fh.godemperorofdune-第19部分

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　Except　when　you　were　slow。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　changing？〃
　〃More　than　thirty…five　hundred　years。〃
　〃Then　what　the　Tleilaxu　told　me　is　true。〃
　〃They　seldom　dare　to　lie　anymore。〃
　〃That's　a　long　time。〃
　〃Very　long。〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu　have。。pied　me　many　times？〃
　〃Many。'
　It's　time　you　asked　how　many；　Duncan；
　〃How　many　of　me？〃
　〃I　will　let　you　see　the　records　for　yourself。〃
　And　so　it　starts；　Leto　thought。
　This　exchange　always　appeared　to　satisfy　the　Duncans；　but　there　was　no　escaping　the　nature　of　the　question：
　〃How　many　of　me？〃
　The　Duncans　made　no　distinctions　of　the　flesh　even　though　no　mutual　memories　passed　between　gholas　of　the　same　stock。
　〃I　remember　my　death；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Harkonnen　blades；　lots　of　them　trying　to　get　at　you　and　Jessica。〃
　Leto　restored　the　Muad'Dib　voice　for　momentary　play：　〃I　was　there；　Duncan。〃
　〃I'm　a　replacement；　is　that　right？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃That's　right；〃　Leto　said。
　〃How　did　the　other。。。me。。。I　mean；　how　did　he　die？〃
　〃All　flesh　wears　out；　Duncan。　It's　in　the　records。〃
　Leto　waited　patiently；　wondering　how　long　it　would　be　until　the　tamed　history　failed　to　satisfy　this　Duncan。
　〃What　do　you　really　look　like？〃　Idaho　asked。　〃What's　this　sandworm　body　the　Tleilaxu　described？〃
　〃It　will　make　sandworms　of　sorts　someday。　It's　already　far　down　the　road　of　metamorphosis。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　of　sorts？〃
　〃It　will　have　more　ganglia。　It　will　be　aware。〃
　〃Can't　we　have　some　light'？　I'd　like　to　see　you。〃
　Leto　manded　the　floodlights。　Brilliant　illumination　filled　the　room。　The　black　walls　and　the　lighting　had　been　arranged　to　focus　the　illumination　on　Leto；　every　visible　detail　revealed。
　Idaho　swept　his　gaze　along　the　faceted　silvery…gray　body；　noted　the　beginnings　of　a　sandworm's　ribbed　sections；　the　sinuous　flexings。。。the　small　protuberances　which　had　once　been　feet　and　legs；　one　of　them　somewhat　shorter　than　the　other。　He　brought　his　attention　back　to　the　well…defined　arms　and　hands　and　finally　lifted　his　attention　to　the　cowled　face　with　its　pink　skin　almost　lost　in　the　immensity；　a　ridiculous　extrusion　on　such　a　body。
　〃Well；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃You　were　warned。〃
　Idaho　gestured　mutely　toward　the　pre…worm　body。
　Leto　asked　it　for　him：　〃Why'？〃
　Idaho　nodded。
　〃I'm　still　Atreides；　Duncan；　and　I　assure　you　with　all　the　honor　of　that　name；　there　were　pelling　reasons。〃
　〃What　could　possibly。。。〃
　〃You　will　learn　in　time。〃
　Idaho　merely　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side。
　〃It's　not。　a　pleasant　revelation；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　requires　that　you　learn　other　things　first。　Trust　the　word　of　an　Atreides。〃
　Over　the　centuries；　Leto　had　found　that　this　invocation　of　Idaho's　profound　loyalties　to　all　things　Atreides　dampened　the　immediate　wellspring　of　personal　questions。　Once　more；　the　formula　worked。
　〃So　I'm　to　serve　the　Atreides　again；〃　Idaho　said。　〃That　sounds　familiar。　Is　it？〃
