fh.godemperorofdune-第40部分

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　〃Moneo　has　said　nothing　to　me　of　this。〃
　〃One　thing　you　can　say　about　the　Atreides；〃　she　said。　〃We're　loyal　and　that's　a　fact。　We　keep　our　word。〃
　Idaho　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　closed　it　without　making　a　sound。　Of　course！　Siona；　too；　was　Atreides。　The　thought　shook　him。　He　had　known　it；　but　he　had　not　accepted　it。　Siona　was　some　kind　of　a　rebel；　a　rebel　whose　actions　were　almost　sanctioned　by　Leto。　The　limits　of　his　permission　were　unclear；　but　Idaho　sensed　them。
　〃You　must　not　harm　her；〃　Leto　had　said。　〃She　is　to　be　tested。〃
　Idaho　turned　his　back　on　Siona。
　〃You　don't　know　anything　for　sure；〃　he　said。　〃Bits　and　pieces；　rumors！〃
　Siona　did　not　respond。
　〃He's　an　Atreides！〃　Idaho　said。
　〃He's　the　Worm！〃　Siona　said　and　the　venom　in　her　voice　was　almost　palpable。
　〃Your　damned　Oral　History　is　nothing　but　a　bunch　of　ancient　gossip！〃　Idaho　accused。　〃Only　a　fool　would　believe　it。〃
　〃You　still　trust　him；〃　she　said。　〃That　will　change。〃
　Idaho　whirled　and　glared　at　her。
　〃You've　never　talked　to　him！〃
　〃I　have。　When　I　was　a　child。〃
　〃You're　still　a　child。　He's　all　of　the　Atreides　who　were；　all　of　them。　It's　a　terrible　thing；　but　I　knew　those　people。　They　were　my　friends。〃
　Siona　only　shook　her　head。
　Again；　Idaho　turned　away。　He　felt　that　he　had　been　wrung　dry　of　emotion。　He　was　spiritually　boneless。　Without　willing　it；　he　began　walking　across　the　square　and　up　the　street　where　the　boy　had　gone。　Siona　came　running　after　him　and　fell　into　step；　but　he　ignored　her。
　The　street　was　narrow；　enclosed　by　the　one…story　stone　walls；　the　doors　set　back　within　arched　frames；　all　of　the　doors　closed。　The　windows　were　small　versions　of　the　doors。　Curtains　twitched　as　he　passed。
　At　the　first　cross…street；　Idaho　stopped　and　looked　to　the　right　where　the　boy　had　gone。　Two　gray…haired　women　in　long　black　skirts　and　dark　green　blouses　stood　a　few　paces　away　down　the　street；　gossiping　with　their　heads　close　together。　They　fell　silent　when　they　saw　Idaho　and　stared　at　him　with　open　curiosity。　He　returned　their　stare；　then　looked　down　the　sidestreet。　It　was　empty。
　Idaho　turned　toward　the　women；　passed　them　within　a　pace。　They　drew　closer　together　and　turned　to　watch　him。　They　looked　only　once　at　Siona；　then　returned　their　attention　to　Idaho。　Siona　moved　quietly　beside　him；　an　odd　expression　on　her　face。
　Sadness？　he　wondered。　Regret？　Curiosity？
　It　was　difficult　to　say。　He　was　more　curious　about　the　doorways　and　windows　they　were　passing。
　〃Have　you　ever　been　to　Goygoa　before？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃No。〃　Siona　spoke　in　a　subdued　voice；　as　though　afraid　of　it。
　Why　am　I　walking　down　this　。street？　Idaho　wondered。　Even　as　he　asked　himself　the　question；　he　knew　the　answer。　This　woman；　this　Irti：　What　kind　of　a　woman　would　bring　me　to　Goygoa：'
　The　corner　of　a　curtain　on　his　right　lifted　and　Idaho　saw　a　face…the　boy　from　the　square。　The　curtain　dropped　then　was　flung　aside　to　reveal　a　woman　standing　there。　Idaho　stared　speechlessly　at　her　face；　stopped　in　a　pleted　step。　It　was　the　face　of　a　woman　known　only　to　his　deepest　fantasies…a　soft　oval　with　penetrating　dark　eyes；　a　full　and　sensuous　mouth　。　。　。
