bh.houseatreides-第34部分

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t　him　with　enthusiasm　once　he　told　them　his　ideas。
　The　remaining　Fremen　youth　used　a　small　patch…kit　to　repair　a　fabric　rip　on　the　leg　of　his　stillsuit；　then　said；　〃e　with　me。〃　He　turned　toward　a　sheer　rock　wall　a　short　distance　away。　〃Follow；　or　you'll　die　out　here。〃　He　flashed　an　indigo…eyed　glare　over　his　shoulder。　His　face　held　a　hard　humor；　an　impish　smile　as　he　said；　〃Do　you　think　the　Harkonnens　will　take　long　to　seek　vengeance　for　their　dead？〃
　Kynes　hurried　to　him。　〃Wait！　You　haven't　told　me　your　name。〃
　The　young　man　looked　at　him　strangely；　he　had　the　blue…within…blue　eyes　of　long　spice　addiction；　and　weathered　skin　that　gave　him　an　appearance　of　age　far　beyond　his　years。　〃Is　it　worthwhile　to　exchange　names？　The　Fremen　already　know　who　you　are。〃
　Kynes　blinked。　〃Well；　I　did　just　save　your　life　and　the　lives　of　your　panions。　Doesn't　that　count　for　something　among　your　people？　It　does　in　most　societies。〃
　The　young　man　seemed　startled；　then　resigned。　〃You　are　right。　You　have　forged　a　water　bond　between　us。　I　am　called　Turok。　Now　we　must　go。〃
　Water　bond？　Kynes　suppressed　his　questions　and　trailed　after　his　panion。
　In　his　well…worn　stillsuit；　Turok　scrambled　over　the　rocks　toward　the　vertical　cliff。　Kynes　trudged　beside　fallen　boulders；　slipping　on　loose　footing。　Only　as　they　approached　did　the　Planetologist　notice　a　discontinuity　in　the　strata；　a　seam　that　split　the　old　uplifted　rock；　forming　a　fissure　camouflaged　by　dust　and　muted　colors。
　The　Fremen　slipped　inside；　penetrating　the　shadows　with　the　speed　of　a　desert　lizard。　Curious　and　anxious　not　to　bee　lost；　Kynes　followed；　moving　quickly。　He　hoped　he　would　get　a　chance　to　meet　more　of　the　Fremen　and　learn　about　them。　He　didn't　waste　time　considering　that　Turok　might　be　leading　him　into　a　trap。　What　would　be　the　point？　The　young　man　could　easily　have　killed　him　out　in　the　open。
　Turok　stopped　in　the　cool　shade；　giving　Kynes　a　moment　to　catch　up。　He　pointed　toward　specific　places　on　the　wall　near　him。　〃There；　there　　and　there。〃　Without　waiting　to　see　if　his　charge　understood；　the　youth　stepped　in　each　indicated　spot；　near…invisible　handholds　and　footholds。　The　young　man　slithered　up　the　cliff；　and　Kynes　did　his　best　to　climb　after。　Turok　seemed　to　be　playing　a　game　with　him；　testing　him　somehow。
　But　the　Planetologist　surprised　him。　He　was　no　water…fat　bureaucrat；　no　mere　bumbler　into　places　where　he　didn't　belong。　As　a　wanderer　on　some　of　the　harshest　worlds　the　Imperium　had　to　offer；　he　was　in　good　shape。
　Kynes　kept　pace　with　the　youth；　climbing　up　behind　him；　using　the　tips　of　his　fingers　to　haul　his　body　higher。　Moments　after　the　Fremen　boy　stopped　and　squatted　on　a　narrow　ledge；　Kynes　sat　beside　him；　trying　not　to　pant。
　〃Breathe　in　through　your　nose　and　out　through　your　mouth；〃　Turok　said。　〃Your　filters　are　more　efficient　that　way。〃　He　nodded　in　faint　admiration。　〃I　think　you　might　make　it　all　the　way　to　the　sietch。〃
　〃What's　a　sietch？〃　Kynes　asked。　He　vaguely　recognized　the　ancient　Chakobsa　language；　but　had　not　studied　archaeology　or　phonetics。　He　had　always　found　it　irrelevant　to　his　scientific　study。
　〃A　secret　place　to　retreat　in　safety　　it's　where　my　people　live。〃
　〃You　mean　it's　your　home？〃
　〃The　desert　is　our　home。〃
　〃I'm　eager　to　talk　with　your　people；〃　Kynes　said；　then　continued；　unable　to　contain　his　enthusiasm。　〃I've　formed　some　opinions　of　this　world　and　have　developed　a　plan　that　might　interest　you；　that　might　interest　all　the　inhabitants　of　Arrakis。〃
