bh.houseatreides-第68部分

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　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　Crown　Prince　Fafnir　had　been　his　greatest　triumph；　until　now。　Once　old　Elrood　finally　died；　that　would　be　a　new　feather　in　his　cap。　Can't　aim　much　higher　than　that。
　But　he　had　to　keep　himself　current　with　new　techniques　and　new　inventions。　One　never　knew　when　they　might　e　in　handy。　Besides；　this　neuroknife　was　so　intriguing。。。。
　Grera　looked　at　the　shimmering　green　blade；　her　eyes　wide。　〃The　Emperor　loves　me！　You　can't　〃
　〃He　loves　you？　A　long…in…the…tooth　concubine？　He　spends　more　time　moaning　about　his　long…lost　Shando。　Elrood's　so　senile　he'll　never　even　know　you're　missing；　and　all　of　the　other　concubines　will　be　happy　to　move　up　a　rank。〃
　Before　Grera　could　scramble　away；　the　murderous　man　was　on　top　of　her；　showing　tremendous　speed。　〃No　one　will　mourn　your　loss；　Grera　Cary。〃　He　raised　the　pulsing　green　blade　and；　with　a　dark　fire　in　his　flickering　eyes；　stabbed　her　repeatedly　in　the　torso。　The　karthan　towel　fell　away；　and　the　neuroblade　struck　her　freshly　creamed　and　oiled　skin。
　The　concubine　screamed　in　agony；　screamed　again；　then　fell　into　sucking　moans　and　shudders；　and　finally　became　silent。。。。　No　lacerations；　no　blood；　only　imagined　agony。　All　of　the　pain；　but　no　incriminating　marks　　could　murder　get　better　than　this？
　With　pleasure　suffusing　his　brain；　Fenring　knelt　over　the　senior　concubine；　studying　her　shapely　body　crumpled　on　top　of　the　disheveled　towel。　Good　skin　tone；　firm　muscles；　now　slack　with　death。　It　was　hard　to　believe　this　woman　was　as　old　as　they　claimed。　It　must　have　required　a　lot　of　melange；　and　quite　a　bit　of　body　conditioning。　He　felt　Grera's　neck　for　a　pulse；　then　double…checked。　None　remained。　Disappointing。。。in　a　way。
　There　was　no　blood　on　the　body　or　on　the　green　knife　blade；　no　deep　wounds　　but　he　had　stabbed　her　to　death。　Or　so　she　had　thought。
　An　interesting　weapon；　this　neuroblade。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　ever　used　one。　Fenring　always　liked　to　test　the　important　tools　of　his　trade　in　nonbat　situations；　since　he　didn't　want　to　be　surprised　in　a　crisis。
　Called　a　〃ponta〃　by　its　Richesian　inventor；　it　was　one　of　the　few　recent　innovations　Fenring　considered　worthwhile　from　that　tiresome　world。　The　illusionary　green　blade　slid　back　into　its　partment　with　a　realistic　snick。　The　victim　had　not　only　thought　she　was　being　stabbed　to　death；　but　through　intense　neurostimulation　actually　felt　an　attack　powerful　enough　to　kill。　In　a　sense　Grera's　own　mind　had　killed　her。　And　now　there　wasn't　a　mark　on　her　skin。
　Sometimes　real　blood　added　an　exhilarating　cap　to　an　already…thrilling　experience；　but　the　cleanup　often　caused　problems。
　He　recognized　familiar　noises　behind　him：　an　opening　door　and　deactivated　security　field。　Turning；　he　saw　Shaddam　staring　down　at　him。　〃Was　that　really　necessary；　Hasimir？　What　a　waste。。。。　Still；　she　had　outlived　her　usefulness。〃
　〃Poor　old　thing　had　a　heart　attack；　I　guess。〃　From　a　fold　of　his　tunic　Fenring　brought　forth　another　ponta；　this　one　ruby…jeweled　with　a　long　red　blade。　〃I'd　better　test　this　one；　too；〃　he　said。　〃Your　father　is　hanging　on　longer　than　we'd　hoped；　and　this　would　finish　him　off　neatly。　No　evidence　on　the　corpse；　not　a　mark。　Why　wait　for　the　n'kee　to　continue　its　work？〃　He　grinned。
