bh.houseatreides-第39部分

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insisted　that　his　son　learn　to　read　his　subjects　and　know　the　mood　of　the　populace。　〃At　the　heart　of　it　all；　lad；　we　rule　at　their　sufferance；〃　Paulus　had　told　him；　〃though　thankfully　most　of　the　population　doesn't　realize　it。　If　you're　a　good　enough　ruler；　none　of　your　people　will　think　to　question　it。〃
　As　if　embarrassed　by　Leto's　dramatic　news　and　rumpled　appearance；　the　tousle…haired　young　man　peered　down　at　the　swirling　masses　of　workers　in　the　production　yards　below。　Everything　seemed　quiet；　business　as　usual。　〃Leto；　Leto。。。〃　He　pointed　a　pudgy　finger　at　the　apparently　content　lower　classes　who　labored　like　dutiful　drones。　〃Suboids　can't　even　decide　for　themselves　what　to　eat　for　dinner；　much　less　band　together　and　start　a　rebellion。　That　takes　too　much。。。initiative。〃
　Leto　shook　his　head；　still　panting。　His　sweaty　hair　clung　to　his　forehead。　He　felt　more　shaky　now　that　he　was　safe；　sitting　slumped　in　a　fortable　self…forming　chair　in　Rhombur's　private　quarters。　When　he'd　been　fleeing　for　his　life；　he　had　reacted　on　instinct　alone。　Now；　trying　to　relax；　he　couldn't　keep　his　pulse　from　racing。　He　took　a　long　gulp　of　sour　cidrit　juice　from　a　goblet　on　Rhombur's　breakfast　tray。
　〃I'm　only　reporting　what　I　saw；　Rhombur；　and　I　don't　imagine　threats。　I've　seen　enough　real　ones　to　know　the　difference。〃　He　leaned　forward；　his　gray　eyes　flashing　at　his　friend。　〃I　tell　you；　something's　going　on。　The　suboids　were　talking　about　overthrowing　House　Vernius；　tearing　down　what　you've　built；　and　taking　Ix　for　themselves。　They　were　preparing　for　violence。〃
　Rhombur　hesitated；　as　if　still　waiting　to　hear　the　punch　line。　〃Well；　I'll　tell　my　father。　You　can　give　him　your　version　of　the　events；　and　I'm；　uh；　sure　he'll　look　into　the　matter。〃
　Leto's　shoulders　sagged。　What　if　Earl　Vernius　ignored　the　problem　until　it　was　too　late？
　Rhombur　brushed　down　his　purple　tunic　and　smiled；　then　scratched　his　head　in　perplexity。　It　seemed　to　take　great　stamina　for　him　to　address　the　subject　again；　he　appeared　genuinely　baffled。　〃But。。。if　you've　been　down　there；　Leto；　you　see　that　we　take　care　of　the　suboids。　They're　given　food；　shelter；　families；　jobs。　Sure；　maybe　we　take　the　lion's　share　of　the　profits。。。that's　the　way　of　things。　That's　our　society。　But　we　don't　abuse　our　workers。　What　can　they　possibly　plain　about？〃
　〃Maybe　they　see　it　differently；〃　Leto　said。　〃Physical　oppression　isn't　the　only　kind　of　abuse。〃
　Rhombur　brightened；　then　extended　his　hand。　〃e；　my　friend。　This　might　just　make　an　interesting　twist　for　our　political　lectures　today。　We　can　use　it　as　a　hypothetical　case。〃
　Leto　followed；　more　saddened　than　distraught。　He　was　afraid　the　Ixians　would　never　see　this　trouble　as　anything　more　than　an　interesting　political　discussion。
　FROM　THE　TALLEST　spire　of　the　Grand　Palais；　Earl　Dominic　Vernius　ruled　an　industrial　empire　hidden　from　outside　view。　The　big　man　paced　back　and　forth　on　the　transparent　floor　of　his　Orb　Office　that　hung　like　a　magnificent　crystal　ball　from　the　cavern　ceiling。
　The　office　walls　and　floor　were　constructed　of　perfectly　bonded　Ixian　glass　with　no　seams　or　distortions；　he　seemed　to　be　walking　on　air；　floating　over　his　domain。　At　times；　Dominic　felt　like　a　deity　on　high；　gazing　out　upon　his　universe。　He　ran　a　callused　palm　across　his　smooth；　newly　shaven　head；　the　skin　still　tingled　there　from　the　invigorating　lotions　Shando　used　when　she　massaged　his　scalp。
