bh.houseatreides-第129节

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　〃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；　causing　me　to　judge　them　less　kindly。〃
　Away　from　the　voice　pickup；　Leto　conferred　with　Rhombur　and　Kailea。　Reluctantly；　the　siblings　leaned　toward　acceptance。　〃At　least　we've　won　a　small　victory；　Leto；〃　Kailea　said　in　her　soft　voice。　〃We'll　have　our　lives；　and　our　personal　freedom　　if　not　our　heritage。　Besides；　living　here　with　you　is　not　so　terrible。　Like　Rhombur　always　says；　we　can　make　the　best　of　things。〃
　Rhombur　put　a　hand　on　his　sister's　shoulder。　〃If　that's　good　enough　for　Kailea；　it'll　be　good　enough　for　me。〃
　〃The　bargain　is　sealed　then；〃　Shaddam　said；　their　acceptance　had　been　sent　through　the　Guildlink　intermediaries。　〃The　official　papers　will　be　prepared。〃　Then　his　words　became　like　razors。　〃And　I　expect　never　to　hear　of　this　matter　again。〃
　Abruptly；　the　Emperor　ended　the　Guildlink；　and　the　two　separated　Navigators　broke　their　mental　contact。　Leto　drew　both　Rhombur　and　Kailea　into　a　hug；　knowing　that　at　last　they　both　were　safe。
　Only　fools　leave　witnesses。
　…HASIMIR　FENRING
　I　am　going　to　miss　Kaitain；〃　Fenring　said　in　an　odd；　somber　tone。　Within　the　day；　he　was　scheduled　to　report　to　Arrakis　as　Shaddam's　Imperial　Observer。　Exiled　into　the　desert！　But　Margot　had　told　him　to　see　the　opportunities。。。Fenring　was　good　at　that。　Could　the　Emperor　have　more　in　mind　than　simple　punishment？　Could　this　be　turned　into　a　powerful　position　after　all？
　Fenring　had　grown　up　at　the　side　of　Shaddam；　both　of　them　more　than　two　decades　younger　than　Fafnir；　the　former　heir　apparent　to　the　Golden　Lion　Throne。　With　an　elder　Crown　Prince　in　place　and　a　brood　of　daughters　by　his　various　wives；　Elrood　had　not　expected　much　from　the　junior　Prince；　and　on　the　quiet　suggestion　of　his　Bene　Gesserit　mother；　Fenring　had　been　allowed　to　attend　classes　with　him。
　Over　the　years　Fenring　had　made　himself　into　an　〃expediter；〃　a　person　willing　to　plete　necessary　tasks　for　his　friend　Shaddam；　no　matter　how　unpleasant　they　might　be　　including　the　murder　of　Fafnir。　The　panions　shared　many　dark　secrets；　too　many　for　them　to　split　up　now　without　serious　repercussions。。。and　both　men　knew　it。
　Shaddam　owes　me；　dammit！
　Given　time　to　reconsider；　the　new　Emperor　would　understand　that　he　couldn't　afford　to　have　Fenring　as　an　enemy；　or　even　as　a　disgruntled　Imperial　servant。　Before　long；　Shaddam　would　summon　him　back　from　Arrakis。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time。
　Somehow　he　would　find　a　way　to　turn　every　circumstance　to　his　advantage。
　Lady　Margot；　whom　he　had　married　in　a　simple　ceremony　three　days　earlier；　took　mand　of　the　subchamberlains　and　unattached　servants。　Issuing　orders　with　every　breath；　she　created　a　whirlwind　of　packing　and　shipping。　As　a　Bene　Gesserit　Sister；　she　had　few　needs　and　no　extravagant　tastes。　But　understanding　the　importance　of　trappings　and　public　appearances；　she　arranged　to　send　a　cargo　ship　full　of　amenities；　including　House　Corrino　clothing　and　furniture；　Imperial　tableware；　fine　tapestries；　and　linens。　Such　possessions　would　increase　her　husband's　standing　in　Arrakeen；　where　they　would　set　up　a　private　residence；　many　kilometers　from　the　Harkonnen　seat　of　power　in　Carthag。　This　show　of　independence　and　luxury　would　emphasize　to　the　Harkonnen　governors　and　their　functionaries　the　power　of　Shaddam　and　his　omnipresent　watchful　eyes。
