bh.houseatreides-第26节

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th　black　robes　swishing；　flanked　by　two　immaculately　dressed　male　guards　and　followed　by　her　troop　of　acolytes；　she　strode　into　the　reception　hall　of　the　ancestral　Harkonnen　Keep。
　Seated　at　a　gleaming　blackplaz　desk；　the　Baron　waited　to　receive　her；　acpanied　by　his　twisted　Mentat；　who　stood　on　one　side　with　a　few　handpicked　personal　guards。　To　exhibit　his　utter　contempt　and　lack　of　interest　for　these　visitors；　the　Baron　wore　a　sloppy；　casual　robe。　He　had　prepared　no　refreshments　for　them；　no　fanfare；　no　ceremony　whatsoever。
　Very　well；　Mohiam　thought；　perhaps　it's　best　we　keep　this　encounter　a　private　matter　anyway。
　In　a　strong；　firm　voice　she　identified　herself；　then　took　one　step　closer　to　him；　leaving　her　entourage　behind。　She　had　a　plain　face　that　showed　strength　rather　than　delicacy　　not　ugly；　but　not　attractive　either。　In　profile　her　nose；　while　unremarkable　from　the　front；　was　revealed　to　be　overlong。　〃Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen；　my　Sisterhood　has　business　to　discuss　with　you。〃
　〃I'm　not　interested　in　doing　business　with　witches；〃　the　Baron　said；　resting　his　strong　chin　on　his　knuckles。　His　spider…black　eyes　looked　the　assemblage　over；　assessing　the　physiques　and　physical　appearance　of　her　male　guards。　The　fingers　of　his　free　hand　tapped　a　nervous　rhythm　against　his　thigh。
　〃Nevertheless；　you　will　hear　what　I　have　to　say。〃　Her　voice　was　iron。
　Seeing　the　blustering　rage　building　within　the　Baron；　Piter　de　Vries　stepped　forward。　〃Need　I　remind　you；　Reverend　Mother；　where　you　are？　We　did　not　invite　you　to　e　here。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　should　remind　you；〃　she　snapped　at　the　Mentat；　〃that　we　are　capable　of　running　a　detailed　analysis　of　all　Harkonnen　spice…production　activities　on　Arrakis　　the　equipment　used；　the　manpower　expended；　pared　with　spice　production　actually　reported　to　CHOAM；　as　opposed　to　our　own　precise　projections。　Any　anomalies　should　be　quite。。。revealing。〃　She　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃We've　already　done　a　preliminary　study；　based　upon　firsthand　reports　from　our〃　　she　smiled　　〃sources。〃
　〃You　mean　spies；〃　the　Baron　said；　indignantly。
　She　could　see　that　he　regretted　these　words　as　soon　as　they　were　uttered；　for　they　hinted　at　his　culpability。
　The　Baron　stood　up；　flexing　his　arm　muscles；　but　before　he　could　counter　Mohiam's　innuendo；　de　Vries　interjected；　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　best　if　we　made　this　a　private　meeting；　just　between　the　Reverend　Mother　and　the　Baron？　There's　no　need　to　turn　a　simple　conversation　into　a　grand　spectacle。。。and　matter　of　record。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Mohiam　said　quickly；　assessing　the　twisted　Mentat　with　a　glint　of　approval。　〃Why　don't　we　adjourn　to　your　chambers；　Baron？〃
　He　pouted；　his　generous　lips　forming　a　dark　rose。　〃And　why　should　I　take　a　Bene　Gesserit　witch　into　my　private　quarters？〃
　〃Because　you　have　no　choice；〃　she　said　in　a　low；　hard　voice。
　In　shock；　the　Baron　mused　at　her　audacity；　but　then　he　laughed　out　loud。　〃Why　not？　We　can't　get　any　less　pretentious　than　that。〃
