bh.houseatreides-第59部分

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　wolfed　down　the　eggs；　licked　his　fingers；　and　sat　on　the　ground　to　wait。　Hours　passed。
　The　guards　kept　looking　at　him　and　shaking　their　heads。　One　asked　him　if　he　carried　any　weapons；　or　any　money；　both　of　which　Duncan　denied。　As　a　steady　stream　of　petitioners　came　and　went；　the　guards　chatted　with　each　other。　Duncan　heard　talk　about　a　revolt　that　had　occurred　on　Ix；　and　the　Duke's　concerns　over　House　Vernius；　especially　because　of　the　Emperor's　acceptance　of　a　bounty　on　Dominic　and　Shando　Vernius。　Apparently；　the　Duke's　son　Leto　had　just　returned　from　war…torn　Ix　to　Caladan　with　two　royal　refugees。　Everything　in　the　Castle　was　in　quite　a　turmoil。
　Nevertheless；　Duncan　waited。
　The　sun　passed　overhead　and　slipped　below　the　horizon　of　the　great　sea。　The　young　man　spent　the　night　curled　up　in　a　corner　of　the　courtyard；　and　with　the　next　morning　and　a　change　of　guards；　he　repeated　his　story　and　his　request　for　an　audience。　This　time；　he　mentioned　that　he　had　escaped　from　a　Harkonnen　world　and　wished　to　offer　his　services　to　House　Atreides。　The　Harkonnen　name　seemed　to　catch　their　attention。　Once　again　the　guards　checked　him　for　weapons；　but　more　thoroughly。
　By　early　afternoon；　after　being　frisked　and　probed　　first　by　an　electronic　scanner　to　root　out　hidden　lethal　devices；　then　by　a　poisonsnooper　　Duncan　was　finally　ushered　inside　the　Castle。　An　ancient　stone　structure　whose　interior　corridors　and　rooms　were　draped　with　rich　tapestries；　the　place　bore　a　patina　of　history　and　worn　elegance。　Wooden　floors　creaked　underfoot。
　At　a　wide　stone　archway；　two　Atreides　guards　passed　him　through　even　more　elaborate　scanning　devices；　which　again　found　nothing　suspicious。　He　was　just　a　boy；　with　nothing　to　hide；　but　they　wore　their　paranoia　as　if　it　were　a　strange　and　unfortable　garment；　as　if　new　procedures　had　just　been　instituted。　Satisfied；　they　waved　Duncan　into　a　large　room　with　vaulted　ceilings　supported　by　heavy；　dark　beams。
　At　the　center　of　the　room　the　Old　Duke　sat　back　and　surveyed　his　visitor。　A　strong；　bearlike　man　with　a　full　beard　and　bright　green　eyes；　Paulus　relaxed　in　a　fortable　wooden　chair；　not　an　ostentatious　throne。　It　was　a　place　where　he　could　be　at　ease　for　hours　as　he　conducted　the　business　of　state。　Atop　the　chairback；　just　above　the　old　patriarch's　head；　a　hawk　crest　had　been　carved　into　the　dark　Elaccan　wood。
　Beside　him　sat　his　olive…skinned　son　Leto；　thin　and　tired…looking；　as　if　he　hadn't　fully　recovered　from　his　ordeal。　Duncan　met　Leto's　gray　eyes；　and　sensed　that　both　of　them　had　much　to　tell；　much　to　share。
　〃We　have　here　a　very　persistent　boy；　Leto；〃　the　Old　Duke　said；　glancing　at　his　son。
　〃From　the　looks　of　him；　he　wants　something　different　from　all　the　other　petitioners　we've　heard　today。〃　Leto　raised　his　eyebrows。　He　was　only　five　or　six　years　older　than　Duncan　　a　large　gulf　at　their　ages　　but　it　seemed　they　had　both　been　thrust　headlong　into　adulthood。　〃He　doesn't　look　greedy。〃
　Paulus's　expression　softened　as　he　leaned　forward　in　his　great　chair。　〃How　long　have　you　been　waiting　out　there；　boy？〃
　〃Oh；　that　doesn't　matter；　m　'Lord　Duke；〃　Duncan　answered；　hoping　he　used　the　right　words。　〃I'm　here　now。〃　Nervously；　he　scratched　a　mole　on　his　chin。
　The　Old　Duke　flashed　a　quick　scowl　at　the　guard　who　had　escorted　him　in。　〃Have　you　fed　this　young　man？〃
　〃They　gave　me　plenty；　sir。　Thank　you。　And　I　also　had　a　good　night's　sleep　in　your　fortable　courtyard。〃
