fh.godemperorofdune-第20部分

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　〃I　try　not　to　burden　the　Fish　Speakers　with　guilt。〃
　〃But　you　would　burden　me？〃
　〃If　you　accept　it。〃
　〃If　I　find　that　you're　worse　than　the　Harkonnens；　I'll　turn　against　you。〃
　How　like　a　Duncan。　They　measure　all　evil　against　the　Harkonnens。　How　little　they　know　of　evil。
　Leto　said：　〃The　Baron　ate　whole　planets；　Duncan。　What　could　be　worse　than　that？〃
　〃Eating　the　Empire。〃
　〃I　am　pregnant　with　my　Empire。　I'll　die　giving　birth　to　it。〃
　〃If　I　could　believe　that　。　。　。〃
　〃Will　you　mand　my　Guard？〃
　〃Why　me'？〃
　〃You're　the　best。〃
　〃Dangerous　work；　I'd　imagine。　Is　that　how　my　predecessors　died；　doing　your　dangerous　work？〃
　〃Some　of　them。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　the　memories　of　those　others！〃
　〃You　couldn't　have　and　still　be　the　original。〃
　〃I　want　to　learn　about　them；　though。〃
　〃You　will。〃
　〃So　the　Atreides　still　need　a　sharp　knife？〃
　〃We　have　jobs　that　only　a　Duncan　Idaho　can　do。〃
　〃You　say。。。we　。　。　。〃　Idaho　swallowed；　looked　at　the　door；　then　at　Leto's　face。
　Leto　spoke　to　him　as　Muad'Dib　would　have；　but　still　in　the　Leto…voice。
　〃When　we　climbed　to　Sietch　Tabr　for　the　last　time　together；　you　had　my　loyalty　then　and　I　had　yours。　Nothing　of　that　has　really　changed。〃
　〃That　was　your　father。〃
　〃That　was　me！〃　Paul　Muad'Dib's　voice　of　mand　ing　from　Leto's　bulk　always　shocked　the　gholas。
　Idaho　whispered：　〃All　of　you。。。in　that　one。。。body。　。　。〃　He　broke　off。
　Leto　remained　silent。　This　was　the　decision　moment。
　Presently；　Idaho　permitted　himself　that　devil…may…care　grin　for　which　he　had　been　so　well　known。　〃Then　I　will　speak　to　the　first　Leto　and　to　Paul；　the　ones　who　know　me　best。　Use　me　well；　for　I　did　love　you。〃
　Leto　closed　his　eyes。　Such　words　always　distressed　him。　He　knew　it　was　love　to　which　he　was　most　vulnerable。
　Moneo；　who　had　been　listening；　came　to　the　rescue。　He　entered　and　said：　〃Lord；　shall　I　take　Duncan　Idaho　to　the　guards　he　will　mand？〃
　〃Yes。〃　The　one　word　was　all　that　Leto　could　manage。
　Moneo　took　Idaho's　arm　and　led　him　away。
　Good　Moneo；　Leto　thought。　So　good。　He　knows　me　so　well；　but　l　despair　of　his　ever　understanding　me。
　
　I　know　the　evil　of　my　ancestors　because　I　am　those　people。　The　balance　is　delicate　in　the　extreme。　I　know　that　few　of　you　who　read　my　words　have　ever　thought　about　your　ancestors　this　way。　It　has　not　occurred　to　you　that　your　ancestors　were　survivors　and　that　the　survival　itself　sometimes　involved　savage　decisions；　a　kind　of　wanton　brutality　which　civilized　humankind　works　very　hard　to　suppress。　What　price　will　you　pay　for　that　suppression？　Will　you　accept　your　own　extinction？
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　AS　HE　dressed　for　his　first　morning　of　Fish　Speaker　mand；　Idaho　tried　to　shake　off　a　nightmare。　It　had　awakened　him　twice　and　both　times　he　had　gone　out　on　the　balcony　to　stare　up　at　the　stars；　the　dream　still　roaring　in　his　head。
　Women。。。weaponless　women　in　black　armor。。。rushing　at　him　with　the　hoarse；　mindless　shouting　of　a　mob。。。waving　hands　moist　with　red　blood。。。　and　as　they　swarmed　over　him；　their　mouths　opened　to　display　terrible　fangs！
　In　that　moment；　he　awoke。
