fh.godemperorofdune-第11部分

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　these　chairs　around　her；　with　a　few　empty　for　any　lateers　who　might　still　make　the　meeting。
　The　time　had　been　set　between　the　midnight　and　morning　shifts　to　mask　the　flow　of　extra　people　in　the　service　warrens。　Most　of　the　rebels　wore　energy…worker　disguises…thin　gray　disposable　trousers　and　jackets。　Some　few；　including　Siona；　were　garbed　in　the　green　of　machinery　inspectors。
　Topri's　voice　was　an　insistent　monotone　in　the　room。　He　did　not　squeak　at　all　while　conducting　the　ceremony。　In　fact；　Siona　had　to　admit　he　was　rather　good　at　it；　especially　with　new　recruits。　Since　Nayla's　flat　statement　that　she　did　not　trust　the　man；　though；　Siona　had　looked　at　Topri　in　a　different　way。　Nayla　could　speak　with　a　cutting　naivetй　which　pulled　away　masks。　And　there　were　things　that　Siona　had　learned　about　Topri　since　that　confrontation。
　Siona　turned　at　last　and　looked　at　the　man。　The　cold　silvery　light　did　not　help　Topri's　pale　skin。　He　used　a　copy　of　a　crysknife　in　the　ceremony；　a　contraband　copy　bought　from　the　Museum　Fremen。　Siona　recalled　the　transaction　as　she　looked　at　the　blade　in　Topri's　hands。　It　had　been　Topri's　idea；　and　she　had　thought　it　a　good　one　at　the　time。　He　had　led　her　to　the　rendezvous　in　a　hovel　on　the　city's　outskirts；　leaving　Onn　just　at　dusk。　They　had　waited　well　into　the　night　until　darkness　could　mask　the　Museum　Freemen's　ing。　Fremen　were　not　supposed　to　leave　their　sietch　quarters　without　a　special　dispensation　from　the　God　Emperor。
　She　had　almost　given　up　on　him　when　the　Fremen　arrived；　slipping　in　out　of　the　night；　his　escort　left　behind　to　guard　the　door。　Topri　and　Siona　had　been　waiting　on　a　crude　bench　against　a　dank　wall　of　the　absolutely　plain　room。　The　only　light　had　e　from　a　dim　yellow　torch　supported　on　a　stick　driven　into　the　crumbling　mud　wall。
　The　Fremen's　first　words　had　filled　Siona　with　misgivings。
　〃Have　you　brought　the　money？〃
　Both　Topri　and　Siona　had　risen　at　his　entry。　Topri　did　not　appear　bothered　by　the　question。　He　tapped　the　pouch　beneath　his　robe；　making　it　jingle。
　〃I　have　the　money　right　here。〃
　The　Fremen　was　a　wizened　figure；　crabbed　and　bent；　wearing　a　copy　of　the　old　Fremen　robes　and　some　glistening　garment　underneath；　probably　their　version　of　a　stillsuit。　His　hood　was　drawn　forward；　shading　his　features。　The　torchlight　sent　shadows　dancing　across　his　face。
　He　peered　first　at　Topri　then　at　Siona　before　removing　an　object　wrapped　in　cloth　from　beneath　his　robe。
　〃It　is　a　true　copy；　but　it　is　made　of　plastic；〃　he　said。　〃It　will　not　cut　cold　grease。〃
　He　pulled　the　blade　from　its　wrappings　then　and　held　it　up。
　Siona；　who　had　seen　crysknives　only　in　museums　and　in　the　rare　old　visual　recordings　of　her　family's　archives；　had　found　herself　oddly　gripped　by　the　sight　of　the　blade　in　this　setting。　She　felt　something　atavistic　working　on　her　and　imagined　this　poor　Museum　Fremen　with　his　plastic　crysknife　as　a　real　Fremen　of　the　old　days。　The　thing　he　held　was　suddenly　a　silver…bladed　crysknife　shimmering　in　the　yellow　shadows。
