fh.godemperorofdune-第69部分

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ion。
　Moneo　returned　the　stare；　noting　that　Idaho　still　wore　the　black　uniform　of　their　morning　encounter。　There　was　even　a　small　trace　of　grime　down　the　front；　memento　of　the　corridor　floor　where　Moneo　had　spilled　him。　But　Idaho　no　longer　wore　the　antique　Atreides　knife。　That　bothered　Moneo。
　〃What　I　did　this　morning　was　unforgivable；〃　Moneo　said。　〃Therefore；　I　do　not　ask　you　to　forgive　me。　I　merely　ask　that　you　try　to　understand。〃
　Hwi　did　not　appear　surprised　by　this　opening；　Idaho　noted。　It　revealed　much　about　what　the　two　of　them　had　been　discussing　before　Idaho's　arrival。
　When　Idaho　did　not　respond；　Moneo　said：　〃I　had　no　right　to　make　you　feel　inadequate。〃
　Idaho　found　himself　undergoing　a　curious　response　to　Moneo's　words　and　manner。　There　was　still　the　feeling　of　being　outmaneuvered　and　outclassed；　too　far　from　his　time；　but　he　no　longer　suspected　that　Moneo　might　be　toying　with　him。　Something　had　reduced　the　majordomo　to　a　gritty　substratum　of　honesty。　The　realization　put　Leto's　universe；　the　deadly　eroticism　of　the　Fish　Speakers；　Hwi's　undeniable　candor　everything…into　a　new　relationship；　a　form　which　Idaho　felt　that　he　understood。　It　was　as　though　the　three　of　them　in　this　room　were　the　last　true　humans　in　the　entire　universe。　He　spoke　from　a　sense　of　wry　self…deprecation：
　〃You　had　every　right　to　protect　yourself　when　I　attacked　you。　It　pleases　me　that　you　were　so　capable。〃
　Idaho　turned　toward　Hwi；　but　before　he　could　speak；　Moneo　said：　〃You　needn't　plead　for　me。　I　think　her　displeasure　toward　me　is　quite　adamant。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head。　〃Does　everyone　here　know　what　I'm　going　to　say　before　I　say　it；　what　I'm　going　to　feel　before　I　feel　it？〃
　〃One　of　your　admirable　qualities；〃　Moneo　said。　〃You　do　not　conceal　your　feelings。　We…〃　he　shrugged…　〃are　necessarily　more　circumspect。〃
　Idaho　looked　at　Hwi。　〃Does　he　speak　for　you？〃
　She　put　her　hand　in　Idaho's。　〃I　speak　for　myself。〃
　Moneo　craned　to　peer　at　the　clasped　hands；　sank　back　on　his　cushion。　He　sighed。　〃You　must　not。〃
　Idaho　clasped　her　hand　more　tightly；　felt　her　equal　response。
　〃Before　either　of　you　asks；〃　Moneo　said；　〃my　daughter　and　the　God　Emperor　have　not　yet　returned　from　the　testing。〃
　Idaho　sensed　the　effort　Moneo　had　required　to　speak　calmly。　Hwi　heard　it；　too。
　〃Is　it　true　what　the　Fish　Speakers　say？〃　she　asked。　〃Siona　dies　if　she　fails？〃
　Moneo　remained　silent；　but　his　face　was　a　rock。
　〃Is　it　like　the　Bene　Gesserit　test？〃　Idaho　asked。　〃Muad'Dib　said　the　Sisterhood　tests　to　try　to　find　out　if　you　are　human。〃
　Hwi's　hand　began　to　tremble。　Idaho　felt　it　and　looked　at　her。　〃Did　they　test　you？〃
　〃No；〃　Hwi　said；　〃but　I　heard　the　young　ones　talking　about　it。　They　said　you　must　pass　through　agony　without　losing　your　sense　of　self。〃
　Idaho　returned　his　attention　to　Moneo；　noting　the　start　of　a　tic　beside　the　majordomo's　left　eye。
　〃Moneo；〃　Idaho　breathed；　overe　by　sudden　realization。　〃He　tested　you！〃
　〃I　do　not　wish　to　discuss　tests；〃　Moneo　said。　〃We　are　here　to　decide　what　must　be　done　about　you　two。〃
　〃Isn't　that　up　to　us？〃　Idaho　asked。　He　felt　Hwi's　hand　in　his　grow　slippery　with　perspiration。
