bh.houseatreides-第77节

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e　spine　of　a　sleeping　leviathan。
　〃There's　the　reef；〃　Leto　said。　〃We'll　anchor　about　half　a　kilometer　away　so　we　don't　risk　ripping　open　the　hull。　Then　we　can　go　diving。〃　He　opened　a　partment　and　withdrew　a　sack　and　a　small　spatulaknife　for　each　of　them。　〃The　coral　gems　don't　grow　very　deep。　We　can　dive　without　air　tanks。〃　He　slapped　Rhombur　on　the　back。　〃It's　about　time　you　started　to　earn　your　keep　around　here。〃
　〃Just　keeping　you　out　of　trouble　is；　uh；　effort　enough；〃　Rhombur　countered。
　After　the　coracle　was　secured　on　its　anchor　cord；　Leto　pointed　a　scanner　overboard　to　map　out　the　contours　of　the　reefs　below。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said；　letting　his　friend　view　the　screen。　〃See　those　crannies　and　tiny　caves？　That's　where　you'll　find　the　coral　gems。〃
　Rhombur　peered　at　the　scanner；　nodding。
　〃Each　one　is　encrusted　with　a　husk；　like　an　organic　scab　that　grows　around　them。　Doesn't　look　like　much　until　you　crack　one　open　and　see　the　most　beautiful　pearls　in　all　creation；　like　molten　droplets　from　a　star。　You　have　to　keep　them　wet　at　all　times；　because　the　open　air　oxidizes　them　instantly　and　they　bee　extremely　pyrophoric。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Rhombur　said；　unsure　what　the　word　meant；　though　he　was　too　proud　to　ask。　Fumbling；　he　attached　his　belt；　which　held　the　spatulaknife　and　a　small　waterlume　for　probing　the　darkest　caves。
　〃I'll　show　you　when　we　get　down　there；〃　Leto　said。　〃How　long　can　you　hold　your　breath？〃
　〃As　long　as　you；〃　the　Prince　of　Ix　said；　〃naturally。〃
　Leto　stripped　off　his　shirt　and　pants；　while　Rhombur　hurried　to　do　the　same。　Simultaneously；　both　young　men　dived　overboard。　Leto　stroked　downward　into　the　warm　water；　pulling　himself　deeper　until　he　felt　the　pressure　around　his　skull。
　The　large　reef　was　a　convoluted；　permanently　submerged　landscape。　Tufts　of　coralweed　waved　in　the　gentle　currents；　the　tiny　mouths　on　their　leaves　snaring　bits　of　plankton。　Jewel…toned　fish　darted　in　and　out　of　holes　in　the　layered　coral。
　Rhombur　grabbed　his　arm　and　pointed　at　a　long　purplish　eel　that　drifted　by；　streaming　a　rainbow…hued；　feathery　tail。　The　Ixian　looked　ical　with　his　cheeks　swollen；　trying　to　hold　in　his　air。
　Grasping　the　rough　coral；　Leto　pulled　himself　along　and　peered　into　cracks　and　crevices。　He　shined　the　beam　of　his　waterlume　all　around　in　his　search。　With　his　lungs　aching；　he　finally　found　a　discolored　knob　and　signaled　for　Rhombur；　who　swam　over。　But　as　Leto　pulled　out　his　spatula…knife　to　pry　free　the　coral　gem；　Rhombur　flailed　his　arms　and　swam　upward　as　fast　as　he　could；　his　air　exhausted。
　Leto　remained　beneath　the　water；　though　his　chest　pounded。　Finally；　he　pried　loose　the　nodule；　which　would　likely　yield　a　medium…sized　coral　gem。　With　it　he　swam　upward；　his　chest　ready　to　burst；　and　finally　splashed　to　the　surface　where　Rhombur　clung；　panting；　to　the　edge　of　the　coracle。