　〃Dune；〃　the　Fremen　youth　said。　〃Only　the　Imperials　and　the　Harkonnens　call　this　place　Arrakis。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Kynes　said。　〃Dune；　then。〃
　DEEP　IN　THE　rocks　ahead　of　them　waited　a　grizzled　old　Fremen　with　only　one　eye；　his　useless　left　socket　covered　by　a　puckered　prune　of　leathered　eyelid。　Naib　of　Red　Wall　Sietch；　Heinar　had　also　lost　two　fingers　in　a　crysknife　duel　in　his　younger　days。　But　he　had　survived；　and　his　opponents　had　not。
　Heinar　had　proven　to　be　a　stern　but　petent　leader　of　his　people。　Over　the　years；　his　sietch　had　prospered；　the　population　had　not　decreased；　and　their　hidden　stockpiles　of　water　grew　with　every　cycle　of　the　moons。
　In　the　infirmary　cave；　two　old　women　tended　foolish　Stilgar；　the　injured　youth　who　had　been　brought　in　by　groundcar　only　moments　ago。　The　old　women　checked　the　medical　dressing　that　had　been　applied　by　the　outsider；　and　augmented　it　with　some　of　their　own　medicinals。　The　crones　conferred　with　each　other；　then　both　nodded　at　the　sietch　leader。
　〃Stilgar　will　live；　Heinar；〃　one　old　woman　said。　〃This　would　have　been　a　mortal　wound；　had　it　not　been　tended　immediately。　The　stranger　saved　him。〃
　〃The　stranger　saved　a　careless　fool；〃　the　Naib　said；　looking　down　at　the　young　man　on　the　cot。
　For　weeks；　troublesome　reports　of　a　curious　outsider　had　reached　Heinar's　ears。　Now　the　man；　Pardot　Kynes；　was　being　led　to　the　sietch　by　a　different　route；　through　rock　passageways。　The　stranger's　actions　were　mind…boggling　　an　Imperial　servant　who　killed　Harkonnens？
　Ommun；　the　Fremen　youth　who　had　brought　bleeding　Stilgar　back　to　the　sietch；　waited　anxiously　beside　his　injured　friend　in　the　cave　shadows。　Heinar　turned　his　monocular　gaze　to　the　young　man；　letting　the　women　continue　to　tend　their　patient。　〃Why　is　it　that　Turok　brings　an　outsider　to　our　sietch？〃
　〃What　were　we　to　do；　Heinar？〃　Ommun　looked　surprised。　〃I　needed　his　vehicle　to　bring　Stilgar　here。〃
　〃You　could　have　taken　this　man's　groundcar　and　all　his　possessions　and　given　his　water　to　the　tribe；〃　the　Naib　said；　his　voice　low。
　〃We　can　still　do　that；〃　one　of　the　women　rasped；　〃as　soon　as　Turok　gets　here　with　him。〃
　〃But　the　stranger　fought　and　killed　Harkonnens！　We　three　would　have　died；　had　he　not　arrived　when　he　did；〃　Ommun　insisted。　〃Is　it　not　said　that　the　enemy　of　my　enemy　is　my　friend？〃
　〃I　do　not　trust　or　even　understand　the　loyalties　of　this　one；〃　Heinar　said；　crossing　his　sinewy　arms　over　his　chest。　〃We　know　who　he　is；　of　course。　The　stranger　es　from　the　Imperium　　a　Planetologist；　they　say。　He　remains　on　Dune　because　the　Harkonnens　are　forced　to　let　him　do　his　work；　but　this　man　Kynes　answers　only　to　the　Emperor　himself。。。if　that。　There　are　unanswered　questions　about　him。〃
　Wearily；　Heinar　sat　down　on　a　stone　bench　carved　in　the　side　of　the　wall。　A　colorful　tapestry　of　spun　spice　fibers　hung　across　the　cave　opening；　offering　a　limited　sort　of　privacy。　Sietch　inhabitants　learned　early　that　privacy　was　in　the　mind；　not　in　the　environment。
　〃I　will　speak　with　this　Kynes　and　learn　what　he　wants　of　us；　why　he　has　defended　three　stupid　and　careless　youths　against　an　enemy　he　had　no　cause　to　make。　Then　I　will　take　this　matter　to　the　Council　of　Elders　and　let　them　decide。　We　must　make　the　choice　that　is　best　for　the　sietch。〃