　〃In　many　ways；　old　friend。〃
　〃Old　to　you；　maybe；　but　not　to　me。　How　will　I　serve'？〃
　〃Didn't　my　Fish　Speakers　tell　you？〃
　〃They　said　I　would　mand　your　elite　Guard；　a　force　chosen　from　among　them。　I　don't　understand　that。　An　army　of　women？〃
　〃I　need　a　trusted　panion　who　can　mand　my　Guard。　You　object？〃
　〃Why　women？〃
　〃There　are　behavioral　differences　between　the　sexes　which　make　women　extremely　valuable　in　this　role。〃
　〃You're　not　answering　my　question。〃
　〃You　think　them　inadequate？〃
　〃Some　of　them　looked　pretty　tough；　but。　。　。〃
　〃Others　were；　ahhh；　soft　with　you？〃
　Idaho　blushed。
　Leto　found　this　a　charming　reaction。　The　Duncans　were　among　the　few　humans　of　these　times　who　could　do　this。　It　was　understandable；　a　product　of　the　Duncans'　early　training；　their　sense　of　personal　honor…very　chivalrous。
　〃I　don't　see　why　you　trust　women　to　protect　you；〃　Idaho　said。　The　blood　slowly　receded　from　his　cheeks。　He　glared　at　Leto。
　〃But　I　have　always　trusted　them　as　I　trust　you…with　my　life。〃
　〃What　do　we　protect　you　from？〃
　〃Moneo　and　my　Fish　Speakers　will　bring　you　up　to　date。〃
　Idaho　shifted　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　his　body　swaying　in　a　heartbeat　rhythm。　He　stared　around　the　small　room；　his　eyes　not　focusing。　With　the　abruptness　of　sudden　decision；　he　returned　his　attention　to　Leto。
　〃What　do　I　call　you？〃
　It　was　the　sign　of　acceptance　for　which　Leto　had　been　waiting。　〃Will　Lord　Leto　do？〃
　〃Yes。。。m'Lord。〃　Idaho　stared　directly　into　Leto's　Fremen　blue　eyes。　〃Is　it　true　what　your　Fish　Speakers　say…you　have。。。memories　of。　。　。〃
　〃We're　all　here；　Duncan。〃　Leto　spoke　it　in　the　voice　of　his　paternal　grandfather；　then：
　〃Even　the　women　are　here；　Duncan。〃　It　was　the　voice　of　Jessica；　Leto's　paternal　grandmother。
　〃You　knew　them　well；〃　Leto　said。　〃And　they　know　you。〃
　Idaho　inhaled　a　slow；　trembling　breath。　〃That　will　take　a　little　getting　used　to。〃
　〃My　own　initial　reaction　exactly；〃　Leto　said。
　An　explosion　of　laughter　shook　Idaho；　and　Leto　thought　it　more　than　the　weak　jest　deserved；　but　he　remained　silent。
　Presently；　Idaho　said：　〃Your　Fish　Speakers　were　supposed　to　put　me　in　a　good　mood；　weren't　they'？〃
　〃Did　they　succeed？〃
　Idaho　studied　Leto's　face；　recognizing　the　distinctive　Atreides　features。
　〃You　Atreides　always　did　know　me　too　well；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃That's　better；〃　Leto　said。　〃You're　beginning　to　accept　that　I'm　not　just　one　Atreides。　I'm　all　of　them。〃
　〃Paul　said　that　once。〃
　〃So　I　did！〃　As　much　as　the　original　personality　could　be　conveyed　by　tone　and　accent；　it　was　Muad'Dib　speaking。
　Idaho　gulped；　looked　away　at　the　room's　door。
　〃You've　taken　something　away　from　us；〃　he　said。　〃I　can　feel　it。　Those　women。。。Moneo。　。　。〃
　Us　against　you；　Leto　thought。　The　Duncans　always　choose　the　human　side。
　Idaho　returned　his　attention　to　Leto's　face。　〃What　have　you　given　us　in　exchange？〃
　〃Throughout　the　Empire；　Leto's　Peace！〃
　〃And　I　can　see　that　everyone's　delightfully　happy！　That's　why　you　need　a　personal　guard。〃
　Leto　smiled。　〃My　peace　is　actually　enforced　tranquility。　Humans　have　a　long　history　of　reacting　against　tranquility。〃
　〃So　you　give　us　the　Fish　Speakers。〃