　His　daughter　Kailea　sat　in　a　suspensor　chair　and　watched　him。　He　approved　of　her　taking　an　interest　in　Ixian　business；　but　today　he　felt　too　troubled　to　spend　much　time　debating　with　her。　He　brushed　imaginary　crumbs　off　his　newly　laundered　sleeveless　tunic；　turned　about；　and　circled　his　quicksilver　desk　again。
　Kailea　continued　to　study　him；　offering　no　advice；　though　his　daughter　understood　the　problem　they　faced。
　Dominic　didn't　expect　old　〃Roody〃　to　roll　over　and　meekly　accept　the　loss　of　tax　revenues　caused　by　the　new　Ixian　Heighliner　design。　No；　the　Emperor　would　find　some　way　to　twist　a　simple　business　decision　into　a　personal　affront；　but　Dominic　had　no　idea　how　the　retaliation　would　e；　or　where　it　would　strike。　Elrood　had　always　been　unpredictable。
　〃You　just　have　to　stay　one　step　ahead　of　him；〃　Kailea　said。　〃You're　good　at　that。〃　She　thought　of　the　wily　way　her　father　had　stolen　the　Emperor's　concubine　right　out　from　under　his　nose。。。and　how　Elrood　had　never　forgotten　the　fact。　The　slightest　touch　of　resentment　darkened　her　words。　She　would　rather　have　grown　up　on　marvelous　Kaitain；　instead　of　here；　under　the　ground。
　〃I　can't　stay　ahead　of　him　if　I　don't　know　which　direction　he's　moving；〃　Dominic　replied。　The　Ixian　Earl　seemed　to　be　floating　upside　down；　with　the　solid　rock　ceiling　and　the　spires　of　the　Grand　Palais　above　his　head；　and　only　open　air　beneath　his　feet。

　Kailea　straightened　the　lace　on　her　gown；　adjusted　the　trim；　and　bent　as　she　studied　shipping　records　and　pared　manifests　again；　hoping　to　determine　a　better　pattern　for　distributing　Ixian　technology。　Dominic　didn't　expect　her　to　do　better　than　his　experts；　but　he　let　her　have　her　fun。　Her　idea　to　send　out　Ixian　self…learning　fighting　meks　to　a　few　black　market　dealers　had　been　a　stroke　of　genius。
　He　paused　a　moment　for　a　wistful　smile　that　made　his　long　mustache　sink　into　the　seams　around　his　mouth。　His　daughter　was　stunningly　beautiful；　a　work　of　art　in　every　way；　made　to　be　an　ornament　in　some　great　lord's　household。。。but　she　was　sharp…witted；　too。　Kailea　was　a　strange　mixture；　all　right：　fascinated　by　court　games　and　styles　and　everything　to　do　with　the　grandeur　of　Kaitain；　but　also　doggedly　determined　to　prehend　the　workings　of　House　Vernius。　Even　at　her　age；　she　understood　that　behind…the…scenes　business　plexities　were　a　woman's　real　key　to　power　in　the　Imperium　　unless　she　joined　the　Bene　Gesserit。
　Dominic　didn't　think　his　daughter　understood　Shando's　decision　to　leave　the　Imperial　Court　and　e　with　him　to　Ix。　Why　would　the　lover　of　the　most　powerful　man　in　the　universe　leave　all　that　splendor　to　marry　a　weather…beaten　war　hero　who　lived　in　a　city　underground？　At　times；　Dominic　wondered　the　same　thing；　but　his　love　for　Shando　knew　no　bounds；　and　his　wife　often　told　him　she　had　never　regretted　her　decision。
　Kailea　offered　a　stark　contrast　with　her　mother　in　all　but　appearance。　The　young　woman　couldn't　possibly　be　fortable　in　her　extravagant　clothes　and　finery；　yet　she　wore　her　best　at　all　times；　as　if　afraid　she　might　miss　an　opportunity。　Perhaps　she　resented　the　lost　chances　in　her　life；　and　would　rather　be　warded　off　to　a　sponsor　in　the　Imperial　Palace。　He'd　noticed　that　she　toyed　with　the　affections　of　the　twin　sons　of　Ambassador　Pilru；　as　if　marriage　to　one　of　them　might　tie　her　to　the　embassy　on　Kaitain。　But　C'tair　and　D'murr　Pilru　were　scheduled　to　test　for　positions　in　the　Spacing　Guild；　and　if　they　passed　the　examination　they　would　be　off…planet　within　a　week。　At　any　rate；　Dominic　was　sure　he　could　arrange　a　much　more　profitable　match　for　his　only　female　child。
