fh.godemperorofdune-第35部分

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　As　he　spoke；　Leto　sensed　menace。　Reverend　Mothers　were　never　pleased　when　he　greeted　them　this　way；　but　the　reaction　here　carried　different　undertones。　Moneo；　too；　sensed　it。　He　raised　n　finger　and　the　guards　moved　closer　to　Leto。
　Anteac　spoke　first：　〃Lord；　we　watched　that　display　in　the　plaza　this　morning。　What　do　you　gain　by　such　antics？〃
　So　that's　the　tone　we　wish　to　set；　he　thought。
　Speaking　in　his　own　voice；　he　said：　〃You　are　temporarily　in　my　good　graces。　Would　you　change　that？〃
　〃Lord；〃　Anteac　said；　〃we　are　shocked　that　you　could　thus　punish　an　Ambassador。　We　do　not　understand　what　you　gain　by　this。〃
　〃I　gain　nothing。　I　am　diminishes：。〃
　Luyseyal　spoke　up：　〃This　can　only　reinforce　thoughts　of　oppression。〃
　〃I　wonder　why　so　few　ever　thought　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　as　oppressors？〃　Leto　asked。
　Anteac　spoke　to　her　panion：　〃If　it　pleases　the　God　Emperor　to　inform　us；　he　will　do　so。　Let　us　get　to　the　purposes　of　our　Embassy。〃
　Leto　smiled。　〃The　two　of　you　can　e　closer。　Leave　your　attendants　and　approach。〃
　Moneo　stepped　two　paces　to　his　right　as　the　Reverend　Mothers　moved　in　characteristic　silent　gliding　to　within　three　paces　of　the　ledge。
　〃It's　almost　as　though　they　had　no　feet：〃　Moneo　had　once　plained。
　Recalling　this；　Leto　observed　how　carefully　Moneo　watched　the　two　women。　They　were　menacing；　but　Moneo　dared　not　object　to　their　nearness。　The　God　Emperor　had　ordered　it；　thus　it　would　be。
　Leto　lifted　his　attention　to　the　attendants　waiting　where　the　Bene　Gesserit　entourage　had　first　stopped。　The　acolytes　wore　hoodless　black　gowns。　He　saw　tiny　clues　to　forbidden　rituals　about　them…an　amulet；　a　small　trinket；　a　colorful　corner　of　a　kerchief　so　arranged　that　more　color　might　be　flashed　carefully。　Leto　knew　that　the　Reverend　Mothers　allowed　this　because　they　no　longer　could　share　the　spice　as　once　they　had。
　Ritual　substitutes。
　There　were　significant　changes　across　the　past　ten　years。　A　new　parsimony　had　entered　the　Sisterhood's　thinking。
　They　are　ing　out；　Leto　told　himself。　The　old；　old　mysteries　are　still　here。
　The　ancient　patterns　had　lain　dormant　in　the　Bene　Gesserit　memories　for　all　of　those　millennia。
　Now；　they　emerge。　I　must　warn　my　Fish　Speakers。
　He　returned　his　attention　to　the　Reverend　Mothers。
　〃You　have　requests？〃
　〃What　is　it　like　to　be　you'？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　Leto　blinked。　That　was　an　interesting　attack。　They　had　not　tried　it　in　more　than　a　generation。　Well。。。why　not？
　〃Sometimes　my　dreams　are　blocked　off　and　redirected　into　strange　places；〃　he　said。　〃If　my　cosmic　memories　are　a　web；　as　you　two　certainly　know；　then　think　about　the　dimensions　of　my　web　and　where　such　memories　and　dreams　might　lead。〃
　〃You　speak　of　our　certain　knowledge；〃　Anteac　said；　〃Why　can't　we　join　forces　at　last'？　We　are　more　alike　than　we　are　different。〃
　〃I　would　sooner　link　myself　to　those　degenerate　Great　Houses　bewailing　their　lost　spice　riches'。〃
　Anteac　held　herself　still；　but　Luyseyal　pointed　a　finger　at　Leto。　〃We　offer　munity！〃
　〃And　I　insist　on　conflict？〃
