fh.godemperorofdune-第29部分

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ould　separate　Moneo's　voice　warning　them　that　the　time　of　mourning　was　necessarily　short。　They　had　other　loved　ones　at　the　Citadel　and　they　well　knew　the　God　Emperor's　wrath。
　Their　tears　will　be　gone　and　smiles　will　be　pasted　on　their　faces　by　the　time　we　reach　Onn；　Leto　thought。　They　think　l　spurn　them！　What　does　that　really　matter？　This　is　a　flickering　nuisance　among　the　short…lived　and　the　short…　thoughted。
　The　view　of　the　desert　soothed　him。　He　could　not　see　the　river　in　its　canyon　from　this　point　without　turning　pletely　around　and　looking　toward　the　Festival　City。　The　Duncan　remained　mercifully　silent　beside　the　cart。　Turning　his　gaze　slightly　to　the　left；　Leto　could　see　an　edge　of　the　Forbidden　Forest。　Against　that　glimpse　of　verdant　landscape；　his　memory　suddenly　pressed　the　Sareer　into　a　tiny；　weak　remnant　of　the　planet…wide　desert　which　once　had　been　so　mighty　that　all　men　feared　it；　even　the　wild　Fremen　who　had　roamed　it。
　It　is　the　river；　Leto　thought。　If　I　turn；　I　will　。see　the　thing　that　I　have　done。
　The　man…made　chasm　through　which　the　Idaho　River　tumbled　was　only　an　extension　of　the　Gap　which　Paul　Muad'Dib　had　blasted　through　the　towering　Shield　Wall　for　the　passage　of　his　worm　mounted　legions。　Where　water　flowed　now；　Muad'Dib　had　led　his　Fremen　out　of　a　Coriolis　storm's　dust　into　history。。。and　into　this。
　Leto　heard　Moneo's　familiar　footsteps；　the　sounds　of　the　majordomo　laboring　up　to　the　viewpoint。　Moneo　came　up　to　stand　beside　Idaho　and　paused　a　moment　to　catch　his　breath。
　〃How　long　until　we　can　go　on？〃　Idaho　asked。
　Moneo　waved　him　to　silence　and　addressed　Leto。　〃Lord；　we　have　had　a　message　from　Onn。　The　Bene　Gesserit　send　word　that　the　Tleilaxu　will　attack　before　you　reach　the　bridge。〃
　Idaho　snorted。　〃Aren't　they　a　little　late？〃
　〃It　is　not　their　fault；〃　Moneo　said。　〃The　captain　of　the　Fish　Speaker　Guard　would　not　believe　them。〃
　Other　members　of　Leto's　entourage　began　trickling　onto　the　viewpoint　level。　Some　of　them　appeared　drugged；　still　in　shock。　The　Fish　Speakers　moved　briskly　among　them；　manding　a　show　of　good　spirits。
　〃Remove　the　Guard　from　the　Bene　Gesserit　Embassy。〃　Leto　said。　〃Send　them　a　message。　Tell　them　that　their　audience　will　still　be　the　last　one；　but　they　are　not　to　fear　this。　Tell　them　that　the　last　will　be　first。　They　will　know　the　allusion。〃
　〃What　about　the　Tleilaxu？〃　Idaho　asked。
　Leto　kept　his　attention　on　Moneo。　〃Yes；　the　Tleilaxu。　We　will　send　them　a　signal。〃
　〃Yes；　Lord？〃
　〃When　I　order　it；　and　not　until　then；　you　will　have　the　Tleilaxu　Ambassador　publicly　flogged　and　expelled。〃
　〃Lord！〃
　〃You　disagree？〃
　〃If　we　are　to　keep　this　secret…〃　Moneo　glanced　over　his　shoulder…　〃how　will　you　explain　the　flogging？〃
　〃We　will　not　explain。〃
　〃We　will　give　no　reason　at　all？〃
　〃No　reason。〃
　〃But；　Lord；　the　rumors　and　the　stories　that　will　。　。　。〃
　〃I　am　reacting；　Moneo！　Let　them　sense　the　underground　part　of　me　which　does　things　without　my　knowing　because　it　has　not　the　wherewithal　of　knowing。〃
　〃This　will　cause　great　fear；　Lord。〃