　Perhaps　even　to　Leto　Atreides。。。
　A　eye　blinked　yellow　on　the　wall；　interrupting　his　thoughts。　An　important　message；　an　update　of　the　troubling　rumors　that　had　spread　like　poison　through　a　cistern。
　〃Yes？〃　he　said。　Without　being　asked；　Kailea　walked　across　the　invisible　floor　and　stood　next　to　him　to　read　the　report　as　it　imaged　itself　on　the　quicksilver　surface　of　his　desk。　Her　emerald　eyes　narrowed　as　she　read　the　words。
　The　smell　of　his　daughter's　faint　perfume　and　the　glitter　of　bs　in　her　dark　bronze　hair　brought　a　paternal　smile　to　his　face。　Such　a　young　lady。　Such　a　young　businesswoman。
　〃Are　you　sure　you　want　to　concern　yourself　with　this；　child？〃　he　asked；　wishing　to　shelter　her　from　the　grim　news。　Labor　relations　were　so　much　more　plex　than　technological　innovations。　Kailea　just　looked　at　him　in　annoyance　that　he　would　even　ask　the　question。
　He　read　more　details　on　what　he　had　been　told　earlier　in　the　day；　though　he　still　couldn't　quite　believe　everything　Leto　Atreides　claimed　he'd　heard　and　seen。　A　disturbance　was　brewing　in　the　deep…ground　manufacturing　facilities；　where　the　suboid　workers　had　begun　plaining　　an　unprecedented　situation。
　Kailea　took　a　deep　breath；　marshaling　her　thoughts。　〃If　the　suboids　have　such　grievances；　why　haven't　they　elected　a　spokesman？　Why　haven't　they　delivered　any　formal　demands？〃
　〃Oh；　they're　just　grumbling；　child。　They　claim　they're　being　forced　to　assemble　machines　in　violation　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad；　and　they　don't　want　to　perform　'blasphemous　labor。'　〃
　The　message　screen　went　dark　after　they　finished　reading　the　summary　report；　and　Kailea　stood　up；　hands　on　her　hips。　Her　skirts　rustled　as　she　huffed。　〃Wherever　do　they　get　such　ridiculous　ideas？　How　can　they　even　begin　to　understand　the　nuances　and　plexities　of　running　these　operations？　They　were　bred　and　trained　in　Ixian　facilities　　who　put　those　thoughts　in　their　minds？〃
　Dominic　shook　his　gleaming　head；　and　realized　his　daughter　had　raised　a　very　good　question。　〃You're　right。　Suboids　certainly　couldn't　e　up　with　such　extrapolations　on　their　own。〃
　Kailea　continued　to　be　indignant。　〃Don't　they　realize　how　much　we　give　them？　How　much　we　provide；　and　how　much　it　costs？　I've　looked　at　the　costs　and　benefits。　The　suboids　don't　know　how　good　they　have　it　pared　to　workers　on　other　planets。〃　She　shook　her　head；　and　her　curved　mouth　bent　downward　in　a　frown。　She　looked　through　the　floor　at　her　feet；　to　the　manufactories　in　the　cavern　far　below。　〃Maybe　they　should　visit　Giedi　Prime　　or　Arrakis。　Then　they　wouldn't　plain　about　Ix。〃
　But　Dominic　wouldn't　let　go　of　her　first　thread　of　conversation。　〃Suboids　are　bred　for　limited　intelligence；　only　enough　to　perform　assigned　tasks。。。and　they're　supposed　to　do　it　without　plaining。　It's　part　of　their　mental　makeup。〃　He　joined　his　daughter　in　staring　down　at　the　floor　of　the　grotto；　which　swarmed　with　Heighliner　construction　workers。　〃Could　our　bio…designers　have　overlooked　something　important？　Do　the　suboids　have　a　point？　The　definition　of　machine…minds　enpasses　a　broad　range；　but　there　might　be　gray　areas。。。。〃
　Kailea　shook　her　head　and　tapped　her　crystal　pad。　〃Our　Mentats　and　legal　advisors　are　meticulous　about　the　precise　strictures