bh.houseatreides-第77部分

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er　and　sat　down　on　the　soft　grass　of　the　knoll。　She　gestured　toward　the　construction　where　the　sounds　of　carpentry　rang　clear　in　the　air。　〃Mohiam　is　due　to　deliver　in　a　week；　Mother　Superior。　We　don't　even　have　the　roof　on　yet。
　〃They　will　finish；　Anirul。　Calm　yourself。　Everyone　is　doing　her　best　to　follow　your　orders。〃
　Anirul　reacted　as　if　slapped；　then　covered　her　reaction。　Does　Reverend　Mother　see　me　as　an　untempered　and　impetuous　girl？　Perhaps　she　had　been　too　insistent　with　her　instructions　for　the　facility；　and　sometimes　Mother　Superior　looked　at　her　with　a　certain　amount　of　resentment。　Is　she　jealous　that　Other　Memory　chose　me　to　lead　such　an　ambitious　program？　Does　she　resent　my　knowledge？
　〃I'm　not　as　young　as　you're　treating　me；〃　Anirul　said；　against　the　better　judgment　of　the　voices。　Very　few　of　the　Bene　Gesserit　had　the　weight　of　history　inside　them　the　way　she　did。　Very　few　knew　all　of　the　machinations；　every　step　of　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　program；　every　failure　or　success　over　the　millennia；　every　deviation　in　the　plan；　for　more　than　ninety　generations。　〃I　have　the　knowledge　to　succeed。〃
　Mother　Superior　frowned　at　her。　〃Then　put　more　faith　in　our　Mohiam。　She's　delivered　nine　daughters　for　the　Sisterhood　already。　I　trust　her　to　control　the　exact　moment　at　which　she　chooses　to　give　birth；　even　to　delay　her　labor　if　necessary。〃　A　scrap　of　brittle　hair　blew　out　of　its　prim　containment　and　feathered　across　the　old　woman's　cheek。　〃Her　role　in　this　is　more　important　than　any　birthing　facility。〃
　Anirul　challenged　the　chastising　tone。　〃True。　And　we　must　not　have　another　failure；　like　the　last。〃
　Not　even　a　Reverend　Mother　could　master　all　facets　of　embryonic　development。　Through　her　internal　processes　she　could　set　her　own　metabolism；　but　not　the　metabolism　of　the　child。　Selecting　her　baby's　sex　was　an　adjustment　of　the　mother's　chemistry；　choosing　the　precise　egg　and　sperm　to　unite。　But　once　the　zygote　started　growing　in　the　womb；　the　offspring　was　effectively　on　its　own；　beginning　a　process　of　growing　away　from　the　mother。
　Anirul　said；　〃I　can　feel　that　this　daughter　will　be　vital；　a　crux　point。〃
　A　loud　thump　sounded　below；　and　Anirul　grimaced。　One　of　the　roof　sections　had　tumbled　into　the　interior　of　the　building；　and　the　Sister　workers　rushed　about　to　correct　the　mistake。
　Mother　Superior　uttered　a　profanity。
　THROUGH　HERCULEAN　EFFORTS　the　birthing　facility　was　pleted；　on　time；　while　Kwisatz　Mother　Anirul　marched　back　and　forth。　Only　hours　before　the　scheduled　birth；　construction　workers　and　robos　put　on　the　finishing　touches。　Medical　equipment　was　brought　in　and　connected。　Glowglobes；　beds；　blankets。。。even　a　warm　blaze　in　the　archaic　wood…burning　fireplace　Mohiam　had　requested。
　As　Anirul　and　Harishka　inspected　the　job；　still　smelling　of　dust　and　construction　materials；　they　paused　to　watch　the　noisy　entrance　of　a　motorized　gurney　bearing　an　enormously　pregnant　Gaius　Helen　Mohiam。　She　was　alert　and　sitting　up；　already　experiencing　increased　contractions。　Reverend　Mothers　and　white…smocked　medical　attendants　escorted　her　in；　clucking　excitedly　like　hens。
　〃This　was　too　close；　Mother　Superior；〃　Anirul　said。　〃I　don't　appreciate　additional　stress　points　in　an　already…plex　task。〃
　〃Agreed；〃　said　Harishka。　〃The　Sisters　will　be　reprimanded　for　their　lethargy。　Though；　if　your　designs　had　been　less　ambitious。。。〃　She　let　the　thought　hang　in　the　air。
