fh.godemperorofdune-第57部分

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　〃The　Face　Dancers　performed；〃　he　said。
　。Why？〃
　〃I　want　everyone　to　share　in　my　happiness。〃
　Idaho　stared　at　him　as　though　just　discovering　a　repellent　insect　in　his　drink。　In　a　flat　voice；　Idaho　said：　〃That　is　the　most　cynical　thing　I　have　ever　heard　an　Atreides　say。〃
　〃But　an　Atreides　said　it。〃
　〃You're　deliberately　trying　to　put　me　off！　You're　avoiding　my　question。〃
　Once　more　into　the　fray；　Leto　thought。　He　said：　〃The　Face　Dancers　of　the　Bene　Tleilax　are　a　colony　organism。　Individually；　they　are　mules。　This　is　a　choice　they　made　for　and　by　themselves。〃
　Leto　waited；　thinking：　I　must　be　patient。　They　have　to　discover　it　for　themselves。　If　I　say　it；　they　will　not　believe。　Think；　Duncan。　Think！
　After　a　long　silence；　Idaho　said：　〃I　have　given　you　my　oath。　That　is　important　to　me。　It　is　still　important。　I　don't　know　what　you're　doing　or　why。　I　can　only　say　I　don't　like　what's　happening。　There！　I've　said　it。〃
　〃Is　that　why　you　returned　from　the　Citadel？〃
　〃Yes！〃
　〃Will　you　go　back　to　the　Citadel　now？〃
　〃What　other　frontier　is　there？〃
　〃Very　good；　Duncan！　Your　anger　knows　even　when　your　reason　does　not。　Hwi　goes　to　the　Citadel　tonight。　I　will　join　her　there　tomorrow。〃
　〃I　want　to　get　to　know　her　better；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃You　will　avoid　her；〃　Leto　said。　〃That　is　an　order。　Hwi　is　not　for　you。〃
　〃I've　always　known　there　were　witches；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Your　grandmother　was　one。〃
　He　turned　on　his　heel　and；　not　asking　leave；　strode　back　the　way　he　had　e。
　How　like　a　little　boy　he　is；　Leto　thought；　watching　the　stiffness　in　Idaho's　back。　The　oldest　man　in　our　universe　and　the　youngest…both　in　one　flesh。
　
　The　prophet　is　not　diverted　by　illusions　of　past；　present　and　future。　The　fixity　of　language　determines　such　linear　distinctions。　Prophets　hold　a　key　to　the　lock　in　a　language。　The　mechanical　image　remains　only　an　image　to　them。　This　is　not　a　mechanical　universe。　The　linear　progression　of　events　is　imposed　by　the　observer。　Cause　and　effect？　That's　not　it　at　all。　The　prophet　utters　fateful　words。　You　glimpse　a　thing　〃destined　to　occur。〃　But　the　prophetic　instant　releases　something　of　infinite　portent　and　power。　The　universe　undergoes　a　ghostly　shift。　Thus；　the　wise　prophet　conceals　actuality　behind　shimmering　labels。　The　uninitiated　then　believe　the　prophetic　language　is　ambiguous。　The　listener　distrusts　the　prophetic　messenger。　Instinct　tells　you　how　the　utterance　blunts　the　power　of　such　words。　The　best　prophets　lead　you　up　to　the　curtain　and　let　you　peer　through　for　yourself。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　LETO　ADDRESSED　Moneo　in　the　coldest　voice　he　had　ever　used：　〃The　Duncan　disobeys　me。〃
　They　were　in　the　airy　room　of　golden　stone　atop　the　Citadel's　south　tower；　Leto's　third　full　day　back　from　the　Decennial　Festival　in　Onn。　An　open　portal　beside　him　looked　out　over　the　harsh　noonday　of　the　Sareer。　The　wind　made　a　deep　humming　sound　through　the　opening。　It　stirred　up　dust　and　sand　which　made　Moneo　squint。　Leto　seemed　not　to　notice　the　irritation。　He　stared　out　across　the　Sareer；　where　the　air　was　alive　with　heat　movements。　The　distant　flow　of　dunes　suggested　a　mobility　in　the　landscape　which　only　his　eyes　observed。