　〃Found　one；〃　Leto　said。　〃Look。〃　Holding　the　gem　underneath　the　water；　he　tapped　it　with　the　blunt　edge　of　his　knife　until　the　outer　covering　cracked　free。　Inside；　a　slightly　misshapen　ovoid　gleamed　with　self…contained　pearly　light。　Tiny　glimmering　specks　circulated　like　molten　sand　trapped　within　transparent　epoxy。
　〃Exquisite；〃　Rhombur　said。
　Dripping　wet；　Leto　climbed　out　of　the　water　and　onto　the　midship　deck；　by　the　lifeboat　station。　He　dipped　a　bucket　overboard；　filling　it　with　seawater；　and　dropped　the　coral　gem　inside　before　it　could　dry　out　in　his　hands。　〃Now　you　have　to　find　one　of　your　own。〃
　With　his　blond　hair　plastered　to　his　head　by　seawater；　the　Prince　nodded；　drew　several　deep　gulps　of　air；　then　swam　downward　again。　Leto　dived　after　him。
　Within　an　hour　the　pair　had　gathered　half　a　bucket　of　the　beautiful　gems。　〃Nice　haul；〃　Leto　said；　squatting　on　the　deck　beside　Rhombur；　who；　fascinated　with　the　treasure；　dipped　his　fingers　into　the　bucket。　〃You　like　those？〃
　Rhombur　grunted。　His　eyes　danced　with　a　child's　delight。
　〃I've　worked　up　quite　an　appetite；〃　Leto　said。　〃I'll　go　prep　the　foodpaks。〃
　〃I'm　starving；　too；〃　Rhombur　said。　〃Uh；　need　any　help？〃
　Leto　drew　himself　up　and　raised　his　aquiline　nose　haughtily　in　the　air。　〃Sir；　I　am　the　resident　ducal　heir；　with　a　long　resume　asserting　my　petence　to　prepare　a　simple　foodpak。〃　He　strutted　to　the　sheltered　galley　as　Rhombur　sorted　through　the　wet　coral　stones；　like　a　kid　playing　with　marbles。
　Some　were　perfectly　spherical；　others　misshapen　and　pitted。　Rhombur　wondered　why　certain　ones　had　a　blazing　inner　brilliance　while　others　were　dull　by　parison。　He　set　the　three　largest　stones　on　the　midship　deck　and　watched　the　sunlight　glitter　on　them；　a　pale　shadow　to　the　brilliance　trapped　within。　He　noted　their　differences；　wondered　what　he　and　Leto　could　do　with　the　treasure。
　He　missed　his　own　collection　of　gems　and　crystals；　agates　and　geodes　from　Ix。　He　had　wandered　through　caves　and　tunnels　and　shafts　to　find　them。　He　had　learned　so　much　of　geology　that　way　　and　then　the　Tleilaxu　had　driven　him　and　his　family　from　their　world。　He'd　been　forced　to　leave　everything　behind。　Although　he　left　it　unsaid；　Rhombur　decided　if　he　ever　saw　his　mother　again；　he　could　make　a　grand　gift　for　her。
　Leto　leaned　out　of　the　galley　door。　〃Lunch　is　ready。　e　and　eat　before　I　feed　it　to　the　fishes。〃
　Rhombur　trotted　in　to　sit　at　the　small　table　while　Leto　served　up　two　bowls　of　steaming　Caladanian　oyster　chowder；　seasoned　with　nouveau　wine　from　House　Atreides　vineyards。　〃My　grandmother　came　up　with　this　recipe。　It's　one　of　my　favorites。〃
　〃Well；　not　bad。　Even　if　you　made　it。〃　Rhombur　slurped　from　his　bowl　and　licked　his　lips。　〃It's　a；　um；　good　thing　my　sister　didn't　e　along；〃　he　said；　trying　to　hide　the　joking　tone　in　his　voice。　〃She　probably　would　have　tried　to　wear　fancy　clothes；　and　you　know　she'd　never　have　gone　swimming　with　us。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Leto　said；　unconvinced。　〃You're　right。〃　It　was　obvious　to　anyone　how　he　and　Kailea　flirted　with　each　other；　though　Rhombur　understood　　politically　speaking　　that　a　romance　between　them　would　be　unwise　at　best；　and　dangerous　at　worst。
