bh.houseatreides-第14部分

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　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　not　always　sleeping　when　I　appear　to　be。〃
　Thufir　Hawat；　the　stern…faced　weapons　master；　stood　beside　his　Duke。　As　a　loyal　Mentat；　Hawat　would　not　speak　out　against　his　superior's　decisions；　instead；　he　gave　the　best　advice　he　could；　whispering　to　Paulus　the　patterns　he　had　seen　in　the　movements　of　this　new　batch　of　mutated　Salusan　bulls。
　Leto　knew　his　mother　would　be　up　in　the　stands　in　the　ducal　spectator　box。　She　would　be　dressed　in　her　finery；　wearing　colorful　gauzy　veils　and　robes；　playing　her　part；　waving　to　the　people。　The　night　before；　once　again；　there　had　been　much　heated　discussion　behind　the　bedroom　doors；　finally；　Duke　Paulus　had　simply　silenced　her　with　a　barked　mand。　Afterward　he　had　gone　to　sleep；　resting　for　the　following　day's　exertions。
　The　Duke　put　on　his　green…bordered　cap；　then　took　the　equipment　he　would　need　to　conquer　the　wild　bull：　his　poniards　and　a　long；　feathered　vara　with　nerve　toxin　on　the　lance　tip。　Thufir　Hawat　had　suggested　that　the　stablemaster　slightly　tranquilize　the　bull　to　deaden　its　rampaging　impulses；　but　the　Duke　was　a　man　who　loved　to　face　a　challenge。　No　drug…dulled　opponent　for　him！
　Paulus　clipped　the　activation　pack　onto　his　shield　belt　and　powered　up　the　field。　It　was　only　a　half　shield；　used　to　guard　his　side；　the　Duke　used　a　garishly　brilliant　cape　called　a　muleta　to　cover　his　other　side。
　Paulus　bowed　first　to　his　son；　then　his　Mentat；　and　then　the　trainers　waiting　at　the　entrance　to　the　arena。　〃Time　for　the　show　to　begin。〃　Leto　watched　him　swirl　about　and；　like　a　bird　on　a　mating　display；　strut　out　into　the　open　Plaza　de　Toros。　At　his　appearance；　cheers　thundered　out　with　a　roar　far　louder　than　any　Salusan　bull's。
　Leto　stood　behind　the　barricade；　blinking　into　the　glare　of　the　open　sun。　He　smiled　as　his　father　made　a　slow　circuit　of　the　arena；　waving　his　cape；　bowing；　greeting　his　ecstatic　people。　Leto　could　sense　the　love　and　admiration　they　had　for　this　brave　man；　and　it　warmed　his　heart。
　Waiting　there　in　the　shadows；　Leto　vowed　to　do　all　he　could　to　study　his　father's　triumphs；　so　that　one　day　he　would　mand　such　respect　and　devotion　from　the　people。　Triumphs。。。this　would　be　another　in　a　long　list　of　them　for　his　father；　Leto　assured　himself。　But　he　couldn't　help　worrying。　Too　much　could　change　in　the　flicker　of　a　shield；　the　flash　of　a　sharp　horn；　the　stamp　of　a　hoof。
　Tones　sounded；　and　an　announcer's　voice　gave　introductory　details　of　the　impending　corrida　de　toros。　With　a　flourish　of　a　sequined　glove；　Duke　Paulus　gestured　toward　the　broad　reinforced　doors　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　arena。
　Moving　to　another　archway　for　a　better　view；　Leto　reminded　himself　that　this　would　be　no　sham　performance。　His　father　would　be　battling　for　his　very　life。
　Stableboys　had　been　tending　the　ferocious　beasts；　and　Stablemaster　Yresk　had　personally　selected　one　for　the　day's　corrida。　After　inspecting　the　animal；　the　Old　Duke　had　been　satisfied；　certain　the　crowd　would　be　equally　pleased　by　its　ferocity。　He　looked　forward　to　the　fight。
　Heavy　gates　opened　with　a　grinding　of　suspensor　hinges；　and　the　Salusan　bull　charged　out；　shaking　its　massive；　multiple…horned　head　in　the　dazzling　light。　Its　faceted　eyes　glittered　with　feral　rage。　The　scales　on　the　mutated　creature's　back　reflected　iridescent　colors　from　its　black　hide。