　〃In　the　courtyard？〃　Another　scowl　at　the　guard。　〃So　why　are　you　here；　young　man？　Did　you　e　from　one　of　the　fishing　villages？〃
　〃No；　m'Lord　　I　am　from　Giedi　Prime。〃
　The　guards　tensed　hands　around　their　weapons。　The　Old　Duke　and　his　son　flashed　a　glance　at　each　other；　disbelief　at　first。　〃Then　you'd　better　tell　us　what's　happened　to　you；〃　Paulus　said。　Their　expressions　changed　to　grim　disgust　as　Duncan　told　his　story；　omitting　no　detail。
　The　Duke's　eyes　widened。　He　saw　the　guileless　expression　on　this　young　man's　face　and　looked　at　his　son；　thinking　that　this　was　no　made…up　tale。　Leto　nodded。　No　boy　of　nine　years　could　have　concocted　such　a　story；　however　much　he　might　have　been　coached。
　〃And　so　I　came　here；　sir；〃　Duncan　said；　〃to　see　you。〃
　〃You　landed　in　which　city　on　Caladan？〃　the　Duke　asked　again。　〃Describe　it　for　us。〃
　Duncan　couldn't　remember　its　name　but　recounted　what　he　had　seen；　and　the　Old　Duke　agreed　that　he　must　have　indeed　made　his　way　from　across　the　world。
　〃I　was　told　to　e　to　you；　m'Lord；　and　ask　if　you　might　have　something　for　me　to　do。　I　hate　the　Harkonnens；　sir；　and　I'd　willingly　pledge　my　loyalty　forever　to　House　Atreides　if　only　I　can　stay　here。〃
　〃I　think　I　believe　him；　Father；〃　Leto　said　quietly；　studying　the　boy's　deep…set　blue…green　eyes。　〃Or　is　this　a　lesson　you're　trying　to　teach　me？〃
　Paulus　sat　back；　hands　folded　on　his　lap；　and　his　chest　wrenched　with　spasms。　After　a　moment　Duncan　realized　that　the　big　man　was　holding　in　great　rumbles　of　laughter。　When　the　Old　Duke　could　no　longer　restrain　himself；　he　burst　out　with　a　deep　chuckle　and　slapped　his　knees。　〃Boy；　I　admire　what　you've　done。　Any　young　man　with　balls　as　big　as　yours　is　a　man　I　must　have　as　part　of　my　household！〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　Duncan　said。
　〃I'm　sure　we　can　find　some　urgent　work　for　him　to　do；　Father；〃　Leto　said　with　a　tired　smile。　He　found　this　brave　and　persistent　boy　to　be　a　hopeful　change　from　everything　he　had　seen　recently。
　The　Old　Duke　rose　from　the　fort　of　his　chair　and　bellowed　for　retainers；　insisting　that　they　supply　the　boy　with　clothes　and　a　bath　and　more　food。　〃On　second　thought〃　　he　held　up　a　hand　　〃bring　an　entire　banquet　table。　My　son　and　I　wish　to　share　lunch　with　young　Master　Idaho。〃
　They　entered　an　adjacent　dining　room；　where　workers　scurried　and　clattered　about；　setting　up　everything　their　Duke　had　manded。　One　servant　brushed　flat　the　boy's　dark　and　curly　hair；　and　ran　a　static　cleaner　over　his　dusty　clothes。　At　the　head　of　the　table；　with　Duncan　seated　on　his　right　and　gray…eyed　Leto　on　the　left；　Paulus　Atreides　sank　his　chin　into　a　large　fist。
　〃I've　got　an　idea；　boy。　Since　you　proved　you　could　handle　those　monstrous　Harkonnens；　do　you　think　a　mere　Salusan　bull　is　beyond　your　capabilities？〃
　〃No；　sir；〃　Duncan　said。　He　had　heard　about　the　Duke's　grand　spectacles。　〃If　you　want　me　to　fight　them　for　you；　I'll　be　happy　to　do　it。〃
　〃Fight　them？〃　Paulus　laughed。　〃That　isn't　exactly　what　I　have　in　mind。〃　The　Duke　sat　back　with　a　huge　grin；　looking　over　at　Leto。
　Leto　said；　〃I　think　we've　discovered　a　position　for　you　here　at　Castle　Caladan；　young　man。　You　can　work　in　the　stables；　under　the　guidance　of　Stablemaster　Yresk。　You'll　help　tend　my　father's　bulls：　feed　them　and；　if　you　can　get　close　enough；　groom　them；　too。　I've　done　it　myself。　I'll　introduce　you　to　the　stablemaster。〃　He　looked　over　at　his　father。　〃Remember；　Yresk　used　to　let　me　pet　the　bulls　when　I　was　Duncan's　age？〃