　Morning　light　did　little　to　dispel　the　effects　of　the　nightmare。
　They　had　provided　him　with　a　room　in　the　north　tower。　The　balcony　looked　out　over　a　vista　of　dunes　to　a　distant　cliff　with　what　appeared　to　be　a　mud…but　village　at　its　base。
　Idaho　buttoned　his　tunic　as　he　stared　at　the　scene。
　Why　does　Leto　choose　only　women　for　his　army？
　Several　ely　Fish　Speakers　had　offered　to　spend　the　night　with　their　new　mander；　but　Idaho　had　rejected　them。
　It　was　not　like　the　Atreides　to　use　sex　as　a　persuader！
　He　looked　down　at　his　clothing：　a　black　uniform　with　golden　piping；　a　red　hawk　at　the　left　breast。　That；　at　least；　was　familiar。　No　insignia　of　rank。
　〃They　know　your　face；〃　Moneo　had　said。
　Strange　little　man；　Moneo。
　This　thought　brought　Idaho　up　short。　Reflection　told　him　that　Moneo　was　not　little。　Very　controlled；　yes；　but　no　shorter　than　I　am。　Moneo　appeared　drawn　into　himself；　though。。llected。
　Idaho　glanced　around　his　room…sybaritic　in　its　attention　to　fort…soft　cushions；　appliances　concealed　behind　panels　of　brown　polished　wood。　The　bath　was　an　ornate　display　of　pastel　blue　tiles　with　a　bination　bath　and　shower　in　which　at　least　six　people　could　bathe　at　the　same　time。　The　whole　place　invited　self…indulgence。　These　were　quarters　where　you　could　let　your　senses　indulge　in　remembered　pleasures。
　〃Clever；〃　Idaho　whispered。
　A　gentle　tapping　on　his　door　was　followed　by　a　female　voice　saying：　〃mander？　Moneo　is　here。〃
　Idaho　glanced　out　at　the　sunburnt　colors　on　the　distant　cliff。
　〃mander？〃　The　voice　was　a　bit　louder。
　〃e　in；〃　Idaho　called。
　Moneo　entered；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　He　wore　tunic　and　trousers　of　chalk…white　which　forced　the　eyes　to　concentrate　on　his　face。　Moneo　glanced　once　around　the　room。
　〃So　this　is　where　they　put　you。　Those　damned　women！　I　suppose　they　thought　they　were　being　kind；　but　they　ought　to　know　better。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　what　I　like？〃　Idaho　demanded。　Even　as　he　asked　it；　he　realized　it　was　a　foolish　question。
　I'm　not　the　first　Duncan　Idaho　that　Moneo　has　seen。
　Moneo　merely　smiled　and　shrugged。
　〃I　did　not　mean　to　offend　you；　mander。　Will　you　keep　these　quarters；　then？〃
　〃I　like　the　view。〃
　〃But　not　the　furnishings。〃　It　was　a　statement。
　〃Those　can　be　changed；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃I　will　see　to　it。〃
　〃I　suppose　you're　here　to　explain　my　duties。〃
　〃As　much　as　I　can。　I　know　how　strange　everything　must　appear　to　you　at　first。　This　civilization　is　profoundly　different　from　the　one　you　knew。〃
　〃I　can　see　that。　How　did　my。。。predecessor　die？〃
　Moneo　shrugged。　It　appeared　to　be　his　standard　gesture；　but　there　was　nothing　self…effacing　about　it。
　〃He　was　not　fast　enough　to　escape　the　consequences　of　a　decision　he　had　made；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Be　specific。〃
　Moneo　sighed。　The　Duncans　were　always　like　this…so　demanding。
　〃The　rebellion　killed　him。　Do　you　wish　the　details？〃
　〃Would　they　be　useful　to　me？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃I'll　want　a　plete　briefing　on　this　rebellion　today；　but　first：　why　are　there　no　men　in　Leto's　army？〃