　De　Vries　watched　them　both　with　narrowed　eyes。　He　was　reconsidering　his　suggestion；　running　data　through　his　brain；　figuring　probabilities。　The　witch　had　jumped　too　quickly　at　the　idea。　She　wanted　to　be　alone　with　the　Baron。　Why？　What　did　she　have　to　do　in　private？
　〃Allow　me　to　acpany　you；　my　Baron；〃　de　Vries　said；　already　strutting　toward　the　door　that　would　take　them　through　halls　and　suspensor　tubes　to　the　Baron's　private　suite。
　〃This　matter　is　best　kept　between　the　Baron　and　myself；〃　Mohiam　said。
　Baron　Harkonnen　stiffened。　〃You　don't　mand　my　people；　witch；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　menacing　tone。
　〃Your　instructions　then？〃　she　asked；　insolently。
　A　moment's　hesitation；　and：　〃I　grant　your　request　for　a　private　audience。〃
　She　tipped　her　head　in　the　slightest　of　bows；　then　glanced　behind　her　at　her　acolytes　and　guards。　De　Vries　caught　a　flicker　of　her　fingers；　some　sort　of　witch　hand　signal。
　Her　birdlike　eyes　locked　on　to　his；　and　de　Vries　drew　himself　up　as　she　said；　〃There　is　one　thing　you　can　do；　Mentat。　Be　so　kind　as　to　make　certain　my　panions　are　weled　and　fed；　since　we　won't　have　time　to　stay　for　pleasantries。　We　must　return　posthaste　to　Wallach　IX。〃
　〃Do　it；〃　Baron　Harkonnen　said。
　With　a　look　of　dismissal　toward　de　Vries；　as　if　he　were　the　lowest　servant　in　the　Imperium；　she　followed　the　Baron　out　of　the　hall　。。。。
　Upon　entering　his　chambers；　the　Baron　was　pleased　to　note　that　he　had　left　his　soiled　clothes　in　a　pile。　Furniture　lay　in　disarray；　and　a　few　red　stains　on　the　wall　had　not　been　sufficiently　scrubbed。　He　wanted　to　emphasize　that　the　witch　did　not　deserve　fine　treatment　or　a　particularly　well…planned　wele。
　Placing　his　hands　on　his　narrow　hips；　he　squared　his　shoulders　and　raised　his　firm　chin。　〃All　right；　Reverend　Mother；　tell　me　what　it　is　you　want。　I　have　no　time　for　further　word　games。〃
　Mohiam　released　a　small　smile。　〃Word　games？〃　She　knew　that　House　Harkonnen　understood　the　nuances　of　politics。。。perhaps　not　the　kindhearted　Abulurd；　but　certainly　the　Baron　and　his　advisors。　〃Very　well；　Baron；〃　she　said　simply。　〃The　Sisterhood　has　a　use　for　your　genetic　line。〃
　She　paused；　relishing　the　look　of　shock　on　his　hard　face。　Before　he　could　splutter　a　response；　she　explained　carefully　chosen　parts　of　the　scenario。　Mohiam　herself　didn't　know　the　details　or　the　reasons；　she　simply　knew　to　obey。　〃You　are　no　doubt　aware　that　for　many　years　the　Bene　Gesserit　have　incorporated　important　bloodlines　into　our　Sisterhood。　Our　Sisters　represent　the　full　spectrum　of　noble　humanity；　containing　within　us　the　desirable　traits　of　most　of　the　Great　and　Minor　Houses　in　the　Landsraad。　We　even　have　some　representatives；　many　generations　removed；　of　House　Harkonnen。〃
　〃And　you　want　to　improve　your　Harkonnen　strain？〃　the　Baron　asked；　warily。　〃Is　that　it？〃
　〃You　understand　perfectly。　We　must　conceive　a　child　by　you；　Vladimir　Harkonnen。　A　daughter。〃
　The　Baron　staggered　backward；　then　chuckled　as　he　brushed　a　tear　of　mirth　from　his　eyes。　〃You'll　have　to　look　elsewhere；　then。　I　have　no　children；　nor　is　it　likely　I'll　ever　have　any。　The　actual　procreation　process；　involving　women　as　it　does；　disgusts　me。〃
