant¡¡world¡£
¡¡During¡¡an¡¡extended¡¡pause¡¡on¡¡his¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conversation£»¡¡Shaddam¡¡seethed¡£¡¡He¡¡desperately¡¡wondered¡¡how¡¡much¡¡this¡¡brash¡¡Duke¡¡truly¡¡knew¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡matter¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hints£»¡¡nuances¡£¡£¡£but¡¡was¡¡he¡¡bluffing£¿¡¡As¡¡new¡¡Emperor£»¡¡Shaddam¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡quickly£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡under¡¡control¡¡¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡never¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡House¡¡Vernius¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡its¡¡ancestral¡¡home¡£¡¡The¡¡Tleilaxu¡¡synthetic¡spice¡¡research¡¡was¡¡vital¡¡and¡¡not¡¡easily¡¡moved¡£¡¡The¡¡Vernius¡¡family¡¡was¡¡an¡¡unfortunate¡¡casualty¡¡¡¡Shaddam¡¡didn't¡¡care¡¡about¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡stung¡¡pride¡¡or¡¡petty¡¡revenge¡¡¡¡but¡¡those¡¡people¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡rescued¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡happened¡£
¡¡Finally¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡cleared¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡best¡¡we¡¡can¡¡offer¡¡is¡¡limited¡¡amnesty¡£¡¡Since¡¡Rhombur¡¡and¡¡Kailea¡¡Vernius¡¡are¡¡in¡¡your¡¡personal¡¡care£»¡¡Duke¡¡Leto£»¡¡we¡¡grant¡¡them¡¡our¡¡full¡¡protection¡¡and¡¡pardon¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡day¡¡forth¡¡there¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡no¡¡price¡¡on¡¡their¡¡heads¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡absolved¡¡of¡¡any¡¡wrongdoing¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡my¡¡guarantee¡¡on¡¡this¡£¡¨
¡¡Seeing¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡disbelieving¡¡exultation¡¡on¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡exiled¡¡Ixians£»¡¡Leto¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Sire£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡about¡¡reparations¡¡to¡¡the¡¡family¡¡fortunes£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡¡reparations£¡¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡much¡¡sterner¡¡tone¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Guildsman¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡duplicate¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡no¡¡restoration¡¡of¡¡House¡¡Vernius¡¡to¡¡its¡¡position¡¡on¡¡Xuttah£»¡¡formerly¡¡Ix¡£¡¡Ah£»¡¡yes¡£¡¡The¡¡Bene¡¡Tleilax¡¡have¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡presented¡¡extensive£»¡¡conclusive¡¡documentation¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡satisfied¡¡as¡¡to¡¡its¡¡veracity¡£¡¡For¡¡reasons¡¡of¡¡Imperial¡¡security¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡divulge¡¡details¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡taxed¡¡my¡¡patience¡¡enough¡£¡¨
¡¡Irritated£»¡¡Leto¡¡growled£»¡¡¡¨Any¡¡evidence¡¡that¡¡is¡¡denied¡¡scrutiny¡¡is¡¡no¡¡evidence¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡Sire¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡be¡¡presented¡¡before¡¡a¡¡court¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡about¡¡my¡¡father¡¡and¡¡other¡¡surviving¡¡members¡¡of¡¡House¡¡Vernius£¿¡¨¡¡Rhombur¡¡said¡¡into¡¡the¡¡microphone¡¡Leto¡¡had¡¡been¡¡using¡£¡¡¡¨Can¡¡he¡¡have¡¡your¡¡amnesty¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡wherever¡¡he¡¡is£¿¡¡He's¡¡not¡¡hurting¡¡anybody¡£¡¨
¡¡Shaddam's¡¡response£»¡¡directed¡¡at¡¡Leto£»¡¡was¡¡swift¡¡and¡¡stinging£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡bite¡¡of¡¡a¡¡venomous¡¡serpent¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡lenient¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¡Cousin¡¡¡¡but¡¡I¡¡caution¡¡you¡¡not¡¡to¡¡press¡¡your¡¡luck¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡weren't¡¡so¡¡favorably¡¡inclined¡¡toward¡¡you£»¡¡personally£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡mitted¡¡myself¡¡by¡¡testifying¡¡on¡¡your¡¡behalf£»¡¡nor¡¡would¡¡I¡¡have¡¡granted¡¡this¡¡impromptu¡¡audience¡¡today¡¡¡¡or¡¡the¡¡concessions¡¡for¡¡your¡¡friends¡£¡¡Amnesty¡¡for¡¡the¡¡two¡¡children£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¡Hearing¡¡the¡¡harsh¡¡relayed¡¡words£»¡¡Leto¡¡reeled£»¡¡but¡¡maintained¡¡his¡¡posure¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡push¡¡Shaddam¡¡further¡£
¡¡¡¨We¡¡suggest¡¡you¡¡accept¡¡these¡¡terms¡¡while¡¡we¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mood¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡Shaddam¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨At¡¡any¡¡moment¡¡additional¡¡evidence¡¡could¡¡be¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡me¡¡against¡¡House¡¡Vernius£»¡¡causin