bh.houseatreides-第13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！


　at　the　hands　of　a　better　man！〃
　Trying　to　concentrate　on　his　own　meal；　yet　disturbed　over　his　mother's　protestations；　Leto　had　nonetheless　stood　by　his　father。　〃I　want　to　go　there；　Mother；〃　he　said；　gently　resting　his　spoon　beside　his　bowl；　then　repeated　the　line　she　always　told　him。　〃It's　for　the　best。〃
　During　Leto's　upbringing；　Paulus　had　made　many　choices　with　which　Helena　disagreed：　putting　the　young　man　to　work　with　villagers；　taking　him　out　to　meet　citizens　face…to…face；　letting　him　make　friends　with　moners；　encouraging　him　to　get　his　hands　dirty。　Leto　could　see　the　wisdom　in　this；　since　he　would　be　Duke　of　these　people　someday；　but　Helena　still　objected　on　various　grounds；　often　quoting　passages　from　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible　to　justify　her　opinions。
　His　mother　was　not　a　patient　woman　and　not　warm　to　her　only　child；　though　she　maintained　a　perfect　front　during　important　meetings　and　public　events。　She　always　fussed　about　her　own　appearance；　and　often　said　she　would　never　have　any　more　children。　Bringing　up　one　son　and　running　the　ducal　household　already　took　up　most　of　her　valuable　time；　which　could　otherwise　have　been　spent　studying　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible　and　other　religious　texts。　It　was　obvious　that　Helena　had　borne　a　son　only　out　of　duty　to　House　Atreides；　rather　than　out　of　any　desire　to　nurture　and　raise　a　child。
　No　wonder　the　Old　Duke　sought　out　the　panionship　of　other　women　who　proved　less　prickly。
　Sometimes　at　night；　behind　the　massive　doors　of　layered　Elaccan　teak；　Leto　heard　the　loud；　reverberating　arguments　of　his　father　and　mother。　Lady　Helena　could　disagree　all　she　wanted　about　sending　their　son　to　Ix；　but　Old　Duke　Paulus　was　House　Atreides。　His　word　was　law；　in　the　Castle　and　on　Caladan；　no　matter　how　much　his　distraught　wife　tried　to　sway　his　opinion。
　It's　for　the　best。
　Leto　knew　that　theirs　had　been　an　arranged　marriage；　a　bargain　struck　among　the　Houses　of　the　Landsraad　to　fulfill　the　requirements　of　the　important　families。　It　had　been　a　desperate　action　on　the　part　of　crumbling　Richese；　and　House　Atreides　could　always　hope　the　former　grandeur　of　the　innovative　technological　House　might　rise　again。　In　the　meantime；　the　Old　Duke　had　received　substantial　concessions　and　rewards　for　taking　in　one　of　the　many　daughters　of　House　Richese。
　〃A　noble　household　has　little　room　for　the　swooning　and　romanticism　lesser　peoples　feel　when　hormones　guide　their　actions；〃　his　mother　had　once　said　to　him；　explaining　the　politics　of　marriage。　He　knew　such　a　fate　undoubtedly　lay　in　store　for　him　as　well。　His　father　even　agreed　with　her　in　this　regard；　and　was　more　adamant　about　it　than　she。
　〃What's　the　first　rule　of　the　House？〃　the　Old　Duke　would　say；　ad　nauseam。　And　Leto　would　have　to　repeat　it；　word　for　word：　〃Never　marry　for　love；　or　it　will　bring　our　House　down。〃
　At　fourteen；　Leto　had　never　been　in　love　himself；　though　he　had　certainly　felt　the　fires　of　lust。　His　father　encouraged　him　to　dally　with　the　village　girls；　to　toy　with　anyone　he　found　attractive　　but　never　to　promise　anything。　Leto　doubted；　given　his　position　as　heir　apparent　to　House　Atreides；　that　he　would　ever　have　much　chance　to　fall　in　love；　especially　not　with　the　woman　he　would　eventually　take　as　his　wife　。。。。
