bh.houseatreides-第45部分

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　No　more　than　a　meter　in　height；　the　shrunken　doctor　had　smooth　skin　but　ancient　eyes　from　the　vast　medical　knowledge　hammered　into　his　mind。　A　black　diamond　tattoo　marked　the　center　of　Yungar's　creased　forehead。　His　ponytail　of　steel…gray　hair；　secured　in　the　back　by　a　silver　Suk　ring；　was　longer　than　a　woman's；　reaching　nearly　to　the　floor。
　Wasting　no　time　on　further　pleasantries；　Elas　Yungar　broached　a　familiar　subject。　〃You　have　our　payment？〃　He　looked　first　at　the　Chamberlain；　then　at　the　Crown　Prince；　where　his　gaze　settled。　〃Fresh　accounts　must　be　established　before　we　can　begin　treatment。　Given　the　Emperor's　age；　our　care　could　be　quite　prolonged。。。and　ultimately　fruitless。　He　must　pay　his　bills；　like　every　other　citizen。　King；　miner；　basket…weaver　　it　makes　no　difference　to　us。　Every　human　wants　to　be　healthy；　and　we　cannot　treat　everyone。　Our　care　is　available　only　to　those　willing　and　able　to　pay　for　it。〃
　Shaddam　rested　a　hand　on　the　Chamberlain's　sleeve。　〃Ah　yes；　we　will　spare　no　expense　for　my　father's　health；　Aken。　It　is　already　arranged。〃
　They　stood　just　inside　the　high…arched　doorway　of　the　Imperial　audience　chamber；　beneath　glorious　ceiling　frescoes　of　epic　events　from　the　history　of　the　Corrino　family：　the　blood　of　the　Jihad；　the　desperate　last　stand　on　the　Bridge　of　Hrethgir；　the　destruction　of　thinking　machines。　Shaddam　had　always　found　ancient　Imperial　history　ponderous　and　boring；　with　little　relevance　to　his　current　goals。　Centuries　and　centuries　ago　didn't　matter　　he　just　hoped　it　wouldn't　take　that　long　for　a　change　in　the　Palace。
　In　the　echoing　hall；　the　Padishah　Emperor's　magnificent　jeweled　throne　sat　invitingly　empty。　Court　functionaries　and　a　few　dark…robed　Bene　Gesserit　scuttled　about　in　side　passages　and　alcoves；　trying　to　remain　unseen。　A　pair　of　heavily　armed　Sardaukar　guards　stood　at　the　dais　steps；　attentive。　Shaddam　wondered　whether　they　would　obey　him　right　now；　knowing　his　father　lay　sick　in　his　chambers。　He　decided　not　to　test　the　idea。　Too　soon。
　〃We　are　all　familiar　with　promises；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃Still；　I　wish　to　see　the　payment　first。〃　Stubborn　tone；　an　impertinent　upward　gaze　that　didn't　move　from　Shaddam；　even　though　the　Crown　Prince　hadn't　done　much　talking。　Yungar　chose　to　play　strange　power　games；　but　soon　he　would　be　out　of　his　league。
　〃Payment　before　even　looking　at　the　patient？〃　the　Chamberlain　gasped。　〃Where　are　your　priorities；　man？〃
　Finally；　Dr。　Yungar　deigned　to　look　over　at　Hesban。　〃You　have　dealt　with　us　before；　Chamberlain；　and　you　know　the　costs　of　producing　a　Suk　doctor；　fully　conditioned；　fully　trained。〃
　As　heir　to　the　Golden　Lion　Throne；　Shaddam　was　familiar　with　Suk　Imperial　Conditioning；　which　guaranteed　absolute　loyalty　to　a　patient。　In　centuries　of　medical　history；　no　one　had　ever　managed　to　subvert　a　graduate　of　the　Inner　School。
　Some　members　of　the　royal　Court　had　a　hard　time　reconciling　the　legendary　Suk　loyalty　with　their　incessant　greed。　The　doctors　never　wavered　from　the　clear　but　unstated　position　that　they　would　not　minister　to　anyone　　not　even　to　an　Emperor　　on　a　mere　promise　of　remuneration。　Suk　doctors　extended　no　credit。　Payment　had　to　be　tangible　and　immediate。