　〃I　guarantee　the　authenticity　of　the　blade　from　which　we　copied　it；〃　the　Fremen　said。　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　somehow　made　menacing　by　its　lack　of　emphasis。
　Siona　heard　it　then；　the　way　he　carried　his　venom　in　a　sleeve　of　soft　vowels　and　she　was　suddenly　alerted。
　〃Try　treachery　and　we　will　hunt　you　down　like　vermin；〃　she　said。
　Topri　shot　a　startled　glance　at　her。
　The　Museum　Fremen　appeared　to　shrivel；　drawing　in　upon　himself。　The　blade　trembled　in　his　hand；　but　his　gnome　fingers　still　curled　inward　around　it　as　though　clasping　a　throat。
　〃Treachery；　Lady？　Oh；　no。　But　it　occurred　to　us　that　we　asked　too　little　for　this　copy。　Poor　as　it　is；　making　it　and　selling　it　this　way　puts　us　in　dreadful　peril。〃
　Siona　glared　at　him；　thinking　of　the　old　Fremen　words　from　the　Oral　History：　〃Once　you　acquire　a　marketplace　soul；　the　suk　is　the　totality　of　existence。〃
　〃How　much　do　you　want？〃　she　demanded。
　He　named　a　sum　twice　his　original　figure。
　Topri　gasped。
　Siona　looked　at　Topri。　〃Do　you　have　that　much？〃
　〃Not　quite；　but　we　agreed　on。　。　。〃
　〃Give　him　what　you　have；　all　of　it；〃　Siona　said。
　〃All　of　it？〃
　〃Isn't　that　what　I　said？　Every　coin　in　that　bag。〃　She　faced　the　Museum　Fremen。　〃You　will　accept　this　payment。〃　It　was　not　a　question　and　the　old　man　heard　her　correctly。　He　wrapped　the　blade　in　its　cloth　and　passed　it　to　her。
　Topri　handed　over　the　pouch　of　coins；　muttering　under　his　breath。
　Siona　addressed　herself　to　the　Museum　Fremen。　〃We　know　your　name。　You　are　Teishar；　aide　to　Garun　of　Tuono。　You　have　a　suk　mentality　and　you　make　me　shudder　at　what　Fremen　have　bee。〃
　〃Lady；　we　all　have　to　live；〃　he　protested。
　〃You　are　not　alive；〃　she　said。　〃Be　gone！〃
　Teishar　had　turned　and　scurried　away；　clutching　the　money　pouch　close　to　his　chest。
　Memory　of　that　night　did　not　sit　well　in　Siona's　mind　as　she　watched　Topri　wave　the　crysknife　copy　in　their　rebel　ceremony。　We're　no　better　than　Teishar；　she　thought。　A　copy　is　worse　than　nothing。　Topri　brandished　the　stupid　blade　over　his　head　as　he　neared　the　ceremony's　conclusion。
　Siona　looked　away　from　him　and　stared　at　Nayla　seated　off　to　her　left。　Nayla　was　looking　first　one　direction　and　now　another。　She　paid　special　attention　to　the　new　cadre　of　recruits　at　the　back　of　the　room。　Nayla　did　not　give　her　trust　easily。　Siona　wrinkled　her　nose　as　a　stirring　of　the　air　brought　the　smell　of　lubricants。　The　depths　of　Onn　always　smelled　dangerously　mechanical！　She　sniffed。　And　this　room！　She　did　not　like　their　meeting　place。　It　could　easily　be　a　trap。　Guards　could　seal　off　the　outer　corridors　and　send　in　armed　searchers。　This　could　be　too　easily　the　place　where　their　rebellion　ended。　Siona　was　made　doubly　uneasy　by　the　fact　that　this　room　had　been　Topri's　choice。
　One　of　Ulot's　few　mistakes；　she　thought。　Poor　dead　Ulot　had　approved　Topri's　admission　to　the　rebellion。
　〃He　is　a　minor　functionary　in　city　services；〃　Ulot　had　explained。　〃Topri　can　find　us　many　useful　places　to　meet　and　arm　ourselves。〃
　Topri　had　reached　almost　the　end　of　his　ceremony。　He　placed　the　knife　in　an　ornate　case　and　put　the　case　on　the　floor　beside　him。