　Knowing　full　well　the　Baron's　sexual　preferences；　Mohiam　made　no　response。　Unlike　many　nobles；　he　had　no　offspring；　not　even　illegitimate　ones　lurking　among　planetary　populations。
　〃Nevertheless；　we　want　a　Harkonnen　daughter；　Baron。　Not　an　heir；　or　even　a　pretender；　so　you　need　not　worry　about　any。。。dynastic　ambitions。　We　have　studied　the　bloodlines　carefully　and　the　desired　mix　is　quite　specific。　You　must　impregnate　me。〃
　The　Baron's　eyebrows　rose　even　higher。　〃Why；　under　all　the　moons　of　the　Imperium；　would　I　want　to　do　that？〃　He　raked　his　gaze　up　and　down　her　body；　dissecting　her；　sizing　her　up。　Mohiam　was　rather　plain…looking；　her　face　long；　her　brown　hair　thin　and　unremarkable。　She　was　older　than　he；　near　the　end　of　her　childbearing　years。　〃Especially　with　you。〃
　〃The　Bene　Gesserit　determine　these　things　through　genetic　projections；　not　through　any　mutual　or　physical　attraction。〃
　〃Well；　I　refuse。〃　The　Baron　turned　about　and　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃Go　away。　Take　your　little　slaves　with　you　and　get　off　Giedi　Prime。〃
　Mohiam　stared　at　him　for　a　few　more　moments；　absorbing　the　details　of　his　chambers。　Using　Bene　Gesserit　analytical　techniques；　she　learned　many　things　about　the　Baron　and　his　personality　from　the　way　he　maintained　this　odorous　private　warren；　a　space　that　was　not　groomed　and　decorated　for　the　view　of　formal　visitors。　He　unknowingly　exhibited　a　wealth　of　information　about　his　inner　self。
　〃If　that　is　your　wish；　Baron；〃　she　said。　〃My　shuttle's　next　stop　will　be　Kaitain；　where　we　have　a　meeting　already　scheduled　with　the　Emperor。　My　personal　data　library　on　the　ship　contains　copies　of　all　the　records　that　give　evidence　of　your　spice…stockpiling　activities　on　Arrakis；　and　documentation　of　how　you　have　altered　your　production　deliberately　to　hide　your　private　stores　from　CHOAM　and　House　Corrino。　Our　preliminary　analysis　contains　enough　information　to　initiate　a　full…scale　Guild　bank　audit　of　your　activities　and　revocation　of　your　temporary　CHOAM　directorship。〃
　The　Baron　stared　back　at　her。　An　impasse；　neither　of　them　budging。　But　he　saw　behind　her　eyes　the　truth　in　her　words。　He　did　not　doubt　the　witches　had　used　their　diabolical　intuitive　methods　to　determine　exactly　what　he　had　done；　how　he　had　been　making　a　secret　fool　out　of　Elrood　IX。　He　also　knew　that　Mohiam　would　not　hesitate　to　follow　through　with　her　threat。
　Copies　of　all　the　records。。。Even　destroying　this　ship　would　do　no　good。　The　infernal　Sisterhood　obviously　had　other　copies　elsewhere。
　The　Bene　Gesserit　probably　had　blackmail　material　on　Imperial　House　Corrino　as　well；　perhaps　even　embarrassing　data　on　the　important　but　surreptitious　dealings　of　the　Spacing　Guild　and　the　powerful　CHOAM　pany。　Bargaining　chips。　The　Sisterhood　was　good　at　learning　the　weaknesses　of　potential　enemies。
　The　Baron　hated　the　Hobson's　choice　she　gave　him；　but　he　could　do　nothing　about　it。　This　witch　could　destroy　him　with　a　word；　and　in　the　end　still　force　him　to　give　her　his　bloodline。
　〃To　make　things　easier　on　you；　I　have　the　ability　to　control　my　bodily　functions；〃　Mohiam　said；　sounding　reasonable。