　Ommun　swallowed　hard；　recalling　how　valiantly　the　man　Kynes　had　fought　against　the　ruthless　soldiers。　But　his　fingers　strayed　to　the　pouch　in　his　pocket；　counting　the　water　rings　there　　metal　markers　that　tallied　the　accumulated　wealth　he　had　in　the　tribe。
　If　the　elders　did　decide　to　kill　the　Planetologist　after　all；　then　he；　Turok；　and　Stilgar　would　divide　the　water　treasure　equally　among　them；　along　with　the　bounty　from　the　six　slain　Harkonnens。
　WHEN　TUROK　FINALLY　led　him　through　the　guarded　openings；　past　a　doorseal；　and　into　the　sietch　proper；　Kynes　saw　the　place　as　a　cave　of　infinite　wonders。　The　aromas　were　dense；　rich；　and　redolent　with　humanity：　smells　of　life；　of　a　confined　population。。。of　manufacturing；　cooking；　carefully　concealed　wastes；　and　even　chemically　exploited　death。　In　a　detached　way；　he　confirmed　his　suspicion　that　the　Fremen　youths　had　not　stolen　the　Harkonnen　corpses　for　some　sort　of　superstitious　mutilation；　but　for　the　water　in　their　bodies。　Otherwise；　it　would　have　gone　to　waste。。。。
　Kynes　had　assumed　that　when　he　finally　found　a　hidden　Fremen　settlement；　it　would　be　primitive；　almost　shameful　in　its　lack　of　amenities。　But　here；　in　this　walled…off　grotto　with　side　caves　and　lava　tubes　and　tunnels　extending　like　a　warren　throughout　the　mountain；　Kynes　saw　that　the　desert　people　lived　in　an　austere　yet　fortable　style。　Quarters　rivaled　anything　Harkonnen　functionaries　enjoyed　in　the　city　of　Carthag。　And　they　were　much　more　natural。
　As　Kynes　followed　his　young　guide；　he　found　his　attention　riveted　on　one　fascinating　sight　after　another。　Luxurious　woven　carpets　covered　portions　of　the　floor。　Side　rooms　were　strewn　with　cushions　and　low　tables　made　of　metal　and　polished　stone。　Articles　of　precious　off…planet　wood　were　few　and　seemingly　ancient：　a　carved　sandworm　and　a　board　game　that　he　couldn't　identify；　its　ornate　pieces　made　of　ivory　or　bone。
　Ancient　machinery　recirculated　the　sietch　air；　letting　no　breath　of　moisture　escape。　He　smelled　the　sharp　cinnamon　sweetness　of　raw　spice　everywhere；　like　incense；　barely　masking　the　sour　pungency　of　unwashed　bodies　packed　into　close　quarters。
　He　heard　women　talking；　children's　voices；　and　a　baby　crying；　all　with　a　hushed　restraint。　The　Fremen　spoke　among　themselves；　eyeing　this　stranger　with　suspicion　as　he　passed；　led　by　Turok。　Some　of　the　older　ones　flashed　him　wicked　smiles　that　gave　the　Planetologist　some　concern。　Their　skin　looked　tough　and　leathery；　leached　of　all　excess　water；　every　pair　of　eyes　was　a　deep　blue…within…blue。
　Finally　Turok　raised　a　hand；　palm　outward；　signaling　Kynes　to　halt　inside　a　large　meeting　hall；　a　natural　vault　within　the　mountain。　The　grotto　had　ample　floor　space　for　hundreds　and　hundreds　to　stand；　additional　benches　and　balconies　zigzagged　up　the　sheer　reddish　walls。　How　many　people　live　in　this　sietch？　Kynes　stared　upward　in　the　empty；　echoing　room　to　a　high　balcony；　a　speaking　platform　of　some　sort。
　After　a　moment；　a　proud　old　man　stepped　forward　up　there　to　look　disdainfully　down　at　the　intruder。　Kynes　noted　that　the　man　had　only　one　eye；　and　that　he　carried　himself　with　the　presence　of　a　leader。
　〃That　is　Heinar；〃　Turok　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃the　Naib　of　Red　Wall　Sietch。〃
　Raising　a　hand　in　greeting；　Kynes　called　out：　〃I　am　pleased　to　meet　the　leader　of　this　wondrous　Fremen　city。〃
　〃What　is　it　you　want　from　us；　Imperial　man？〃　Heinar　called　down　in　a　tone　that　was　ruthless　and　demanding。　His　words　rang　like　cold　s