　Yungar　spoke　in　an　irritating　whine。　〃Though　we　are　perhaps　not　as　prominent　as　the　Mentats　or　the　Bene　Gesserit；　the　Suk　School　is　still　one　of　the　greatest　in　the　Imperium。　My　equipment　alone　costs　more　than　most　planets。〃　Yungar　pointed　to　a　suspensor　pod　at　his　side。　〃I　do　not　receive　your　payment　on　my　own　behalf；　of　course。　I　am　only　a　custodian；　holding　it　in　a　fiduciary　capacity。　When　I　return；　your　credits　go　with　me　to　the　Suk　School；　for　the　benefit　of　mankind。〃
　Hesban　glared　at　him　with　unconcealed　loathing；　his　face　turning　ruddy；　his　mustaches　twitching。　〃Or　at　least　to　benefit　that　portion　of　mankind　that　can　afford　your　services。〃
　〃Correct；　Chamberlain。〃
　Seeing　the　doctor's　staunch　and　misplaced　self…importance；　Shaddam　shuddered。　When　he　sat　on　the　throne　himself；　he　wondered　if　he　could　initiate　any　changes　to　put　these　Suks　in　their　place。。。。　He　caught　his　rambling　thoughts　and　quelled　them。　All　in　due　time。
　He　sighed。　His　father　Elrood　had　let　too　many　threads　of　control　slip　right　through　his　fingers。　Fenring　was　right。　As　much　as　Shaddam　despised　dirtying　his　fingers　with　blood；　removing　the　ancient　Emperor　was　a　necessary　action。
　〃If　cost　of　treatment　is　your　paramount　concern；〃　the　Suk　doctor　said；　quietly　goading　the　Chamberlain；　〃you　are　wele　to　hire　a　less　expensive　physician　for　the　Emperor　of　the　Known　Universe。〃
　〃Enough　bickering。　e　with　me；　Doctor；〃　Shaddam　said；　taking　charge。　Dr。　Yungar　nodded；　then　turned　his　back　on　the　Chamberlain；　as　if　he　was　of　no　consequence　whatsoever。
　〃Now　I　know　why　you　people　have　the　shape　of　a　diamond　tattooed　on　your　foreheads；〃　Hesban　growled　as　he　followed　behind　them。　〃You　always　have　treasure　on　your　minds。〃
　The　Crown　Prince　led　the　way　to　a　security…shielded　antechamber　and　passed　through　a　shimmering　electrical　curtain　to　the　inner　vault。　On　a　golden　table　at　the　center　of　the　room　lay　opafire　pendants；　danikins　of　melange；　and　fold…pouches　partially　open　to　reveal　glittering　soostones。
　〃This　will　be　sufficient；〃　the　Suk　said。　〃Unless　the　treatment　proves　to　be　more　involved　than　we　expect。〃　With　his　floating　equipment　pod　at　his　side　like　a　dutiful　pet　dog；　the　doctor　shuffled　back　the　way　they　had　e。　〃I　already　know　the　way　to　the　Emperor's　chamber。〃　Without　explanation；　Yungar　hurried　through　a　doorway　and　up　the　grand　staircase　that　led　to　the　guarded　bedroom　suites　where　the　Emperor　rested。
　Sardaukar　guards　remained　behind　at　the　force　field　that　protected　the　treasure　vault；　while　Shaddam　and　Hesban　marched　after　the　doctor。　Fenring　would　already　be　waiting　at　the　dying　old　man's　side；　making　his　annoying　humming　noises　and　making　sure　none　of　the　treatment　could　potentially　be　successful。
　THE　WITHERED　EMPEROR　lay　on　an　enormous　four…poster　bed　beneath　a　canopy　of　the　finest　merh…silks　embroidered　in　the　ancient　Terran　method。　The　bedposts　were　carved　ucca；　a　fast…growing　hardwood　native　to　Elacca。　Soothing　fountains；　set　into　alcoves　in　the　walls；　trickled　fresh　water；　bubbling　and　whispering。　Scented　glowglobes　tuned　to　the　low　range　floated　in　the　corners　of　the　room。
　As　Shaddam　and　Fenring　stood　together　and　watched；　the　Suk　doctor　waved　a　liveried　attendant　away　and　mounted　the　two　shallow　steps　to　the　bedside。　Three　lovely　Imperial　concubines　hovered　behind　the　ailing　man；　as　if　their　mere　presence　could　revitalize　him。　The　old　man's　stink　clung　to　the　air；　despite　the　ventilation　and　the　incense。
　Emperor　Elrood　wore　slick　royal　satins　and　an　old…fashioned　sleeping　cap　that　covered　his　liver…spotted　scalp。　He　lay　atop　the　covers；　since　he　had　plained　about　being　too　warm。　The　man　looked　haggard；　could　barely　keep　his　eyes　open。