　Duke　Paulus　whistled　and　waved　his　cape。　〃Over　here；　stupid！〃　The　spectators　laughed。
　Turning　toward　him；　the　bull　lowered　its　head　with　a　loud　bubbling　snort。　Leto　noticed　that　his　father　hadn't　yet　switched　on　his　protective　shield。　Instead；　Paulus　snapped　and　fluttered　his　colorful　cape；　trying　to　draw　the　wrath　of　the　beast。　The　Salusan　bull　pawed　and　snorted　on　the　sandy　arena　floor；　then　charged。　Leto　wanted　to　cry　out；　to　warn　his　father。　Had　the　man　simply　forgotten　to　switch　on　his　protection？　How　could　he　possibly　survive　without　a　shield？
　But　the　bull　thundered　past；　and　Paulus　swept　his　cape　gracefully　to　one　side；　letting　the　creature　strike　the　diversionary　target。　Its　hooked　horns　shredded　the　bottom　of　the　fabric　into　ragged　frays。　While　it　was　ing　about；　the　Old　Duke　turned　his　back　to　the　bull；　exposed　and　overconfident。　He　bowed　mockingly　toward　the　crowd　before　he　stood　straight　　then　calmly；　patiently；　flicked　on　his　personal　shield。
　The　bull　attacked　again；　and　now　the　Duke　used　his　poniard　to　toy　with　it；　pricking　through　its　thick；　scaled　hide　before　slashing　a　stinging　yet　minor　wound　along　its　flank。　The　creature's　faceted　eyes　saw　multiple　images　of　its　colorfully　garbed　tormentor。
　It　charged　again。
　Moving　too　fast　to　penetrate　the　shield；　Leto　thought。　But　if　the　bull　tires　and　slows；　he　could　be　even　more　dangerous　。。。。
　As　the　fight　continued；　Leto　saw　how　his　father　was　playing　this　up　for　all　the　spectacle　he　could　muster；　tantalizing　the　audience　to　amuse　them。　Old　Paulus　could　have　killed　the　Salusan　bull　at　any　time；　yet　he　drew　out　the　moment；　savored　it。
　From　the　reactions　of　the　spectators；　Leto　knew　this　would　be　an　event　talked　about　for　years。　The　rice　farmers　and　fishermen　led　such　dreary；　hardworking　lives。　But　this　celebration　would　fix　a　proud　image　of　their　Duke　forever　in　their　minds。　Look　what　Old　Paulus　was　doing；　they　would　say；　despite　his　age！
　Eventually　the　bull　became　exhausted；　its　eyes　reddened　with　blood；　its　snorts　heavy　and　tired　as　it　spilled　its　life　fluid　onto　the　powdery　surface　of　the　arena。　Duke　Paulus　himself　now　chose　to　end　the　fight。　He　had　dragged　the　sport　along　for　nearly　an　hour。　Though　dripping　with　sweat；　he　somehow　maintained　his　regal　appearance　and　did　not　allow　his　manner　to　show　weariness；　or　his　fine　clothes　to　be　disheveled。
　Up　in　the　stands；　Lady　Helena　continued　to　wave　her　pennants；　smiling　fixedly　down　at　the　spectacle。
　By　now；　the　Salusan　bull　was　like　a　maddened　machine；　a　rampaging　monster　that　had　few　vulnerable　spots　in　its　black…scaled　armor。　As　the　beast　ran　at　him　again；　its　gait　staggering；　its　gleaming　horns　pointed　like　spears；　Duke　Paulus　feinted　to　the　left；　then　returned　as　the　bull　surged　past。
　Then　Paulus　swung　sideways；　tossed　his　flapping　cape　to　the　dust；　and　gripped　the　shaft　of　his　vara　lance　in　both　hands。　He　threw　all　of　his　strength　into　a　powerful　side　thrust。　Flawlessly　performed；　magnificently　executed。　The　blade　of　the　lance　drove　home　through　a　chink　in　the　Salusan　bull's　armored　hide；　sliding　through　an　intersection　of　bone　and　skull；　skewering　straight　through　to　impale　both　of　the　creature's　separated　brains　　the　most　difficult；　most　sophisticated　way　to　kill　it。
　The　bull　ground　to　a　halt；　wheezing；　groaning　　and　suddenly　dead。　Its　carcass　slumped　like　a　crashing　spaceship　onto　the　ground。