　Moneo　stood　immersed　in　the　sour　odors　of　his　own　fear；　knowing　that　the　wind　conveyed　the　message　of　these　odors　to　Leto's　senses。　The　arrangements　for　the　wedding；　the　upset　among　the　Fish　Speakers…everything　was　paradox。　It　reminded　Moneo　of　something　the　God　Emperor　had　said　in　the　first　days　of　their　association。
　〃Paradox　is　a　pointer　telling　you　to　look　beyond　it。　If　paradoxes　bother　you；　that　betrays　your　deep　desire　for　absolutes。　The　relativist　treats　a　paradox　merely　as　interesting；　perhaps　amusing　or　even；　dreadful　thought；　educational。　〃
　〃You　do　not　respond；〃　Leto　said。　He　turned　from　his　examination　of　the　Sareer　and　focused　the　weight　of　his　attention　on　Moneo。
　Moneo　could　only　shrug。　How　near　is　the　Worm？　he　wondered。　Moneo　had　noticed　that　the　return　to　the　Citadel　from　Onn　sometimes　aroused　the　Worm。　No　sign　of　that　awful　shift　in　the　God　Emperor's　presence　had　yet　betrayed　itself；　but　Moneo　sensed　it。　Could　the　Worm　e　without　warning？
　〃Accelerate　arrangements　for　the　wedding；〃　Leto　said。　〃Make　it　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　〃Before　you　test　Siona？〃
　Leto　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then：　〃No。　What　will　you　do　about　the　Duncan；〃
　〃What　would　you　have　me　do；　Lord？〃
　〃I　told　him　not　to　see　Noree；　to　avoid　her。　I　told　him　it　was　an　order。〃
　〃She　has　sympathy　for　him；　Lord。　Nothing　more。〃
　〃Why　would　she　have　sympathy　for　him？〃
　〃He　is　a　ghola。　He　has　no　connection　to　our　times；　no　roots。〃
　〃He　has　roots　as　deep　as　mine！〃
　〃But　he　does　not　know　this；　Lord。〃
　〃Are　you　arguing　with　me；　Moneo？〃
　Moneo　backed　away　a　half　step；　knowing　that　this　did　not　remove　him　from　danger。　〃Oh；　no；　Lord。　But　I　always　try　to　tell　you　truly　what　I　believe　is　happening。〃
　〃I　will　tell　you　what　is　happening。　He　is　courting　her。〃
　〃But　she　initiates　their　meetings；　Lord。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　about　this！〃
　〃I　did　not　know　you　had　absolutely　prohibited　it；　Lord。〃
　Leto　spoke　in　a　musing　voice：　〃He　is　clever　with　women；
　Moneo；　exceedingly　clever。　He　sees　into　their　souls　and　makes　them　do　what　he　wants。　It　has　always　been　that　way　with　the　Duncans。〃
　〃I　did　not　know　you　had　prohibited　all　meetings　between　them；　Lord！〃　Moneo's　voice　was　almost　strident。
　〃He　is　more　dangerous　than　any　of　the　others；〃　Leto　said。　〃It　is　the　fault　of　our　times。〃
　〃Lord；　the　Tleilaxu　do　not　have　a　successor　for　him　ready　to　deliver。〃
　〃And　we　need　this　one？〃
　〃You　said　it　yourself；　Lord。　It　is　a　paradox　which　I　do　not　understand；　but　you　did　say　it。〃
　〃How　long　until　there　could　be　a　replacement？〃
　〃At　least　a　year；　Lord。　Shall　I　inquire　as　to　a　specific　date？〃
　〃Do　it　today。〃
　〃He　may　hear　about　it；　Lord。　The　previous　one　did。〃
　〃I　do　not　want　it　to　happen　this　way；　Moneo！〃
　〃I　know；　Lord。〃
　〃And　I　dare　not　speak　of　this　to　Noree；〃　Leto　said。　〃The　Duncan　is　not　for　her。　Yet；　I　cannot　hurt　her！〃　This　last　was　almost　a　wail。
　Moneo　stood　in　awed　silence。
