bh.houseatreides-第55节
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〃As you wish； Sire。〃 Brey bowed； and the elite guards escorted her from the room。
ELROOD HAD NOT failed to notice anger and despair in the Courier's expression when she realized that her mission had failed。 He had seen desperation and the beginnings of tears in her eyes。 So tiresome； so predictable。
But everything had proceeded perfectly。
As soon as the Ixian Courier and the Court Chamberlain were gone； Crown Prince Shaddam and Fenring entered the anteroom and stood before Elrood。 The old man knew they had been eavesdropping。
〃Quite an education you two are getting； eh？〃 Elrood said。 〃Watch； and learn。〃
〃Ah； yes。 You handled the situation masterfully； Father。 Events are unfolding exactly as you predicted。〃 With a great deal of invisible help from me and Fenring。
The Emperor beamed； then fell into a bout of coughing。 〃My Sardaukar would have been more efficient than Tleilaxu； but I couldn't risk showing my hand too early。 A formal Ixian plaint to the Landsraad could spell trouble。 We've got to get rid of House Vernius and put the Tleilaxu in place as our puppets； with legions of Sardaukar sent in afterward to crack down and ensure the takeover。〃
〃Hm…m…m…m…ah； perhaps it would be preferable to refer to it as 'fostering a smooth and orderly transition。' Avoid using the term 'crack down。' 〃
Elrood smiled with his papery lips； exposing teeth in a way that made his head look even more like a skull。 〃See； Hasimir； you are learning to be a politician after all despite your rather direct methods。〃
Though all three of them knew the underlying reasons for the overthrow of Ix； none of them spoke of the benefits they would receive after Hidar Fen Ajidica had begun the artificial spice research there。
Chamberlain Hesban burst back into the room； uncharacteristically flustered。 He bowed。 〃Sire； pardon me； please？ As I was transferring the Courier back to her Guild escorts； she informed them that you had refused to act in accordance with Imperial regulations。 She has already joined with Ambassador Pilru in requesting an immediate audience with the members of the Landsraad Council。〃
〃Hm…m…m…m； she's going behind your back； Sire；〃 Fenring said。
〃Absurd；〃 the old Emperor snapped； then searched for his ever…present mug of spice beer。 〃What does a messenger know of Imperial regulations？〃
〃Though they have not qualified for full Mentat training； Licensed Couriers have perfect memories； Sire；〃 Fenring pointed out； bending close to the Emperor in the position Chamberlain Hesban usually assumed。
〃She can't process the concepts； but she may well have every regulation and codicil readily accessible in her brain。 She rattled off a number of them in my presence。〃
〃Ah； yes。 But how can she contest the Emperor's decision； when he hasn't even made up his mind yet？〃 Shaddam asked。
Hesban tugged on one of his drooping mustaches； increasing the frown that he directed at the Crown Prince； but he refrained from scolding Shaddam for his ignorance of Imperial law。 〃By mutual agreement between the Federated Council of the Landsraad and House Corrino； the Emperor is required either to render immediate assistance； or convene an emergency Security Council meeting to deal with the matter。 If your father does not act within the hour； the Ixian Ambassador is within his rights to convene the Council himself。〃
〃Security Council？〃 Elrood grimaced and looked first to Chamberlain Hesban； then to Fenring for assistance。 〃What regulation is that infernal woman citing？〃
〃Volume thirty； section six point three； under the Great Convention。〃
〃What does it say？〃
Hesban took a deep breath。 〃It concerns situations of House…to…House warfare； in which an appeal to the Emperor has been made by one of the parties engaged in hostilities。 The regulation was designed to prohibit Emperors from taking sides； in such matters you must act as a neutral arbiter。 Neutral； yes but you must act。〃 He shuffled his feet。 〃Sire； I'm afraid I don't understand why you would wish to delay。 Surely； you don't side with。。。with the Tleilaxu？〃
〃There are many things you don't understand； Aken；〃 the Emperor said。 〃Just follow my wishes。〃 The Chamberlain appeared stung。
〃Um…m…m…m。〃 Fenring paced behind the high…backed chair； then snagged a crystallized fruit wafer off one of the snacking trays。 〃Technically the Courier is correct； Sire。 You're not allowed to delay for a day or two。 The regulation also goes on to say that； if called； the Landsraad Security Council meeting cannot be concluded without a decision。〃 Fenring placed a finger on his lips as he considered。 〃The hostile parties and their representatives have a right to attend。 In the Ixians' case； their representative could be the Spacing Guild as well as Ambassador Pilru who； I might add； has a son currently threatened by the revolt on Ix； and another son recently inducted into the Guild。〃