　〃It　is　up　to　the　God　Emperor；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Even　if　Siona　fails？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃Especially　then！〃
　〃How　did　he　test　you？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃He　showed　me　a　small　glimpse　of　what　it's　like　to　be　the　God　Emperor。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃I　saw　as　much　as　I'm　capable　of　seeing。〃
　Hwi's　hand　tightened　convulsively　in　Idaho's。
　〃Then　it's　true　that　you　were　a　rebel　once；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃I　began　with　love　and　prayer；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　changed　to　anger　and　rebellion。　I　was　transformed　into　what　you　see　before　you。　I　recognize　my　duty　and　I　do　it。〃
　〃What　did　he　do　to　you？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　〃He　quoted　to　me　the　prayer　of　my　childhood：　‘I　give　my　life　in　dedication　to　the　greater　glory　of　God。〃'　Moneo　spoke　in　a　musing　voice。
　Idaho　noted　Hwi's　stillness；　her　stare　fixed　on　Moneo's　face。　What　was　she　thinking？
　〃I　admitted　that　this　had　been　my　prayer；〃　Moneo　said。　〃And　the　God　Emperor　asked　me　what　I　would　give　up　if　my　life　were　not　enough。　He　shouted　at　me：　‘What　is　your　life　when　you　hold　back　the　greater　gift？〃'
　Hwi　nodded；　but　Idaho　felt　only　confusion。
　〃I　could　hear　the　truth　in　his　voice；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Are　you　a　Truthsayer？〃　Hwi　asked。
　〃In　the　power　of　desperation；　yes；〃　Moneo　said。　〃But　only　then。　I　swear　to　you　he　spoke　truth　to　me。〃
　〃Some　of　the　Atreides　had　the　power　of　Voice；〃　Idaho　muttered。
　Moneo　shook　his　head。　〃No；　it　was　truth。　He　said　to　me：　‘I　look　at　you　now　and　if　I　could　shed　tears；　I　would。　Consider　the　wish　to　be　the　act！〃'
　Hwi　rocked　forward；　almost　touching　the　table。　〃He　cannot　cry？〃
　〃Sandworms；〃　Idaho　whispered。
　〃What？〃　Hwi　turned　toward　him。
　〃Fremen　killed　sandworms　with　water；〃　Idaho　said。　〃From　the　drowning　they　produced　the　spice…essence　for　their　religious　orgies。〃
　〃But　the　Lord　Leto　is　not　yet　a　sandworm　entire；〃　Moneo　said。
　Hwi　rocked　back　onto　her　cushion　and　looked　at　Moneo。
　Idaho　pursed　his　lips　in　thought。　Did　Leto　have　the　Fremen　prohibition　against　tears；　then？　How　awed　the　Fremen　had　always　been　about　such　a　waste　of　moisture！　Giving　water　to　the　dead。
　Moneo　addressed　himself　to　Idaho：　〃I　had　hoped　you　could　be　brought　to　an　understanding。　The　Lord　Leto　has　spoken。　You　and　Hwi　must　separate　and　never　see　each　other　again。〃
　Hwi　removed　her　hand　from　Idaho's。　〃We　know。〃
　Idaho　spoke　with　resigned　bitterness：　〃We　know　his　power。〃　〃But　you　do　not　understand　him；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃I　want　nothing　more　than　that；〃　Hwi　said。　She　put　a　hand　on　Idaho's　arm　to　silence　him。　〃No；　Duncan。　Our　private　desires　have　no　place　here。〃
　〃Maybe　you　should　pray　to　him；〃　Idaho　said。
　She　whirled　and　looked　at　him；　staring　and　staring　until　Idaho　lowered　his　gaze。　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　carried　a　lilting　quality　that　Idaho　had　never　heard　there　before。　〃My　Uncle　Malky　always　said　the　Lord　Leto　never　responded　to　prayer。　He　said　the　Lord　Leto　looked　on　prayer　as　attempted　coercion；　a　form　of　violence　against　the　chosen　god；　telling　the　immortal　what　to　do：　Give　me　a　miracle；　God；　or　I　won't　believe　in　you！〃
