fh.godemperorofdune-第73部分

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e　Fish　Speaker　acolyte　who　appeared　at　the　summons　to　bring　him　a　tumbler　of　water　and　then　call　Duncan　Idaho　to　the　workroom。
　She　returned　quickly　with　the　water　and　placed　the　tumbler　near　his　left　hand　on　the　table。　He　noted　the　long　fingers；　a　lute…player's　fingers；　but　did　not　look　up　at　her　face。
　〃I　have　sent　someone　for　Idaho；〃　she　said。
　He　nodded　and　went　on　with　his　work。　He　heard　her　leave　and　only　then　did　he　look　up　to　drink　the　water。
　Some　live　lives　like　summer　moths；　he　thought。　But　I　have　burdens　without　end。
　The　water　tasted　flat。　It　weighed　down　his　senses；　making　his　body　feel　torpid。　He　looked　out　at　the　sunset　colors　on　the　Sareer　as　they　shaded　away　into　darkness；　thinking　that　he　should　recognize　beauty　in　that　familiar　sense；　but　all　he　could　think　was　that　the　light　changed　in　its　own　patterns。　It　is　not　moved　by　me　at　all。
　With　the　full　darkness；　the　light　level　of　his　workroom　increased　automatically；　bringing　a　clarity　of　thought　with　it。　He　felt　himself　quite　prepared　for　Idaho。　This　one　had　to　be　taught　the　necessities；　and　quickly。
　Moneo's　door　opened；　the　acolyte　again。　〃Will　you　eat　now？〃
　〃Later。〃　He　raised　a　hand　as　she　started　to　leave。　〃I　would　like　the　door　left　open。〃
　She　frowned。
　〃You　may　practice　your　music；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to　listen。〃
　She　had　a　smooth；　round；　almost　childlike　face　which　became　radiant　when　she　smiled。　The　smile　still　on　her　lips；　she　turned　away。
　Presently；　he　heard　the　sounds　of　a　biwa　lute　in　the　outer　office。　Yes；　that　young　acolyte　had　a　talent。　The　bass　strings　were　like　rain　drumming　on　a　rooftop；　a　whisper　of　middle　strings　underneath。　Perhaps　she　could　move　up　to　the　baliset　someday。　He　recognized　the　song：　a　deeply　humming　memory　of　autumn　wind　from　some　faraway　planet　where　they　had　never　known　a　desert。　Sad　music；　pitiful　music；　yet　marvelous。
　It　is　the　cry　of　the　caged；　he　thought。　The　memory　of　freedom。　This　thought　struck　him　as　odd。　Was　it　always　the　case　that　freedom　required　rebellion？
　The　lute　fell　silent。　There　came　the　sound　of　low　voices。　Idaho　entered　the　workroom。　Moneo　watched　him　enter。　A　trick　of　light　gave　Idaho　a　face　like　a　grimacing　mask　with　pitted　eyes。　Without　invitation；　he　sat　down　across　from　Moneo　and　the　trickery　was　gone。　Just　another　Duncan。　He　had　changed　into　a　plain　black　uniform　without　insignia。
　〃I　have　been　asking　myself　a　peculiar　question；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I'm　glad　you　summoned　me。　I　want　to　ask　this　question　of　you。　What　is　it；　Moneo；　that　my　predecessor　did　not　learn？〃
　Stiff　with　surprise；　Moneo　sat　up　straight。　What　an　unDuncan　question！　Could　there　be　a　peculiar　Tleilaxu　difference　in　this　one　after　all？
　〃What　prompts　this　question？〃　Moneo　asked。
　〃I've　been　thinking　like　a　Fremen。〃
　〃You　weren't　a　Fremen。〃
　〃Closer　to　it　than　you　think。　Stilgar　the　Naib　once　said　I　was　probably　born　Fremen　without　knowing　it　until　I　came　to　Dune。〃
　〃What　happens　when　you　think　like　a　Fremen？〃
　〃You　remember　that　you　should　never　be　in　pany　that　you　wouldn't　want　to　die　with。〃
