fh.godemperorofdune-第37部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


blood；　an　undistinguished　shadow　among　the　night　shadows　of　a　plastone　street。　It　was　unreal。　Idaho　could　remember　Muad'Dib　saying：　〃The　mind　imposes　this　framework　which　it　calls　‘reality。'　That　arbitrary　framework　has　a　tendency　to　be　quite　independent　of　what　your　senses　report。〃　What　reality　moved　the　Lord　Leto'？
　Idaho　looked　at　Siona　standing　against　the　orchard　background　and　the　green　hills　of　Goygoa。　〃Let's　go　down　to　the　village　and　find　our　quarters。　I'd　like　to　be　alone。〃
　〃The　Fish　Speakers　will　put　us　in　the　same　quarters。〃
　〃With　them？〃
　〃No；　just　the　two　of　us　together。　The　reason's　simple　enough。　The　Worm　wants　me　to　breed　with　the　great　Duncan　Idaho。〃
　〃I　pick　my　own　partners；〃　Idaho　growled。
　〃I'm　sure　one　of　our　Fish　Speakers　would　be　delighted；〃　Siona　said。　She　whirled　away　from　him　and　set　off　down　the　hill。
　Idaho　watched　her　for　a　moment；　the　lithe　young　body　swaying　like　the　limbs　of　the　orchard　trees　in　the　wind。
　〃I'm　not　his　stud；〃　Idaho　muttered。　〃That's　one　thing　he'll　have　to　understand。〃
　
　As　each　day　passes；　you　bee　increasingly　unreal；　more　alien　and　remote　from　what　I　find　myself　to　be　on　that　new　day。　I　am　the　only　reality　and；　as　you　differ　from　me；　you　lose　reality。　The　more　curious　I　bee；　the　less　curious　are　those　who　worship　me。　Religion　suppresses　curiosity。　What　I　do　subtracts　from　the　worshipper。　Thus　it　is　that　eventually　I　will　do　nothing；　giving　it　all　back　to　frightened　people　who　will　；find　themselves　on　that　day　alone　and　forced　to　act　for　themselves。
　…The　Stolen　Journals
　IT　was　a　sound　like　no　other；　the　sound　of　a　waiting　mob。　and　it　came　down　the　long　tunnel　to　where　Idaho　marched　ahead　of　the　Royal　Cart…nervous　whispers　magnified　into　an　ultimate　whisper；　the　shuffling　of　one　gigantic　foot；　the　stirring　of　an　enormous　garment。　And　the　smell…sweet　perspiration　mixed　with　the　milky　breath　of　sexual　excitement。
　Inmeir　and　the　others　of　his　Fish　Speaker　escort　had　brought　Idaho　here　in　the　first　hour　after　dawn；　ing　down　to　the　plaza　of　Onn　while　it　lay　in　cold　green　shadows。　They　had　lifted　off　immediately　after　turning　him　over　to　other　Fish　Speakers；　Inmeir　obviously　unhappy　because　she　was　required　to　take　Siona　to　the　Citadel　and　thus　would　miss　the　ritual　of　Siaynoq。
　The　new　escort；　vibrant　with　repressed　emotion；　had　taken　him　into　a　region　deep　beneath　the　plaza；　a　place　not　on　any　of　the　city　charts　Idaho　had　studied。　It　was　a　maze…first　one　direction　and　then　another　through　corridors　wide　enough　and　high　enough　to　acmodate　the　Royal　Cart。　Idaho　lost　track　of　directions　and　fell　to　reflecting　on　the　preceding　night。
　The　sleeping　quarters　in　Goygoa；　although　Spartan　and　small；　had　been　fortable…two　cots　to　a　room；　each　room　a　box　with　white…washed　walls；　a　single　window　and　a　single　door。　The　rooms　were　strung　along　a　corridor　in　a　building　designated　as　Goygoa's　〃Guest　House。〃
　And　Siona　had　been　right。　Without　asking　if　it　suited　him；　Idaho　had　been　quartered　with　her；　Inmeir　acting　as　though　this　were　an　accepted　thing。
　When　the　door　closed　on　them；　Siona　said：　〃If　you　touch　me；　I　will　try　to　kill　you。〃
　It　was　uttered　with　such　dry　sincerity　that　Idaho　almost　laughed。　〃I　would　prefer　privacy；〃　he　said。　〃Consider　yourself　alone。〃
