bh.houseatreides-第74节

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dy　pressed　against　it；　threatening　to　break　through。　Holding　her　hands　protectively　over　her　womb；　she　felt　a　frantic　desire　to　live；　and　for　her　unborn　child　to　thrive　　and　her　thoughts　went　beyond　the　parochial　concerns　of　a　mother　and　child；　to　a　much　larger　significance。
　She　wondered　if　her　suspicions　might　be　totally　in　error。　What　if　some　higher　force　than　either　she　or　her　Sisters　could　possibly　imagine　was　behind　this？　Were　the　Bene　Gesserit；　through　their　breeding　program；　playing　God？　Did　a　real　God　　regardless　of　the　Sisterhood's　cynicism　and　skepticism　toward　religion　　in　fact　exist？
　What　a　cruel　joke　that　would　be。
　The　deformities　of　her　first　child；　and　now　the　impending　death　of　this　fetus　and　Mohiam；　too。。。it　all　seemed　to　add　up　to　something。　But　if　so；　who　　or　what　　was　behind　this　emergency？
　The　Bene　Gesserit　did　not　believe　in　accidents　or　coincidences。
　〃　'I　must　not　fear；'　〃　she　intoned；　her　eyes　closed。　〃　'Fear　is　the　mind…killer。　Fear　is　the　little…death　that　brings　total　obliteration。　I　will　face　my　fear。　I　will　permit　it　to　pass　over　me　and　through　me。　And　when　it　has　gone　past　I　will　turn　the　inner　eye　to　see　its　path。　Where　the　fear　has　gone　there　will　be　nothing。　Only　I　will　remain。'　〃
　It　was　the　Litany　Against　Fear；　conceived　in　ancient　times　by　a　Bene　Gesserit　Sister　and　passed　on　to　generation　after　generation。
　Mohiam　took　a　deep　breath；　and　felt　her　trembling　subside。
　The　shuttle　held　position　momentarily；　with　her　window　pointed　planetward。　The　engine　sputtered　again。　She　saw　the　continental　mass　approaching　fast；　and　made　out　the　sprawling　Mother　School　plex；　a　labyrinthine　white…stuccoed　city　with　sienna　roof　tiles。
　Was　the　shuttle　being　sent　out　of　control　into　the　main　school；　with　some　terrible　explosive　force　aboard？　A　single　crash　could　wipe　out　the　heart　of　the　Sisterhood。
　Mohiam　struggled　against　the　safety　field；　but　could　not　break　free。　The　shuttle　shifted；　and　the　land　disappeared　from　view。　The　window　cocked　upward　to　reveal　the　blue…white　sun　on　the　edge　of　the　atmosphere。
　Then　her　safety　field　grew　clear；　and　Mohiam　realized　that　the　shuttle　had　righted　itself。　The　engine　was　on　again；　a　sweet　flow　of　machinery。　In　the　front　partment；　the　robo…pilot　moved　with　apparent　efficiency；　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　One　of　its　programmed　emergency　routines　must　have　worked。
　As　the　shuttle　set　down　smoothly　on　the　ground　in　front　of　the　grand　plaza；　Mohiam　breathed　a　long　sigh　of　relief。　She　rushed　to　the　doorhatch；　meaning　to　flee　into　the　safety　of　the　nearest　building。。。but　she　paused；　took　a　moment　to　pose　herself；　and　then　strode　calmly　out。　A　Reverend　Mother　had　to　maintain　appearances。
　When　she　glided　down　the　ramp；　Sisters　and　acolytes　swarmed　protectively　around　her。　Mother　Superior　demanded　that　the　shuttle　be　impounded　for　a　plete　overhaul　and　investigation；　seeking　evidence　of　sabotage　or　confirmation　of　a　simple　malfunction。　A　brusque　radio　transmission　from　the　Heighliner　above；　however；　prevented　this。