　〃Prayer　as　hubris；〃　Moneo　said。　〃Intercession　on　demand。〃
　〃How　can　he　be　a　god？〃　Idaho　demanded。　〃By　his　own　admission；　he's　not　immortal。〃
　〃I　will　quote　the　Lord　Leto　on　that；〃　Moneo　said。　〃‘I　am　all　of　God　that　need　be　seen。　I　am　the　word　bee　a　miracle。　I　am　all　of　my　ancestors。　Is　that　not　miracle　enough？　What　more　could　you　possibly　want？　Ask　yourself：　Where　is　there　a　greater　miracle？〃'
　〃Empty　words；〃　Idaho　sneered。
　〃I　sneered　at　him；　too；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　threw　his　own　words　from　the　Oral　History　back　at　him：　‘Give　to　the　greater　glory　of　God！〃'
　Hwi　gasped。
　〃He　laughed　at　me；〃　Moneo　said。　〃He　laughed　and　asked　how　I　could　give　what　already　belonged　to　God？〃
　〃You　were　angry？〃　Hwi　asked。
　〃Oh；　yes。　He　saw　this　and　said　he　would　tell　me　how　to　give　to　that　glory。　He　said：　‘You　may　observe　that　you　are　every　bit　as　great　a　miracle　as　I　am。　〃'　Moneo　turned　and　looked　out　the　window　on　his　left。　〃I'm　afraid　my　anger　made　me　deaf　and　I　was　totally　unprepared。〃
　〃Ohhh；　he　is　clever；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Clever？〃　Moneo　looked　at　him。　〃I　don't　think　so；　not　in　the　way　you　mean。　I　think　the　Lord　Leto　may　be　no　more　clever　than　I　am　in　that　way。〃
　〃Unprepared　for　what？〃　Hwi　asked。
　〃The　risk；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃But　you　risked　much　in　your　anger；〃　she　said。
　〃Not　as　much　as　he。　I　see　in　your　eyes；　Hwi；　that　you　understand　this。　Does　his　body　revolt　you？〃
　〃No　more；〃　she　said。
　Idaho　ground　his　teeth　in　frustration。　〃He　disgusts　me！〃
　〃Love；　you　must　not　say　such　things；〃　Hwi　said。
　〃And　you　must　not　call　him　love；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃You'd　rather　she　learned　to　love　someone　more　gross　and　evil　than　any　Baron　Harkonnen　ever　dreamed　of　being；〃　Idaho　said。
　Moneo　worked　his　lips　in　and　out；　then：　〃The　Lord　Leto　has　told　me　about　that　evil　old　man　of　your　time；　Duncan。　I　don't　think　you　understood　your　enemy。〃
　〃He　was　a　fat；　monstrous。。　。〃
　〃He　was　a　seeker　after　sensations；〃　Moneo　said。　〃The　fat　was　a　side…effect；　then　perhaps　something　to　experience　for　itself　because　it　offended　people　and　he　enjoyed　offending。〃
　〃The　Baron　only　consumed　a　few　planets；〃　Idaho　said。　〃Leto　consumes　the　universe。〃
　〃Love；　please！〃　Hwi　protested。
　〃Let　him　rant；〃　Moneo　said。　〃When　I　was　young　and　ignorant；　even　as　my　Siona　and　this　poor　fool；　I　said　similar　things。〃
　‘　Is　that　why　you　let　your　daughter　go　out　to　die？〃　Idaho　demanded。
　〃Love；　that's　cruel；〃　Hwi　said。
　〃Duncan；　it　has　always　been　one　of　your　flaws　to　seek　hysteria；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　warn　you　that　ignorance　thrives　on　hysteria。　Your　genes　provide　vigor　and　you　may　inspire　some　among　the　Fish　Speakers；　but　you　are　a　poor　leader。〃
　〃Don't　try　to　anger　me；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I　know　better　than　to　attack　you；　but　don't　push　me　too　far。〃
　Hwi　tried　to　take　Idaho's　hand；　but　he　pulled　away。
　〃I　know　my　place；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I'm　a　useful　follower。　I　can　carry　the　Atreides　banner。　The　green　and　black　is　on　my　back！〃
　〃The　undeserving　maintain　power　by　promoting　hysteria；〃　Moneo　said。　〃The　Atreides　art　is　the　art　of　ruling　without　hysteria；　the　art　of　being　responsible　for　the　uses