　Shaddam　was　pleased　to　see　how　markedly　his　father's　health　had　declined　since　the　Tleilaxu　Ambassador's　visit。　Still；　Elrood　had　good　days　and　bad　days；　and　he　had　the　annoying　habit　of　recovering　his　vitality　after　a　significant　downslide　like　this　one。
　A　tall　mug　of　cool　spice　beer　rested　on　a　tray　beside　his　clawed　and　ring…bedecked　hand；　next　to　a　second　empty　mug。　And　mounted　on　the　bed　canopy；　Shaddam　noted　the　waving　insect　arms　of　a　poisonsnooper。
　You　must　be　thirsty；　Father；　Shaddam　thought。　Drink　more　of　the　beer。
　The　doctor　opened　his　suspensor　pod　to　reveal　shiny　instruments；　clicking　scanners；　and　colored　vials　of　testing　liquids。　Reaching　inside　the　kit；　Yungar　brought　out　a　small　white　device；　which　he　passed　over　Elrood。
　After　tugging　off　the　satin　sleeping　cap　to　reveal　the　sweaty　scalp；　Dr。　Yungar　scanned　Elrood's　skull；　lifting　the　old　man's　head　to　check　all　around。　Looking　small　and　weak　and　old；　the　Emperor　grumbled　at　the　disfort。
　Shaddam　wondered　what　he　himself　would　look　like　after　150　years。。。preferably　at　the　end　of　a　long　and　glorious　reign。　He　fought　back　a　smile　and　held　his　breath　during　the　examination。　Beside　him；　Fenring　remained　calm　and　aloof。　Only　the　Chamberlain　scowled。
　The　doctor　withdrew　his　scanner；　then　studied　the　Imperial　patient's　case…history　cube。　Presently　he　announced　to　the　groggy　old　man；　〃Even　melange　can't　keep　you　young　forever；　Sire。　At　your　age；　health　naturally　begins　to　decline。　Sometimes　rapidly。〃

　Inaudibly；　Shaddam　released　a　sigh　of　relief。
　With　great　difficulty　Elrood　sat　up；　and　his　concubines　propped　tasseled　pillows　behind　him。　His　cadaverous；　parchment　face　creased　in　a　deep　frown。　〃But　only　a　few　months　ago　I　felt　so　much　better。〃
　〃Aging　is　not　a　perfect　downhill　graph。　There　are　peaks　and　valleys；　recoveries　and　slowdowns。〃　The　doctor　had　the　audacity　to　use　a　know…it…all　tone　that　implied　the　Emperor　could　not　understand　such　plex　concepts。　〃The　human　body　is　a　chemical　and　bioelectric　soup；　and　changes　are　often　triggered　by　seemingly　inconsequential　events。　You　have　been　under　stress　lately？〃
　〃I'm　the　Emperor！〃　Elrood　snapped；　this　time　responding　as　if　the　Suk　were　unbearably　stupid。　〃I　have　many　responsibilities。　Of　course　this　causes　stress。〃
　〃Then　start　to　delegate　more　to　the　Crown　Prince　and　to　your　trusted　aides；　such　as　Fenring　over　there。　You're　not　going　to　live　forever；　you　know。　Not　even　an　Emperor　can　do　that。　Plan　for　the　future。〃　Smugly；　the　doctor　snapped　shut　his　case。　Shaddam　wanted　to　embrace　him。　〃I　will　leave　you　with　a　prescription　and　devices　to　make　you　feel　better。〃
　〃The　only　prescription　I　want　is　more　spice　in　my　beer。〃　Elrood　took　a　deep　drink　from　his　mug；　slurping　loudly。
　〃As　you　wish；〃　the　scrawny　Suk　doctor　said。　From　the　suspensor　pod　he　removed　a　satchel；　which　he　placed　on　a　side　table。　〃These　are　muscle…soothing　devices；　in　case　you　need　them。　Instructions　are　contained　with　each　unit。　Have　your　concubines　use　them　on　your　aches。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　Elrood　said。　〃Now　leave　me。　I　have　work　to　do。〃
　Dr。　Yungar　backed　down　the　steps　from　the　bed　platform　with　a　bow。　〃With　your　permission；　Sire。〃
　Impatiently；　the　Emperor　waved　a　gnarled　hand　in　dismissal。　The　concubines　moved　about；　whispering　to　each　other；　watching　with　wide　eyes。　Two　of　them　picked　up　muscle…soothing　dev