　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin　stood　waiting　to　greet　Mohiam；　beaming　with　pride；　looking　very　young　with　her　doelike　face　and　short　bronze　hair。　Mohiam　had　never　understood　Anirul's　importance；　though　even　the　Mother　Superior　often　showed　her　deference。　The　two　women　nodded　to　each　other。
　In　the　midst　of　her　fellow　Sisters；　Mohiam　was　escorted　to　a　safe　building；　a　large　contingent　of　armed　female　guards　had　been　posted　to　watch　her。　She　would　be　pampered　and　observed　carefully　until　the　baby　was　due。
　〃There　will　be　no　more　travel　for　you；　Mohiam；〃　Mother　Superior　Harishka　said。　〃You　must　remain　safely　here　　until　we　have　your　daughter。〃
　You　of　fearful　heart；　be　strong　and　fear　not。　Behold；　your　God　will　e　with　a　vengeance；　He　will　e　and　save　you　from　the　worshipers　of　machines。
　…The　Orange　Catholic　Bible
　In　the　concubines'　wing　of　the　Imperial　Palace；　throbbing　massage　machines　slapped　and　kneaded　bare　skin；　using　scented　oils　to　caress　every　glorious　contour　of　the　Emperor's　women。　Sophisticated　physical…maintenance　devices　extracted　cellulite；　improved　muscle　tone；　tautened　abdomens　and　chins；　and　made　tiny　injections　to　soften　the　skin。　Every　detail　had　to　be　the　way　old　Elrood　preferred；　though　he　didn't　seem　much　interested　anymore。　Even　the　eldest　of　the　four　women；　the　septuagenarian　Grera　Cary；　had　the　figure　of　a　woman　half　her　age；　sustained　in　part　through　frequent　imbibing　of　spice。
　Dawn's　light　was　tinged　amber　by　passing　through　the　bank　of　thick　armor…plaz　windows。　When　Grera's　massage　was　plete；　the　machine　wrapped　her　in　a　warm　towel　of　karthan　weave　and　placed　a　refreshing　cloth　soaked　with　eucalyptus　and　juniper　over　her　face。　The　concubine's　bed　changed　into　a　sensiform　chair　that　conformed　perfectly　to　her　body。
　A　mechanized　manicure　station　dropped　from　the　ceiling；　and　Grera　whispered　through　her　daily　meditations　as　her　fingernails　and　toenails　were　trimmed；　polished；　and　painted　a　lush　green。　The　machine　slid　back　up　into　its　overhead　partment；　and　the　woman　stood　and　dropped　her　towel。　An　electric　field　passed　over　her　face；　arms；　and　legs；　removing　barely　discernible　and　unwanted　hairs。
　Perfect。　Perfect　enough　for　the　Emperor。
　Of　the　current　retinue　of　concubines；　only　Grera　was　old　enough　to　remember　Shando；　a　plaything　who　had　left　Imperial　service　to　marry　a　war　hero　and　settle　down　into　a　〃normal　life。〃　Elrood　hadn't　paid　Shando　much　attention　when　she'd　been　among　his　numerous　women；　but　once　she'd　left；　he　had　railed　at　the　others　and　moaned　about　his　loss。　Most　of　his　favorite　concubines　chosen　in　succeeding　years　looked　a　great　deal　like　Shando。
　As　she　watched　the　other　concubines　go　through　similar　body…toning　procedures；　Grera　Cary　thought　of　how　things　had　changed　for　all　the　Emperor's　harem。　Less　than　a　year　earlier；　these　women　had　congregated　only　rarely；　since　Elrood　was　with　one　of　them　so　often；　performing　what　he　called　his　〃royal　duty。〃　One　of　the　concubines；　an　Elaccan；　had　secretly　given　the　old　goat　a　nickname　that　stuck　　〃Fornicario；〃　a　reference　from　one　of　the　Old　Terran　languages　to　his　sexual　prowess　and　appetites。　The　women　only　used　it　among　themselves；　and　snickered。