　〃Oh；　this　boy　will　do　a　lot　more　than　pet　the　beasts；〃　the　Old　Duke　said。　Paulus　cocked　a　gray　eyebrow　as　platters　and　platters　of　magnificent　food　were　brought　to　the　table。　He　noted　the　enchanted　look　on　Duncan's　face。　〃And　if　you　do　a　good　enough　job　in　the　stables；〃　he　added；　〃maybe　we　can　find　some　more　glamorous　tasks　for　you。〃
　History　has　seldom　been　good　to　those　who　must　be　punished。　Bene　Gesserit　punishments　cannot　be　forgotten。
　…Bene　Gesserit　Dictum
　A　new　Bene　Gesserit　delegation　bearing　Gaius　Helen　Mohiam　arrived　on　Giedi　Prime。　Freshly　delivered　of　her　sickly　Harkonnen　daughter；　Mohiam　found　herself　in　the　Baron's　Keep　for　the　second　time　in　the　space　of　a　year。
　She　arrived　in　daylight　this　time；　though　the　greasy　cloud　cover　and　pillars　of　smoke　from　unfiltered　factories　gave　the　sky　a　bruised　appearance　that　strangled　any　hint　of　sunshine。
　The　Reverend　Mother's　shuttle　touched　down　at　the　same　spaceport　as　before；　with　the　same　demand　for　〃special　services。〃　But　this　time　Baron　Harkonnen　had　secretly　vowed　to　do　things　differently。
　Stepping　in　perfect　rhythm；　a　stony…faced　regiment　of　the　Baron's　household　troops　marched　up　to　surround　the　Bene　Gesserit　shuttle　　more　than　sufficient　to　intimidate　the　witches。
　The　Burseg　Kryubi；　formerly　a　pilot　on　Arrakis　and　now　head　of　Harkonnen　house　security；　stood　in　front　of　the　shuttle…debarkation　ramp；　two　steps　ahead　of　his　nearest　troops。　All　were　dressed　in　formal　blue。
　Mohiam　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　ramp；　engulfed　in　her　Bene　Gesserit　robes　and　flanked　by　acolyte　retainers；　personal　guards；　and　other　Sisters。　She　frowned　with　disdain　at　the　Burseg　and　his　men。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this　reception？　Where　is　the　Baron？〃
　Burseg　Kryubi　looked　up　at　her。　〃Do　not　attempt　your　manipulative　Voice　on　me　or　there　will　be　a。。。dangerous。。。reaction　from　the　troops。　My　orders　state　that　you　alone　are　allowed　to　see　the　Baron。　No　guards；　no　retainers；　no　panions。　He　awaits　you　in　the　formal　hall　of　the　Keep。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　attendants　behind　her　in　the　shuttle。　〃None　of　these　others　may　enter。〃
　〃Unthinkable；〃　Mohiam　said。　〃I　request　formal　diplomatic　courtesy。　All　of　my　party　must　be　received　with　the　respect　they　are　due。〃
　Kryubi　did　not　flinch。　〃I　know　what　the　witch　wants；〃　the　Baron　had　said。　〃And　if　she　thinks　she　can　show　up　here　to　rut　with　me　on　a　regular　basis；　she's　sadly　mistaken！〃　　whatever　that　meant。
　The　Burseg　stared　her　down；　eye　to　eye。　〃Your　request　is　denied。〃　He　was　far　more　frightened　of　the　Baron's　punishments　than　of　anything　this　woman　could　do　to　him。　〃You　are　free　to　leave　if　this　does　not　meet　with　your　approval。〃
　With　a　snort；　Mohiam　started　down　the　ramp；　flashing　a　glance　at　those　who　remained　in　the　ship。　〃For　all　his　perversions；　the　Baron　Vladimir　Harkonnen　is　somewhat　prudish；〃　she　said　mockingly；　more　for　the　benefit　of　the　Harkonnen　troops　than　for　her　own　people。　〃Especially　when　it　es　to　matters　of　sexuality。〃
　Kryubi；　who　had　not　been　apprised　of　the　situation；　was　intrigued　by　this　reference。　But　he　decided　that　certain　things　were　best　left　unknown。
　〃Tell　me；　Burseg；〃　the　witch　said　to　him　in　an　irritating　tone；　〃how　would　you　even　know　if　I　was　using　Voice　on　you？〃
　〃A　soldier　never　reveals　his　full　arsenal　of　defenses。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Her　tone　was　soothing；　sensual。　Kryubi　didn't