fh.godemperorofdune-第28部分

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aw　a　clutch　of　Fish　Speaker　guards　among　the　courtiers　and。。。and　a　naked　figure　there。
　Naked！
　It　was　Duncan！　Naked！　Of　course！　The　Duncan　Idaho　without　a　uniform　was　not　a　Face　Dancer。
　Again；　laughter　shook　him。　Surprises　on　both　sides。　What　a　shock　that　must　have　been　to　the　attackers。　Obviously；　they　had　not　prepared　themselves　for　such　a　response。
　Leto　eased　his　cart　out　onto　the　roadway；　dropped　the　wheels　into　position　and　rolled　down　to　the　bridge。　He　crossed　the　bridge　with　a　sense　of　deja　vu；　aware　of　the　countless　bridges　in　his　memories；　the　crossings　to　view　the　aftermaths　of　battles。　As　he　cleared　the　bridge。　Idaho　broke　from　the　knot　of　guards　and　ran　toward　him；　skipping　and　dodging　the　bodies。　Leto　stopped　his　cart　and　stared　at　the　naked　runner。　The　Duncan　was　like　a　Greek　warrior…messenger　dashing　toward　his　mander　to　report　the　oute　of　battle。　The　condensation　of　history　stunned　Leto's　memories。
　Idaho　skidded　to　a　stop　beside　the　cart。　Leto　opened　the　bubble　cover。
　〃Face　Dancers；　every　damned　one'〃　Idaho　panted。
　Not　trying　to　conceal　his　amusement；　Leto　asked：　〃Whose　idea　was　it　to　strip　off　your　uniform？〃
　〃Mine！　But　they　wouldn't　let　me　fight！〃
　Moneo　came　running　up　then　with　a　group　of　guards。　One　of　the　Fish　Speakers　tossed　a　guard's　blue　cloak　to　Idaho；　calling　out：　〃We're　trying　to　salvage　a　plete　uniform　from　the　bodies。〃
　〃I　ripped　mine　off；〃　Idaho　explained。
　〃Did　any　of　the　Face　Dancers　escape？〃　Moneo　asked。
　〃Not　a　one；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I　admit　your　women　are　good　fighters；　but　why　wouldn't　they　let　me　get　into。　。　。〃
　〃Because　they　have　instructions　to　protect　you；〃　Leto　said。　〃They　always　protect　the　most　valuable。　。　。〃
　〃Four　of　them　died　getting　me　out　of　there！〃　Idaho　said。
　〃We　lost　more　than　thirty　people　altogether；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　〃We're　still　counting。〃
　〃How　many　Face　Dancers？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃It　looks　like　there　were　an　even　fifty　of　them；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　He　spoke　softly；　a　stricken　look　on　his　face。
　Leto　began　to　chuckle。
　〃Why　are　you　laughing？〃　Idaho　demanded。　〃More　than　thirty　of　our　people。　。　。〃
　〃But　the　Tleilaxu　were　so　inept；〃　Leto　said。　〃Do　you　not　realize　that　only　about　five　hundred　years　ago　they　would've　been　far　more　efficient；　far　more　dangerous。　Imagine　them　daring　that　foolish　masquerade！　And　not　anticipating　your　brilliant　response！〃
　〃They　had　lasguns；〃　Idaho　said。
　Leto　twisted　his　bulky　forward　segments　around　and　pointed　at　a　hole　burned　in　his　canopy　almost　at　the　cart'；　midpoint　A　melted　and　fused　starburst　surrounded　the　hole。
　〃They　hit　several　other　places　underneath；〃　Leto　said　〃Fortunately；　they　did　not　damage　any　suspensors　or　wheels。〃
　Idaho　stared　at　the　hole　in　the　canopy。　noted　that　it　lined　up　with　Leto's　body。
　〃Didn't　it　hit　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Are　you　injured？〃　〃I　am　immune　to　lasguns；〃　Leto　lied。　〃When　we　get　time；　I　will　demonstrate。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　not　immune。〃　Idaho　said。　〃And　neither　are　your　guards。　Every　one　of　us　should　have　a　shield　belt。〃