　Smiling；　Fenring　watched　Margot　go　about　her　finishing　tasks。　She　was　a　flow　of　bright　colors　and　lovely　honey…blonde　hair；　encouraging　smiles；　and　sharp　words　for　anyone　who　moved　too　slowly。　What　a　magnificent　woman！　He　and　his　new　bride　kept　such　fascinating　secrets　from　each　other；　and　the　process　of　mutual　discovery　was　proving　most　enjoyable。
　By　nightfall　they　would　be　dispatched　to　the　desert　planet；　which　the　natives　called　Dune。
　LATER　IN　THE　day；　during　a　relaxed　hour　in　which　neither　the　Emperor　nor　his　lifelong　friend　would　utter　the　apologies　that　needed　to　be　said；　Fenring　sat　at　the　shield…ball　console；　waiting　for　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　IV　to　make　the　next　move。　They　sat　alone　in　a　plaz…walled　retiring　room　at　the　top　of　one　of　the　Palace　pinnacles。　Flitter…thopters　buzzed　by　in　the　distance；　higher　than　ribbon…festooned　kites　and　gleam…bubbles。
　Fenring　hummed　to　himself；　though　he　knew　Shaddam　hated　the　mannerism。　Finally；　the　new　Emperor　slid　a　rod　through　the　shimmering　shield　at　precisely　the　correct　speed　　not　too　fast　and　not　too　slow。　The　aimed　rod　engaged　a　spinning　interior　disk；　causing　the　black　ball　in　the　center　of　the　globe　to　float　into　the　air。　Focusing　hard；　Shaddam　yanked　the　rod　free；　and　the　ball　plunked　into　the　number　〃9〃　receptacle。
　〃You've　been　practicing；　Sire；　hm…m…m…m？〃　Fenring　said。　〃Doesn't　an　Emperor　have　more　pressing　duties？　But　you'll　need　to　do　better　than　that　to　beat　me。〃
　The　Emperor　stared　at　the　rod　he　had　just　used；　as　if　it　had　failed　him。
　〃You　want　to　change　sticks；　Sire？〃　Fenring　offered；　in　a　taunting　tone。　〃Something　wrong　with　that　one？〃
　Shaddam　shook　his　head　stubbornly。　〃I'll　stay　with　this　one；　Hasimir　　this　will　be　our　last　game　for　some　time。〃　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　flaring　his　nostrils。　〃I　told　you　I　could　handle　things　on　my　own。〃　He　fumbled　a　bit。　〃But　that　doesn't　mean　I　no　longer　value　your　advice。〃
　〃Naturally；　Sire。　That's　why　you　sent　me　to　a　dust　pit　populated　by　sandworms　and　unwashed　barbarians。〃　Dispassionately；　he　stared　past　the　shield…ball　at　Shaddam。　〃I　think　it's　a　grave　mistake；　Highness。　In　these　first　days　of　your　rule；　you　will　require　good；　objective　counsel　more　than　ever　before。　You　can't　handle　it　alone；　and　whom　can　you　trust　more　than　me？〃
　〃Well；　I　handled　the　Leto　Atreides　crisis　rather　well。　I　alone　avoided　disaster。〃
　Delaying　his　turn　at　the　shield…ball　station；　Fenring　said；　〃I　agree　the　result　was　favorable　　but　we　still　haven't　learned　what　he　knows　about　us　and　the　Tleilaxu。〃
　〃I　didn't　want　to　appear　overly　worried。〃
　〃Um…m…ah…m…m。　Maybe　you're　right；　but　if　you　solved　the　problem；　then　tell　me　this：　If　not　Leto；　who　really　did　fire　on　the　Tleilaxu　ships？　And　how？〃
　〃I'm　considering　alternatives。〃