　Anteac　stirred；　then：　〃It　is　said　that　there　is　a　principle　of　conflict　which　originated　with　the　single　cell　and　has　never　deteriorated。〃
　〃Some　things　remain　inpatible；〃　Leto　agreed。
　〃Then　how　does　our　Sisterhood　maintain　its　munity？〃　Luyseyal　demanded。
　Leto　hardened　his　voice。　〃As　you　well　know；　the　secret　of　munity　lies　in　suppression　of　the　inpatible。〃
　〃There　can　be　enormous　value　in　cooperation；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃To　you；　not　to　me。〃
　Anteac　contrived　a　sigh。　〃Then；　Lord；　will　you　tell　us　about　the　physical　changes　in　your　person？〃
　〃Someone　besides　yourself　should　know　about　and　record　such　things；〃　Luyseyal　said。
　〃In　case　something　dreadful　should　happen　to　me？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃Lord！〃　Anteac　protested。　〃We　do　not。　。。〃
　〃You　dissect　me　with　words　when　you　would　prefer　sharper　instruments；〃　Leto　said。　〃Hypocrisy　offends　me。〃
　〃We　protest；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Indeed　you　do。　I　hear　you。〃
　Luyseyal　crept　a　few　millimeters　closer　to　the　ledge；　bringing　a　sharp　stare　from　Moneo；　who　glanced　up　at　Leto　then。　Moneo's　expression　demanded　action；　but　Leto　ignored　him；　curious　now　about　Luyseyal's　intentions。　The　sense　of　menace　was　centered　in　the　red…haired　one。
　What　is　she？　Leto　wondered。　Could　she　be　a　Face　Dancer；　after　all？
　No。　None　of　the　telltale　signs　were　there。　No。　Luyseyal　presented　an　elaborately　relaxed　appearance；　not　even　a　little　twist　of　her　features　to　test　the　God　Emperor's　powers　of　observation。
　〃Will　you　not　tell　us　about　your　physical　changes；　Lord？〃　Anteac　asked。
　Diversion！　Leto　thought。
　〃My　brain　grows　enormous；〃　he　said。　〃Most　of　the　human　skull　has　dissolved　away。　There　are　no　severe　limits　to　the　growth　of　my　cortex　and　its　attendant　nervous　system。〃
　Moneo　darted　a　startled　glance　at　Leto。　Why　was　the　God　Emperor　giving　away　such　vital　information？　These　two　would　trade　it。
　But　both　women　were　obviously　fascinated　by　this　revelation；　hesitating　in　whatever　plan　they　had　evolved。
　〃Does　your　brain　have　a　center？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃I　am　the　center；〃　Leto　said。
　〃A　location？〃　Anteac　asked。　She　gestured　vaguely　at　him。　Luyseyal　glided　a　few　millimeters　closer　to　the　ledge。
　〃What　value　do　you　place　on　the　things　I　reveal　to　you？〃　Leto　asked。
　The　two　women　betrayed　no　change　of　expression；　which　was　betrayal　enough　by　itself。　A　smile　flirted　across　Leto's　lips。
　〃The　marketplace　has　captured　you；〃　he　said。　〃Even　the　Bene　Gesserit　has　been　infected　by　the　suk　mentality。〃
　〃We　do　not　deserve　that　accusation；…〃　Anteac　said。
　〃But　you　do。　The　suk　mentality　dominates　my　Empire。　The　uses　of　the　market　have　only　been　sharpened　and　amplified　by　the　demands　of　our　times。　We　have　all　bee　traders。〃
　〃Even　you；　Lord？〃　Luyseyal　asked。
　〃You　tempt　my　wrath；〃　he　said。　〃You're　a　specialist　in　that；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Lord？〃　Luyseyal's　voice　was　calm；　but　overly　controlled。
　〃Specialists　are　not　to　be　trusted；〃　Leto　said。　〃Specialists　are　masters　of　exclusion；　experts　in　the　narrow。〃
　〃We　hope　to　be　architects　of　a　better　future。〃　Anteac　said。
　〃Better　than　what？〃　Leto　asked。
　Luyseyal　eased　herself　a　fractional　pace　closer　to　Leto。
