bh.houseatreides-第91部分

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　Through　a　side　door　of　the　big　house；　Omer　came　running；　shouting。　His　black　hair　was　in　disarray。　He　waved　a　crude　hunting　weapon　he　had　found　in　a　storage　locker。　Such　a　fool；　she　thought。　Brave；　dear；　and　loyal　　but　nonetheless　a　fool。
　〃My　Lady！〃　Omer　shouted。　〃Leave　her　alone！〃
　A　few　of　the　Sardaukar　aimed　at　him　and　at　the　shaggy　workers　in　the　field；　but　most　kept　their　weapons　trained　on　her。　She　looked　up　to　the　sky　and　thought　of　her　loving　husband　and　children　and　hoped　only　that　they　wouldn't　meet　similar　ends。　Even　at　this　moment　she　had　to　admit　that；　given　the　choice；　she　would　do　it　all　again。　She　did　not　regret　the　loss　in　prestige　or　riches　that　leaving　the　royal　Court　had　cost　her。　Shando　had　known　a　love　that　few　members　of　the　nobility　had　ever　experienced。
　Poor　Roody；　she　thought　with　a　flash　of　pity。　You　never　understood　that　kind　of　love。　As　usual；　Dominic　had　been　right。　In　her　mind；　she　saw　him　again　as　he　was　when　she　had　first　met　the　Earl　of　House　Vernius：　a　handsome　young　soldier；　returned　victorious　from　battle。
　Shando　raised　one　hand　to　touch　the　vision　of　Dominic's　face　one　last　time。。。
　Then　all　the　Sardaukar　opened　fire。
　I　must　rule　with　eye　and　claw　　as　the　hawk　among　lesser　birds。
　…DUKE　PAULUS　ATREIDES；
　The　Atreides　Assertion
　Duke　Leto　Atreides。　Ruler　of　the　planet　Caladan；　member　of　the　Landsraad；　head　of　a　Great　House。。。These　titles　meant　nothing　to　him。　His　father　was　dead。
　Leto　felt　small。　Defeated　and　confused；　he　was　not　ready　for　the　burdens　that　had　been　thrust　upon　him　so　cruelly　at　the　age　of　fifteen。　As　he　sat　in　the　unfortable；　overlarge　chair　where　the　blustery　Old　Duke　had　so　often　held　formal　and　informal　court；　Leto　felt　out　of　place；　an　imposter。
　I　am　not　ready　to　be　Duke！
　He　had　declared　seven　days　of　official　mourning；　during　which　he'd　been　able　to　sidestep　most　of　the　difficult　business　as　head　of　House　Atreides。　Simply　dealing　with　the　condolences　from　other　Great　Houses　proved　almost　too　much　for　him。。。especially　the　formal　letter　from　Emperor　Elrood　IX；　written　no　doubt　by　his　Chamberlain　but　signed　with　the　old　man's　palsied　hand。　〃A　great　man　of　the　people　has　fallen；〃　the　Emperor's　note　read。　〃You　have　my　sincere　condolences　and　prayers　for　your　future。〃
　For　some　inexplicable　reason；　this　had　sounded　to　Leto　like　a　threat　　something　sinister　in　the　slant　of　the　signature；　perhaps；　or　in　the　selection　of　words。　Leto　had　burned　the　message　in　the　fireplace　of　his　private　quarters。
　Most　important　of　all　to　him；　Leto　received　heartfelt　gestures　of　grief　from　the　people　of　Caladan：　fresh　flowers；　baskets　of　fish；　embroidered　banners；　poems　and　songs　written　by　would…be　bards；　carvings；　even　drawings　and　paintings　depicting　the　Old　Duke　in　his　glory；　victorious　in　the　bullring。
　In　private；　where　no　one　could　see　his　weakness；　Leto　cried。　He　knew　how　much　the　people　had　loved　Duke　Paulus；　and　he　remembered　the　feeling　of　power　that　had　blanketed　him　the　day　he　and　his　father　had　stood　holding　their　bull's…head　trophy　in　the　Plaza　de　Toros。　At　that　time；　he　had　longed　to　bee　Duke　himself；　had　felt　the　love　and　loyalty　wrapped　around　him。　House　Atreides！