　〃He　has　you。〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean。〃
　〃He　has　a　curious　theory　about　armies。　I　have　discussed　it　with　him　on　many　occasions。　But　do　you　not　want　to　breakfast　before　I　explain？〃
　〃Can't　we　have　both　at　the　same　time？〃
　Moneo　turned　toward　the　door　and　called　out　a　single　word：　〃Now！〃
　The　effect　was　immediate　and　fascinating　to　Idaho。　A　troop　of　young　Fish　Speakers　swarmed　into　the　room。　Two　of　them　took　a　folding　table　and　chairs　from　behind　a　panel　and　placed　them　on　the　balcony。　Others　set　the　table　for　two　people。　More　brought　food…fresh　fruit；　hot　rolls　and　a　steaming　drink　which　smelled　faintly　of　spice　and　caffeine。　It　was　all　done　with　a　swift　and　silent　efficiency　which　spoke　of　long　practice。　They　left　as　they　had　e；　without　a　word。
　Idaho　found　himself　seated　across　from　Moneo　at　the　table　within　a　minute　after　the　start　of　this　curious　performance。
　〃Every　morning　like　that？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃Only　if　you　wish　it。〃
　Idaho　sampled　the　drink：　melange…coffee。　He　recognized　the　fruit；　the　soft　Caladan　melon　called　paradan。
　My　favorite。
　〃You　know　me　pretty　well；〃　Idaho　said。
　Moneo　smiled。　〃We've　had　some　practice。　Now；　about　your　question。〃
　〃And　Leto's　curious　theory。〃
　〃Yes。　He　says　that　the　all…male　army　was　too　dangerous　to　its　civilian　support　base。〃
　〃That's　crazy！　Without　the　army；　there　would've　been　no。。。
　〃I　know　the　argument。　But　he　says　that　the　male　army　was　a　survival　of　the　screening　function　delegated　to　the　nonbreeding　males　in　the　prehistoric　pack。　He　says　it　was　a　curiously　consistent　fact　that　it　was　always　the　older　males　who　sent　the　younger　males　into　battle。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean；　screening　function？〃
　〃The　ones　who　were　always　out　on　the　dangerous　perimeter　protecting　the　core　of　breeding　males；　females　and　the　young。　The　ones　who　first　encountered　the　predator。〃
　〃How　is　that　dangerous　to　the。。。civilians？〃
　Idaho　took　a　bite　of　the　melon；　found　it　ripened　perfectly。
　〃The　Lord　Leto　says　that　when　it　was　denied　an　external　enemy；　the　all…male　army　always　turned　against　its　own　population。　Always。〃
　〃Contending　for　the　females？〃
　〃Perhaps。　He　obviously　does　not　believe；　however；　that　it　was　that　simple。〃
　〃I　don't　find　this　a　curious　theory。〃
　〃You　have　not　heard　all　of　it。〃
　〃There's　more？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　He　says　that　the　all…male　army　has　a　strong　tendency　toward　homosexual　activities。〃
　Idaho　glared　across　the　table　at　Moneo。　〃I　never。　。　。〃
　〃Of　course　not。　He　is　speaking　about　sublimation；　about　deflected　energies　and　all　the　rest　of　it。〃
　〃The　rest　of　what？〃　Idaho　was　prickly　with　anger　at　what　he　saw　as　an　attack　on　his　male　self…image。
　〃Adolescent　attitudes；　just　boys　together；　jokes　designed　purely　to　cause　pain；　loyalty　only　to　your　pack…mates。。。things　of　that　nature。〃
　Idaho　spoke　coldly。　〃What's　your　opinion？〃
　〃I　remind　myself…〃　Moneo　turned　and　spoke　while　looking　out　at　the　view…'of　something　which　he　has　said　and　which　I　am　sure　is　true。　He　is　every　soldier　in　human　history。　He　offered　to　parade　for　me　a　series　of　examples…famous　military　figures　who　were　frozen　in　a