fh.godemperorofdune-第44部分

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q　after　Siaynoq　marches　onward　in　predictable　measure。　The　change　itself　bees　non…change。〃
　Idaho　lifted　his　gaze　from　the　women　in　white　and　their　children。　He　looked　across　the　mass　of　silent　faces；　telling　himself　that　this　was　only　a　small　core　of　that　enormous　female　force　which　spread　its　feminine　web　across　the　Empire。　He　could　believe　Leto's　words：
　〃The　power　does　not　weaken。　It　grows　stronger　every　decade。〃
　To　what　end？　Idaho　asked　himself。
　He　glanced　at　Leto　who　was　lifting　his　hands　in　benediction　over　the　hall　of　his　houris。
　〃We　will　move　among　you　now；〃　Leto　said。
　The　women　below　the　ledge　opened　a　path；　pressing　backward。　The　path　opened　deeper　into　the　throng　like　a　fissure　spreading　through　the　earth　after　some　tremendous　natural　upheaval。
　〃Duncan；　you　will　precede　me；〃　Leto　said。
　Idaho　swallowed　in　a　dry　throat。　He　put　a　palm　on　the　lip　of　the　ledge　and　dropped　down　into　the　open　space；　moving　out　into　the　fissure　because　he　knew　only　that　could　end　this　trial。
　A　quick　glance　backward　showed　him　Leto's　cart　drifting　majestically　down　on　its　suspensors。
　Idaho　turned　and　quickened　his　pace。
　The　women　narrowed　the　path　through　their　ranks。　It　was　done　in　an　odd　stillness；　with　fixity　of　attention…first　on　Idaho　and　then　on　that　gross　pre…worm　body　riding　behind　Idaho　on　the　Ixian　cart。
　As　Idaho　marched　stoically　ahead；　women　reached　from　all　sides　to　touch　him；　to　touch　Leto；　or　merely　to　touch　the　Royal　Cart。　Idaho　felt　the　restrained　passion　in　their　touch　and　knew　the　deepest　fear　in　his　experience。
　The　problem　of　leadership　is　inevitably：　Who　will　play　God？
　…Muad'Dib。
　From　the　Oral　History
　Hwi　NOREE　followed　a　young　Fish　Speaker　guide　down　a　wide　ramp　which　spiraled　into　the　depths　of　Onn。　The　summons　from　the　Lord　Leto　had　e　in　late　evening　of　the　Festival's　third　day；　interrupting　a　development　which　had　taxed　her　ability　to　maintain　emotional　balance。
　Her　first　assistant；　Othwi　Yake；　was　not　a　pleasant　mana　sandy…haired　creature　with　a　long；　narrow　face　and　eyes　which　never　looked　long　at　anything　and　never　ever　looked　directly　into　the　eyes　of　someone　he　addressed。　Yake　had　presented　her　with　a　single　sheet　of　memerase　paper　containing　what　he　described　as　〃a　summation　of　recently　reported　violence　in　the　Festival　City。〃
　Standing　close　to　the　desk　at　which　she　was　seated；　he　had　stared　down　somewhere　to　her　left　and　said：　〃Fish　Speakers　are　slaughtering　Face　Dancers　throughout　the　City。〃　He　did　not　appear　particularly　moved　by　this。
　〃Why？〃　she　demanded。
　〃It　is　said　that　the　Bene　Tleilax　made　an　attempt　on　the　God　Emperor's　life。〃
　A　thrill　of　fear　shot　through　her。　She　sat　back　and　glanced　around　the　ambassadorial　office…around　room　with　a　single　half…circle　desk　which　concealed　the　controls　for　many　Ixian　devices　beneath　its　highly　polished　surface。　The　room　was　a　darkly　important…appearing　place　with　brown　wood　panels　covering　instruments　which　shielded　it　from　spying。　There　were　no　windows。
　Trying　not　to　show　her　upset；　Hwi　looked　up　at　Yake。　〃And　the　Lord　Leto　is。　。　。〃