　Moneo　put　his　hands　palms　down　on　the　surface　of　his　table。　A　wolfish　smile　came　over　Idaho's　face。
　〃Then　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　Moneo　asked。
　〃I　suspect　that　you　may　be　good　pany；　Moneo。　And　I　ask　myself　why　Leto　would　choose　you　as　his　closest　panion？〃
　〃I　passed　the　test。〃
　〃The　same　one　your　daughter　passed？〃
　So　he　has　heard　they　are　back。　It　meant　some　of　the　Fish　Speakers　were　reporting　things　to　him。。。unless　the　God　Emperor　had　summoned　the　Duncan。。。。　No；　I　would　have　heard。
　〃The　tests　are　never　identical；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　was　made　to　go　alone　into　a　cavern　maze　with　nothing　but　a　bag　of　food　and　a　vial　of　spice…essence。〃
　〃Which　did　you　choose？〃
　〃What？　Oh。。。if　you　are　tested；　you　will　learn。〃
　〃There's　a　Leto　I　don't　know；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Have　I　not　told　you　this？〃
　〃And　there's　a　Leto　you　don't　know；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Because　he's　the　loneliest　person　this　universe　has　ever　seen；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Don't　play　mood　games　trying　to　arouse　my　sympathy；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃Mood　games；　yes。　That's　very　good；〃　Moneo　nodded。　〃The　God　Emperor's　moods　are　like　a　river…smooth　where　nothing　obstructs　him；　foaming　and　violent　at　the　least　suggestion　of　a　barrier。　He　is　not　be　be　obstructed。〃
　Idaho　looked　around　at　the　brightly　lighted　workroom；　turned　his　gaze　to　the　outside　darkness　and　thought　about　the　tamed　course　of　the　Idaho　River　somewhere　out　there。　Bringing　his　attention　back　to　Moneo；　he　asked：　〃What　do　you　know　of　rivers？〃
　〃In　my　youth；　I　traveled　for　him。　I　have　even　trusted　my　life　to　a　floating　shell　of　a　vessel　on　a　river　and　then　on　a　sea　whose　shores　were　lost　in　the　crossing。〃
　As　he　spoke；　Moneo　felt　that　he　had　brushed　against　a　clue　to　some　deep　truth　in　the　Lord　Leto。　The　sensation　dropped　Moneo　into　reverie；　thinking　of　that　far　planet　where　he　had　crossed　a　sea　from　one　shore　to　another。　There　had　been　a　storm　on　the　first　evening　of　that　passage　and；　somewhere　deep　within　the　ship；　an　irritating　non…directional　〃sug…sug…sug…sugsug〃　of　laboring　engines。　He　had　stood　on　deck　with　the　captain。　His　mind　had　kept　focusing　on　the　engine　sound；　retreating　and　ing　back　to　it　like　the　oversurging　of　the　watery　green…black　mountains　which　passed　and　came；　repeating　and　repeating。　Each　down　crash　of　the　keel　opened　the　sea's　flesh　like　a　fist　smashing。　It　was　insane　motion；　a　sodden　shaking；　up。。。up；　down！　His　lungs　had　ached　with　repressed　fear。　The　lunging　of　the　ship　and　the　sea　trying　to　put　them　down…wild　explosions　of　solid　water；　hour　after　hour；　white　blisters　of　water　spilling　off　the　decks；　then　another　sea　and　another。　。　。
　All　of　this　was　a　clue　to　the　God　Emperor。
　He　is　both　the　storm　and　the　ship。
　Moneo　focused　on　Idaho　seated　across　the　table　from　him　in　the　workroom's　cold　light。　Not　a　tremor　in　the　man；　but　a　hungering　was　there。
　〃So　you　will　not　help　me　learn　what　the　other　Duncan　Idahos　did　not　learn；〃　Idaho　said。
　〃But　I　will　help　you。〃
　〃Then　what　have　I　always　failed　to　learn？〃
　〃How　to　trust。〃
