bh.houseatreides-第16节

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　From　the　reactions　of　the　spectators；　Leto　knew　this　would　be　an　event　talked　about　for　years。　The　rice　farmers　and　fishermen　led　such　dreary；　hardworking　lives。　But　this　celebration　would　fix　a　proud　image　of　their　Duke　forever　in　their　minds。　Look　what　Old　Paulus　was　doing；　they　would　say；　despite　his　age！
　Eventually　the　bull　became　exhausted；　its　eyes　reddened　with　blood；　its　snorts　heavy　and　tired　as　it　spilled　its　life　fluid　onto　the　powdery　surface　of　the　arena。　Duke　Paulus　himself　now　chose　to　end　the　fight。　He　had　dragged　the　sport　along　for　nearly　an　hour。　Though　dripping　with　sweat；　he　somehow　maintained　his　regal　appearance　and　did　not　allow　his　manner　to　show　weariness；　or　his　fine　clothes　to　be　disheveled。
　Up　in　the　stands；　Lady　Helena　continued　to　wave　her　pennants；　smiling　fixedly　down　at　the　spectacle。
　By　now；　the　Salusan　bull　was　like　a　maddened　machine；　a　rampaging　monster　that　had　few　vulnerable　spots　in　its　black…scaled　armor。　As　the　beast　ran　at　him　again；　its　gait　staggering；　its　gleaming　horns　pointed　like　spears；　Duke　Paulus　feinted　to　the　left；　then　returned　as　the　bull　surged　past。
　Then　Paulus　swung　sideways；　tossed　his　flapping　cape　to　the　dust；　and　gripped　the　shaft　of　his　vara　lance　in　both　hands。　He　threw　all　of　his　strength　into　a　powerful　side　thrust。　Flawlessly　performed；　magnificently　executed。　The　blade　of　the　lance　drove　home　through　a　chink　in　the　Salusan　bull's　armored　hide；　sliding　through　an　intersection　of　bone　and　skull；　skewering　straight　through　to　impale　both　of　the　creature's　separated　brains　　the　most　difficult；　most　sophisticated　way　to　kill　it。
　The　bull　ground　to　a　halt；　wheezing；　groaning　　and　suddenly　dead。　Its　carcass　slumped　like　a　crashing　spaceship　onto　the　ground。
　Planting　his　foot　on　the　horned　head　of　the　bull；　Duke　Paulus　heaved　against　his　lance；　pulled　the　bloodied　blade　out；　and　dropped　it　onto　the　ash…covered　ground。　Next　he　drew　his　sword　and；　raising　it　high；　twirled　it　in　a　triumphant　gesture。
　As　one；　the　people　in　the　stands　surged　to　their　feet；　screaming；　howling；　and　cheering。　They　waved　their　banners；　snatched　bouquets　from　flowerpots；　and　tossed　the　blossoms　onto　the　arena　floor。　They　sang　out　Paulus's　name　over　and　over。
　Reveling　in　the　adoration；　the　Atreides　patriarch　smiled　and　turned　about；　opening　his　coat　so　that　the　spectators　could　see　his　blood…spattered；　sweat…drenched　form。　He　was　the　hero　now；　he　had　no　need　to　show　off　his　finery。
　After　the　throbbing　cheers　had　died　down；　many　minutes　later；　the　Duke　raised　his　sword　again　and　struck　downward；　hacking　repeatedly　until　he　had　severed　the　head　of　the　bull。　Finally；　he　plunged　the　bloody　sword　into　the　soft　ground　of　the　plaza　and　used　both　hands　to　grasp　the　horns　of　the　bull　and　lift　its　head　high。
　〃Leto！〃　he　shouted　over　his　shoulder；　his　voice　booming　into　the　acoustics　of　the　Plaza　de　Toros。　〃Leto；　my　son；　e　out　here！〃
　Leto；　still　in　the　shadows　of　the　archway；　hesitated　a　moment；　then　marched　forth。　He　held　his　head　high　as　he　crossed　the　hoof…trampled　dirt　to　stand　at　his　father's　side。　The　crowd　cheered　with　renewed　enthusiasm。