　〃Shields　are　banned　throughout　the　Empire。〃　Leto　said。　〃It　is　a　capital　offense　to　have　a　shield。〃
　〃The　question　of　shields；〃　Moneo　ventured。
　Idaho　thought　Moneo　was　asking　for　an　explanation　of　shields　and　said：　〃The　belts　develop　a　force　field　which　will　repel　any　object　trying　to　enter　at　a　dangerous　speed。　They　have　one　major　drawback。　If　you　intersect　the　force　field　with　a　lasgun　beam；　the　resultant　explosion　rivals　that　of　a　very　large　fusion　bomb。　Attacker　and　attacked　go　together。〃
　Moneo　only　stared　at　Idaho；　who　nodded。
　〃I　see　why　they　were　banned；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I　presume　the　Great　Convention　against　atomics　is　still　in　force　and　working　well？〃
　〃Working　even　better　since　we　searched　out　all　of　the　Family　atomics　and　removed　them　to　a　safe　place；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　we　do　not　have　time　to　discuss　such　matters　here。〃
　〃We　can　discuss　one　thing；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Walking　out　here　in　the　open　is　too　dangerous。　We　should。　。　。〃'
　〃It　is　the　tradition　and　we　will　continue　it；〃　Leto　said。
　Moneo　leaned　close　to　Idaho's　ear。　〃You　are　disturbing　the　Lord　Leto；〃　he　said。
　〃But。　。　。〃
　〃Have　you　not　considered　how　much　easier　it　is　to　control　a　walking　population？〃　Moneo　asked。
　Idaho　jerked　around　to　stare　into　Moneo's　eyes　with　sudden　prehension。
　Leto　took　the　opportunity　to　begin　issuing　orders。　〃Moneo；　see　that　there　is　no　sign　of　the　attack　left　here；　not　one　spot　of　blood　or　a　torn　rag　of　clothing…nothing。〃
　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　Idaho　turned　at　the　sound　of　people　pressing　close　around　them；　saw　that　all　of　the　survivors；　even　the　wounded　wearing　emergency　bandages；　had　e　up　to　listen。
　〃All　of　you；〃　Leto　said；　addressing　the　throng　around　the　cart。　〃Not　a　word　of　this。　Let　the　Tleilaxu　worry。〃　He　looked　at　Idaho。
　〃Duncan；　how　did　those　Face　Dancers　get　into　a　region　where　only　my　Museum　Fremen　should　roam　free？〃
　Idaho　glanced　involuntarily　at　Moneo。
　〃Lord；　it　is　my　fault；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　was　the　one　who　arranged　for　the　Fremen　to　present　their　petition　here。　I　even　reassured　Duncan　Idaho　about　them。〃
　〃I　recall　your　mentioning　the　petition；〃　Leto　said。
　〃I　thought　it　might　amuse　you；　Lord。〃
　〃Petitions　do　not　amuse　me；　they　annoy　me。　I　am　especially　annoyed　by　petitions　from　people　whose　one　purpose　in　my　scheme　of　things　is　to　preserve　the　ancient　forms。〃
　〃Lord；　it　was　just　that　you　have　spoken　so　many　times　about　the　boredom　of　these　peregrinations　into。　。　。〃
　〃But　I　am　not　here　to　ease　the　boredom　of　others！〃
　〃Lord？〃
　〃The　Museum　Fremen　understand　nothing　about　the　old　ways。　They　are　only　good　at　going　through　the　motions。　This　naturally　bores　them　and　their　petitions　always　seek　to　introduce　changes。　That's　what　annoys　me。　I　will　not　permit　changes。　Now；　where　did　you　learn　of　the　supposed　petition？〃
　〃From　the　Fremen　themselves；〃　Moneo　said。　〃A　dele。　。　。〃　He　broke　off；　scowling。
　〃Were　the　members　of　the　delegation　known　to　you'。'〃
　〃Of　course；　Lord。　Otherwise　I'd　。　。　。〃
　〃They're　dead；〃　Idaho　said。
　Moneo　looked　at　him；　unprehending。
　〃The　people　you　knew　were　killed　and　replaced　by　Face　Dancer　mimics；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃I　have　been　remiss；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　should've　taught　all　of　you　how　to　detect　Face　Dancers。　It　will　be　corrected　now　that　they　grow　foolishly　bold。〃