　〃And　a　hierarchy　you　can　identify　without　any　mistakes。〃
　〃A　female　army；〃　Idaho　muttered。
　〃The　ultimate　male…enticing　force；〃　Leto　said。　〃Sex　always　was　a　way　of　subduing　the　aggressive　male。〃
　〃Is　that　what　they　do？〃
　〃They　prevent　or　ameliorate　excesses　which　could　lead　to　more　painful　violence。〃
　〃And　you　let　them　believe　you're　a　god。　I　don't　think　I　like　this。〃
　〃The　curse　of　holiness　is　as　offensive　to　me　as　it　is　to　you！〃
　Idaho　frowned。　It　was　not　the　response　he　had　expected。
　〃What　kind　of　game　are　you　playing；　Lord　Leto？〃
　〃A　very　old　one　but　with　new　rules。〃
　〃Your　rules！〃
　〃Would　you　rather　I　turned　it　all　back　to　CHOAM　and　Landsraad　and　the　Great　Houses？〃
　〃The　Tleilaxu　say　there　is　no　more　Landsraad。　You　don't　allow　any　real　self…rule。〃
　〃Well　then；　I　could　step　aside　for　the　Bene　Gesserit。　Or　maybe　the　Ixians　or　the　Tleilaxu？　Would　you　like　me　to　find　another　Baron　Harkonnen　to　assume　power　over　the　Empire'。〃　Say　the　word；　Duncan；　and　I'll　abdicate！〃
　Under　this　avalanche　of　meanings；　Idaho　again　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side。
　〃In　the　wrong　hands；〃　Leto　said；　〃monolithic　centralized　power　is　a　dangerous　and　volatile　instrument。〃
　〃And　your　hands　are　the　right　ones？〃
　〃I'm　not　certain　about　my　hands；　but　I　will　tell　you；　Duncan；　I'm　certain　about　the　hands　of　those　who've　gone　before　me。　I　know　them。〃
　Idaho　turned　his　back　on　Leto。
　What　a　fascinating；　ultimately　human　gesture；　Leto　thought。　Rejection　coupled　to　acceptance　of　his　vulnerability。
　Leto　spoke　to　Idaho's　back。
　〃You　object　quite　rightly　that　I　use　people　without　their　full　knowledge　and　consent。〃
　Idaho　turned　his　profile　to　Leto；　then　turned　his　head　to　look　up　at　the　cowled　face；　cocking　his　head　forward　a　bit　to　peer　into　the　all…blue　eyes。
　He　is　studying　me；　Leto　thought；　but　he　has　only　the　face　to　measure　me　by。
　The　Atreides　had　taught　their　people　to　know　the　subtle　signals　of　face　and　body；　and　Idaho　was　good　at　it；　but　the　realization　could　be　seen　ing　over　him：　he　was　beyond　his　depth　here。
　Idaho　cleared　his　throat。　〃What's　the　worst　thing　you　would　ask　of　me？〃
　How　like　a　Duncan！　Leto　thought。　This　one　was　a　classic。　Idaho　would　give　his　loyalty　to　an　Atreides；　to　the　guardian　of　his　oath；　but　he　sent　a　signal　that　he　would　not　go　beyond　the　personal　limits　of　his　own　morality。
　〃You　will　be　asked　to　guard　me　by　whatever　means　necessary；　and　you　will　be　asked　to　guard　my　secret。〃
　〃What　secret？〃
　〃That　I　am　vulnerable。〃
　〃That　you're　not　God？〃
　〃Not　in　that　ultimate　sense。〃
　〃Your　Fish　Speakers　talk　about　rebels。〃
　〃They　exist。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃They　are　young　and　I　have　not　convinced　them　that　my　way　is　better。　It's　very　difficult　convincing　the　young　of　anything。　They're　born　knowing　so　much。〃
　〃I　never　before　heard　an　Atreides　sneer　at　the　young　that　way。〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　because　I'm　so　much　older…old　pounded　by　old。　And　my　task　gets　more　difficult　with　each　passing　generation。〃
　〃What　is　your　task？〃
　〃You　will　e　to　understand　it　as　we　go　along。〃
　〃What　happens　if　I　fail　you？　Do　your　women　eliminate　me？〃
　〃I　try　not　to　burden　the　Fish　Speakers　with　guilt。〃
　〃But