　One　morning；　a　week　before　Leto　was　scheduled　to　leave；　his　father　clapped　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　took　him　along　as　he　went　about　his　rounds　to　meet　the　people；　making　a　point　to　greet　even　the　servants。　The　Duke　led　a　small　honor　guard　into　the　seaside　town　below　the　Castle；　doing　his　own　shopping；　seeing　his　subjects　and　being　seen。　Paulus　often　went　on　such　outings　with　his　son　　and　Leto　always　considered　these　to　be　wonderful　times。
　Out　under　the　pale　blue　sky；　the　Old　Duke　laughed　easily；　beaming　with　infectious　good　nature。　The　people　smiled　when　the　hearty　man　walked　among　them。　Leto　and　his　father　strolled　together　along　the　bazaar；　past　the　stalls　of　vegetables　and　fresh　fish　to　inspect　beautiful　tapestries　woven　from　beaten　ponji　fibers　and　fire…threads。　There　Paulus　Atreides　often　bought　baubles　or　keepsakes　for　his　wife；　especially　after　they　had　quarreled；　though　the　Duke　didn't　seem　to　understand　Helena's　interests　enough　to　select　anything　appropriate　for　her。
　At　an　oyster　stall　the　Old　Duke　suddenly　paused　and　gazed　up　at　the　cloud…scudded　sky；　struck　by　what　he　considered　a　brilliant　idea。　He　looked　down　at　his　son；　and　a　broad　grin　split　his　bushy　beard。　〃Ah；　we　need　to　send　you　off　with　an　appropriate　spectacle；　lad。　Make　your　leave…taking　a　memorable　event　for　all　of　Caladan。〃
　Leto　forced　himself　not　to　cringe。　He　had　heard　his　father's　crazy　ideas　before；　and　knew　the　Old　Duke　would　follow　through；　regardless　of　mon　sense。　〃What　do　you　have　in　mind；　sir？　What　do　I　need　to　do？〃
　〃Nothing；　nothing。　I　shall　announce　a　celebration　in　honor　of　my　heir　and　son。〃　He　grabbed　Leto's　hand　and　raised　it　up　in　the　air；　as　if　in　a　triumphant　wave；　then　his　voice　boomed　out；　subduing　the　crowds。　〃We　are　going　to　have　a　bullfight；　an　old…fashioned　extravaganza　for　the　populace。　It　will　be　a　day　of　celebration　for　Caladan；　with　holoprojections　transmitted　around　the　globe。〃
　〃With　Salusan　bulls？〃　Leto　asked；　picturing　in　his　mind　the　spine…backed　beasts；　their　black　heads　studded　with　multiple　horns；　their　eyes　faceted。　When　he　had　been　a　younger　boy；　Leto　had　often　gone　into　the　stables　to　look　at　the　monstrous　animals。　Stablemaster　Yresk；　one　of　his　mother's　old　retainers　from　Richese；　tended　the　bulls　for　Paulus's　occasional　spectacles。
　〃Naturally；〃　the　Old　Duke　said。　〃And　as　usual；　I'll　fight　them　myself。〃　He　swept　his　arm　out　in　a　flourish；　as　if　imagining　a　colorful　cape　there。　〃These　old　bones　are　agile　enough　to　dodge　around　a　lumbering　monster　like　that。　I'll　have　Yresk　prepare　one　　or　would　you　like　to　pick　the　beast　yourself；　lad？〃
　〃I　thought　you　weren't　going　to　do　that　anymore；〃　Leto　said。　〃It's　been　almost　a　year　since　you。。。〃
　〃Wherever　did　you　get　that　idea？〃
　〃Your　advisors；　sir。　It's　too　risky。　Isn't　that　why　others　have　been　fighting　the　bulls　in　your　place？〃
　The　old　man　laughed。　〃What　a　foolish　notion！　I've　been　out　of　the　ring　for　only　one　reason：　The　bulls　went　downhill　for　a　while；　some　genetic　imbalance　that　made　them　unworthy。　That's　changed；　though；　and　new　bulls　are　being　brought　in　now；　tougher　than　ever。　Yresk　says　they're　ready　to　fight；　and　so　am　I。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　Leto's　narrow　shoulders。　〃What　better　occasion　for　a　corrida　de　toros　than　the　leave…taking　of　my　son？　You'll　attend　this　bullfight　　your　first。　Your　mother　can't　say　you're　too　young　anymore。〃
　Leto　nodded；　reluctantly。　His　father　would　never　be　swayed；　once　his　mind　was　made　up。　At　least　Paulus　had　the　training；　and　would　wear　a　personal　shield。