　〃The　attempt　on　his　life　appears　to　have　been　totally　without　effect。　But　it　might　explain　that　flogging。〃
　〃Then　you　think　there　was　such　an　attempt？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　The　Fish　Speaker　from　the　Lord　Leto　entered　at　that　moment；　hard　on　the　announcement　of　her　presence　in　the　outer　office。　She　was　followed　by　a　Bene　Gesserit　crone；　a　person　she　introduced　as　〃The　Reverend　Mother　Anteac。〃　Anteac　stared　intently　at　Yake　while　the　Fish　Speaker；　a　young　woman　with　smooth；　almost　childlike　features；　delivered　her　message：
　〃He　told　me　to　remind　you：　'Return　quickly　if　I　summon　you。'　He　summons　you。〃
　Yake　began　fidgeting　as　the　Fish　Speaker　spoke。　He　darted　his　attention　all　around　the　room　as　though　looking　for　something　which　was　not　there。　Hwi　paused　only　to　pull　a　dark　blue　robe　over　her　gown；　instructing　Yake　to　remain　in　the　office　until　she　returned。
　In　orange　evening　light　outside　the　Embassy；　on　a　street　oddly　empty　of　other　traffic；　Anteac　looked　at　the　Fish　Speaker　and　said　simply：　〃Yes。〃　Anteac　left　them　then　and　the　Fish　Speaker　had　brought　Hwi　through　empty　streets　to　a　tall；　windowless　building　whose　depths　contained　this　down…plunging　spiral　ramp。
　The　tight　curves　of　the　ramp　made　Hwi　dizzy。　Brilliant　tiny　white　glowglobes　drifted　in　the　central　well；　illuminating　a　purple…green　vine　with　elephantine　leaves。　The　vine　was　suspended　on　shimmering　golden　wires。
　The　soft　black　surface　of　the　ramp　swallowed　the　sounds　of　their　feet；　making　Hwi　extremely　conscious　of　the　faint　abrasive　swishing　caused　by　the　movements　of　her　robe。
　〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　Hwi　asked。
　〃To　the　Lord　Leto。〃
　〃I　know；　but　where　is　he？〃
　〃In　his　private　room。〃
　〃It's　awfully　far　down。〃
　〃Yes；　the　Lord　often　prefers　the　depths。〃
　〃It　makes　me　dizzy　walking　around　and　around　like　this。〃
　〃It　helps　if　you　do　not　look　at　the　vine。〃
　〃What　is　that　plant？〃
　〃It　is　called　a　Tunyon　Vine　and　is　supposed　to　have　absolutely　no　smell。〃
　〃I've　never　heard　of　it。　Where　does　it　e　from？〃
　〃Only　the　Lord　Leto　knows。〃
　They　walked　on　in　silence；　Hwi　trying　to　understand　her　own　feelings。　The　God　Emperor　filled　her　with　sadness。　She　could　sense　the　man　in　him；　the　man　who　might　have　been。
　Why　had　such　a　man　chosen　this　course　for　his　life？　Did　anyone　know？　Did　Moneo　know？
　Perhaps　Duncan　Idaho　knew。
　Her　thoughts　gravitated　to　Idaho…such　a　physically　attractive　man。　So　intense！　She　could　feel　herself　drawn　to　him。　If　only　Leto　had　the　body　and　appearance　of　Idaho。　Moneo；　though…that　was　another　matter。　She　looked　at　the　back　of　her　Fish　Speaker　escort。
　〃Can　you　tell　me　about　Moneo〃〃　Hwi　asked。
　The　Fish　Speaker　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder；　an　odd　expression　in　her　pale　blue　eyes…apprehension　or　some　bizarre　form　of　awe。
　〃Is　something　wrong？〃　Hwi　asked。
　The　Fish　Speaker　returned　her　attention　to　the　downward　spiral　of　the　ramp。
　〃The　Lord　said　you　would　ask　about　Moneo；〃　she　said。
　〃Then　tell　me　about　him。〃
　〃What　is　there　to　say？　He　is　the　Lord's　closest　confidant。〃