　Out　on　the　midship　deck　just　aft　of　them；　the　sun　beat　down；　warming　the　wooden　floorboards；　drying　the　splashed　water　　and　exposing　the　fragile　coral　gems　to　the　open；　oxidizing　air。　Simultaneously；　the　three　largest　gems　burst　into　incandescent　flares；　merging　into　a　miniature　nova　of　intense　heat；　hot　enough　to　burn　through　a　metal　starship　hull。
　Leto　leaped　to　his　feet；　knocking　aside　his　bowl　of　chowder。　Through　the　broad　plaz　windowports　he　could　see　blue…orange　flames　shooting　up；　setting　the　deck　on　fire；　including　the　lifeboat。　One　of　the　coral　gems　shattered；　spraying　hot　fragments　in　all　directions；　each　of　which　started　secondary　fires。
　Within　seconds；　two　more　gems　burned　pletely　through　the　coracle　deck　and　dropped　into　the　cargo　hold　below；　where　they　ate　through　crates。　One　burned　open　a　spare　fuel　container；　igniting　it　with　an　explosive　burst；　while　the　second　gem　seared　all　the　way　through　the　bottom　hull　until　it　extinguished　itself　in　the　refreshing　water　again。　The　wickerwood　hull；　though　treated　with　a　fire…retardant　chemical；　would　not　hold　up　against　such　heat。
　Leto　and　Rhombur　rushed　out　of　the　galley；　shouting　at　each　other　but　not　knowing　what　to　do。　〃The　fire！　We've　got　to　get　the　fire　out！〃
　〃They're　coral　gems！〃　Leto　looked　for　something　with　which　to　extinguish　the　blaze。　〃They　burn　hot；　can't　be　put　out　easily。〃　Swelling　flames　licked　the　deck；　and　the　coracle　rocked　with　an　explosion　belowdecks。　On　its　davits　the　lifeboat　was　a　lost　cause；　pletely　enveloped　in　flames。
　〃We　could　sink；〃　Leto　said；　〃and　we're　too　far　from　land。〃　He　grabbed　a　chemical　extinguisher；　which　he　sprayed　on　the　flames。
　He　and　his　panion　took　out　the　hoses　and　pumps　from　a　front　partment　and　doused　the　boat　with　seawater；　but　the　cargo　hold　was　already　engulfed。　Greasy　black　smoke　drifted　through　cracks　in　the　top　deck。　A　warning　beep　signified　that　they　were　taking　on　large　amounts　of　water。
　〃We're　going　to　sink！〃　Rhombur　shouted；　reading　the　instrumentation。　He　coughed　from　the　acrid　smoke。
　Leto　tossed　a　flotation　vest　to　his　friend　as　he　buckled　another　one　around　his　waist。　〃Get　on　the　shore…。　Announce　our　position　and　send　a　distress。　You　know　how　to　operate　it？〃
　Rhombur　yelped　an　affirmative；　while　Leto　used　another　chemical　extinguisher；　but　soon　exhausted　its　charge　without　effect。　He　and　Rhombur　would　be　trapped　out　here；　floating　with　only　the　debris　of　the　boat　around　them。　He　had　to　reach　land　and　settle　where　they　could　wait。
　He　remembered　his　father　lecturing　him：　〃When　you　find　yourself　in　the　midst　of　a　seemingly　impossible　crisis；　take　care　of　the　solvable　parts　first。　Then；　after　you've　narrowed　the　possibilities；　work　on　the　most　difficult　aspects。〃
　He　heard　Rhombur　shouting　into　the　shore…；　repeating　the　distress　call。　Leto　now　ignored　the　fire。　The　coracle　was　sinking；　and　would　soon　be　underwater；　leaving　them　stranded。　He　looked　toward　the　port　side　and　saw　frothing　water　around　the　tangle　of　the　reef。　He　dashed　for　the　cabin。
　Before　the　fire　could　reach　the　aft　engines；　he　started　the　boat；　used　the　emergency　cutoff　to　sever　the　anchor；　and　raced　toward　the　reef。　The　flaming　coracle　was　like　a　et　on　the　water。
　〃What　are　you　do