　Old　Duke　Paulus　turned　and　presented　his　son　with　the　bloodied　head　of　his　kill。　〃I　give　you　Leto　Atreides！〃　he　announced　to　the　audience　while　pointing　at　his　son。　〃Your　future　Duke！〃
　The　crowd　continued　to　applaud　and　shout　hurrahs。　Leto　grasped　one　of　the　bull's　horns；　he　and　his　father　stood　together　holding　the　defeated　beast's　head　high；　the　trophy　oozing　thick　red　drops　onto　the　sand。
　As　Leto　heard　the　people　echo　his　name；　he　felt　deep　stirrings　within；　and　wondered　for　the　first　time　if　this　was　truly　what　it　felt　like　to　be　a　leader　of　men。
　N'kee：　Slow…acting　poison　that　builds　up　in　the　adrenal　glands；　one　of　the　most　insidious　toxins　permitted　under　the　accords　of　Guild　Peace　and　the　restrictions　of　the　Great　Convention。　（See　War　of　Assassins。）
　…The　Assassins'　Handbook
　Mmmm；　the　Emperor　will　never　die；　you　know；　Shaddam。〃　A　small　man　with　oversize　dark　eyes　and　a　weasel　face；　Hasimir　Fenring；　sat　opposite　the　shield…ball　console　from　his　visitor；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam。　〃At　least　not　while　you're　young　enough　to　enjoy　the　throne。〃
　With　a　sharp；　darting　gaze　Fenring　watched　the　black　shield…ball　e　to　rest　on　a　low…scoring　point。　pleting　his　turn　at　the　game；　the　heir　to　the　Imperium　clearly　wasn't　happy　about　the　result。　They　had　been　close　panions　for　most　of　their　lives；　and　Fenring　knew　exactly　how　to　distract　him　at　the　right　moment。
　From　the　game　room　of　Fenring's　luxurious　penthouse；　Shaddam　could　see　the　lights　of　his　father's　Imperial　Palace　glittering　on　the　gentle　hillside　a　kilometer　away。　With　Fenring's　aid　he　had　disposed　of　his　older　brother　Fafnir　years　and　years　ago；　and　still　the　Golden　Lion　Throne　seemed　no　closer。
　Shaddam　went　over　to　the　balcony　and　drew　a　long；　deep　breath。
　He　was　a　strong…featured　man　in　his　mid…thirties；　with　a　firm　chin　and　aquiline　nose；　his　reddish　hair　was　cut　short　and　oiled　and　styled　into　a　perfect　helmet。　In　an　odd　way；　he　looked　similar　to　the　century…old　busts　of　his　father　sculpted　during　the　early　decades　of　Elrood's　reign。
　It　was　early　evening；　and　two　of　Kaitain's　four　moons　hung　low　in　the　sky　beyond　the　gigantic　Imperial　building。　Illuminated　gliders　rode　the　calm　skies　of　dusk；　chased　by　flocks　of　songbirds。　Sometimes；　Shaddam　just　needed　to　get　away　from　the　sprawling　Palace。
　〃A　hundred　and　thirty…six　years　as　Padishah　Emperor；〃　Fenring　continued　in　his　nasal　voice。　〃And　old　Elrood's　father　ruled　for　more　than　a　century　himself。　Think　about　it；　hmm…m…m…ah？　Your　father　took　the　throne　when　he　was　only　nineteen；　and　you're　almost　twice　that　age。〃　The　narrow…faced　man　looked　with　huge　eyes　at　his　friend。　〃Doesn't　that　bother　you？〃
　Shaddam　didn't　respond；　stared　at　the　skyline；　knowing　he　should　return　to　the　game。。。but　he　and　his　friend　had　bigger　games　to　play。
　After　his　long　years　of　close　association　Fenring　knew　that　the　Imperial　heir　could　not　deal　with　plex　problems　when　other　amusements　distracted　him。　Very　well；　then；　I　will　end　this　diversion。