〃Remember； too； the Ambassador's wife has been killed in the revolt；〃 Hesban added。 〃People are dying。〃
〃Considering our plans for the Tleilaxu to use Ixian facilities； it would be better to keep the Guild out of this； too；〃 Shaddam spoke up。
〃Plans？〃 The Chamberlain looked alarmed to learn he had been kept out of such important discussions。 He turned to Elrood。 〃What plans； Sire？〃
〃Later； Aken。〃 The Emperor frowned。 Shifting unfortably on his chair； he tugged the robes around his sunken chest。 〃Damn that woman！〃
〃The Guildsmen are waiting with her down in the hall；〃 Hesban pressed。 〃Ambassador Pilru demands an audience with you。 In only a few moments other Houses will get wind of the news； and they'll insist on action as well especially the ones with CHOAM directorships。 Turmoil on Ix will have drastic economic consequences； at least for the immediate future。〃
〃Bring me the regulations and two Mentats to run independent analyses。 Find something to get us out of this！〃 The Emperor appeared suddenly alert； pumped up by the crisis。 〃House Corrino must not interfere with the Tleilaxu takeover of Ix。 Our future depends on it。〃
〃As。。。you wish； Sire。〃 Hesban bowed and left in a rustle of his deep blue finery； still perplexed but willing to follow orders。
Minutes later a house servant entered the anteroom carrying a projector and a blackplaz oval screen。 Bustling about； the servant set up the apparatus on a table。 Fenring moved it into position so the Emperor could see it better。
Hesban returned； flanked by two Mentats； their lips stained red with sapho juice。 Outside the door； the Sardaukar elite guard held back several representatives who clamored for entry。 Clearly recognizable above the clamor was the high…pitched； agitated voice of the Ixian Ambassador。
Fenring called up recorded data on shigawire reels as Chamberlain Hesban summarized the events and the problem for the two Imperial Mentats。 Images danced above the table black words printed in Galach。 Staying close to his friend； Shaddam peered into the depths of the law as if he might spot some subtlety that had eluded everyone else。
Both Mentats stood rigid； eyes distant； as they ran their separate analyses of the law and its subsidiary codes。 〃To begin；〃 one of the Mentats said； 〃take a look at six point three。〃
The words scrolled across the projector field in a blur； then stopped on a particular page。 One of the sections was highlighted in red； and a second holo copy of the page appeared in midair。 The duplicate floated to the Emperor's lap； so that both he and the others could read it。
〃Won't work；〃 the second Mentat said。 〃Cross…reference seventy…eight point three； volume twelve。〃
Leaning close； Elrood scanned the regulation。 Then he passed a hand through the page； and it disappeared。 〃Rotten Guild；〃 he said。 〃We'll bring them to their knees as soon as 〃 Fenring cleared his throat to interrupt the failing Emperor's train of thought before he could reveal too much。
The holoprojector began searching again as the Mentats fell silent。 Chamberlain Hesban leaned close to study pages that slowed in front of him。
〃Blast these regulations！ That's what I'd like to do； use atomics on all the laws。〃 Elrood continued to fume。 〃Do I rule the Imperium； or don't I？ Having to pander to the Landsraad； having to avoid stepping on the Guild's toes。。。an Emperor shouldn't be required to bow to other powers。〃
〃Quite right； Sire；〃 Hesban acknowledged。 〃But we're caught in a web of treaties and alliances。〃
〃Maybe this is something；〃 Fenring said； presently。 〃Jihad Appendix nineteen point oh…oh…four。〃 He paused。 〃In matters involving the Butlerian Jihad and the strictures established thereafter； the Emperor is given additional latitude to make decisions regarding punishment for those who breach the prohibition against thinking machines。〃
The Emperor's sunken eyes lit up。 〃Ah； and since there is some question here about possible Ixian violations； perhaps we can legally proceed with 'all due caution。' Especially since we have recently received disturbing reports about machine developments。〃
〃We have？〃 the Chamberlain asked。
〃Certainly。 Remember the self…learning fighting meks on the black market？ That bears closer scrutiny。〃
Shaddam and Fenring smiled at each other。 They all knew such a stance might not hold up to prolon
