bh.houseatreides-第67部分

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　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin　stood　waiting　to　greet　Mohiam；　beaming　with　pride；　looking　very　young　with　her　doelike　face　and　short　bronze　hair。　Mohiam　had　never　understood　Anirul's　importance；　though　even　the　Mother　Superior　often　showed　her　deference。　The　two　women　nodded　to　each　other。
　In　the　midst　of　her　fellow　Sisters；　Mohiam　was　escorted　to　a　safe　building；　a　large　contingent　of　armed　female　guards　had　been　posted　to　watch　her。　She　would　be　pampered　and　observed　carefully　until　the　baby　was　due。
　〃There　will　be　no　more　travel　for　you；　Mohiam；〃　Mother　Superior　Harishka　said。　〃You　must　remain　safely　here　　until　we　have　your　daughter。〃
　You　of　fearful　heart；　be　strong　and　fear　not。　Behold；　your　God　will　e　with　a　vengeance；　He　will　e　and　save　you　from　the　worshipers　of　machines。
　…The　Orange　Catholic　Bible
　In　the　concubines'　wing　of　the　Imperial　Palace；　throbbing　massage　machines　slapped　and　kneaded　bare　skin；　using　scented　oils　to　caress　every　glorious　contour　of　the　Emperor's　women。　Sophisticated　physical…maintenance　devices　extracted　cellulite；　improved　muscle　tone；　tautened　abdomens　and　chins；　and　made　tiny　injections　to　soften　the　skin。　Every　detail　had　to　be　the　way　old　Elrood　preferred；　though　he　didn't　seem　much　interested　anymore。　Even　the　eldest　of　the　four　women；　the　septuagenarian　Grera　Cary；　had　the　figure　of　a　woman　half　her　age；　sustained　in　part　through　frequent　imbibing　of　spice。
　Dawn's　light　was　tinged　amber　by　passing　through　the　bank　of　thick　armor…plaz　windows。　When　Grera's　massage　was　plete；　the　machine　wrapped　her　in　a　warm　towel　of　karthan　weave　and　placed　a　refreshing　cloth　soaked　with　eucalyptus　and　juniper　over　her　face。　The　concubine's　bed　changed　into　a　sensiform　chair　that　conformed　perfectly　to　her　body。
　A　mechanized　manicure　station　dropped　from　the　ceiling；　and　Grera　whispered　through　her　daily　meditations　as　her　fingernails　and　toenails　were　trimmed；　polished；　and　painted　a　lush　green。　The　machine　slid　back　up　into　its　overhead　partment；　and　the　woman　stood　and　dropped　her　towel。　An　electric　field　passed　over　her　face；　arms；　and　legs；　removing　barely　discernible　and　unwanted　hairs。
　Perfect。　Perfect　enough　for　the　Emperor。
　Of　the　current　retinue　of　concubines；　only　Grera　was　old　enough　to　remember　Shando；　a　plaything　who　had　left　Imperial　service　to　marry　a　war　hero　and　settle　down　into　a　〃normal　life。〃　Elrood　hadn't　paid　Shando　much　attention　when　she'd　been　among　his　numerous　women；　but　once　she'd　left；　he　had　railed　at　the　others　and　moaned　about　his　loss。　Most　of　his　favorite　concubines　chosen　in　succeeding　years　looked　a　great　deal　like　Shando。
　As　she　watched　the　other　concubines　go　through　similar　body…toning　procedures；　Grera　Cary　thought　of　how　things　had　changed　for　all　the　Emperor's　harem。　Less　than　a　year　earlier；　these　women　had　congregated　only　rarely；　since　Elrood　was　with　one　of　them　so　often；　performing　what　he　called　his　〃royal　duty。〃　One　of　the　concubines；　an　Elaccan；　had　secretly　given　the　old　goat　a　nickname　that　stuck　　〃Fornicario；〃　a　reference　from　one　of　the　Old　Terran　languages　to　his　sexual　prowess　and　appetites。　The　women　only　used　it　among　themselves；　and　snickered。
　〃Has　anyone　seen　Fornicario？〃　asked　the　taller　of　the　two　youngest　concubines　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。