　A　gruff　burst　of　laughter　escaped　Idaho。　He　stepped　between　Moneo　and　the　cart。　〃He　does　a　kindness　to　this　Ambassador！　There've　been　rulers　who　would've　killed　the　fool　over　a　slow　fire。〃
　Moneo　tried　to　speak　to　Leto　around　Idaho's　shoulder。　〃But。　Lord；　this　action　will　confirm　for　the　Tleilaxu　that　you　were　attacked。〃
　〃They　already　know　that；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　they　will　not　talk　about　it。〃
　〃And　when　none　of　the　attackers　return。　。　。〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Do　you　understand；　Moneo？〃　Leto　asked。　〃When　we　march　into　Onn　apparently　unscathed；　the　Tleilaxu　will　believe　they　have　suffered　utter　failure。〃
　Moneo　glanced　around　at　the　Fish　Speakers　and　courtiers　listening　spellbound　to　this　conversation。　Seldom　had　any　of　them　heard　such　a　revealing　exchange　between　the　God　Emperor　and　his　most　immediate　aides。
　〃When　will　my　Lord　signal　punishment　of　the　Ambassador？〃　Moneo　asked。
　〃During　the　audience。〃
　Leto　heard　'thopters　ing；　saw　the　glint　of　sunlight　on　their　wings　and　rotors　and；　when　he　focused　intently；　made　out　the　fresh　canopy　for　his　cart　slung　beneath　one　of　them。
　〃Have　this　damaged　canopy　returned　to　the　Citadel　and　restored；〃　Leto　said；　still　peering　at　the　approaching　'thopters。　〃If　questions　are　asked；　tell　the　artisans　to　say　that　it's　just　routine；　another　canopy　scratched　by　blown　sand。〃
　Moneo　sighed。　〃Yes；　Lord。　It　will　be　done　as　you　say。〃
　〃e；　Moneo；　cheer　up；〃　Leto　said。　〃Walk　beside　me　as　we　continue。〃　Turning　to　Idaho；　Leto　said；　〃Take　some　of　the　guards　and　scout　ahead。〃
　〃Do　you　think　there'll　be　another　attack'？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃No；　but　it'll　give　the　guards　something　to　do。　And　get　a　fresh　uniform。　I　don't　want　you　wearing　something　that　has　been　contaminated　by　the　dirty　Tleilaxu…〃
　Idaho　moved　off　in　obedience。
　Leto　signaled　Moneo　to　e　closer；　closer。　When　Moneo　was　bending　into　the　cart；　face　less　than　a　meter　from　Leto's；　Leto　pitched　his　voice　low　and　said：
　〃There　is　a　special　lesson　here　for　you；　Moneo。〃
　〃Lord；　I　know　I　should　have　suspected　the　Face。　。　。〃
　〃Not　the　Face　Dancers！　It　is　a　lesson　for　your　daughter。〃
　〃Siona？　What　could　she。　。　。〃
　〃Tell　her　this：　In　a　fragile　way；　she　is　like　that　force　within　me　which　acts　without　knowing。　Because　of　her；　I　remember　what　it　was　to　be　human。　。　。　and　to　love。〃
　Moneo　stared　at　Leto　without　prehension。
　〃Simply　give　her　the　message；〃　Leto　said。　〃You　needn't　try　to　understand　it。　Merely　tell　her　my　words。〃
　Moneo　withdrew。　〃As　my　Lord　mands。〃
　Leto　closed　the　bubble　canopy；　making　a　single　unit　of　the　entire　cover　for　the　approaching　crews　on　the　'thopters　to　replace。
　Moneo　turned　and　glanced　around　at　the　people　waiting　on　the　flat　area　of　the　viewpoint。　He　noted　then　a　thing　he　had　not　observed　earlier；　a　thing　revealed　by　the　disarray　which　some　of　the　people　had　not　yet　repaired。　Some　of　the　courtiers　had　fitted　themselves　with　delicate　devices　to　assist　their　hearing。　They　had　been　eavesdropping。　And　such　devices　could　only　e　from　Ix。
　I　will　warn　the　Duncan　and　the　Guard；　Moneo　thought。