　He　had　slept　with　a　light　wariness；　remembering　dangerous　nights　in　the　Atreides　service；　the　readiness　for　bat。　The　room　was　seldom　truly　dark…moonlight　ing　through　the　curtained　window；　even　starlight　reflecting　from　the　chalk…white　walls。　He　had　found　himself　nervously　sensitive　to　Siona；　to　the　smell　of　her；　the　stirrings；　her　breathing。　Several　times　he　had　e　fully　awake　to　listen；　aware　on　two　of　those　occasions　that　she；　too；　was　listening。
　Morning　and　the　flight　to　Onn　had　e　as　a　relief。　They　had　broken　their　fast　with　a　drink　of　cold　fruit　juice；　Idaho　glad　to　enter　the　predawn　darkness　for　a　brisk　walk　to　the　'thopter。　He　did　not　speak　directly　to　Siona　and　he　found　himself　resenting　the　curious　glances　of　the　Fish　Speakers。
　Siona　spoke　to　him　only　once；　leaning　out　of　the　'thopter　as　he　left　it　in　the　plaza。
　〃It　would　not　offend　me　to　be　your　friend；〃　she　said。
　Such　a　curious　way　of　putting　it。　He　had　felt　vaguely　embarrassed。　〃Yes。。。well；　certainly。〃
　The　new　escort　had　led　him　away　then；　ing　at　last　to　a　terminal　in　the　maze。　Leto　awaited　him　there　on　the　Royal　Cart。　The　meeting　place　was　a　wide　spot　in　a　corridor　which　stretched　off　into　the　converging　distance　on　Idaho's　right。　The　walls　were　dark　brown　streaked　with　golden　lines　which　glittered　in　the　yellow　light　of　glowglobes。　The　escort　took　up　positions　behind　the　cart；　moving　smartly　and　leaving　Idaho　to　stand　confronting　Leto's　cowled　face。
　〃Duncan；　you　will　precede　me　when　we　go　to　Siaynoq；〃　Leto　said。
　Idaho　stared　into　the　dark　blue　wells　of　the　God　Emperor's　eyes；　angered　by　the　mystery　and　secrecy；　the　obvious　air　of　private　excitement　in　this　place。　He　felt　that　everything　he　had　been　told　about　Siaynoq　only　deepened　the　mystery。
　〃Am　I　truly　the　mander　of　your　Guard；　m'　Lord？〃　Idaho　asked；　resentment　heavy　in　his　voice。
　〃Indeed！　And　I　bestow　a　signal　honor　upon　you　now。　Few　adult　males　ever　share　Siaynoq。〃
　〃What　happened　in　the　city　last　night？〃
　〃Bloody　violence　in　some　places。　It　is　quite　calm　this　morning；　however。〃
　〃Casualties'？〃
　〃Not　worth　mentioning。〃
　Idaho　nodded。　Leto's　prescient　powers　had　warned　of　sonic　peril　to　his　Duncan。　Thus；　the　flight　into　the　rural　safety　of　Goygoa。
　〃You　have　been　to　Goygoa；〃　Leto　said。　〃Were　you　tempted　to　stay'　'〃
　；No；；
　〃Do　not　be　angry　with　me；〃　Leto　said。　〃I　did　not　send　you　to　Goygoa。'。
　Idaho　sighed。　〃What　was　the　danger　which　required　that　you　send　me　away'？〃
　〃It　was　not　to　you；〃　Leto　said。　〃But　you　excite　my　guards　to　excessive　displays　of　their　abilities。　Last　night's　activities　did　not　require　this。〃
　〃Oh？〃　This　thought　shocked　Idaho。　He　had　never　thought　of　himself　as　one　to　inspire　particular　heroism　unless　he　personally　demanded　it。　One　whipped　up　the　troops。　Leaders　such　as　the　original　Leto；　this　one's　grandfather；　had　inspired　by　their　presence。
　〃You　are　extremely　precious　to　me；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。
　〃Yes。。。well；　I'm　still　not　your　stud！〃
　〃Your　wishes　will　be　honored；　of　course。　We　will　discuss　it　another　time。〃
　Idaho　glanced　at　the　Fish　Speaker　escort；　all　of　them　wide…eyed　and　attentive。
　〃Is　there　always　violence　when　you　e　to　Orin〃〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃It　goes　in　cycles。　The　malcontents　are　quite　subdued　now。　It　will　be　more　peaceful　for　a　time。〃
　Idaho　looked　back　at　Leto's　inscrutable　face。　〃What　happened　to　my　predecessor？〃
　〃Haven't　my　Fish　Speakers　told　you？〃
　〃They　say　he　died　in　defense　of　his　God。〃
　〃And　you　have　heard　a　contrary　rumor。〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃He　died　because　he　was　too　close　to　me。　I　did　not　remove　him　to　a　safe　place　in　time。〃