　Grera　exchanged　a　smile　with　her；　and　the　women　giggled　like　schoolgirls。　〃I'm　afraid　our　Imperial　oak　has　turned　into　a　drooping　willow。〃
　The　old　man　rarely　came　to　the　concubines'　wing　anymore。　Though　Elrood　spent　as　much　time　in　bed　now　as　ever；　it　was　for　an　entirely　different　reason。　His　health　had　declined　rapidly；　and　his　libido　had　already　died。　His　mind　was　the　next　thing　likely　to　go。
　Suddenly　the　chattering　women　grew　silent；　turning　with　alarm　toward　the　main　entrance　of　the　concubines'　wing。　Without　announcing　himself；　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　entered　with　his　ever…present　panion；　Hasimir　Fenring；　whom　they　often　called　〃the　Ferret〃　because　of　his　narrow　face　and　pointed　chin。　The　women　covered　themselves　quickly　and　stood　at　attention　to　show　their　respect。
　〃What's　so　funny　in　here；　hm…m…m…m…ah？〃　Fenring　demanded。　〃I　heard　giggling。〃
　〃The　girls　were　just　enjoying　a　little　joke；〃　Grera　said；　in　a　cautious　tone。　Senior　among　them；　she　often　spoke　for　the　concubines。
　It　was　rumored　that　this　undersized　man　had　stabbed　two　of　his　lovers　to　death；　and　from　his　slithery　demeanor　Grera　believed　it。　Through　her　years　of　experience；　she　had　learned　how　to　recognize　a　man　capable　of　extreme　cruelty。　Fenring's　genitals　were　supposedly　malformed　and　sterile；　though　sexually　functional。　She　had　never　slept　with　him　herself；　nor　did　she　wish　to。
　Fenring　studied　her　with　overlarge；　soulless　eyes；　then　moved　past　her　to　the　two　new　blondes。　The　Crown　Prince　remained　behind　him；　near　the　doorway　to　the　solarium。　Slim　and　red…haired；　Shaddam　wore　a　gray　Sardaukar　uniform　with　silver…and…gold　trim。　Grera　knew　the　Imperial　heir　loved　to　play　military　games。
　〃Please　share　your　little　joke　with　us；〃　Fenring　insisted。　He　addressed　the　smaller　blonde；　a　petite　girl　barely　beyond　her　teens　who　was　only　slightly　shorter　than　he　was。　Her　eyes　resembled　Shando's。　〃Prince　Shaddam　and　I　both　enjoy　humor。〃
　〃It　was　just　a　private　conversation；〃　Grera　responded；　stepping　forward　protectively。　〃Personal　things。〃
　〃Can't　she　speak　for　herself？〃　Fenring　snapped；　glaring　back　at　the　elder　woman。　He　wore　a　black　tunic　trimmed　in　gold；　and　many　rings　on　his　hands。　〃If　this　one's　been　chosen　to　entertain　the　Padishah　Emperor；　I'm　sure　she　knows　how　to　relay　a　simple　joke；　ah…mm…m…m…m？〃
　〃It　was　as　Grera　said；〃　the　young　blonde　insisted。　〃Just　a　girl　thing。　Not　worth　repeating。〃
　Fenring　took　hold　of　one　of　the　edges　of　the　towel　she　had　been　gripping　tightly　about　her　curvaceous　body。　Surprise　and　fear　covered　her　face。　He　jerked　at　the　towel；　exposing　one　of　her　breasts。
　Angrily；　Grera　said；　〃Cease　this　nonsense；　Fenring。　We　are　royal　concubines。　No　one　but　the　Emperor　may　touch　us。〃
　〃Lucky　you。〃　Fenring　gazed　across　the　room　at　Shaddam。
　The　Crown　Prince　nodded　stiffly。　〃She's　right；　Hasimir。　I'll　share　one　of　my　concubines　with　you；　if　you　like。〃
　〃But　I　didn't　touch　her；　my　friend…I　was　only　fixing　her　towel　a　little。〃　He　let　go；　and　the　girl　covered　herself　again。　〃But　has　the　Emperor　been。。。um…m…m…m…ah；　utilizing　your　services　much　lately？　We　hear　that　a　certain　part　of　him　is　already　deceased。〃　Fenring　looked　up　at　Grera　Cary；　who　towered　over　the　Ferret。
　Grera　glanced　over　at　the　Crown　Prince；　seeking　support　and　safety；　but　found　none。　His　cold　eyes　looked　past　her。　For　a　moment　she　wondered　what　this　Imperial　heir　would　be　like　in　bed；　if　he　had　the　sexual　prowess　his　father　had　once　possessed。　She　doubted　it；　though。　From　the　cold…cod　look　of　this　one；　even　the　withered　man　on　his　deathbed　would　still　be　a　superior　lover。