　Using　personal　shields；　Leto　himself　had　fought　human　opponents；　aware　of　a　shield's　advantages　and　limitations。　A　shield　could　block　projectile　fire　and　fast…moving　weapons　of　death；　but　any　blade　traveling　below　the　threshold　speed　could　pass　through　to　the　unprotected　flesh　beneath。　A　rampaging　Salusan　bull；　with　its　sharp　horns；　might　well　move　slowly　enough　to　pierce　even　the　most　finely　tuned　shield。
　He　swallowed　hard；　wondering　about　the　new；　enhanced　bulls。　The　old　ones　Stablemaster　Yresk　had　shown　him　seemed　dangerous　enough　　they'd　killed　three　matadors　that　Leto　could　remember　。。。。
　Consumed　by　his　fresh　idea；　Duke　Paulus　made　the　announcement　at　the　bazaar；　over　the　public　address　system　implanted　in　booths　and　stalls。　Upon　hearing　this；　people　in　the　marketplace　cheered　and　their　eyes　glittered。　They　laughed；　partly　in　anticipation　of　the　performance　itself　　and　also　because　of　the　declared　day　of　rest　and　celebration。
　Leto's　mother　wouldn't　like　this　at　all；　he　knew　　Paulus　in　the　fight　and　Leto　in　attendance　　but　Leto　also　understood　that　as　soon　as　Helena　began　to　object；　the　Old　Duke　would　be　more　determined　than　ever。
　THE　BOWL　OF　the　Plaza　de　Toros　sprawled　under　the　noonday　sun。　The　stands　spread　out　in　an　immense　broad　grid；　so　filled　with　people　that　in　the　farthest　reaches　they　looked　like　tiny　colored　pixels。　The　Duke　had　never　charged　any　fee　to　witness　his　performances；　he　was　too　proud　of　them；　enjoyed　showing　off　too　much。
　Enormous　green…and…black　banners　flapped　in　the　breeze；　while　fanfare　blasted　from　speakers。　Pillars　emblazoned　with　Atreides　hawk　crests　sparkled　with　emblems　that　had　been　newly　polished　and　painted　for　the　event。　Thousands　of　floral　bouquets　harvested　from　the　fields　and　lowlands　had　been　placed　about　the　bullring　　an　unsubtle　hint　that　the　Duke　liked　the　people　to　strew　the　ground　with　blossoms　each　time　he　dispatched　a　bull。
　Below；　in　the　preparation　chambers　at　ground　level；　Paulus　girded　up　before　the　fight。　Leto　stood　with　him　behind　a　barricade；　listening　to　the　impatient　crowd。　〃Father；　I'm　uneasy　about　the　risk　you're　taking。　You　shouldn't　do　this。。。especially　not　for　me。〃
　The　Old　Duke　brushed　aside　the　ment。　〃Leto；　lad；　you　must　understand　that　governing　people　and　winning　their　loyalty　consists　of　more　than　just　signing　papers；　collecting　taxes；　and　attending　Landsraad　meetings。〃　He　straightened　his　magenta　cape；　preened　in　front　of　a　mirror。
　〃I　depend　on　those　people　out　there　to　produce　the　most　that　Caladan　can　provide。　They　must　do　so　willingly；　with　hard　work　　and　not　just　for　their　own　profit；　but　for　their　honor　and　glory。　If　House　Atreides　was　ever　to　go　to　war　again；　these　people　would　shed　their　blood　for　me。　They　would　lay　down　their　lives　under　our　banner。〃　He　fiddled　with　his　armor。　〃Tighten　this　for　me？〃
　Leto　grabbed　the　string　fasteners　of　the　back　leather　plate；　tugged　them；　and　cinched　the　knots　tight。　He　kept　silent　but　nodded　to　show　he　understood。
　〃As　their　Duke；　I　need　to　give　them　something　back；　prove　that　I'm　worthy。　And　it's　not　just　for　entertainment；　but　to　instill　in　their　minds　that　I'm　a　man　of　grand　stature；　of　heroic　proportions。。。someone　blessed　by　God　to　rule　them。　I　can't　do　that　unless　I　put　myself　before　them。　Leadership　is　not　a　passive　process。〃
　Paulus　checked　his　shield　belt；　then　smiled　through　his　beard。　〃　'No　one　is　too　old　to　learn；'　〃　he　quoted。　〃That's　a　line　from　the　Agamemnon　play　　just　to　show　you　that　I'm　no