　Shaddam　shook　his　head；　as　if　finally　having　second　thoughts。　He　looked　around；　shuddered；　and　tried　to　appear　stern。　〃We'll　wait　as　long　as　we　have　to。　We　agreed　not　to　make　any　sudden　moves。〃　Fenring　hated　it　when　the　Crown　Prince　tried　to　think　too　much。
　〃Hmmm…mm？　I　thought　you　were　so　anxious！　He's　been　making　terrible　business　decisions；　wasting　Corrino　money　every　day　he　stays　alive。〃　His　large　eyes　glittered。　〃The　longer　he　remains　in　a　state　like　this；　the　more　history　will　paint　him　as　a　pathetic　ruler。〃
　〃I　can't　do　any　more　to　my　father；〃　Shaddam　said。　〃I'm　afraid　of　what　might　happen。〃
　Hasimir　Fenring　bowed。　〃As　you　wish；　my　Prince。〃
　They　walked　away；　leaving　Grera's　body　where　it　lay。　Someone　would　find　it；　sooner　or　later。　It　wasn't　the　first　time　Fenring　had　been　so　blatant；　but　the　other　concubines　would　know　not　to　challenge　him。　It　would　be　a　warning　to　them；　and　they　would　jockey　with　each　other　to　bee　the　new　favorite　of　the　impotent　old　man；　using　the　situation　to　their　advantage。
　By　the　time　word　finally　got　back　to　the　Emperor；　he　probably　wouldn't　even　remember　Grera　Cary's　name。
　Man　is　but　a　pebble　dropped　in　a　pool。　And　if　man　is　but　a　pebble；　then　all　his　works　can　be　no　more。
　…Zensunni　Saying
　Leto　and　Rhombur　trained　long　and　hard　every　day；　in　the　Atreides　way。　They　dived　into　the　exercise　routine　with　all　the　enthusiasm　and　determination　they　could　muster。　The　stocky　Ixian　Prince　regained　his　vigor；　lost　some　weight；　and　tightened　up　his　muscles。
　The　two　young　men　found　themselves　quite　well　matched　and　therefore　good　sparring　partners。　Because　they　trusted　one　another　pletely；　Leto　and　Rhombur　were　able　to　push　their　limits；　confident　that　nothing　dangerous　would　happen　to　them。
　Though　they　trained　vigorously；　the　Old　Duke　hoped　to　acplish　more　than　just　turning　the　exiled　Prince　into　a　petent　fighter：　He　also　wanted　to　keep　his　friend's　son　happy　and　make　him　feel　at　home。　Paulus　could　only　imagine　what　terrors　Rhombur's　renegade　parents　must　be　enduring　out　in　the　wilds　of　the　galaxy。
　Thufir　Hawat　let　the　two　fight　with　recklessness　and　abandon；　honing　their　skills。　Leto　soon　noticed　remarkable　improvement；　both　in　himself　and　in　the　heir　to　what　little　remained　of　House　Vernius。
　Following　the　Master　of　Assassins'　advice　about　the　weapons　of　culture　and　diplomacy　as　well　as　swordplay；　Rhombur　took　an　interest　in　music。　He　dabbled　with　several　instruments　before　finally　settling　on　the　soothing　but　plex　tones　of　the　nine…string　baliset。　Leaning　against　a　castle　wall；　he　would　strum　and　play　simple　songs；　fingering　melodies　by　ear　that　he　recalled　from　childhood　or　pleasant　tunes　he　made　up　for　himself。
　Often；　his　sister　Kailea　would　listen　to　him　play　as　she　studied　her　lessons　in　history　and　religion　that　were　the　traditional　fare　of　young　noblewomen。　Helena　Atreides　aided　in　the　teaching；　at　the　insistence　of　Duke　Paulus。　Kailea　studied　with　good　grace；　occupying　her　mind；　resigned　to　her　situation　as　a　political　prisoner　inside　Castle　Caladan；　but　trying　to　imagine　more　for　herself。
　Leto　knew　that　his　mother's　resentment　ran　at　depths　invisible　beneath　the　still　waters　of　her　public　face。　Helena　was　a　hard　taskmaster　to　Kailea；　who　responded　with　even　greater　determination。
　Late　one　evening；　Leto　went　up　to　the　tower　room　after　his　parents　had　retired　for　the　night。　He'd　intended　to　ask　his　father　about　taking　them　on　one　of　the　Atreides　schooners　for　a　day…trip　up　and　down　the　coast。　But　as　he　approached　the　wooden　door　to　the　ducal　chambers；　he　heard　Paulus　and　Helena　engaged　in　deep　discussion。