　〃A　place　like　Goygoa。〃
　〃I　would　have　preferred　him　to　live　out　his　days　there　in　peace；　but　you　well　know；　Duncan；　that　you　are　not　a　seeker　after　peace。〃
　Idaho　swallowed；　encountering　an　odd　lump　in　his　throat。　〃I　would　still　like　the　particulars　of　his　death。　He　has　a　family。。。〃
　〃You　will　get　the　particulars　and　do　not　fear　for　his　family。　They　are　my　wards。　I　will　keep　them　safely　at　a　distance。　You　know　how　violence　seeks　me　out。　That　is　one　of　my　functions。　It　is　unfortunate　that　those　I　admire　and　love　must　suffer　because　of　this。〃
　Idaho　pursed　his　lips；　not　satisfied　with　what　he　heard。
　〃Set　your　mind　at　ease；　Duncan；〃　Leto　said。　〃Your　predecessor　died　because　he　was　too　close　to　me。〃
　The　Fish　Speaker　escort　stirred　restively。　Idaho　glanced　at　them；　then　looked　to　the　right　up　the　tunnel。
　〃Yes；　it　is　time；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　must　not　keep　the　women　waiting。　March　close　ahead　of　me；　Duncan；　and　I　will　answer　your　questions　about　Siaynoq。〃
　Obedient　because　he　could　think　of　no　suitable　alternative；　Idaho　turned　on　his　heel　and　led　off　the　procession。　He　heard　the　cart　creak　into　motion　behind　him；　the　faint　footsteps　of　the　escort　following。
　The　cart　fell　silent　with　an　abruptness　which　jerked　Idaho's　attention　around。　The　reason　was　immediately　apparent。
　〃You're　on　the　suspensors；〃　he　said；　returning　his　attention　to　the　front。
　〃I　have　retracted　the　wheels　because　the　women　will　press　close　around　me；〃　Leto　said。　〃We　can't　crush　their　feet。〃
　〃What　is　Siaynoq？　What　is　it　really？〃　Idaho　asked。
　〃I　have　told　you。　It　is　the　Great　Sharing。〃
　〃Do　I　smell　spice？〃
　〃Your　nostrils　are　sensitive。　There　is　a　small　amount　of　melange　in　the　wafers。〃
　Idaho　shook　his　head。
　Trying　to　understand　this　event；　Idaho　had　asked　Leto　directly　at　the　first　opportunity　after　their　arrival　in　Onn；　〃What　is　the　Feast　of　Siaynoq'？〃
　〃We　share　a　wafer；　no　more。　Even　I　partake。〃
　〃Is　it　like　the　Orange　Catholic　ritual？〃
　〃Oh；　no！　It　is　not　my　flesh。　It　is　the　sharing。　They　are　reminded　that　they　are　only　female；　as　you　are　only　male；　but　I　am　all。　They…share　with　the　all；〃
　Idaho　had　not　liked　the　tone　of　this。　〃Only　male‘？〃
　〃Do　you　know　who　they　lampoon　at　the　Feast；　Duncan'？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Men　who　have　offended　them。　Listen　to　them　when　they　talk　softly　among　themselves。〃
　Idaho　had　taken　this　as　a　warning：　Don't　offend　the　Fish　Speakers。　You　incur　their　wrath　at　your　mortal　peril！
　Now；　as　he　marched　ahead　of　Leto　in　the　tunnel；　Idaho　felt　that　he　had　heard　the　words　correctly　but　learned　nothing　from　them。　He　spoke　over　his　shoulder。
　〃　I　don't　understand　the　Sharing。〃
　〃We　are　together　in　the　ritual。　You　will　see　it。　You　will　feel　it。　My　Fish　Speakers　are　the　repository　of　a　special　knowledge；　an　unbroken　line　which　only　they　share。　；Vow；　you　will　partake　of　it　and　they　will　love　you　for　it。　Listen　to　them　carefully。　They　are　open　to　ideas　of　affinity。　Their　terms　of　endearment　for　each　other　have　no　reservations。〃
　More　words。　Idaho　thought。　More　mystery。
　He　could　discern　a　gradual　widening　in　the　tunnel：　the　ceiling　sloped　higher。　There　were　more　glowglobes；　tuned　now　into　the　deep　orange。　He　could　see　the　high　arch　of　an　opening　about　three　hundred　meters　away；　rich　red　light　there　in　which　he　could　make　out　glistening　faces　which　swayed　gently　left　and　right。　Their　bodies　below　the　faces　presented　a　da