bh.houseatreides-第51部分

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argins　have　been　slipping；　putting　your　CHOAM　membership　in　jeopardy。〃
　Ah；　Shaddam　thought；　exchanging　glances　with　Hasimir　Fenring。　Those　reports　that　we　falsified　so　skillfully！　No　one　could　manipulate　documents　as　well　as　Fenring。
　〃That's　patently　false；〃　Pilru　said。　〃We're　more　profitable　than　ever；　especially　with　our　new　Heighliner　design。　Simply　ask　the　Guild。　Your　people　had　no　right　to　incite　such　violence　〃
　〃We　had　every　right；　the　moral　right；　to　protect　the　Imperium　from　another　epoch　of　domination　by　machines。　We　see　through　your　subterfuges　to　your　motivation　for　making　machine…minds。　Is　your　profit　worth　more　than　the　safety　of　humanity？　You　have　sold　your　souls！〃
　Veins　throbbed　at　Pilru's　temples；　and　he　lost　his　ambassadorial　calm。　〃You　lying　little　bastard；　this　is　a　plete　fabrication！〃　He　turned　to　Elrood。　〃Sire；　I　demand　that　you　send　Sardaukar　to　Ix　to　intervene　and　protect　our　people　from　the　illegal　invasion　mitted　by　forces　of　the　Bene　Tleilax。　We　have　broken　no　laws。〃
　〃Violating　the　Butlerian　Jihad　is　a　most　serious　charge；〃　the　Emperor　said　in　a　thoughtful　tone；　though　he　didn't　really　care　a　whit　about　it。　He　covered　his　mouth　as　he　coughed　again。　〃Such　an　accusation　cannot　be　taken　lightly。　Think　of　the　consequences。。。〃　Elrood　spoke　with　deliberate　slowness；　which　Shaddam　found　amusing。　The　Crown　Prince　couldn't　help　admiring　some　things　about　his　doomed　father；　but　Elrood　was　far　beyond　his　prime；　and　it　was　time　for　new　blood　to　step　in。
　The　Courier　spoke　up。　〃Emperor　Elrood；　the　Tleilaxu　are　stalling　for　time　while　battles　rage　on　Ix。　Use　your　Sardaukar　to　enforce　a　cessation　of　hostilities；　then　let　each　side　present　its　case　and　evidence　in　court。〃
　The　Emperor's　eyebrows　arched；　and　he　gazed　down　his　thin　nose　at　her。　〃As　a　mere　Courier；　you　are　not　qualified　to　present　arguments　to　me。〃　He　flicked　his　glance　at　the　Sardaukar　guards。　〃Remove　this　woman。
　Desperation　gave　her　voice　a　ragged　edge。　〃Pardon；　Sire；　but　I　am　the　one　most　familiar　with　the　crisis　on　Ix；　and　my　Lord　Vernius　instructed　me　to　take　all　necessary　steps。　We　demand　that　the　Bene　Tleilax　present　proof　immediately；　or　withdraw　their　forces。　They　aren't　piling　evidence。　That's　just　a　delaying　tactic！〃
　〃When　can　you　submit　the　proof　to　me？〃　the　Emperor　inquired；　sliding　his　gaze　to　Tooy。
　〃Alleged　proof；〃　Pilru　objected。
　〃Three　Imperial　days；　Sire。〃
　Gasps　of　protest　issued　from　the　Ixians。　〃But；　Sire；　in　that　amount　of　time；　they　can　solidify　their　military　gains　　fabricate　any　evidence　they　wish。〃　Pilru's　eyes　glittered。　〃They　have　already　murdered　my　wife；　destroyed　buildings。。。My　son　is　missing。　Please　do　not　allow　them　to　continue　their　rampage　unchecked　for　three　days！〃
　The　Emperor　considered　this　for　a　moment；　while　the　assemblage　grew　quiet。　〃I'm　sure　you　are　exaggerating　the　unpleasantness　to　force　me　into　making　a　rash　decision。　Considering　the　gravity　of　the　charges；　I'm　inclined　to　await　the　evidence；　or　lack　of　it。〃　He　looked　at　his　Chamberlain。　〃What　say　you；　Aken？　Does　that　follow　the　letter　of　Imperial　Law　in　a　situation　such　as　this？〃　Hesban　murmured　in　concurrence。
　Elrood　nodded　at　Pilru　as　if　he　were　granting　him　an　incredible　personal　favor。　〃I　think；　however；　that　the　proof　should　be　submitted　in　two　days　instead　of　three。　Can　you　acplish　that；　Ambassador　Tooy？〃