　Planting　his　foot　on　the　horned　head　of　the　bull；　Duke　Paulus　heaved　against　his　lance；　pulled　the　bloodied　blade　out；　and　dropped　it　onto　the　ash…covered　ground。　Next　he　drew　his　sword　and；　raising　it　high；　twirled　it　in　a　triumphant　gesture。
　As　one；　the　people　in　the　stands　surged　to　their　feet；　screaming；　howling；　and　cheering。　They　waved　their　banners；　snatched　bouquets　from　flowerpots；　and　tossed　the　blossoms　onto　the　arena　floor。　They　sang　out　Paulus's　name　over　and　over。
　Reveling　in　the　adoration；　the　Atreides　patriarch　smiled　and　turned　about；　opening　his　coat　so　that　the　spectators　could　see　his　blood…spattered；　sweat…drenched　form。　He　was　the　hero　now；　he　had　no　need　to　show　off　his　finery。
　After　the　throbbing　cheers　had　died　down；　many　minutes　later；　the　Duke　raised　his　sword　again　and　struck　downward；　hacking　repeatedly　until　he　had　severed　the　head　of　the　bull。　Finally；　he　plunged　the　bloody　sword　into　the　soft　ground　of　the　plaza　and　used　both　hands　to　grasp　the　horns　of　the　bull　and　lift　its　head　high。
　〃Leto！〃　he　shouted　over　his　shoulder；　his　voice　booming　into　the　acoustics　of　the　Plaza　de　Toros。　〃Leto；　my　son；　e　out　here！〃
　Leto；　still　in　the　shadows　of　the　archway；　hesitated　a　moment；　then　marched　forth。　He　held　his　head　high　as　he　crossed　the　hoof…trampled　dirt　to　stand　at　his　father's　side。　The　crowd　cheered　with　renewed　enthusiasm。
　Old　Duke　Paulus　turned　and　presented　his　son　with　the　bloodied　head　of　his　kill。　〃I　give　you　Leto　Atreides！〃　he　announced　to　the　audience　while　pointing　at　his　son。　〃Your　future　Duke！〃
　The　crowd　continued　to　applaud　and　shout　hurrahs。　Leto　grasped　one　of　the　bull's　horns；　he　and　his　father　stood　together　holding　the　defeated　beast's　head　high；　the　trophy　oozing　thick　red　drops　onto　the　sand。
　As　Leto　heard　the　people　echo　his　name；　he　felt　deep　stirrings　within；　and　wondered　for　the　first　time　if　this　was　truly　what　it　felt　like　to　be　a　leader　of　men。
　N'kee：　Slow…acting　poison　that　builds　up　in　the　adrenal　glands；　one　of　the　most　insidious　toxins　permitted　under　the　accords　of　Guild　Peace　and　the　restrictions　of　the　Great　Convention。　（See　War　of　Assassins。）
　…The　Assassins'　Handbook
　Mmmm；　the　Emperor　will　never　die；　you　know；　Shaddam。〃　A　small　man　with　oversize　dark　eyes　and　a　weasel　face；　Hasimir　Fenring；　sat　opposite　the　shield…ball　console　from　his　visitor；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam。　〃At　least　not　while　you're　young　enough　to　enjoy　the　throne。〃
　With　a　sharp；　darting　gaze　Fenring　watched　the　black　shield…ball　e　to　rest　on　a　low…scoring　point。　pleting　his　turn　at　the　game；　the　heir　to　the　Imperium　clearly　wasn't　happy　about　the　result。　They　had　been　close　panions　for　most　of　their　lives；　and　Fenring　knew　exactly　how　to　distract　him　at　the　right　moment。
　From　the　game　room　of　Fenring's　luxurious　penthouse；　Shaddam　could　see　the　lights　of　his　father's　Imperial　Palace　glittering　on　the　gentle　hillside　a　kilometer　away。　With　Fenring's　aid　he　had　disposed　of　his　older　brother　Fafnir　years　and　years　ago；　and　still　the　Golden　Lion　Throne　seemed　no　closer。
　Shaddam　went　over　to　the　balcony　and　drew　a　long；　deep　breath。
　He　was　a　strong…featured　man　in　his　mid…thirties；　with　a　firm　chin　and　aquiline　nose；　his　reddish　hair　was　cut　short　and　oiled　and　styled　into　a　perfect　helmet。　In　an　odd　way；　he　looked　similar　to　the　century…old　busts　of　his　father　sculpted　during　the　early