　〃Can't　you　see　this？〃　Leto　demanded。　〃Moneo；　help　me。〃
　〃I　see　that　it　is　different　with　Noree；〃　Moneo　said。　〃But　I　do　not　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃What　is　different？〃　Leto's　voice　had　a　penetrating　quality　which　cut　right　through　Moneo。
　〃I　mean　your　attitude　toward　her；　Lord。　It　is　different　from　anything　I　have　ever　seen　in　you。〃
　Moneo　noted　then　the　first　signs…twitching　in　the　God　Emperor's　hands；　the　beginning　glaze　in　the　eyes。　Gods！　The　Worm　is　ing！　Moneo　felt　totally　exposed。　A　simple　flick　of　the　great　body　would　crush　Moneo　against　a　wall。　I　must　appeal　to　the　human　in　him。
　〃Lord；〃　Moneo　said；　〃I　have　read　the　accounts　and　heard　your　own　words　about　your　marriage　to　your　sister；　Ghanima。〃
　〃If　only　she　were　with　me　now；〃　Leto　said。
　〃She　was　never　your　mate；　Lord。〃
　〃What're　you　suggesting？〃　Leto　demanded。
　The　twitching　of　Leto's　hands　had　bee　a…　spasmodic　vibration。
　〃She　was。。。I　mean；　Lord；　that　Ghanima　was　Harq　al…Ada's　mate。〃
　〃Of　course　she　was！　All　of　you　Atreides　are　descended　from　them！〃
　〃Is　there　something　you　have　not　told　me；　Lord？　Is　it　possible。。。that　is；　with　Hwi　Noree。。uld　you　mate？〃
　Leto's　hands　shook　so　strongly　Moneo　wondered　that　their　owner　did　not　know　it。　The　glazing　of　the　great　blue　eyes　deepened。
　Moneo　backed　another　step　toward　the　door　to　the　stairs　leading　down　from　this　deadly　place。
　〃Do　not　question　me　about　possibilities；〃　Leto　said；　and　his　voice　was　hideously　distant；　gone　somewhere　into　the　layers　of　his　past。
　〃Never　again；　Lord；〃　Moneo　said。　He　bowed　himself　back　to　only　a　single　pace　from　the　door。　〃I　will　speak　to　Noree；　Lord。　。　。　and　to　the　Duncan。〃
　〃Do　what　you　can。〃　Leto's　voice　was　far　away　in　those　interior　chambers　which　only　he　could　enter。
　Softly；　Moneo　let　himself　out　of　the　door。　He　closed　it　behind　him　and　placed　his　back　against　it；　trembling。　Ahhh；　that　was　the　closest　ever。
　And　the　paradox　remained。　Where　did　it　point？　What　was　the　meaning　of　the　God　Emperor's　odd　and　painful　decisions？　What　had　brought　The　Worm　Who　Is　God？
　A　thumping　sounded　from　within　Leto's　aerie；　a　heavy　beating　against　stone。　Moneo　dared　not　open　the　door　to　investigate。　He　pushed　himself　away　from　the　surface　which　reflected　that　dreadful　thumping　…and　went　down　the　stairs；　moving　cautiously；　not　drawing　an　easy　breath　until　he　reached　ground　level　and　the　Fish　Speaker　guard　there。
　〃Is　he　disturbed？〃　she　asked；　looking　up　the　stairs。
　Moneo　nodded。　They　both　could　hear　the　thumping　quite　plainly。
　〃What　disturbs　him？〃　the　guard　asked。
　〃He　is　God　and　we　are　mortal；〃　Moneo　said。　This　was　an　answer　which　usually　satisfied　Fish　Speakers；　but　new　forces　were　at　work　now。
　She　looked　directly　at　him　and　Moneo　saw　the　killer　training　close　to　the　surface　of　her　soft　features。　She　was　a　relatively　young　woman　with　auburn　hair　and　a　face　usually　dominated　by　a　turned…up　nose　and　full　lips；　but　now　her　eyes　were　hard　and　demanding。　Only　a　fool　would　turn　his　back　on　those　eyes。
　〃I　did　not　disturb　him；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　she　agreed。　Her　look　softened　slightly。
　〃But　I　would　like　to　know　who　or　what　did。〃
　〃I　think