　Ignoring　Mother　Superior；　Anirul　noted　the　trim　and　decoration　of　the　room；　with　its　intricate　ivory　and　pearl　inlays　and　ornate　wood　carvings。　Perhaps　she　should　have　had　them　concentrate　more　on　functionality　than　on　extravagance。。。。
　Harishka　crossed　her　thin　arms　over　her　chest。　〃The　design　of　this　new　facility　is　similar　to　what　we　had　before。　Was　it　really　necessary？〃
　〃This　is　not　similar　at　all；〃　Anirul　said。　Her　face　flushed；　and　she　washed　the　defensive　tone　out　of　her　words。　〃The　old　birthing　room　simply　wasn't　functional　anymore。〃
　Mother　Superior　gave　a　condescending　smile；　she　understood　the　need　for　an　untainted　building；　with　no　old　memories；　no　ghosts。　〃Anirul；　through　our　Missionaria　Protectiva　we　manipulate　the　superstitions　of　backward　peoples。。。but　we　Sisters　aren't　supposed　to　be　superstitious　ourselves。〃
　Anirul　took　the　ment　with　good　humor。　〃I　assure　you；　Mother　Superior；　such　conjecture　is　preposterous。〃
　The　older　woman's　almond　eyes　glittered。　〃Other　Sisters　are　saying　you　thought　the　old　birthing　room　had　a　curse　on　it；　which　caused　the　first　child's　deformities。。。and　its　mysterious　death。〃
　Anirul　drew　herself　up　straight。　〃This　is　hardly　the　proper　time　to　discuss　such　a　thing；　Mother　Superior。〃　She　scanned　the　frantic　preparations：　Mohiam　placed　on　the　birthing　bed；　Sisters　gathering　warm　karthan…weave　towels；　liquids；　pads。　An　incubator　chamber　blinked　with　monitors　on　the　wall。　First…ranked　midwives　bustled　around；　preparing　for　unforeseen　plications。
　On　her　gurney；　Mohiam　looked　entirely　posed　now；　her　thoughts　turned　inward；　meditating。　But　Anirul　noticed　how　old　she　appeared；　as　if　the　last　shreds　of　youth　had　been　drained　from　her。
　Harishka　placed　a　sinewy　hand　on　Anirul's　forearm　in　a　sudden　and　surprising　display　of　closeness。　〃We　all　have　our　primal　superstitions；　but　we　must　master　them。　For　now；　worry　about　nothing　except　this　child。　The　Sisterhood　needs　a　healthy　daughter；　with　a　powerful　future。〃
　Medical　personnel　checked　equipment　and　took　up　their　positions　around　Mohiam；　who　reclined　on　a　bed；　inhaling　deeply；　her　cheeks　flushed　red　with　exertion。　Two　of　the　midwives　propped　her　up　in　the　ages…old　delivery　position。　The　pregnant　woman　began　to　hum　to　herself；　allowing　only　a　flicker　of　disfort　to　cross　her　face　as　she　experienced　increasingly　severe　contractions。
　Standing　aloof；　yet　sharply　observant；　Anirul　considered　what　Mother　Superior　had　just　told　her。　Secretly；　Anirul　had　consulted　a　Feng　Shui　master　about　the　old　birthing　facility。　A　withered　old　man　with　Terrasian　features；　he　was　a　practitioner　of　an　ancient　Zensunni　philosophy　which　held　that　architecture；　furniture　placement；　and　maximum　utilization　of　color　and　light　all　worked　to　promote　the　well…being　of　a　facility's　inhabitants。　With　a　sage　nod；　he　declared　that　the　old　facility　had　been　set　up　incorrectly；　and　showed　Anirul　what　needed　to　be　done。　They'd　had　only　a　month　before　the　expected　delivery　date；　and　the　Kwisatz　Mother　had　had　not　a　moment　to　lose。
　Now　as　she　observed　the　abundance　of　light　flowing　down　upon　Mohiam's　bed　from　actual　windows　and　skylights；　rather　than　from　clusters　of　artificial　glowglobes；　Anirul　assured　herself　she　hadn't　been　〃superstitious。〃　Feng　Shui　was　about　aligning　oneself　properly　with　Nature　and　being　intensely　aware　of　one's　surroundings　　a　philosophy　that　was；　ultimately；　very　much　in　the　Bene　Gesserit　way　of　thinking。