　〃Has　anyone　seen　Fornicario？〃　asked　the　taller　of　the　two　youngest　concubines　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。
　Grera　exchanged　a　smile　with　her；　and　the　women　giggled　like　schoolgirls。　〃I'm　afraid　our　Imperial　oak　has　turned　into　a　drooping　willow。〃
　The　old　man　rarely　came　to　the　concubines'　wing　anymore。　Though　Elrood　spent　as　much　time　in　bed　now　as　ever；　it　was　for　an　entirely　different　reason。　His　health　had　declined　rapidly；　and　his　libido　had　already　died。　His　mind　was　the　next　thing　likely　to　go。
　Suddenly　the　chattering　women　grew　silent；　turning　with　alarm　toward　the　main　entrance　of　the　concubines'　wing。　Without　announcing　himself；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　entered　with　his　ever…present　panion；　Hasimir　Fenring；　whom　they　often　called　〃the　Ferret〃　because　of　his　narrow　face　and　pointed　chin。　The　women　covered　themselves　quickly　and　stood　at　attention　to　show　their　respect。
　〃What's　so　funny　in　here；　hm…m…m…m…ah？〃　Fenring　demanded。　〃I　heard　giggling。〃
　〃The　girls　were　just　enjoying　a　little　joke；〃　Grera　said；　in　a　cautious　tone。　Senior　among　them；　she　often　spoke　for　the　concubines。
　It　was　rumored　that　this　undersized　man　had　stabbed　two　of　his　lovers　to　death；　and　from　his　slithery　demeanor　Grera　believed　it。　Through　her　years　of　experience；　she　had　learned　how　to　recognize　a　man　capable　of　extreme　cruelty。　Fenring's　genitals　were　supposedly　malformed　and　sterile；　though　sexually　functional。　She　had　never　slept　with　him　herself；　nor　did　she　wish　to。
　Fenring　studied　her　with　overlarge；　soulless　eyes；　then　moved　past　her　to　the　two　new　blondes。　The　Crown　Prince　remained　behind　him；　near　the　doorway　to　the　solarium。　Slim　and　red…haired；　Shaddam　wore　a　gray　Sardaukar　uniform　with　silver…and…gold　trim。　Grera　knew　the　Imperial　heir　loved　to　play　military　games。
　〃Please　share　your　little　joke　with　us；〃　Fenring　insisted。　He　addressed　the　smaller　blonde；　a　petite　girl　barely　beyond　her　teens　who　was　only　slightly　shorter　than　he　was。　Her　eyes　resembled　Shando's。　〃Prince　Shaddam　and　I　both　enjoy　humor。〃
　〃It　was　just　a　private　conversation；〃　Grera　responded；　stepping　forward　protectively。　〃Personal　things。〃
　〃Can't　she　speak　for　herself？〃　Fenring　snapped；　glaring　back　at　the　elder　woman。　He　wore　a　black　tunic　trimmed　in　gold；　and　many　rings　on　his　hands。　〃If　this　one's　been　chosen　to　entertain　the　Padishah　Emperor；　I'm　sure　she　knows　how　to　relay　a　simple　joke；　ah…mm…m…m…m？〃
　〃It　was　as　Grera　said；〃　the　young　blonde　insisted。　〃Just　a　girl　thing。　Not　worth　repeating。〃
　Fenring　took　hold　of　one　of　the　edges　of　the　towel　she　had　been　gripping　tightly　about　her　curvaceous　body。　Surprise　and　fear　covered　her　face。　He　jerked　at　the　towel；　exposing　one　of　her　breasts。
　Angrily；　Grera　said；　〃Cease　this　nonsense；　Fenring。　We　are　royal　concubines。　No　one　but　the　Emperor　may　touch　us。〃
　〃Lucky　you。〃　Fenring　gazed　across　the　room　at　Shaddam。
　The　Crown　Prince　nodded　stiffly。　〃She's　right；　Hasimir。　I'll　share　one　of　my　concubines　with　you；　if　you　like。〃
　〃But　I　didn't　touc