　Now　he　wished　for　any　other　fate　in　the　universe。
　Lady　Helena　had　locked　herself　in　her　chambers　and　ignored　the　servants　who　tried　to　attend　her。　Leto　had　never　observed　much　love　or　affection　between　his　parents；　and　right　now　he　couldn't　tell　if　his　mother's　grief　was　sincere　or　merely　an　act。　The　only　people　she　agreed　to　see　were　her　personal　priests　and　spiritual　advisors。　Helena　clung　to　the　subtle　meanings　she　pried　loose　from　verses　of　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible。
　Leto　knew　he　needed　to　bring　himself　out　of　this　morass　　he　had　to　reach　deep　for　strength　and　turn　to　the　business　of　running　Caladan。　Duke　Paulus　would　have　scorned　Leto's　misery　and　chastised　him　for　not　immediately　facing　the　priorities　of　his　new　life。　〃Grieve　during　your　private　time；　lad；〃　he　would　have　said；　〃but　never　reveal　any　sign　of　weakness　on　the　part　of　House　Atreides。〃
　Silently；　Leto　vowed　to　do　his　best。　This　would　be　the　first　of　many　sacrifices　he　would　no　doubt　have　to　make　in　his　new　position。
　Prince　Rhombur　came　up　beside　Leto　as　he　sat　in　the　heavy　ducal　chair　in　the　empty　meeting　hall。　Leto　brooded；　his　eyes　fixed　on　a　large　portrait　on　the　opposite　wall　that　showed　his　father　in　full　matador　regalia。　Rhombur　put　a　hand　on　his　panion's　shoulder　and　squeezed。　〃Leto；　have　you　eaten？　You've　got　to　maintain　your　strength。〃
　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Leto　turned　to　look　at　his　rade　from　Ix；　whose　broad　face　was　filled　with　concern。　〃No；　I　haven't。　Would　you　care　to　join　me　for　breakfast？〃　He　rose　stiffly　from　the　unfortable　chair。　It　was　time　to　go　about　his　duties。
　Thufir　Hawat　acpanied　them　at　a　morning　meal　that　extended　for　hours　as　they　laid　out　plans　and　strategies　for　the　new　regime。　During　a　pause　in　the　discussion；　the　warrior　Mentat　bowed　his　head　and　met　young　Leto's　gray…eyed　gaze。　〃If　I　have　not　yet　made　it　apparent；　my　Duke；　I　give　you　my　utmost　loyalty　and　renew　my　pledge　to　House　Atreides。　I　will　do　everything　I　can　to　assist　and　advise　you。〃　Then　his　expression　hardened。　〃But　you　must　understand　that　all　decisions　are　yours　and　yours　alone。　My　advice　may　contradict　Prince　Rhombur's　or　your　mother's；　or　that　of　any　other　advisors　you　choose。　You　must　decide　in　each　case。　You　are　the　Duke。　You　are　House　Atreides。〃
　Leto　trembled；　feeling　the　responsibility　hover　over　him　like　a　Guild　Heighliner　ready　to　crash。　〃I'm　aware　of　that；　Thufir；　and　I'll　need　all　the　assistance　I　can　get。〃　He　sat　up　straight　and　sipped　sweet　cream　from　a　bowl　of　warm　pundi　rice　pudding；　prepared　by　one　of　the　chefs　who　knew　it　had　been　his　favorite　as　a　boy。　Now　it　didn't　taste　the　same；　though；　his　taste　buds　seemed　dulled。
　〃How　goes　the　investigation　into　my　father's　death？　Was　it　truly　an　accident；　as　it　appears？　Or　only　made　to　look　that　way？〃
　The　Mentat　frowned；　and　a　troubled　expression　clouded　his　leathery　face。　〃I'm　hesitant　to　say　this；　my　Duke；　but　I　fear　it　was　murder。　Evidence　is　mounting　of　a　devious　plan；　indeed。〃