　〃It　will　be　difficult；　Sire；　but。。。as　you　wish。〃
　Aghast；　Pilru　flushed　with　anger。　〃My　Lord；　how　can　you　side　against　us　with　these。。。these　filthy　Tleilaxu？〃
　〃Ambassador；　your　prejudice　is　not　wele　here　in　my　Imperial　anteroom。　I　have　nothing　but　the　utmost　respect　for　your　Earl。。。and；　of　course；　his　Lady　Shando。〃
　Shaddam　looked　at　the　Guild　agents　at　the　rear　of　the　room。　In　subdued　tones　they　conversed　in　a　secret　language。　Presently　they　nodded　to　each　other。　A　violation　of　the　Butlerian　Jihad　was　a　most　serious　matter　to　them。
　〃But　in　two　days　my　planet　will　be　lost。〃　Pilru　sent　a　pleading　look　to　the　Guildsmen　for　support；　but　they　remained　silent　and　would　not　make　eye　contact。
　〃You　can't　do　this　　you'll　doom　our　people　to　destruction！〃　Yuta　Brey　shouted　at　Elrood。
　〃Messenger；　you　are　impertinent；　just　like　Dominic　Vernius。　Tax　my　patience　no　more。〃　Looking　sternly　at　the　Tleilaxu　representative；　Elrood　manded：　〃Ambassador　Tooy；　bring　me　your　proof　　incontrovertible　proof　　within　two　days；　or　withdraw　your　forces　from　Ix。〃
　Mofra　Tooy　bowed。　Concealed　from　the　Guildsmen　directly　behind　him；　a　slight　smile　worked　briefly　at　the　edges　of　his　mouth；　then　faded。
　〃Very　well　then；〃　the　Ixian　Ambassador　said；　trembling　now　with　rage。　〃I　hereby　demand　an　immediate　Security　Council　session　of　the　Landsraad。〃
　〃And　you　shall　have　it；　precisely　according　to　law；〃　Elrood　said。　〃I　have　already　acted　in　the　manner　I　believe　best　serves　the　Imperium。　Mofra　Tooy　here　will　address　the　Council　in　two　days；　and　you　may　do　the　same。　If　you　wish　to　return　to　your　planet　in　the　meantime；　I　will　divert　an　express　Heighliner　for　your　use。　But　be　warned；　if　these　charges　are　indeed　valid；　Ambassador；　House　Vernius　will　have　much　to　atone　for。〃
　WIPING　PERSPIRATION　FROM　his　shaven　head；　Dominic　Vernius　studied　his　Ambassador　to　Kaitain。　Pilru　had　just　delivered　a　shocking　report　to　the　Earl　and　his　Lady。　The　man　was　clearly　anxious　to　search　for　his　missing　son　in　the　chaos　of　the　underground　city；　though　he　had　been　back　on　the　planet　for　less　than　an　hour。　They　stood　together　in　a　subterranean　operations　center；　deep　within　the　ceiling　of　rock；　since　the　transparent　Orb　Office　in　the　Grand　Palais　was　too　vulnerable　in　time　of　war。　Machinery　sounds　could　be　heard；　tube　transports　moving　Ixian　troops　and　equipment　through　the　catabs　of　the　planetary　crust。
　The　defensive　battles　had　not　been　going　well。　Through　well…planned　sabotage　and　carefully　arranged　bottlenecks；　Tleilaxu　now　controlled　most　of　the　underworld；　and　the　Ixians　were　being　herded　into　smaller　and　smaller　areas。　The　rebellious　suboids　vastly　outnumbered　the　besieged　Ixian　defenders；　and　the　Tleilaxu　invaders　took　full　advantage；　manipulating　the　pale…skinned　workers　with　ease。
　〃Elrood　has　betrayed　us；　my　love；〃　Dominic　said；　holding　his　wife。　They　had　only　the　dirty　clothes　on　their　backs　and　a　few　household　treasures　they　had　managed　to　rescue。　He　understood　everything　now；　though。　〃I　knew　the　Emperor　hated　me；　but　I　never　expected　such　loathsome　behavior；　not　even　from　him。　If　only　I　could　prove　it。〃
　Looking　pale　and　more　fragile　than　ever；　though　her　eyes　flared　with　iron　determination；　the　Lady　Shando　drew　a　deep　breath。　Delicate　lines　etched　around　her　exquisite　eyes　and　mouth　were　the　only　indications　of　her　advancing　age；　subtle　reminders　to　Dominic　to　treasure　her　beauty；　love；　and　fine　character　more　each　day。　Stepping　to　his　side；　she　looped　one　arm　through　his。　〃Maybe　if　I　went　to　him　and　threw　myself　on　his　mercy？　He　might　be　reasonable；　for　whatever　memories　he　still　holds　of　me。。。。