　Somehow；　he　thought　of　this　discovery　as　a　symptom　of　rot。　How　could　they　prohibit　such　things　when　most　of　the　courtiers　and　the　Fish　Speakers　either　knew　or　suspected　that　the　God　Emperor　traded　with　Ix　for　forbidden　machines。
　
　I　am　beginning　to　hate　water。　The　sandtrout　skin　which　impels　my　metamorphosis　has　learned　the　sensitivities　of　the　worm。　Moneo　and　many　of　my　guards　know　my　aversion；　Only　Moneo　suspects　the　truth；　that　this　marks　an　important　waypoint。　I　can　feel　my　ending　in　it；　not　soon　as　Moneo　measures　time；　but　soon　enough　as　I　endure　it。　Sandtrout　swarmed　to　water　in　the　Dune　days；　a　problem　during　the　early　stages　of　our　symbiosis。　The　enforcement　of　my　will　power　controlled　the　urge　then；　and　until　we　reached　a　time　of　balance。　Now；　I　must　avoid　water　because　there　are　no　other　sandtrout；　only　the　half　dormant　creatures　of　my　skin。　Without　sandtrout　to　bring　this　world　back　to　desert；　Shai…Hulud　will　not　emerge；　the　sandworm　cannot　evolve　until　the　land　is　parched。　I　am　their　only　hope。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　IT　WAS　midafternoon　before　the　Royal　Entourage　came　down　the　final　slope　into　the　precincts　of　the　Festival　City。　Throngs　lined　the　streets　to　greet　them；　held　back　by　tight　lines　of　ursine　Fish　Speakers　in　uniforms　of　Atreides　green；　their　stunclubs　crossed　and　linked。
　As　the　Royal　party　approached；　a　bedlam　of　shouts　erupted　from　the　crowd。　Then　the　Fish　Speaker　guardians　began　to　chant：
　〃Siaynoq！　Siaynoq！　Siaynoq！〃
　As　it　echoed　back　and　forth　between　the　high　buildings；　the　chanted　word　had　a　strange　effect　on　the　crowd　which　was　not　initiated　into　the　meanings　of　it。　A　wave　of　silence　swept　up　the　thronged　avenues　while　the　guardians　continued　to　chant。　People　stared　in　awe　at　the　women　armed　with　stunclubs　who　guarded　the　Royal　passage；　the　women　who　chanted　while　they　fixed　their　gaze　on　the　face　of　their　passing　Lord。
　Idaho；　marching　with　the　Fish　Speaker　guards　behind　the　Royal　Cart；　heard　the　chant　for　the　first　time　and　felt　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　neck　rise。
　Moneo　marched　beside　the　cart；　not　looking　left　or　right。　He　had　once　asked　Leto　the　meaning　of　the　word。
　〃I　give　the　Fish　Speakers　only　one　ritual；〃　Leto　had　said。　They　had　been　in　the　God　Emperor's　audience　chamber　beneath　Onn's　central　plaza　at　the　time；　with　Moneo　fatigued　after　a　long　day　of　directing　the　flow　of　dignitaries　who　crowded　the　city　for　Decennial　festivities。
　〃What　has　the　chanting　of　that　word　to　do　with　it；　Lord？〃
　〃The　ritual　is　called　Siaynoq…the　Feast　of　Leto。　It　is　the　adoration　of　my　person　in　my　presence。〃
　〃An　ancient　ritual；　Lord？〃
　〃It　was　with　the　Fremen　before　they　were　Fremen。　But　the　keys　to　the　Festival　secrets　died　with　the　old　ones。　Only　I　remember　them　now。　I　recreate　the　Festival　in　my　own　likeness　and　for　my　own　ends。〃
　〃Then　the　Museum　Fremen　do　not　use　this　ritual？〃
　〃Never。　It　is　mine　and　mine　alone。　I　claim　eternal　right　to　it　because　I　am　that　ritual。〃
　〃It　is　a　strange　word；　Lord。　I　have　never　heard　its　like。〃
　〃It　has　many　meanings；　Moneo。　If　I　tell　them　to　you；　will　you　hold　them　secret？〃
　〃My　Lord　mands！〃
　〃Never　share　t