　〃Jessica；〃　he　whispered。
　〃What　did　you　say？〃　Siona　asked。
　Idaho　could　not　answer。　It　was　the　face　of　Jessica　resurrected　out　of　a　past　he　had　believed　gone　forever；　a　genetic　prank　Muad'Dib's　mother　recreated　in　new　flesh。
　The　woman　closed　the　curtain；　leaving　the　memory　of　her　features　in　Idaho's　mind；　an　after…image　which　he　knew　he　could　never　remove。　She　had　been　older　than　the　Jessica　who　had　shared　their　dangers　on　Duneage…lines　beside　the　mouth　and　eyes；　the　body　a　bit　more　full　。　。　。
　More　motherly；　Idaho　told　himself。　Then：　Did　I　ever　tell　her。　。　。　who　。she　resembled？
　Siona　tugged　at　his　sleeve。　〃Do　you　wish　to　go　in；　to　meet　her？〃
　〃No。　This　was　a　mistake。〃
　Idaho　started　to　turn　back　the　way　they　had　e；　but　the　door　of　Irti's　house　was　flung　open。　A　young　man　emerged　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　turning　then　to　confront　Idaho。　Idaho　guessed　the　youth's　age　at　sixteen　and　there　was　no　denying　the　parentage…that　karakul　hair；　the　strong　features。
　〃You　are　the　new　one；〃　the　youth　said。　His　voice　had　already　deepened　into　manhood。
　〃Yes。〃　Idaho　found　if　difficult　to　speak。
　〃Why　have　you　e？〃　the　youth　asked。
　〃It　was　not　my　idea；〃　Idaho　said。　He　found　this　easier　to　say；　the　words　driven　by　resentment　against　Siona。
　The　youth　looked　at　Siona。　〃We　have　had　word　that　my　father　is　dead。〃
　Siona　nodded。
　The　youth　returned　his　attention　to　Idaho。　〃Please　go　away　and　do　not　return。　You　cause　pain　for　my　mother。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Please　apologize　to　the　Lady　Irti　for　this　intrusion。　I　was　brought　here　against　my　will。〃
　〃Who　brought　you？〃
　〃The　Fish　Speakers；〃　Idaho　said。
　The　youth　nodded　once；　a　curt　movement　of　the　head。　He　looked　once　more　at　Siona。　〃I　always　thought　that　you　Fish　Speakers　were　taught　to　treat　your　own　more　kindly。〃　With　that；　he　turned　and　reentered　the　house；　closing　the　door　firmly　behind　him。
　Idaho　turned　back　the　way　they　had　e；　grabbing　Siona's　arm　as　he　strode　away。　She　stumbled；　then　fell　into　step；　disengaging　his　grasp。
　〃He　thought　I　was　a　Fish　Speaker；〃　she　said。
　〃Of　course。　You　have　the　look。〃　He　glanced　at　her。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that　Irti　was　a　Fish　Speaker？〃
　〃It　didn't　seem　important。〃
　〃Oh。〃
　〃That's　how　they　met。〃
　They　came　to　the　intersection　with　the　street　from　the　square。　Idaho　turned　away　from　the　square；　striding　briskly　up　to　the　end　where　the　village　merged　into　gardens　and　orchards。　He　felt　insulated　by　shock；　his　awareness　recoiling　from　too　much　that　could　not　be　assimilated。
　A　low　wall　blocked　his　path。　He　climbed　over　it；　heard　Siona　follow。　Trees　around　them　were　in　bloom；　white　flowers　with　orange　centers　where　dark　brown　insects　worked。　The　air　was　full　of　insect　buzzing　and　a　floral　scent　which　reminded　Idaho　of　jungle　flowers　from　Caladan。
　He　stopped　when　he　reached　the　crest　of　a　hill　where　he　could　turn　and　look　back　down　at　Goygoa's　rectangular　neatness。　The　roofs　were　flat　and　black。
　Siona　sat　down　on　the　thick　grass　of　the　hilltop　and　embraced　her　knees。