　Too　much　rode　on　this　single　birth。　If　there　was　a　chance；　even　a　small　one；　Anirul　wanted　no　part　in　denying　it。　Using　the　power　of　her　position；　she　had　demanded　a　new　birthing　facility；　built　according　to　the　Feng　Shui　master's　remendations。　Then　she'd　sent　the　old　man　away；　letting　the　other　Sisters　believe　he　had　merely　been　a　visiting　gardener。
　Now　she　glided　closer　to　Mohiam's　bed；　looking　down　at　her　patient　as　the　time　neared。　Anirul　hoped　the　old　man　was　right。　This　daughter　was　their　last；　best　chance。
　IT　HAPPENED　QUICKLY；　the　moment　Mohiam　set　her　mind　to　it。　A　baby's　insistent　crying　filled　the　chamber；　and　Anirul　lifted　a　perfect　girl…child　in　the　air　for　Mother　Superior　to　see。　Even　the　voices　in　Other　Memory　cheered　at　the　victory。　Everyone　beamed　triumphantly；　delighted　with　the　long…anticipated　birth。　Agitated；　the　child　kicked　and　flailed。
　Sisters　toweled　off　infant　and　mother；　giving　Mohiam　a　long　drink　of　juice　to　restore　her　body　fluids。　Anirul　handed　the　baby　to　her。　Still　breathing　hard　from　the　exertion　of　the　delivery；　Mohiam　took　the　girl　and　looked　at　her；　allowing　an　uncharacteristically　proud　smile　to　cross　her　face。
　〃This　child　shall　be　named　Jessica；　meaning　'wealth；'　〃　Mohiam　announced　proudly；　still　panting。　When　other　Sisters　moved　away；　Mohiam　stared　at　Anirul　and　Harishka；　who　stood　close　to　her。　In　a　directed　whisper　that　only　they　could　hear；　she　said；　〃I　know　this　child　is　part　of　the　Kwisatz　Haderach　program。　The　voices　in　Other　Memory　have　told　me。　I　have　seen　a　vision；　and　I　know　the　terrible　future　if　we　fail　with　her。〃
　Anirul　and　Mother　Superior　exchanged　uneasy　glances。　In　a　whisper　Harishka　responded；　looking　sidelong　as　if　hoping　the　spontaneous　revelation　might　weaken　the　Kwisatz　Mother's　hold　over　the　program。　〃You　are　manded　to　secrecy。　Your　child　is　to　be　the　grandmother　of　the　Kwisatz　Haderach。〃
　〃I　suspected　as　much。〃　Mohiam　sank　back　on　her　pillow　to　consider　the　immensity　of　this　revelation。　〃So　soon。　。　。〃
　Outside　the　building；　clapping　and　cheering　rang　out　as　news　of　the　birth　passed　quickly　around　the　training　areas。　Balconies　above　the　library　enclaves　and　discussion　chambers　overflowed　with　acolytes　and　teachers　celebrating　the　felicitous　event；　though　only　a　handful　knew　the　full　significance　of　this　child　in　the　breeding　program。
　Gaius　Helen　Mohiam　gave　the　child　to　the　midwives；　refusing　to　form　any　sort　of　parental　bond　that　was　forbidden　by　the　Bene　Gesserit。　Though　she　maintained　her　posure；　she　felt　drawn；　bone…weary；　and　old。　This　Jessica　was　her　tenth　daughter　for　the　Sisterhood；　and　she　hoped　her　childbearing　duties　were　now　at　an　end。　She　looked　at　young　Reverend　Mother　Anirul　Sadow　Tonkin。　How　could　she　do　better　than　she　had　already　done？　Jessica。。。their　future。
　I　am　indeed　fortunate　to　participate　in　this　moment；　Anirul　thought　as　she　looked　down　at　the　exhausted　new　mother。　It　struck　her　as　odd　that　of　all　the　Sisters　who　had　worked　toward　this　goal　for　thousands　of　years；　of　all　those　who　now　watched　eagerly　in　Other　Memory；　she　was　the　one　to　supervise　the　birth　of　Jessica。　Anirul　herself　would　guide　this　child　through　years　of　training　toward　the　critically　important　sexual　union　she　must　have；　to　carry　the　breeding　program　to　its　penultimate　step。
　Wrapped　in　a　blanket；　the　baby　girl　had　finally　stopped　crying　and　lay　peacefully　in　the　sheltering　warmth　of　its　enclo