　〃What　have　you　done　to　find　a　new　place　for　those　two？〃　The　way　his　mother　said　the　words；　Leto　knew　exactly　whom　she　meant。　〃Surely　some　Minor　House　on　the　fringe　will　take　them　in　if　you　pay　a　large　enough　bribe。〃
　〃I　don't　intend　to　send　those　children　anywhere；　and　you　know　that。　They　are　our　guests　here；　and　safe　from　the　loathsome　Tleilaxu。〃　His　voice　dropped　to　a　grumble。　〃I　don't　understand　why　Elrood　doesn't　just　send　his　Sardaukar　in　to　flush　those　vermin　out　of　the　caves　on　Ix。〃
　Lady　Helena　said　crisply；　〃Despite　their　unpleasant　qualities；　the　Tleilaxu　will　undoubtedly　bring　the　factories　of　Ix　back　to　the　path　of　righteousness　and　obey　the　strictures　established　by　the　Butlerian　Jihad。〃
　Paulus　gave　an　exasperated　snort；　but　Leto　knew　his　mother　was　deadly　serious；　and　that　frightened　him　all　the　more。　Her　voice　grew　more　fervent　as　she　tried　to　convince　her　husband。
　〃Can't　you　see；　perhaps　all　of　these　events　were　meant　to　happen？　You　never　should　have　sent　Leto　to　Ix…he's　already　been　corrupted　by　their　ways；　their　prideful　thinking；　their　high…handed　ignorance　of　the　laws　of　God。　But　the　takeover　on　Ix　brought　Leto　back　to　us。　Don't　make　the　same　mistake　again。〃
　〃Mistake？　I'm　quite　pleased　with　everything　our　boy's　learned。　He's　going　to　be　a　fine　Duke　someday。〃　Leto　heard　the　thump　of　a　boot　tossed　into　the　corner。　〃Stop　your　worrying。　Don't　you　feel　at　all　sorry　for　poor　Rhombur　and　Kailea？〃
　Unswayed；　she　said；　〃In　their　pride；　the　people　of　Ix　have　broken　the　Law；　and　they　have　paid　for　it。　Should　I　feel　sorry　for　them？　I　think　not。〃
　Paulus　hit　a　piece　of　furniture　hard　with　his　hand；　and　Leto　heard　wood　scraping　across　stone；　a　chair　shoved　aside。　〃And　I'm　to　believe　you　are　familiar　enough　with　the　inner　workings　of　Ix　to　make　such　a　judgment？　Or　have　you　already　e　to　a　conclusion　based　on　what　you　want　to　hear；　without　being　troubled　by　mere　lack　of　evidence？〃　He　laughed；　and　his　tone　turned　more　gentle。〃　Besides；　you　seem　to　be　working　well　with　young　Kailea。　She　enjoys　your　pany。　How　can　you　say　such　things　about　her　to　me；　and　then　pretend　to　be　kind　to　her　face？〃
　Helena　sounded　eminently　reasonable。　〃The　children　can't　help　who　they　are；　Paulus　　they　didn't　ask　to　be　born　there；　raised　there；　exposed　to　anything　but　proper　teachings。　Do　you　think　they've　ever　held　the　Orange　Catholic　Bible？　It's　not　their　fault。　They　are　what　they　are；　and　I　can't　hate　them　for　it。〃
　〃Then　what　〃
　She　lashed　out　at　him　with　such　vehemence　that　Leto　took　a　silent　step　backward　in　surprise　out　in　the　shadowy　hall。　〃You're　the　one　who　has　made　a　choice　here；　Paulus。　And　you've　made　the　wrong　one。　That　choice　will　cost　you　and　our　House　dearly。〃
　He　made　a　rude　noise。　〃There　was　no　choice；　Helena。　On　my　honor　and　my　word　　there　was　no　choice。〃
　〃Still　it　was　your　own　decision；　despite　my　warnings　and　despite　my　advice。　Your　decision　alone；　Paulus　Atreides。〃　Her　voice　was　frighteningly　cold。　〃You　must　live　with　the　consequences；　and　be　damned　by　them。〃
　〃Oh；　calm　down　and　go　to　sleep；　Helena。〃
　Unsettled；　Leto　crept　away；　his　question　forgotten；　without　waiting　to　see　how　soon　they　extinguished　the　lights。
　THE　NEXT　DAY；　a　calm　and　sunny　morning；　Leto　stood　next　to　Rhombur　at　an　open　window；　admir