　Fenring's　overlarge　eyes　flashed。　〃Leto　is　incredibly　popular　now；　perhaps　even　a　threat　to　your　throne　one　day。　Whether　he　engineered　the　crisis　or　not；　Duke　Atreides　has　turned　it　into　an　undeniable　victory　for　himself　and　the　honor　of　his　House。　He　overcame　an　insurmountable　obstacle　and　behaved　with　marvelous　grace。　The　members　of　the　Landsraad　notice　things　like　that。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　true；　true。。。but　nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　〃I'm　not　so　certain；　Sire。　The　discontent　among　the　Houses　might　not　have　dissipated　entirely；　as　we　were　led　to　believe。〃
　〃We　do　have　the　Bene　Gesserit　on　our　side；　thanks　to　my　wife。〃
　Fenring　sniffed。　〃Whom　you　married　at　my　suggestion；　Sire　　but　just　because　the　witches　say　a　thing；　does　not　make　it　true。　And　what　if　the　alliance　isn't　sufficient？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Shaddam　slid　back　from　the　game　station　and　impatiently　motioned　for　Fenring　to　take　his　turn。
　〃Think　about　Duke　Leto；　how　unpredictable　he　is。　Maybe　he's　setting　up　secret　military　alliances　for　an　assault　on　Kaitain。　His　tremendous　acclaim　translates　into　bargaining　power　for　him；　and　he's　obviously　ambitious。　Leaders　of　Great　Houses　are　eager　to　talk　with　him　now。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　have　no　such　popular　basis　of　support。〃
　〃I　have　my　Sardaukar。〃　But　creases　of　doubt　crept　into　the　Emperor's　face。
　〃Watch　your　legions　to　make　certain　they　aren't　infiltrated。　I'm　going　to　be　away　on　Arrakis；　and　I　worry　about　such　things。　I　know　you　said　you　could　handle　it　all　yourself；　and　I　believe　you。　I'm　just　giving　you　my　best　advice　　as　I　always　have；　Sire。〃
　〃I　appreciate　that；　Hasimir。　But　I　cannot　believe　my　cousin　Leto　created　the　Heighliner　crisis　in　order　to　achieve　this　particular　end。　It　was　too　clumsy；　too　risky。　He　couldn't　have　known　I'd　testify　for　him。〃
　〃He　knew　you'd　do　something；　once　you　learned　he　had　secret　information。〃
　Shaddam　shook　his　head。　〃No。　The　potential　for　failure　was　enormous。　He　nearly　lost　his　family's　entire　holdings。〃
　Fenring　held　out　a　long　finger。　〃But　consider　the　potential　glory　he　reaped；　hm…m…m…m？　For　proof；　just　look　at　what　has　happened　to　him　in　the　meantime。　I　doubt　he　could　have　planned　it　this　way；　but　Leto's　a　hero　now。　His　people　love　him；　all　the　nobles　admire　him　　and　the　Tleilaxu　have　been　made　to　look　like　whining　fools。　I'd　suggest；　Sire　　since　you　insist　on　doing　this　alone　　that　you　keep　a　careful　eye　on　the　ambitions　of　House　Atreides。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　your　advice；　Hasimir；〃　Shaddam　said；　turning　back　to　study　the　game　console。　〃Oh；　by　the　way；　did　I　mention　that　I'm。。。promoting　you？〃
　Fenring　gave　a　quiet　snort。　〃I　wouldn't　exactly　call　the　Arrakis　assignment　a　promotion。　'Imperial　Observer'　doesn't　sound　terribly　exalted；　does　it？〃
　Shaddam　smiled　and　raised　his　chin　in　a　very　Imperial　gesture。　He　had　intended　to　do　this　all　along。　〃Ah；　yes。。。but　how　does　Count　Fenring　sound？〃
　Fenring　was　taken　aback。　〃You're。。。making　me　a　Count？〃
　Shaddam　nodded。　〃Count　Hasimir　Fenring；　Imperial　Observer　assigned　to