　Idaho　pushed　himself　back　from　the　table　and　glared　at　Moneo。　When　Idaho's　voice　came；　it　was　harsh　and　rasping：　〃I'd　say　I　trusted　too　much。〃
　Moneo　was　implacable。　〃But　how　do　you　trust？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　Moneo　put　his　hands　in　his　lap。　〃You　choose　male　panions　for　their　ability　to　fight　and　die　on　the　side　of　right　as　you　see　it。　You　choose　females　who　can　plement　this　masculine　view　of　yourself。　You　allow　for　no　differences　which　can　e　from　good　will。〃
　Something　moved　in　the　doorway　to　Moneo's　workroom。　He　looked　up　in　time　to　see　Siona　enter。　She　stopped；　one　hand　on　her　hip。
　〃Well；　father；　up　to　your　old　tricks；　I　see。〃
　Idaho　jerked　around　to　stare　at　the　speaker。
　Moneo　studied　her；　looking　for　signs　of　the　change。　She　had　bathed　and　put　on　a　fresh　uniform；　the　black　and　gold　of　Fish　Speaker　mand；　but　her　face　and　hands　still　betrayed　the　evidence　of　her　desert　ordeal。　She　had　lost　weight　and　her　cheekbones　stood　out。　Unguent　did　little　to　conceal　cracks　in　her　lips。　Veins　stood　out　on　her　hands。　Her　eyes　looked　ancient　and　her　expression　was　that　of　someone　who　had　tasted　bitter　dregs。
　〃I've　been　listening　to　you　two；〃　she　said。　She　dropped　her　hand　from　her　hip　and　moved　farther　into　the　room。　〃How　dare　you　speak　of　good　will；　father？〃
　Idaho　had　noted　the　uniform。　He　pursed　his　lips　in　thought。　Fish　Speaker　mand？　Siona？
　〃I　understand　your　bitterness；〃　Moneo　said。　〃I　…had　similar　feelings　once。〃
　〃Did　you　really？〃　She　came　closer；　stopping　just　beside　Idaho；　who　continued　to　regard　her　with　a　look　of　speculation。
　〃I　am　filled　with　joy　to　see　you　alive；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃How　gratifying。　for　you　to　see　me　safely　into　the　God　Emperor's　Service；〃　she　said。　〃You　waited　so　long　to　have　a　child　and　look！　See　how　successful　I　am。〃　She　turned　slowly　to　display　her　uniform。　〃mander　of　the　Fish　Speakers。　A　mander　with　a　troop　of　one；　but　nonetheless　a　mander。〃
　Moneo　forced　his　voice　to　be　cold　and　professional。　〃Sit　down。〃
　〃I　prefer　to　stand。〃　She　looked　down　at　Idaho's　upturned　face。　〃Ahhh；　Duncan　Idaho；　my　intended　mate。　Don't　you　find　this　interesting；　Duncan？　The　Lord　Leto　tells　me　I　will　befitted　into　the　mand　structure　of　the　Fish　Speakers　in　time。　Meanwhile；　I　have　one　attendant。　Do　you　know　the　one　called　Nayla；　Duncan？〃
　Idaho　nodded。
　〃Really？　I　think　perhaps　I　don't　know　her。〃　Siona　looked　at　Moneo。　〃Do　I　know　her；　father？〃
　Moneo　shrugged。
　〃But　you　speak　of　trust；　father；〃　Siona　said。　〃Who　does　the　powerful　minister；　Moneo；　trust？〃
　Idaho　turned　to　see　the　effect　of　these　words　on　the　majordomo。　The　man's　face　appeared　brittle　with　repressed　emotion。　Anger？　No。。。something　else。
　I　trust　the　God　Emperor；〃　Moneo　said。　〃And；　in　the　hope　that　it　will　teach　both　of　you　something；　I　am　here　to　convey　his　wishes　to　you。〃
　〃His　wishes！〃　Siona　taunted。　〃Hear　that；　Duncan？　The　God　Emperor's　mands　are　now　wishes。〃
　〃Speak　your　piece；〃　Idaho　said。　〃I　know　we　have　little　choice　in　whatever　it　is。〃
　〃You　always　have　a　choice；〃　Moneo　said。
　〃Don't　listen　to　him；〃　Siona　said。　〃He's　full　of　tricks。　They　expect　us　to　fall　into　each　other's　arms　and　breed　more　like　my　father。　Your　descendant