　〃What？〃　Rhombur　said；　pounding　his　fist　on　the　table。　His　face　flushed。　〃Who　did　this　to　the　Duke？　How？〃　He　felt　affection　not　only　for　Leto；　but　for　the　Atreides　patriarch　who　had　granted　sanctuary　to　him　and　his　sister。　A　visceral；　sinking　feeling　told　Rhombur　the　motivation　might　have　been　to　punish　Paulus　for　showing　kindness　to　the　Ixian　exiles。
　〃I　am　the　Duke；　Rhombur；〃　Leto　said；　resting　a　hand　on　his　friend's　forearm。　〃I　will　have　to　handle　this。〃
　Leto　could　almost　hear　the　wheels　humming　inside　the　Mentat's　plex　mind。　Hawat　said；　〃Chemical　analysis　of　muscle　tissue　in　the　Salusan　bull　revealed　faint　traces　of　two　drugs。〃
　〃I　thought　the　beasts　were　checked　before　every　fight。〃　Leto　narrowed　his　eyes；　but　for　a　moment　he　could　not　drive　away　the　memory　flashes　of　his　younger　days；　when　he　had　gone　to　look　at　the　massive　bulls　in　the　stables　and　puffy…eyed　Stablemaster　Yresk　had　let　him　feed　the　beasts　　to　the　horror　of　the　stableboys。　〃Was　our　veterinarian　in　on　a　plot？〃
　〃The　usual　tests　were　performed　as　required；　before　the　paseo。〃　A　frown　on　his　red…stained　lips；　Thufir　tapped　his　fingers　on　the　table　as　he　marshaled　his　thoughts　and　assessed　his　answer。　〃Unfortunately；　the　prescribed　analyses　tested　for　the　wrong　things。　The　bull　had　been　enraged　by　a　harsh　stimulant　that　gradually　built　up　in　its　body　over　days；　delivered　in　time…released　amounts。〃
　〃That　wouldn't　have　been　enough；〃　Leto　said；　flaring　his　nostrils。　〃My　father　was　a　good　fighter。　The　best。〃
　The　Mentat　shook　his　shaggy　head。　〃The　bull　was　also　given　a　neutralizing　agent；　a　chemical　that　counteracted　the　neurotoxin　in　the　Duke's　banderillas　and　simultaneously　triggered　a　release　of　the　stimulant。　When　the　bull　should　have　been　paralyzed；　the　stimulant　was　increased　instead。　The　beast　became　an　even　more　dangerous　killing　machine；　just　as　the　Old　Duke　was　growing　tired。〃
　Leto　glowered。　With　an　angry　lurch　he　rose　from　the　breakfast　table　and　glanced　up　at　the　omnipresent　poison…snooper。　He　paced；　letting　his　rice　pudding　grow　cold。　Then　he　turned　and　spoke　sharply；　summoning　all　the　techniques　of　leadership　he　had　been　taught。　〃Mentat；　give　me　a　prime　projection。　Who　would　do　this？〃
　Thufir　sat　motionless　as　he　entered　deep　Mentat　mode。　Data　streamed　through　the　puter　inside　his　skull；　a　human　brain　that　simulated　the　capabilities　of　the　ancient；　hated　enemies　of　mankind。
　〃Most　likely　possibility：　a　personal　attack　from　a　major　political　enemy　of　House　Atreides。　Because　of　the　timing；　I　suspect　it　may　be　a　punishment　of　the　Old　Duke　for　his　support　of　House　Vernius。〃
　〃My　suspicion　exactly；〃　Rhombur　muttered。　The　son　of　Dominic　Vernius　seemed　very　much　an　adult　now；　hardened　and　tempered；　no　longer　just　a　good…natured　study　panion　who　had　lived　a　pampered　life。　Since　ing　to　Caladan　he　had　trimmed　down；　tightened　his　muscles。　His　eyes　had　taken　on　a　flinty　gleam。
　〃But　no　House　has　declared　kanly　on　us；〃　Leto　said。　〃In　the　ancient　rite　of　vendetta　there　are　requirements；　forms　to　be　followed；　are　there　not；　Thufir？〃
　〃But　we　can't　trust　all　of　the　Old　Duke's　e