　〃My　face　is　my　pledge；〃　he　said。　He　turned　his　profile　to　the　room；　first　one　side　and　then　the　other。　〃I　show　my　face　that　you　may　know　me　anywhere　and　know　that　I　am　one　of　you。〃
　Stupid　ceremony；　Siona　thought。
　But　she　dared　not　break　the　pattern　of　it。　And　when　Topri　pulled　a　black　gauze　mask　from　a　pocket　and　placed　it　over　his　head；　she　took　out　her　own　mask　and　donned　it。　Everyone　in　the　room　did　the　same　thing。　There　was　a　stirring　around　the　room　now。　Most　of　the　people　here　had　been　alerted　that　Topri　had　brought　a　special　visitor。　Siona　secured　her　mask's　tie　behind　her　neck。　She　was　anxious　to　see　this　visitor。
　Topri　moved　to　the　room's　one　door。　There　was　a　clattering　bustle　as　everyone　stood　and　the　chairs　were　folded　and　stacked　against　the　wall　opposite　the　door。　At　a　signal　from　Siona；　Topri　tapped　three　times　on　the　door　panel。　waited　for　a　two　count；　then　tapped　four　times。
　The　door　opened　and　a　tall　man　in　a　dark　brown　official　singlet　slipped　into　the　room。　He　wore　no　mask；　his　face　open　for　all　of　them　to　see　…　thin　and　imperious　with　a　narrow　mouth；　a　skinny　blade　of　a　nose；　dark　brown　eyes　deeply　set　under　bushy　brows。　It　was　a　face　recognized　by　most　of　the　room's　occupants。
　〃My　friends；〃　Topri　said；　〃I　present　Iyo　Kobat；　Ambassador　from　Ix。〃
　〃Ex…Ambassador；〃　Kobat　said。　His　voice　was　guttural　and　tightly　controlled。　He　took　a　position　with　his　back　to　the　wall　facing　the　masked　people　in　the　room。　〃I　have　this　day　received　orders　from　our　God　Emperor　to　leave　Arrakis　in　disgrace。〃
　〃Why？〃
　Siona　snapped　the　question　at　him　without　formality。
　Kobat　jerked　his　head　around；　a　quick　movement　which　fixed　his　gaze　on　her　masked　face。　〃There　has　been　an　attempt　on　the　God　Emperor's　life。　He　traced　the　weapon　to　me。〃
　Siona's　panions　opened　a　space　between　her　and　the　ex…Ambassador；　clearly　signaling　that　they　deferred　to　her。
　〃Then　why　didn't　he　kill　you？〃　she　demanded。
　〃I　think　he　is　telling　me　that　I　am　not　worth　killing。　There　is　also　the　fact　that　he　uses　me　now　to　carry　a　message　to　Ix。〃
　〃What　message？〃　Siona　moved　through　the　cleared　space　to　stop　within　two　paces　of　Kobat。　She　recognized　the　sexual　alertness　in　him　as　he　studied　her　body。
　〃You　are　Moneo's　daughter；〃　he　said。
　Soundless　tension　exploded　across　the　room。　Why　did　he　reveal　that　he　recognized　her？　Who　else　did　he　recognize　here？　Kobat　did　not　appear　the　fool。　Why　had　he　done　this？
　〃Your　body；　your　voice　and　your　manner　are　well　known　here　in　Onn；〃　he　said。　〃That　mask　is　a　foolishness。〃
　She　ripped　the　mask　from　her　head　and　smiled　at　him。　〃I　agree。　Now　answer　my　question。〃
　She　heard　Nayla　move　up　close　on　her　left；　two　more　aides　chosen　by　Nayla　came　up　beside　her。
　Siona　saw　the　moment　of　realization　e　over　Kobat　his　death　if　he　failed　to　satisfy　her　demands。　His　voice　did　not　lose　its　tight　control　but　he　spoke　slower；　choosing　his　words　more　carefully。
　〃The　God　Emperor　has　told　me　that　he　knows　about　an　agreement　between　Ix　and　the　Guild。　We　are　attempting　to　make　a　mechanical　amplifier　of。。。　th