　〃Closer　even　than　Duncan　Idaho？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Moneo　is　an　Atreides。〃
　〃Moneo　came　to　me　yesterday；〃　Hwi　said。　〃He　said　I　should　know　something　about　the　God　Emperor。　Moneo　said　the　God　Emperor　is　capable　of　doing　anything；　anything　at　all　if　it　is　thought　to　be　instructive。〃
　〃Many　believe　this；〃　the　Fish　Speaker　said。
　〃You　do　not　believe　it'？〃
　Hwi　asked　the　question　as　the　ramp　rounded　a　final　turn　and　opened　into　a　small　anteroom　with　an　arched　entrance　only　a　few　steps　away。
　〃The　Lord　Leto　will　receive　you　immediately；〃　the　Fish　Speaker　said。　She　turned　back　up　the　ramp　then　without　speaking　of　her　own　belief。
　Hwi　stepped　through　the　arch　and　found　herself　in　a　low…ceilinged　room。　It　was　much　smaller　than　the　audience　chamber。　The　air　felt　crisp　and　dry。　Pale　yellow　light　came　from　a　concealed　source　at　the　upper　corners。　She　allowed　her　eyes　to　adjust　to　the　lowered　illumination；　noting　carpets　and　soft　cushions　scattered　around　a　low　mound　of。。。She　put　a　hand　to　her　mouth　as　the　mound　moved；　realizing　then　that　it　was　the　Lord　Leto　on　his　cart；　but　the　cart　lay　in　a　sunken　area。　She　knew　immediately　why　the　room　provided　this　feature。　It　made　him　less　imposing　to　human　guests；　less　overpowering　by　his　physical　elevation。　Nothing　could　be　done；　however；　about　his　length　and　the　inescapable　mass　of　his　body　except　to　keep　them　in　shadows；　throwing　most　of　the　light　onto　his　face　and　hands。
　〃e　in　and　sit　down；〃　Leto　said。　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　pleasantly　conversational。
　Hwi　crossed　to　a　red　cushion　only　a　few　meters　in　front　of　Leto's　face　and　sat　on　it。
　Leto　watched　her　movements　with　obvious　pleasure。　She　wore　a　dark　golden　gown　and　her　hair　was　tied　back　in　braids　which　made　her　face　appear　fresh　and　innocent。
　〃I　have　sent　your　message　to　Ix；〃　she　said。　〃And　I　have　told　them　that　you　wish　to　know　my　age。〃
　〃Perhaps　they　will　answer；〃　he　said。　〃Their　answer　may　even　be　truthful。〃
　〃I　would　like　to　know　when　I　was　born；　all　of　the　circumstances；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　why　this　interests　you。〃
　〃Everything　about　you　interests　me。〃
　〃They　will　not　like　it　that　you　make　me　the　permanent　Ambassador。〃
　〃Your　masters　are　a　curious　mixture　of　punctilio　and　laxity；〃　he　said。　〃I　do　not　suffer　fools　gladly。〃
　〃You　think　me　a　fool；　Lord？〃
　〃Malky　was　not　a　fool；　neither　are　you；　my　dear。〃
　〃I　have　not　heard　from　my　uncle　in　years。　Sometimes　I　wonder　if　he　still　lives。〃
　〃Perhaps　we　will　learn　that　as　well。　Did　Malky　ever　discuss　with　you　my　practice　of　Taquiyya？〃
　She　thought　about　this　a　moment；　then：　〃It　was　called　Ketman　among　the　ancient　Fremen？〃
　〃Yes。　It　is　the　practice　of　concealing　the　identity　when　revealing　it　might　be　harmful。〃
　〃I　recall　it　now。　He　told　me　you　wrote　pseudonymous　histories；　some　of　them　quite　famous。〃
　〃That　was　the　occasion　when　we　discussed　Taquiyya。〃
　〃Why　do　you　speak　of　this；　Lord？〃
　〃To　avoid　other　subjects。　Did　you　know　that　I　wrote　the　books　of　Noah　Arkwright？〃
　She　could　not　suppress　a　chuckle。　〃How　amusing；　Lord。　I　was　required　to　read　about　his　life。〃
　〃I　wrote　that　account；　too。　What　sec