　〃I　wouldn't　let　you　do　it。　He　hates　you　now　and　resents　me　for　marrying　you。　Roody　is　beyond　passion。〃　Dominic　clenched　his　fists　and　studied　Ambassador　Pilru's　face；　but　found　no　hope　there。　Looking　back　at　Shando；　he　said；　〃Knowing　him；　he's　undoubtedly　set　up　intrigues　so　plex　that　he　couldn't　withdraw　now　if　he　wanted　to。
　〃We'll　never　receive　war　reparations；　even　if　we　are　victorious。　My　family　fortunes　will　be　confiscated；　my　personal　power　stripped。〃　He　lowered　his　voice；　trying　to　hide　the　despair。　〃And　all　to　get　even　with　me　for　taking　his　woman　away　from　him　a　long；　long　time　ago。〃
　〃I'll　do　whatever　you　want　me　to　do；　Dominic；〃　she　said　softly。　〃You　made　me　your　wife　instead　of　your　concubine。　I've　always　told　you。　。　。〃　Her　words　trailed　off。
　〃I　know；　my　love。〃　He　squeezed　her　hand。　〃I'd　do　anything　for　you；　too。　It　was　worth　the　cost。。。even　this。〃
　〃I　await　your　orders；　m'Lord；〃　Ambassador　Pilru　said；　deeply　agitated。　His　son　C'tair　was　out　there　somewhere；　hiding；　fighting；　perhaps　already　dead。
　Dominic　chewed　the　inside　of　his　mouth。　〃Clearly；　House　Vernius　has　been　singled　out　for　destruction；　and　there　is　but　one　alternative。　All　the　fabricated　charges　mean　nothing；　and　the　paper　shield　of　the　law　lies　torn　into　shreds。　The　Emperor　intends　to　destroy　us；　and　we　cannot　fight　House　Corrino；　especially　against　treachery　such　as　this。　I　don't　doubt　that　the　Landsraad　will　stall　and　then　pounce　upon　the　spoils　of　war。〃　Glowering；　he　squared　his　broad　shoulders　and　stood　straighter。　〃We　will　take　our　family　atomics　and　shields　and　flee　beyond　the　reach　of　the　Imperium。〃
　Pilru　bit　back　an　outcry。　〃Going。。。renegade；　my　Lord？　What　about　the　rest　of　us？〃
　〃Unfortunately；　we　have　no　choice；　Cammar。　It's　the　only　way　we　can　escape　with　our　lives。　I　want　you　to　contact　the　Guild　and　request　emergency　transport。　Invoke　any　favors　they　owe　us。　The　Guildsmen　observed　your　session　with　the　Emperor；　so　they　know　our　situation。　Tell　them　we　want　to　take　our　military　forces　with　us；　too　　what　little　we　have　left。〃　Dominic　hung　his　head。　〃I　never　imagined　it　would　e　to　this。。。thrust　from　our　Palace　and　our　cities。。。。〃
　The　Ambassador　nodded　stiffly；　then　departed　through　the　shimmer　of　a　shielded　doorway。
　One　wall　of　the　administrative　center　flashed　alive　with　four　projections　on　separate　panels　of　battles　raging　all　over　the　planet　　color　scenes　transmitted　by　portable　eyes。　Ixian　losses　continued　to　mount。
　Shaking　his　head；　Dominic　said；　〃Now　we　must　speak　to　our　closest　friends　and　retainers　and　inform　them　of　the　dangers　they　will　face　if　they　acpany　us。　It　will　be　much　more　difficult　and　dangerous　to　flee　with　us　than　to　be　subjugated　by　the　Tleilaxu。　No　one　will　be　forced　to　go　with　us；　it　will　be　volunteers　only。　As　a　renegade　House；　all　of　our　family　members　and　supporters　will　be　hunted　by　glory…seekers。〃
　〃Bounty　hunters；〃　Shando　said；　her　voice　heavy　with　mingled　sorrow　and　anger。　〃You　and　I　will　have　to　separate；　Dominic　　to　throw　them　off　our　trail　and　increase　our　chances。〃
　On　the　wall；　two　image　panels　fizzled　out；　as　the　Tleilaxu　found　transmitting　eyes　and　disabled　them。
　Dominic　softened　his　voice。　〃Later；　after　our　House　and　planet　have　been　restored　to　us；　we'll　remember　what　we　did　here　and　what　was