　〃Why　are　they　so　bold？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃Perhaps　to　distract　us　from　something　else；〃　Moneo　said。
　Leto　smiled　at　Moneo。　Under　the　stress　of　personal　threat；　the　majordomo's　mind　worked　well。　He　had　failed　his　Lord　by　mistaking　Face　Dancer　mimics　for　known　Fremen。　Now；　Moneo　felt　that　his　continued　service　might　depend　upon　those　abilities　for　which　the　God　Emperor　had　originally　chosen　him。　〃And　now　we　have　time　to　prepare　ourselves；〃　Leto　said。　〃Distract　us　from　what？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　〃From　another　plot　in　which　they　participate；〃　Leto　said。　〃They　think　I　will　punish　them　severely　for　this；　but　the　Tleilaxu　core　remains　safe　because　of　you；　Duncan。〃
　〃They　didn't　intend　to　fail　here；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃But　it　was　a　contingency　for　which　they　were　prepared；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃They　believe　I　will　not　destroy　them　because　they　hold　the　original　cells　of　my　Duncan　Idaho；〃　Leto　said。　〃Do　you　understand；　Duncan？〃
　〃Are　they　right？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　〃They　approach　being　wrong；〃　Leto　said。　He　returned　his　attention　to　Moneo。　〃No　sign　of　this　event　must　go　with　us　to　Onn。　Fresh　uniforms；　new　guards　to　replace　the　dead　and　wounded。。。everything　just　as　it　was。〃
　〃There　are　dead　among　your　courtiers；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　〃Replace　them！〃
　Moneo　bowed。　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　〃And　send　for　a　new　canopy　to　my　cart！〃
　〃As　my　Lord　mands。〃
　Leto　backed　his　cart　a　few　paces　away；　turned　it　and　headed　for　the　bridge；　calling　back　to　Idaho。　〃Duncan；　you　will　acpany　me。〃
　Slowly　at　first；　reluctance　heavy　in　every　movement；　Idaho　left　Moneo　and　the　others；　then；　increasing　his　pace；　came　up　beside　the　cart's　open　bubble　and　walked　there　while　staring　in　at　Leto。
　〃What　troubles　you；　Duncan？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃Do　you　really　think　of　me　as　your　Duncan？〃
　〃Of　course；　just　as　you　think　of　me　as　your　Leto。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　know　this　attack　was　ing？〃
　〃Through　my　vaunted　prescience''〃
　〃Yes！〃
　〃The　Face　Dancers　have　not　attracted　my　attention　for　a　long　time；〃　Leto　said。
　〃I　presume　that　is　changed　now？〃
　〃Not　to　any　great　degree。〃
　〃Why　not'？〃
　〃Because　Moneo　was　correct。　I　will　not　let　myself　be　distracted。〃
　〃Could　they　really　have　killed　you　there？〃
　〃A　distinct　possibility。　You　know；　Duncan；　few　understand　what　a　disaster　my　end　will　be。〃
　〃What're　the　Tleilaxu　plotting？〃
　〃A　snare；　I　think。　A　lovely　snare。　They　have　sent　me　a　signal；　Duncan。〃
　〃What　signal？〃
　〃There　is　a　new　escalation　in　the　desperate　motives　which　drive　some　of　my　subjects。〃
　They　left　the　bridge　and　began　the　climb　to　Leto's　viewpoint。　Idaho　walked　in　a　fermenting　silence。
　At　the　top；　Leto　lifted　his　gaze　over　the　far　cliffs　and　looked　at　the　barrens　of　the　Sareer。
　The　lamentations　of　those　in　his　entourage　who　had　lost　loved　ones　continued　at　the　attack　scene　beyond　the　bridge。　With　his　acute　hearing；　Leto　could　separate　Moneo's　voice　warning　them　that　the　time　of　mourning　was　necessarily　short。　They　had　o