　〃We　hope　to　set　our　standards　by　your　judgment；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃But　you　would　be　architects。　Would　you　build　higher　walls？　Never　forget；　Sisters；　that　I　know　you。　You　are　efficient　purveyors　of　blinders。〃
　〃Life　continues；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said；
　〃Indeed？　And　so　does　the　universe。〃
　Luyseyal　eased　herself　a　bit　closer；　ignoring　the　fixity　of　Moneo's　attention。
　Leto　smelled　it　then　and　almost　laughed　aloud。
　Spice…essence！
　They　had　brought　some　spice…essence。　They　knew　the　old　stories　about　sandworms　and　spice…essence；　of　course。　Luyseyal　carried　it。　She　thought　of　it　as　a　specific　poison　for　sandworms。　That　was　obvious。　Bene　Gesserit　records　and　the　Oral　History　agreed　on　this。　The　essence　shattered　the　worm；　precipitating　its　dissolution　and　resulting　（eventually）　in　sandtrout　which　would　produce　more　sandworms　etcetera；　etcetera；　etcetera　。　。　。
　〃There　is　another　change　in　me　that　you　should　know　about；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　am　not　yet　sandworm；　not　fully。　Think　of　me　as　something　closer　to　a　colony　creature　with　sensory　alterations。〃
　Luyseyal's　left　hand　moved　almost　imperceptibly　toward　a　fold　in　her　gown。　Moneo　saw　it　and　looked　to　Leto　for　instructions；　but　Leto　only　returned　the　hooded　glare　of　Luyseyal's　eyes。
　〃There　have　been　fads　in　smells；〃　Leto　said。
　Luyseyal's　hand　hesitated。
　〃Perfumes　and　essences；〃　he　said。　〃　I　remember　them　all；　even　the　cults　of　the　non…smells　are　mine。　People　have　used　underarm　sprays　and　crotch　sprays　to　mask　their　natural　odors。　Did　you　know　that？　Of　course　you　knew　it！〃
　Anteac's　gaze　moved　toward　Luyseyal。
　Neither　woman　dared　speak。
　〃People　knew　instinctively　that　their　pheromones　betrayed　them；〃　Leto　said。
　The　women　stood　immobile。　They　heard　him。　Of　all　his　people；　Reverend　Mothers　were　best　equipped　to　understand　his　hidden　message。
　〃You'd　like　to　mine　me　for　my　riches　of　memory；〃　Leto　said；　his　voice　accusing。
　〃We　are　jealous；　Lord；〃　Luyseyal　confessed。
　〃You　have　misread　the　history　of　spice…essence；〃　Leto　said。　〃Sandtrout　sense　it　only　as　water。〃
　〃It　was　a　test；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。　〃That　is　all。〃
　〃You　would　test　me？〃
　〃Blame　our　curiosity；　Lord；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃I；　too；　am　curious。　Put　your　spice…essence　on　the　ledge　beside　Moneo。　I　will　keep　it。〃
　Slowly；　demonstrating　by　the　steadiness　of　her　movements　that　she　intended　no　attack；　Luyseyal　reached　beneath　her　gown　and　removed　a　small　vial　which　glistened　with　an　inner　blue　radiance。　She　placed　the　vial　gently　on　the　ledge。　Not　by　any　sign　did　she　indicate　that　she　might　try　something　desperate。
　〃Truthsayer；　indeed；〃　Leto　said。
　She　favored　him　with　a　faint　grimace　which　might　have　been　a　smile；　then　withdrew　to　Anteac's　side。
　〃Where　did　you　get　the　spice…essence？〃　Leto　asked。
　〃We　bought　it　from　smugglers；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃There've　been　no　smugglers　for　almost　twenty…five　hundred　years。〃
　〃Waste　not；　want　not；〃　Anteac　said。
　〃　I　see。　And　now　you　must　reevaluate　what　you　think　of　as　your　own　patience；　is　that　not　so？〃
　〃We　have　been　watching　the　evolution