　〃Old　one；　you　will　e　with　me；　and　we　will　talk　more　of　jokes。　Perhaps　we　can　even　exchange　a　few；〃　Fenring　manded。　〃I　can　be　a　funny　man。〃
　〃Now；　sir？〃　With　the　fingers　of　her　free　hand　she　indicated　her　karthan…weave　towel。
　His　gleaming　eyes　narrowed　dangerously。　〃A　person　of　my　station　has　no　time　to　wait　while　a　woman　dresses。　Of　course　I　mean　now！〃　He　grabbed　a　tuft　of　her　towel　and　pulled　her　along。　She　went　with　him；　struggling　to　keep　the　towel　wrapped　around　her。　〃This　way。　e；　e。〃　While　Shaddam　followed　passively；　amused；　Fenring　forced　her　to　the　door。
　〃The　Emperor　will　hear　of　this！〃　she　protested。
　〃Speak　loudly；　he　has　trouble　hearing。〃　Fenring　gave　a　maddening　smile。　〃And　who　will　tell　him？　Some　days　he　doesn't　even　remember　his　own　name　　he　certainly　won't　bother　with　a　crone　like　you。〃　His　tone　sent　a　chill　down　Grera's　spine。　The　other　concubines　milled　about；　confused　and　helpless　as　their　grande　dame　was　unceremoniously　hauled　out　of　their　presence　and　into　the　corridor。
　At　this　early　hour　no　members　of　the　royal　Court　were　in　evidence；　only　Sardaukar　guards　standing　rigidly　at　attention。　And　with　Crown　Prince　Shaddam　here；　the　Sardaukar　guards　saw　nothing　at　all。　Grera　looked　at　them；　but　they　stared　right　through　her。

　Since　her　flustered；　stuttering　voice　seemed　to　irritate　Fenring；　Grera　decided　it　would　be　safest　to　bee　silent。　The　Ferret　was　behaving　strangely；　but　as　an　Imperial　concubine　she　had　nothing　to　fear　from　him。　The　furtive　man　wouldn't　dare　do　anything　so　stupid　as　to　actually　hurt　her。
　Glancing　back　suddenly；　she　found　that　Shaddam　had　disappeared。　He　must　have　scuttled　off　down　another　passageway。　She　was　pletely　alone　with　this　vile　man。
　Fenring　passed　through　a　security　barrier　and　pushed　Grera　ahead　of　him　into　a　room。　She　stumbled　onto　a　black…and…white　marbleplaz　floor。　A　large　chamber　with　a　stonecrete　fireplace　dominating　one　wall；　this　had　once　been　a　visitors'　suite　but　was　now　devoid　of　furnishings。　It　smelled　of　fresh　paint　and　long　abandonment。
　Remaining　where　she　was；　proud　and　fearless　though　wrapped　in　only　a　towel；　Grera　glanced　up　at　him　intermittently。　She　tried　not　to　show　defiance　or　lack　of　respect。　Over　her　years　of　service；　she　had　learned　to　stand　on　her　own。
　The　door　closed　behind　them。　They　were　alone　now；　and　Shaddam　still　hadn't　appeared。　What　did　this　little　man　want　with　her？
　From　his　tunic　Fenring　produced　a　green…jeweled　oval。　After　he　pressed　a　button　on　its　side；　a　long　green　blade　emerged；　glinting　in　the　light　of　a　glowglobe　chandelier。
　〃I　didn't　bring　you　here　for　questions；　crone；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　tone。　He　held　the　weapon　up。　〃Actually；　I　need　to　test　this　on　you。　It's　brand…new；　you　see；　and　I've　never　really　liked　some　of　the　Emperor's　walking　meat。〃
　Fenring　was　no　stranger　to　assassination；　and　killed　with　his　bare　hands　at　least　as　often　as　he　engineered　accidents　or　paid　for　thugs。　Sometimes　he　liked　blood　work；　while　on　other　occasions　he　preferred　subtleties　and　deceptions。　When　he　was　younger；　barely　nineteen；　he　had　slipped　out　of　the　Imperial　Palace　at　night　and　killed　two　civil　servants　at　random；　just　to　prove　he　could　do　it。　He　still　tried　to　keep　in　practice。
　Fenring　had　always　known　he　had　the　iron　will　necessary　for　murder；　but　he　had　been　surprised　at　how　much　he　enjoyed　it。　Killing　the　previous