　〃That　was　not　what　you　intended；　was　it？〃　Idaho　asked。
　She　shook　her　head　and　he　saw　that　she　was　close　to　tears。　〃Why　do　you　hate　him　so　much？〃　he　asked。
　〃We　have　no　lives　of　our　own！〃
　Idaho　looked　down　at　the　village。　〃Are　there　many　villages　like　this　one？〃
　〃This　is　the　shape　of　the　Worm's　Empire！〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　it？〃
　〃Nothing…if　that's　all　you　want。〃
　〃You're　saying　that　this　is　all　he　allows？〃
　〃This；　a　few　market　cities。。。Onn。　I'm　told　that　even　planetary　capitals　are　just　big　villages。〃
　〃And　I　repeat：　What's　wrong　with　that？〃
　〃It's　a　prison！〃
　〃Then　leave　it。〃
　〃Where'？　How？　You　think　we　can　just　get　on　a　Guild　ship　and　go　anywhere　else；　anywhere　we　want'？〃　She　pointed　down　toward　Goygoa　where　the　'thopter　could　be　seen　off　to　one　side；　the　Fish　Speakers　seated　on　the　grass　nearby。　〃Our　jailers　won't　let　us　leave！〃
　〃They　leave；〃　Idaho　said。　〃They　go　anywhere　they　want。〃　〃Anywhere　the　Worm　sends　them！〃
　She　pressed　her　face　against　her　knees　and　spoke；　her　voice　muffled。　〃What　was　it　like　in　the　old　days？〃
　〃It　was　different；　often　very　dangerous。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　walls　which　set　off　pastureland；　gardens　and　orchards。　〃Here　on　Dune；　there　were　no　imaginary　lines　to　show　the　limits　of　ownership　on　the　land。　It　was　all　the　Dukedom　of　the　Atreides。〃
　〃Except　for　the　Fremen。〃
　〃Yes。　But　they　knew　where　they　belonged…on　this　side　of　a　particular　escarpment。　。　。　or　beyond　where　the　pan　turns　white　against　the　sand。〃
　〃They　could　go　wherever　they　wanted！〃
　〃With　some　limits。〃
　〃Some　of　us　long　for　the　desert；〃　she　said。
　〃You　have　the　Sareer。〃
　She　lifted　her　head　to　glare　at　him。　〃That　little　thing！〃
　〃Fifteen　hundred　kilometers　by　five　hundred…not　so　little。〃
　Siona　got　to　her　feet。　〃Have　you　asked　the　Worm　why　he　confines　us　this　way？〃
　〃Leto's　Peace；　the　Golden　Path　to　insure　our　survival。　That's　what　he　says。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　he　told　my　father？　I　spied　on　them　when　I　was　a　child。　I　heard　him。〃
　〃What　did　he　say'？〃
　〃He　said　he　denies　us　most　crises；　to　limit　our　forming　forces。　He　said：　‘People　can　be　sustained　by　affliction。　but　I　am　the　affliction　now。　Gods　can　bee　afflictions。'　Those　were　his　words；　Duncan。　The　Worm　is　a　sickness！〃
　Idaho　did　not　doubt　the　accuracy　of　her　recital；　but　the　words　failed　to　stir　him。　He　thought　instead　of　the　Corrino　he　had　been　ordered　to　kill。　Affliction。　The　Corrino；　descendant　of　a　Family　which　once　had　ruled　this　Empire；　had　been　revealed　as　a　softly　fat　middle…aged　man　who　hungered　after　power　and　conspired　for　spice。　Idaho　had　ordered　a　Fish　Speaker　to　kill　him；　an　act　which　had　aroused　Moneo　to　a　fit　of　intense　questioning。
　〃Why　didn't　you　kill　him　yourself？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　see　how　the　Fish　Speakers　performed。〃
　〃And　your　judgment　of　their　performance？〃
　〃Efficient。〃
　But　the　death　of　the　Corrino　had　inflicted　Idaho　with　a　sense　of　unreality。　A　fat　little　man　lying　in　a　pool　of　his　own　blood；　an　undistinguished　shadow　among　the　night　shadows　of　a　plastone　street。　It　was　unreal。　Idaho