　〃My　turn；〃　he　said。　Fenring　lifted　a　rod　on　his　side　of　the　shimmering　shield　globe　and　dipped　it　through　the　shield　to　engage　a　spinning　interior　disk。　This　in　turn　caused　a　black　ball　in　the　center　of　the　globe　to　levitate　into　the　air。　With　expert　timing；　Fenring　withdrew　the　rod；　and　the　ball　dropped　into　the　center　of　an　oval　receptacle　bearing　the　highest　mark。
　〃Damn　you；　Hasimir；　another　perfect　game　for　you；〃　Shaddam　said；　returning　from　the　balcony。　〃When　I'm　Emperor；　though；　will　you　be　wise　enough　to　lose　to　me？〃
　Fenring's　oversize　eyes　were　alert　and　feral。　A　genetic…eunuch；　incapable　of　fathering　children　because　of　his　congenital　deformities；　he　was　still　one　of　the　deadliest　fighters　in　the　Imperium；　so　single…mindedly　ferocious　that　he　was　more　than　a　match　for　any　Sardaukar。
　〃When　you're　Emperor？〃　Fenring　and　the　Crown　Prince　held　so　many　deadly　secrets　between　them　that　neither　could　imagine　keeping　knowledge　from　the　other。　〃Shaddam；　are　you　listening　to　what　I'm　telling　you；　hmmm？〃　He　gave　an　annoyed　sigh。　〃You're　thirty…four　years　old；　sitting　on　your　hands　and　waiting　for　your　life　to　begin　　your　birthright。　Elrood　could　last　another　three　decades；　at　least。　He's　a　tough　old　Burseg；　and　the　way　he　gulps　spice　beer；　he　might　outlive　both　of　us。〃
　〃So　why　even　talk　about　it？〃　Shaddam　toyed　with　the　shield…ball　controls；　clearly　wanting　to　play　another　round。　〃I've　got　what　I　need　here。〃
　〃You'd　rather　play　games　until　you're　an　old　man？　I　thought　you　had　better　things　in　store　for　you；　hm…m…m…m…ah？　The　destiny　of　your　Corrino　blood。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　And　if　I　don't　achieve　my　destiny；〃　Shaddam　said　in　a　bitter　tone；　〃where　does　that　leave　you？〃
　〃I'll　do　fine；　thank　you。〃　Fenring's　mother　had　been　trained　as　a　Bene　Gesserit　before　entering　Imperial　service　as　lady…in…waiting　to　Elrood's　fourth　wife；　she　had　raised　him　well；　preparing　him　for　great　things。
　But　Hasimir　Fenring　was　disgusted　with　his　friend。　At　one　time；　in　his　late　teens；　Shaddam　had　been　much　more　ambitious　to　claim　the　Imperial　throne；　even　to　the　point　of　encouraging　Fenring　to　poison　the　Emperor's　eldest　son；　Fafnir；　who　had　been　forty…six　and　eagerly　awaiting　the　crown　himself。
　Now　Fafnir　was　dead　for　fifteen　years；　and　still　the　old　vulture　showed　no　signs　of　ever　dying。　At　the　very　least；　Elrood　should　abdicate　with　good　grace。　Meanwhile；　Shaddam　had　lost　his　drive；　and　instead　occupied　his　time　enjoying　the　pleasures　of　his　station。　Being　Crown　Prince　posed　few　hardships　in　life。　But　Fenring　wanted　much　more　　for　his　friend；　and　for　himself。
　Shaddam　glowered　at　the　other　man。　The　Crown　Prince's　mother；　Habla；　had　cast　him　aside　as　an　infant　　her　only　child　by　Elrood　　and　let　her　lady…in…waiting；　Chaola　Fenring；　serve　as　wet　nurse。　From　boyhood；　Shaddam　and　Hasimir　had　talked　about　what　they　would　do　when　he　ascended　to　the　Golden　Lion　Throne。　Padishah　Emperor　Shaddam　IV。
　But　for　Shaddam　such　conversations　no　longer　held　their　childhood　magic。　Too　many　years　of　reality　had　settled　in；　too　much　waiting　to　no　purpose。　His　grip　on　hope　and　his　enthusiasm　for　the　job　had　faded